Billtrust makes online bill payment easy
Billtrust, a leading provider of outsourced billing services, announced the release of its advanced eipp (Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment) product, Invoice Gateway. The new release features an improved user interface and more flexible payment options for both the biller and the bill recipient.
Online bill presentment and payment has undergone significant growth in recent years. In 2001, there were 60 million bills paid electronically. In 2008, the number has grown to a staggering 5 billion, according to The Tower Group. The release of Invoice Gateway will help B2B companies capitalize and accelerate this trend.
Invoice Gateway is designed to allow bill recipients to visit an online site that contains the branding of the biller where they can view, research, print, download and pay their bills. The benefit to the biller includes reduced bill delivery costs, improved days sales outstanding, reduced costs to process payments and increased customer satisfaction.
The changes to Invoice Gateway were driven by research Billtrust conducted among its customer base, along with input from their customer advisory council.
“Our goal with this release is to focus on areas that would drive increased usage of Invoice Gateway and further accelerate the growth we have seen in online payment,” said Mitch Rose, vice president-marketing at Billtrust. “The changes make it easier than ever for our customers’ customers to manage their billing documents and pay online.”
Billtrust distributes billing documents via a variety of channels, including U.S. mail, e-mail, fax and internet. They have successfully helped their customers increase electronic billing and have many customers who are now distributing more than 60% of their bills electronically. Billtrust was recently recognized by Plant-a-Tree USA™ with the Great Green Business award for their ability to help companies go paperless.
For details, visit www.billtrust.com.
Capitol Supplies celebrates 80th anniversary
Capitol Supplies, a locally owned and operated hvac supply house, celebrated its 80th anniversary by treating their customers to a tasty lunch of hand carved, 10-ounce New York strips. More than 150 customers attended the luncheon.
Vendor representatives were on hand from Johns-Manville, Atco/Masterfit, Hart & Cooley and Allied Air Enterprises. The event was a great opportunity for customers to kick back and enjoy some good fellowship. The day was capped by the drawing of door prizes, with the grand prize a $500 Visa gift card.
The luncheon was handled entirely in-house, with owner Steve Kolbus manning the grille and owner Ted Kolbus helping to serve the food. “We have several customer appreciation cookouts throughout the year, but we wanted to do something special to thank our customers for their 80 years of support,” said Ted Kolbus.
Brothers Ted and Steve are the third generation of the Kolbus family to lead the 80-year old company. Founded in 1928, the company continues to serve the central Indiana hvac market.
“The great thing about the hvac industry is that relationships and service still mean something to our customers,” Ted added.
Consolidated Supply Co. opens 18th location
Located in Pacific, Wash., and serving the South Puget Sound region, Consolidated Supply’s new 20,000-square-foot warehouse is under the leadership of industry veteran Garth Hatfield. Supplying both plumbing and hydronic heating supplies, the Pacific location also boasts a 2,500-square-foot designer plumbing showroom, The Fixture Gallery.
A grand opening event was held September 17, complete with Southern-style barbecue, a dessert buffet and a generous list of door prizes, including a spa weekend for two and Seattle Seahawk tickets. All of the guests received a long-sleeved shirt to commemorate the occasion.
Consolidated Supply Co. has been a Northwest institution for 80 years. With seven Washington State locations, six locations in their home state of Oregon, five Idaho locations and one location in Hawaii, they are 320 employees strong.
Additional information can be found at www.consolidatedsupply.com and www.thefixturegallery.com.
Ferguson opens showroom in Alexandria, Va.
Ferguson announce the opening of their new 10,000-square-foot showroom in Alexandria, Va. The showroom has a very knowledgeable staff, offers customers the latest products in the plumbing, lighting, cabinetry and fireplace industries and includes fully functional displays.
Ferguson’s showrooms are designed with homeowners, plumbers, builders, remodelers and designers in mind and offer a vast selection of plumbing products and fixtures from today’s most recognized manufacturers.
“Ferguson can now offer the builder or remodeler the ability to send their customers to our showroom to select not only plumbing fixtures but also lighting, appliances, cabinets and fireplaces,” said showroom manager Jean Bell. “Our mission is to help ease the fear of the unfamiliar. We are dedicated to excellence, with compassion and concern for every project. Our ultimate objective is to bestow value, quality and durability that will be everlasting.”
Highly trained consultants are available to help customers create personalized, custom looks in their homes. Consultations are encouraged and can be scheduled by calling the showroom at 703/658-1000.
For details, visit www.ferguson.com.
Gerber expands nationwide distribution
Gerber Plumbing Fixtures llc plans to expand its plumbing fixture distribution in the last quarter of 2008, thus illustrating the company’s commitment to the wholesale distribution channel.
Gerber’s Western Distribution Center will double in size, and the product profile will also be expanded. To increase the company’s capability to serve the eastern U.S. and Canada, it is adding 160,000 square feet of space in the form of the new Eastern Distribution Center. This state-of-the-art, full-service center will feature complete product profiles, while maintaining will-call capabilities.
Gerber’s Central Distribution Center will be relocated to the current 270,000-square-foot facility in Woodridge, Ill., which will also house a full-service lab for product testing, certification and quality assurance and control.
As a result of these expansion activities, operations at the Kokomo, Ind., location ceased on November 1. In order to create a seamless transition during the expansion, each facility will be capable of the company’s full range of shopping options: single ship, pallet quantities, ltl and full truckload orders.
Visit www.gerberonline.com or call 630/754-0278 to learn more.
Nu-Way opens new Michigan showroom
Nu-Way Kitchen & Bath celebrated the grand opening of its kitchen and bath cabinetry showroom at its Utica location on September 25. The celebration featured clinics and informative meetings with vendor representatives. Experienced, knowledgeable associates answered customers’ questions about cabinetry and remodeling.
Nu-Way has three certified designers on staff to create the perfect kitchen or bath. Their associates will create, design and optimize a customer’s floor plan, suggest the finest cabinetry and arrange for an efficient, timely installation.
The showroom features state of the art cabinetry by Starmark and HomeCrest to fit any budget, with five kitchen displays, one bar and home entertainment center and an office area.
Larry Merritt, Nu-Way president, said, “Nu-Way believes in Michigan and its people. Last year we opened a Birmingham showroom, and this year we continue to expand with the opening of our cabinetry showroom in Utica. For either a remodel or a new home, Nu-Way is the only place to shop for all your kitchen and bath needs.”
Titan expands Lumberton facility
Earlier this year, Titan Flow Control opened a new warehouse and plant facility in Lumberton, N.C. The 80,000-square-foot facility, located on seven acres, has allowed Titan to expand their manufacturing, fabrication and testing of strainers, check valves and related industrial flow control products.
Titan expanded their screen manufacturing capabilities and installed a new paint booth, along with extensive testing and quality control systems and procedures. A significant addition to their quality control process includes a pmi system that allows instant verification and certification of virtually all non-ferrous materials used in the manufacture and sale of non-ferrous Titan products.
Manufacturing, quality control, sales and support staffs in Lumberton were also expanded. Employees who care about customers and the level of service that they provide is just one of the many things that helps Titan stand out.
The additions and expansion, combined with increased inventory as well as increased staff, allows Titan to continue to provide an unprecedented customer service reputation and repeat growth. The mantras at Titan are “We are easy to do business with” and “Our customers are King.”
For more information, visit www.titanfci.com.
Turbotec to open additional production facility
After scouting through several southern states, the Turbotec site evaluation team chose Hickory, N.C., as the best match to host the 20,000-square-foot expansion at an existing facility for its manufacturing operations.
“Considering the extensive multi-state site selection process executed by Turbotec, we are pleased they decided to locate in Hickory and Catawba County”, said Kitty Barnes, chair of the Catawaba County Board of Commissioners.
Operation of the facility is slated to begin January 2009, initially employing about 25 workers, mainly in manufacturing production. Like the Windsor, Conn., facility, the Hickory operation will institute Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma strategies in their manufacturing processes.
“We are excited to begin our operations in North Carolina, and we feel the workforce available to Turbotec will provide us with the talent required for the realization of our future growth plans,” said Sunil Raina, Turbotec president. “The new location provides Turbotec with the opportunity to better serve our growing customer base, especially in the South. The lower cost business environment was also a critical part of our decision-making process.”
Turbotec, a leader in enhanced heat transfer technology, manufactures a diverse range of high-performance heat exchangers for virtually any space conditioning or refrigeration application in the biomedical, geothermal, water heating and heat pump markets.
For additional information, visit www.turbotecproducts.com.
McJunkin Red Man acquires LaBarge Pipe & Steel
McJunkin Red Man Corp. recently acquired St. Louis-based LaBarge Pipe & Steel Company.
LaBarge Pipe & Steel distributes carbon steel pipe for use in the North American energy infrastructure market. They are one of North America’s largest stocking distributors of large-diameter carbon steel pipe, serving companies in the oil & gas transmission, petrochemical, utility, industrial and construction markets.
LaBarge operates sales offices in St. Louis, Houston, Birmingham, Ala., and Charlotte, N.C., along with a manufacturing facility in Wagoner, Okla.
McJunkin Red Man is one of the nation’s largest distributors of industrial pipe, valves and fittings and related products and services to the energy industry.
For additional information, visit www.mcjunkinredman.com.