“Love it or hate it, you remember it.”

You’ll hear those words in this MSNBC story about a company with an unusual name.

• The memorable part of the name consists of two three-letter words
• The name relates to a barnyard animal in a roundabout way
• The name is sometimes considered politically incorrect
• But a lot of people get a big kick out of the name
• The company is best known at industrial sites
• Though more and more, its products are popping up in other settings as well

New Pig? Not in this case, though all of the above apply.

Many Piggers admire this other company and watch it with interest. Its original name was HVLS Fans, but it became much better known as … something else.

Image © Elenathewise - Fotolia.com

You may already know to expect a skilled labor crisis in your workplace as older workers retire and fewer younger people are attracted to manufacturing.

Now there’s word of a manager shortage as well.

This news may cause some to cheer, but if you’re hurting for managers, here are quick notes on what’s behind this trend.

Reasons that qualified workers resist becoming managers include:

• Increased stress
• Handling disgruntled employees
• Increased paperwork
• Having to lay off or fire employees

Aspects of managing cited as attractive include:

• Sharing knowledge and experience with others
• Being responsible for the success of an organization
• Being able to influence decisions

The people behind the study urge companies to take steps to reinforce the value of managers.

In other words, take on “The Office.” Whew.

Image © endostock - Fotolia.com

Earlier posts about The Skilled Worker Crisis:

A crisis crying out for New Pig’s help?

Industry faces an engineering crisis too?!

Best analysis yet of the looming skilled labor crisis

Oscar Mayer, the third Oscar Mayer to head the famous meat products company, died at age 95 on Monday. Condolences to his family.

This brings to mind the jingle, of course (”My bologna has a first name …”), but also a little-known fact … so little-known that it will be news even to many New Piggers …

New Pig owns the toll-free number

1-800-HOT-DOGS

(1-800-468-3647)

Yes, with a “D” that goes with the number “3.”

Image © JLV Image Works - Fotolia.com

Mind you, the phone number that we promote everywhere (and have even registered as a trademark) is 1-800-HOT-HOGS® (1-800-468-4647), with an “H” that goes with the number “4.”

But it’s possible to mis-hear or mis-remember “HOT HOGS” as “HOT DOGS,” so years ago, after we became aware of this, we acquired the “HOT DOGS” phone number as well, so we would still get those calls.

By the way, I feel free to point out this tiny flaw in our timeless toll-free number (a) because 1-800-HOT-HOGS has generated countless laughs and smiles, and (b) because yours truly happens to be the Pigger who originally suggested 1-800-HOT-HOGS as a phone number just about 24 years ago (speaking of little-known facts!). I got a $200 prize for that! Nice money now and even better back then!

Anyway, our having 1-800-HOT-DOGS is all part of our customer service! If our customers encounter a common problem that we can fix, we’ll fix it!

We do get the occasional call over the HOT-DOGS number asking for hot dogs or hot dog vending equipment (and we try to be helpful with those as well), but …

Sorry, Oscar Mayer!

Sorry, Ballpark!

Sorry, Nathan’s and anyone else who might be interested in 1-800-HOT-DOGS …

… but we’re keeping it!

Imagine someone entering the workplace all bright-eyed and chipper …

Smiling at everyone …

And opening this to-do list:

Yeesh!

These are examples of email mistakes described in a recent survey. The main question asked of 250 professionals was: Have you ever mistakenly e-mailed someone the wrong message or copied someone on a message without intending to?

The replies:

Yes  78%
No  22%

So email mistakes happen a lot … so beware! You could create a mess that’s beyond the responding power of even the mightiest PIG® Spill Kit!

The company behind the survey gives these tips for avoiding email errors:

1. Don’t multitask when composing an important or sensitive email
2. Save selecting recipients until last
3. Be careful about who you copy
4. Review on a big screen vs. a handheld
5. Be careful with attachments
6. Don’t email when angry
7. Be professional

Image © Hao Wang - Fotolia.com

Happy 120th Birthday today, Wall Street Journal! If not for pigs, you wouldn’t exist.

Whoa, whoa, this isn’t a rant about capitalism. It’s about the origin of the name “Wall Street.”

By some accounts,* early settlers of Manhattan Island grew tired of free-roaming hogs trampling their grain fields and built a long wall to keep them out. The street that eventually bordered this wall became—you guessed it—Wall Street.

Whaddya think of that, Rupert Murdoch!

*Other accounts say the name comes from a stockade wall built as a defense against Native American tribes. Don’t believe ‘em.

Image © Albo - Fotolia.com

She tweeted nicely about New Pig.

I tweeted back.

She needs a new lid.

She’s getting one.

This kind of thing happens when you show the Pig some love.

Ever get the Return Guilts? I get ‘em.

I’m standing in line at a store returns desk, and even if everything’s in order—I have the receipt, I didn’t open the package, I even smoothed down the corner of a price sticker that curled up, so it’s nicer than when I bought it—still, I’m bracing myself like it’s traffic court. I have Return Guilts based on bad experiences. Some stores seem intent on creating an aura of suspicion: brisk returns clerks, complicated procedures, intimidating postings about policies.

I have my credit card out. I double-check that it’s the one I used for that purchase. It’s signed, but I’m also ready to show my driver’s license. Not just show it—I slide it from the holder because I’m sometimes asked to do that. I have my clergy person on speed-dial as a character reference. I work at looking relaxed.

Return Guilts are hard on the innocent.

I was stunned recently when a store return was quick and easy.  I handed over the receipt, there was some bar code scanning and button punching, and I got the processed receipt back with a smile. I barely had time to pick up the pen on the counter. I didn’t need to sign anything anyway.

The power of easy returns hit me in a fresh way. I could feel the appreciation ripple through me as I walked out. I’d be back.

New Pig has always offered an unconditional guarantee and easy returns. We even pay the original and return freight if you’re not satisfied. I’m glad to say that. Life is too short for Return Guilts!

P.S. I was back in that store sooner than I expected. I was so stunned that I walked away with their pen. I returned it with a smile.

I sent the following message as an email to all Piggers, and we decided to share it here as well—not to toot our own horn but to show our passion for our company and our work.

YES, I’m PIGGER PROUD…AGAIN!

Piggers know that meetings, conferences, group tours of our facilities go on here all the time for customers, prospects, suppliers, students, teachers, consultants, salespeople, joy seekers, whoever! No big deal.

Anyway, this past Tuesday, 42 high school students and 4 faculty met with six departments in three buildings to learn first hand about how a local business operates and what career opportunities are available in their own community. They experienced not only our people up close and personal, but also our products, marketing, manufacturing, warehouse / distribution, human resource services and customer service. They raved about their visit. No surprise—it happens ALL THE TIME and that’s what’s amazing!

It’s the norm here, and it should never be taken lightly. But it’s not the norm in most places. It’s just remarkable how consistently enthusiastic, professional, and friendly everyone is toward fellow Piggers and visitors. After each visit, without fail, our guests have always expressed nothing but the highest praise and admiration for our people and company. And they’ll share their delightful New Pig experience with many others. That’s powerful and a very important element of our success.

Sometimes we get to play a major role like the six managers who presented on Tuesday and sometimes just a minor role. But everyone contributes to the whole. Whether we realize it or not, no matter what our role may be in the company, we’re all in a sense in public relations, sales and service.

The face we show to the public is a major element of the PIG® Brand. We are New Pig. May it always be so and never taken for granted.

Thank you to Pam and Paula at the Altoona Area School District
for providing these photos!