Tag Archive for: Storage Solutions

As I reflect on the results of this year, the request for a blog submission from our marketing department was timely.   While evaluating the accomplishments of 2011 and establishing new goals for the upcoming year – I am challenged to figure out what has attributed to our success, what lessons were learned, and how to best position ourselves moving forward.

Every year I find myself looking back to past years thinking that a historical trend might develop.  The only development is the reassurance that change is a constant with us.   I’m amazed that what seemed like minor changes at the time, and just part of going about the business at hand – turned out to be more significant when looking in the rear view mirror.  I know better than to think that it will ever be “business as usual” for us. We get bored too easily!

If we started all over (like we seem to do each year) the key ingredients would stay the same:

Adaptability – one of our strongest assets since the beginning
Visionary
 – we look at the world and warehouses a little differently
Entrepreneurial – we pride ourselves on our creative spirit
Energetic Action – the challenge of “making it happen” is contagious
Loyal – our clients and vendors are partners

The true grade card is the feedback we get from our best partners. The quotes “you make it look easy” and “no one else in the country does what you do” are indicative of the Storage Solutions mission statement.

If we are able to focus on that level of service and commitment – everything else will follow and expectations will be exceeded once again in 2012!

We are excited to announce that we’re looking for an intern to assist our online sales team.  We like to think we’re pretty fun to work for, and as a former intern myself, I can say that the knowledge and hands-on experience you gain is incredible.  We’re accepting applications through our Careers page, so spread the word and submit your resumes!

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: Junior Online Sales Intern

OBJECTIVE: To assist the Storage Solutions online sales team in the full process of sales from cold calls to quoting, CAD drawings and processing orders.

HOURS: 15-20 hours per week

PREFERRED START DATE: January 15, 2012

COMPENSATION: All internship positions will receive class credit. Compensation opportunities are also available for applicants who show exceptional promise and self-motivation. The opportunity for full-time employment following graduation is available.

SUPERVISOR: Director of Marketing & Online Sales

As a Storage Solutions Sales Intern, you can expect to get hands-on experience on what it means to build business, nurture sales and excel in the material handling industry. Our interns are self-motivated and resourceful, constantly searching for new ways to expand business. Student will develop a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of sales. Interns report to the Online Sales & Business Development Director weekly. Occasional travel and overnight stays can be expected.

REQUIREMENTS: 
• Student interested in the field of sales.
• Submission of requirements for internship completion/credit.
• Interview with the Director of Marketing & Online Sales
• Working knowledge of: Microsoft Outlook, MS Word, Excel

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Gathering material quotes from suppliers.
• Order entry.
• Customer service.
• Making cold calls to generate new business leads.
• Following up on customer inquiries.
• Invoicing customers.
• Placing orders with suppliers.
• Quoting installation projects.
• Keeping track of customers via a tailored and easy-to-use CRM program.

TO APPLY: Submit resume through our careers page. https://storage-solutions.com/storage-solutions-careers-pg-167.html

The final week of our Steal of the Week series has arrived just in time for the holiday.  So instead of choosing just one item to offer for big savings, we’re making it a blowout.  Now through December 30, you can SAVE BIG on these material handling items.  Just contact us at 866.474.2001 or [email protected].

102″L x 15″W Spantrack

Fit with 108″D rack bay
Rollers on 3″ centers
Price:  $47.50 per track
Qty:  60
Includes 2 hangers for roll formed beams (1-5/8″ step)

SPANTRACK 002
DOUBLE-SIDED CANTILEVER BAYS

48″D x 168″H on 36″ centers
Arms 18″L with a front stop
15″ of usable arm space
Price:  $150 per bay
Qty:  45 bays (depending on configuration)

Cantilever2
BISHAMON EZ-30 Positioner Pallet

Maximum Capacity  | 3000 Pounds
Minimum Capacity  | 450 Pounds
Raised Height  | 30 Inches
Lowered Height  | 8.75 Inches
EZ Loader
Sale price:  $1,500

positioner pallet
CARTON FLOW SHELVING BAYS

96″W x 60″D x 96″H with 4 shelves per bay
Each bay has 12 rollers & 5 dividers (6 lanes)
Qty: 30 bays
Price:  $425.00 per bay

Carton Flow

FLEX SKATE CONVEYOR

Collapsible Flex Skate Conveyor
Minimal rust on some wheels
Qty: 3
Price:  $525 each

Gravity Conveyor

42″ X 96″ STRUCTURAL UPRIGHTS

3″ Column
Blue
Qty:  405
Price:  $50 each

structural uprights
METAL DRAWER BINS

Available in 12, 18 & 24 drawer units.
Qty: 100
Price:  $50 each

metal drawer bins

Canvas Trash Hoppers

Price: $100 each
Qty: 45

canvas hopper

For more information, contact online sales or call 866.474.2001.

For a little pre-Christmas perusing, check out our online auction lots!  The auction is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.  In the meantime, we’ve got photos and descriptions listed on the website.  The option to pre-bid is also available so start scoping these items out!

sulair compressor-resized-600 trash conveyor McQuay Chiller

Some of our featured items include:

  • 16 Different Packages of Pallet Rack
  • McQuay Chillers
  • Sullair Air Compressor
  • Hydronix Dessicant Air Dryer
  • Lockers
  • Trash Conveyor
  • Flex Skate Conveyor
  • Warehouse accessories
  • And more!

VIPERBID INDIANA is an online auction company that we have started up to bring you unprecedented deals on surplus inventory and liquidated assets from across the country.  Not only do we have safety equipment, pallet racking, conveyor systems and other material handling inventory in our auctions, but we also have specialty items at great prices.

For questions, contact Jill at [email protected].

We’re here, we’re there, we’re everywhere!  As you may have been reading over the course of the last few Where Are We Now blog posts, our Storage Solutions installations take place all over the country.

But we don’t just stick to the United States… we also do installations in Mexico AND Canada!  So we really mean it when we say we’re all over North America.  Our installation crews have been working on a LOT this winter:  Replacing damaged uprights, shelving installations, pallet rack installations, rack reconfigurations, high-rise shelving and rack teardown, wire cage installation, pushback pallet rack installation, and more!

Where Are We Now?

SSIMap December2011Indianapolis, IN – Various Jobs

Victoria, TX – Rack Installation

Memphis, TN – 4,000 pallet rack bay and bin mezzanine teardown

Tampa, FL – Rack teardown

Cincinnatti, OH – Rack teardown & transfer to other facilities

Vancouver, BC – Rack & shelving installation

Charlotte, NC – Rack Installation

Columbia, SC – Rack Installation

This is a list of where our installation crews have been working hard this quarter.  But we also oversee installation jobs on other projects throughout the country as well!  Check out previous installation locations from our last “Where Are We Now?” posts.

Whether a job is 5,000 sq. ft. right next door or over 1 million sq. ft. five states away, we’re always willing and able to get the job done.  If you’ve got a project you’d like us to work with you on, give us a call at 866.474.2001 or contact us!

We know we’re only 23 days away from 2012, but we are still excited to announce that Storage Solutions just received Speedrack Products Group’s 2010 National Distributor of the Year. Our partnership with Speedrack has allowed Storage Solutions to provide customers with great racking solutions in 2010 AND 2011. Here’s to a successful 2012!

Speedrack 2010

For those of us who spend our days working behind a computer, Cyber Monday can serve as a very exciting change to a usually mundane first day of the work week.  In honor of Cyber Monday, we’re offering some huge savings on a number of items in our warehouse!

HUGE SAVINGS!

DOUBLE-SIDED CANTILEVER BAYS

48″D x 168″H on 36″ centers

Arms 18″L with a front stop

15″ of usable arm space

Price:  $150 per bay

Qty:  45 bays (depending on configuration)

Week1 Cantilever
 CARTON FLOW SHELVING BAYS

96″W x 60″D x 96″H with 4 shelves per bay
Each bay has 12 rollers & 5 dividers (6 lanes)
Qty: 30 bays
Price:  $425.00 per bay

cartonflow3

BISHAMON EZ-30 Positioner Pallet

Maximum Capacity  | 3000 Pound
Minimum Capacity  | 450 Pounds
Raised Height  | 30 Inches
Lowered Height  | 8.75 Inches
EZ Loader

Sale price:  $1,500

*Save over $1,000!!!

lift 1
42″ X 32″ STEEL SLAVE PALLET

Price:  $50 each
Qty:  17
Weight:  120 each
Rust on some pallets

steelpallet5
102″L x 15″W Spantrack

Fit with 108″D rack bayRollers on 3″ centers
Price:  $47.50 per track
Qty:  60
Includes 2 hangers for roll formed beams(1-5/8″ step)

SPANTRACK 002 E
42″ X 96″ STRUCTURAL UPRIGHTS

3″ Column
Blue
Qty:  405
Price:  $50 each

Structural Uprights

For more information and additional pictures, contact James Cira |  866.474.2001.  To view more discounted items, be sure to check out the clearance section of our website!  Happy shopping!

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT “THE VOLUNTEER STATE”…

1)  Tennessee won its nickname as The Volunteer State during the War of 1812 when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee displayed marked valor in the Battle of New Orleans.
2)  State law: It is illegal to shoot any game other than whales from a moving automobile.
3)  Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry is the longest continuously running live radio program in the world. It has broadcast every Friday and Saturday night since 1925.
4)  The name “Tennessee” originated from the old Yuchi Indian word, “Tana-see,” meaning “The Meeting Place.”
5)  STORAGE SOLUTIONS HAS OPENED ITS NEWEST OFFICE IN NASHVILLE!

downtown nashville

There are so many more fun facts where the above came from, but we have to admit we are most excited about opening the next Storage Solutions branch in one of our favorite U.S. cities!  New employees Mike Weakley and John Holzapfel bring over 15 years of combined experience in the material handling industry.

“Nashville is really growing not only in distribution business but manufacturing as well,” Mike said.  In combining partnerships and expanding horizons for our customers, we are very excited about our newest location.

“Joining the SSI team means a lot to us because it lets us continue to service our customers with an even greater ability than we have ever had.”

We are proud to welcome them both to our team!  Official opening date coming soon!  Stay tuned for more info!

Kenny CaseyStorage Solutions would like to introduce you to the man behind all the warehouse activity, Kenny Casey. Kenny takes care of everything that goes on in the warehouse, from getting orders together to managing the warehouse employees.

Product Knowledge/Specialties: Pallet Rack is my Game!

Family:  Wife – Sheila, Son – Patrick, Stepson – Steven, Stepdaughter – Stephanie, Step-Grandson – Damien

Favorites

  • Food: Steak
  • TV Show: Sons of Anarchy
  • Team: Alabama Crimson Tide (ROLL TIDE!!)

Interests: Motorcycling / Currently in my 6th year as serving as Region XI Director for ABATE of Indiana

What has been your most rewarding experience as a part of the SSI team? Feeling appreciated for what I bring to the table.

If you have any warehouse quesitons give Kenny a call. He knows what he is talking about, as it is said above… “pallet rack is Kenny’s game.”

vinoThey say great employees are like fine wine…

Okay, no one actually says that. At least, I don’t think they do.  But what I DO know is that with so many long-time Storage Solutions employees, there’s got to be something special going on around here.

Among our longest employees:

Craig McElheny, CEO
Kevin Rowles, President
Bill Beeker, CFO
Angie Rajski, VP Project Coordination
Rick Brodfuehrer, National Sales
Tim Fonderoli, National Sales
Mike Goode, VP Used Equipment
Chastity Wilke, VP National Accounts
Deana Purevich, Accounting
Rose Riggins, Front Desk & Accounting

I have been around some of these long-time employees for years and in the last year and a half, I have been able to interact with them as co-workers, and I have to say that Storage Solutions has one of the most closely-knit, fun groups of employees around. We decided to ask our tenured employees what has kept them here for so long, and what advice they can offer to young professionals who are new to the work force.

Angie RajskiANGIE RAJSKI
Tenure: 14 years

What is your job function?  How has that evolved over time?
I am the Project Coordinator for our National Sales team.  I have worn so many hats over the years here, but in the last 5 years we have really streamlined my position into a more defined role to match my specific talents and expertise.

What makes SSI a place you have wanted to stay for so long?
The owner of this company, Craig, is extremely generous.  I have the benefit of flexibility so I can juggle my family, top notch technology to make my job easier, and a very organized team to help me be successful in my position.  Even in our busiest times, my team still manages to have fun and enjoy what we do.

If you could tell young employees/professional one important tip to job satisfaction and success, what would it be?
Change is constant.  To be successful, you have to put 100% effort into your job and take pride in it every day.  It’s all about communicating and having respect for your co-workers, customers, and really, everyone in general, if you want to have a successful and satisfying career.

– – –

Tim FonderoliTim Fonderoli
Tenure: 10 years

What is your job function?  How has that evolved over time?
I am a National Accounts Manager and sell to customers all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  When I first started, I was teamed up with another sales rep.  We would go out and door knock locations locally to try and find anyone who needed racking or shelving. We even sold to people who wanted to put shelving in their garages. I did a lot of locker work selling to schools, fire departments, police departments… anyone or any place.  I have since broken off on my own and mainly focus on warehouses and large clients.  I look for opportunities through the internet, referrals and cold calling.

What makes SSI a place you have wanted to stay for so long?
I have only had 4 employers my entire life. A truck stop in Illinois in high school, Master Chief Petty Officer for U.S. Navy, and Director of Admissions at a local college for 4 years before coming to Storage Solutions.  A friend actually recommended me to Craig (McElheny) and Kevin (Rowles). I got the interview, saw the direction Storage Solutions was headed and with the unlimited growth opportunities, I jumped on it. I love my job. I love the people I work with. I love seeing an empty warehouse and when we are done, it’s full of products.   This is a very rewarding job and I can’t see myself doing anything else. I don’t think I want to retire. I can see myself working for Storage Solutions for another 25 plus years! This is my family!!!

If you could tell young employees/professional one important tip to job satisfaction and success, what would it be?
Find a company that solves problems and won’t stifle your growth. You work most of your life. You’ll spend three-fourths of your time every day working. So get with a company and people you can work with, who want to have fun and take care of customers, and you’ll feel like you’re not working. You’re just enjoying your life and all it has to offer.

– – –

Kevin RowlesKevin Rowles
Tenure: 
17 years

What is your job function?  How has that evolved over time?
Current job title:  President.  Past job functions:  Sales manager, Vice President Pharm Lab Division, Executive Vice President.

What makes SSI a place you have wanted to stay for so long?
Challenge – Growth Opportunity – Good People – Great Company!

If you could tell young employees/professional one important tip to job satisfaction and success, what would it be?
Make yourself valuable to your employer. Be creative. Have passion for what you do.  The rest will take care of itself!

– – –

Deana PurevichDeana Purevich
Tenure:
23 years

What is your job function?  How has that evolved over time?
I am currently involved in the Accounting/IT side of Storage Solutions, though I have worn so many hats over the years I’m afraid I lost count.

What makes SSI a place you have wanted to stay for so long?
Storage Solutions will always be a family business in my heart (Dad, Dick McElheny started Storage Solutions, then Penco of Indiana, in 1978).  The many wonderful friendships I’ve created over the years make it an easy place to want to stay.