Our Fall 2009 Update…
Fall is officially here and my boys have begun a new school year which means I have begun working full time hours once again. I’ve heard from many customers that more frequent updates would be appreciated so I’ll try to make that happen here as well as sending the e-Newsletters on more regular basis. Writing posts, creating newsletters, answering e-mails and the phone are all a prat of business but I am still trying to keep the bulk of my time dedicated to completing product so I can fulfill everyone’s orders and then strive to build an inventory to fulfill future orders. My plan (right now, and I hope it holds together) is to have nearly all the orders filled and shipped by the end of ‘09 and start the New Year with new products as well as building an inventory. On-line shopping is planned for the near future along with live inventory, however, this will not take place until we have achieved the above goals.
This past week (September 21 to 25) was spent completing the McLaren MP4/6 dampers, the start of puting together the Ferrari 641/2 and Mclaren MP4/6 Formula Perfect Super Kits along with machining a 2000 pieces job for a company in Belgium. This coming weeks schedule is planned for the completin of the MP4/6 dampers, anodizing the remainder of the parts for the MP4/6, packing those kits so they can ship out complete to customers as well as continuing the machining of the 2000 parts order. Also to take place this week is the completion of the mold for the Ferrari 641/2 modified air box base and casting as many of them as possibly through the remainder of the week so those kits can be shipped complete as well
As soon as the MP4/6 Dampers all completed I will resume and not stop with the machining of the FW14B Dampers and get them shipped to customers.
Following the above will be the completion of the Brake Kits in the order of the MP4/6 the FW14B and then the 641/2
A few new products (3 actually) will be wrapped up hopefully by the end of this year will release taking place in early 2010.
Additionally, look for updates throughout the site and a well need revamp sometime in 2010.
We are waiting on a restock fo the FW14B photo etch which will allow us to resume shipping those and we hope it will be in the shop by the time we’ve completed the dampers. We are also waiting on another restock fo the DFV photo etch as well. A very large order of it came in and it all wnet out the door in a blink of an eye.
Karen resumed working a few weeks back and she is handling all the paperwork for the comapny so I can focus 100% of my efforts to making prodcut and getting orders shipped out of here.
The knives will be returning and offered as a regular stocked item. Those of you who have one on back-order wil hopefully receive it before the end of the year. They have been entirely redesigned and improved. The two styles available are the “F1″ which features an F1 style wheel nut as the tightening mechanism with a carbon fiber barrel, the other, the “Aero”, features a stainless steel braided barrel with A/N style fittings on each end. They’ll be available in as machined as well as with anodized parts. Either way, I am really excited about how they have turned out and I am looking forward to getting pictures on the site for everyone else to see as well. The knives are entirely hand-made and now require many more parts and labor time than the previous designs. The price is $39.50 which might seem a little expensive for a knife but it will be the highest quality and the most comfortable knife you will enjoy using.
Coming in the near future will be a customer appreciation program to make up for all the delays that have resulted over the past several months and delayed the shipping of orders. Details are still being worked out but everyone will be receiving something.
The business is certainly in need of more equipment and we’ll be attemtping to address that in the New Year as well. Last Fall we had an Equipment Fund Raiser Sale and we were able to add a lot of new equipment and technology but no matter how much we add we seem to still need more to keep up with orders and the “wants” of all our kind customers.
The economy has certainly hit us hard and we really got hit with a first hand account of the difference between the U.S. and the rest of the world. Thuner Valley is a global company with customers all over the world, while my other small business, the “Needleart Guild” is solidly confined to U.S. sales. Back in June of ‘08 the Needleart Guild took a hit so severe we thought we might go under. It was as if someone flipped a switch and all sales were GONE!!! Through the kindness and generosity of my Thunder Valley customers we are and will survive. I will never be able to Thank all of you enough.
Well, enough of my rambling for today. As always, please feel welcome to call or send an e-mail if you have any specific questions or concerns and I’ll answer as promptly as possible. The number here is: 1-616-365-0583 or 1-800-318-8541 / and the e-mails are: thundervalleyf1@gmail.com / info@thundervalleyf1.com or sales@thundervalleyf1.com
We are accepting reservations only at this time for our future products and with your continued patience, generosity and support we are making it through the difficult economic times.
Stay Well Everyone,
Paul