The Thomas Blog

STEM Tech, Toys and Tools to Celebrate Engineers Week

I believe in extended celebrations — really, just ask my friends and colleagues who gather for three weekends in a row of birthday celebrations — and when STEM is involved, it’s even better.

So when I heard this week was a celebration of Girl Day (Feb. 26) and Engineers Week (Feb. 22-28), I wanted to do something special. I went a little crazy buying Shawn Fitzgerald’s suggestion of engineering toys for my two nephews in December, so I thought this time around I would do the recommending instead of shopping.

The Future of Manufacturing Jobs and How Millennials Apply

It's no secret that manufacturing is rapidly growing.

With new lines of products and services pairing with a steady trickle of Baby Boomers retiring, the industry is set to have a sizable uptick of job vacancies. As manufacturers increase headcount and look to fill current openings, a very valid question pops up: Who exactly will fill these jobs?

This Next Algorithm Change Will Impact Your Revenue

Did you recently get a message from Google Webmaster Tools recently about your website?  

It means that unless you fix your site you will most likely wake up one day and find it removed from mobile search results on Google. I work with many industrial service and manufacturing companies that garner as much as 30% of their overall traffic from mobile. Losing this traffic can have very real implications to your sales team and your bottom line. 

Are You Speaking to the New Generation of Industrial Buyers?

When you’re communicating with customers and prospects, the dangers of inertia loom large — you may be targeting your “past-tense” customers without even realizing it, relying on the same messaging and tactics you always have. There’s a new generation of buyers not only emerging, but already active at every stage of the buying cycle.

Will they find you?

The $4.5 Million Question: Why Do Super Bowl Advertisers Spend So Much?

It’s Super Bowl week, and if you can’t tell, I’m pretty excited for the big game! I’ve already taken a buyer’s-side look at the supply chain for those necessities that the fans at your Super Bowl party can’t do without, from corn chips to foam fingers. As a supplier, there’s plenty of Sunday action for you, too — and not just on the field. Let’s take a look at what those big-deal Super Bowl ads have to offer any sized company trying to grow their business. 

Who’s Really Supplying Your Super Bowl Tailgate Party?

With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, amped up fans are actively searching for products that will make their tailgate parties worthy of the occasion.

As any fan can tell you, the whole experience comprises a lot more than chips and dip — though that’s a good place to start.

Here, I’ve gathered some of the top items for your tailgate list, along with some fun facts about each.

Handling Seasonal Supply & Demand

By the time a chill hits the air, I am often found at my local coffee shop buying every seasonal flavored coffee and treat they come up with that year. Nowadays, it does not really feel like winter unless I have a peppermint mocha or cinnamon swirl latte, and I suspect I am not the only one.

 In fact, Twitter was buzzing with reports of pumpkin spice latte shortages at Starbucks this past season. The flavor hit peak popularity in the fall of 2014 and continues to roll on: everything from yogurt to vodka seems to have a pumpkin spice variety on the shelves. Despite the rumors, though, it turns out that Starbucks was covered and that only a few select stores were plagued with a temporary shortage due to an increase in demand. The coffee crisis was averted.

What's the real impact of low oil prices?

Admit it.  Last time you went to the gas station and filled up the car you were pretty happy.  Maybe you even gave your friend riding shotgun a little high five? Of course you did!

We are currently enjoying the lowest gas prices since 2009, with trends pointing toward an average price of gas for the US below $2/gallon. That long drive to visit the family is looking more affordable every day. Pretty cool, right?

Seven Steps to Achieving Smart Growth

Growing your business means different things to different people, and it’s all about your goals. You may just be looking to increase orders to reach maximum capacity for your equipment on hand, or you may have a five-year plan to double your business and expand your facility. Whatever your growth goals are, the key to success is to “grow smart.” Here are seven simple ways to do that.