[Andy Graves]

Len,

I see your point.

Video production cost is extremely high. My videos are filmed, produced and done my me. Not to mention they are not high quality and not meant to be a substitute for a week long training class.

[Andy Graves]

Thanks Rick. It is not just the FabNet website, it is all the people that are willing to help along the way that participate.

Glad it has helped you and hopefully you can help the next guy that comes along asking the questions.

[Wags]

Part of the problem is just the evolution of the product. Back when SS was new, it was expensive. The Mfg had $ to do R & D and to promote their product. As the years went by, as additional competition came into the market place, and especially the “copy cats” what do no R & D, the $ were no longer there to do the promotion. You can buy SS cheaper today, then we paid in the “70’s.

If the Mfg don’t have the $ to support a trade show, or, there is no value in doing so because every new product they come out with will be duplicated within weeks, whats the point of them spending the $ to attend.

I knew Oxley from his old AIKD ( KBA) days in the mid 70’s and 80’s. He did a good job there, and when he came to ISSFA I was excited. I’ve explained before what happened with him ( nothing) and the Az IFFA chapter we had. I think he was the biggest single cause of ISSFA failing. His lack of follow thru, and self promotion really turned folks off.

As Linda said, everything has it’s time. SS is no longer the “unique” high end product it was. Corian is no longer the Big Guy on the block, and each of us having the opportunity to purchase the same color product for less from some knock off company, killed the golden goose.

There is no money anywhere along the chain, nor is there a need, to support a trade association that the trade really never supported to any great depth.

NKBA is in a similar situation, are they really relevant in today’s marketplace? What value do they bring to the average dealer…. Just as the country is changing, so is the surfacing industry, which encompasses many many product and many shows and organizations.

Time to close the door and move on, little is as it was in the past. And future certainly won’t be anything like the past. Some say it’s progress… some aren’t so sure. Time will tell.

[Lenny E]

Well fellers,

I guess it’s time to close the door. I am sure like Motel 6, they will leave the light on for ya!

[Chuck Sawyer]

As the new ED of ISFA, I first want to thank you all for the frank discussions about the direction of ISFA. Having been a fabricator since 1975 and involved in ISFA (ISSFA) from its beginning, I’ve seen the changes in the industry and in all the organizations associated with it. It has been an interesting ride. I am also encouraged that many of the directions that I will be leading ISFA are similar to many of your comments. I would also encourage anyone who wants to contact me directly to do so, either by email (cksawyer@isfanow.org) or by phone (724-612-9768). I promise that it will not be a recruiting thing, I just want to hear the voices of the industry!
Thanks for the opportunity…………Chuck

[Tom M]

One thing ISFA could do that would be valuable to me is promotion. Manufacturers really dropped the ball when solid surface was quite successfully getting brow beat by stone and quartz. It seemed as though scratch resistance was the only thing that mattered when choosing a countertop. That’s silly, and it was reckless for the manufacturers to get all up about their brand new quartz products while solid surface suffered for it.

Len, if I recall my early days of ISSFA correctly, the manufacturers did pay quite a higher membership fee than fabricators. They also sponsored tools, seminars, instructors and donated machinery and tooling for these. I appreciated their efforts, but ISSFA used the money to build a larger infrastructure than they needed to, I think.

[Tom M]

One thing ISFA could do that would be valuable to me is promotion. Manufacturers really dropped the ball when solid surface was quite successfully getting brow beat by stone and quartz. It seemed as though scratch resistance was the only thing that mattered when choosing a countertop. That’s silly, and it was reckless for the manufacturers to get all up about their brand new quartz products while solid surface suffered for it.

Len, if I recall my early days of ISSFA correctly, the manufacturers did pay quite a higher membership fee than fabricators. They also sponsored tools, seminars, instructors and donated machinery and tooling for these. I appreciated their efforts, but ISSFA used the money to build a larger infrastructure than they needed to, I think.

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