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Surfaces 2013 Report

Brian’s Blog February 4th, 2013

First of all, if we saw you at Surfaces this year, thank you for stopping by our booth. We were glad to see you and discuss your needs and challenges for 2013.

We were pleased with the overall attendance and traffic this year. Everyone seemed upbeat and reported better sales and opportunities ahead for 2013.

Please contact us toll free at 888-800-BOND (2663) and a live person will be happy to help answer your questions!

Surfaces 2013 Report Read More »

Bond Products Shares its Top 5 Marketing Techniques (part 2)

Bond Products Shares its Top 5 Marketing Techniques (part 2)

…continued

Third, as part of our effort to maximize the potential of the contact information mentioned above, we’ve implemented a regular email marketing campaign that allows us to communicate with and reward our customers.  For this, we use Mailchimp, a simple and free tool (free up to 2,000 subscribers, then reasonably priced after).  Mailchimp is an all-in-one tool that allows us to store, access and manage our mailing lists, create and edit our email newsletters, deliver them to our customer and prospect lists and then track the success metrics of each individual campaign.  Though we aren’t marketing gurus, we are able to understand and tweak our email marketing efforts and measure the results through this one great online marketing tool.  If you are fortunate enough to build a solid email marketing list, this should definitely be a part of your overall marketing plan.

Fourth, we’ve become increasingly aware of the value of social media.  In a global online world that is becoming more locally networked, personal recommendations and social mentions are more and more important to online business success.  To make sure we are part of this global conversation, we have secured our own Facebook and Twitter profiles, and we regularly use them to reach out to our “followers”.  Not only is this a great way to speak to a large audience, but it’s also a great way to maintain a personal relationship with a group of like-minded individuals who might be a half a world away.  We think it’s interesting that something as simple and elegant as social media is actually helping to take a geographically boundless group of people and keep them connected, and can personally attest to the value of your investment in this technique.  The important thing when it comes to social media is to make sure your “messages” are insightful and personal (never self-serving).  As with all opt-in marketing, you shouldn’t spam those who are offering you their attention.

Finally, we’ve been using pay-per-click marketing, learning first-hand why Google Adwords is the top platform for online advertising.  It is completely customizable, and incredibly powerful and precise in the way that it allows you to create, schedule and deliver your ads – down to the point that we can run an ad between certain hours on certain days of the week to a specific geographic region using specific media tools (we’re not kidding!).  This means that we can control our advertising budget like never before imagined.  While there are certainly any number of best practices out there regarding when, where, how, why and what to do with your ad campaigns, we’ve found that it’s best to use the test and tweak tools offered by Adwords to get the optimum results.  With all of the parameters and the instant reaction of Google behind you, it’s easy to let the results dictate your own best practices.   The key to all PPC marketing is never stop trying to improve your results.

Well, there you have it, the top 5 online marketing tools and techniques that we’ve found over the last year.  If you start with #1 and work your way through them, testing and evaluating at every turn (again, the tools themselves make this really easy), you will no doubt start to see some impressive results for yourself.  The worst thing you can do is ignore the evolution and power of the web as a means to reach out and develop relationships with your marketplace!

Bond Products Shares its Top 5 Marketing Techniques (part 2) Read More »

Bond Products Shares its Top 5 Marketing Techniques (part 1)

Bond Products Shares its Top 5 Marketing Techniques

As you might have noticed, we’ve been investing heavily in our website and related online marketing technologies here at Bond Products.  This has had a major impact on the growth of our business, and (more importantly) served as a valuable learning experience for us.  With these online tools, we are able to analyze and adjust any of our marketing efforts with a few clicks.

In our dedication to helping you, our carpet retailers and installers, we’ve decided to share a bit of what we’ve learned in the hopes that it might have a similar impact on your business.  While the proper mix and employment of these techniques will vary for each of you, the following have been the most promising and effective for us.

First, we’ve been steadily increasing our blogging efforts.  This has been helped us in two ways – it has allowed us to provide constant, up-to-date information and advice to our customers, and it has allowed us to “feed” the search engines with fresh content.   As a result, we have strengthened both our rapport and relationship with our customers, and been rewarded with higher placement in the search results by engines such as Google and Bing.  While the ideal frequency and delivery of blog posts is a topic of much debate, we tend to follow the most widely accepted advice and post a minimum of once per week or at least 4 times per month.  If you are thinking of blogging, make sure your posts are well-written, informative, and original, showcasing and sharing your expertise and dedication to service.

Second, we’ve been making use of simple web form technologies that allow us to quickly and easily capture the contact information of our website visitors.  This has probably been the highest return on our web investment, as this incredibly valuable information has the potential for any number of future campaigns and sales.  By capturing and storing this information in a secure database, we are able to access and market to a pre-qualified, targeted group of prospects and customers.  If you are thinking of implementing an online subscribe/register form, make sure are up front about what you will do with the information and that you respect and protect this it at all costs, never selling or using it in any way that doesn’t immediately serve those who have trusted you.  If you invest in solid security, and provide written notice of your privacy policy, you will find that your list will continue to grow in size and potential.

to be continued…

Bond Products Shares its Top 5 Marketing Techniques (part 1) Read More »

Bond Products is Going to Vegas!

Bond Products is Going to Vegas!

Bond Products will be displaying at this year’s 2013 Surfaces Annual Convention at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  This show, which runs from 9-5 on Tuesday, January 29 and Wednesday, January 30 and 9-3 on Thursday, January 31, is the leading floor covering industry event, attracting retailers, distributors, installers, designers, and home builders from around the country.  It is an excellent opportunity to discover the latest in tools and techniques and network with other attendees.

You can find us at Booth #B2428 showcasing Veltron, our new high-quality polyester binding tape that provides a more durable non-fraying edge at competitive prices.  Make sure you stop by for in-person demonstrations and special show discount pricing.  We will also be conducting on-site workshops on some of the latest binding and serging machinery and sundries products (we’re very excited about Instabind – our new time-saving, DIY binding solution).

If you aren’t already registered, be our guest by registering here.  It promises to be an excellent learning and relationship-building event that is sure to provide your retail and/or installer business with plenty of inspiration and ideas for the year to come.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Bond Products is Going to Vegas! Read More »

Bond Introduces Durable New Binding Product

Here at Bond Products, we are always searching for the latest and greatest innovations in our industry, products that allow our customers to provide the highest possible quality at the most economical price.  Recently, we found just such a product, Veltron Poly Binding.

This new filament polyester binding is available from Bond in 7/8″ and 1-1/4″ widths.  The filament fiber technology delivers substantially improved durability. The open mesh weave allows the true carpet color to blend aiding in it’s color match to any rug.

In addition, our new wonder-tape is available in an awesome array of more than 270 colors, virtually ensuring the perfect color match for any application.  Gone are the days of near-matches or off-color edges that fail to blend, drawing unwanted attention.  With so many options and an affordable per roll price, it’s easy to stock everything you need for the ultimate finished look.

Bond Veltron carpet binding is an excellent fit when using a straight stitch machine and resists edge raveling, making it the perfect carpet cove base finish.

If you’d like to learn more about this new, economical binding product, give us a call at 1 (888) 800-BOND.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year!

Bond Introduces Durable New Binding Product Read More »

Retail DIY Carpet Binding Opportunities

Welcome once again to Brian’s Blog
Due to spacing constraints, equipment expenses, and training challenges, many carpet retailers aren’t able to or choose not to offer binding services.  Though they are more than willing to cut and sell remnants to their customers, they don’t offer a way to properly finish the edges.

This presents a wonderful opportunity for properly equipped individuals searching for a market for their skills and services.  With the right planning and some diligent marketing efforts, those who are able to operate professional binding equipment can potentially build a lucrative long-term business serving as the on-site outsourcing solution for these retailers.

The argument for the sales call is relatively simple and straightforward.  If they offer remnants (which most will) and they don’t offer binding services on them, the argument for outsourcing presents itself.

Our portable binding machines and binding/serging supplies allow anyone with the right training to become a traveling workshop able to turn what was once scrap into a solid revenue stream with significant profit potential.

If money and space are the issue, Bond Products also offers a patented DIY Instabind tape that requires no initial investment and applies using only scissors and a hot glue gun. It’s available in many styles and colors and recently we added a nice retail package for retail display.

If you have any questions or would like some insight into how to uncover and pursue these opportunities, don’t hesitate to contact anyone at Bond Products.  [email protected] or 888-800-BOND (2663). We are dedicated to helping you succeed and would be more than happy to share our expertise and experience in this marketplace.

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Bond Products Hosts Successful 2nd Open House

Bond Products Hosts Successful 2nd Open House

Bond Products recently hosted its Second Annual Bond Open House on Thursday, October 11, 2012 from 8-6.  The event was a great success as we shared instruction on some of our latest technologies with vendors from as far away as Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey & Pennsylvania.

Attendees were instructed on the use of several different Bond Products, including 3″ and 5″ Cotton Binding.   While we weren’t quite ready to introduce our new Veltron polyester binding, it should be arriving soon.  Watch for details  as this will be available in 7/8″ and 1 1/4″ widths in 220 colors.

In addition to the training sessions during the course of the event, our dedicated professionals  repaired more than 20 portable and table binders through our special Open House free labor offer.  We’re happy that these machines are once again ready for service throughout the Eastern United States.

Thank you to all who helped to make this year’s Open House event such a wonderful success.  From free food and drinks to free service and instruction, our Open House is becoming quite a tradition.  In fact, make sure you mark your calendar for next year – the Third Annual Bond Open House will be held on October 10, 2013.

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Bond Products Open House – October 11, 2012


 Join us at the 2nd Annual Bond Open

House and learn from the Pros!

 

We are excited to announce that we are hosting our Second Annual Bond Open House on Thursday, October 11, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. We have a lot of things we are offering this year including:

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  • Free labor on portable binder repairs (you just have to pay for the parts)*
  • Free instruction on maintaining and servicing your binder
  • Free training on binding, serging, carving, and fringing techniques
  • A 10 percent discount on all Bond equipment and supplies
  • Trade evaluations on your old equipment if you want to “trade up”
  • …and most importantly…It’s a pizza party! FREE FOOD AND DRINKS.

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In addition to all of this, you will get to see our state-of-the-art carpet workroom. It’s truly an amazing place to see in action.

We hope you’ll take advantage of the services and training as well as the food. We’d love to visit and catch up with all of our friends and to show you all the things we have to offer.

If you have any questions or need directions to our place, just contact us.

See you soon!

 

*Note: Free labor is limited to portable binders only, with a limit of two per customer. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please call ahead and make an appointment.

Bond Products Open House – October 11, 2012 Read More »

Refurbishing a Custom Made Rug

Brian’s Blog #11– Sept 7, 2012

Refurbishing a Custom Made Rug

 

Don’t throw away that family heirloom rug. You can have it cleaned and restored and get many more years of service out of it.

The example above is typical of older carpets that have been restored to almost or like new status. The photograph, a recently restored rug in the Bellevue Hotel Restaurant here in Philadelphia, required a professional cleaning and re-binding. Using a wide tapestry binder, a new leather edge was re-applied to restore it to its original beauty.

Restoring a special rug is really an art. What will be required for restoration depends upon the complexity of the pattern and the wear-and-tear the rug has endured. Examples of needed repairs include the following.

  • The missing warp may need to be rebuilt
  • The right yarns need to be found and woven in to recreate or fill in the design pattern
  • Edges need to be rebound to prevent the rug from fraying and to give it a renewed appearance

The decision whether to toss the rug or get it restored may not be easy since it does involve some costs. However, if the rug has artistic, sentimental, or historical value, you might want to consider having it refurbished because you won’t be able to replace its significance.

If you have any questions about what it requires to refurbish your rug, just contact us. We’ll be happy to talk to you about it. By the way, the rug shown above was rebound using our PBL-TX Tapestry Binder. It’s a great machine!

 

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Hot Melt Turf Seaming Method Using a Seam Sled

Hot Melt Turf Seaming Method Using a Seam Sled

 

When you use Bond’s Turf Tape Seaming System, you really need to use a “seam sled”. There are some things that you do not want to happen while you’re seaming artificial turf together. For example, you don’t want crooked seams, and you don’t want the adhesive you’re using to not bond completely.

The seam sled helps you centrally align the turf tape with the iron under the seam so you’ll have a straight seam line, and it lets you press and tractor turf into the turf tape’s melted adhesive for optimal bonding strength.

The seam sled does more than prevent these things from happening. If you’re having to seam over gravel or stone, or some other kind of rough and uneven surface, the seam sled provides a solid, smooth, and even base, eliminating any distortion or bumpy seams. It also helps prevent delaminating of the turf backing.

When trying to lay artificial turf in cold weather, keeping the iron hot to melt the turf tape adhesive can pose a real problem. The seam sled keeps the iron hot enough for the adhesive to melt completely.

If you don’t use a seam sled, you might find yourself running into a lot of problems that will cost you time and money. Take a look at our video demonstration of artificial turf seaming and see how easy it is to use.

As always, if you have any questions about the turf seaming process, be sure to contact us.

Hot Melt Turf Seaming Method Using a Seam Sled Read More »

The Importance of Training & Education

The Importance of Training & Education

Having recently exhibited at the convention of the now more appropriately named ICFI, the International Certified Flooring Installers (formerly the CFI, Certified Floor covering Installers) I thought it appropriate to comment on the value of proper training to run our type of businesses more effectively and productively.

The convention and annual meeting of the ICFI, a non-profit organization, is designed to teach leadership skills along with proper training and installation techniques to flooring installers. The purpose is to achieve higher quality standards and develop business skills to become more profitable.

With new products and tools available every year, attendees are kept up to date and certified on all the latest technologies. Supported by both vender associates like Bond Products and master certified trainers, the ICFI continues to be at the cutting edge for anyone looking to hone their installation skills.

Please make plans to attend their 20th anniversary convention in Maryland next year!

For more information on next year’s gathering, please contact http://www.cfiinstallers.com.

The Importance of Training & Education Read More »

CFI Annual Convention

Brian’s Blog!

Getting ready to attend the 19th CFI Annual Convention

Come visit us in Nashville August 9-11 and take advantage of state of the art training from certified floor covering instructors! The CFI is strictly an educational event designed to present the flooring industry professionals with the latest installation products. There will be plenty of hands-on workshops as well taught by industry experts.

Since we’re on the topic of CFI, you may want to take a look at one of the articles CFI wrote about what can happen when you don’t use a CFI certified installer. It can get ugly – rippling carpets, mismatched carpet patterns and more!

We sure hope to see you in Nashville! In the meantime, always feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Courtyard at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville where CFI Convention is being held. Come join us!

CFI Annual Convention Read More »

Hot Melt Turf Seaming Method

Brian’s Blog #6 July 24 2012

Hot Melt Turf Seaming Method

Traditional methods of seaming artificial turf fields with polypropylene backing require a large list of supplies and take an enormous amount of labor & cure or set up time, are subject to weather conditions and many other factors. The traditional list of supplies usually includes two part epoxy pales of adhesive, wide Cordora nylon, trowels, and a dispenser sled. A potentially messy, long curing, inefficient method that’s subject to all sorts of weather conditions and extremely expensive.

The Bond Turf Seaming Method is a much simpler, economical, and efficient way to achieve as good or better results! Less time, less expense, less hassles!

Available in fiberglass reinforced three and six inch face seaming tapes along back seaming tapes that are used when sewing is also required, there is no longer a need for messy hard to handle pail adhesives and the long cure times associated with the old antiquated methods.

See a simple video demonstration here or contact us with questions and sample requests.

Hot Melt Turf Seaming Method Read More »

Portable Binder Timing Issues

Welcome to Brian’s Blog!

Trouble Shooting a Portable Binder

One common issue with portable carpet binders is they can go out of time and start skipping stitches. This can be due to many factors. The following will explain the cause and effect that creates the problem and possible remedies. We also have a video describing this along with our PBL manual (download it free on our new website).

The following is our basic troubleshooting guide listed on page 38 of our PBL manual:

 Please note we repair most makes and models of carpet binding equipment and will consider trade-ins toward a new binder when you are ready to upgrade!

Always feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your binding needs.

Portable Binder Timing Issues Read More »

 

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