Friends,
As you have probably been able to tell (duh), Bob has been pretty stressed out lately. In fact, one might tend to think that things are going down hill even. The fact is though that actually, business (and consequently finances) have never been better. SO good in fact that now the biggest demon I've ever faced has been on the attack - PRODUCTION!!! What was once never really a problem due to minimal levels of business and orders has now become a frick'n Godzilla!
Back in the day when orders were much further apart, it didn't matter as much if our ability to produce was slow. Heck, I could even take a day off here and there if I wanted and it didn't impact throughput much. Now... one day is worth an incredible amount of potential for either throughput or setback - depending if its a good day or not. (Blizzards have been the bane here lately.)
From a business standpoint, most business owners would love to be in my position. But...no... not Bob. He's a little toasty still from the days when there weren't many orders and $$$ was the big concern. Seems like we went from the frying pan into the fire almost overnight. At least back when we didn't have much business, the only people I had to worry about really were the creditors. We all know what you do then. "Checks in the mail, man" and then you go back to whatever you do to kill the time.
But when you're in the situation we are now (at least if you're me anyway) you constantly worry about not aggravating your customers because of throughput and production delays. Those guys are in many ways your friends, not just someone you owe product to. I don't know, maybe other business owners can just blow it off, but for me... I can't do that. Seems lately all I do is worry about getting another pair of speakers out the door and trying to make sure folks aren't mad at me for taking so long.
So... I've been biting my nails back to the bone and stressed to the max. For once $$$ and our long term prospects are looking like we'd always hoped for, but I still don't have any peace. In fact, the stress is far worse than when we were broke. Well, besides my state of mind and the fact that I can't keep living like this, the bigger issue (from a business standpoint) is that we just can't keep operating like this. It's now obvious SP Tech having to operate in La Porte, IN cannot attract the kind of skilled labor we need to build quality enclosures. There has never been any industry like this in our area so there are simply no skilled laborers to pick from. Now, drive an hour east of here and it's Amish country/cabinet Mecca... but those folks aren't going to drive that far to work here.
In the final analysis, the only way for SP Tech to get out of this mess has been to find a vendor that we can rely on. Easier said than done because many businesses want substantial orders up front before they'll give you the time of day. But... I am here to report that as of today -
WE HAVE A NEW VENDOR!!! 
I just spoke to the owner of the company that made some of the first Mini parts for us and they are willing to work with us to supply all of our enclosures -finished and ready for final assembly! We have a little paper work to get in order and a contract to sign yet, but the commitment has been made.
So... it looks like we should be in a whole new position within the next 3 months or so. As frazzled as my nerves are, even I can hang on that much longer. FINALLY...once they are delivering finished enclosures, Bob can have a life again. Gee... not only that but then our customers won't have to wait so long for their speakers that they're eligible for retirement benefits either. What a concept. Timely delivery. Who'd a thunk it?
That being the case, you guys won't have to listen to my whining anymore. Hell, whatever those enclosures cost us I'm sure you'll all agree that the price is well worth it just for that! I figure I must have run off a few potential customers already with all the complaining I've been doing. In fact, I suspect that subconsciously I did that intentionally, just so we didn't get any more orders. I do Know we've been intentionally holding back on advertising or any other promotion of our product for that very reason. Taking too long to fill orders can be worse for business than not having any orders in the first place - from a marketing standpoint anyway.
Well, it looks like it won't be too long now and those days will be over. For those that have been waiting, thanks so much for putting up with us and all of the delays (which aren't over yet). Words cannot express my appreciation for your loyalty and faith in us. You guys are really all of the "first" customers we've had, at least as far as the "infancy" days are concerned. In that, your devotion and patience has made little SP Tech possible and helped to keep us going to where we could pull everything together and get our ducks in a row. Now because of that, "little" SP Tech might not be so little much longer. Great. Next I'll have to teach the "kid" how to shave and explain the "birds and the bees." Arrggghhh... A father's job is never done.
Take care,
-Bob
