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Latest FCH News
The latest news from FastenersClearingHouse.com, the FCH Sourcing Network
Preferred Search Results Program Announced [8/9/18]
A new program is available to FCH members who list fastener inventory that allows top rankings for their preferred product categories. For example, a company specializing in a certain type of cap screw can now always come up first on FCH when a user searches for that type of cap screw. The program is called FCH Preferred Search Result Program. Details are available on this price list, or contact FCH at 877-332-7836.
Team FCH Returns to Vegas! [7/14/18]
Meet the FCH team at the International Fastener Expo, October 30th thru November 1, 2018 in Las Vegas. This year, we'll be in Booth #2858 with the infamous Fastenerton on display, to show you the latest new features we've added to make sourcing even easier. We'll have our usual array of shwag, and don't forget to ask to record an intro for the Fully Threaded Radio podcast right from the booth. See you in Vegas!
100th FTR Fastener News Report Presented by Mike McNulty [6/15/17]
Episode 117 of Fully Threaded Radio features the 100th edition of Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report, which featured NFDA president, Marc Strandquist, and Rich Cavoto of Metric and Multistandard reporting on the MWFA golf outing. Also featured was another of Mike's "Back Page Report" segments which discussed the importance of reading books. Editor of Fastener Techology International Magazine, McNulty joined the podcast shortly after its launch, and only missed three episodes, once after his beloved Cleveland Indians were defeated in the World Series. Listen to Fully Threaded Radio here. Congratulations Mike, and thank you for your good work over the years!
FTI Scholarship Contest Announced for Fourth Year [5/15/17]
FCH and the Fastener Training Institute have partnered for a fourth year to offer a scholarship that will provide the winner with full tuition to FTI's Fastener Training Week, which entitles the student to sit for the Certified Fastener Specialist exam, a prized accreditation in the fastener industry. Deadline for entries is September 30, 2017, and the winner will be announced in Las Vegas that the NIFMSE. Details are coming soon.
New Program for NFDA Members [1/25/17]
A program that provides benefits to NFDA members has been announced by the FCH Sourcing Network. The new program is designed to provide added value to association membership through the development of a custom search interface that supports contact among NFDA members. The program also offers several attractive features for NFDA members who also have FCH Sourcing Network accounts, although FCH membership is not required. The program will officially launch during the NFDA spring conference in March.
Meet Team FCH / FTR in Long Beach [1/3/17]
The NFDA and Pac-West associations will hold a blow out table top fastener show, joint conference, and golf outing in Long Beach on March 15-18 and Team FCH will be there! The table top show will be held at the Westin Long Beach on March 16th from 3 to 7 PM, and admission is FREE for distributors. The conference features an impressive list of sessions and events. For details and to reserve your spot, visit the Pacific West Fastener Association website.
Deep Links Place Customers in Your Shopping Cart [12/12/16]
More and more fastener distributors are utilizing online "shopping cart" systems, and FCH has answered the call. Under the exciting new Deep Links Program, FCH members who operate web-based sales systems can have customers link right to the point of sale through the sourcing network. Available through pay-per-click or flat rate plans, the new program provides maximum fire power to distributors who have invested in e-commerce.
Preferred Search Results Program Announced [12/7/16]
Everyone knows the importance of coming out near the top of search results. Now, FCH members can ensure their listings always come up on top with the arrival of the FCH Preferred Search Results Program. Under the new program, distributors select one or more product categories for top ranking on FCH, and whenever one of their listings in that category is queried, the listing comes up first and the members' banner ad is displayed on the first page. Like the well-known "Google model", this powerful new feature has been requested by FCH members for a long time. Now it's here. Contact FCH today to secure your commodity category and reserve your place at the top!
INxSQL Auto-Update is Here [11/15/16]
FCH members who also use the popular fastener ERP platform, INxSQL, have long known the ease of loading fastener listings directly from their desktop. Now, the job has been simplified even more with the advent of Auto-Update, which allows users to schedule inventory listing updates from INxSQL into FCH. The new service is available at no additional charge to INxSQL customers who use the latest version of the software. The process makes it even easier to place listings on the FCH Sourcing Network, and it also reduces the chance of stale listings and the needless inquires they cause.
McDaniel Wins 2016 FTR/FTI Scholarship Award [10/27/16]
After receiving a record number of entries, it was announced Shenice McDaniel of Empire Bolt & Screw has won the 2016 FTR/FTI Scholarship award and will receive full tuition for Fastener Training Week. The announcement was made in Las Vegas during the National Industrial Fastener and Mill Supply Expo Hall of Fame award presentation ceremony. Ron Stanley of Empire Bolt was on hand to accept the award on behalf of Ms. McDaniel, and noted what a hard worker and deserving candidate she is. In addition to the grand prize, the FTI also presented runners up awards to four outstanding entrants: Sean Kimport, BBI, Bill Garrison, Fasco Fasteners, Ryan McQueen, All-West Fasteners & Components, and Melissa Miller, BBI. All contest entrants will receive a voucher to attend a training webinar of their choice offered by the FTI.
Ten Years of FCH! [10/16/16]
It was on this day in 2006 FastenersClearingHouse.com was launched to support the industrial fastener industry. Later re-branded FCH Sourcing Network, the platform reaches the decade mark supporting over 12 hundred unique daily users and over 1.3 million inventory listings. To understand the original vision of the network, see the story from Link Magazine, Spring 2007, FCH: Surplus Inventory as Lost Gold Found. Team FCH has big plans for the future, so stay tuned.
FCH / FTR Team Heading to Vegas [8/27/16]
We got motivated early again this year and secured another pretty decent spot for our booth for the 2016 Vegas Fastener Show, NIFMSE, again happening at The Sands Expo Center. You won't want to miss seeing new FCH stuff on our jumbo Fastenertron. Plus, we'll likely have some cool FCH / FTR shwag to pass out, as usual. We're in booth 2233 this year. Please stop by and say hello!
FTI Scholarship Offered for Third Year [7/30/16]
For the third year in a row, FCH / FTR has teamed up with the Fastener Training Institute to offer a full scholarship to Fastener Training Week. Get your CFS and add value to your fastener industry career potential. The winner will be announced in Vegas during NIFS 2016, and the deadline for entries is 9/30/16. Read details about the FCH / FTI Scholarship.
Cleaveland Wins FTR/FTI Scholarship [10/22/15]
The winner of the 2015 Fully Threaded Radio / Fastener Training Institute scholarship award was announced at NIFS in Las Vegas. Mr. Michael Cleaveland of LM Products will be heading to Fastener Training Week to prepare for the CFS certification test. Many thanks to all who entered, each of whom will receive a voucher to attend FTI web training.
See the FCH / FTR Team in Vegas! [8/12/15]
We got motivated early this year and actually secured a pretty decent spot for our booth for the 2015 Vegas Fastener Show, NIFS, again happening at The Sands Expo Center. You won't want to miss seeing new FCH stuff on our jumbo Fastenertron. Plus, we'll likely have some cool FCH / FTR shwag to pass out, as usual. We're in booth 205 this year. Please stop by and say hello!
July FDI Dips Below 50, but BB&T is Back! [8/10/15]
Results of the July FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Although the reading slipped during the month, the seasonally adjusted number fell below the baseline 50 mark, to a disappointing 49.8 in July, we are happy to have BB&T Capital Markets back on board as our analyst team. Hear Wurth Group honcho, Marc Strandquist, comment on the shrinking number on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #96.
FTI Scholarship - Get Certified! [7/30/15]
For the second year, FCH / FTR has teamed up with the Fastener Training Institute to offer a full scholarship to Fastener Training Week. Get your CFS and add value to your fastener industry career potential. The winner will be announced in Vegas during NIFS 2015, and the deadline for entries is 9/30/15. Read details about the FCH / FTI Scholarship.
Join Team FCH at the NCFA Distributor Social! [3/21/15]
It was announced on FTR91 that Brian and Eric will be participating on a panel discussion during the upcoming, 7th annual NCFA Distributor Social, to be held May 17th, 2015 in Independence, Ohio. Also on the panel will be Bob Baer, of Abbott Interfast, and Ryan Kertis, of Stelfast. Industry blogger, The Traveling Salesman, explained this year's event on his well-read fastener blog: Fastener Talk
FTR Episode #91 is LIVE! [3/19/15]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Ninety One, "And So On..." The jovial and informative Mr. Dick Ripley, of Lindstrom, Kevin Chavis, of Star Stainless, Mike White of IPC and more. You'll want to tell two friends!
February FDI Dips Again: 50.4 [3/6/15]
Results of the February FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Although the reading slipped during the month, the seasonally adjusted number remains above the baseline 50 mark, signaling continued growth, albeit weak. Mike McNulty and NFDA president, Paul Tiffany, will expand on the numbers during Fully Threaded Radio, episode #91.
FTR Episode #90 is LIVE! [2/14/15]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Ninety, "Start Your Engines". It's the NASCAR of the fastener industry. Don't miss it!
See You in Vegas: Booth 1855 [10/12/14]
The excitement, the jumbo Fastenertron, the lovely and talented Lynn Dempsey; all are just around the corner as the 2014 NIFS show will take place in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo Center 10/22 - 10/24. FCH will be in the thick of it all in booth 1855. Stop by and pick up your complimentary copy of the founding documents of the United States of America, still the greatest country on the planet. See you there!
NFDA Brings Support to FDI [9/30/14]
Fans of the Fastener Distributor Index have noticed a brief lapse in our usual monthly reporting. This is due to the departure of our long time analyst and friend, Holden Lewis, from the project. The great news is that the NFDA, with strong support from association president, Mr. Paul Tiffany, has stepped up to support the FDI with a new team for analysis and reporting. We look forward to seeing the new FDI report format in late October. We also hope that with the support of the NFDA, we'll be able to increase the number of monthly participants. You can enroll your company to participate here: Fastener Distributor Index
Many thanks to the NFDA, and best wishes to Holden Lewis on his new career path. Thanks also to all FDI participants. We hope to bring value to the industry with current information for a long time to come.
FTR Episode #80 is LIVE! [3/27/14]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Eighty, "Cuatro". Trinity Harware HQ president, Dan Zehnder, John Wachman BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis, and Mike McNulty discuss FDI results for March, and present industry headlines. Brian and Eric chew on the "war on gum".
New Video: INxSQL Connects to FCH [3/14/14]
Users of industry standard ERP platform, INxSQL Software, can learn about the features of the FCH interface on a new video. The 6 minute presentation is available on Youtube, and explains how to search FCH from within INxSQL, as well as uploading inventory to FCH. INxSQL Connects to FCH Video
FTR Episode #79 is LIVE! [3/11/14]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Nine, "Smash Their Guitars". Goldwater Institute constitutional attorney, Nick Dranias, explains the Compact for America. Specialy Sales rep, Aaron Shushan, announces a major new line. BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis, joins Mike McNulty to discuss FDI results for February, as well as industry headlines. Brian and Eric talk politics, music and comedy movies.
Buh Bye ROHS [3/7/14]
Don't worry, there is still plenty of ROHS compliant inventory to be found through FCH, but members will no longer need to worry about designating compliance when uploading listings to FCH. This is because, after conferring with numerous long-time members, we are assuming that the vast majority of stock is compliant. Note that all FCH users should verify with potential sellers to be sure the stock they're buying meets their required needs. Brian Musker will discuss this issue during Fully Threaded Radio 79.
February FDI Hangs Steady: 51.3 [3/6/14]
Results of the February FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, will expand on the numbers and explain the new addition of seasonal adjustment during Fully Threaded Radio, episode #79.
FTR Episode #78 is LIVE! [2/22/14]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Eight, "Fershmoozled". Jay Minichino of the MFDA reports on the recent economic summit meeting in New York. Paul Tiffany and Tracy Lehman report on the recent joint NFDA/Pac-West conference. Mike McNulty and BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis, announce a slight bounce in FDI results for January and share industry headlines. Brian and Eric introduce the FCH Quote Scrubber.
FDI: Slight Uptick in January to 51.5 [2/8/14]
Results of the January FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses what they mean, and also the supplemental question about consolidation trends on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #78.
Beta Users Wanted: FCH Quote Scrubber [2/7/14]
As announced during its most recent Fully Threaded Radio podcast, beta users are needed for the new FCH Quote Scrubber, a tool that allows users to upload raw inventory spreadsheets to the FCH Scrubber. The system cleans and formats the inventory data and optionally adds part numbers before returning the inventory listings back to the user. FCH Quote Scrubber promises to save a significant amount of time for fastener distributors who regularly receive requests for quote via spreadsheets. Contact Eric Dudas.
FTR Episode #77 is LIVE! [2/6/14]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Seven, "So Sorry". Boss of The Fastener Connection and SFA, Michael Rodriguez, tells his story. Bob Reynolds, president of INxSQL, previews his annaul user group meeting. BBI sales VP Mark Andrasik joins Mike McNulty on the Fastener News Report. Brian and Eric shovel snow and hang out in the igloo.
FTR Episode #76 is LIVE! [1/23/14]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Six, "More of the Same". MaryLouise Eckman of All Points recalls her unconventional path to fastener success. Mike McNulty welcomes Reshoring Initiative founder Harry Moser to discuss the current state of reshoring. Plus, Brian Christianson of South Holland Metal Finishing explains the REACH standard. Brian and Eric complain about the cold and conflict minerals.
FCH Expands Links to INxSQL [1/14/14]
Users of industry standard ERP platform, INxSQL Software, will find new features in the latest version of the program. The enhancements provide tighter integration between FCH and INxSQL, including improved fastener search and inventory upload capabilities. Team FCH member, Eric Dudas, will present the new features at the INxSQL User Group Meeting, to be held in Las Vegas in February.
FTR Episode #75 is LIVE! [1/12/14]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Five, "Cold Outside". Well, it is, but this episode warms the hearts of the fastener faithful as Simmi, of Stelfast, along with NFDA and Hodell-Natco president, Kevin Reidl, join the show. Mike McNulty and BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis announce the slipping FDI results for December and share industry headlines. Brian Musker received an electric coat for Christmas to fight all the global warming.
Fastener Distributor Index Ends Year With a Dip: 50.0 [1/9/14]
FDI completes its second year, and final results of the December FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been published. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses the end of year decline, and the year in review on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #75.
FTR Episode #74 is LIVE! [12/12/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Four, "Reindeer Games". It's that wonderful time of year! Jun Xu describes BBI's approach to growth, and Dan Zehnder spreads his brand of seasonal fastener cheer. Plus, sliding November FDI results and industry headlines, with Mike McNulty and Holden Lewis.
Fall Slightly Cools November FDI: 51.7 [12/9/13]
Results of the November FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses what we can read into the reading on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #74.
FTR Episode #73 is LIVE! [11/14/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Three, "Purple & Red", Another Vegas show. and another FTR review. Plus, October FDI results.
FDI Surges Back in October: 52.7! [11/6/13]
The exciting results of the October FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses the rebound on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #73.
FTR Episode #72 is LIVE! [10/19/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy Two, "Open for Business", BBI VP of Sales, Steve Andrasik, announces the merger of the industry's two larest master distributors. Don "Solution Man" Shan explains his company's bold new expansion moves. Mike McNulty and Holden Lewis review the surprising FDI reading from September. Plus, Rob Lucas presents his views on the PFC merger with BBI. Hosts Brian and Eric preview the upcoming Vegas show.
Heading to Vegas? [10/11/13]
If you're heading the big show in Las Vegas later this month, you're invited to visit with Team FCH in booth #1704, where you can see the latest FCH enhancements on the famous, jumbo "fastenertron" monitor. You'll also have a chance to pick up a very patriotic show gift, and to record a cameo for the next Fully Threaded Radio. We hope to see you there!
FDI Plunges in September to 45.4 [10/7/13]
Results of the September FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses what they mean, and also the supplemental question about master distributor consolidation on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #72.
FTR Episode #71 is LIVE! [9/26/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy One, "Wurth It", Wurth Group executive vice president, Mr. Marc Strandquist, explains Wurth's lofty ten year expansion plan and how he intends to achieve it. Pam Berry and Jennifer Friel, of the WIFI group, drop in to preview their group's upcoming Vegas show extravaganza. On the Fastener News Report, Marty Nolan joins Mike McNulty to announce a big upcoming NCFA event. Meanwhile, Brian and Eric recount their iOS7 upgrade experiences.
300 Stainless Categorization Changes [9/24/13]
FCH users will notice that 316 / A4 series stainless has been broken out into a separate stainless class. Found under the Material options on the FCH Search page, the new class has been separated into its own category after several FCH users pointed out how helpful it would be in avoiding misquotes generated from the previous 300 series stainless class, which grouped all 300 stainless together. As always, the enhancement is thanks to the input of faithful users. FCH continues to improve!
FTR Episode #70 is LIVE! [9/12/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventy, "Kickstart", Charlie Kerr, of Kerr Lakeside, talks reshoring, baseball, fastener dogs, and more. Rick Perkhaus, of Fastener Specialties Manufacturing, describes an extrememly small set screw. Also, Mike McNulty and Holden Lewis review the slightly higher August FDI numbers. Plus, Brian and Eric react to the recent announcement from Apple.
Slight Uptick in FDI for August: 50.8 [9/6/13]
Results of the August FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses what they mean, and also the supplemental question about leading indicators on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #70.
FTR Episode #69 is LIVE! [8/22/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Nine, "Probable Cause", Don Haggerty, of Stelfast, shares his insights into the latest threaded rod anti-dumping story. The Pac-West fall conference is just around the corner, and association president, Russ Doran, previews the big event. On the Fastener News Report, Mike McNulty delivers the latest headlines and discusses the current attack on the Fourth Amendment.
Fastener Industry Video Finally Indexed [8/9/13]
See your industry friends and maybe even yourself in the Youtube video the FCH team played at FastenerTech '13. It's finally been indexed correctly and you don't want to miss it!
Click here: Fastener Industry Video
FTR Episode #68 is LIVE! [8/8/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Eight, "Dubious Soup", Porteous Fastener Company partner, Bob Porteous, explains recent developments at PFC. A. Raymond Tinnerman is an early adopter of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Also, Mike McNulty and Holden Lewis review the July FDI numbers.
FDI Slips Again in July: 49.7 [8/6/13]
Results of the July FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, will explain the numbers and the interesting divergence from the PMI on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #68.
FTR Episode #67 is LIVE! [7/11/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Seven, "Back from the Bush", Brian and Eric return from the North to welcome Andy Cohn, of Duncan Bolt. Rich Cavoto announces the results of the 61st annual MWFA golf outing. Plus, Mike McNulty and Holden Lewis run down the June FDI.
FCH Passes One Million Lines!!! [7/10/13]
The world's largest online industrial fastener sourcing network has reached a long sought milestone: Our database now features over ONE MILLION listings! Thanks to all our users for your ongoing participation! W we hope to serve your company for a long time to come.
Backtrack: June FDI Slips to 51.3 [7/8/13]
Results of the June FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, will run down the numbers on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #67.
FTR Episode #66 is LIVE! [6/20/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Six, "Who Took My Burger?", Kevin Reidl is the incoming president of the NFDA and the president of Hodell-Natco. Hear his plans for the nation's largest national fastener organization. Holden Lewis and Mike McNulty review the May FDI numbers. Brian laments an unexpected lunch time experience during FastenerTech '13.
FDI Ticks Up in May: 52.4 [6/5/13]
Results of the May FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, will announce a slight rise in the numbers on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #66.
FTR Episode #65 is LIVE! [6/3/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Five, "Printing Progress", Elgin Fastener Group VP, Marty Goeree, describes his role and the future for EFG. Mike McNulty introduces new Nucor sales manager, Chris Gasser. Brian and Eric preview their upcoming break-out session at FastenerTech '13
FCH to Host Fastener Tech Session [5/20/13]
FCH will host a break-out session, entitled "Trends and New Tools for an Evolving Industry", during Fastener Tech 2013. The session takes place June 11th at 4:00 PM just off the show floor, and just ahead of the cocktail reception. This year's Fastener Tech happens June 10 - 12 in Rosemont, Illinois. There is no charge to attend the fast-paced session, which will feature Eric Dudas, Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, as well as a live 3D printing demonstration.
FTR Episode #64 is LIVE! [5/16/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Four, "I Began as a Janitor", Brian and Eric return and welcome Jackie Hunter and Jim Overlin, of the Chicago Stelfast office. Mike McNulty and Holden Lewis dissect the sagging FDI numbers from April. NCFA Distributor Social, Mel Kirsner Golf Tourney, and All American Fastener Show are reviewed. Solution Man swoops onto the FTR team.
FDI Sluggish in April: 51.6 [5/7/13]
Results of the April FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses the sluggish April FDI numbers on Fully Threaded Radio, episode #64.
Server Farm Build-Out Announced [4/26/13]
Major upgrades to the FCH infrastructure have been announced. Upgrades to both hardware and software systems supporting the FCH Sourcing Network will improve performance and support forthcoming enhancements. The build-out is expected to take several months to deploy and test.
FTR Episode #63 is LIVE! [4/25/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Three, "Grade 7 Fastener Radio", special guest hosts, John Butler, of K&L Sales, and Andy Pels, of ScrewCrew.com, take the reigns, and welcome industry pundit, Rob Lucas. Jason Sandefur, of GlobalFastenerNews.com, covers on the Fastener News Report. Buckeye Fasteners joins the FTR team.
FTR Episode #62 is LIVE! [4/11/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty Two, "Farewell Baroness", Carmen Vertullo explains the Bay Bridge fiasco. Rich Cavoto of MMCC, and industry blogger, Traveling Salesman, see improved business conditions. On the Fastener News Report, Mike McNulty reviews the March FDI numbers with Holden Lewis, of BB&T.
FDI Rebounds in March: 52.8 [4/5/13]
Results of the March FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses the March FDI reading on the next episode of Fully Threaded Radio.
FTR Episode #61 is LIVE! [3/28/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty One, "Tacos & Cigars", Bob Baer, of Abbott Interfast, guest hosts to interview Fed economist, William Strauss. Lou Boyd, from The Olander Company, reviews the Pac-West spring conference and describes conditions in Silicon Valley. On the Fastener News Report, Mike McNulty interviews incoming IFI chairman, Steve Paddock.
FTR Episode #60 is LIVE! [3/7/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixty, "We Have Assumed Control", Jackie "Kind of a Big Deal" Ventura talks current business conditions, her favorite smart phone platform, and the upcoming NCFA distributor social. Richard Manno Company EVP and turn-around artist, Vince Chiappone, describes his experience entering the fastener industry to fix an ailing manufacturing business. Holden Lewis and Mike McNulty review the latest FDI numbers, and also the MSC and Barnes Distribution deal. Brian and Eric do their thing.
FDI plunges to 48.7 in February [3/4/13]
Results of the February FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses the shocking drop-off on the next episode of Fully Threaded Radio.
FTR Episode #59 is LIVE! [2/21/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Nine, "Start Shrugging", Nick Smith, of Nick's Fasteners & Supply in Casper Wyoming, describes life on the fastener frontier. Tracy Lehman, of Pacific Warehouse Sales, previews the upcoming Pac-West table top and spring conference. Plus, Steve Andrasik, of BBI, joins Mike McNulty to discuss big changes to the Brighton Best website.
FTR Episode #58 is LIVE! [2/7/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Eight, "Gunsolidation", Stelfast president, Simmi, surging January FDI results, and MWFA president, Matt Delawder on Fastener Tech '13. BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis joins Mike McNulty on the Fastener News Report. Bonus: Imagine no threaded fasteners!
January FDI surges to 56.9! [2/5/13]
Results of the January FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, discusses the dramatic rally on the next episode of Fully Threaded Radio.
Beta Program Announced: Receive FCH Inquiries Via Text [1/25/13]
FCH announced a new beta program during its most recent Fully Threaded Radio podcast. The program provides FCH members access to a new mobile version of FCH that supports SMS text messaging for all inquiry related activites, which are currently handled with email. The mobile version of FCH will be expanded over time to support several new features that will be announced during upcoming episodes of the popular industry podcast.
FTR Episode #57 is LIVE! [1/24/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Seven, "Thanks, Hoss", Dan Zehnder returns with the second installment of "Legends of the Industry", this time with Ed McIlhon of Assembled Products. Paul Cabot, of Main Source, describes the view from the northeast, and looks back at the fastener dot-com bubble. Elgin Fastener Group VP Tim Busching joins Mike McNulty on the Fastener News Report.
Over 1K Per Day [1/14/13]
As 2013 begins, the FCH Soucring Network continues to serve the fastener industry with the largest database of its kind on the Internet, rapidly approaching 900,000 listings. Network users are responding. As of this date, typical daily averages of unique companies sourcing through FCH exceed 1,000 per business day. New features and functionality, including the new interfaces to Computer Insights, Distribution One and INxSQL, and others soon to be announced, are expected to drive these numbers higher during the coming year.
FTR Episode #56 is LIVE! [1/10/13]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Six, "Narrowly Averted", the year in review and the year ahead, as analyzed by the semi-all star panel of Andy Pels, John Butler and Tom Buddenbohn. Rob Lucas of Fidelis Fasteners explains his view of recent industry consolidation. Mike McNulty presents the Fastener News Report.
FDI Completes One Year - Input Requested [1/7/13]
The Fastener Distributor Index (FDI) has completed its first full year of
monthly surveys. The goal of the FDI is to provide a clear and current
snapshot of fastener industry activity and sentiment on a monthly basis.
Almost 90 North American fastener distributors participated during the year, and
your input is respectfully requested during the year ahead. The monthly survey
takes less than two minutes to complete online, and all information is strictly
confidential.
The next open survey period begins on January 30th. Please visit the FDI
website to request an ID for your company and you will receive email
notification when it's time to log in to participate. FDI participants are
also the first to receive the detailed monthly report of results, compiled by
BB&T Capital Markets.
To request your ID, and to view the historical FDI numbers, please visit: FDI Survey Website
December FDI rebounds: 48.4 [1/3/13]
Results of the December FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets, will have expanded coverage on the next episode of Fully Threaded Radio.
FTR Episode #55 is LIVE! [12/10/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Five, "Cliff Jumpers", Charlie Kerr, of Kerr Lakeside, explains his view of the impending "fiscal cliff" and its potential affect on family-owned businesses. Jay Queenin describes a new agenda for the NFDA. Ruth Dowling joins Mike McNulty on the Fastener News Report.
FDI for November slips again: 46.1 [12/5/13]
Results of the November FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Don't miss the next exciting episode of Fully Threaded Radio for detailed analysis by BB&T Capital Markets analyst, Holden Lewis.
FTR Episode #54 is LIVE! [11/15/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Four, "No Business Like Bolt Business", Dan Zehnder presents the first installment of the "Legends of the Industry" series, with Jim and John Zehnder. Heidi Voltrauer discusses the upcoming All-American Fastener Show. Also, Mike McNulty presents the Fastener News Report featuring the latest FDI numbers and analysis.
FDI for October drops: 46.8 [11/5/13]
Results of the October FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Tune in to fastener industy podcast sensation, Fully Threaded Radio, for the detailed analysis by BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis.
FTR Episode #53 is LIVE! [10/18/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Three, "Inner Sanctum", Traveling Salesman and Metric and Multistandard's Rich Cavoto review NIFS. Dan Zehnder of Trinity Hardware HQ, plus Pam Berry of WIFI reports from a forbidden location. Also, a wide variety of industry personalities play Fastener Word Association.
FCH Heads to Vegas [10/9/12]
The FCH Team will be in booth #1715 at the NIFS show in Las Vegas, October 11 & 12, discussing the new interface between FCH and software platforms Business Edge, Distribution One, and INxSQL, which simplifies listing and maintaining inventory on the FCH Sourcing Network.
FDI for September drops: 48.2 [10/2/12]
Results of the September FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Tune into the next episode of Fully Threaded Radio for detailed analysis by BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis.
FTR Episode #52 is LIVE! [9/27/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty Two, "Alphabetical Order", Greg Wiener, of Quickscrews International, and Julee Mortensen, of Lucky 13 Fastener Sales, dust it up in a pre-election fastener political shoot out. From the WIFI organization, Ruth Dowling and Cris Young preview their upcoming meeting at the Vegas show, and share the latest updates. Mike McNulty presents industry headlines, and welcomes Joe Peplinski, of Beacon Fasteners & Components, who has news of an exciting forthcoming technology partnership.
FTR Episode #51 is LIVE! [9/13/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty One, "Frosty Malted Fastener Radio", Mike McNulty and Holden Lewis explain the latest FDI numbers on the Fastener News Report, John Wachman, of Desert Distribution, talks training and the "fastener rat pack", and Larry Kelly, of Buckeye Fasteners, makes an important announcement about Old Rusty Bolt Beer as it relates to the Vegas show.
FDI for August rebounds to 51.0 [9/3/12]
Results of the August FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Tune into the next episode of Fully Threaded Radio for detailed analysis by BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis.
FTR Episode #50 is LIVE! [8/23/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifty, "The New 35", industry legend, Mr. Ron Sackheim shares his thoughts on conditions in the current fastener market, and also his experience as torch carrier during the 1984 summer Olympics. Stelfast president, Simmi, discusses the latest FDI numbers and the latest developments at one of the leading fastener importers as they gear up for another Vegas show. Mike McNulty welcomes Mike Weaver of USA Fastener Group, and Brian and Eric survey the industry in their typical meandering fashion.
Listings Exceed 750K Mark! [8/17/12]
Continuing its growth pattern, and affirming its place as the largest online database of its kind, FCH announces that member listings today inched above the 750,000 line mark for the first time. While the total number of searchable fastener inventory listings fluctuates from day to day, based on member activity, this was a high water mark for the fastener industry's go-to fastener sourcing network, and another signal that FCH is here to stay.
FTR Episode #49 is LIVE! [8/9/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Nine, "Grateful Thread", Holden Lewis breaks news of falling FDI numbers in July on the Fastener News Report, with Mike McNulty, but spirits are high as Brian and Eric celebrate the birthdays of two great heroes. Plus, Don "Solution Man" Shan, of Solution Industries, talks fasteners, and NFDA president Jay Queenin shares exciting news about the country's largest fastener trade association.
FLASH: FDI for July dips to 45.1 [8/6/12]
FDI shows contraction. Results of the July FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released. Note that survey participants receive detailed reports directly from FCH upon publication.
FCH to Exhibit in Las Vegas [7/16/12]
Meet the FCH team October 11 & 12, 2012, at this year's NIFS in Las Vegas. New features will be on display in booth 1715 on the jumbo "fastenertron" screen. We hope to see you there!
FTR Episode #48 is LIVE! [7/12/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Eight, "Do Beavers Have Ears?", Brian and Eric return from the Canadian wilds and welcome Reshoring Initiative founder, Harry Moser, along with Andy Cohn, of Duncan Bolt. MWFA Fastener Expo and golf outing interviews and coverage, plus Holden Lewis with the June FDI readings on Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report.
FDI for June is 51.6 [7/2/12]
Results of the June FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released.
FTR Episode #47 is LIVE! [6/14/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Seven, "Doing Fine", Mr. Charlie Kerr, of Kerr Lakeside, presents his view of the industry and current political conditions, and industry blogger, Traveling Salesman, provides details on the recent NCFA distributor's social. BB&T Capital Markets analyst, Holden Lewis, discloses the FDI numbers for May with Mike McNulty on the Fastener News Report.
FDI for May is 56.3 [6/7/12]
Results of the May FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released.
FTR Episode #46 is LIVE! [5/24/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Six, "Not Like the Others", Mark Alperin and Mark Klosek, of Vertex Distribution, discuss the stainless business, Stelfast branch manager, Ted Nieman, describes current market conditions, and Rosa Hearn, of BBI, explains the facility expansion of the leading fastener importer along with Mike McNulty on the Fastener News Report.
FTR Episode #45 is LIVE! [5/10/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Five, "In the Money", Joe Peplinski, of Beacon Fasteners and Components, describes the winning attitude. Then, Kelly Lehman, of Pacific Warehouse Sales, reviews the results of the Mel Kirsner Memorial Golf Tournament. Several NFDA members weigh in from their spring conference in Atlanta, and Mike McNulty presents the latest FDI numbers.
FDI for April is 53.8 [5/7/12]
Results of the April FDI Fastener Distributor Index have been released.
FTR Episode #44 is LIVE! [4/26/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Four, "Ninety Seven Five the Rod", part 2 of Bruce Darling's address to the SFA, Mike McNulty interviews Mark Packard, of Rocknel Fastener, on the Fastener News Report, and Andy Pels of ScrewCrew.com. What does the fastener industry think of the new industrial supply offering by AmazonSupply.com?
FDI for March is 55.9 [4/16/12]
Results of the February and March FDI, Fastener Distributor Index, have been released following the March open survey period. See the April/May issue of Fastener Technology International magazine, or read the PDF version here: March FDI report
FTR Episode #43 is LIVE! [4/12/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Three, "Threadology", part 1 of Bruce Darling's address to the SFA, Mike McNulty discusses the March FDI numbers with Holden Lewis on the Fastener News Report, and QuickScrews International CEO, Greg Wiener, talks about the SCOTUS review of Obamacare. Hosts Brian Musker and Eric Dudas delve into the origins of the zip code system.
Fastener Listings Exceed 700K [4/10/12]
There are now over 700,000 fastener inventory listings in the public FCH database available for search. The FCH team will continue to expand the FCH Sourcing Network while more attention is being focused on improving the quality of existing listings, and working with members to ensure that listings are current and accurate. New features will be announced soon that will assist in these efforts.
New Inventory Export Tool Announced [3/30/12]
FCH members can now export their FCH fastener listings into a spreadsheet any time and on-demand. The new utility, in essence, allows FCH members to use the FCH Scrubber to cleanse and format their inventory data. The new utility is available to all FCH members and there is no additional cost to access the export feature, which is accessible via the secure inventory management area of the website. FTR Episode #42 is LIVE! [3/29/12]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty Two, "Afterglow", Mike McNulty talks with Rob Lucas, of Fidelis Fasteners, on the Fastener News Report to cover the Taiwan International Fastener Show. Highlights of the SFA spring conference are presented by Tom Stocking, of Stelfast. Co-host, Eric Dudas, describes what happened at the Pac-West conference. Special guests from beyond "the cheddar curtain", John Butler and Marty Meyer, of K & L Sales, talk shop, tech, and brewing from America's dairyland. Brian and Eric agree on their favorite single malt scotch.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty One, "High Speed Fail", Mr. Robbie Gilchrist, of Capital Marketing, discusses his long career in fasteners, and describes the Gilchrist Scholarship Foundation. Tyson Clayton, of Desert Fasteners & Supply, explains how he's succeeded in the tough Las Vegas construction market. Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report features a discussion with Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets. Brian and Eric expect internal combustion to remain an important aspect of transportation for some time to come.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Forty, "Fame", Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report features a discussion with Marc Weber, of Wurth USA, as they announce a new partnership with GM dealers. Terri O'Barski, of Hayes Bolt & Supply, talks fasteners and "fastener brats". Joanne Bialas previews the upcoming SEFA spring conference. Brian and Eric note another multi-lobular predicament for the world's best-known smart phone.
January was the first month of the new Fastener Distributor Index, FDI, and after strong distributor support during the open survey period, the results have been published in Fastener Technology International magazine, in the February issue on page 106. Read the January FDI results here.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Nine, "Survey Says...", Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report features a discussion with BB&T analyst, Holden Lewis, about January results of the new Fastener Distributor Index. With over 55 years in the industry, Jay Mont, of American Imperial Screw, shares his perspectives. Also, Josh Glaser previews the upcoming Pac-West spring conference.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Eight, "Soapapeepa", Former Heads and Threads CEO, Mike Wrenn, discusses the demise of HTI and his new mission of providing value for distributors. Beacon Fasteners manager, Joe Peplinski, presents his take on current market conditions, and Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report discusses the FIN annual survey.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Seven, "Indexing the End of Time", BB&T Capital Markets analyst, Holden Lewis, joins Mike McNulty on a special extended edition of the Fastener News Report to discuss the new Fastener Distributor's Index, FDI. QuickScrews International CEO, Greg Wiener, describes his entry into the solar field, and sets up his forthcoming punditry on future FTR episodes. The charming Rebecca Day, of Exact Industries, likes the new FCH program for Pac-West. Hosts Brian Musker and Eric Dudas decide that the Mayans must have been wrong about the whole 2012 end of time thing.
Finishing touches are being added to an online survey application that will soon be released in support of the new Fastener Distributor Index, FDI,
which has been developed jointly by FCH and BB&T Capital Markets. Invitations are being sent to fastener distributors so that the monthly survey can be completed at the end of January, which will be the first month of the new industry index.
Details can be viewed here.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Six, "The Gift", Stelfast president, Simmi, drops in to offer her take on recent steel price announcements, and an all-star panel wraps up the fastener year. Andy Pels, J.R. Prahl and The Traveling Salesman discuss the top stories of the year and look ahead with their predictions. Hosts Brian Musker and Eric Dudas reminisce on their early marketing efforts, and deliver their holiday wishes to the FTR audience.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Five, "Completely Different", Steve Dunham of Sasco Fasteners describes his experience with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". Marc Strandquist, of Dokka Fasteners, and John Grabner discuss the recent acquistion of Cardinal by the Wurth Group. Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report wraps up the headlines and features Jim Derry, of Field Fasteners. Beacon quality manager, Jerry Stoczanskyj talks quality. Hosts Brian Musker and Eric Dudas change the subject and look at Apple's Siri voice recognition technology.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Four, "Viva Sans Andy", Rich Cavoto and Traveling Salesman join Brian and Eric to review NIFS '11. Mike McNulty delivers the fastener headlines including an interview with NIFS show manager, Susan Hurley. Interviews from the show floor, plus the answer to the question everyone was asking: Where was Andy Pels this year? Don't miss FTR34, which is being called the most daring episode yet!
The 2011 edition of NIFS is in the history books, and it was widely regarded as a big success. FCH was there to meet as many network users as possible during the three day event. Detailed coverage from the show floor will be published soon, on episode 34 of Fully Threaded Radio. Brian and Eric were ready for day one of North America's largest fastener show in this photo.
Please visit the FastenersClearingHouse.com booth, #151, at this year's NIFS show in Las Vegas. We'll be showing some of the soon to come FCH features we've been describing on Fully Threaded Radio, and we have a special hand out for FCH members who stop by. See you there!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Three, "Thought Waves", Fastener Technology International Magazine editor, Mike McNulty, delves into the "return" of the Heads and Threads story. SEFA president, Joanne Bialas, announces Nancy Rich as the new executive director of the Southeastern Fastener Association. Lou Boyd, of The Olander Company, describes the fastener biz in Silicon Valley, and fastener philosopher, Charlie Accetta, shares his views on changing times, and making life changes. Meanwhile, hosts Brian and Eric discuss the upcoming NIFS show and report on a near tragic corn maze story.
The genesis and progress of the voice of the FCH Sourcing Network, Fully Threaded Radio, is described in the October/November issue of Fastener Technology International Magazine. The two page story explains how and why the fastener industry podcast was created and features a photo of hosts Brian and Eric in their "east studio". See the FTR feature story online here.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty Two, "Deja Vu Again", all new, yet vaguely familiar, the Nucor anti-dumping case is back and explained by attorney Mark Lehnardt. IFI chairman, Jennifer Friel, previews her upcoming NIFS appearance. Brighton Best International sales manager, Rick Finau, talks fasteners, cars and secrets to a happy marriage. Fastener Technology International Magazine editor, Mike McNulty, offers the latest details in the Cardinal bankruptcy story, while hosts Brian and Eric await the iPhone 5 and learn how the saluki became the mascot of SIU.
FCH rolled out the new program for North American Fastenal locations beginning this week as select Fastenal inventory became available through FCH and training for regional managers began. The program was prototyped for 9 months on a limited basis before the decision was made to extend it on a full scale. Fastenal will use the program to market segments of its stock inventory, while stores will have access to the FCH Sourcing Network under a customized interface. A series of new features is planned for development under terms of the program.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty One, "Go West", avoiding high winds and flooding in the east, FTR looks west and discusses the new Stelfast branch in L.A. with Don Haggerty. Tom Buddenbohn of Technology Southwest talks fasteners, NFDA, Texas and beer. Ann Marie Houghtailing previews her appearance at the Vegas show, and Mike McNulty covers the acquisition of the Elgin Fastener Group. Brian and Eric note that during tumultuous times you can usually depend on one place to get a waffle.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirty, "Ringing in the Rain", Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report covers the Grainger / Fabory deal with comments by BB&T Capital Markets analyst, Holden Lewis. Russ Doran, of Timberline Fasteners, Jerry Stoczanskyj, of Beacon Fasteners and Components, and the legendary Bruce Darling, join FTR with their perspectives on the world of industrial fasteners. Hosts Brian and Eric explain the stormy demise of Brian's iPhone.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Nine, "Big Spending", features Bruce Darling, Denny Cowhey, Jay Queenin and Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report. Hosts Brian and Eric discuss further experimentation with Twitter and the debt ceiling fiasco.
The FCH team will be at the National Industrial Fastener Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 19 through 21st. Stop by booth #151 to say hello. We're right next to the NFDA hospitality booth! We will have an exciting new premium to give away at this year's show, and we'll also be recording segments for Fully Threaded Radio. See you in Vegas!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Eight, "Breaking Wind Stories", features Dokka Fasteners CEO, Marc Strandquist and Rob Lucas of Fidelis Fasteners. Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report covers the chapter 11 filing by Cardinal Fastener, and BB&T Capital Markets analyst, Holden Lewis, reports on market conditions for distributors. Hosts Brian and Eric consider fastener flash mobs, and the blue screen of death.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Seven, "My Thumb Hurts!", features Fastener Tech '11 show floor interviews, Joe Peplinksi of Beacon Fasteners & Components, and Pam Berry and Lou Aderman from WIFI. Mike McNulty's Fastener News Report is made right from Fastener Tech. Hosts Brian and Eric discuss the show, IPV6, and get ready to head north for the Ontario muskie season opener.
The FCH team looks forward to meeting you at Fastener Tech '11 in Rosemont, Illinois, June 13th thru 15th. Stop by booth #826 on the 15th to say hello and pick up a deluxe FCH mouse pad, suitable for any computing challenge. Also, managing partner, Eric Dudas, will present "Trends in Social Media for Fastener Professionals" on June 14th at 10:00 AM. There is no charge for the seminar. See you there!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Six, "Heads and Teds", features a conversation with Bob Porteous as he discusses the acquisition of Heads and Threads. Also, blogger Traveling Salesman reviews several recent industry events and discusses his most controversial blog post ever. Mike McNulty, of Fastener Technology International, presents the Fastener News Report, while Brian and Eric compare the voice of the Man with the Golden Voice to a long-time industry insider.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Five, "The Stalking Horse", featuring industry legends Ron Sackheim and Mike McGuire. Also, John Gaudette announces the winners of the second annual Mel Kirsner Memorial Golf Tournament. FTI editor, Mike McNulty, presents the Fastener News Report and addresses the real causes of the problems in Detroit. Brian and Eric compare horses that stalk and ones that talk.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Four, "Twentyfour", featuring John Gaudette, Reno manager for Metric & Multistandard Components Corporation & V.P. of The Pacific-West Fastener Association, Jim Derry of Field Fastener Supply, and Holden Lewis of BB&T Capital Markets. FTI editor, Mike McNulty, provides the latest Fastener News Report and unveils his plan to offset runaway government spending. Brian and Eric realize that the secret is out; we can be tracked by our smart phones.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Three, "Domestically Brewed", the case for buying home grown is discussed, featuring IFI technical director, Joe Greenslade, Harry Moser, of the Reshoring Initiative, Janice Ceresa, of Anixter, and Russ Mellott, of Activant Solutions. FTI editor, Mike McNulty, provides the latest Fastener News Report. Brian and Eric confirm that they have no fear of spying ducks. Under no circumstances should you miss FTR23!
FCH members should be careful at all times to ensure inventory inquiries are being made by bona fide buyers. The same rules apply to online sales that you would follow in a traditional brick and mortor setting when dealing with potential new customers. Verify address and payment information whenever you are not sure who the customer is. Online scammers are active across the Internet, and although we do our best to filter them out, some will get through. Please take all necessary precautions during all transactions! This includes checking with the bank before shipping suspicious credit card transactions.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty Two, "You Call That a Knife?", featuring Brighton-Best sales VP, Steve Andrasik, NFDA VP, Matt Ulrich, North Coast Fastener Association president, Kelly Hommel, and Fastener Technology International editor, Mike McNulty with the latest Fastener News Report. Brian endures screeching kookaburra and fruit bats in Sydney, Australia. Get down under with FTR22!
Introducing FCH Social Sourcing: American Fastener Journal Story [3/14/11]
Learn how to answer the basic questions of social networking for the fastener business, and get the first take on FCH social sourcing on page 44 of the March/Aprill 2011 issue of AFJ. Eric Dudas will be expanding on this article during a presentation at FastenerTech '11 in Rosemont, Illinois on June 14th, 2011.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty One, "Eye Robot", featuring Andy Cohn, of Duncan Bolt, Nacy Rich, of the MWFA, Andy Pels of ScrewCrew.com, and Fastener Technology International editor, Mike McNulty with the Fastener News Report. Brian and Eric celebrate one year of FTR, and offer their commentary on a variety of related issues. Tune in to FTR21!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twenty, "Headlines and Threadlines", featuring Tom Buddenbohn from the NFDA booth in Stuttgart, Germany, Rob Lucas commenting on the situation at Heads and Threads, BB&T Capital Markets analyst Holden Lewis, and Fastener Technology International editor, Mike McNulty with the Fastener News Report. Brian and Eric take note that Watson the computer beat the champs on Jeapordy. Don't miss FTR20!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Nineteen, "Carbon Neutral Fastener Talk Radio", featuring Bruce Darling, Joe Greenslade, John Wachman and Southeast Fastener Association president, Joanne Bialas. Fastener Technology International editor, Mike McNulty, presents the Fastener News Report. Brian and Eric bemoan global warming alarmism. FTR19 is HOT!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Eighteen, "iMazing Fastener Radio", featuring Bob Wegner and Joe Peplinski of Beacon Fasteners & Components, Heidi Voltrauer of the All American Fastener Show, and Fastener Technology International editor, Mike McNulty, with the Fastener News Report. Brian and Eric talk about iPhones and suggest a way to hunt down the world's most wanted villan. FTR18 is on the air!
"Remember Me" Feature Released [1/17/11]
FCH users who login to check inquiries or manage inventory will find it a bit easier now that they have the option of having their user name and password saved so they no longer have to enter them each time they access the system. The user credentials are stored in an encrypted cookie on the user's PC, making the system safe as well as simple. Thanks to several FCH members for making the suggestion to add this feature!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seventeen, "Golden Voices of the Fastener Industry", featuring Active Screw CEO Buddy Blattner, Red Idea Partners president Ross Shell, industry veteran Todd Walters, and Mike McNulty of Fastener Technology International with the Fastener News Report. Brian and Eric describe several recent FCH enhancements. Episode #17 of FTR rocks!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Sixteen, "Self-Selling Screws", featuring Distributor's LINK Magazine publisher Leo Coar, Fidelis Fasteners president Rob Lucas, Mike McNulty of Fastener Technology Magazine with the Fastener News Report, market analyst Holden Lewis of BB&T Capital Markets. Brian and Eric ponder self-writing software. Episode #16 of FTR is HOT!
New Cap Screw Categories [12/1/10]
New categories have been added to make listing and searching easier. Existing inventory listings have been updated so FCH members need not make any modifications. Check out Fully Threaded Radio episode 17 for details!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fifteen, "The Barrister and the Bloggers", featuring Stelfast president, Simmi, bloggers Traveling Salesman and ScrewCrew.com's Andy Pels, and Mike McNulty of Fastener Technology Magazine. NIFS post-show wrap up and much more! Check out episode #15 of FTR!
Meet the FCH Team at NIFS West [11/1/10]
The FCH Team will be exhibiting in booth #1321 at NIFS West, November 9th and 10th, 2010 in Las Vegas. Managing partner Eric Dudas will be presenting a talk on social media in the fastener industry on Tuesday, November 9th at 3 PM, right on the show floor. Please stop by and say hello!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Fourteen, "Uncle Milty & the Fasteners of Freedom", featuring Pac-West president Andy Cohn, Quickscrews International CEO Greg Wiener, and Rob Lucas, fresh from the Taiwan Fastener Show. NIFS pre-show coverage and a clip of Dr. Milton Friedman. Don't miss episode #14 of FTR!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Thirteen, "Coming to a Distributor Near You", featuring Bonnie Carter of Metric Screw & Tool, Mike McNulty of Fastener Technology International presents the Fastener News Report, and NFDA Fall meeting coverage. Don't miss the lucky 13th episode of FTR!
Deep Links Now Available on FCH Search Results [10/1/10]
A new enhancement adds the ability for FCH members to offer links to their own website from inventory they list in the FCH database. Deep links can place the user directly on the page of an FCH member's website where the user can purchase the fastener they located from the FCH site. If the FCH member's website supports online sales, the user is free to make the purchase. The new enhancement brings FCH another step closer towards supporting complete fastener procurement online. Watch this page for further developments coming soon!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Twelve, "Powder Keg Screw Brew", featuring guests Gary Polipnick of Fastenal, Rob Lucas or Global Fastener Network, and Mark Lenhart of the NFDA. Old Rusty Bolt redux. Don't miss this episode of FTR!
FCH Presents at NFDA Fall Meeting [9/15/10]
FCH managing partner Eric Dudas presented the FCH Sourcing Network vision to the Fall meeting of the National Fastener Distributors Association in Chicago and demonstrated the features of the NFDA member program that is being offered to all association members. It is the role of industry leaders to help drive the network to the next level, he said during his remarks.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Eleven, "Fast Rivets, Hot Cars", featuring guests Allan Weitzman, of Jay-Cee Sales & Rivet, Chris Donnell, of Scanwell Logistics, and analyst Holden Lewis, of BB&T Capital Markets. FTR goes to eleven, so don't miss it!
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Ten, "That Full Threaded Flavor", featuring guests Mike McNulty of Fastener Technology International, Matt Ulrich of the NFDA, and Dr. Tony Luscher of Ohio State University. Old Rusty Bolt is served! Don't miss FTR!
FCH has launched a new program to help Fastenal branch locations move slow moving inventory. The new program is being deployed in the North Central region and is designed to support individual branch managers by providing a simple way to list branch special inventory. Approximately 200 branch locations will be live by September 1, 2010.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Nine, "Don't Thread On Me", featuring guests Greg Wiener of QuickScrews International, Jim Derry of the NFDA, and Frank Hurtte, of River Heights Consulting. Don't miss the lastest episode of FTR!
Team FCH is heading to Las Vegas on November 9 & 10, 2010 to exhibit at the National Industrial Fastener Show West, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Expo Center. Everyone is invited to stop by booth #1321 to see the newest features and hear the latest news about the FCH Sourcing Network.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Eight, "Watch Out For That Rock", featuring guests Mike McGuire of American Fastener Journal, Rich Cavoto of Metric & Multistandard Components Corp., Rob Lucas of Fidelis Fasteners and Holden Lewis of BB&T Capital Markets. Fully Threaded Radio is Internet radio for the fastener industry, don't miss it!
FCH has released a new version of its FCHServices specification that improves the ability of third party software vendors to access FCH Sourcing Network features using a library of web services. A revised technical manual is available to programmers looking to integrate FCH functionality and data into their environments. The latest enhancements vastly improve support for inventory upload and update.
Independence Day weekend resulted in web servers with much more bang as FCH moved to new high capacity servers that are clustered for load balancing and better security. The new server environment allows FCH to support a growing number of users and expanded inventory listings. It has also been put in place in advance of upgrades to the SourceFinder RFQ system, which are expected to place more demand on the FCH infrastructure during the third quarter.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Seven, "Lessons", features highlights from the Pac-West Mel Kirsner Memorial Golf Outing dinner, Larry Thomas and Rob Lucas call in from China to review the Fastener Expo Shanghai 2010, MWFA table top show review & association golf outing results. Fully Threaded Radio is Internet radio for the fastener industry, don't miss it! You can listen online simply by clicking on the episode, or download the show to your phone or MP3 player to enjoy on the road.
National Fastener Distributors Association (NFDA) members will soon receive the benefits of a new program under an agreement between FCH and the NFDA. Beginning during the third quarter with an access program to the FCH Sourcing Network for all NFDA members, the alliance will bring benefits to both the association and all FCH Sourcing Network members. Further plans will be announced soon. Read the relelase here.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Six, "The Networking Machines", features LinkedIn group manager Janice Ceresa of Anixter and FastenerTalk blogger Traveling Salesman reviews NIFS East from Columbus. Fully Threaded Radio is Internet radio for the fastener industry, don't miss it! You can listen online simply by clicking on the episode, or download the show to your phone or MP3 player to enjoy on the road.
A new enhancement has been added to the SourceFinder™ RFQ system that allows FCH members to better define the types of inquiries they receive by filtering out either metric or American standard sized parts. The enhancement has been added after several FCH members suggested this would improve the overall efficiency of the sytem. FCH members should update the SourceFinder™ settings on their profile information to take advantage of the new filtering capability.
Fully Threaded Radio Episode Five, "Strain in the Chain", features NFDA president Jim Derry and FastenerTalk blogger Traveling Salesman. Fully Threaded Radio is Internet radio for the fastener industry, don't miss it! You can listen online simply by clicking on the episode, or download the show to your phone or MP3 player to enjoy on the road.
Mid-West Fastener Association members are now entitled to a new benefit that provides special access to the FCH Sourcing Network as part of their membership in the association. The announcement was published in the most recent MWFA newsletter. One of the benefits is an exclusive search option that allows MWFA members to locate fastener inventory listed by fellow association members. This provides benefits to buyers and sellers alike, and it adds value to MWFA membership by creating another way members can work together. MWFA members should contact the association or FCH to get setup with their complimentary Access Level membership as soon as possible.
A new industry perspectives video has been released to the Fully Threaded channel on YouTube. The second in the series, the video segment features Rob Lucas, managing partner of Fidelis Fasteners, presenting his perspectives on current market conditions, going direct, the Fidelis model and more. On the road and need to locate a fastener? Use your iPhone to access FCH! New enhancements have been added to the FCH Search page that make the system iPhone aware. While this latest development is an early step towards mobile device access to FCH, it supports most of the critical search tasks available to web-browser users. We welcome your comments and feedback!
The number of fastener inventory listings available online in the FCH database has officially passed 500,000 line items. FCH is the largest online database of its kind, and is approaching three times the size of the leading paper-based fastener directory.
Happy New Year from the entire FCH Team! We begin our 4th year as the largest and most widely used online sourcing database in the fastener industry, now closing in on half a million line items! FCH users will see new features and at least one major new partnership announcement very soon. We want to make FCH the only place you ever need to look to source hard to find fastener items. We appreciate your ongoing support, patronage and frequent suggestions. Stay with us, and stay tuned!
Discounts and Preferred Pricing for Network Members [12/3/09]
FCH members are now able to advertise preferred and discounted pricing they wish to extend to other members on fastener inventory they list with FCH. Discount information can be viewed only by other members when they are logged into the network. The initiative presents benefits for buyers and sellers alike, and it also increases the value of FCH membership. If your company currently lists inventory in the FCH database, you can update your company profile to indicate that you now offer preferred pricing to other FCH members. If you use the network primarily to search and source fastener inventory, you should make it a point to always login to the network to take advantage of discounts that may apply to items your are sourcing. The program is expected to gain momentum over several months, and further details will be announced soon.
Thanks to the many FCH users, members, and prospective members who stopped to visit with us at the FCH booth in Las Vegas at NIFS this week! All four FCH staff members spent the day and a half demonstrating the new features of the FCH Sourcing Network, explaining the new membership levels, and handing out complimentary FCH mouse pads, which were a big hit. INxSQL was also exhibiting at the show, demonstrating the FCH interface which allows their users to access the FCH database from within their inventory management environment. We've already seen an uptick in traffic since the show.
Fastener companies can now participate in the FCH Sourcing Network at three levels: Full, Value and Access levels. Each level offers a different range of benefits, and there is one to fit every kind of fastener company, distributor, importer, manufacturer or retailer. The modest cost of membership at each level makes FCH a wise business investment. Details are available here.
The evolution of FCH is described in the new Distributor's Link Magazine on page 193, which is also the NIFS issue. The new FCH Sourcing Network and other new features are described in the story. Read the full story here.
FCH users can now use a simple new form to submit inventory inquiries once they have located an item they are interested in. The new inquiry system improves communication between sellers and potential buyers by ensuring that complete and accurate information is transmitted during the initial inquiry. It also greatly simplifies the task of identifying inquiries that originate from FCH. These benefits are sure to make the new system a big hit as they address two long standing challenges users have described as being their main complaints about the inquiry process. The new form is accessed from the inventory details screen that pops up when a user clicks on an inventory item after doing a search.
FCH Network members are now able to search fastener inventory listings by region. The enhancement simplifies the process of locating items from local distributors, which is especially important when shipping costs add significantly to orders placed. The new feature is a premium service that is accessible only to users while they are logged into the FCH Network Search page.
Evolution: FCH Sourcing Network Expands [8/24/09]
New membership levels will soon be announced that will offer FCH members a wider variety of services. The development is being made to complement other enhancements that will soon be released. New features will support vendor reviews, improved sourcing inquiry tracking, and other functionality that will move FCH further towards its vision of facilitating end-to-end fastener sourcing across its growing network of fastener suppliers and industrial users.
Web Services Open FCH to Third Party Software Vendors [8/10/09]
A new set of web services, named FCHServices, has been announced and is being offered to third party software vendors who focus on fastener inventory management and distribution. Using FCHServices, users will be able to search the FCH fastener database from within their inventory mangement environment. Read the news release here.
FCH today announced it will exhibit at the 2009 National Industrial Fastener Show to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 16 - 18. Located at booth #255, FCH will demonstrate the largest online fastener database in the industry and also its new web services offerings that enable third party software systems to access the FCH database and features.
With the release of its lastest version this week, INxSQL software has become the first fastener inventory management software vendor to provide its users native access to the FCH database. This exciting development means that INxSQL users running version 2.907.27.1 or higher can now search the FCH database from within the INxSQL environment. FCH member companies become potential vendors to INxSQL user companies with this implementation. Update: As of 8/16/10 the FCH to INxSQL interface is no longer supported due to licensing disagreements.
The FCH Search Page loaded over 132,000 times in June, 2009, marking the fifth straight month of increased user traffic on the fastener site's showcase page. Additionally, the FCH database currently contains over 427,000 fastener inventory items, making FCH the largest database of its kind online or in book form.
The FCH Search Page loaded over 118,000 times in May, 2009, marking the fourth straight month of increased user traffic on the fastener site's showcase page. The FCH database currently contains over 400,000 fastener inventory items.
FCH was honored with admission to the Mid-West Fastener Association. The oldest organization of its kind, the MWFA is commited to the growth and service of the whole fastener industry. This aligns well with the FCH mission of bringing value to the fastener industry by providing an exceptional marketing resource. FCH looks forward to supporting the MWFA in its ongoing mission, and appreciates the warm welcome by this great organization.
New improvements to part number searching have been added to the FCH Search Engine, making it easier to locate inventory using various forms or only part of a brand name or mil-spec part number. Also, a new tab has been added to the Search page that makes it easier to do mil-spec searches. Read the full press release here.
FCH members will see several improvements along with a cleaner look and feel the next time they login to update their company profile or manage inventory. The members' area interface upgrade completes the site overhaul first launched during the National Fastener Show in November. New features include enhanced activity reporting, better SourceFinder settings management, and easier to follow profile management forms. Feedback and suggestions for future enhancements are welcome.
During tough times it's especially important to let your customers and competitors know you're open and ready to do business. FCH premium banner advertising is a cost-effective way to get that message through to just the right audience.
FCH Extends FREE Trial Offer Period [2/9/09]
If you've been wondering when you should list your inventory with FCH, now is the time! FCH has extended its FREE 30 day trial offer. During this time, you can list up to 10K line items at no charge. Just contact FCH to activate your free account, immediately and with no risk or obligation. Click here to get started and let FCH help you make a few extra sales right now!
Readers of American Fastener Journal will find a feature story on FCH in the upcoming issue. The FCH staff is honored to be included as publisher Mike McGuire has decided to devote special attention to fastener marketing approaches in the new issue. The online version of AFJ can be found here. Check out "Fastener News Now" while you're there for up to date news on the fastener industry. The results from January are in and FCH received more searches than at any time since it was first released. Our Search for Fasteners page rendered well over 79,000 times during the month, creating more page views for FCH listing members as well. Search activity had been increasing steadily during all of 2008, but a real surge began in the early third quarter. Since that time, searches have increased at 15% to 30% each month. The increase is attributed to wider industry adoption and increased rankings among major Internet search engines.
A new page has been added that makes it easier to access fasteners that comply with ANSI/ASME standard specifications. The "Fasteners by ANSI Specification" page includes more than 35 direct links to items as varied as an ANSI B18.2.1 Hex Bolt or ANSI B18.23.1 Round Beveled Washer. The new page compliments other shortcut pages already in place on the website which provide direct links to DIN and ISO specified items.
FastenersClearingHouse.com was launched in October, 2006 with the mission of becoming the best and largest database of hard to find, surplus and over-stock fasteners on the Net. After two months of building the fastener listings database, the search engine was released on December 17, 2006 with several thousand parts from a small group of participating companies. Today, FCH is used by hundreds of companies every day and features well over 350K line items from distributors across North America. We are always interested in your input, feedback and questions, so please do not hesitate to contact us. Happy Birthday FCH!
Enhancements to the FCH database have been made so that many Din and ISO specifcation numbers are now automatically cross-referenced when users search for fasteners. This development makes it easier to locate items that match a particular search query where only one or the other specification has been listed by the seller. It also improves page views for companies that list their inventory with FCH and list one or the other specification. To read the release on this enhancement click here.
NIFS was a great place to launch the new version of the FCH website and we received very positive feedback as well as some good ideas for future enhancements. We also introduced the site and service to many companies that were previously unfamiliar with the search engine, making the event a win win once again. Thanks go to the many FCH members who stopped by to say hello! Click here for photos.
The new version of FCH is finally here! With this latest release, FCH continues to develop its presence in the fastener industry by delivering several important enhancements to its service. Those distributors who have requested a secure space in which to market solely to other distributors will welcome the new version, while long time members will enjoy improvements across the board in the site's flagship offerings. Have a look around the new site, as it speaks for itself, or for more background click here.
An exciting new feature will soon be released and available on the FCH website. Called HotSheets™, the new program is intended as another way to match distributors carrying odd lot or surplus stock with potential buyers. Distributors will be able to upload a document, or HotSheet™, containing a short list of "blow out" items to a dedicated page on the FCH website. The page will be an ever changing list of inventory, priced to sell, complete with a robust email alert system.
FCH today announced the addition of Sue Rice to the FastenersClearingHouse.com team as our new Membership Coordinator. In her new role, Sue will work with FCH members during all phases of their membership to keep things running smoothly. Sue joins the team after many years as an administrator in a local school district. Her enthusiasm and amazing organizational skills will be a great asset to FCH. Welcome aboard Sue!
Distributors who list their inventory in the FCH database are now able to view important account statistics and recent visitor search information. The new information pages are easily accessed from the Member Welcome page that appears immediately after an FCH Member logs in. Included in the information is the number of page views a Member's inventory has received during the past 6 months. This is the first in a series of new features that are being added in preparation for a major new release of the FCH search engine. Ideas, feedback and input are welcome.
FCH today announced it will exhibit at the 2008 National Industrial Fastener Show to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 2 - 4. Located at booth #1929, FCH will demonstrate its search engine on a large screen and showcase several exciting new capabilities, which will be launched during the show. All show attendees are welcome to stop by the booth to meet FCH staff, receive special membership incentives, and take away a coveted FCH refrigerator magnet.
FCH is pleased to receive ongoing support from Distributor's Link Magazine, the industry's leading quarterly. FCH is featured on page 187 of the Spring issue. Click here to access a PDF of the story. FCH was also featured in Fastener Technology International, Fastener Industry News, and American Fastener Journal during the second quarter.
FCH announced today it is offering a premium banner advertising program. The new program has been created in response to numerous inquiries from FCH members and others related to the industrial fastener industry. The program will allow a limited number of companies to place a premium banner ad on the Search page of the FCH web site, which currently renders up to 1,500 times each business day, primarily with very highly targeted traffic. This makes the new program an excellent opportunity for companies interested in a cost effective way to reach the industry.
FCH announced this month that its online surplus industrial fastener database has exceeded 275,000 line items. As always, the database is a free sourcing option for industry distributors, and it is clearly the largest such source on the Internet. Currently, over 150 distributors list their inventory with FCH. To read the release on the subject, click here.
FCH announced today that is has expanded its flange nut classifications to distinguish between non-locking, lock with serrations (Whiz-Lok, etc.), and lock without serrations (Toplock, etc.). The move comes after numerous discussions with FCH members. With more than 600 lines of flange nuts in the database, this should help users to narrow their searches and find the parts they need. All previously loaded flange nuts have been reclassified into the new standard.
A new enhancement was released today. Users will notice they can now see the state or province of an inventory item from the Search Results main view. Previously users were required to click into the item details to see the location of the item. This small enhancement will save FCH users lots of time as they search for fastener inventory items that best meet their needs.
FCH announced today that it has reclassified all Flange Screws (Serrated and non-serrated) into the Bolts & Cap Screws section. This new rule will carry forward to all Flange Screws that are loaded into the system. The change came after discussions with numerous FCH members and because of some confusion related to the previous classification and naming convention whereby non-serrated Flange Bolts & Screws were listed under Bolts, and serrated Flange Screws were listed under Screws. FCH members will see that all Flange Screws they have previously loaded have been modified to meet the new classification.
FCH made a splash at this year's NIFS West. From the moment the show opened and even as the show floor was closing, visitors were stopping by the FCH booth to see the surplus fastener search engine and to meet the staff. Thanks to all of the members who stopped by to meet us in person and also to those who displayed our sign in their booths. It was great to put faces to the names of so many FCH members and to hear the success stories. It was also a fantastic chance to introduce new users to FCH and to answer questions from prospective members, which we did non-stop. We've already seen a significant increase in activity since the show, and we look forward to next year. Click here to see a photo.
FCH has reached the 250K line mark, making it the most complete surplus fastener database of its kind anywhere on the web. With about 100 distributors listing at this stage, FCH has grown ahead of schedule as it goes into its second year.
FCH today announced it will exhibit at this year's National Industrial Fasteners Show to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November. FCH will show its search engine for suplus fasteners on a large screen and demonstrate the new search tools it has released during the past few months. All show attendees are welcome to stop by booth #1653 to meet FCH staff and observe the demonstrations.
FCH today released an enhancement to its proprietary search tool that allows users to find inventory items by brand name and part number. Users still have the option of using the standard search that has been available previously, but now the option of searching by brand name is as simple as clicking a button at the top of the search page. Click here to go to the enhanced Search page. Read our release on the subject, available here.
Early results from our member survey show that first inquiries from the service come within the first two weeks of membership. Several members report having made solid connections with other distributors via FCH. See our latest release for details, available here.
FastenersClearingHouse.com announced today that it has initiated an online member survey of its services, features and members' return on investment. Survey results will be used to improve the online fastener exchange so that it can better meet the needs of the fastener industry. If you are an FCH member and you have not been contacted to participate, feel free to call 877.332.7836 for your secure link to the survey.
The FCH surplus and odd lot inventory database continues to grow in part because of our proprietary software, known as "The Scrubber", that formats line items for the web. There is no charge to members to have their inventory cleaned. Read more in the press release available here.
In response to requests from several members, Super Alloys and Phenolic Resin have been added as materials to choose for inventory searches. Several additional finishes specific to aluminum have also been added. FCH continues to strive to support members while
maintaining a highly searchable database of surplus fastener inventory.
Join FastenersClearingHouse.com now and receive the following benefits:
All stainless steel inventory items are now listed as either 300 Series or 400 Series. Previously, the specific series type was used. FCH members will find that all inventory items loaded before the change have been recategorized with the new categories. This will help users to locate stainless items in the database.
FastenersClearingHouse.com will be featured in a story in Distributor's Link Magazine in the upcoming issue. The story is titled "Surplus Inventory as Lost Gold Found", and it describes the FCH mission and approach with the new online exchange.
FastenersClearingHouse.com has retained Lunavista Communications, of Chicago, Illinois, to assist in the creation of a web based promotional campaign. The promotional effort will include a new home page look as well as non-web related activities. Details of the campaign will be released in early Spring. The push will be designed to increase awareness of the new FCH database.
After only two months, FCH has built an online surplus fastener database worthy of attention. The new website released search tools today that allow Internet users to locate inventory items using a straight forward interface. The database is a work in progress and continues to grow as word about the new resource spreads. The search tools can be used free of charge.
FCH today began accepting fastener inventory in spreadsheet format for upload into its database. The spreadsheet files can be uploaded from the member account area of the website, or emailed directly to FCH. A sample template is also available in the member account area, although it is not required that inventory is formatted exactly as shown in the sample file. All spreadsheets received by FCH are passed through an advanced program that cleans the information, making it uniform and easy for the search engine to find.
FastenersClearingHouse.com launched a new website today with the mission of bringing value to the fastener industry by facilitating the purchase and liquidation of surplus, overstock and odd lot fastener inventory. The new site features a state of the art search engine and promises to fill a void on the Internet that many distributors have acknowledged. FCH will offer other services to fastener distributors in coming months, but will focus on building a leading database of inventory as a first step. Developments will be posted on this web page.
FTR Episode #41 is LIVE! [3/8/12]
FTR Episode #40 is LIVE! [2/23/12]
Fastener Distributor Index January Results [2/10/12]
FTR Episode #39 is LIVE! [2/9/12]
FTR Episode #38 is LIVE! [1/26/12]
FTR Episode #37 is LIVE! [1/12/12]
New Fastener Distributor Index Announced [1/3/12]
FTR Episode #36 is LIVE! [12/8/11]
FTR Episode #35 is LIVE! [11/17/11]
FTR Episode #34 is LIVE! [10/27/11]
2011 Vegas Show a Big Win! [10/22/11]
Vegas Week is Here! [10/17/11]
FTR Episode #33 is LIVE! [10/13/11]
New Feature Story Describes FTR [09/30/11]
FTR Episode #32 is LIVE! [09/29/11]
FCH Welcomes Fastenal Users [09/12/11]
FTR Episode #31 is LIVE! [09/08/11]
FTR Episode #30 is LIVE! [08/18/11]
FTR Episode #29 is LIVE! [08/04/11]
See FCH at the Vegas Show [07/20/11]
FTR Episode #28 is LIVE! [07/14/11]
FTR Episode #27 is LIVE! [06/16/11]
Meet Team FCH at Fastener Tech '11 [05/31/11]
FTR Episode #26 is LIVE! [05/26/11]
FTR Episode #25 is LIVE! [05/12/11]
FTR Episode #24 is LIVE! [04/24/11]
FTR Episode #23 is LIVE! [04/07/11]
SCAM ALERT! [04/06/11]
FTR Episode #22 is LIVE! [3/27/11]
FTR Episode #21 is LIVE! [3/10/11]
FTR Episode #20 is LIVE! [2/24/11]
FTR Episode #19 is LIVE! [2/10/11]
FTR Episode #18 is LIVE! [1/27/11]
FTR Episode #17 is LIVE! [1/13/11]
FTR Episode #16 is LIVE! [12/9/10]
FTR Episode #15 is LIVE! [11/18/10]
FTR Episode #14 is LIVE! [10/28/10]
FTR Episode #13 is LIVE! [10/14/10]
FTR Episode #12 is LIVE! [9/30/10]
FTR Episode #11 is LIVE! [9/9/10]
FTR Episode #10 is LIVE! [8/26/10]
Fastenal Deploys FCH for Branch Special Inventory [8/12/10]
FTR Episode #9 is LIVE! [8/5/10]
FCH To Exhibit at NIFS West [8/2/10]
FTR Episode #8 is LIVE! [7/15/10]
Web Services Enhanced [7/12/10]
Server Upgrades Completed [7/6/10]
FTR Episode #7 is LIVE! [6/17/10]
FCH & NFDA Announce Collaboration [6/15/10]
FTR Episode #6 is LIVE! [5/27/10]
SourceFinder™ System Supports Standard/Metric Only Inquiries [5/18/10]
FTR Episode #5 is LIVE! [5/13/10]
MWFA Members Receive Exclusive FCH Access [5/3/10]
Industry Perspectives Video Part 2 Released [4/15/10]
Internet Radio for the Fastener Industry! [3/18/10]
Fully Threaded Radio Episode One is now available online at www.fullythreaded.com. The hour long podcast is the new voice of the FCH Sourcing Network and features hosts Brian Musker and Eric Dudas and guests Mike McGuire, of American Fastener Journal, Andy Pels, of ScrewCrew.com, and Rob Lucas and Larry Thomas of Fidelis Fasteners. Stream or download the show and stay tuned for additional episodes coming soon!
iPhone Users Welcome New FCH Enhancement [3/5/10]
HALF A MILLION LINE ITEMS! [1/27/10]
New Year Brings New Features and Announcements [1/7/10]
NIFS '09 A Huge Success [11/20/09]
New Membership Levels Now Available [11/16/09]
In the News: Distributor's Link Fall Issue [10/21/09]
Enhanced Inquiry System Released [10/12/09]
Region Search Enhancement Released [9/27/09]
FCH to Exhibit at NIFS West '09 Las Vegas [8/3/09]
Welcome INxSQL Software Users! [7/27/09]
Search Page Traffic Record Falls Again [7/2/09]
Search Page Hits New Traffic Record [6/3/09]
FCH Admitted to Mid-West Fastener Association [4/22/09]
Search Options Enhanced - Mil-Spec, Brand Name Improvements [3/25/09]
Members' Area Upgraded [3/9/09]
Updated Banner Ad Rate Sheet Released [2/23/09]
Follow up: Click here to see the reprint
ANSI Shortcuts Page Added [1/19/09]
FCH Search Engine Hits the 2 Year Mark! [12/17/08]
Din and ISO Specification Numbers Cross-referenced [12/8/08]
The concept is intended to develop a new channel, and to provide a new benefit for FCH members and users alike. The service will be free of charge during its first release. All fastener distributors will be invited to upload their HotSheets during this time.
Follow up: Click here to see HotSheets
New Features Added for FCH Members [8/25/08]
FCH to Exhibit at 2008 National Industrial Fastener Show West, Booth #1929 [7/14/08]
Distributor's Link Magazine Features FCH in Spring Issue [5/5/08]
FCH Surpasses 275,000 Lines [3/27/08]
New Flange Nut Classifications Go Into Effect [1/7/08]
Upgraded Search Results Released [12/3/07]
National Industrial Fastener Show a Huge Success for FCH [11/16/07]
FCH Hits 250K Milestone [10/1/07]
FCH to Exhibit at National Industrial Fastener Show West [09/06/07]
Brand Name Searches Now Available on FCH [08/23/07]
Members Find FCH Serves as a Networking Site [07/27/07]
FCH Releases Member Survey [07/17/07]
"The Scrubber" Cleans Surplus Inventory for Upload [07/03/07]
New Materials & Finishes Added [06/14/07]
FCH Announces New Membership Program [06/01/07]
- List up to 10 thousand inventory items at any one time. Upload them easily, manage them any time.
- Receive real time RFQs from distributors searching for inventory.
- Advertise your company on the FCH search results page and include a link to your web site.
This is the best deal in the business, hands down! It's less than the price of a small ad in a trade magazine and it reaches untold thousands! Click here to join today.
New Stainless Steel Classifications Go Into Affect [05/02/07]
Distributor's Link Magazine to Feature FCH in Spring '07 Issue [03/15/07]
A PDF file of the story is available here. Right click on the link and select "Save Target As...".
FCH and Lunavista Communications Team Up for Site Promotion [02/5/07]
FCH Releases Search Tools for its New Fastener Database [12/17/06]
Spreadsheet Inventory Uploads Now Available [11/7/06]
FastenersClearingHouse.com Launches a New Exchange for the Fastener Industry [10/16/06]