2009 Forecast Staff Writer: T.N.Totten

Volume 14 Issue 1

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This year has had a double whammy! Real Estate and Stock deflation for one which has triggered double trouble for Totten: lower prices as well as lower tons. The end result will be sales that are about 50% of 2008 totals. Most economists predict a slow recovery so the 50% mark may well hold up. Most of the company’s commercial construction clients have been very quiet unless they’ve had public work projects that spilled over into this year.

The company is getting used to much smaller orders and is spoiling its customers rotten with amazing service given that no one has been laid off. The remarkable combination of a lower transaction price and less tons should have put the company into the red but Totten posted a profitable 1st quarter and did not contribute to the unemployment statistic!

With fewer tons being bought, the competition has been fierce and Totten’s sales team has had to preach cutting, bending, galvanizing, and any other extra to separate it from the other distributors.

Overall, 2009 will most likely be a break even year at best if the sales teams remains engaged and assertive in representing Totten throughout the West.