Since February I have worked on and directed three major projects while continuing to manage the sales group, my personal clients, and other projects of various stages. All this while putting out our spring newsletter and maximizing family time.  While it’s true that my workweek from late winter through early summer is often seven days a week with long hours most days, very little time is not used wisely, and for me, an effective use of time is a motivator for hard work. Another motivator for me is the creative energy that is shared on the job site. Being on site and building with the rest of our technical team yields a fast track to equipment and operational system improvements. During the install stage, we are able to share ideas on how to improve the install process. This is also where we challenge ourselves to develop new equipment and integration technologies. This creative process is what I enjoy the most, and technology has given me the freedom to be a part of it without sacrificing my company and client management responsibilities.

Not only does technology give me the freedom to do more; at AIS we are employing today’s technology to give our clients the freedom to do more with less. In the next Ice Talk I will touch on how technology can help your company grow. In the meantime, I’ll get ready for my trip to New York, one day home, and then off to Mississippi for a project follow-up.

AIS wants to be your preferred source for Leer Merchandiser parts. We have grown to be one of the top Leer distributors by offering the highest level of customer service combined with competitive pricing and quantity discounting. We have refrigeration and parts specialist on staff ready to serve your individual needs, and recently we have doubled our Leer stocking parts inventory. We have the people, experience, inventory, and pricing to better serve your needs. Why not give AIS a chance to serve your Leer merchandiser parts needs?  As a special incentive, during the month of April we are offering a 20% discount off all stocking Leer parts orders of $1000.00 or more. So stock up and save. We think you will be glad that you gave AIS a chance to serve your parts needs.

So you are having a problem with your ice manufacturing or processing system. This may not be a big problem, but it is definitely an issue that you would like to solve. You have an idea of how to fix this issue, and it involves the purchase of a new piece of equipment. So you call a supplier you have worked with in the past and request a quote. This supplier gets you a price and you eventually agree upon a purchase. You are satisfied with your decision and your supplier is happy to get the sale. The problem comes later.

After you install the new equipment, manufacturing is restored, and you are excited about seeing the effect that this new purchase has on your operation. Unfortunately, the solution that you sought is not realized.  Frustrated, you decide to make another purchase. Your supplier encourages the purchase (happy to get another sale). The additional equipment is installed, and your operation is once again restored. The results are a little better this time, but still short of your goals. Frustrated, you give up and decide that this is as close as you are going to get to the desired solution. Not only did you spend too much money, but you received results short of your goals.

At AIS we approach equipment sales opportunities much differently. We seek to better understand your goals and utilize our product knowledge and project experiences to recommend better purchasing decisions. Our focus is not about what we may be able to sell to your company, but our motivation is to be your partner to better operational success. As experts in ice manufacturing and processing solutions, it is our responsibility to encourage the best purchasing decisions and see these decisions through to the promised solution. If a purchase is not going to produce the desired results, it is our responsibility to discourage the purchase.  If the ROI is not justifiable, it is our responsibility to move the project opportunity in a direction that is cost effective and will produce the profits sought by our clients.

At first glance, AIS solutions may appear to cost more money and be more complex than the simple solution that your company may seek, but when your total costs are calculated against the resulting solution, AIS solutions yield greater company profits and faster returns on your investment. Yes, it would be easier to just sell you what you think you need, and move on to the next opportunity, but what value would we be bringing to the purchase? At AIS, it’s not about what we can sell to you; it’s about how we can help your company be more successful. This motivation extends into everything we do for our clients. Whether it’s a new multimillion dollar ice plant project, a simple equipment addition, annual packaging purchase, or technical support, AIS works for our clients to produce better results.

At AIS, we are just as likely to talk you out of a purchase as to sell you something. We do not work for the manufacturers, we work for you. We want to be your industry consultant to greater success. We have the knowledge, experience, and industry relationships to help your company make more money and to build a stronger future. Stop the cycle of disappointment. Trust AIS as your Supplier Partner and see the difference the right relationship can make.

At AIS we stock one of the industry’s most comprehensive equipment parts inventories backed by professional technicians with years of field experience. We inventory quality, OEM parts from manufacturers like Vogt Ice, Hamer, Leer and others. You will never get stuck with cheap after-market substitutes. When productivity is on the line, don’t gamble with anything less than the best. Not only can you be assured to get the right parts from AIS, but our experienced technicians will help you make the right repair the first time. What may seem like an easy, straight forward, repair may only be a symptom of a much larger problem. AIS technicians will take the time to discuss your problem with you and search for the best solution to your problem.  What good is a nearby parts warehouse if the wrong repair is made? Trust AIS for quality equipment parts backed by the finest industry technical support and fix your equipment right the first time.

As a major industry supplier of ice processing and packaging equipment, we understand your equipment and how to provide packaging products best suited for your operation.  In addition, we know what it takes to keep your packaging equipment functioning at top performance.  Packaging disruptions are not only caused by the wrong ice bags and roll stock, but just as likely a condition of poorly maintained or poorly adjusted packaging or processing equipment.  By having a clear understanding of ice packaging products, ice packaging equipment, ice processing equipment, and systems integration, the AIS team can maximize your packaging productivity.  There is a better way to purchase packaging products, and AIS would like to be your solution.

Does your company have a packaging partner or just a company it buys ice bags from? To answer this question we first need to understand what a packaging partner is. A packaging partner is a supplier of ice bags and roll stock who your company can trust to better manage your company’s packaging needs. A company who helps to manage your inventory, monitors the market for the best purchasing opportunities, and configures your shipments to minimize the impact of shipping charges. A packaging partner is also an expert with packaging equipment. Someone that understands this industry’s packaging equipment and the packaging specifications best suited for reliable operations. Does your packaging supplier assume these responsibilities? Does your supplier seek to better understand your company and offer printing design solutions consistent with your company’s market approach? Does that same company help to develop your company’s unique brand imaging? Is your packaging supplier a marketing professional? These are all responsibilities of a packaging partner. In other words, a packaging partner takes responsibility for your needs and the productivity of your packaging operations.

By trusting your ice bag and roll stock purchases through a packaging partner, you are assuring that your company gets the best quality products, for your individual application, at competitive prices. This industry professional will monitor the market and your inventory, on a regular basis, to insure smarter purchasing. If you get in a bind, this partner will find ways to insure your needs are met. A packaging partner doesn’t let your company run out of product, and this partner always searches to find ways to keep the doors open to your individual business opportunities.

At AIS we don’t just sell ice packaging products; we are experts in ice packaging operations. We have the industry experience to ensure more reliable packaging operations for your company. Stop worrying about your ice packaging. Stop the cycle of shopping for the best “deal” only to discover the hidden cost to that seemingly good deal. Trust AIS to be your packaging partner.

Please take a serious look at your current packaging supply.  If you anticipate needing more ice bags or roll film before summer, please contact us as soon as possible to secure the best pricing for industry proven products at the highest level of customer service.

During the past decade AIS has experienced significant growth.  This growth has allowed us to become one of the largest product suppliers and system integrators within the packaged ice industry.  Our sales volume has allowed us to better negotiate superior purchasing platforms with many of our partner manufacturers and component suppliers.  At AIS we have made it a priority to pass these savings on to our clients in order to maintain a competitive advantage.  It is important that our clients can trust that purchases made through AIS are competitively priced and backed with valued added services to ensure that they are getting the most for their money spent.

Although competitive product pricing is essential, the real advantage to trusting AIS for all your packaged ice industry needs is our approach to client development and support.  At AIS we don’t just sell products; we seek to be your industry partner.  We want to put our industry experience and talents to work for you.  We want to better understand your company and offer our services, along with our products and technologies, to help your company make more money.  We want to build smarter manufacturing platforms that are more reliable, more productive, and cost less to operate.  We want to supply your company with the best available packaging products and merchandising solutions.  We want to support your equipment through our stocking parts inventory and professional technicians.  We want to work for you and your company!

At AIS we don’t seek to have the most customers or sell the most products, we seek to build real client relationships centered on your company’s success.  Our premier client initiative helps ensure that your company always gets the most from this relationship.  This program rewards our most trusted clients with automatic discounting on almost all products purchased through AIS.  It also extends our value added services even further, making your Premier Client Representative your trusted industry partner.  Let AIS work for you, and find out what DIFFERENT, SMARTER, and BETTER can do for your company.

In this time of reflection, I would like to offer a THANK YOU to all the people that have trusted AIS with their ice company development and support in 2012. I offer special thanks to our Premier Clients for partnering with AIS and giving us the opportunity to work for YOU to help drive your company success. We look forward to serving your company in the year to come.

It’s that time of the year when we juggle with the winter and spring project schedule in an effort to find time to accomplish all that needs to be done during this very busy time of the year. Although we are fortunate to stay 100% busy with ice system projects throughout the entire year, the winter and spring are particularly challenging. This is, of course, the preferred time to install packaged ice projects, and attempting to get everything running before the busy summer season means a lot of juggling.

At this point we are pretty much booked through March 2013. We have some time available in April and May, but we anticipate being booked solid through May by the first of the year. If your company is considering changes to your facility before the summer season, please contact us as soon as possible to confirm your project intentions.  We want to be able to accommodate as many opportunities for client growth as possible. If you are unsure of the best approach to change at your facility, contact me, or your AIS Regional Manager, to discuss your ideas, concerns, and goals. We will happy to put our experience to work for you.  With hundreds of successful ice system projects to our credit, we have the experience to deliver the best solution possible with the fastest return on investment. As an added value, our unique approach to project installs guarantees the lowest possible total project cost. Considering change? Don’t wait. The sooner you make those improvements, the sooner your company will reap the rewards.