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Nine Taylor Made Water Systems employees went to the Get Motivated Seminar at HP Pavilion in San Jose on March 25, 2009 to see speakers like Colin Powell, Michael Phelps, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Forbes, Zig Ziglar, and others to get them all pumped up and ready to take on a tough economy with the best run water purification company in the world. 

And it was very motivating.  Many of the speakers addressed the economy and the state of our Nation, but gave reminders that we really are the greatest country on the planet and we will get through this.  We’ve been through much worse.  And in most countries around the globe things are much worse.  Our problems are minimal when compared to the plight of those around the world who face true hardship.  One speaker talked of places he’s visited where drinking the only source of local drinking water would almost certainly kill you.  And many died every year because of contaminated water.

Running a water business, that hit pretty close to home.  And, yes, got me motivated.  Our economy may be a little rough, or it may be the worst since the Great Depression, as many want us to believe.  But, we’re not facing the type of hardships many around the world are facing.  For that, we are blessed.  It’s just a matter of perspective.

So, I choose to have a better perspective and I will go on feeling good about where we are at.  And that’s pretty motivating.

Okay, so the rest of the trade show came and went pretty quickly.  It was Chicago, so there was some great steak to be eaten and many miles of trade show to cover and I couldn’t get back to this blog to help with any undue panic.  For those waiting on the edge of their seat for a solution, here goes.

Obviously, I’m a big proponent of Point of Use (POU) or Point of Entry (POE) treatment of our water.  We need the municipalities to do the heavy lifting making water safe, sanitary, and functional.  Then POE or POU can do the rest to make it nice to shower in or tasty to drink.  There are millions of POU options – we carry the best of them in the TM1R (aka PW1R by PHSI), but there are others.  These devices are great for purified drinking water and, in many cases, even if our infrastructure starts to fail, will protect against most harmful contaminants.  So, we’re pretty good there.

On the POE side, I expect major evolution in the next few years.  In short, salt based water softeners are under attack because opponents allege that they contribute to higher chlorides in our wastewater, streams, and groundwater.  The real problem here is that municipalities now want to treat our wastewater and reuse it (or resell it to us).  High concentrations of chlorides make treatment of the wastewater more difficult (expensive), so softeners are under attack. 

With attacks come change.  Actually softeners have long been under attack in California and elsewhere, so they’ve already seen major changes.  New softeners, with “Demand Initiated Regeneration” use much less salt than older models.  In short, these softeners are much more efficient in their use of salt and they operate on demand instead of on a timer.  To understand this, some basics of a softener operation are necessary.  If this bores you, move to the next paragraph. 

Contrary to most people’s thinking, salt is not used to soften water.  Inside the softener there is a resin (tiny beads) that removes calcium and magnesium from the water, which are the minerals that cause hardness and scaling.  Once this resin is “full,” salt is used to regenerate the resin, knocking the built up calcium and magnesium off the resin and down the drain.  This is regeneration.  In older systems, this is done on a timer, every night while you sleep.  On newer systems, a computer determines when regeneration is actually necessary, based on the amount of water flowing through the device and the level of hardness in the water.  So, much less salt is necessary with these systems and the world is a happier place.  All new systems sold in California must use demand initiated regeneration, but there are many of the old clock timers still regenerating every night.  In a perfect world (for me), I would sell all of these people the newer technology and the problem would be solved.  That’s unlikely, though.

I watched a movie on the plane ride back from Chicago about the world ending (can’t recall the name – not a great movie) and the premise was that right when civilization is on the precipice of defeat, it can change.  I think that is where the softener world is right now.  It has been under attack for years and can only withstand the barrage for so long.  Last year, it almost lost California to a law that would allow communities to ban softeners without any scientific evidence that softeners were causing a problem (current law allows communities to ban softeners only with scientific proof).  More ban proposals are popping up everywhere.  The water industry, with the support of the WQA is fighting back and winning most of the time.  But, the attacks continue.

So, in a basement somewhere right now, someone is creating the solution.  It could be nanotechnology, some new resin that doesn’t need regeneration, or something entirely different.  But, something will come of this.  And that’s pretty exciting.  Exciting in the water world anyway. 

More “Hope and Change” coming from Chicago – WQA Show.

So, day 1 of the Water Quality Association trade show is done and gone and if you’re not in the water industry, you should panic right now. 

This doesn’t make the headlines often, but the U.S. has an ancient infrastructure for our water delivery system (e.g. your “tap water”) and it needs immediate attention.  It is, after all, the lifeblood of every human in America, so it’s rather important.  But, for a number of reasons it gets scant attention.  The main reason being, of course that water in America is cheap.   We pay much more for electricity, gas, and other “utilities” than we do for water, so those get more attention.  Water, to many, is free.  To most of us, it’s not free, but pretty cheap.  We expect good quality, safe water, all we can drink and one low, low price.  Water is a buffet item.  We get irritated when we’re rationed, or asked to conserve.  And even more irritated when it tastes bad.

But, a little careful thought tells you that our water should not taste great.  Most of the water that our municipalities treat is used for toilets, showers, sprinklers, fire hydrants, and other non drinking functions.  My last dog drank from our toilet, so he was concerned about that taste (seemed fine with it), but the rest of us don’t care about toilet taste.  I care about drinking water taste, but my toilet and shower don’t need perfect water.  I’ll treat the drinking water on my own to save us a few billion if necessary.

Yes, billions.  In the age of bailouts, that’s now a small number.  Just a few billion.  According to the opening session today, we need $12-$15 billion per year for infrastructure improvements to our water system.  In short, our infrastructure was built 100 years ago, or 50 years go, depending on where you live.  It was meant to last 100 years, or  50 years, respectively.  Time’s up.  Again, no biggie, but this is what you live on.  Your body is 70% water, so it’s a real live immediate need.   We (not really we, as I got nothing) got $6 Billion in the stimulus package for water infrastructure improvements.  We need $12-$15 Billion per year and we get $6B in the stimulus.  That’s not good.  Water is not as sexy as transportation, energy, or other fun projects.  But, it is 70% of our body, so it’s kind of important.

So, go ahead and panic.  Now is the time.  Before you get really thirsty or shower in contaminated water.  Hopefully tomorrow, I will find the solution.  I’ll let you know.

Anticipation.  That’s the prevailing emotion as one packs and starts gearing up for a trade show.  This one, the Water Quality Association show brings the same.  Of course, it’s in a familiar location.  It seems I’ve been to Chicago more than any city in America due to Trade Shows.  I’m even staying in the same hotel that I stayed in the last time I went to a show in this exact same facility.  Mostly because there’s a Gibson Steak House in the hotel, but that is irrelevant.

I have no anticipation regarding the hotel, the convention center , or the town.  For whatever reason, those who plan conventions appear to lack creativity.  Chicago, Orlando, Chicago, Orlando, then throw in some Vegas.  There’s always more anticipation with Vegas, regardless of the show.  In Vegas, something will happen, something will be different, and there’s always excitement (even if right now the “excitement” is a bunch of construction projects that look like they were abandoned mid hammer strike).

I am excited for this trip as it’s the first time in a long time I’ve traveled with a laptop.  For years, I convinced myself that traveling with a blackberry or PDA (now an HTC Touch Pro) was enough to keep me connected.  Not too connected.  But that just allowed me to write quick, typo filled responses to emails and update my status on Facebook, Tweet a little, and not much else.  Well, I’ve already got a bunch of work done on the plane, and have even started this blog, so I’ll say I’m probably re-converted to a laptop traveler.   Probably not a big deal, but I feel a little like a new man.  Reinvented Casey Taylor, President. 

I was intimidated by the TSA guys and being ordered to “Separate your laptop!!!” but all was good.  Not a huge deal after all. 

Now, back to the anticipation.  Mostly it’s “What’s new?"  One of the best things that can happen at a trade show is the discovery of something new.  Sometimes that’s a new water product that will help our customers and our business.  Sometimes it’s a new process or procedure from a fellow dealer, colleague, or vendor that will change our little corporate world.

There’s little anticipation on “Who?”  More than likely I’ll see all the same people that I always see.  Same water system manufacturers claiming their product is the best, same competitors walking the aisles with us, same “new” product people with their revolutionary product.  Same booth candy, same SWAG. 

As part of this show, I have a meeting with the National Water Dealers’ Association (NWDA) which is a group of point of use water system dealers like us.  We gather twice a year to share ideas, best practices, and try to improve our businesses.  There’s much anticipation here as I never leave those meetings without at least a half dozen great new ideas.  Plus, we’re under the gun to produce with a $20 ante “Best Idea of the Year” competition.  Almost as good as March Madness brackets, but not quite.

Dang – time to turn off “electronic devices,” so that’s it on my anticipation.  Nothing left but the big show now.  Wish me luck!

Press Release – Water Needs Program

Water, Water Everywhere – and it’s Free!

Taylor Made Water Systems, Inc. of Concord, California (www.taylormadewater.com) implemented a unique program to help a few needy and worthy members of its community get free purified drinking water. Taylor Made Water, a provider of water purification systems for business and homes throughout Northern California offered its employees the opportunity to give away some of their drinking water systems. Through a program called the “Water Needs” project Taylor Made Water’s employees were divided into five groups and each was challenged to find an organization that was in need of one of Taylor Made Water’s systems.

To qualify for a system, the employees were required to find a group that met certain criteria. First, the group had to have a financial need. As Casey Taylor, President of Taylor Made Water, explained to his employees, “Many non profits are very well funded and can afford something like a water system – others are not. We are looking for organizations that would really value a system like ours.” The second criterion was that the organization must have a Water Need, which meant that they would value a free source of purified drinking water. Many non-profits use their hard earned, limited funds on bottled water for their clients, customers, and employees, and Taylor Made Water was offering a system for free.

In addition to the financial and water needs, the group needed to be local, within Northern California, connected in some way to a Taylor Made Water employee, and the location must have a potable water supply that a Taylor Made Water technician could use to supply water to one of its point of use purification coolers. With those orders, the employee groups set off to find some water needs. Once they found a group, they submitted a form to Taylor Made Water’s Executive Committee for approval. If approved, a Taylor Made Water technician, who was a member of the employee group bringing the proposal, would install the system.

Ironically, many of the groups Taylor Made Water employees approached would not believe there was “no catch.” Some of Taylor Made Water’s employees were turned away or were forced to “sell” the idea of free water to prospective groups. One such group, who had a bottled water cooler but filled the bottle with tap water to save money, initially refused the offer believing that it was too good to be true. Eventually, they were persuaded and now have a free source of purified drinking water at their San Francisco teen center.

Once convinced, however, the organizations were very appreciative. Dave Tagliareni, Development Director at Love-A-Child Missions, an emergency housing shelter for children and women, reports that he’s heard people exclaim, “The Water tastes great” and “The color of the drinking water is now clear!” Love-a-Child previously provided only tap water, which they report was often a yellow-brown color, so they were especially appreciative of their new Taylor Made water.

Likewise, Ann King, Executive Director of Shiloh was enthusiastic about her new water system. “We are so pleased to have your water system at Shiloh, our Domestic Violence Shelter.  In a year when we have had to reduce all staff hours, you’ve saved us a time intensive chore of going to the store and filling water bottles.  We don’t have to worry about the cost of drinking water.  What a gift!  You are enabling our staff to do what they do best with their limited hours: work with families in crisis.  Yours is a lasting, valuable contribution.  Thank you so much for making our shelter a better, healthier place to be.”  Shiloh previously purchased bottled water with funds they said could be used for staff or maintenance. Due to a fixed budget, they often ran out of water and had to wait for the next month’s budget to replenish.

The Taylor family is no stranger to charity. The Taylors have their own foundation, the Taylor Family Foundation, formed in 1991, whose mission is “Preserving the wellness and enhancing the quality of life for children in Northern California with life-threatening and chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities and youth at-risk through unique therapeutic experiences and support.” The Taylor Family Foundation (www.ttff.org) has helped thousands of children who suffer from conditions such as skin disease, heart disease, Crohn’s, autism, diabetes, bipolar, brain tumors, celiac, and HIV/AIDS by providing medical care, psychological support and an extraordinary summer camp experience. According to Casey Taylor, Taylor Made Water’s Water Needs program was designed to get all of its employees involved in giving something back to a group in need and to build this into the company’s culture. He also believes that charitable deeds are good for business and the many benefits reaped from a program like this provide an excellent long term return on investment. “Sometimes the ROI is financial and other times it is a non financial ROI that has an even greater benefit.” Both employees and customers like to see that your company cares.

Taylor Made Water’s employees agree. According to employee Sarah Martinez, “The Water Needs program is a unique opportunity for Taylor Made employees to give away the best quality water for FREE! One of the reasons I started working here is because this company has a soul. It feels rewarding to share our services with a community or cause that is personal.” Likewise, Katy Crosby says, “This program is a wonderful opportunity to get to know about your community and those in need. There is no better feeling then knowing your helping no matter how big or small.”

“I know this is not a huge donation to any of these organizations and free drinking water will not immediately solve all of their funding problems,” says Casey, “but if we can do a little part to

make their lives easier, or give them a little more time to spend on their core role helping others, then that is something. And a little something is always better than nothing.”

The beneficiaries of Taylor Made Water’s Water Needs program certainly agree. Sometimes a little something is just right.

Contact Information:

Casey Taylor

President

Phone -925-521-9100

info@taylormadewater.com

fax – 925-521-9105

At our first Team Taylor Made meeting of 2009, we announced 2008’s Employees of the Year.

Congratulations to Sean Nguyen, Elizabeth Rieger, and Don Franklin for being named Taylor Made Water’s Employees of the Year.

Sean Nguyen won Technician of the Year for the second straight year.  Taylor Made Water’s technicians are measured monthly on productivity in installations, service calls, filter changes, and other service issues.  Sean met his monthly goal number 11 out of 12 months and was “Tech of the Month” 9 out of 12 months.  Congratulations Sean, on another job well done.

Elizabeth Rieger was Administrative/Operations Employee of the Year for 2008.  These employees are also measured monthly on a variety of customer service goals and job specific duties.  Included in their evaluations is a “Peer to Peer” award in which fellow Admin/Ops employees elect a member monthly as the best of their group.  As a multi-time winner of the Peer to Peer and monthly award, Elizabeth wound up on top of the Admin/Ops group for the year.  Congratulations, Elizabeth!

With a strong first year of sales, Don Franklin won Taylor Made Water’s Salesperson of the Year award for 2008.  Sales reps are measured based on new written sales revenue and, with a very strong fourth quarter in sales, Don was the top salesperson for 2008.  Congratulations Don!  Keep bringing in those numbers!

Congrats to all of Taylor Made Water’s Winner’s Circle winners.  2008 was a great year with many contributors to our successes.  2009 will be even better!