Transcript
The SnowJobs Podcast: Here we go, Snow Jobs Nation. We are back again bringing you episode 180 of the Snow Jobs Podcast, main show powered by Top Gun Backblades, the best show in snow. As always, I'm Steve.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You know who's with me. He's back.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Jeremy Lindstrom is back in the house after a one-week hiatus. What is up, Jay? How are how are we doing, bud? We're
RICK JAMES: Hey, doing good, Steve. Doing real good. about
The SnowJobs Podcast: I'm all right, man. I'm all right. We just couldn't make our schedules mesh up last week. The boys had to step in.
RICK JAMES: you? Yeah, no, it wasn't. We tried, but it wasn't. i just had too much stuff come up, so.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Didn't work. Well, i had I was gone most of the week. Disasterous hockey tournament in Canada. And then you had the AI project on the weekend spraying God's juice there for the dirt parking lots in the AI center.
RICK JAMES: Sure did. Sure did.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And yeah, you had some problems. So I was like, yep, I can't do it. Roll on boys.
Jordan Smith: Thank you.
RICK JAMES: we were we were about to do it live from the truck, but other stuff happened, so I couldn't get it done. But whatever, it happens.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It happens.
RICK JAMES: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: We still made it happen. The boys filled in. They did a bang up job. it was a good time. And I think we we learned very quickly that we needed to get Luke Eggebrotten from Phaser in on the next one we do with the marketing and promotion of Snow Company questions.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, yeah, he's definitely wealth of knowledge, that's for sure. He knows what he's talking about.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, we'll get the the baby taken care of there and give him his paternity leave time, and then we're going to have to do another episode with him.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, for sure. That'll be fun. He's always fun to chat with.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely. How was your week?
RICK JAMES: Real good, real good. Sprayed a lot of juice. And then I went out to Michigan, McIntosh's place, to visit him for the weekend.
The SnowJobs Podcast: How was that?
RICK JAMES: It was great, great time. Me ah me and Patty Salmon met him out there and just just hung out for a few days. And, yeah, got to check out his his pad and his pool and, you know, little relaxation for a change.
RICK JAMES: It was kind of nice.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All that salt mafia money huh ah ah That's great That's great I'm glad you guys had fun It looked great It looked awesome Very relaxing
RICK JAMES: Yeah, buddy.
RICK JAMES: yeah it was super fun super fun matt's great host his family everything was was a great time hanging out patty's always fun so yeah yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: At the Plowright Mansion Gotta love it Gotta to love it. Lake life doesn't suck, dude. I would not know this year. This year is, I already knew going into this summer, this was going to be a write-off summer. I was not going to get to the lake much, if at all.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But I have not.
RICK JAMES: yeah you haven't been up there at all
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nope. I have been 24 on, 24 off with the A job, wrapping that that part up and Hopefully set my my exit date for early September and then be done as long as all the medical checks and everything the next couple weeks go good. as soon as I get back from storm, i I go guinea pig and start doing all the the medical testing and everything. Make sure ah I'm not a ticking time bomb. And if ah that all goes well, the numbers are good.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I've done that. I've wrapped that part up and ready to get out. And then full full speed ahead snow jobs.
RICK JAMES: That's exciting. That's very exciting. Well-deserved.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
RICK JAMES: Good job.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We'll try, man. I want to get out of there before they kill me. <unk> getting bad now It's getting bad down there, man.
RICK JAMES: yeah yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: It really is. It's ah it's it's it's shady. It's really shady. You know, there's there's no there's no rule of law. There's no recourse. So, you know, it's it's getting a little crazy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But what are you going to do? But, yeah, so no no lake this year. But, you know, i'll have I'll have plenty of time to do that in years to come. So, yeah. All good.
RICK JAMES: girl
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, I'm glad you had a good trip. Got back. The flights were good.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, real good. Nothing yeah quick turnaround. So yeah, it was a good time. And we'll have to plan something for you for your retirement. noh Have a big blowout party for old Steve-o.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We'll do something. It'll probably be in a phone booth. thats You fit everybody in a phone booth for that one.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah that's the That's the going joke on the job is like, yeah, you'll be able to have your retirement party in a phone booth and fit everybody. But, yeah, we'll do something.
RICK JAMES: Oh, wow.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We'll definitely get something done. but ill ah Once I finalize everything, I'll put something on the books. I was trying to trying to figure out, actually, if there was a day that was going to work, like ah you coming out east for for events there, Patty Salmon's thing.
Jordan Smith: Thank you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I was hoping that Army football was going to be home that weekend and stay an extra day and go to the ah Army game in the new the new stadium.
RICK JAMES: Oh,
RICK JAMES: yeah. The new stadium, right? Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, it's all done. Looks great. It's phenomenal. Can't wait to to see a game in there. It'll be nice. The kids can kids can run around in the ah in the club and and not have to worry about it.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That stadium's just amazing place to see a football game. It's not the best football all the time, but as far as a fall Saturday, there's no better place to watch a college football game.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mikey Stadium's just amazing.
RICK JAMES: Awesome. I'll have to try that one day.
The SnowJobs Podcast: but Yeah, we'll definitely get that done. Definitely. But, yeah, so ah you know what we got to do, man. It's coming up fast. So tonight, that's what we are doing. We are doing Storm Field Day preview episode.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And if we're doing that, there's no better way to do that than, you know, bringing in our ah our good friend Jordan Smith of Storm Equipment to ah help us out. So, you know.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Jordan is with us tonight and we're going to get to him right after we hear from team Top Gun. We got a bunch of announcements. There's a, I love these one day events that are just springing up out of nowhere. They're great for the industry. Great, great for the people in it. And we got a bunch of these to announce, but we're first we're going hear from team Top Gun and we'll be right back and we'll get to that so we can get to Jordan.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. Thank you to Top Gun. We are back. So as I said, quick week in review here. Not so quick week in review, actually. Storm Chasing Season 2 live on YouTube. Head on over the Storm Chasing YouTube channel and check out all four episodes.
RICK JAMES: Thank you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: We dropped EMI last week. So you got four episodes for Season 2 that are now currently up. So check them all out over on the Storm Chasing YouTube channel. July 22nd. This is for you, Jeremy Kirkham, even though you're sending all this freaking wildfire smoke our way. This is for you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: July 22nd is Snowposium in Canada. All right, I got no other information about it other than that. it's I think it's in Toronto. But if you are going, use promo code STOR319, S-T-O-R-319 for free entry courtesy of Storm Solutions Plus.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, that's Snowposium in Canada. Go up there and breathe in all that wildfire smoke. uh storm field day as we spoke about is july 29th and 30 if it's coming up it's next week uh do believe tickets are over so if you got your tickets great if not uh you might be able to you know call i don't know we'll we'll have to hear that from jordan but uh so uh yeah storm field day is coming up fast we will see you guys out there august 7th is ud maintenance's snow day that's in amherst ohio you got any further info on kyle's event there jeremy
RICK JAMES: It's going to be one-day event. I think ah Patty Sam is going to in Northeast D. I might be doing a liquids class there or something or explaining some liquids. And then obviously the Phantom is going to be out there and new Arctic additions.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, baby.
RICK JAMES: And yeah, just a one-day little snow show to get people excited and maybe see if there's some interest in the new plows and but whatever else. Winter plow ride.
The SnowJobs Podcast: See if there's maybe some.
RICK JAMES: I think plow ride is going to be there as well.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I think it's I think it's very, very smart that the Phantom is making its rounds. So that's Ohio's chance to check out the Phantom. It's ah it's definitely worth going.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So does he have a QR code or something on his socials?
RICK JAMES: Yeah, I think on the socials, you got a QR code to kind of sign up.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, so check out UT Maintenance and check out that QR code if you're in the Amherst, Ohio area on August 7th.
RICK JAMES: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: August 13th is Valley Green Snow Day, all right? That's out in Fargo-Moorhead when the entire country passes through Fargo-Moorhead on vacation that week. So they'll be there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And check out, that's Josh Abrahamsen's shop, and he's got a lot of vendors, right? Muskox will be out there with the inverted. You got the Phantom to check out. You got a lot of cool stuff to check out.
RICK JAMES: Yep. He's going to have, yeah, Phantom, Muscox, Plowrites. I think there's a few more there. I haven't even looked at all.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's awesome.
RICK JAMES: They're still kind of planning it. But, yeah, it should be another fun day of a one-day event for Todd Hesse. He's going to be there from Turbo.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Turbo melt!
RICK JAMES: So he's going to be there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Turbo Todd.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. So it sounds like that'll be a fun day ah there as well. So unless you get to see me, why not?
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's awesome. No, it's I love these one day things and I hope they grow and it's good just for networking, just to get everybody together, get 100, 150 guys together, talking shop, shooting the shit.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's good for the industry. Also on the 13th of August, on the other end of the country out in Connecticut, you have the Connecticut Groundskeepers Association Ground and Ice Expo. That's at the Durham Fairgrounds in Durham, Connecticut.
The SnowJobs Podcast: uh vendors are welcome uh if you want more information on that head over to cgka.com and check that out they got the iron operator challenge jeremy top prize thousand dollars oh there you might have to you can't be in two places at once though unfortunately
RICK JAMES: I don't mind you about that.
RICK JAMES: I'll probably take a jet back and forth.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah do josh's thing in the morning and head out there for the afternoon
RICK JAMES: Sure.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There you go. Attaboy, that's the spirit. August 18th in Story City, Iowa is the snow removal workshop at the EBY showroom hosted by the Iowa Professional Lawn Care Association. You can register for the event at iowalawncare.org. It's $25 for members and $50 for non-members.
The SnowJobs Podcast: September 16th and 17th is our Pennsylvania swing. You got Wednesday is Storks Plow Tech School. That's at Stork's shop there in Leesport, Pennsylvania. And if you're going to Storks, that's a great day. That Plow Tech School is legit. All Douglas products, how to fix your Douglas plows, how to fix your Douglas spreaders in the field without needing a dealer, basically. They're basically teaching you how to not need them.
The SnowJobs Podcast: which, you know, good for them for doing that. I went last year. It was phenomenal information. The cheat book alone is worth going for. so if you're if you're in the area or you want to be, September 16th, that's Wednesday. That's Storks. And then if you're in if you're going to Storks, you might as well hang in Pennsylvania for another day, head on take the hour and 10-minute drive to the Scranton-Wilkes-Bar area, and that is S&S Snow and Ice Solution 6th Annual Snow Show.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right. And that is also another Phantom Day where you can check out the Phantom if you're in Pennsylvania or in New York for, you know, because that's only an hour and 20 minutes from me. So if you're in my area, you can you can head out to Scranton and check out the Phantom there. You can also check out the Storm Arctic, the sectional boxes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So, yeah, good day. Definitely. S&S does a great job all the time and they're going to go bigger this year. October 1st in Uxbridge, Massachusetts is the third annual Northeast De-Icing Solutions De-Icing Day.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's the Morton Wallace concert, right, Jay?
RICK JAMES: Morton Wall's concert. Yep. And i don't know who else he's got coming.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There you go.
RICK JAMES: Some other openers, I think. So.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah ah Yeah, no, that that was a great, great day last year. The transformation between year one and year two was amazing. i Can't wait to see what they do for year three. I mean, they built the new building just for it, right?
RICK JAMES: ah They're working on it. It's not up yet, but it being it's being, it's being, Pat says it's going to be done though.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, they better get him.
RICK JAMES: We talked about just this weekend, we were talking about it and he's talking about ideas, what to do for the day and stuff. So yeah, hopefully we came up with some decent ideas and we can make it work.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Clock is ticking, Pat.
RICK JAMES: so
The SnowJobs Podcast: clock is ticking uh yeah so if you're going to any of these events before you go head over to snowjobsnationstore.com get all your snow job swag we definitely appreciate that also you actually definitely head over snowjobsnationstore.com and get your f canada shirts all right the wildfire shirts i was prophetic with that shirt because look at us now
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: everywhere the entire northern hemisphere of north america is engulfed in canadian wildfire smoke it's uh ridiculous it's been orange here for a week it's it's awful oh yeah get those uh get those shirts
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: up ah Keep hitting like and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Keep dropping the five-star reviews for the show. Spotify and Apple, we have a ridiculous amount of five-star reviews, but we want to keep seeing how high we can get that number. Also, if you drop your comments on Spotify or Apple, we do see them. We do get notified. So continue to do that. It helps us bring you more of what you want.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Anything else, Jay?
RICK JAMES: Mm-hmm.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I miss it. That was a lot of announcements.
RICK JAMES: I don't know. it's not It was good. It was really good. So, yeah. A lot of fun things coming up.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right.
RICK JAMES: don't know. Jordan got anything before we switch here? Any announcements?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Got anything else on the announcements?
RICK JAMES: No? Can we hit it?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nope. He says no. All right. So then let's hear from our partners real quick and we'll be back and we'll hear what Jordan's got.
RICK JAMES: He's very grateful.
RICK JAMES: Thank you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: all gang we are back so uh let's uh welcome in jordan how are we bud good good to see you liking the storm studio that looks great
Jordan Smith: What up boys? Good to see you.
RICK JAMES: Hey, Jordan.
Jordan Smith: ah was trying to figure out how to turn the neon light down a little bit. It's kind of bright, but i couldn't find the remote.
The SnowJobs Podcast: you're good it gives you like an aura behind you uh it's pretty good how's everything
Jordan Smith: Yeah, I'm glowing.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: yeah
Jordan Smith: Too bad it's not a video podcast.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Things are good. Just got off the lake to come and chat with you guys about some fun stuff.
The SnowJobs Podcast: everybody's going to the lake except for me
Jordan Smith: sorry to rub it in.
RICK JAMES: ah
Jordan Smith: it was a perfect night for the lake except for as you guys mentioned the smoke is thick can't even hardly see all the way across the lake.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yep i know i know it's uh it's ridiculous
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: My lungs are at half capacity right now because all the smoke.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%. It was bad. like i post I didn't post them. I took a bunch of videos the other day, and i didn't post them on purpose because I knew it was going to be bad because I didn't hold back. and you couldn Normally, you can see the mountain. There's a mountain. mount Beacon is like a mile and a half down the ah down Route 9 there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And from the intersection, you can usually see the whole thing. You couldn't see any of it. and it's only ah like So we were dealing with like less than a mile visibility. like i don't I don't know how the pilots were flying in it. Like, it was banked down on Wednesday right to the ground. I don't know how they were doing it.
Jordan Smith: I think it's the worst. We've had a lot of wildfire smoke from Canada the last five, six years, but I think this is the worst I've seen it, to be honest.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, absolutely.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Isn't the lake the woods on fire too? I thought I heard there's big fire up there too.
Jordan Smith: Yep. Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. I mean, Oh,
Jordan Smith: Yep. Northern Minnesota is catching on too.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: archies I have done my research. I do understand it a little bit better because I'm like, how is this happening every freaking year now where I don't remember it happening you know much outside the last five, six years.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah Apparently it has here and there, but I guess the winds have just been right and the conditions have been right the last couple of years that it gets down here. But um I didn't realize how big the forests in Canada that are burning the boreal forests are.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Like they said that... it's like seven times all the forests in the United States put together. There's no roads.
Jordan Smith: huge.
RICK JAMES: Let
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nobody lives there. There's no access.
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So,
Jordan Smith: Yep. There's a lot up there to burn.
RICK JAMES: me smoke eat bear up there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: and yeah.
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: they're My son's loving it because, you know he saw some spoof thing that says all the Canadian wildfires are pushing Bigfoot south into the Adirondack. So he's going to be on the lookout when he's up there next week.
Jordan Smith: Nice.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Ah, so storm day is coming up fast. You guys ready?
Jordan Smith: I think we're ready. Yeah, i think we're I think we're really ready. I think after this drops, it'll be like nine days away. So it's coming up quick here. It's going to be the biggest one ever.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: by a By attendance, it's already, I think it's already 30 or 40 people more than... any previous year and yes the deadline passed for tickets but we have learned that there's always a last minute people and a lot of those are people we really like and want them to be there so we do have a little ah little reserve uh and if you if you need one you can you can give us a call until they're gone we the the venue that we're using this year does have 300 limit and uh and I don't remember exactly where we're at, but we're not that far away from it. So don't bank on waiting until the day before because we might be actually like fire marshal might say no more.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: Well, it's...
The SnowJobs Podcast: And that's the big change this year, right? The big change is moving it out of Storm Headquarters and into an off-site venue.
Jordan Smith: It is.
Jordan Smith: it was It was a tough choice because a lot you know we we we take feedback every year. And one of the things people liked is they liked the the venue. They like being out in the country. They like having the after party at my house. And i to honestly, I liked it too.
Jordan Smith: The problem is... Like last year, we really stuffed the place full. It was pretty hot out. Building's not air conditioned. There's a lot of stuff we have to move to make it happen. There's not enough parking. and like there's just there was a lot of There was a lot of challenges with the facility. And especially after the world-class event that they put on at Storks with that amazing facility and all the extra space they have.
Jordan Smith: And the abundant parking, you know, having more space for not only the event, but the trade show, I think is a big win. So we did move.
RICK JAMES: Mm-hmm.
Jordan Smith: We did move the event. And for those that came last year, we we did the night before party at the Crooked Pint, which is like a brew pub. And that same building has a venue event venue attached to it. So the entire event, with the exception of the storm Academy preview, which we'll talk about the entire events taking place there the night before party.
Jordan Smith: And then the whole day event and the trade shows all at that one location. The other nice thing is it's like half a mile to a mile from the hotel, from the hotels.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah Yeah, I was just going to say, we can walk it.
Jordan Smith: So like you could, you could literally walk it. Yep. So that'll be convenient too.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nice. Very cool. Should be good. Yeah, I think it'll be fine.
RICK JAMES: Cool.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's always it's always nice being at Storm, but I think you'll be fine in the in a new venue.
RICK JAMES: ah vi
The SnowJobs Podcast: I mean, things evolve.
Jordan Smith: Well, and and hopefully, probably not next year, but hopefully the year after that, we're planning to break ground on a new facility. And once we do that, we'll definitely definitely move it back to the actual facility.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh.
Jordan Smith: And not just one of our facilities, but that that new facility will have our manufacturing operations in it too. So hopefully we can do factory tours and that kind of stuff.
RICK JAMES: cool
Jordan Smith: That'll kind of add a whole extra element, but it won't be ready for next summer, but hopefully the summer after that, it should be all ready to go and we can do the whole shebang at our at our future headquarters, which is which is in Mankato about a mile from the same venue we're going to be at this year.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very cool.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Moving Storm Academy indoor into an indoor facility. Yep.
Jordan Smith: yeah You know, we've we've joked about it, right? We put up the big dome and you've you've you've sold me on the on the underground cooling to to be able to make snow year round inside.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep.
Jordan Smith: I like it. I think it's a good idea.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That'd be funny. That'd be great.
Jordan Smith: we're just We're soliciting donations, so I'll set up a set up a Kickstarter for that.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. GoFundMe. GoFundMe.
Jordan Smith: Yes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There we go.
Jordan Smith: yes so
The SnowJobs Podcast: So this year's event, this year's event, we're we're kicking off on Wednesday, right? You want to take us through the ah the stuff that happens on Wednesday this year?
Jordan Smith: Yes, sir. Yeah. So, um, I think, I think the registration for this one is closed, but the the morning on Wednesday is kicking off for those people that are getting in Tuesday. Figured we'd give them something to do in the morning.
Jordan Smith: There is a a group that's going golfing. It's, you know, it's an officially sponsored event of storm field day, but, um, the storm team mostly will not be there because we'll be busy setting up for the event.
Jordan Smith: So a bunch of people signed up for golf.
RICK JAMES: Thank you.
Jordan Smith: There's also a women's luncheon that some of the ladies that work at our company set up. And that's kind of cool because they're actually hosting that at our location where we operate our service business. So for those that don't know, we, in addition to storm equipment, we also have a contracting business storm lawn and snow we plow snow we we do commercial grass that kind of stuff and we're actually hosting that women's luncheon at that location so kind of a cool uh extra location that people get to see but then the official sort of the official you know kickoff of the event is at 2 30 on the 29th which is a wednesday and that's the storm academy open house that was very popular and well received last year
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Again, everything we do is based on feedback we get. The feedback we got last year is people really wish they could have run the equipment. So this year we're letting people run the equipment.
The SnowJobs Podcast: nice
Jordan Smith: Uh, we, we expanded the asphalt pad, uh, even put in a swale in there so that if you're testing out the phantom or another plow, you can see how the edges contour to that swale in the pavement.
RICK JAMES: this
Jordan Smith: Um, but we're actually going to let people run some equipment this year. So if you want to run a phantom, you want to run a, an Arctic, you want to run ah wolf loader, all that stuff will be down there ready for you guys to operate.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Nice.
RICK JAMES: hear Here Mr. Van Hill is going to maybe drop some mulch off so we can push some mulch around or something.
Jordan Smith: Yes, sir. Yeah, we'll have mulch to push around too. So we'll be able to, won't be able to have snow. I wish we could make snow. off to do that indoor dome for that, but
RICK JAMES: turn them Turn the water on for misters.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. I think we should do that anyway. Have a missing.
Jordan Smith: we could.
RICK JAMES: It's to be hot. Turn the water on.
Jordan Smith: Those snow guns will will spray some pretty good water.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Is it going to be hot? The the extended forecast. Uh,
Jordan Smith: Extended looks pretty good. Looks like, looks like low eighties.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Not too humid. humidity is supposed to die off. Hopefully the smoke's gone. um If it's low eighties, not humid, it'll be beautiful. It'd be great weather.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. 100%. Great. Yeah.
Jordan Smith: So we got the,
The SnowJobs Podcast: Storm was definitely cool last year. That was a good time.
Jordan Smith: Yeah, I think a lot of people that didn't come for that ah heard from other people that they should have gone to that. So I think it's going be pretty popular this year.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: i think last year we had like 100 people go to the Storm Academy open house. And based on feedback we've heard, I think we'll have quite a bit more, quite a bit more this year.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Awesome. Yup.
Jordan Smith: Yeah. And then after that, so that goes from 2.30 to 5.30. And then we're going to do a welcome reception again, just like last year. And thank you to our friends at Arctic for sponsoring that for us this year. And that welcome reception is going to be at the Crooked Pint, same place as last year. It's a cool, cool venue. They have an arcade duck pin bowling, really good food, big bar.
Jordan Smith: It's kind of a private space in the upstairs of there right next to the hockey arena. So it's a cool spot.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yep It's a great spot. Absolutely great spot.
Jordan Smith: So have a welcome reception. I think it officially goes to like 930. I know last year people hung out a lot later than that, and that's totally fine. I can definitely do that. Then guys ready to go to the next day or you got any questions?
RICK JAMES: No.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, I mean, i think I think that's pretty good. I think we nailed that.
RICK JAMES: Should be a fun day. Fun first day.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, should be a good good first day.
RICK JAMES: Everybody.
Jordan Smith: So then the main the actual main event is on Thursday, and I know some people just come for the main event. And as you guys mentioned, I think these one-day events are great because it doesn't take such a huge chunk out of your schedule that even guys that are grinding, working in the field, and busy, they they can make time for one day, right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: hmm. Sure.
Jordan Smith: And the reason we do it on a Thursday instead of a Friday is is it hopefully will interfere with less people's family plans, you know, people... People have families, they have kids, they got stuff going on. And and if the event's on a Friday and it goes till, you know, 10 o'clock at night, they're not getting home till Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Smith: And if they're from out of town and then they're missing family stuff.
The SnowJobs Podcast: sure
Jordan Smith: So, so the, the main events Thursday, um, that'll kick off about eight 30. You know, we won't, won't start too early for those that do stay out a little late at the welcome reception, give them some time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Jordan Smith: Never happens.
RICK JAMES: I'll be in bed early.
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah
Jordan Smith: Registration kicks off at 8.30. So actually you don't even have to be there at 8.30. 9.30 is when the actual kickoff the event happens. So 8.30 to 9.30 is going to be breakfast. So we will have food.
Jordan Smith: Come on out for some food. The breakfast is is sponsored by Syma. So thanks to Syma for hosting that for us.
The SnowJobs Podcast: h
Jordan Smith: And then the the welcome kickoff, 9.30 to 10.
RICK JAMES: Hmm.
Jordan Smith: I'll just do a quick kickoff, purpose of the event, go through kind of housekeeping stuff, where the bathrooms are, where everything is. Because it's actually at a real venue this year, won't need to spend as much time on that at our at our venue here in Madison Lake.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. yep
Jordan Smith: It's a little more obscure, so we spent a little more time on housekeeping type stuff. But This venue that we're at is actually made for events like this, so it should be pretty intuitive for people. So we'll do a kickoff, kind of purpose the event, tee it all up, and then the start of the actual you know educational event kicks off with Bob Marks and I.
Jordan Smith: so Like I said, we always try to take people's feedback and i don't want to pat myself on the back, but one of the pieces of feedback we got the last two years is is why are we going to an event hosted by a Storm and Jordan's not speaking at the event?
Jordan Smith: um So I guess people wanted me to talk more, which I don't know if that's right or not, but that's that's what they asked for.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, you're great speaker.
Jordan Smith: I appreciate that.
RICK JAMES: Give them what they want.
Jordan Smith: So i will I will be co-running the first educational session with with Bob Marks from EMI. EMI, obviously, also on Storm Chasing this past season. If you haven't seen it yet, it's the most recent episode. Go check it out.
Jordan Smith: um I should also mention... with storm chasing uh i have had more people than ever asking how to get on the show and i know uh the three of us were texting the other night about kind of what the plan is we're going to make it a little bit easier for people to apply this year last year we had grand ideas about people making videos and stuff and the feedback was hey we're we're busy you know like we got stuff going on we don't have media teams not every company has a media team built in-house and
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yes.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: So we're going to make it easier this year to apply and that will actually get kicked off at field day in the welcome opening too. So for those you have been asking over and over, how do I apply to get on storm chase and the official announcement will be made at field day and then it'll get posted on socials the next day.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yes
Jordan Smith: So everyone will have a shot.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Unofficially small manila envelopes of unmarked low denomination bills to Steve, Jeremy, and Jordan.
RICK JAMES: Yes.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That helps.
Jordan Smith: ah that is That is the plan, my friends.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, shit.
RICK JAMES: that That helps.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, shit.
Jordan Smith: That is plan
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah ah yet
Jordan Smith: So, so yes, it's just, it's just a bribe.
RICK JAMES: i was you You beat me to that one, Steve.
Jordan Smith: It's all a bribe and that's how you get on the show.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Pretty simple.
The SnowJobs Podcast: oh shit
Jordan Smith: So we'll, we'll drop our addresses at the end of the episode for people that want to mail those out ahead of time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: There you go
Jordan Smith: Uh, so Bob and I are going to kick off the educational session and I think it's going to be pretty fun.
The SnowJobs Podcast: go.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I think it's going to be great.
Jordan Smith: So, so You know, you you see in our industry, there there's a ah ah big push. you You know, you see some of the big companies like EMI, companies like ECF, and there's lots of others, but they're, you know, they're touting these giant distribution centers and data centers and and industrial manufacturing facilities.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm-hmm.
Jordan Smith: And these are 40, 50, 60, 70 acre sites, which are awesome, right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: unicorns Yeah.
Jordan Smith: They're really cool.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Oh, yeah.
RICK JAMES: Oh, yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: They're great if you can get them.
Jordan Smith: makes for some great content, great media. um But one of the cool things ah is again, we take feedback from everyone and a bunch of the feedback last year was like, it's really cool to be inspired by a guy like Josh Gomez and what he's doing with ECF, but like, I'll never be that.
Jordan Smith: And I never even wanna be that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm-hmm.
Jordan Smith: So give me something relatable. Give me something inspiring and something relatable. So I'm thinking like, okay, well, you know, my friend Bob Marks has a company that's a lot like ECF. They do all big industrial sites, dedicated fleet to the sites.
Jordan Smith: And then the relatable guy when it comes to a snow business is a guy like me. We do retail, we do banks, we do restaurants, we do strip malls, we do big box stores. Yeah, we have some industrial, but nothing like what Bob Marks has.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah You guys are relatable because that's probably 85% the industry.
RICK JAMES: Mm-hmm.
Jordan Smith: I think so too. I always tell people we own the every man snow company. I think if you were to look at a cross section of the industry, maybe minus the fact that we don't really do any residential. And I know some guys still do.
Jordan Smith: Um, like I think we're super relatable. i think I think, you know, we work on Main Street and and we we drive our machines up and down the road, just like you guys saw with Glacier and Glacier's a little bit bigger than us, but driving up and down the roads, dispatching from home base, like that's the type of business that we run.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: And I think that's relatable to a lot of guys. um So I think it'll be really cool to compare and contrast the way that a company like EMI operates with dedicated fleet to sites, big sites.
Jordan Smith: They're not driving anything down the road because everything is dedicated to the site. These are 24 seven facilities. A lot of our stuff closes at eight o'clock and we got all night to plow it or do whatever. you know So we have some 24 seven stuff, but I think we have kind of the every man snow company and Bob's got maybe the the kind of company that people think they want and maybe they do, but I think this will be a great session to really talk through what some of the differences are.
Jordan Smith: And we're going to get really granular. Like we're going to talk about, we're going to talk about margins, like what kind of margins we're making on this work. We're going to talk about what we're paying team members for this type of work. We're going to talk about,
Jordan Smith: how we're how we're bidding this kind of work, how we're building our routes, you know how we think about, you know like someone like Bob, if he's got a 70 acre site, two hours out of his service area, he doesn't care because he's dedicating fleet to that site.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sure.
Jordan Smith: He can hire local operators. For me, we do route work. So I'm not taking anything outside of 10 miles.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Like it just isn't worth it for me, right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Amen.
Jordan Smith: It's a totally different mentality. And so I think it'll be really cool and relatable for guys to hear both sides of that spectrum and that coin.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: And then Bob and I have both been doing snow for a long time. So then the other feedback we got is give us more time for Q&A. We just want to ask questions. So we shortened up the speaking sessions, less time talking at people and more time giving people the floor to ask questions.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You're going to need it. Good. You're going to need it with that that duality there but between the the unicorn sites and and what 95% of the industry is actually doing.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: I mean, the unicorn sites are great. I'm not taking anything away from the big companies that do it, but you're talking about less than 1% of all sites out there.
Jordan Smith: Totally. Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So if you can get them great, because those sites pay what you need to make to equip and staff properly and do the work the right way.
RICK JAMES: a designated equipment.
The SnowJobs Podcast: The hustle is on the 99% of the other sites out there that you got to, you got to try and get your pricing and make it work. So I'm, ah I'm excited to actually hear that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And that's a, that's, I think it's going to be a great contrast.
RICK JAMES: Should be pretty fun.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
RICK JAMES: yep
Jordan Smith: Yeah, I'm pretty excited about it. i You know, when when I saw the feedback that people want me to talk more, it's like, well, I'm not going to just get up and talk about liquids like I always do, because you can hear me talk about liquids anywhere.
Jordan Smith: You know, you listed off 15 other events earlier, like I'll be but i'll be there talking about liquids at half of those things, right? And I'm not saying no one wants to hear it and if people ask liquid questions, of course, I'll answer.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: but I wanted to do something different that appeals to the whole audience. And based just a really big cross section of all the feedback we got the last two years, this seems to check the box, you know, give us the inspiration and the thing that we think we want, but but give us some reality that we can relate to also.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I think so. I think it's phenomenal.
Jordan Smith: And I think we'll have a good mix of both.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Phenomenal. Yeah, I think that's going to be very, very popular. And you guys are both great speakers, so I think that'll be great.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And I think you're probably right to to cut it short and open more time for questions.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, definitely.
Jordan Smith: Yeah, so and we we even snuck a break in. So so we'll talk for we'll talk for a while and then we'll we'll give people 15, 20 minutes to hit the restroom, whatever. We're going app just like they do at Storks. We're actually stealing Gene's idea with the app so people can submit questions on there. We'll let people raise their hand too. It just gets tough in a big room when they're trying to yell their questions, you know.
RICK JAMES: ye
Jordan Smith: We'll let people put questions in on the app if they want. and And then we'll spend a substantial amount of time asking or answering everyone's questions. then it'll be lunchtime and trade show.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yep and that break is also a good time to beat the rush to the snow jobs booth and get your apparel from jeremy
Jordan Smith: Go get your merch, baby.
RICK JAMES: Yes, please.
The SnowJobs Podcast: are you you kind of segued right into it the the trade show portion is that are all the boots inside are they outside or what
Jordan Smith: They are primarily outside.
The SnowJobs Podcast: How does that work? Okay.
Jordan Smith: And I'd be lying if I said I know exactly because I'm not the guy setting up the trade show stuff.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Okay.
Jordan Smith: I know that the majority of it is outside, but there are some indoor spaces as well. I don't know which ones they are. I don't know how many. um But this this place has a lot outdoor space.
Jordan Smith: So hopefully the weather's are good and it'll it'll all be outside.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Cool.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very nice.
RICK JAMES: Awesome.
Jordan Smith: so So that was the other piece of feedback too, right? People want more time to look at stuff. They want more time to just chat with their friends. So we are doing a full three hours on the trade show and lunch. So that'll give you three hours of networking time, trade show time.
Jordan Smith: think we've got like 20, 21, 22 vendors setting up at the trade show. So there'll be plenty of stuff to see. Um, And plenty of people to talk to. And then, you know, if you don't want to go out to go outside for the trade show for three hours, you can sit inside and catch up with your buddies too.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very cool.
RICK JAMES: yes
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very cool. So great.
Jordan Smith: So then,
RICK JAMES: You can have some tables inside, I think, is what I heard. is that true?
Jordan Smith: yeah, yeah.
RICK JAMES: Inside we're going to sit around and talk and all that fun stuff.
Jordan Smith: yeah Yep. Yeah, I think we'll have round tables. I think the entire inside of the venue's round tables in the main room. So be plenty of places to sit around and chat, eat your food, network, shoot the shit, whatever you want to do.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, that should be really cool. I'm excited.
Jordan Smith: So then after the trade show is the afternoon afternoon keynote, and that's gonna be Mark Bradley. So Mark Bradley, i think most people know him, but he's the original founder of LMN Software.
RICK JAMES: Thank you.
Jordan Smith: He sold that a couple of years ago, started up LeanScaper. um He is a phenomenal speaker. If you have not heard Mark Bradley speak, he is a phenomenal, phenomenal speaker.
Jordan Smith: And he's going to talk on creating a world-class snow team. So, um, you know, when I talked to him about speaking at the event, he's like, Oh, i you know, I didn't have that big of a snow business. It was only like seven, 8 million bucks.
Jordan Smith: I'm like, yeah, that's a, that's a pretty good size snow business, Mark.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That'll do.
RICK JAMES: Yeah, yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: and That'll do. Cool.
Jordan Smith: but But really, he's he's really big on culture. He does a great job speaking on culture and building a team. Does a great job helping you understand how you can pay people you know in this industry as a career, not just as a job.
Jordan Smith: And again, he's just he's a very engaging, great speaker. so He'll be our afternoon keynote and then that'll take us right into happy hour and dinner. So it's a pretty streamlined itinerary.
Jordan Smith: we We didn't, we tried not to make it overly complex with stations and drills and all kinds of stuff, which I'm not saying that's wrong. I think, I think Storks does a great job with that at Snow Alliance, but. For us, we're keeping a little bit simpler and leaving more open time, free time for people.
Jordan Smith: If we're being honest, the networking is 80% of the value at these events, right?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Amen. amen
Jordan Smith: It's the it's the friends you make, the connections you make.
RICK JAMES: Yep, 100%. hundred percent
Jordan Smith: Can't tell you how many times I hear people say, oh, I met this guy at Snow Alliance or I met this guy at Field Day and now I'm subbing work to him, resubbing work to me or, or you know, we're sharing some equipment or whatever. Like there's just always synergies you can find going to these events. So I always encourage people, even if you're an introvert, meet new people, you know, talk talk to your friends, but but meet some new people too. And we have a really...
Jordan Smith: uh there's going to be all your your usual suspects usual faces ogs as i like to call them um but there's a lot of new people this year too like when i look at the registration list there's a bunch of people that have never been to this event there's a bunch of people i haven't seen at snow alliance like there's there's some new blood here which um is is is because you're it's because of the podcast it's because of the marketing we're blasting out it's because of storm chasing advertising on there there's
The SnowJobs Podcast: good
RICK JAMES: That's great.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's what you want.
Jordan Smith: There's a, we're getting some really good reach. So there'll be some new guys here and let's make sure to welcome them into the fold.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, and that that stands to, that holds up actually with what we're seeing as well, because I haven't even told Jeremy this. I'm going through it. We've had a tremendous influx of new listeners since like the 1st of May, the last 60 days, like ridiculous amounts of new listeners where I'm like, I can't believe there's people out there that are just finding finding the show.
The SnowJobs Podcast: But yeah, guys from like, who's listening to episode one through 10? you know, we've had, you know, 40 or 50 hits every every couple days on episodes one through 10. And it's like, holy crap, you know, these are not guys that are going back and listening to these episodes, you know, three and a half years later, they're they're they're just finding them.
Jordan Smith: Well, I think, I think between word of mouth and the marketing you guys do, and then don't forget like 70, just over 70% of people watching storm chase in season two so far are are people that have never watched it before.
Jordan Smith: Like 70, like a 70.9% are unique new users who've never consumed season one at all.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's crazy.
Jordan Smith: And they're just seeing season two for the first time. So we're getting some reach that way too. And, um, you know, between that and a quality product and word of mouth, it's getting out there and that's, that's awesome.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's wild.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Amen. um
RICK JAMES: Keep going up.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I'll just, I'll run, I'll run down the list for Jordan here of what they sent over as far as who would, who's going to be there vendor wise. If you're interested, ah yeah you have, as always Arctic is going to be there. You got boss, you got boss by Integra, which I believe is the software.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um You got case construction equipment. You got crew vision. Douglas dynamics is bringing Western giant. You got ice solutions, muskox NTS tire plow, right? Marking stakes, premier snow and ice.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um what is premier snow and ice doing is that the edges sabers yeah sabers
RICK JAMES: think it's Adam. Is it Adam with the edges?
Jordan Smith: Adam cage cage and a saber edges, right?
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: okay cool so cage is gonna be there all right good we didn't think cage was gonna be there we didn't see him on the list he sells cage but yeah it's probably hopefully he does bring cage but uh definitely saber edges will be there then yep you got sima
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: I don't know if he's bringing cage, but he he sells cage.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Yeah, we'll put it next to the Phantom, see what happens, right?
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Yeah. Side by side.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yeah You got Simon's going to be there, as Jordan said. You got those Snowjobs guys. ah You got Sinatech Solutions. You got Truck Brush, True Weather, Turbo Melt, Vroom Vroom, View Robotics, Wolf America, Ziegler Cat.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You got LeanScaper, and you got Viper Edges. All right, cool. That's that's quite the lineup. Growing every year.
Jordan Smith: Yeah, yeah, should be good.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: we Yeah, I mean, we were happy with ah the amount of people that reached out for a little bit. We were having to turn people away because we thought gonna have too many and and we ended up being able to call them two weeks ago and say, hey, we we were we were prioritizing OEMs first.
Jordan Smith: We're trying to get manufacturers priority, not because we don't like dealers, but you know when you get dealers, you sometimes you end up with two or three dealers selling the same stuff and that's okay, but for a small event, it's just weird.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yep. Yep.
Jordan Smith: You know't you don't you don't need three John Deere dealers at at a show with 25 vendors.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yep
Jordan Smith: So we, we opened it up to OEMs first and then let dealers come in later.
RICK JAMES: Right.
Jordan Smith: i think there have been a couple dealers sign up. I know Ziegler was on that list with Caterpillar. um And then I think Sanko with the XCMG stuff is going to be there. Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Not sure on Midwest Machinery. They're a John Deere dealer that that we called up after and and said, if it wasn't too short a notice, they could come. I'm not sure if it did or not. My team would know, but there might be a couple others on that aren't on that list, but primarily focused on OEMs.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I'm sure.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Very cool. ah you know what?
RICK JAMES: Peace.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Let's hit some commercials real quick. We'll come back. We'll keep going with Jordan.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, we're back. So we got the were're through the whole itinerary of the day there. we got So happy hour and dinner going to all be in the same spot. So nobody's going to have to go anywhere all day.
Jordan Smith: Yep. Yeah. It's going to be very convenient. Like I said, the only driving is really going to be if you do the golf, the women's luncheon or the storm Academy open house the day before, but everything on Thursday for the main event is all in one spot.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's awesome.
RICK JAMES: Nice.
The SnowJobs Podcast: And it's close enough to the hotel that if you need to go back to the hotel for anything, you're right there.
RICK JAMES: It's fun.
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Five minutes away, five minutes back.
Jordan Smith: Very convenient. Yep. It's a nice setup.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's great. Looking forward to it.
RICK JAMES: Excellent.
Jordan Smith: But yeah, we're we're excited.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Jordan Smith: Like I said, we have the biggest attendee list, biggest vendor list we've had. um Again, as I mentioned earlier, if you didn't sign up already, we we know some people wait till the last second. So we have, a I want to say two handfuls, maybe 10 tickets on reserve for last second people.
Jordan Smith: um Please try to, Sean's not coming.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sean is not coming. Sean's not coming.
Jordan Smith: Oh, Sean, come on, Sean.
RICK JAMES: Told you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, I thought I could convince him.
Jordan Smith: Did he run out of salt? He's looking for salt or what?
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, his wife is on baby watch.
RICK JAMES: was baby Baby watch. Baby watch.
The SnowJobs Podcast: so
Jordan Smith: That's fair. That's a fair reason.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, I guess. I'll give it to him.
Jordan Smith: That's a fair reason.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Jordan Smith: But yeah, a couple handful of tickets for last minute people. Ideally, call in or text in the day before so they can have your badges printed out. They don't to be generating badges at the registration table ideally. But we do understand some people don't know until the last minute because they're running their company and they don't know what weather's going to do and everything else. Totally get that. So...
Jordan Smith: We do have a few left, so don't be discouraged if you haven't done it yet. But when they are gone, they're gone, and that's not something we want to do. But because it's not at our own facility, we have to follow the rules. So when we get to 300, we are at 300 and we're done.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Do you know how many people are from way out of town? What percentage?
Jordan Smith: I haven't looked at that yet, but I would say at least 50% of people are either driving more than five hours or flying in.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Wow.
Jordan Smith: So it's ah it's it's a big big cohort of people flying.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's cool.
RICK JAMES: Big number.
Jordan Smith: i know last year, yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You got to love that for like a two day show. that That's really, really cool.
Jordan Smith: Yeah, i think I think last year in the opening address, I actually had the stats. So I'll put it in again this year, just saying how many states people are from and percentages and that kind of stuff, cause it's kind of cool to see.
Jordan Smith: Yeah,
The SnowJobs Podcast: Last year, i I believe, if I'm not mistaken, you were in 18 states.
Jordan Smith: yeah that sounds right. Yep, that sounds right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It was 18 states and like 100 and something people, 180 people maybe flew, I think you had.
Jordan Smith: that's
Jordan Smith: Yep, that sounds right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's awesome. That's cool. I mean, great to see it.
Jordan Smith: Yeah, and then I guess I should mention, you guys talked about it earlier, you talked about a bunch of the events, but this is officially part of what we're calling the Phantom Launch Tour also.
RICK JAMES: Wow.
Jordan Smith: um you know With the release of the Phantom Hydraulic Wing Plow and the Phantom Edition Arctic Sectional, we're just trying to get it accessible and in front of as many people as we can. Again, we understand not everyone can travel across the country in the middle of the week for an event, so,
Jordan Smith: we're hitting like i think we're hitting like 17 spots um from now until december with with the phantom products so i don't know all of them off top my head you guys listed off some but there's more so if you check out our socials we're kind of trying to make it look like it's a rock concert tour alex made a pretty cool mock-up yeah the phantom launch tour and uh
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's awesome.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I saw that.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That was cool.
Jordan Smith: Products going to be accessible everywhere. And then, you know, this will be the one chance where you can for sure actually run one. So if you want to run a phantom, come check it out here, here, how quiet it is, how smooth it runs, how easy it is to set down.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It is. it definitely is that.
RICK JAMES: Yep. 100%.
Jordan Smith: If you run it, it sells itself.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100%.
RICK JAMES: Yeah. Bye.
Jordan Smith: So I keep telling Christian, once people run it, you don't need sales guys anymore. So he'll be, he'll be applying for jobs.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Bye, Christian.
RICK JAMES: by
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
Jordan Smith: No, we're excited, man.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: it's It's a lot of work for our team and I got to give props to the team. I can't take credit. I can't take credit for all the planning. There's so many hours that go into this stuff. I know Gene Stork and I have talked about it too, just how many people and how many hours and how much effort goes in.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I'm sure.
Jordan Smith: yes, we have an admission charge. No, we do not make money. In fact, if we actually counted labor hours going into this thing, we are absolutely going way backwards financially, but that's it's not the event's not to make money. The event is to to raise the bar for the industry, set the future standard, help build bridges, help build relationships, connect vendors with the right customers, connect customers with the right vendors. I mean, it It's all with the best intent to help elevate the industry.
Jordan Smith: And basically the admission charge covers the food and that's pretty much what it is.
The SnowJobs Podcast: What? Wait, so so you're not running an event to pay your whole company's salaries for a whole year?
Jordan Smith: No, and we don't charge for internet either.
The SnowJobs Podcast: um I thought that was what you do.
RICK JAMES: he check it That's crazy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: You go crazy-ass prices so you can make all your money off of one event for the whole year. Yeah.
Jordan Smith: I do have to agree though, you guys said it earlier. It is really cool how many of these grassroots events are popping up.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: You know, I feel proud that we were in the early cohort of that. Us and us and Storks with Snow Alliance were kind of the first two to to break the mold a little bit on sort of self-run, self-organized grassroots events.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Mm-hmm.
Jordan Smith: And I know there's, you know, there's all kinds of county fairs and there's there's uh you know like the connecticut event the iowa event that are set up by these official groups or chapters which which are great and they've always been around but these grassroots you know sort of for contractors by contractors type events are really freaking awesome i think they're great for the industry i think it's what everyone wants clearly the attendance keeps going up at all these events every year not just ours
The SnowJobs Podcast: absolutely yep
Jordan Smith: Snow Alliance is more every year. We have more every year. Patty's got more every year. i think Kyle's going to do great. I think Putz is going to do great. um People want to go to this stuff. and And yeah, it is to see some of the equipment and and and hear some of the education. But really, it's it's about networking and meeting new people.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
Jordan Smith: There's just so much value from that.
The SnowJobs Podcast: it is it's
RICK JAMES: So much of yeah, you can't even put a number or anything on that. That's where get everything is from the networking.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, what you see at these grassroots events, no matter where they are in the country, 75% of the people are mostly the same people. they're all the everybody wants to be part of that traveling club you know it's great those are you know hardcore snow guys they want to go to every event they can because if you learn one new thing from one new person that you meet in that day that's a win for a lot of guys and you know it might change your business so i think it's great it's it's phenomenal and and there's more of those one day events to come you know can't wait to make the announcements
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: hu
Jordan Smith: yeah
Jordan Smith: And it's just always so, yeah, it's just always so interesting to hear people's takeaways and how, you know, oh, i met this I met this guy and he, you know, he plows for the same customer I do two states over and he gave me this insight that helped me out a lot.
RICK JAMES: Mm-hmm.
Jordan Smith: Now I know what they're really looking for in a contract structure. Like I, I can make more money or I can get, I can switch to a seasonal.
The SnowJobs Podcast: yep
Jordan Smith: I don't know why I didn't, you know, I hear this kind of stuff all the time. There's just so much value to talking to guys and meeting new people and hearing what they do. And, and, uh, good stuff comes out of that every single time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: 100% 100% And not to toot our own horn But now you have the ability to throw an event And get the word out Across the country You know It's
Jordan Smith: Oh, it's huge. it's you i told I told you guys this, the first year you guys got involved, the field day, because think you guys came year two of field day and doubled the attendance.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Year two
Jordan Smith: and And it was almost all people that heard it on the podcast.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No.
Jordan Smith: so I agree. And it's really good on you guys too. you're you're not getting You're not getting paid to promote these events. You're you're doing it for the good of the industry. And yeah, I agree that having a platform to promote this stuff is huge because It used to be some of these grassroots events that people were trying to put on would have 15 people And there's nothing wrong with 15 people.
Jordan Smith: um But it's it's not to the level that we're at now.
RICK JAMES: Mm-hmm. All
Jordan Smith: <unk> i would I would venture to guess, you know, maybe maybe Snow Alliance and Storm Day are the two biggest, but I'm going to guess these other events have 40 to 80 people at them.
RICK JAMES: right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, and those those are great.
Jordan Smith: And that's fantastic.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Those are great.
Jordan Smith: maybe maybe Maybe more at Patty's, maybe more at at s and s too, because they've been doing a little bit longer, but they keep getting bigger, man. And it's it's it's awesome to see.
The SnowJobs Podcast: consistency is the key if they're they're every year they're going to grow and more people are going to catch on that there's a lot of value in one day events where they don't have to give up you know the bulk of their week and travel via air and whatever and you know we kind of have the whole country covered right now where there's an event within a three to four hour drive of pretty much everybody you know one day event so that's
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: yeah I mean, just just rat I'll just rattle it off. I'm not going to say what the events are. It'll take too long. But starting with Storm Field Day, Mankato, Minnesota, Amherst, Ohio, Maplewood, Minnesota, Fargo, North Dakota, Story City, Iowa, Amherst, New York, Concord, New Hampshire, Taylor, PA, Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Greenfield, Wisconsin, Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Shakopee, Minnesota, Louisville, Kentucky, and Tampa, Florida.
Jordan Smith: Tampa, Florida is a weird one to end on, but that's the NALP show.
RICK JAMES: yeah
The SnowJobs Podcast: And possibly, possibly Albany, New York.
Jordan Smith: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Maybe so.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Possibly, possibly.
RICK JAMES: Oh.
Jordan Smith: Maybe so.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Keep May open.
Jordan Smith: Let's go.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Keep May open on the calendar.
Jordan Smith: All right.
The SnowJobs Podcast: ah ah
Jordan Smith: We'll keep it in mind. and and that And what I just rattled off, that's the Phantom Launch Tour from now until end of November. That doesn't count anything in December, January, or beyond.
The SnowJobs Podcast: That's awesome. Cool.
Jordan Smith: So yes, I agree. I think within three to four hours of almost anyone, anyone east of the Mississippi or near the Mississippi, if you're if you're west, you're kind of out of luck, unfortunately.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, sorry, Colorado.
Jordan Smith: it's It's tough out there. There's just not enough guys.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah. Well, they don't get any snow anymore anyway.
Jordan Smith: Yeah, right.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Apparently, that's what I heard.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Let's hope that's changing because that was a bad winter for those guys out there.
Jordan Smith: That was tough.
RICK JAMES: You know, terrible.
The SnowJobs Podcast: the
Jordan Smith: Yeah, it was tough.
The SnowJobs Podcast: I feel horrible for them.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: Hey, if anyone out there is in in Denver or Salt Lake City and you want to throw an event, probably not this year we're full, but for next year, there are a lot of snow guys out there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, let us know.
Jordan Smith: we just
RICK JAMES: Montana? Montana? Idaho?
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, reach out.
Jordan Smith: Montana, Idaho would be great. Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: No, not Montana or Idaho, because then my wife would force me to bring her. Because those are two of the states. so She's got that state list.
Jordan Smith: Oh, boy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: She's got to check off.
Jordan Smith: oh boy.
The SnowJobs Podcast: She'd make me bring her.
Jordan Smith: So...
The SnowJobs Podcast: But yeah, yeah, anybody out in Colorado or Utah you want to throw an event, definitely let us know, and we can definitely help with promoting it and ah and getting people to go to it, that's for sure.
Jordan Smith: That's right.
RICK JAMES: I know.
Jordan Smith: So would I, it's beautiful out there.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, hell yeah, we'll go.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
Jordan Smith: It's almost, it's almost a shame we don't have more events out West because it is just beautiful.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Sweet.
RICK JAMES: don't know. There's nothing ever out there.
Jordan Smith: Yeah. It's just beautiful, but that's pretty much what I got boys.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Should have, uh,
Jordan Smith: I'm excited for the event. I'm excited to see you guys excited to see all my friends excited to see what the teams all got put together. And, and again, it's all in the name of raising the bar, setting that future standard and it'll be, it'll be a good time.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Absolutely.
RICK JAMES: Yeah.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It's always a good time.
RICK JAMES: Cool.
The SnowJobs Podcast: It gets better every year. I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm not really one that looks forward to the speech as much, but that that is really, i think you're hitting the nail on the head with the, you know, the you and Bob kicking it back and forth on on your two different types of companies because that's pretty much,
The SnowJobs Podcast: everything because like you said residential that's kind of a different ball game but anybody's doing commercial snow you're either in that 99th percentile or you're in that one percent unicorn percentile and it's you know so you got something for everybody basically that's great i love it i'm looking forward to it all right anything else boys
Jordan Smith: Yeah, should be. Should all be there. I'm good.
RICK JAMES: I don't think so. I think we're good.
The SnowJobs Podcast: all right then we'll we'll wrap it there thanks for coming on jordan looking forward to it as always
Jordan Smith: Yeah, thanks for having me, guys. We'll see you.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Yeah, we'll see you couple days. All right, gang, we'll wrap it there. That'll do it. Episode 180 of the Snow Jaws podcast. Main show is in the books. Thanks again to Jordan for coming on, giving us the whole rundown of the day.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Everybody, if you're going, we'll see you out there. Me and Jeremy will both be there. Oh, you know, we got to make one more announcement, and we'll see who's listening till the very end.
RICK JAMES: Yep.
The SnowJobs Podcast: wanted You want to make the announcement, Jay, the winner of the the Snow Jaws luggage?
RICK JAMES: Oh, yeah, the winner of the June contest we had going on is going to Robert Young. Robert Young.
The SnowJobs Podcast: So we can bring that to we can bring that to him from patty salmon for Patty Day because he goes to that every year. He's a local to Massachusetts.
RICK JAMES: just ship it to him. I'm not going to carry two suitcases.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, you can ship it too.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Well, all right. I mean, I still have a spare here too. I could i could get him.
RICK JAMES: whatever.
The SnowJobs Podcast: All right, cool. So, Robert Young, congratulations. You have won the Snow Jobs OGO carry-on. It's awesome. Very cool. All right. Well, then now we will wrap it. Episode 180 is in the books. Everybody, if you're going to Storm Day, we'll see you out there. Have safe travels. Everybody else, have a great week.
The SnowJobs Podcast: Everybody be safe out there. Keep pushing.
