Fiber is the Next Utility 3 // Spotlight on Weller Recreation 4
TV as a Work Tool 6 // Branding Basics 6
MARCH 2015 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 2
BUSINESS
CONNECTIONS
www.allwest.com
On Snow or Off Road,
Weller Recreation
Business Connections is a publication of All West Communications, 50 W 100 N, Kamas, UT 84036.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical or otherwise without the prior written permission of All West Communications. All rights are reserved. Editorial and circulation contact: Neal Marchant
[email protected] 435-783-4974
All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Extra copies of this issue are available to our business customers on a limited basis while supplies last.
Contact Neal Marchant at [email protected] or 435-783-4974 to make a request. Copyright© 2015
by All West Communications and Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. Postmaster send changes to: Neal Marchant
All West Communications 50 W 100 N
Kamas, UT 84036
What do you think of when you hear the word
“expansion”?
Does it bring to mind large, expensive remodeling projects? Open- ing a new store? Expansion can certainly take those forms, but other, smaller forms of it can make a big difference for your business. In this issue of Business Connections, we explore various ways expansion can impact your company.On page 3, we take a look at infrastructure development and what it means for you that
Fiber is the Next Utility. Just as the U.S. railroads and interstate system brought new opportunities in the previous two centuries, fiber networks are essential to business growth in the 21st century.
The Business Spotlight on pages 4 and 5 features Weller Recreation, a company that has been evolving since its beginning in 1962. Initially a repair shop for autos and farm equipment, the company transitioned to selling ATVs and UTVs in the 1980s and recently relocated from a 1,000-square-foot showroom to one 16 times that size.
Read about TV as a Work Tool on page 6. As your company expands, so should the ameni-ties you provide to your customers and employees. TV in your waiting areas and break rooms can be a convenience that shows you care.
Finally, on page 7, learn how to Make Room for Humor at Work. Extending your work personality to include more levity can result in better health, improved morale and greater creativity.
All West Communications is eager to help with your expansions, so please don’t hesitate to reach out any time. Contact our Corporate Sales Executives; Phil Marchant at 435-783-4990, or Bobbi Whitehead at 435-783-4910.
Sincerely,
Matthew Weller
President
All West Communications
CONNECTIONS
L to R: Phil Marchant, Mary Young, Bobbi Whitehead and Matthew Weller
BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
T
o understand the importance of building fiber networks, it’s useful to look back at a couple of other life-changing infrastructure projects. By 1900, much of our nation’s railroad system was in place; it cleared the way for the settle-ment of the West, provided new economic opportunities and stimulated community development. In the 1950s and 1960s, the new Interstate Highway System brought business to the towns it went through while towns further from the new faster roads struggled to survive. Today, fiber is becoming as essential to business growth, and everyday life, as railroad tracks and highways were in previous centuries.The huge impact of fiber is even more amazing when you consider just how tiny fiber is; each strand of glass is only about the size of a human hair. Fiber uses light to transmit data and is unique in its ability to transport virtually unlimited bandwidth over long distances. It’s the only technology that delivers enough bandwidth — reliably and at a low enough cost — to meet the ever-increasing demand for more robust Internet, video and voice services as well as other applications.
Thanks to fiber, Internet speeds of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) and higher are starting to become available. Why do we need all this bandwidth? Here are a few reasons:
• Businesses are making a massive shift to cloud services. For economic efficiency, their critical systems now operate at remote data centers rather than on-site computers. The speed, reliability and security of fiber connections make cloud services viable.
• The American Telemedicine Association estimates there are now 200 telemedicine networks in the U.S., connecting over 3,000 institutions.
• Services such as distance learning and remote energy man-agement are expected to grow considerably over the next several years.
Bandwidth demand is growing at an enormously high rate, and is projected to continue growing for years to come. According to the Cisco® Visual Networking Index (VNI) Forecast (2011-2016), 3.4 billion people are expected to be using the Internet by 2016 — about 45 percent of the world’s projected population accord-ing to United Nations’ estimates. In addition, the average fixed broadband speed is expected to increase nearly fourfold, from 9 Mbps in 2011 to 34 Mbps in 2016.
Fiber networks in smaller cities and rural communities help level the playing field and close the urban-rural technology gap. Existing businesses can access the Internet speeds and reliability needed to expand e-commerce. Economic development organ-izations have an easier time attracting new businesses. Plus, educational opportunities, once only found in large schools, can now be delivered to rural classrooms via online education.
FIBER
is the
Next Utility
It’s also a key to business growth,
especialy in rural areas
New location attracts walk-in
traffic and provides room to grow
WELLER
RECREATION
At that time, says General Manager Paul Weller, “There were over 50 dairy farms in the area. Weller Repair, which my father started, was very busy in the summer and slow in the winter.” In 1968, the company began selling Ski-Doo brand snowmobiles, which started the transition over three decades to a power sports business.
A Smooth Transition
In the early 1980s, the company started selling motor-cycles, ATVs and UTVs from manufacturers including Yamaha, Polaris and Can-Am. By then, there were only a couple of dairy farms left in the area so the need for a repair business had declined. Weller, three of his siblings and another individual became the official owners of the company, and Weller Rec became the official name in 1996. Notes Weller, “We began looking for a new home then, as the facility we had been in since 1962 was aging and in a location that didn’t attract walk-in traffic.” In 1999, the owners found a great new location. Getting infrastructure, including power and water, to the location took some time; in 2007 they were ready to start construc-tion. However, the cost was much more than expected and the recession started, so it was a few more years before
the plans to build were revived. The building was finally completed in 2014 and the company relocated in August.
Home Sweet Showroom
Weller comments, “The new location has been great for us. Our previous showroom was just 1,000 square feet, and the new one is 16,000. We can now display units, parts, accessories and clothing, where before everything was in storage units.” The building, which is on a main access road to and from the Kamas Valley, has also attracted much more walk-in traffic. Weller says, “I can’t even tell you how many walk-in customers we’ve had just in the past week.” He’s noticed that the usual slow transi-tion into the winter season has given way to a brisk pace during the final part of the year.
Customers include those who live elsewhere in the country — such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida and other East Coast states — and have vacation homes in or around Park City. Weller Rec also draws business from the local population as well as one-time or frequent visitors. Weller Rec has grown to 31 employees, including full-time and part-full-time workers who fulfill accounting, service
Like many businesses, Weller Recreation — known as Weller Rec — has evolved since
its beginning in 1962. Then the company was called Weller Repair, and its primary
service was performing farm equipment and auto repairs.
BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
and sales functions. The company spon-sors an ATV rodeo each year, and many employees volunteer in civic and church activities. Weller sits on boards of direc-tors for Heber Valley Medical Center and the Powersport Vehicle Franchise board. Weller likes that his company sells fun. “Even during the recession,” he says, “there was no downturn in our business. People still wanted to recreate.” He adds, “That includes me. I’m my own customer, and some of my fondest memories are of snowmobiling or participating in other power sports.”
Fiber is Critical
Weller Rec uses fiber Internet, a Hosted PBX phone system and video conferenc-ing capabilities from All West. Weller notes that Internet service is particularly critical. He says, “The main application that we use for our operations, ADP, is
Internet-based, and we also use Office 365 in the cloud. All of the manufacturers we do business with communicate online, and we have to transfer files over the Internet to make new machines run. If I don’t have good, stable Internet service, I can’t even open for business. With fiber Internet from All West, the 100 Mbps speed is great.”
Bobbi Whitehead, Corporate Sales Executive at All West, explains how the services were integrated with Weller Rec’s new facility: “Their current location is a custom building, and we were able to build fiber to them. At their previous location, they had copper with a 10 Mbps connection and DID trunks. Fiber has enabled them to operate in the cloud.” The Hosted HPBX phone system has also worked very well for Weller Rec. Weller says, “We looked at buying versus leasing, and leasing was the best option when we ran the numbers. All West also provides maintenance and service, which is great.” Whitehead adds, “They chose our hosted system to replace their PBX because of the value and features.”
With fiber Internet from
All West, the 100 Mbps
speed is great.”
— PAUL WELLER, GENERAL MANAGER, WELLER REC
CUSTOMERS RAVE
ABOUT WELLER REC
Weller Rec has received many testimo-nials from happy customers. Here are a few samples:
“ I can’t thank the Wellers enough for such a wonderful experience in doing business... You have a new lifelong customer.”
“ You made our trip a great experi-ence with your exceptional service, a quick turn-around and reasonable price. Thanks again.”
“ It’s great to work with a company that is committed to old-fashioned, great customer service. I could not be happier with my interactions… from sales to service to parts.” “ Weller Recreation has been top notch
in my book. They treat each customer with the greatest importance. They fix problems in a timely manner and have an excellent shop staff.” “ My family has been doing business
with the Wellers for 25 years. We have always been impressed with their service, character, honesty and knowledge. If anything has ever gone wrong with a product purchased from them, they have always made things right.”
TV
as a
Work Tool
Patients, customers and
employees all appreciate TV service
as the symbolic embodiment ofall the information connected to a company, product or service. It often includes the name, logo, tagline, fonts, color schemes and graphic elements that are developed to represent the values, ideas and personality of the brand.
• Clear communications. Brand- ing makes it easier to tell potential customers who you are and what you do.
• Reduced costs. With consistent design elements, you won’t need to “reinvent the wheel” with every ad or brochure you create.
• Efficient marketing. The pro-cess of developing your brand will also help you develop an efficient strategy for reaching your target audience. Consistency is the key. The more awareness you can build around your brand, the more your potential customers will begin to identify with it — and the more likely they may be to choose you over your competitor.
H
ave your patients run out of patience? Has your lobby’s wait-ing room turned into a “bored” room? Or are your employees hungry for entertainment while they eat their lunch? All West TV could be just the solution. All West TV brings you the best in digital television with dozens of channels of digital quality picture and sound includ-ing local, premium and digital music channels. By adding All West TV to your workplace, you can watch your business benefit in several ways.Prevent Patient Impatience
Busy people see their time as valuable and want to make the most of it. If patients need to wait for medical appointments, for instance, they appreciate being able to use that time to watch the news. Supplying digital television in your wait-ing room demonstrates your medical office’s thoughtful concern for patients and their families. Some dentists take this idea a step further by offering TV viewing during treatment to help distract and relax patients.
Make Waits More Enjoyable
All West TV can be an effective way to keep customers occupied and happy while waiting for a service to be completed at a vehicle repair shop
or similar facility. If your business has a waiting room, consider using digital television to enhance your level of customer service.
Keep Employees Informed
Of course, your employees will enjoy being able to relax with a favorite show during their lunch break. But the benefits go beyond just improv-ing employee morale. All West TV can also serve as an important information resource for employees to keep up to date on current happenings. With TVs in the lobby and break room, everyone in your building can have access to infor-mation about breaking news or extreme weather. In addition, you won’t have to worry about your Internet connection getting bogged down from multiple employees accessing streaming video reports online.
Interested in providing All West TV at your business? To find out more, visit allwest.com/tv-channels.
All West TV can be an
effective way to keep
customers occupied and
happy while waiting for a
service to be completed.
BUSINESS CONNECTIONS
I
n recent years, more companies have begun to recognize the need for a little levity around the office. So much so that many consultants now make a living offering advice on how to infuse humor and fun into the workplace. Why? The answer is simple. Studies have demonstrated that laughter has positive effects on both our physical and mental health. In fact, laughing enhances the immune system, low-ers blood pressure and even releases natural antidepressants and painkillers in the body. This boost to our systems can result in fewer missed days, less illness and reduced stress.Many employers now say that a good sense of humor is a key factor when choosing new hires. This trait is often reflective of a person’s flexibility at work and an ability to build good rapport with colleagues. Improved morale, greater creativity and increased pro-ductivity have all been reported by companies making efforts to add humor to their environment.
Of course, injecting humor into the workday isn’t always easy. Many workers don’t feel there’s time for it — and if used inappropriately, it can even be offensive. With that in mind, consider these tips on constructive ways to add some lightheart-edness to your day:
Be self-deprecating.
We all appreciate people who can laugh at themselves from time to time. Don’t take yourself too seriously!
Find humor in
stressful situations.
By pointing out the funny side of a task or project your team is working on, your colleagues will easily relate — and no one will get their feelings hurt.
Create a humor
space in the office.
Whether it’s a room filled with Dilbert cartoons or just a big box stuffed with chattering teeth and other toys, your team should have access to things that will help break the ice, especially when deadlines are looming and stress is high.
Add humor to the agenda.
Devote the first two or three minutes of each meeting to humor and lighten the conversation before getting down to business.
Avoid sarcasm.
Sarcasm may work with your closest friends, but in a work environment it can be misinterpreted as a put-down or a thinly veiled comment on someone’s work habits or skills. Likewise, remarks and jokes related to race or gender are strictly off-limits.
With just a little effort, you can make the workplace a little less serious and a little more fun for everyone. After all, Ameri-cans typically spend more waking hours at work than at home, so it’s a good idea to find ways to enjoy it. You may even see an improved bottom line as a result.
Make Room
for
HUMOR
at
WORK
Laughter reduces stress
and builds camaraderie
Many employers now
say that a good sense of
humor is a key factor when
choosing new hires.
Race to the phone now and call Bobbi Whitehead at 435-783-4910
www.allwest.com
Broadband
Internet
is super fast
so you can cover
more ground
At speeds up to 10 Gbps, our Broadband
Internet is the high-performance solution
to handle whatever’s ahead on your
business adventure. Do you have the
need for more speed? Think fast and
