Seriously? A blog for a company that makes -- arguably the finest -- gas hoses, gas outlets and quick disconnects? Absolutely. Over the last several months we've been working on some exciting new products while advocating diligently on behalf of consumers in the wonderful world of standards. We are also in the process of implementing a king-kong software package that will tie together all of our business processes to that we can run more efficiently, which will ultimately provide you, the consumer, with improved customer service and (hopefully) shorter lead times. A blog is the perfect place to share our activities (some serious, some not) and opinions (some serious, some not) with our customers and we hope you find the information we post helpful.
As you may already be aware, MB Sturgis is located in the 'burbs just outside of St. Louis. In recent weeks, our fair city has been the epicenter of the possible takeover of the venerable hometown brew, Anheuser Busch, by Belgian beer conglomerate, InBev. News of the negotiations between the respective boards of directors created the sober realization that A-B -- a name that, for locals, is synonymous with St. Louis -- could very well join the exodus of world-class companies that either abandon our modest midwestern city for more cosmopolitan digs, or are devoured by not-so-much larger corporations. Even then, the members of the board aren't really the true owners, they are just the designated representatives of the true owners: the stockholders. Ownership is no longer concentrated in the landmark brick and mortar altar to beer on Pestalozzi Street, but it is, in fact, spread across the globe from the amber waves of grain in Omaha to the fog of Londontown. Not to disparage the capitalist system (my apologies to Mill, Ricardo, et al), but I feel a degree of empathy for the men and women -- those who make the beer, load the trucks, pay the bills, and do all the other specialized jobs a huge company like that has on its payroll -- when the decision to close or move the plant isn't made by people who are there every day, and it is left to those who never set foot in St. Louis, let alone the brewery itself. This is one of the less-desirable side effects of such a complex system.
Needless to say, I am fortunate that I work well outside that sort of system. The owners of Sturgis are in the office every day, and I feel reasonably confident that I can get an audience when necessary. Never before have I worked for a company that, when a brilliant idea strikes, I can immediately ask for permission to do it. As long as it doesn't involve fire, a kegger in the parking lot, or an obscene amount of money, I usually get an affirmative nod. Sturgis is a true family-owned business in the traditional sense. After many years of service, Rosemary worked her way up the ladder, and she now runs the place with her two sons, Brian and Bill. Bill Sr also comes in to help homeowners with their sordid tales of grills and gas troubles. I am a humble employee, taking care of most of the general office functions in addition to software implementation. We employ a small but excellent staff of office personnel who have learned to operate in a reasonably casual but hardworking environment. No, we don't have a stable of perfectly-primped clydesdales, but we do have a trash-can-raiding dog. It's a fun place to work and I'm glad I'm here during this exciting period in Sturgis's growth and development.
