Join us in April for the Upper Midwest Auto Recyclers Convention & Trade Show!
Hosted by Badger Motors in Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Click here for registration and event information, or you can download the event flier.
Good morning Auto Recyclers,
Today I am writing from Lake of the Ozarks. Our family has been coming here for 30 years or more. It is my Happy Place and to us the greatest place on earth. In the last couple years, I am learning how to do a few things remotely. If you haven't done this yet, make it a goal for 2025.
What a year we have all been through. Last year on January 24th we lost our brother Steven Swift. It is very hard losing a sibling and has been tough on our entire family. My sisters, and all of our kids still can't believe it will almost be a year. It was the first Christmas without him, and a lot of firsts for his 2 boys. He was not only my brother, but we also worked side by side for the last 30 years. We miss his humor and his being at the business wearing many hats as we all do. Hard to come up with goals and what we need to do to increase sales and work on the business, but we seem to go on every day. Time doesn't stop and now, BOOM, a year later.
So now here comes 2025. We will have a new president, and many things are going to change. Like the industry changing and how to adapt to change. Our business has gone from 15 employees and 12-acre facility to now 5 employees and 1 acre of ground. Our goals are to increase sales and try to reach out to more customers. Sounds easy, but we will all have to do our part, with only 5 of us. As a Team we are going to sit down to see what goals that all of us need to try to accomplish.
One of our employees works remote from the Philippines. Her name is Catherine, and she works for Hazer Staffing. If you are looking for a salesperson, please look into this. The person will come trained on your YMS and for a few months down the road you will have the person used to how you do things at your facility. They will answer the phone, make sales, do callbacks just become part of the team and we recommend it for sure. My sister Susan does eCommerce and all of the title work. Additionally, I know we want to increase sales on eCommerce. Jim is our counter salesperson on site, and he has been with us for over 30 years, and is working on his sales skills and working on getting more familiar with the Checkmate system. Christian is our warehouse, parts puller, and delivery person. His goal for 2025 get to work earlier to help get the day started. And then we have Ken. Ken is part time comes in and does the QuickBooks. We are going to work more together to watch the money and bills etc. My brother Steve did all of this, so I can tell you I have learned more about QuickBooks. Not fun I can assure you, so thank goodness we have Ken.
So, like I said from the beginning: Never enough time. Time doesn't stop and we as Auto Recyclers get a lot of stuff thrown at us every day. So, for 2025, make goals, make them happen and try to enjoy some time in and out of the business.
Hope for the Best in 2025. Make some goals. Hope for a Great 2025!
Living the Dream in Auto Recycling,
Mike Swift
Welcome to 2025, a whole new year. I want to wish you all A HAPPY NEW YEAR. I am looking forward to the new changes we will all experience this year.
We are in the process of planning a new style Upper Midwest Recyclers Convention and Trade Show. The date is April 26th, 2025. It will be held at Badger Motors in Wis. Rapids. There will be training sessions led by the people that actually do the job. So, if you have dismantlers, salespeople, yard people, exec you can bring your employees to learn some new ideas and maybe share some ideas you might do at your yard. We will have trade venders available to show the new concepts in auto recycling. Seminars about new concepts being taught across the country. Food trucks on the grounds and some fun, too. Also the price will be very reasonable so bring your whole crew. We will be having a stock car race Saturday night at Golden Sands Raceway. If your company sponsors racers you can bring a car to race. There will be a Saturday night dinner held at the racetrack. All tier 1 salvage dealers will be invited to attend so you will be able to meet other dealers from WI and MN. This will be a good time to talk to your fellow salvagers and invite them to this event.
The event flyers will be sent out in January so watch for them and get registered. It will be a fantastic time to get together with your recycling friends.
Sincerely your secretary,
Sandy Dumke
I think for many, 2024 will go down as a challenging year with few bright spots. The economic condition around the globe is weak and geopolitical squabbles keep escalading. It's hard to be much of an optimist. But in these moments, I'm reminded of those people in my life with chronic pain. They could easily choose to focus on the negative, but in each case, they are driven by enjoying the little moments of happiness they come across each day. Let this time of year not come and go without each of us taking some time to set off the everyday burdens and fears and instead focus on our moments of happiness that come to us through our families, friends, and faith. It's been said, the darkest nights can bring about the brightest stars.
I expect slight improvements in the ferrous market as mills look to a fresh start. Snow and cold times are our friends as the supply struggles to find its way to market. Aluminum has remained steady despite coppers decline. I don't expect to see much from red metals until the Asian markets work out tariff implications with the next administration.
Current Ferrous Pricing:
Current Non-Ferrous Indications (12/20)
