P U B L I S H E D F O R T H E P E O P L E O F C R A N E S U P P LY
A message from Tom Frazer, President of Crane Supply
Welco m e t o 2 0 0 6 ! 2005 was an amazing year. As of mid-December, we were on track to ring up the following successes: n Core products to core segments, up $18.9 million n Target accounts, up $14.2 million n Crane manufactured valves, up $750,000 n E-commerce sales growth, up $3.3 million That is truly remarkable, and we have only been able to accomplish this by each and every one of us “thinking like a growth company.” Now, here are our goals for 2006: n Core products to core segments up $12 million n Target accounts up $10 million n Crane manufactured valves up $3 million n E-commerce sales growth up $2.5 million In 2005, our parent company celebrated its 150th year in business, and in 2006 the celebrations will keep on rolling as we at Crane Supply commemorate our 100th anniversary. We’re saying goodbye to 2005 and hello to 2006 with this special double-issue of The Crane Report.
We’ll profile our top three branches for most improved profitable sales growth (Hamilton, Toronto and Montreal), and meet the people who are leading the way. n You’ll learn a little about the history of Crane. n You’ll meet some of Crane Supply’s veterans, people who helped build this company. n You’ll meet some new members of the Crane Supply team, who help us continue to become a growth-focused sales organization. n We interview Derek McGee of Sayers and Associates, one of our key customers, and find out what Crane Supply is doing right. And much, much more… This is an exciting time to be part of Crane Supply, and I want to thank you all for making it happen. n
I wish you and your families a safe and happy 2006.
D e ar fellow Crane e mploye es ,
I hope you have found our 150th anniversary year to be informative and inspiring, as I have. We also now understand what we share as employees of this enterprise, including timeless values from our founder. These values have been the underpinning of our success, and in today’s world, our values are more important than ever before.
“everyone everywhere,” because we believe that our success lies in employees throughout our company being fully committed to continuous improvement, knowledgeable about our goals, and eager to contribute to our progress.
Now we look forward to the years after 150. At the July presidents meeting, our guest speaker, The Reverend Professor Peter Gomes of Memorial Chapel at Harvard University, gave us some valuable advice for the years ahead. Quoting Charles William Elliott on the occasion of Harvard’s 250th anniversary in 1886, Professor Gomes reminded us that “there is nothing more dangerous than a long and glorious past.” How true this is also for Crane. Our success in the past does not secure our future. We cannot rest on our accomplishments.
Our challenges may be even more difficult today than in days past, the opportunities more demanding. But we, too, must seize the opportunities that are right for us, and continue to improve what we do, and how we do it, building a better Crane Co., every day.
Remember that the history we celebrate was once our predecessors’ tomorrow. Those who came before us at Crane were never content with things as they were; they found and seized opportunities, and they worked diligently to create the proud history that we now celebrate. Crane’s success has always come from its good people, and we realize that you, more than any other factor, are the key to our continued achievement. When we talk about our future, we say
Professor Gomes also gave our company a birthday wish, in words that stand as a challenge to each and every one of us: “May your future be worthy of your past.” We, and those who follow us, will have much more to be proud of if we remember that our best days are ahead of us. Each of us, everywhere, must take advantage of the bright future that awaits. Sincerely,
Eric Fast President and chief executive officer, Crane Co.