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S2-76: Post SIMA Show with The gang at Storm Equipment!
754 Plays3 months ago
The guys welcome the gang over at Storm Equipment to the show to talk about the new tech that Storm Equipment unveiled at SIMA Show 2024. Phil, Steve, Brady, Christian, and Darcy take us through SIMA 2024 from Storm's perspective, from the set up, to the after hours party, to the two new tech innovations Storm released there.
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Nicknames
00:00:02
snowjobspodcast
you
00:00:39
snowjobspodcast
All right. Here we go. Snow jobs nation episode 76 of the snow jobs podcast is off and running. Starting us off with a little rev theory as always. Ah, you know who I am. All right. By now, there we go. With me always Rick James of snow management, uh, Taylor Swift, uh, Chuck Norris of snow. We got another one from a listener this week, the snow Elvis.
00:01:07
RICK JAMES
That's terrible.
00:01:08
snowjobspodcast
That's, I like it, but you know, if you don't like it, we don't go with it.
00:01:09
RICK JAMES
That sucks. No, no, we don't go with that. That's terrible.
00:01:12
snowjobspodcast
You know? But Jeremy Lindstrom is here with me.
Fourth of July Recap and Sima Show Plans
00:01:21
snowjobspodcast
The Snow Bully. What's up, buddy?
00:01:24
RICK JAMES
Oh, not a lot. A long, long weekend. and to Didn't, uh, didn't do much.
00:01:27
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. How was your fourth?
00:01:29
RICK JAMES
Pretty uneventful. What's going on here?
00:01:31
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:01:32
RICK JAMES
Pretty uneventful.
00:01:32
snowjobspodcast
Uh oh. Oh, you having problems already?
00:01:34
RICK JAMES
I didn't do shit. How about you?
00:01:36
snowjobspodcast
Uh, I worked the fourth. Um, it's always nice to work the fourth and see like New York city turn into Beirut. It's a, it's great.
00:01:45
RICK JAMES
That's cool.
00:01:45
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. It was a, it was interesting, but, uh, then I went back up to the lake, see the kids for a couple of days and rush back home to do this tonight and back in tomorrow for 24 hours.
00:01:46
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:01:55
snowjobspodcast
So it was good though.
00:01:56
RICK JAMES
Nice. No, that's good.
00:01:57
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. Good weather. They got good weather. Yeah.
00:02:00
RICK JAMES
I didn't do, I didn't do much.
00:02:00
snowjobspodcast
Wasn't too bad.
00:02:02
RICK JAMES
I think i I was here a couple of days. I was just working around the yard, moving plows, moving plows and putting some more gravel down there underneath them.
00:02:05
snowjobspodcast
You move, you moved 75 plows, right?
00:02:11
RICK JAMES
Something to do.
00:02:12
snowjobspodcast
You are so desperate for snow. You were just hooking up plows for a whole day, just kind of, kind of talking to the snow gods.
00:02:15
RICK JAMES
Yeah, that was great. It was fun. It was fine. No, no, no, I did.
00:02:21
snowjobspodcast
So let's not have a repeat of last year.
00:02:23
RICK JAMES
Yeah, that was fun. Well, we got our, I don't know. I'd like to have a nice organized clean yard and it wasn't. So still got a little work to do yet.
00:02:30
snowjobspodcast
I know you do.
00:02:31
RICK JAMES
Another day we'll get her squared away, but yeah.
00:02:34
snowjobspodcast
I know you do, brother. All right. Well, we hope everybody out there at Snow Jobs Nation had a great Fourth of July weekend with the family. You know, hope you guys were all able to spend time with the family and friends, have some fun. All right. So today, for your listening pleasure, we have a small continuation of our post-Sima review show we did last week. But instead of doing our traditional format, Jeremy had a great idea.
Sima Show Highlights and Innovations
00:02:57
snowjobspodcast
He said, you know, what we should do is maybe talk to one of the vendors that had obviously, I think the most crowded and popular booth in Sima, and for good reason.
00:03:05
snowjobspodcast
So what what we've heard from you guys out there, you know this show is a lot of same old, same old from a lot of vendors, and which is you know not abnormal in this economy after a down winter or two. Innovation in R and&D, as Jordan Smith says all the time, innovation in R and&D costs money. And when manufacturers need to cut costs, usually that's the first thing to take a budget hit. right So not much new and earth shattering at this show, would you say, Jay? Did you see anything crazy?
00:03:29
RICK JAMES
You know, I didn't see anything. Honestly, I really didn't.
00:03:32
snowjobspodcast
Well, that's true. We didn't see much, but, uh, you know, we have people out there that we talked to.
00:03:34
RICK JAMES
I saw a storm vision. That was, that was, that was a ticket.
00:03:38
snowjobspodcast
Ironically, you know, that being said, there were a few boots that did have, you know, some eye catching innovation. All right. So we may try and get, well, that's no power.
00:03:45
RICK JAMES
No power, no power.
00:03:48
snowjobspodcast
Definitely one of them. And that, I think that, uh, that was definitely, uh, hammered home by the fact that they sold 20 of them at Simon show over 20 now.
00:03:55
RICK JAMES
Over 20. Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:59
snowjobspodcast
I haven't checked in this week, but 20 at Simon show.
00:03:59
RICK JAMES
i
00:04:03
snowjobspodcast
Who the hell is selling 20 truck plows at Simon?
00:04:03
RICK JAMES
over to barely wreck.
00:04:08
snowjobspodcast
Apparently uncle Rick doing it, getting it done.
00:04:08
RICK JAMES
All right. Uncle Rick can they're done. What do you get four or five dealers set up or something supposedly.
00:04:14
snowjobspodcast
I think you said five, I think five dealers, but there, you know, there was some innovation out there and you know, we,
00:04:16
RICK JAMES
Nice.
00:04:20
snowjobspodcast
Didn't have a lot of time to see it ourselves, but you know and maybe other guys didn't either. you know They can get to everything they wanted to and maybe it didn't ah attend the show altogether. So it's our our job as we see it to ah you know bring attention to that fact. so Ah, you know, we wanted to get one of those innovations on tonight because it's it's pretty pretty cool. So Jeremy had the great idea. Let's go with everybody that we've spoken to their unanimous number one booth and company at this show. You know, everything from their after hours party to their booth reveals.
00:04:51
snowjobspodcast
Right. And that was most definitely storm equipment. Right.
00:04:54
RICK JAMES
Oh yeah, definitely. It's a lot of cool stuff.
00:04:55
snowjobspodcast
Everybody was spoken to.
00:04:57
RICK JAMES
I'm excited. Huh? What?
00:04:59
RICK JAMES
Oh yeah. ye Yep. Yep.
00:04:59
snowjobspodcast
Everybody we spoke to.
00:05:02
snowjobspodcast
That was like by far unanimous number one. So, uh, you know, they were also awesome enough to have the snow jobs at their booth with them.
00:05:08
RICK JAMES
They were.
00:05:10
snowjobspodcast
So that was great.
00:05:11
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:05:11
snowjobspodcast
We had a good time, right?
00:05:12
RICK JAMES
It was a great time.
00:05:14
RICK JAMES
I don't know why they put us there, but they did. So they included us. So I suppose.
00:05:14
snowjobspodcast
But, uh, I dunno, I dunno, they needed some comic relief or something.
00:05:20
snowjobspodcast
Maybe take away from all the seriousness of what they were unveiling.
00:05:23
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:05:24
snowjobspodcast
But the Storm, seriously though, Storm introduced not one, but two great tech advances at Simon 24. They had their Storm vision and they had their teleo remote automated equipment operation, whatever the heck they call the teleo thing. ah It's a big drawn out name, but you know they're here tonight and they'll boil it down for us. So, you know, two great tech advances for snow pros from storm at this show and a kick-ass party that they partnered with us on. So ah overall, if you were scoring vendors from arrival to departure at that show, I think, you know, everybody we've spoken to storm knocked it out of the park and, you know, number one overall unanimously.
00:06:00
snowjobspodcast
Right.
00:06:01
RICK JAMES
Correct. Yeah, it was great.
00:06:02
snowjobspodcast
Do you hear any different? You hear anybody say any different.
00:06:04
RICK JAMES
I didn't. It was it was a busy booth, 100%.
00:06:06
snowjobspodcast
It was for tech.
00:06:06
RICK JAMES
Yeah, it was cool.
00:06:07
snowjobspodcast
Absolutely.
00:06:09
RICK JAMES
What they got going on there is pretty neat, and all the people there are awesome. so
00:06:13
snowjobspodcast
They are great people make great products, you know, great ideas. It's awesome. Uh, so today with us guys, we have about 90% of the team at storm and they're here to talk about their show as they saw it and tell us more about storm vision and all the different directions that, you know, that can go to help us in the future as snow pros. Uh, so we have Steve, we have Darcy, we have Brady, we have Christian, and last but not least, we have big Phil. All right. They're all with us today. We can't wait, you know, to hear their take on the show from a vendor standpoint. But before we do that, as always, let's hear from team Top Gun and we'll be back to do our week in review.
Podcast Ranking and Merchandise Promotion
00:07:20
snowjobspodcast
Thank you, Top Gun. A lot of guys were talking about getting to meet Rob Tebow for the first time at SEMA.
00:07:25
RICK JAMES
Yeah Tebow he's he's robbed It
00:07:26
snowjobspodcast
Being a highlight, Rob is a character. We love Rob. That's it. He is the man. He was driving the Top Gun truck, which act absolutely looks sick. That thing was awesome with the wrap on the plow in the truck.
00:07:40
RICK JAMES
was pretty cool plus you gave it got to give him another shot that night too Could have been remember he gave him the shot but before before we left in the parking lot Like oh you could be you could be driving old Moby
00:07:41
snowjobspodcast
Thing look... What's that?
00:07:47
snowjobspodcast
What'd I give him?
00:07:50
snowjobspodcast
Oh, that's true. That that is true. this would This truck, thank God, looks great. but You could could have said Moby and have a big whale down the side of it. That would have ridiculous.
00:07:59
RICK JAMES
yeah ah' been terrible but
00:08:02
snowjobspodcast
ah
00:08:03
RICK JAMES
oh
00:08:03
snowjobspodcast
um Rob chose right. He went with Top Gun. That's awesome. But yeah, a week in review. Last week, guys, we had the gang on. They did a post-Sima review show. ah We had a great time with them. Got to a lot of good feedback from those guys. um You know, so we want to thank Jordan, Dan Zuber, Big Mike, Santa Lucito, and Matty Muscles, Mr. Flexing throughout the whole damn show, trying to distract everybody.
00:08:25
RICK JAMES
Yeah, I haven't been terrible.
00:08:28
snowjobspodcast
ah We want to thank them for coming on with us and giving us all their takes on Simon Show 24. What else did we talk about? We also talked about our jump up to an all-time high ranking of a top 2% podcast globally on ListenNotes.com. So again, guys, we want to thank all of you out there for that. That is directly ah directly related to you and your listens. So ah you know keep pushing, keep getting behind us, and we'll keep climbing. It's pretty awesome. ah Jeremy wants to remind everybody out there, visit snowjobsnationstore.com.
00:09:00
snowjobspodcast
Get all your Snow Jobs Nation and podcast gear. ah Get your pre-orders in for Snow Jobs Nation Carhartt sweatshirts, right?
00:09:08
RICK JAMES
Correct.
00:09:09
snowjobspodcast
Those things are sweet. They look great.
00:09:11
RICK JAMES
Mm hmm.
00:09:11
snowjobspodcast
It's going to be the fall before you know it.
00:09:13
RICK JAMES
It will be it's past the fourth now. So here we come.
00:09:16
snowjobspodcast
Can we wear those doing storm chasing? Is there going to be a uniform? We got to figure that out.
00:09:20
RICK JAMES
I don't wear a uniform uniform.
00:09:21
snowjobspodcast
Actually, no. Screw the uniform. We're doing whatever we want.
00:09:24
RICK JAMES
You know who I am?
00:09:28
snowjobspodcast
Oh man, but yeah, the car hearts are sweet. um They're super expensive for us to stock, so we're just going to do a pre-order for you guys out there and just get a hold of Jeremy on the ah on the store there. Pre-order it. The button's there. It's live. Click it. Order your stuff. Anything else, Jake? I forgot.
00:09:46
RICK JAMES
let's that's about it i think for now so
00:09:48
snowjobspodcast
Cool. Yeah. Pretty abbreviated week in review. So I think that's it guys. So let's hear from our incredible sponsors. All right. And then we'll be back and we'll kick this off with team storm. All right. Be back in a little bit.
00:10:11
RICK JAMES
Oh, that's about it, I think for now.
Storm Team's Sima Experience
00:11:28
snowjobspodcast
All right guys, we're back. So let's just get this going. We're going to bring in team storm and we'd like to welcome Steve, Darcy, Brady, Christian, and big Phil to the show. Guys, how are we? Welcome to the snow jobs.
00:11:42
RICK JAMES
I don't think Phil likes me called Big Phil.
00:11:45
snowjobspodcast
I know that's why I did it.
00:11:47
Storm
He loves it, he loves it. It actually should makes me, you know, an idiot.
00:11:49
snowjobspodcast
oh
00:11:54
snowjobspodcast
Interestingly enough, I got a recording of Christian at work one day. I'm gonna play it right now but What's going on guys, how are we everybody good
00:12:02
Storm
no
00:12:13
RICK JAMES
the
00:12:13
Storm
I think it might actually be great thinking about Christian. Yeah, that's more accurate, for sure.
00:12:22
Storm
You're doing good.
00:12:24
snowjobspodcast
Good.
00:12:24
Storm
Thanks for having us.
00:12:24
snowjobspodcast
Everybody recovered from the, uh, from the Simon show.
00:12:29
Storm
Yeah.
00:12:30
snowjobspodcast
All right, good.
00:12:30
RICK JAMES
Sorry, I'm gonna show a big long weekend.
00:12:32
Storm
Long weekend helped.
00:12:33
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:12:33
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, definitely.
00:12:35
Storm
Yeah, it took four days It was the first three days back, it was tough. mar
00:12:40
snowjobspodcast
I bet. I bet. Jay, you want to kick us off here, bud?
00:12:44
RICK JAMES
Yeah, that's cool. Well, what you guys go around the table, but that's how was the show? How was the show for y'all and any thoughts on on it? Y'all, I guess I'm from the South.
00:12:53
Storm
Yeah. on
00:12:55
snowjobspodcast
Y'all.
00:12:56
RICK JAMES
Y'all.
00:12:56
Storm
The biggest thing I took away was I've done i've been in sales my adult life and a little over 10 years. And it was just different having eight people there talking to three or four people or more for a majority of the trade show. So I mean, just the excitement that we had in our booth, obviously the sex appeal of Snow Jobs being there.
00:13:23
Storm
thorn was a ah the tono unit I mean, it was just, it was nuts. There was very, very few times that it was slow. But yeah, the the overall trade show was great. But the networking, the classes, just getting to see people that you don't get to see face to face. I mean, it was. best time so far be hard so
00:13:47
snowjobspodcast
Cool. What about you, Steve?
00:13:49
Storm
It was a great show. First year on my on that side of the carpet for me, as a contractor, I've been there several times in the past, kind of the way you guys have looked at it, but being on the different side of the tracks is pretty cool. I was listening to the Coffee on the Peak podcast Friday morning in Bain, and Scott had Jordan and Evan on from Simon, and Evan was talking about 60% new attendees this year at the show. And I talked to a lot of younger guys that were, were new to snow and just kind of getting started and they have a you know a truck or two type situation and looking to, you know, expand into equipment.
00:14:26
Storm
So that was, that's pretty cool for me to see that up and coming up.
00:14:29
snowjobspodcast
Great. Very cool. Darcy, superstar, party planner. How about you?
00:14:37
Storm
Oh man, it was a great show. So this is my second sign of it now. I had a little bit of an insight as to what to expect, but I don't think I was fully prepared to for the the booth this year and the excitement and the energy surrounding it. I admittedly never walked the trade show floor. I didn't get out of the booth and I don't think any of us really did. I know Steve and I were the only ones that actually were able to go catch lunch the one day because there was just people constantly flowing in.
00:15:08
Storm
so
00:15:09
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:15:11
Storm
A ton of positive energy coming in and out of it was overall just outstanding.
00:15:17
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. It sucks to be popular. You can't leave.
00:15:19
RICK JAMES
Solid,
00:15:19
Storm
Yeah.
00:15:22
snowjobspodcast
There was nothing but people at that booth all, all day. It was awesome.
00:15:27
RICK JAMES
solid
00:15:27
Storm
Yeah, at least we're definitely done by the end of Thursday for sure.
00:15:31
snowjobspodcast
Absolutely. Brady, what do you think? Well, how would you, how'd your, uh, how'd your show go? Was it your first one or you've been there before?
00:15:38
Storm
This was definitely my first time off. I've been to GIE a few times on the other side, just as a contractor. I went to GIE a few years ago with Christians, had a Belfast booth, which was different in itself, but this was, by far and I don't know what to expect, but this was, by far and away, the best week professionally, the whole week. I mean, the after-hours stuff, our event, But yeah, just hanging out with these guys. It was awesome.
00:16:11
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, it's awesome. You guys got a great team. It's ah it's definitely like a family.
00:16:14
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:16:15
snowjobspodcast
like So um that definitely makes it easier.
00:16:16
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Mm hmm.
00:16:18
snowjobspodcast
Definitely. What about you, Big Phil?
00:16:21
RICK JAMES
God.
00:16:23
Storm
How did I get to be big? I have no idea.
00:16:27
RICK JAMES
ah
00:16:28
Storm
No.
00:16:29
RICK JAMES
ah
00:16:32
Storm
It was a great week. I don't know, there was just something in the air at our booth that you could feel it. Really awesome to not only meet, you know, a bunch of contractors, but you even, you know, having vendors come over and whatnot and talk about their interest and storm vision and what's next there is, it's exciting. You know, you'd think we would have been there to talk about wing claws. I don't know that I even talked about wing claws one time in the entire show. So that's I think a good thing, but it was awesome.
00:17:05
snowjobspodcast
That's a great thing. That means what you had there was bigger than a wing plow.
00:17:06
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:17:09
snowjobspodcast
You know, it was, it was definitely more important to talk about that.
00:17:10
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:17:11
Storm
That was awesome.
00:17:13
snowjobspodcast
So that's great. So we know we, we talked to Jordan all the time on here. Everybody knows what Jordan does with storm. And I think it's important. Like Phil, what, what's your position at storm? Like everybody tell, tell what your positions are at storm, what roles you play.
00:17:28
Storm
Yeah, so I'm a president at Storm Equipment, which basically just means I'm in charge of keeping these guys under control, which is at least a two-time job.
00:17:39
snowjobspodcast
no easy task ah
00:17:43
Storm
No, but the way that we're essentially structured, you know Jordan is is our obviously CEO and visionary. and And I'm the guy kind of who takes the chaos that that he creates and poems it and then tries to bring it to reality. And I don't do that myself.
00:18:04
snowjobspodcast
No easy task.
00:18:04
Storm
Obviously these guys do the majority of it, but I try as much as I can to to keep them under control.
00:18:05
RICK JAMES
Ha ha!
00:18:13
snowjobspodcast
Absolutely. What about you, Brady? What's your role there?
00:18:17
Storm
So my role is operations. So I deal with, the work with the plows after Christian, so Christian and Steve sell them. So I'm making sure it's lined up, set up properly and get shipped out. Um, so I run the Mankato location, which is where all the plows are stored. And then, uh, also had a big, uh, task of doing the storm vision as well. I mean, the main cog in that wheel, I guess, is that it goes.
00:18:45
snowjobspodcast
Very cool.
00:18:46
Storm
So.
00:18:47
snowjobspodcast
Very cool. So that was a big show for you then. That's awesome.
00:18:50
RICK JAMES
You know, videos are always good.
00:18:50
Storm
Yup, that was the ah the debut and the breakout and the video that came out that morning was by far the most uncomfortable video ever. We're here. you crushed it. take down You know what?
00:19:01
snowjobspodcast
ah It was great. It was great. You know, Darcy, besides being a world-class event planner now, what do you do at storm?
00:19:12
Storm
I really don't even know anymore.
00:19:17
snowjobspodcast
Hahahaha
00:19:18
Storm
I feel
Setting Up at Sima and Logistical Challenges
00:19:19
Storm
like ah my title is evolving constantly but I just fill in the blanks where it's needed. I came in on one roll on helping fill with some accounting stuff. Knowing that I had a marketing background I think didn't hurt their feelings when I came in and I didn' almost instantly said I'm taking over your social media and so I started doing some of the marketing and that and have evolved into editing videos in production with Christian and everyone else.
00:19:50
Storm
And no event planner is added to that list.
00:19:55
snowjobspodcast
well
00:19:56
Storm
Apparently it sets the bar really high.
00:19:59
snowjobspodcast
You did.
00:19:59
RICK JAMES
yeah Yeah, you did.
00:20:00
snowjobspodcast
you You did. You want to wear less hats.
00:20:01
Storm
and
00:20:02
snowjobspodcast
Stop being good at everything.
00:20:04
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:20:05
snowjobspodcast
but They'll stop giving you so much else to do.
00:20:08
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:20:08
snowjobspodcast
Uh, Steve, what about you, bud?
00:20:09
Storm
but
00:20:10
snowjobspodcast
What's your title now?
00:20:10
Storm
no My outside sales.
00:20:15
snowjobspodcast
and Outside sales.
00:20:15
Storm
like to just welcome mingle with the guys out in the field and boots on the ground and roll that way. I think I kind of heard that conglomerate with you guys with the storm chases.
00:20:22
snowjobspodcast
Very cool.
00:20:27
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, it's going to be fun. It's going to be fun.
00:20:28
Storm
Yeah, yep I'm inside sale.
00:20:28
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:20:30
snowjobspodcast
Very cool.
00:20:30
RICK JAMES
Should be.
00:20:31
snowjobspodcast
And Christian, what do you do?
00:20:35
Storm
Just very, ah like to say, happy to talk to people about snowfalls from eight to five or even before or after that, just spreading across the U.S. that guys can call from New York, guys can call from Washington, it don't matter. If they call, I'll answer and I'll talk about snow clubs.
00:20:54
snowjobspodcast
And you do, you definitely do answer the phone.
00:20:57
Storm
Oh yeah, we've been on the phone a time or two. and i
00:20:59
snowjobspodcast
Oh yeah, we check that. We check all that stuff.
00:21:02
Storm
Let's say Christian's a heck of a mentor, too, because I came from your guys' world to this world. He's taught me a lot, so it's awesome work.
00:21:09
snowjobspodcast
Is it that different, Steve?
00:21:11
Storm
Yes, it's different.
00:21:13
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. All right. Interesting. So how I want to know how did the setup of a booth like that where you guys weren't just unveiling one product like You guys were really actually no we didn't get around the whole room or did we with the how did the show go everybody answer that?
00:21:29
RICK JAMES
Yeah, yeah, they did.
00:21:30
Storm
yeah
00:21:30
snowjobspodcast
Okay, cool So tell me about the setup because you had storm vision you had the teleo you had the snow jobs And we didn't set up our own stuff.
00:21:31
RICK JAMES
Yup.
00:21:38
snowjobspodcast
So yeah, that was
00:21:38
RICK JAMES
Well, we didn't do shit.
00:21:40
snowjobspodcast
That was done for us.
00:21:41
RICK JAMES
or
00:21:41
snowjobspodcast
So, you know, how did the setup of a booth like that go? How long did it take and, you know, any problems, any issues?
00:21:49
Storm
I think we laid it out in our shop, just so you, like we didn't just go in completely willy-nilly.
00:21:49
RICK JAMES
Oh.
00:21:55
Storm
We laid it out on the floor of the shop and kind of had a vision for it. And then we got there and the vision kind of had to take a pivot and, and then Phil, um, pulled the chaos together, I think, and said, no, we'll move this here and do that and let's do this.
00:22:05
snowjobspodcast
Okay.
00:22:13
Storm
And it took all day, but we got it. Yeah. so full full first day and a little part of second day as well. But yeah, Tuesday, Tuesday a.m.
00:22:24
snowjobspodcast
Which was what, Tuesday? If it took all day Tuesday?
00:22:29
Storm
we started moving in and yeah, we left by five pretty exhausted. And then yeah, Tuesday we we used the first few hours to kind of hone things in.
00:22:47
Storm
A lot of the day actually figuring out how to get the internet connection enough to tell you the infamous.
00:22:54
RICK JAMES
That was pretty easy, wasn't it?
00:22:55
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:22:55
Storm
Yeah. unp plug it plug the back end Just like I said. quick
00:22:59
RICK JAMES
Yeah, see, people listen.
00:22:59
snowjobspodcast
ma Maybe you should have paid more for the internet.
00:23:00
Storm
michael
00:23:03
snowjobspodcast
It would have gone better.
00:23:03
RICK JAMES
Yeah, yeah, you guys should have paid a little more. I mean, Jesus, that's ridiculous.
00:23:07
snowjobspodcast
Jesus Christ.
00:23:08
Storm
reporter
00:23:08
snowjobspodcast
ah Oh my God.
00:23:09
Storm
you know
00:23:09
RICK JAMES
Oh my God.
00:23:11
snowjobspodcast
We're not even going to get into that because I'll go on a rant.
00:23:11
RICK JAMES
They should be, they should be shocked for that.
00:23:14
snowjobspodcast
ah I'll go on a total rant about the internet. Oh, that's awesome. Well, at least you guys got, you know, you worked hard Tuesday setting up. You had a nice dinner Tuesday night. Most of you anyway, right?
00:23:24
Storm
Yeah.
00:23:24
RICK JAMES
Yeah, yeah, couple couple guys went elsewhere.
00:23:25
Storm
Yeah. We did.
00:23:27
snowjobspodcast
ah
00:23:28
Storm
Trish and I had a really good dinner.
00:23:29
snowjobspodcast
Not that that's a sore subject.
00:23:30
Storm
We got a couple of really cool shirts that these guys didn't get. Yeah. That was quite nice.
00:23:34
snowjobspodcast
ah
00:23:35
Storm
You never said that you had sausage or pepperoni. I had pepperoni. All right. Three.
00:23:40
snowjobspodcast
yeah hu
00:23:40
RICK JAMES
ah We had steak.
00:23:40
Storm
Three. I asked
00:23:42
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. to I think we had Porter house or whatever.
00:23:46
Storm
for
00:23:46
RICK JAMES
Yeah, 45 day aged steak and.
00:23:49
Storm
a medium.
00:23:52
RICK JAMES
Uh, that was good stuff.
00:23:52
snowjobspodcast
Oh man.
00:23:54
Storm
Just one one thing on the setup I mentioned, I talked to Martin with Simon about it too, and I think it's something probably all the vendors are thinking too. But you're setting up the trade show, and obviously they can't have the air on because the doors are open with the semis coming in, what not. A little more concessions, I guess, for the vendors. You know, some waters and maybe a concession stand open for some food or something in there for the guys.
00:24:15
RICK JAMES
No.
00:24:15
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:24:16
Storm
So Martin and his team are going to look into that for next year.
00:24:20
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, that's gotta be tough.
00:24:21
Storm
lot
00:24:21
snowjobspodcast
And there was only one door, right?
00:24:23
RICK JAMES
Wasn't, yeah, didn't you say there's only one door for the semis again in and out or something?
00:24:26
Storm
Yeah, they came up a ramp and came in and they had to back up and turn around. It's easy for a day camp, but a big sleeper unit and stretched out might be a little difficult. So those guys were having a little bit of trouble, but they made it.
00:24:40
RICK JAMES
Hmm.
00:24:42
snowjobspodcast
Jeez. All right.
00:24:43
RICK JAMES
Yeah. I guess I should've came a day early.
00:24:44
snowjobspodcast
I mean, Yeah, Jeremy could have pulled all the trucks in, no problem.
00:24:46
RICK JAMES
so Yeah.
00:24:49
Storm
Next year, he would have had it all unloaded.
00:24:49
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:24:51
Storm
Yes, please, please.
00:24:53
RICK JAMES
Yeah, I i heard and it was nightmares from people I talked to about waiting and shit.
00:24:57
Storm
ah
00:24:58
RICK JAMES
All right, Darcy, tell us about planning the big party.
00:24:59
Storm
definitely
00:25:01
RICK JAMES
how well How'd that go?
00:25:02
Storm
Oh my gosh.
00:25:02
RICK JAMES
um
00:25:04
Storm
um
Introduction of Storm Vision
00:25:06
Storm
So the the beginning was, are we doing this or not? That was the get-go. And then the numbers, that was always kind of a trick because we started, I think, I think we started at one number. And I know by the time we had everybody in there, where we were way over that number.
00:25:25
RICK JAMES
Those are the best parties.
00:25:25
Storm
But, yeah.
00:25:28
snowjobspodcast
Where were you on that one, Phil? Keeping Jordan in check. Where were you on that one? Stick it to the number.
00:25:35
Storm
I think by sitting within the budget, I haven't gotten the bill completely yet, but I did.
00:25:41
RICK JAMES
No way.
00:25:45
Storm
you ah the You guys kind of, Steve, you suggested checking out PNC Park from there.
00:25:46
RICK JAMES
yeah
00:25:53
Storm
I talked with a coordinator there at the event center. She was fantastic to work with, got me in touch with the caterer in the, in the building.
00:25:58
snowjobspodcast
Mm hmm.
00:26:04
Storm
Um, I looked over their menu and picked up all food that I was like, okay, it's keto safe, knowing that everybody in this one is like keto these days. Um, I wanted to make sure people had enough to eat and didn't like leave hungry. So I kind of probably went a little overboard on ordering. Um, but the big thing that I remembered from last year's SEMA is being at an event somewhere and after hour, and I couldn't hear anything.
00:26:34
snowjobspodcast
Mm hmm.
00:26:34
Storm
And I heard that over and over just talking to people the next day that they just, yeah, it was great seeing people, but I really couldn't hear anything. And so when I talked with the event gal, I just told her point blank and like, listen, these guys have been around heavy equipment most of their lives and half of them are half deaf.
00:26:44
RICK JAMES
Hmm.
00:26:55
Storm
So you keep your noise at a good level, and we're going to be good to go the whole night. and And I think the level of noise was perfect.
00:27:02
snowjobspodcast
Perfect.
00:27:03
Storm
I thought that the reveal of storm chasing couldn't have gone any better.
00:27:03
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:27:08
Storm
People were receptive to just having this in this space. There was plenty of room to move around. It wasn't crowded.
00:27:16
RICK JAMES
yep
00:27:16
Storm
You wouldn't have known the number of people that were there. But unless you looked at the list and added it up, and
00:27:20
snowjobspodcast
no
00:27:23
Storm
got the bill right now.
00:27:24
snowjobspodcast
No.
00:27:28
Storm
But it was good.
00:27:29
snowjobspodcast
ah
00:27:30
Storm
i I thought it went well. I heard a lot of positive feedback from it. um I plan to do it just as well next year.
00:27:38
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:27:39
snowjobspodcast
In grand rapids, that'll be no small challenge.
00:27:42
Storm
want to
00:27:44
snowjobspodcast
Good for you.
00:27:44
RICK JAMES
I love it.
00:27:46
snowjobspodcast
No, it was perfect.
00:27:46
RICK JAMES
ah Love it That's
00:27:46
snowjobspodcast
You you nailed that. Every aspect, you you guys all nailed that party. And, ah you know, I mean, um I may be biased, but whatever cost it was worth it because you guys set an all new bar, you know, for after hours events at at these at these shows.
00:27:51
RICK JAMES
great
00:28:00
snowjobspodcast
I mean, that was tremendous. Everybody we talked to just was like, dude, this was so awesome. like yeah Storm killed it with this and you guys did you nailed it. The venue was perfect. The food was outstanding um There was plenty of room. Like you said people could pay play ah pool. They could be outside overlooking the ah the field It was just perfect.
00:28:20
RICK JAMES
What was it for food? Cause I didn't get any.
00:28:22
snowjobspodcast
I Got like two half egg rolls like Darcy forced me to go eat something before the announcement so they were like I
00:28:25
RICK JAMES
I was so busy. You just get, I was like, Oh, there's food. I was going to walk over there and then I don't remember it. And Steve, ah you pulled me away or somebody I don't remember, but yeah it was, it was not, it's my own fault.
00:28:35
snowjobspodcast
you Steve's fault.
00:28:38
RICK JAMES
ah
00:28:39
Storm
that's i no time
00:28:39
snowjobspodcast
ah You never eat though, Jeremy. Like that is every event we do. You're like, dude, I didn't get anything to eat like storks. You didn't eat anything all day.
00:28:46
RICK JAMES
No, I didn't know.
00:28:50
RICK JAMES
What'd you say?
00:28:51
Storm
I said you got your calories.
00:28:53
RICK JAMES
you were Yeah, you went you went you wouldn't know it.
00:28:56
snowjobspodcast
ah Oh man.
00:28:56
RICK JAMES
I didn't drink that much.
00:28:57
Storm
yep
00:28:58
snowjobspodcast
No, that's.
00:28:59
RICK JAMES
I think I had like four drinks that night.
00:29:03
snowjobspodcast
Well, it was a great party. Thank you for doing it with us. And like I said, the storm chasing that was tremendous. That was very well received. A lot of people very excited about that. um I think that's going to be huge if we get snow and the places we hope to get snow. And even then we have alternates.
00:29:19
RICK JAMES
Oh, I just got the weather. It was got the weather yesterday's above average snow everywhere.
00:29:22
snowjobspodcast
There we go.
00:29:22
RICK JAMES
So we're, we're, we're good.
00:29:23
snowjobspodcast
we're We're set.
00:29:23
RICK JAMES
I mean, weathermen already called it.
00:29:25
snowjobspodcast
We're on our way.
00:29:26
RICK JAMES
So we're no, no worries.
00:29:27
snowjobspodcast
ah We are on our way. All right, so the booth that everybody was talking about, everybody was at, ah it was constantly busy. I think the biggest thing, the teleo, everybody liked the teleo too, but I think the big hit was the storm vision.
00:29:40
Storm
Yeah,
00:29:43
snowjobspodcast
I know it was for me.
00:29:45
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:29:45
snowjobspodcast
um So I mean, Brady, you you were like the point man on storm vision there.
00:29:48
Storm
so Storm Vision is basically a wireless controller. That's where it all started from years ago. Just something to make it easier for guys to get in these wind clouds.
00:29:48
snowjobspodcast
Do you want to take everybody through storm vision that may not have been able to see it or, you know, may not have had a chance to see it thoroughly? Take everybody through what it is and what it can become.
00:29:59
Storm
yeah so storm vision is basically a wireless controller and where it all started from years ago just something make it easier for guys to get in these wing plows especially guys with rental fleets. It was always a point of contention for guys. They're paying this wiring harness and installing it. And then after the season, they're sleeping in the machine. So Jordan, as he does, tries to figure out a better way to make this stuff work and started a couple of years ago testing just the wireless controller. And that worked almost flawlessly. We were completely shocked at how well it worked.
00:30:36
Storm
battery that we picked out was working for multiple storms at a time. So everything there on that side was hunky-dory and good to go. And then, of course, as Jordan is wanting to do, decided to take it to the next step and decided we got some stuff built into this thing. Let's make an app. And with the app, you're able to see if the plow is sitting level or if you're Angling it too far forward or too far back, which is a cause.
00:31:09
Storm
Another reason that people don't like these bottles is that they do take a little bit of time to use too. As you guys mentioned yourselves, using the snout with the walls.
00:31:16
snowjobspodcast
Mm hmm.
00:31:18
RICK JAMES
Not about me, Steve.
00:31:19
Storm
That was another check part to figure out how they make these things work better.
00:31:25
snowjobspodcast
Cool.
00:31:25
Storm
and network
00:31:25
snowjobspodcast
the Go ahead.
00:31:27
Storm
Yeah.
00:31:27
snowjobspodcast
Keep going. I was just going to ask you, I had one question from ah somebody because I was telling them about the storm vision.
00:31:28
Storm
All right.
00:31:33
snowjobspodcast
I'm like, this solved basically all of my issues of not knowing if the plow was perfectly up and down or not. You know, if you're red, you're not. If you're green, you're good to go. Start plowing. um The guy said, well, I'm colorblind. What? You know, if I can't read colors, is there a way?
00:31:45
RICK JAMES
You're fucked.
00:31:48
snowjobspodcast
Is he screwed or is there a way to overcome that?
00:31:51
Storm
Ironically, that guy, or maybe it's a different guy, but we had the same guy make that comment. And he is the one who ended up winning the system. So we're going to have to figure that out for the red, green, colorblind folks.
00:32:02
RICK JAMES
but
00:32:02
snowjobspodcast
Oh, perfect.
00:32:09
Storm
But we'll get that.
00:32:11
RICK JAMES
Just ah gray is good black is no good, right?
00:32:11
Storm
okay so Yeah, we'll maybe pick your color.
00:32:14
snowjobspodcast
There you go.
00:32:16
Storm
We may have a blue and purple or something.
00:32:19
snowjobspodcast
That's awesome. And that app can evolve too, right? That there's, there's a lot of different directions you guys can go with that app now that it's established.
00:32:26
Storm
Yeah, I mean, like, when we originally started on this venture, it was really just like, let's figure out, you know, wireless control. Like Brady said, first of all, just because it's for generally for guys is a ah challenge to get into wing plows. There's a perception, you know, that wiring is a big hurdle and and and it actually is for for a lot of folks. But so we wanted to, first of all, just get rid of that hurdle. You know, as we showed a lot of people at the show, we can essentially get a plot wired in in a few minutes with really any switch selection that they want to use transferring between units and whatnot. So it started out just with that.
00:33:14
Storm
And then as we just continue to talk more, it was like, well, now we have, you know, now we have this technology in it. Let's, let's add the the level indicator because it's really not that much more difficult. And that really worked out. We've got a GPS unit in it now. like let's Let's add some GPS coordinates and Well, you know if we're going to measure angle efficiency, we've got to know if we're plowing or not. So we've got to you know put something in that figures out if your plow is on the ground or not.
00:33:42
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:33:46
Storm
And it's kind of just kept going in that manner. And so for now, that's that's kind of the point where we stopped it for this season where we're essentially selling you know a wireless control that works flawlessly, as well as you know a pitch indicator for folks using you know wing plows or or really any style of plow. I think one piece of feedback we got from the show that we actually immediately took back on the following Monday was you know there's people with boxes who who actually have interest you know just for the sake of the but angle indicator. So we already have all the
00:34:27
Storm
tech built into that to be able to do it. So we're going to see if we can get a stripped down version as well for, for guys using push boxes, um, you know, to try to be able to get it of it as well.
00:34:37
snowjobspodcast
Nice.
00:34:38
RICK JAMES
so
00:34:41
RICK JAMES
kind of answered
00:34:41
Storm
But yeah, for the future, uh, you know, we're, we're starting to build out, uh, you know, in that, in that kind of discussion process between Jordan and me and the rest of the team was. like Okay, how can we how can we expand this? like Basically, we have a ton of the hardware components already built into this to get a lot of missing pieces of data that the the industry, I think, is is missing.
00:35:00
RICK JAMES
so kind of answered
00:35:10
Storm
like We all guess what our throughput rates are, but do we actually know what they are?
00:35:17
snowjobspodcast
Mm hmm.
00:35:17
Storm
Not really, I mean, we're probably close overall, but some of what we've got built into this is gonna be able to tell us for certain in the long term, like, what are we actually doing from a throughput perspective? You know, are my nine weights doing six acres an hour and my nine twenties are doing 12 acres an hour?
00:35:31
RICK JAMES
Mm hmm.
00:35:39
Storm
How can we make the right decisions on what plows we're putting on those machines and what machines we're putting on site you know, sort of utilization. So what we're essentially building out now, and I think which the show only reinforced 100 fold of that were we on the right track, is kind of in an entire fleet management suite, where essentially operators can see a lot of their stats, you know, see where where their buddies are plowing at, see, you know, what what the status of their sites are,
00:36:15
Storm
And then all the while, the operations managers can see you know where where everyone's at and analytically look at you know how our how is everyone performing individually and collectively and using the tool kind of as a way to say, OK, I've got you know operator A and operator B performing drastically differently. What's actually driving that? you know is is it technique is it is it equipment I've got them in, like how how are we going to help coach them and make them better over time?
00:36:52
snowjobspodcast
Nice.
00:36:52
Storm
So I think everyone's pretty jacked about that.
00:36:52
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:36:55
Storm
We got a lot of good feedback about that, and we'll be building that out in the future.
00:36:58
RICK JAMES
I'd love that.
00:36:59
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. The operator's not gonna be able to look up real time what his friends are doing as far as production, right? Because I could see that causing some serious issues like my guys racing each other and shit.
00:37:09
Storm
Oh, awesome. Yeah, yeah we well, but at least know where they're at. If you wanted, we could we could make them know who's fastest as well.
00:37:15
RICK JAMES
Yeah. I don't know. I think it's going to be awesome.
00:37:19
Storm
Maybe we could like put Jeremy and Brady up against each other or something like that.
00:37:20
RICK JAMES
it's
00:37:23
RICK JAMES
Oh, I don't know. What do you think, Christian?
00:37:24
Storm
that chris
00:37:27
RICK JAMES
Should we do that, Christian?
00:37:29
Storm
I think that'd be good.
00:37:30
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Yeah.
00:37:32
snowjobspodcast
but ah Oh that's awesome.
00:37:32
RICK JAMES
Are you sure? We got video of that conversation. no So also with that. I think why we heard other guys talking, can we utilize that system on other, like a, let's just say like an HLA or an Arctic or any plows, I guess you guys would have to make wiring harnesses, I would assume, or something, or you can utilize it for more than a metal plus, I'm guessing, right?
00:37:58
Storm
Yeah, the technology is there to do it on anything. Right now we have the mounting brackets figured out for the metal plus plows, and since we're dealing with mostly, and then, yeah, from there it should matter to figure out how to mount these things somewhere, and then what kind of electrical connections we need to run them. But basically any wing cloud that has a center DVD control function on it.
00:38:22
RICK JAMES
Mm hmm.
00:38:23
Storm
So yeah, we should be.
00:38:24
RICK JAMES
He just kind of just would have to set your pitch.
00:38:24
snowjobspodcast
Very cool.
00:38:26
RICK JAMES
Like you said, forget your pitch.
00:38:27
Storm
Yeah, we're way off at an angle.
00:38:27
RICK JAMES
Like you program that in, you're good to go.
00:38:32
Storm
You can go into the app, set your zero basically at where level is going to be. And then from there, you just set what you want your tolerances to be and should be ready to go.
Teleo's Remote Operation Technology
00:38:42
RICK JAMES
That'd be sweet.
00:38:42
Storm
And then, yeah, I guess that we're already working on a ship dome version.
00:38:42
snowjobspodcast
Very cool.
00:38:46
Storm
We get rid of the massive battery that we need to run the link models and we'll put it on basically anything that you want to make sure you got the right angle on.
00:38:55
RICK JAMES
Nice.
00:38:55
snowjobspodcast
That's cool.
00:38:56
snowjobspodcast
So you guys can continue to build this product storm vision out where we could see more releases every, every year, basically at Simon with something else. Now you're offering.
00:39:05
Storm
Absolutely. That that that is 100% the goal. You know, we're <unk> we're we're trying to essentially consolidate as many productivity related metrics as we can into the suite. on you know Part of the idea is just we're actually getting rid of kind of what I would call like a meat and potatoes thing with the wiring harness. And if we can keep adding some of these software features on top, it's kind of like the icing on the cake, I think, for a lot of guys.
00:39:40
Storm
um you know it's it's a It's easy to, how would I say it? It's easier to sell a product when when you like already have something that you've given in terms of like a benefit overall.
00:40:00
snowjobspodcast
Very cool.
00:40:01
RICK JAMES
Yeah. So I don't know if you guys have came up with this or you want to say it or not, but, uh, a lot of guys, I'm asking price point. He guys got a price point on that yet or for sure. or Not yet. or
00:40:13
Storm
Yeah, we're thinking at at least for this season, $2,500.
00:40:20
snowjobspodcast
That's fair.
00:40:21
RICK JAMES
That's fair.
00:40:21
Storm
So a full harness is right around like $1,300.
00:40:22
snowjobspodcast
That's very fair.
00:40:27
Storm
And I think a lot of times guys end up ripping out a harness at least one point in the life of their plow.
00:40:32
RICK JAMES
Yep.
00:40:33
snowjobspodcast
Yep.
00:40:36
snowjobspodcast
ye
00:40:37
Storm
That's actually another reason we did this originally to begin with. So if you rip out one harness in your life, you're actually making out good on on our wireless system, I think.
00:40:46
snowjobspodcast
Cool.
00:40:50
Storm
And yeah, that's where we're starting at least.
00:40:51
RICK JAMES
subscription.
00:40:52
Storm
When we bring in other features into the system and whatnot, it's going to be a monthly, you know, some sort of monthly subscription.
00:40:59
RICK JAMES
sub description
00:41:00
Storm
Yeah, right now it's $2,500 for the the system.
00:41:00
snowjobspodcast
cool
00:41:06
Storm
But how how cool for running operations just for that level indicator, how much you're going to save on cutting edge where where she
00:41:12
snowjobspodcast
That's a hundred percent.
00:41:13
Storm
oh
00:41:14
snowjobspodcast
That was my biggest thing. Getting used to the metal plus last season was my reset time and knowing, yeah okay, I got to check this. I got it. I mean, we've set it a hundred times on here. I had to check my up and down. If I was canted too far forward or back, then I had to look at my wings. It, that will save you seconds and seconds add up, you know, after your, you know, 200, 300 pushes, you know, those seconds add up to minutes and minutes add up to hours. So it makes you more efficient.
00:41:37
Storm
running the inside box for long, you know, where guys are wearing off the backs of their side shoes or the front, so they got a tip that's going to be a game changer for that.
00:41:37
RICK JAMES
Or if you're like,
00:41:44
snowjobspodcast
Mm-hmm.
00:41:46
Storm
For that manager, I think too, just I think, I think, uh, snow guys are kind of competitive and, uh, who's the best and who's not the best, but even from an organization, you would be able to see your operators who have the highest efficiency at the end of the storm, at the end of the season.
00:41:46
snowjobspodcast
Yup.
00:41:59
RICK JAMES
Who is the best?
00:42:04
Storm
I mean, you throw that on an internal leaderboard. maybe it goes to a national leaderboard to see who the best in the industry is.
00:42:09
RICK JAMES
Oh boy.
00:42:10
snowjobspodcast
Ooh.
00:42:11
Storm
But I think, I mean that actually seriously, not just the joke.
00:42:12
snowjobspodcast
Ooh.
00:42:14
RICK JAMES
Who is the best Christian?
00:42:17
Storm
but I mean, from that perspective, you know, I mean, how many times do you have a guy say, you know, ask him, you know, why is this wore down so much? Well, I don't know. You know, you can now look at the data to see how often he was level.
00:42:28
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:42:30
Storm
I mean, and there, and then you can give all bonuses to the most efficient and you can give extra training to the guy who potentially needs it.
00:42:30
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:42:35
snowjobspodcast
Hmm.
00:42:37
Storm
So.
00:42:39
snowjobspodcast
I like it.
00:42:39
RICK JAMES
or he can change the shoes or cutting edges for the fleet that's
00:42:43
Storm
Or you could change his shoes in je and
00:42:46
snowjobspodcast
ah
00:42:47
Storm
oh
00:42:47
snowjobspodcast
oh
00:42:50
Storm
Yeah, that's where I thought I had it.
00:42:52
snowjobspodcast
That's great. Yeah, it's endless.
00:42:53
Storm
Yeah, I mean,
00:42:54
snowjobspodcast
The possibilities are endless. it's It's a great idea and it was pretty awesome to see it working in the cab and how how it's laid out. I think it's going to be extremely popular. Definitely ah definitely will improve your operation.
00:43:06
RICK JAMES
Pretty cool. Well, dental's out here, but who wants to tell us a little bit about teleo? A bit more about that operation.
00:43:15
Storm
yeah i mean I guess where do we start? It's been a long time coming actually. So yeah, a couple years ago at Connex, I don't know, a little over a year ago at Connex, Jordan and I were walking around and found this teleo booth where they were essentially operating multiple skip-steers throughout the country. and We thought, huh, that that's kind of interesting.
00:43:48
Storm
So we messed around with a little bit and thought, you know, I wonder if there's a use case for this and snow, um, uh, you know, probably a long ways off, but if no one ever starts, uh, we're never going to get there. So we, uh, talk with the teleo people and said, Hey, uh, you know, we'd like to be.
00:44:02
snowjobspodcast
Mmhmm.
00:44:09
Storm
you know your your snow people on this. We'll help you figure out how the system works under the rest of the snow storm. We'll help you work with getting hydraulic wing functions built on. So we've started down that path, essentially, lot a lot of folks have heard already about the but the pad with the snow maker, which we finally are going to have operating. So we'll be able to
00:44:37
snowjobspodcast
storm academy
00:44:38
Storm
have the teleo running in Minnesota under constant snow throughout the entire winter. But but we we essentially debuted it at the show, so there were guys operating a skid steer in California from the the trade to a floor. And a lot of them were like thinking it was a simulation when they walked up.
00:45:02
snowjobspodcast
Storm Academy.
00:45:05
Storm
And then they're realizing, oh, no, this is this is actually the real deal. so So much so that we even had a casualty. We smashed a ladder.
00:45:16
RICK JAMES
What?
00:45:18
Storm
I think next to one of the dirt piles or whatnot. It was on top of the dirt pile.
00:45:22
RICK JAMES
Huh? Huh.
00:45:24
snowjobspodcast
Oh, well.
00:45:25
Storm
We crushed a real ladder. but yeah you Yeah, exactly.
00:45:28
snowjobspodcast
You want to make an omelet? You got to break some eggs.
00:45:33
RICK JAMES
Did you get it?
00:45:33
Storm
Exactly.
00:45:33
RICK JAMES
Was it in a wheel loader the second day? I know you guys were talking about, or no.
00:45:37
Storm
they were They were trying to get it on a big kamatsu loader. Did they ever end up getting my rights made it? stay du like We ended up staying, I think after the ladder got crushed, actually. Let's keep you out of the $30,000.
00:45:54
RICK JAMES
Mm-hmm.
00:45:55
snowjobspodcast
Oh.
00:45:56
Storm
But yeah, no, it really it was neat. I think you know when guys walk up, they're kind of struggling to figure out like what actually is the place of this in snow like this seems so unrealistic right now with with liability and and the conditions and whatnot but you know we got to start somewhere and that somewhere is here now so we'll we'll we'll keep working towards figuring out if if there is a real place in snow for it
00:46:31
snowjobspodcast
Very cool. Very cool. And just to be clear, so that's, I could be having a console basically in my house in New York and I could be running one of Jeremy's loaders in Fargo during a snowstorm. That's what Telio is basically.
00:46:43
Storm
Oh, yeah.
00:46:43
snowjobspodcast
And what's the Lord will let you do?
00:46:44
Storm
Oh, yeah. Yeah. And I think right now, you know, yeah.
00:46:47
RICK JAMES
That'd be great.
00:46:49
snowjobspodcast
That'd be awesome.
00:46:50
RICK JAMES
The guys that give you so much shit.
00:46:53
Storm
Yeah. No, I think right now the use case that we saw the most interest in was training, which ironically was actually kind of one of the big things that we were looking at originally when we looked at it for hydraulic wing plows.
00:47:02
snowjobspodcast
Mmhmm.
00:47:12
Storm
you know, it's, it's kind of like one of those things that until you actually use one, and if you can't really conceptualize how, you know, how it can help you or how it can be that good. So the idea is let's get people in hydraulic wing plows at trade shows so they they can kind of get some of that feeling, you know, in real life while while we're there. And the rest is kind of kind of gravy on top of that. But Yeah, so this this winter, we're going to be essentially working on semi autonomous as well.
00:47:41
snowjobspodcast
Ha
00:47:46
Storm
So recording plowing pathways and, you know, dumping as much snow as we can on this pad.
Storm Academy and Training Initiatives
00:47:55
Storm
And hope, you know, hope we don't drive it off the edge of the cliff into the quarry.
00:48:00
snowjobspodcast
ha ha!
00:48:02
Storm
But it's, it's been You know, I think working when when we get it connected to the internet, it's been working ah quite well.
00:48:11
RICK JAMES
Are you going to get are you going to get good 5G out there?
00:48:15
Storm
Yeah, yeah, that's a whole nother story. but we We have it now.
00:48:19
snowjobspodcast
na
00:48:22
Storm
Yes, it's been a long road to get here, but we now have an internet connection. We have a well connected to unlimited water. And we'll see what hurdle we overcome next, but right now it's, it is, it is.
00:48:32
snowjobspodcast
nice storm academy is real and coming that's awesome is the dormitory built yet he's
00:48:38
RICK JAMES
It is.
00:48:43
Storm
But we know an area for months I don't know if it would be qualifying as a dormitory quite yet.
00:48:44
RICK JAMES
Darcie's got candles for ya.
00:48:45
snowjobspodcast
pausing
00:48:52
snowjobspodcast
Oh, man, it's coming.
00:48:52
Storm
It's a discount.
00:48:54
snowjobspodcast
It's coming. That's going to be I'm telling you, that's going to be I told Jordan that it's going to be super popular to be able to bring people out there where you guys can start making snow. Jordan was saying possibly as as early as October.
00:49:05
Storm
Yeah, yeah.
00:49:05
snowjobspodcast
You know, you guys can make snow there. That that is priceless for guys to be able to bring a crew or maybe a couple of new operators that have never run, say, a metal plus, which is not the easiest thing in the world. You know, you need a couple of storms under your belt. No, no pun intended to ah to get the ah to get the hang of it. and to be able to bring them to a place that has snow, put them in the machine they're going to be using with the plow they're going to be using and get them those couple of warm up storms out of the way.
00:49:21
Storm
no
00:49:31
snowjobspodcast
I'm telling you, that is a yeah even if you guys aren't are going to be reasonable about the pricing, that's priceless for a company to be able to send guys to do that. That's awesome.
00:49:41
Storm
Yeah, we're super excited to get that moving. And we'll have more than just hydraulic wing plows there too.
00:49:48
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, I know that's great.
00:49:49
Storm
We'll have a lot of hard digs. We'll have hopefully a few other pieces of equipment. I know Steve's steves steve's trying to put together the the list of what the full suite of equipment that we'll need to don't make that effective where you can thinking about maybe trying to put some sidewalks or something into the actual pad itself.
00:50:06
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:50:06
RICK JAMES
OK, yep.
00:50:08
Storm
We're about to double the size of the pad coming up here shortly. So it's it's all all out on the table. The the world is our oyster right now, or at least that but section of our yard.
00:50:22
snowjobspodcast
That's awesome. That was great.
00:50:24
RICK JAMES
Carl can really plow now.
00:50:26
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, caffeinated Carl getting after it.
00:50:29
Storm
Oh, yeah.
00:50:31
snowjobspodcast
definitely have sidewalk, definitely have sidewalk machines though there too. Cause that, that'll be, that'll be really good for guys to be able to get, you know, figure out what they got to do with individual sidewalk machines. Pretty sure you can get a mammoth cheap right now.
00:50:44
Storm
rock
00:50:44
snowjobspodcast
You know, you can put that out there, but shot fired.
00:50:45
RICK JAMES
And boy.
00:50:48
snowjobspodcast
Um, but yeah. All right. If that's, that's what we got on tell you, that's awesome. Uh, it's, I think everybody's looking forward to seeing where that goes in the future.
00:50:56
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:50:57
Storm
i deal
00:50:57
snowjobspodcast
Um, what?
00:50:59
Storm
huge
00:50:59
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, go ahead.
00:51:00
Storm
and Yeah, huge props to Dan on Telio this year. Like, I know he couldn't be at the podcast tonight because he's busy with family stuff, but had he not put I mean, the amount of time and effort that he put into getting teleo functional for Sima, he really just dedicated and and put his nails to the ground and made it happen. And without him doing that, it wouldn't have happened. There's just, it wouldn't have been there and it was just, he needs like
00:51:25
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
00:51:29
Storm
major props for that me do some
00:51:30
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
00:51:30
snowjobspodcast
Dan is the man. Dan is definitely the man.
00:51:31
RICK JAMES
Yeah. How many, how many bags of nerds clusters did he eat?
00:51:33
Storm
great
00:51:35
RICK JAMES
Trying to get that figured out.
00:51:35
Storm
yeah
00:51:39
RICK JAMES
I saw a couple of bags there.
00:51:40
snowjobspodcast
of Yeah.
00:51:41
RICK JAMES
He was chewing through. So.
00:51:43
Storm
the nerds
00:51:45
snowjobspodcast
He was a little nervous when the internet wasn't functioning.
00:51:47
Storm
he burn out a couple stress
00:51:53
snowjobspodcast
ah All right, you know what let's let these guys get a drink of water we'll we'll do our 15-second commercials right now We'll be right back and we'll ah keep going with storm, right?
00:53:06
snowjobspodcast
All right, guys, we're back. We're looking right at a pair of custom storm equipment Nike's that were made just for the show.
00:53:12
RICK JAMES
It's snow and ice.
00:53:13
snowjobspodcast
That's pretty awesome. Snow and ice.
00:53:14
RICK JAMES
I love them.
00:53:17
snowjobspodcast
Those are great.
00:53:17
RICK JAMES
I don't
00:53:18
snowjobspodcast
Jeremy, do we have to start doing custom sneakers now when we go places.
00:53:21
RICK JAMES
know. I tried getting my, I told Jordan I wanted a pair, so we'll see.
00:53:24
snowjobspodcast
No, we should do our own.
00:53:24
RICK JAMES
And I, I still gotta get a, I want to get a black hat like Brady's got on. I didn't get one of them. I saw Maddie Mussel stealing some of those in the back behind the old, the booth the other day.
00:53:33
Storm
We'll get you a black hat there.
00:53:34
snowjobspodcast
Something tells me we can get one, Jeremy.
00:53:36
RICK JAMES
Yeah, maybe. We'll see.
00:53:38
Storm
I know a guy.
00:53:38
snowjobspodcast
Oh, man.
00:53:39
RICK JAMES
Probably not from Christian, but.
00:53:41
snowjobspodcast
ah Who wants to take us through the upcoming Storm Field Day in August? Anybody want to touch on that?
00:53:47
RICK JAMES
Everybody.
00:53:47
Storm
Yeah, I can do that.
00:53:49
snowjobspodcast
All right. Speak up.
00:53:51
Storm
Thursday, August 22nd is our storm field days. So if you want to come to it, register as soon as possible, that would get you locked in for lunches and the dinner and get you on the list. But we're cutting off at 150. Yeah, we're cutting it off at 150. If you're not on the list, you aren't coming this time. I can't.
00:54:12
snowjobspodcast
Are we really, I was gonna say, are we really cutting it this time?
00:54:16
Storm
So I am literally capped at 150 people for our after hours event.
00:54:21
snowjobspodcast
Okay.
00:54:22
Storm
Obviously, I'm taking the reins of that after hour event. So if you were at our other event, you'll know the capacity of the goal of it is networking and being able to just have time with people and talk about snow and what's working for everybody and that sort of thing. But yeah, if you're not registered, you guys can't come.
00:54:44
snowjobspodcast
All right. what Steve, what is the day going to have?
00:54:46
Storm
are
00:54:47
snowjobspodcast
like what What is the focus of the day, basically?
00:54:50
Storm
We'll start off the day with kind of a kick off to the snow industry. Jordan and Phil will do a kick off for that. And then we'll divide and conquer into some smaller groups with the groups. Just some hands on demonstrations of the different different wing plows versus box plows. Some different maintenance techniques and you know end of season, end of season, preseason, what to get ready, what kind of parts to have on the shelves. and and just kind of get everybody ready for the upcoming season And then we'll take a break and have some lunch, do some networking, and then we'll get into a panel discussion.
00:55:26
Storm
And we have a group, you guys are actually on the channel.
00:55:30
snowjobspodcast
Oh yeah?
00:55:30
Storm
There's other Snow Contractors from around the country. And what we're going to do is start this panel discussion. It's basically from your RFP. How do you guys go out, how your different companies go out and get this RFP? Once you have the RFP and it's something that you
00:55:50
Storm
How do you guys go about your different companies for measuring? We're going to have companies small, large, you name it. Uh, why you go about measuring your square footage? How would you calculate what equipment needs to be there and labor force? And then once the season's done, kind of a recap, how are you guys are looking at as far as, you know, end of the season, you guys do property inspections with, with site photos or what for damages and, uh, you know, how do you proceed with that? And then just kind of overall, you want the end of the season was the job profitable and how you review that and if it's worth looking at doing it next year or giving them increase or boot a boot in the butt and get them out with the door.
00:56:29
Storm
So yeah, in one day it'll be good for everybody, you know a refresher you know for myself and then especially new people that are coming into the industry is learning how that works.
00:56:30
snowjobspodcast
Nice.
00:56:41
snowjobspodcast
Cool. Very cool. That sounds awesome.
00:56:43
Storm
A site picked out too was originally gonna do like a distribution center, but those are, I won't say cookie cutter but they're fairly easy paul paul vanneron and I were talking on Wednesday, we have a different retail place that has, it has retail, it has a sports fitness center in it, it has movie theaters, it has bars and restaurants, so there's just a ton of movie parts in this place. With different times of days, different parts of the properties are open, so it's it's not just that, hey, show up with your loader and keep plowing until it's done, there's different, you're gonna put around cars and people, so it's gonna be a,
00:57:18
snowjobspodcast
Mm hmm.
00:57:22
Storm
this This particular site is a larger site. If we choose this particular one, it's in this in Minneapolis. But guys can look at this if they have a smaller company and and look at it and say, hey, you know maybe maybe a section of this relates to one of their sites. You know can break it down from there.
00:57:40
snowjobspodcast
Cool.
00:57:40
Storm
So it's pretty good.
00:57:42
snowjobspodcast
Very cool.
00:57:44
RICK JAMES
Where do, where do guys go and get like registered for this event, this year website or what?
00:57:44
snowjobspodcast
All right.
00:57:50
Storm
Um, I think it's listed on all of our socials and I'm not sure if it's on the website right now or not. I'm trying to still a little, yeah, I think social media is still the same.
00:57:57
RICK JAMES
Just social medias, just Instagram, Facebook.
00:58:02
Storm
So not sure if it's on the website or not.
00:58:04
snowjobspodcast
Cool. All right. If you guys send us a link, we'll put it on the website. Cool. Well, I'm looking forward to that. Not looking forward to flying, but I'm looking forward to going.
00:58:16
RICK JAMES
You're so scared.
00:58:19
snowjobspodcast
Uh, I don't like it. I don't like it, but actually the other, the coming home from Pittsburgh went well. That was good, but less apprehensive.
00:58:26
RICK JAMES
Yeah. and a Yeah.
00:58:28
snowjobspodcast
But, uh, um, what else? Jay, you got anything else?
00:58:32
RICK JAMES
Let's keep going here with the, let's go into the storm chase a little bit. Steve, Steve and everybody there.
00:58:37
snowjobspodcast
Ooh!
00:58:38
RICK JAMES
are What do you guys think? Have you got any feedback from the storm chasing? What are you thinking? Is it going to be something? you're looking forward to, or what are your thoughts on all of it?
00:58:48
Storm
Am I looking forward to it?
00:58:49
RICK JAMES
Everybody, well, I know you, well, you're like me, so yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:58:51
Storm
snow right These guys can touch base too from what they've heard, but I've heard nothing but positive about it. It's going to be, I think a great thing for our industry in general. There's so many people out there that, I mean, we all know what goes on at night, but there's so many people that don't know. Property managers are so busy dealing with what they deal with, you know, from HVAC to You name it inside the building and they don't really, you know, at the end of the day, they hire us as snow contractors to get the last blow, but they really don't necessarily know what goes on to it. So I think it's it's a great highlight for them to see what goes on behind the scenes. And that's a great highlight to showcase different companies around the country and showcase these guys are the boots on the ground guys that are out doing the work.
00:59:39
Storm
know the hands on guys you know obviously we're goingnna be dealing with the guys that are all doing the work so i think i think it's great
00:59:47
RICK JAMES
Mm
00:59:47
Storm
you
00:59:48
snowjobspodcast
i think i I think the biggest plus though of the whole thing is to see what the preparation is like.
00:59:48
Storm
person
00:59:54
snowjobspodcast
like I think everybody thinks we just show up and push snow when it snows. I think for property managers and prospective customers, seeing what companies go through as far as pre-storm, what has already been done before the crew even got there as far as planning and and knowing their properties.
01:00:09
Storm
Thank
01:00:10
snowjobspodcast
I think maybe that might help guys with being a little less starstruck with pricing when you drop a ah bid on them.
01:00:13
Storm
you.
01:00:13
RICK JAMES
hmm.
01:00:17
snowjobspodcast
And they're like, what the hell? This is for snow removal. I think that'll be a big help for a lot of people out there, just showing what actually goes into you know plowing the snow is the easy part, honestly.
01:00:27
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:00:28
Storm
Yeah, some plowing, getting out there during the storms, the total easy part. It's right now where guys are starting to plant and their sales staff are looking for sites and what fits.
01:00:37
snowjobspodcast
Yep.
01:00:39
Storm
And I mean, you know, we've all talked about it. We're an emergency service. You know, it's like, we got to be on call and ready to go. And I think it's just going to be really good to showcase our industry to
New Storm Chasing Series and Industry Insights
01:00:50
Storm
the general public.
01:00:50
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:00:51
snowjobspodcast
Absolutely.
01:00:52
RICK JAMES
Oh, yeah.
01:00:52
snowjobspodcast
Darcy, I'm sorry I cut you off there.
01:00:54
Storm
Okay. I was just going to say that I think the average person in general, Um, coming in, I was like green as green coming into the snow industry two years before I started here. So I didn't know the first thing there was to know about it. And over the last few years, they didn't just go out and experience a storm and see, you know, you go out and it's, it's white air dry with 16 inches to get to a site. And then when you're leaving it's cleared off and most people don't think about that. And I think the curiosity that is going to be sparked for just.
01:01:26
Storm
Anybody is going to explode and people are going to go, wow, I had no idea that that's what it actually took to go clear my lot or through clear the road so that when I wake up in the morning, I can make it to work.
01:01:40
snowjobspodcast
Amen. Love it.
01:01:42
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:01:42
Storm
Probably not the hardest part might even be catching the pre-storm like when it's coming. You know, do we do we and anticipat anticipate, run out there and then twiddle the thumbs or and then you get caught somewhere else. We'll we'll see how that goes, but, uh, you know, having a dedicated crew to that, uh, hopefully we'll at least be able to catch a few of them. You catch Steve on the phone.
01:02:06
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
01:02:07
Storm
mark mark Mark and I from True Weather were having a good discussion about that. And he said he's got a respect spot on on this.
01:02:10
RICK JAMES
ah yeah Oh yeah.
01:02:13
Storm
ah
01:02:14
snowjobspodcast
Mark's going to be, yeah, Mark's going to be under the gun.
01:02:14
RICK JAMES
Mark's gonna, Mark's gonna have to, he's gonna be under the gun. He's gonna have to, he's gonna have to perform on this baby.
01:02:18
Storm
be honorly Well, Jeremy's eyes will be all over him, so if if he misses, he'll be able to play.
01:02:23
RICK JAMES
Oh yeah, yeah, I won't, I won't let, I'll hold you, I'll hold you accountable.
01:02:25
snowjobspodcast
Oh yeah.
01:02:30
snowjobspodcast
You know, just call the Fargo one, right? Jeremy would be happy.
01:02:34
RICK JAMES
Yeah, that'd be nice, that would be nice.
01:02:35
snowjobspodcast
i Get that one done. Oh, man. Oh, that's awesome. I'm glad people are excited for it.
01:02:39
Storm
I don't know if I
01:02:40
snowjobspodcast
Anybody else hear anything?
01:02:43
Storm
hear anything, but just from doing it, you know, for 15, 20 years or whatever it's been. here now It's going to be awesome to see y'all deal with it as well. You just got to feel like you're always doing it your way and it's going to be the same way for everybody.
01:02:52
RICK JAMES
Mm hmm.
01:02:57
Storm
and Everybody's got the same issues. It's just putting it to real life at this point.
01:03:00
snowjobspodcast
Yep.
01:03:01
RICK JAMES
We get to watch that we get to see that concrete snow.
01:03:02
snowjobspodcast
Yes, sir.
01:03:03
Storm
You guys doing podcasts about it? you
01:03:06
snowjobspodcast
Hopefully if you make it to the East, you'll see the concrete.
01:03:07
RICK JAMES
oh Yeah.
01:03:09
snowjobspodcast
That's for sure.
01:03:10
RICK JAMES
Yeah, yeah.
01:03:11
snowjobspodcast
That's awesome. ah That's cool.
01:03:12
Storm
I just throw up, throw up after the, or during the show on Thursday, Friday, I just had so many people like, Oh, you should do this company or you should do my company. and
01:03:21
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
01:03:21
Storm
i think the the future of this You know, it's going to be, I mean, just nuts. I, you know, with the podcast and with storm chasing, I just think the industry is getting the attention it deserves. You know, to echo what Darcy said, you know, before I worked at storm equipment, you know, it it was always an afterthought not emergency service. And now, you know, I think going forward, you know, having X amount of episodes this coming season, and you're going to be booked for years. doing this and i think there's just going to be that much more momentum going forward.
01:03:54
Storm
So I think it'll be industry changing.
01:03:57
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, I think so too.
01:03:57
Storm
If people watch people's snow plowing videos for an hour at home, this is going to be way more exciting than that.
01:03:58
RICK JAMES
Yeah, I agree. I mean, obviously we're.
01:04:06
snowjobspodcast
Yep, absolutely.
01:04:07
Storm
yeah to post hour long
01:04:09
RICK JAMES
Hey, and you put those snowplow videos on a friend, little kids, whatever they love that stuff. Mom can go do whatever.
01:04:14
Storm
<unk> one our first stop guys
01:04:17
snowjobspodcast
What's that?
01:04:17
Storm
whats our What's our first storm chase?
01:04:20
RICK JAMES
ah Glacier, hopefully, if it snows here.
01:04:20
Storm
Or is that going to be?
01:04:22
snowjobspodcast
Yep.
01:04:23
Storm
Now it always smells better.
01:04:23
snowjobspodcast
ah i
01:04:26
RICK JAMES
Not last year.
01:04:26
snowjobspodcast
I, I, I think we'll be all right this year.
01:04:28
Storm
I'm pretty sure with snow cat going on on the boys, that'll be would be a blast.
01:04:32
RICK JAMES
Yeah, I don't think that'll be arable.
01:04:33
snowjobspodcast
I don't think that can make the episode.
01:04:34
Storm
um
01:04:35
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. I don't, we get, we could probably sell that as additional pay for content, but I don't think, yeah.
01:04:36
RICK JAMES
Yeah. yeah we find
01:04:42
Storm
I enjoyed it
01:04:43
RICK JAMES
yeah yeahlet That's the that's only fans page there.
01:04:45
snowjobspodcast
If we want a second episode, yeah. If we want a second episode, I don't think we can air that.
01:04:49
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:04:51
snowjobspodcast
No, man.
01:04:51
RICK JAMES
What it is entertaining.
01:04:52
Storm
so much.
01:04:53
snowjobspodcast
It is.
01:04:54
Storm
I enjoyed that snow chat so much when I was back home from after I just played. I listened to it when those guys were up there plowing. Good time.
01:05:01
RICK JAMES
Oh yeah, awesome.
01:05:01
snowjobspodcast
Yep.
01:05:03
RICK JAMES
Steve gets it every time too, but yeah.
01:05:04
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. And it's usually, I mean, the two winters ago, it was great. Cause it was like every two to three days, you know, you had entertainment there, but, uh, last year it was, it was lacking. I was a little, I was missing it.
01:05:15
RICK JAMES
Yeah, for sure. Oh well.
01:05:17
snowjobspodcast
Oh, yeah. It should be great.
01:05:18
RICK JAMES
what Well, let's go. I got one more question for the guys.
01:05:22
snowjobspodcast
Go ahead.
01:05:23
RICK JAMES
i think i So what are you guys seeing in the market wise since you guys are selling snowballs? Are you guys selling much or you see much happening coming up or?
01:05:33
Storm
Yeah, no, it's been, uh, probably a week before Simon, two weeks before, you know, guys are starting to think snow, which is great. They're getting these bids, thinking about bids, thinking about expansion or upgrading their plows. Um, it's been, been good. So I, you know, it's people always, how do you think things that were weird that we only do one thing and sell snow plows. They think, how do you stay busy? But it is, like you say, it is a, 12 month a year gig to do what we do here at Storm Equipment. And yeah, it's it's very promising for this upcoming season. So guys are a pulling the trigger or we're moving a few allows here and there, but the pipeline since Simon has been, has been strong. And Phil said it earlier, I don't think I said wing or live edge the entire show, but people see the product and metal plus is known. Um, so yeah, it's really sparking, sparking some interest here coming up into July. So.
01:06:31
Storm
I think market though in general is it seems like it's it's tightening up a little bit in terms of like guys just being more careful about making the big investments.
01:06:31
RICK JAMES
Good.
01:06:31
snowjobspodcast
Cool.
01:06:36
snowjobspodcast
Mhm.
01:06:42
Storm
I mean we we avoid some of that just because a lot of our customers are the growing you know, the guys who are coming into their own and and experiencing some big growth, but I would say market wide, uh, stimulus money is gone. Um, and, uh, and we're, we're waiting to see signed contracts before we're, uh, uh, you know, pulling the trigger and inventories everywhere right now too.
01:07:11
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
01:07:11
Storm
So it's the guys know a little bit that they can do that.
01:07:12
RICK JAMES
Mm hmm.
01:07:14
Storm
Um, so for those who have, who have cash and have their sites planned for the upcoming year, it's a really good opportunity to get you know equipment at a really good price. But I would say in general, people are are a little more skeptical with their buying decisions than they have been over the last couple of years.
01:07:34
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, definitely. I mean, ah most of the big snow areas had a down year last year, if not non-existent. And then the year before that, you know, I mean, Minnesota was big the year before that, right?
01:07:40
Storm
Yeah.
01:07:44
snowjobspodcast
A hundred inches in most places.
01:07:45
RICK JAMES
Yeah, yeah.
01:07:45
Storm
and
01:07:46
snowjobspodcast
But anytime you have a, you're coming off a down year, it's like everybody's a little ah nervous, I think.
01:07:50
RICK JAMES
We need, the whole industry needs a couple of good winners to get everybody spending money on upgrading stuff.
01:07:53
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
01:07:57
RICK JAMES
But it sounds like these guys are willing to make some deals right now. So might be good.
01:08:01
Storm
yeah It's only a matter of time before we get a couple good ones, but yeah, for yeah for guys who for guys who have some sites planned for the upcoming year, there's plenty inventory on the market to grab.
01:08:16
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, cool.
01:08:16
RICK JAMES
So how about the storm vision you guys got a good inventory of that? Let's just say a bunch of guys want to come in by a bunch of you got the yeah inventory wise you guys doing okay with that you think That's a great problem
01:08:26
Storm
Yeah, yeah we're we're based on the feedback from the show, I think going to be planning for a lot more units than we were maybe originally anticipating, which is awesome. ae I think it couldn't have been a better reception to that.
01:08:38
snowjobspodcast
Yep.
01:08:43
Storm
So we'll we'll probably try to get at least a ah couple hundred of the units onto the market and we'll see how it goes. but we're we're We're super excited. you know have To have the wireless part flawless, I think people are really gonna really going to be amazed by that. you know Skepticism of about wireless in general is totally warranted. like you know A lot of the skeptical guys are like, I just don't trust it.
01:09:17
Storm
and And I understand that, but for for us to have seen it work so flawlessly over the last couple of years, that's not even our you don't really our worry.
Snow Equipment Market and Post-Event Experiences
01:09:28
Storm
you know I'm more curious to see how the level indicator and whatnot, how how people use that, how they like it, and how ah that kind of impacts their operation over time. but yeah I think take another takeaway from the show was was that that was actually what people were more excited about it than even the wireless side of it, which wasn't necessarily surprising, but but how much more excited they were about that piece is is really cool.
01:09:53
snowjobspodcast
Hmm.
01:09:53
RICK JAMES
leveler
01:10:03
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
01:10:04
RICK JAMES
I mean, I've, I've, I've used wireless for years with our, our blowers have been wireless and we've used that that for years and that's worked flawless. I never had the issue, honestly. So.
01:10:12
Storm
Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
01:10:13
snowjobspodcast
I mean, you're always going to have skeptics, but the one, the one nice thing about you guys is you guys still have your reputation of how much you stand behind everything you sell. So, I mean, that doesn't hurt either.
01:10:24
Storm
Yeah, absolutely.
01:10:24
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:10:26
Storm
If anyone does have a problem, obviously we're going to take care of them, but we're pretty confident.
01:10:30
snowjobspodcast
Call Christian 3 a.m. Call Christian.
01:10:33
Storm
Yeah, give me a call.
01:10:34
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. know
01:10:35
RICK JAMES
yeah
01:10:35
Storm
You guys, we answer our phones even in the summertime, late at night.
01:10:35
RICK JAMES
Just call Steve, he'll be all plowing somewhere.
01:10:42
Storm
Oh, yeah.
01:10:42
snowjobspodcast
um Yeah.
01:10:42
Storm
When you guys joined up.
01:10:44
snowjobspodcast
yeah Yeah. Yeah. What was that? Two 30 in the morning, Jake?
01:10:47
RICK JAMES
not Yeah, it was it was, it was, it was like, it was late.
01:10:48
Storm
couldn answer Very early.
01:10:52
RICK JAMES
It was early.
01:10:53
snowjobspodcast
They answered.
01:10:53
RICK JAMES
It was fun.
01:10:54
Storm
Very early.
01:10:57
snowjobspodcast
They answered.
01:10:57
RICK JAMES
How, well, we got all these, we got them all here.
01:10:58
Storm
Thanks for that.
01:10:59
RICK JAMES
How was the, since we stayed up late that night, how was the next day at the booth?
01:11:03
snowjobspodcast
Oh, yeah.
01:11:05
RICK JAMES
We didn't, never really heard. How were you guys feeling?
01:11:08
Storm
Didn't miss a beat. Nope, no it was great. Yeah. Caffeine's a great thing.
01:11:13
RICK JAMES
hu
01:11:14
Storm
think I think we dropped close to 100 bucks as a team every morning on the energy drink.
01:11:21
snowjobspodcast
ah
01:11:21
Storm
So so we we were carried through. But yeah, that that was a test certain thank thank for Thankful. Well, not thankfully, but the traffic was a ah little bit slower on Friday for us.
01:11:33
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, a little bit.
01:11:33
Storm
So does that help? I would imagine you guys maybe had a ah harder time than us just with getting to the airport and all that fun stuff.
01:11:41
RICK JAMES
We just kept going.
01:11:43
Storm
so
01:11:43
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, we just kept going, got right to the airport.
01:11:44
RICK JAMES
It was, we just kept going. I went right from your place at airport and that airport was terrible. God, that was a horrible airport.
01:11:49
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, that was ridiculous.
01:11:50
Storm
yeah In the words of the Maddy Muscles, though, you can sleep when you're dead.
01:11:55
RICK JAMES
Yup.
01:11:55
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, very true.
01:11:56
RICK JAMES
Damn right.
01:11:57
snowjobspodcast
No, that was a great time. That was definitely a great time. But we yeah we were curious. I think we were all asking each other at the airport, like, how are the storm guys going to do today? You know, that was a late night, ah early morning, actually, for them.
01:12:09
Storm
It was a quiet flight home.
01:12:11
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, I'm sure.
01:12:11
Storm
It was a quiet flight.
01:12:12
snowjobspodcast
I'm sure it was.
01:12:13
Storm
It was a long day.
01:12:14
snowjobspodcast
ah Did you guys fly out Friday?
01:12:16
RICK JAMES
ah
01:12:16
Storm
Getting out of there?
01:12:19
Storm
Sure, was it?
01:12:20
snowjobspodcast
Did you guys fly out Friday?
01:12:22
Storm
Yeah. Yeah, yeah brady Brady was basically grabbing onto the tail, onto the plane.
01:12:24
snowjobspodcast
Gotcha.
01:12:29
RICK JAMES
ah
01:12:30
Storm
But he made it.
01:12:31
snowjobspodcast
Ah, that's good.
01:12:34
Storm
Yeah, Steve and I stayed around to make sure everything got loaded and actually didn't even get that far.
01:12:34
snowjobspodcast
ah Cool.
01:12:39
Storm
We had our friends at Metal Plus help us get the motor on the truck for us because we had a flight to catch.
01:12:39
RICK JAMES
Heh heh heh heh.
01:12:44
Storm
So we grabbed an Uber and my kid's going 90 a couple of times.
01:12:46
snowjobspodcast
That's cool.
01:12:46
RICK JAMES
How was that loader that deal?
01:12:47
snowjobspodcast
Cool though.
01:12:51
Storm
and We saw his Tesla about 92 miles an hour headed out of traffic a few times and we made it.
01:12:55
RICK JAMES
That's that's a good driver.
01:12:59
Storm
yeah
01:12:59
RICK JAMES
That was a good, must not been windy or raining out. It's Steve.
01:13:03
snowjobspodcast
Oh, come on.
01:13:04
Storm
anything
01:13:05
snowjobspodcast
You know, listen, you know, all week long I was wheeling.
01:13:10
RICK JAMES
You did pick it up a little bit.
01:13:12
snowjobspodcast
I did.
01:13:12
RICK JAMES
I think you were trying to impress the boys a little bit.
01:13:13
snowjobspodcast
Oh, no, no, it was.
01:13:14
RICK JAMES
Cause man, if you were going to drive, a gate if you're going to drive like you did last time, I was never going to ride with you again.
01:13:19
snowjobspodcast
What I was doing was I was putting that wagon here through through its paces because my wife actually wants one of those and I'm like, all right, let's see what this thing's got. Oh, I was hammering on it.
01:13:26
RICK JAMES
Yeah, you did good. I'll give you credit for that.
01:13:30
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, no, it's good.
01:13:30
Storm
You're looking through a wagon here, Jordan.
01:13:30
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:13:31
snowjobspodcast
Hey, everybody survived.
01:13:33
Storm
Jordan's got a wagon here for sale if you're looking for one.
01:13:36
snowjobspodcast
Why? Cause he's got the, uh, what are the shit storm, the Tesla truck.
01:13:43
Storm
Yep.
01:13:43
snowjobspodcast
That is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.
01:13:46
Storm
I replaced the wagon here so you might be able to get a good deal on that too.
01:13:50
snowjobspodcast
Oh, I'll drive it back from Minnesota.
01:13:50
Storm
can
01:13:52
snowjobspodcast
but Oh, that's true.
01:13:52
RICK JAMES
You gotta go to Disney World.
01:13:55
snowjobspodcast
I do. Yeah. I got to actually, I can't say that cause they'll be listening to this. I'm sure.
01:13:59
RICK JAMES
Oh, whoops.
01:14:00
snowjobspodcast
They don't know yet, but Uncle Jeremy strikes again.
01:14:04
RICK JAMES
yeah ah Nobody tells me it was a secret.
01:14:07
snowjobspodcast
Nah, it's all good. It's all good. I'll tell Gina, don't let them listen to this one.
01:14:11
RICK JAMES
Yeah.
01:14:11
snowjobspodcast
Oh man. But yeah, you got anything else for him, Jay? I'm good.
01:14:15
RICK JAMES
I think we're good. That was a good show.
01:14:17
snowjobspodcast
Yeah. You guys got anything for us?
01:14:17
RICK JAMES
It's always a good time.
01:14:20
Storm
No, thanks for having us on. Thanks for for hanging out all weekend. And obviously, thanks for everything you guys are doing for the industry. You could feel it in the air this year. It truly felt like a like a pivotal moment looking forward to the future for sure.
01:14:38
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, it was definitely a different feeling around it.
01:14:39
RICK JAMES
Mm
01:14:41
snowjobspodcast
And yeah it's ah definitely a collaborative feeling like amongst everybody, different vendors and the guys in the industry, you know, the the guys doing the work.
01:14:43
RICK JAMES
-hmm.
01:14:47
Storm
you
01:14:50
Storm
yeah
01:14:51
snowjobspodcast
it It really seemed more of like a yeah not us versus them.
01:14:53
Storm
Totally, totally kind of reminded me of like, you know, professional sports, like we can be bit bitter competitors, you know, in game and then
01:14:54
snowjobspodcast
It was like we were all in the same, you know, sandbox, basically.
01:14:57
RICK JAMES
Right.
Social Media and Community Engagement
01:15:07
Storm
Shake hands at the end and, uh, maybe, maybe I'll plan team USA, uh, every four years or whatnot together.
01:15:13
snowjobspodcast
There you go.
01:15:14
RICK JAMES
Yep.
01:15:15
Storm
love And one more plug, make sure that you're following our storm equipment on Instagram and Facebook and LinkedIn and YouTube, if you're not already.
01:15:17
snowjobspodcast
All right.
01:15:24
Storm
Oh, and TikTok. k does tiktokks though
01:15:26
snowjobspodcast
Everything, everything.
01:15:27
RICK JAMES
Oh, TikTok.
01:15:28
Storm
and not and protect ah
01:15:29
RICK JAMES
Yeah. Yeah.
01:15:31
Storm
you
01:15:31
snowjobspodcast
Follow Storm on everything, all socials.
01:15:34
RICK JAMES
And more, more videos come up.
01:15:34
Storm
that out there so best
01:15:37
RICK JAMES
More videos coming out, right?
01:15:37
Storm
Yeah, first place you'll hear it is on our socials.
01:15:42
snowjobspodcast
There you go. And you guys are still, uh, you still haven't come to your senses. You're still giving away tons of money and shit.
01:15:48
Storm
Yep, still giving away.
01:15:49
snowjobspodcast
Yeah.
01:15:50
Storm
Yeah.
01:15:51
RICK JAMES
I never win. I never win. none um None of our boys win anything.
01:15:56
snowjobspodcast
ah
01:15:57
Storm
Does it split me any bribes either?
01:15:57
snowjobspodcast
i
01:16:00
RICK JAMES
Wow.
01:16:02
Storm
know
01:16:02
RICK JAMES
It's good to know. It's good to know, Darcy.
01:16:04
snowjobspodcast
ah You didn't get a snow jobs hat.
01:16:05
RICK JAMES
Good to know.
01:16:05
Storm
know board
01:16:08
snowjobspodcast
Come on. They were there. Nobody
Conclusion and Team Storm's Success
01:16:10
snowjobspodcast
took them.
01:16:11
Storm
I did not.
01:16:12
RICK JAMES
I got a whole bunch of them here.
01:16:13
snowjobspodcast
All right. All right.
01:16:15
Storm
No.
01:16:16
snowjobspodcast
Well, there's always August.
01:16:19
RICK JAMES
Yeah, that's coming fast.
01:16:19
snowjobspodcast
Yeah, it is. It is. I think 40 days or something.
01:16:22
Storm
Have a good one.
01:16:24
snowjobspodcast
It's not long.
01:16:25
RICK JAMES
you
01:16:25
snowjobspodcast
All right. Anybody got anything else before we wrap it?
01:16:30
snowjobspodcast
All right. All right, boys and girls, then that's going to do it for episode 76 of the Snowjaws podcast. We want to thank the gang from Team Storm as always for coming on with us and being who they are. They're they're good friends. They're great people. ah They're just crushing it. they're They're really doing everything right. They're they're pushing all the right buttons and they're helping guys in this industry.
01:16:49
RICK JAMES
yep when I come
01:16:51
snowjobspodcast
Right. So it was great seeing you guys last week. What's that, Jay?
01:16:54
RICK JAMES
They're an icon, everybody wants to be like them.
01:16:57
snowjobspodcast
They are. I mean, they should be emulated the way they're doing it. they They figured out the old way is actually the best way for business.
01:16:59
RICK JAMES
Exactly.
01:17:03
RICK JAMES
Yup.
01:17:03
snowjobspodcast
It's not rocket science. Take care of your customers. It was great seeing you guys last week hanging out. and you know It was, ah thank you for coming on and telling the guys out there more about Storm Vision and Teleo and just keep crushing it. We wish you guys all the continued success. It's well deserved and you we'll see you soon. So that's it, guys. We will see everybody next week. Everybody have a great week. Be safe out there. Keep pushing.