[philmont] What's with the supply division

Thank you.

Two key points -

    Stuff required for the program that only National supply can or will
produce - uniform parts, program materials, etc are neglected.

    Stuff required for a serious outdoor program aren't available through
your local Scout Shop - witness TOTT

Who is their market and what is their mission? It doesn't seem to be
program support.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: philmont@troop47.com [mailto:philmont@troop47.com]On Behalf Of
SBHSN@aol.com
  Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 7:24 AM
  To: philmont List Member
  Subject: [philmont] What's with the supply division

  Jim,

  Perhaps this is where you wanted your conversation to lead:

  It seems that there were some changes in the marketing focus sometime in
2006. Instead of a once yearly catalog, with price changes occurring on
January 1, NS decided beginning this year to have more frequent but smaller
catalogs. Less cost to mail, but it does give steady work to a graphics
designer.

  The first two catalogs this year had no uniform parts or prices shown, nor
any literature. (Hello, the handbooks are the program.) It seems like the
catalogs are mostly for temporary and seasonal items.

  For the Cubs, NS created Den Meetings In A Box. OK, but at $37.50, what if
the den doesn't have ten boys attending? (I feel sorry for the
National-owned shops: they get a set quantity shipped automatically.)

  But to me, it's not the new items NS is coming up with. It's the
back-orders and service levels. They were out of tan youth medium shirts
for a month. They still haven't filled back-orders on adult poly-cotton
men's shirts and blouses. Webelos neckerchiefs ordered in February weren't
sent until mid-May. (Apparently there was a quality-control issue.)
Fortunately this didn't affect handbooks.

  Due to a new computer system installed in April, orders to the shops were
taking five weeks during May instead of the usual 10 days.

  In short, attention is being diverted from the core items needed to run a
Scouting program. They hired a new clothing buyer; maybe things will
improve.

  And have you ever looked at the Philmont Trading Post? I haven't seen any
items from National Supply there. What does that tell you?

  The Masked Manager

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