Steve Holand – CarryCasesPlus President Interview

Posted by Tom Blue on October 14, 2009 under Companies | Be the First to Comment

carrycasespluslogoHere is our latest eInterview with Steve Holand from CarryCasesPlus.

1. What do you do?

Carry Cases Plus manufactures and distributes carrying cases and shipping cases with custom foam in order to transport, protect or display your important items.

2. Who are your competitors? (just the names)

Cases by Source, AllCases.com

3. What makes you different than your competitors?

We do all of our own custom foam fabrication.  Most of our competitors, come to foam fabricators like us to do their foam inserts.  Because we have the technology and machinery, we are able to design and provide prototypes at no charge to customers.

4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges?

Moving from a small business mentality into a structured, smoothly running manufacturing facility has been difficult.  We need to change our approach in every aspect of the business.  Operating procedures, office procedures, production, marketing, warehouse design, purchasing, HR, all have to evolve.  It is very challenging to get everyone in the company to understand the need and then implement the changes.

5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company?  E.G. A PR Campaign, Please be specific as our users want to know how to grow their own business.

The single biggest factor has been the Web Site with Google Adwords and SEO being most important.  We have gone from a tiny local company to a national company with the help of a great web site and smart Adword marketing.  You also don’t have to pay a heck of a lot of money (I did all of the work myself).

6. How long have you been in business?

Since 1986 – 23 years.  My father started the foam fabricating business and I joined in 1993.  In 2003, after years of making foam inserts for customer’s cases, I bought Carry Cases Plus, giving me the ability to sell the cases as well.

7. How many employees do you have?

We have 22 employees.

8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?

2009 looks like it will and up around 2.4 million dollars which is down from 2.8 million in 2008.  The packaging foam part of the business took a big hit with the recession but the case part of the business is up 2%.

9. (Optional) Have you had any new press recently?  E.G. Announced a partnership, a new big customer, etc.

Earlier this year we added a spectacular new piece of equipment to our factory.  It is a dual head computerized CNC router and knife cutter.  This allows us to automate the sample process and create samples and finished product in 1/3 of the time it took previously.

1. What do you do? 2 sentences max
Carry Cases Plus manufactures and distributes carrying cases and shipping cases with custom foam in order to transport, protect or display your important items.
2. Who are your competitors? (just the names)
Cases by Source, AllCases.com
3. What makes you different than your competitors?
We do all of our own custom foam fabrication.  Most of our competitors, come to foam fabricators like us to do their foam inserts.  Because we have the technology and machinery, we are able to design and provide prototypes at no charge to customers.
4. What are your or your ceo’s biggest challenges?
Moving from a small business mentality into a structured, smoothly running manufacturing facility has been difficult.  We need to change our approach in every aspect of the business.  Operating procedures, office procedures, production, marketing, warehouse design, purchasing, HR, all have to evolve.  It is very challenging to get everyone in the company to understand the need and then implement the changes.
5. Which marketing tactic/strategy has produced the most leads/revenue for your company?  E.G. A PR Campaign, Please be specific as our users want to know how to grow their own business.
The single biggest factor has been the Web Site with Google Adwords and SEO being most important.  We have gone from a tiny local company to a national company with the help of a great web site and smart Adword marketing.  You also don’t have to pay a heck of a lot of money (I did all of the work myself).
6. How long have you been in business?
Since 1986 – 23 years.  My father started the foam fabricating business and I joined in 1993.  In 2003, after years of making foam inserts for customer’s cases, I bought Carry Cases Plus, giving me the ability to sell the cases as well.
7. How many employees do you have?
We have 22 employees.
8. What are your revenue estimates for 2009? Is that an increase from 2008?
2009 looks like it will and up around 2.4 million dollars which is down from 2.8 million in 2008.  The packaging foam part of the business took a big hit with the recession but the case part of the business is up 2%.
9. (Optional) Have you had any new press recently?  E.G. Announced a partnership, a new big customer, etc.
Earlier this year we added a spectacular new piece of equipment to our factory.  It is a dual head computerized CNC router and knife cutter.  This allows us to automate the sample process and create samples and finished product in 1/3 of the time it took previously.

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