Small Business Marketing News Update - JacksonvilleManufacturer Launches On-line Marketing Program For New Clamp Products

With the addition of a new group of industrial lifting clamps to its extensive product line, J.C. Renfroe & Sons, Inc., an international manufacturer and marketer of lifting products based in Jacksonville, Florida, has launched a comprehensive on-line marketing campaign to introduce its new clamps.

Renfroe, a company that began and continues to be a developer and manufacturer of customized clamps, is offering new products designed for the vertical + 180 degrees category (the PCK clamp); for the beam category (the BC clamp); and a non-marring grouping (the NM, NMA, NMBC and NMRSC clamps).

To introduce these new products and to generate more exposure for its full product line, Renfroe has created new on-line tools to demonstrate product applications, provide product schematics and specifications and to make it easier to contact rep companies for inquiries and orders.

The company has revamped its website at jcrenfroe.com to provide updated product information that includes clamps, sheaves, crane blocks and swivels. In addition, the site has two demonstration videos – one for the clamp line and one for sheaves and blocks.

The site, which will constantly be updated and supplied with new offerings and industry alerts, will provide information regarding Renfroe’s extensive training program and detailed repair and assembly instruction.

To enhance the use of the website, Renfroe has entered into an agreement with Thomas.net to provide online information and links to Renfroe to provide specific product data to industries looking for superior durable clamps.

And the company plans to use email blast to key prospects, distributors and past customers wanting the latest product information and industry changes.

“Our company has been on the forefront of manufacturing clamps to meet the challenges facing today’s industrial markets,” explained Joe Pless, marketing manager for J.C. Renfroe & Sons. “So we decided to ratchet up the technological communications to help connect with the market through these on-line tools.

“Renfroe has built a reputation over 70 plus years for high quality clamps. We just need to let more of the market see what we have to offer and how our products work,” Pless said. “ We wanted our communications set and in place in order to, not only introduce these new clamp products, but to let customers know that if there isn’t a clamp existing that does the job they need, we will design and build one.”

www.jcrenfroe.com

Small Business Marketing News Update - Jacksonville Jaguars' New GM Makes PR Blunder

As the saying goes “You only have one time to make a good first impression.” And the new general manager for the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars missed his.

On Thursday, the Jacksonville public was introduced to Dave Caldwell for the first time at a news conference at Everbank Field. Going into the presser, he knew he was going to be asked some sensitive questions, including one about his feeling on acquiring Tim Tebow.

He should have handled it like he did when asked about other NFL personnel, specifically about potential coaches. He said the season was not over and it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment at this time.

But when asked about Tebow he didn’t hesitate to say, “I can’t imagine a scenario where he would be a Jacksonville Jaguar.”

Whether you are a fan of Tim Tebow or not, I speculate that at least half of the North Florida market, the home of Tim Tebow, really likes the former Gator quarterback. So why would you start out your tenure as general manager offending half of your audience?

We just had a general manager who for years upset Jaguar fans with his unusual draft and free agent selections.

Some people are saying Caldwell did the right thing by putting an end to the Tebow situation in Jacksonville. But most of those people are anti-Tebow anyway. It may put the issue to bed for them, but not for the many who follow and support Tebow.

Instead of outwardly dismissing Tebow in what was a fairly blunt statement, Caldwell should have left it that he would evaluate the best available players, along with input from the new coach and then make the most appropriate decision for the Jaguars’ future. This approach would have shown that he is open to ideas, where his predecessor wasn’t, and he would make a decision at the right time.

But what has been done is done. Regardless of the Tebow haters, there are people who are upset. WTLV reported a statement by a fan the night of the news conference that said “I can’t imagine a scenario where I would renew my season tickets.”

That is not a very good way to start off a new Jaguar administration. Hopefully Caldwell will be better at selecting coaches and players than he is handling public relations.