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CEO Daily Update – 8.10.2020

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Appendix A N95 Medical & KN95 Civil Masks in Stock | Like New Cisco Phones | Joe is Back 

Happy Monday!  

Welcome to the CablesAndKits CEO daily email. Read more about this email by scrolling to the very bottom. 

Did you hear about the muffler that was really tired? It was exhausted.  

So Joe was back on Friday. I asked about the abduction. He SAID he had been to some place called “Colorado”. I called this “Colorado” and they said they’d never heard of him. I don’t know … I think he’s walking kinda funny if you ask me. (Welcome back Joe!!)  

You GOTTA see below in Joe’s update about our new Appendix A Masks!! This is a BIG DEAL for us.  

Fear, uncertainty, and doubt is a real thing. So real that I had the idea the other day to register FUDbucket.com as a place to list all the things people have fear, uncertainty, or doubt of along with the FACTS related to them. But then again, when do I have time for such a thing? Like I said before, I buy domains like candy. Well, I don’t eat a lot of candy. I buy domains like … what do I buy a lot of? … I don’t really …. Like water? I don’t know. I buy a lot of domains. Anyway, moving on …  

That being said, when Appendix A became a thing it introduced FUD around buying masks. Looking back I think it makes sense, although I can’t say I was too happy about it at the time. We knew through independent testing that our masks met the standards, but the manufacturer we use didn’t get tested and listed. But anyway, such is life and here we are. All that matters at this point is that we NOW HAVE Appendix A masks. These are factories that the US FDA has said are good to buy from. That’s us … approved, stamped, endorsed!  

The super duper thing is that almost ALL masks sold in the US right now are “non-medical”. That is A-OK for the average Joe or Jane, but we were still not able to fully serve the medical community the way we would have liked (even though the whole point of the EUA Joe mentions below was to allow the use of non-medical grade masks in a medical environment). NOW WE CAN. Not only do we have an Appendix A KN95 mask, we have an Appendix A N95 MEDICAL GRADE mask. WOOO HOOO !!!  

Like Joe says below – order what you need – we have more coming and can get ANY qty needed.  

Today’s Product Spotlight:  

CP-7945G VoIP Phone 

The CP-7945G VoIP Phone is one of our best-selling phone models! It’s easy to see why as this phone offers exceptional functionality at an unbeatable price! The CP-7945G is a workhorse! It is a 2-line, Gigabit ready phone, that features 2 Ethernet ports, a 5” 320 x 240 pixel resolution color display, wide band audio, hands-free speakerphone with noise cancellation, and it even features PoE capability! 

Furthermore, at CablesAndKits we sell this model fully refurbished at a fraction of what it cost new. Our refurb process is pretty extensive too. Every phone gets fully reset back to factory defaults, registered with a Call Manager server to get an extension, and EVERY feature gets tested. We mash every button (That’s southern for press), dial out, test the speakerphone – the works. Then, we 86 the handset and cord and replace them with brand new ones – cause let’s face it, the cord looks like you strangled someone with it, multiple times, and the handset smells like someone’s stank breath. Gross.  

We completely clean the phone, REPLACE any scratched components like the screen bezel, and put this work of love into a brand new box with serial number and MAC address on a barcoded label for easy deployment. And of course we have other models available. Check the site for what’s in stock, or let us know if you don’t see what you need.  

Not to get too into the weeds, but we can also assist you in making your deployments easier by providing asset tagging, user / room number labeling, pre-configuration, or whatever else you might need. Additional charges may apply, see store, err, a sales rep, for details.  

Speaking of “86”, did you know this was the origin? I had no idea.

From Joe, our friendly Safety Supplies Product Marketer: 

I’M BACK!! I’m not totally sure if I was abducted or not to be totally honest. What I do know is I thought I was in Colorado which I absolutely loved and had a blast. So, if I was abducted, I’m all for it happening again! Maybe don’t wait so long to fly me away this time! 

Friday Craig mentioned we have “Appendix A” Medical Grade N95 masks coming to the site. I can only imagine how frustrated he was looking at them in the warehouse and not seeing them on the site! Well, good news…. THEY’RE LIVE!!!!  

Check out our N95 Page to see our available options.  

[Read more…] about CEO Daily Update — 8.10.2020

CEO Daily Update – 8.6.2020

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Super Savings on SFP-10G-SR | We want your Cisco hardware | Leadership

Happy Thursday!  

Welcome to the CablesAndKits CEO daily email. Read more about this email by scrolling to the very bottom. 

A customer replied to my email yesterday and said …  

OK Craig, I truly thought you were writing these emails simply for your health!!!!  

YOU: “because let’s face it, I don’t write this every day purely for my health!” 

…and here I thought you were the healthiest guy I know….haha 

I replied and said “You know … I DID lose 50lbs and I HAVE been writing these emails. Causation or correlation? Hmmmm”.  

Today’s Product Spotlight:  

SFP-10G-SR – You won’t find a better deal on such a staple networking item. You may be buying these by the box full, and you are probably paying way too much. CDW has these listed for $716 each. You can buy them BRAND NEW from us for $128 each, or pre-owned for $32!!  

How? Because we buy unused IT from companies like YOURS and resell it. We get great deals and pass those savings on. We get plenty of pre-owned hardware of course but we occasionally get NEW in the box hardware? Companies buy what ends up being more than they need, and of course you cannot return it to Cisco so it ends up being sold to people like us.  

And don’t worry – for pre-owned we fully test everything and include a LIFETIME warranty with advance replacement. You also have a full month to return your purchase for a refund!! (A few exceptions apply) 

We have way more available than what you see on the site (both qty and models) so reach out if you need something you don’t see. 

Can you name one good reason not to buy from us and save? If you think of one, email me.  

From Joe, our friendly Safety Supplies Product Marketer: 

Crickets. That’s all I hear. Joe is living it up somewhere and we don’t get so much as a card or a text. I hope he is enjoying himself but I am not ruling out the abduction angle.  

Let’s see … what shall I talk about today … Ooh I know …  

2 oz Sanitizer Spray Bottles – So you bought a big giant jug of liquid hand sanitizer and now what? Carry it around with you? (How would you do that anyway? I guess you could run your belt through the handle and wear it on your side for easy access?). Anyway, here is another option. We sourced these little spray bottles that you can fill and spritz as needed! Great for the car so you can spray surfaces, or for your purse (or pocketbook as I call it).  

Shoe Covers – Just an update – we have 150,000 shoe covers on the way. If you need them, let’s get an order booked so we can tie up some inventory for you. If you have an ongoing need, let’s talk!  

Desktop Sanitizer (or soap) dispenser – I almost forgot about this little guy. It was one of the first things I sourced overseas when all this mess started! You can use liquid or gel sanitizer (or even soap) and put it on the counter in the kitchen, on your desk, in the bathroom, or strap it to your arm for quick and easy access. ACTUALLY, you could strap it to your back side (using the belt again) so people BEHIND you have quick access to hand sanitizer. Do your part. And, with the gallon jug hanging from your belt you’ll be ready to refill at a moment’s notice.  

SPEAKING of how we buy hardware, we want to buy your unused hardware!  

Feel free to send us lists of anything you would like to get rid of, but here is a list of a few items we are consistently buying (which as you might have guessed, are top sellers). There are a LOT more items we purchase from customers like you regularly, but this is a good list to get your thinker thinking. Do you have any of these models laying around in your server room?  

[Read more…] about CEO Daily Update — 8.6.2020

CEO Daily Updates – 7.30.2020

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Moving to a new computer |Clorox Wipes in Stock | A prayer request

Happy Thursday!  

We are a mere one day away from the glorious weekend! Do you have anything interesting planned?  

My new Macbook Pro: Moving to a new computer 

I bought a new Macbook Pro last week to replace the one I had. It was having some funky issues and I DO NOT play when it comes to my computer having issues. I will allow a tad bit of troubleshooting but if that doesn’t solve the issue completely, I am buying a new one. I do not ever reformat the one I have … I buy a new one, get completely up and running, and then format and sell the old one, or pass is to someone else in the company that is due for a refresh.  

I have learned the hard way that when you format the computer you are using you are just asking for trouble. I have had issues that kept me down for a couple days, I have lost data because I didn’t remember everything I needed to move over, etc. Then you are without a computer “until”. Nope. I buy the new one, start getting things working on it as I have time, and when I am completely done, I give myself several days or a week to make sure I don’t realize something I am missing from the old one before I wipe it.  

During this switch over it took me two days to realize I didn’t move my email signatures over from the old Outlook to the new one. You would think that using Office365 would cause those to move automatically, but alas, the work is mine. I have 11 email accounts each with their own signature. Fortunately my old machine isn’t wiped yet. 😉  

My last Macbook Pro was the 13″ and I really loved it. Small, powerful, and super portable. This time, I was on the fence but at the suggestion of my IT guy I went for the 16″. It is more powerful than the new 13″ and of course has a bigger screen. I was nervous when it was on the way – I really didn’t know if I would like the bigger screen / bigger form factor. I was a little shocked when I opened the screen but in just a short while I was thinking “OMG – this is amazing”. It removes any desire I might have had for using a monitor, and it fits in my same laptop bag so the only thing that changed was the weight. And I am not joking – I had a book that stayed in my bag that I never read. I removed it and now the bag is back to what I am used to.  

I didn’t intend to do a 16″ Macbook Pro product review in this email but it sorta feels like I did – ha!  

[Read more…] about CEO Daily Updates — 7.30.2020

CEO Daily Updates – 7.29.2020

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An analogy of Financial Reports | KN95 Masks on Sale | COVID-19 News Updates

Happy Wednesday! (Huuuuu……. Huuuuuuuuuuummm…) 

During our weekly leadership meeting, Gary (our Chief Administrative Steward) was giving the leadership team a refresher / class on financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement). In an effort to help with some understanding I jumped in with an analogy that I personally really liked (it came to me in the moment), and I thought I would share it with you.  

First, the overview of the financial statements.  

In a business there are three primary financial statements used to monitor financial health and to inform decisions – the P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement. You may or may not be familiar with these statements so I will, in my own words, explain what they tell you.  

The P&L (profit and loss) statement, or Income Statement, shows your income, cost of the goods or services you are selling (COGS), expenses, and profit (or loss). Income minus cost of goods equals your gross profit. It is from this gross profit that you can pay your expenses, and what’s left over is your net income. Taxes are a factor but they only show up on the P&L if you are a C corp. Otherwise, if you are an S Corp or LLC the taxes are the responsibility of the shareholders each year and therefore do not show up as an expense in the business.  

The Balance sheet shows the cash and assets of the business, as well as any liabilities – usually loans, but also the money you have booked as an expense but have not yet PAID. For instance, if you booked an expense for a vendor onto the P&L but have not yet sent the check, it shows up as a liability on the balance sheet in the “Accounts Payable” account. Glancing through the balance sheet you can see what cash you have in the bank, what people owe you (Accounts Receivable), what you owe as balances of loans and accounts payable, and also any “balance of value” of any fixed assets you purchased. For instance, if you bought a big ‘ol underwater basket weaving machine for $250,000 it is not (typically) able to be “expensed” on the P&L, and therefore shows up as an asset on the balance sheet. The IRS allows you to “depreciate” (write off) assets over a set amount of time, depending on the asset type, and to do that you transfer a piece of the value of that asset away from the balance sheet and onto the P&L. You are basically reducing the value of the asset and taking that reduction in value as an expense a little at a time. That one is maybe a little hard to wrap your head around without looking at it on paper.  

[Read more…] about CEO Daily Updates — 7.29.2020

CEO Daily Updates – 7.28.2020

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Latest Stimulus Bill | IT Project Management Tips | Today’s COVID-19 Updates

Happy Tuesday!  

So there is a new stimulus bill in the works and I just saw this article about it.  

Latest Corona Virus Stimulus Bill 

https://apple.news/AZCieL5H3S62G99ORswBtdA

I found this especially interesting:  

“On ending the additional $600 in unemployment benefits the federal government was supplying, Kudlow argued that the extra money was hurting small businesses from hiring workers. “We have had a flood of inquiries and phone calls and complaints that small stores and businesses, restaurants can’t hire people back,” he said. “They went too far. Maybe last March, it was necessary for that, but, really, there are consequences of people not returning to work.” Mnuchin earlier in the day on “Fox News Sunday” said it a little more bluntly: “I think workers and Americans understand the concept that you shouldn’t be paid more to stay home than to work.” Mnuchin said the new bill will provide additional unemployment benefits, but noted that it will be less than the payments issued under the CARES Act. He said some workers were collecting more than they earned on the job. As a result, when businesses were reopening some employees did not have an incentive to return to work.” 

At CK we tried to hire someone several weeks back that said “naa, I am making more (than the job paid) sitting at home”. I get that when all this went down they were moving fast and perhaps overlooked the possibility of these scenarios, but I am certainly glad they are fixing them. You could call it an ethical issue for someone to turn down a job because the unemployment check is more than what they could earn – but we just shouldn’t put people in the position to have to choose. That’s like laying $100 bills all over the office and having hidden cameras so you can fire anyone that touches one. Anyway, I am glad they are fixing it.  

I am also glad that there was money available for people during the beginning of all this when places like restaurants were closed completely. I am also VERY grateful that in our business almost everyone was able to work from home. Many businesses did not have that luxury. I remember when all this first started some restaurants trying to hang on by doing take out. I was going to every restaurant around my house daily trying to do my little part to keep them going, but it wasn’t anywhere near enough. For those reasons I am glad that this unemployment was available when it was. Most people were not working not out of their own choice, but because there just was no work to do. But now we must start reeling this back in.  

Your thoughts? How has this been a blessing to you or someone you know during this time?  

From Joe, our friendly Safety Supplies Product Marketer:

Carrying some sort of method of sanitation on your person at all times has become a norm. I’m not talking about only hand sanitizer either. Anything from eye glass cleaner, soap, deodorizers, household cleaners, face sprays and any other mixtures that are used daily. We have an array of bottles, including spray pens and personal size bottles, that are perfect for dispensing any liquids you throw their way! Check ’em out.  

[Read more…] about CEO Daily Updates — 7.28.2020

CEO Daily Update – 7.27.2020

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Doing the hard things first | Bargains on Deals Site | Shoe covers

Happy Monday!

Welcome to the beginning of a whole new week. I hope you had a good and restful / fun weekend with friends and family. As long/hard as I work all week I have really come to look forward to the weekends when I have two entire days to do things other than work on the business. There are certainly times (seasons) when I have to work all the time (like when we first started selling Safety Supplies) so I am very grateful for the season I am in right now where I don’t have to. I hope that you take the time to appreciate the season you are in – even when it is “the busy season”. I have found gratitude and gratefulness in the busy seasons knowing that there will come a time they will be over with, and the hard work will hopefully pay off.

“Do the hard things first” – Writing the above makes me think about one of my tendencies/preferences, and something I try to encourage others to adopt. Whenever I have the option to do something fun or enjoyable, or knock out something that needs to get done, I tend to “do the hard things first” and knock out the thing that needs to get done. There is something very motivating to me about the delayed gratification of doing something I enjoy AFTER I have done what needs to be done. If I need to take the trash to the road, but I want to watch TV – I will go ahead and take the trash to the road and think about what I want to watch while I am doing it (I have a looong driveway). When I get back, I can more fully enjoy watching TV without the guilt of knowing there is something that needs to get done. I’ll also tend to knock out a few other things while I am “in motion” like taking something to the car that needs to go to the office, etc. There are limits of course. There is ALWAYS something that “needs to get done” so you have to know where to draw the line. I think it’s easy to “feel” when you are facing the decision. Think about doing the hard things first for a while and see how that might change things for you.

Bargains to be had in the CK in the CK Deals site – Since the big inventory blowout sale has been over we have been able to use the Deals area of the site more purely for what it was originally intended for. As of this writing there are 11 items that are on sale and showing up in the deals area and we will have more coming soon. Be sure to go take a look and check it out often! A few things to note right now:

[Read more…] about CEO Daily Update — 7.27.2020