FALL 2021

106 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

106 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK STAFDA IN-PERSON CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW IN ORLANDO from page 14 William (Bill) Taylor will keynote STAFDA’s General Session on Monday, October 25. Although people might not recognize Taylor’s name, they know his entrepreneurial business magazine: Fast Company. Fast Company covers innovative business leaders with cutting-edge insight. Although Taylor sold Fast Company for 0 million, it hasn’t dulled his keen interest in pursuing free-thinking leaders and game-changing companies. He’ll share his observations on what fierce businesses with non-stop innovation do that STAFDA members can emulate during his Talent, Culture, and the New World of Work: How to Unleash & Sustain Fierce Execution & Nonstop Innovation presentation. In addition to Taylor, STAFDA’s President, Brian Gersten, On Time Supply, Suffern, NY will present the Distributor State of the Industry along with the President of Aerosmith Fastening Systems, Don Kudlak, sharing the Manufacturer’s perspective. Onward to the Trade Show! STAFDA manufacturers haven’t seen the majority of their distributors in nearly two years and exhibitors are showing up in force for Orlando! The exhibit hall is 80% sold as of this writing and the Orlando Show, in particular, will be full of new products with expert staff to demo them. Social media has been invited to the Orlando meeting for the first time where they can stream, film, and tweet out all the new things they’re seeing at the show. STAFDA’s Trade Show runs for five hours on Monday, October 25, with another five hours on Tuesday, October 26. A list of exhibitors is updated regularly and posted to STAFDA’s website. College students with industrial distribution, supply chain, or construction management majors will also be on hand. Universities have the travel funds and want their students to experience STAFDA again. The college students participate in all Convention events, including a Speed Interviewing Session where STAFDA attendees have the chance to conduct job interviews. At STAFDA’s Nashville 2019 meeting, all 30 college students in attendance had at least one job offer from a member. Social events are a big component to the STAFDA Convention and the Opening Party at Andretti Karts/Topgolf is a ringer! STAFDA’s done a buyout of both venues which share a common parking lot. It’ll be arcade games, bowling, and two-levels of kart racing at Andretti Karts and over at Topgolf, retired LPGA superstar, Annika Sorenstam, will be mixing with STAFDA attendees in the hitting bays and posing for photos. STAFDA’s Closing Party at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on Tuesday night, October 26, will feature a unique treat and something no one has ever seen before at a STAFDA party! Don’t miss it! Not a member? STAFDA’s Orlando Convention & Trade Show is for members only so please visit www.stafda.org to learn more. The three-day event’s fee is 9 per person. SPECIALTY TOOLS & FASTENERS DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

SPECIALTY SALES REPS THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK 107 9839 Richeon Ave, Downey CA 90240 TEL 562-833-6234 EMAIL rlopez@specialtysalesreps.com WEB www.specialtysalesreps.com AN INTRODUCTION TO SPECIALTY SALES REPS by Robert Lopez Specialty Sales was founded in 1992 by Ira Shushan as a one-man Sales Rep agency. Since then, Specialty sales has grown into a three-man organization spanning three generations with a combined total of over 100 years experience in the fastener industry. Ira previously founded and sold West-Spec fasteners. Robert Lopez came on board in 2008. He had also founded and sold his distribution business Titan Hardware. Aaron Shushan (Ira’s son) joined the organization in 2015 after achieving a business marketing degree at Cuesta college. Aaron also worked for his dad at West Spec and a few fastener distributors prior to joining Specialty Sales. The relationships they have built during their careers are the foundation of their success. They pride themselves on the quality of their relationships, their work ethic, and their product knowledge. Today Specialty Sales is one of the leading BUSINESS FOCUS ARTICLE Manufacturers Representative Organization servicing commercial, industrial, electronic, automotive, construction, structural, and aerospace fastener distributors and Manufacturers throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada. Their company represents some of the most prestigious manufacturers in our industry including Alpha Fasteners Corp., CBS Fasteners, Electronic Hardware Corp., EFC International, Eurolink Fastener Supply Service, Industrial Rivet, Jergens Inc., Northeast Fastener, Prestige Stamping, Rhyno MFG, Spring Bolt and Nut, Socket Source and W.J. Roberts. Specialty Sales’ distributors prefer reps with expansive product lines and diverse product knowledge, so they can treat them as a one-stopshop. Specialty Sales’ goal is to provide value while insuring a mutually beneficial relationship between their principals and their distributor customers. SPECIALTY SALES REPS