#138 And Feeling Great!

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Gordon Electric Supply made Electrical Wholesaling magazine’s list of top 200 electrical distributors for 2020, coming in at #138 on the list. The 2020 list is comprised of large franchised and independent distributors, created from 2019 data yet updated sometimes to reflect acquisitions and new trends.

According to an analysis from Electrical Wholesaling, the backlog of contractor projects helped the electrical distribution industry sail into 2020 with momentum despite a slowing in the nonresidential construction sector. The disruption caused by COVID-19 also provided trends as responses and data was analyzed for the creation of the list. These trends showed that the resilience and versatility of our industry cannot be underestimated as many distributors rise to the challenge and continue to grow during this time.

As Gordon CEO, Cara Gordon Potter, stated earlier this year in an interview with IMARK Electrical, “Our biggest takeaway is an appreciation of the resilience and team spirit of our workforce and the importance of diversification of our customer base…Once again, I was thankful to be a participant in a strong, essential industry.”

The full list can be accessed on the Electrical Wholesaling website.

“For the times, they are a’ changing”

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These lyrics mean as much today as they did 56 years ago when Bob Dylan wrote them.

Man, it seems like the world got really crazy in less than a year, and we have had to change a lot of our habits really fast!

I think shopping has been the hardest to adapt. We used to be able to take our time, perusing the isles for what we want. Now, we get in, and out as fast as we can, not making contact with anyone.

On-line shopping is now the wave of the world, and we here at Gordon are ready to help! Whether you use your phone or on the office desktop, we’ve got you covered.

If you are reading this, then you are already there! Just do a search for what you are looking for. If you can’t find it, just call and we will help you.

Hopeful soon things will get back to normal and I can get back to the guitar stores to annoy the clerks by playing Stairway to Heaven at full volume.

Remember to stay safe, wash your hands (which is something our parents taught us long ago), social distance, and shop www.gordonelectricsupply.com!!

~Woody

Better than a Lunchable and Bubblegum Rope!

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When I was a kid, one of the popular things to buy with your pocket change was bubblegum. It was a constant favorite throughout my childhood unlike the Beanie Baby fad or Tamagotchi pets that did not last long. My sister and I used to have contests to see who could blow the biggest bubble, and we always bought the bubblegum rope. To the child version of me, the bubblegum rope felt like it contained more than the sticks of gum did. And if I was going to spend the little money I made from a lemonade stand on anything it would be the option that has the most gum–and a Lunchable!

Seeing the improved Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape with 15% more tape (76 ft. now instead of 66 ft.) reminded me of the bubblegum ropes. It felt like this was the bubblegum rope for electricians and contractors, providing a little more than other electrical tapes. But the Scotch tape from 3M has many other notable features to aid you on the job like:

  • 7-mil thick vinyl insulating tape
  • All-weather design performs in ambient temperatures up to 221 degrees Fahrenheit and comfortable in cold weather down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Excellent resistance to abrasion, moisture, alkalies, acids, corrosion and varying weather conditions (including UV exposure)
  • Provides moisture-tight electrical and mechanical protection with minimum bulk
  • Primary electrical insulation for all wire, cable splices and bus applications up to 600 volts
  • Used for protective jacketing on high voltage cable splices and repairs
  • Compatible with solid dielectric cable insulations
  • Compatible with rubber and synthetic splicing compounds
  • Compatible with epoxy and polyurethane resins
  • Inhibits corrosion of electrical conductors
  • For indoor and outdoor applications
  • Used for harnessing and bundling of wires and cable applications
  • UL Listed: UL 510 Standard “Insulating Tape”, Category OANZ, File No. E129200
  • CSA Listed: CSA-C22.2 No.197 “PVC Insulating Tape”, File No. 048769, Class 9052-02

Now all we need is to make sure those Beanie Babies are really the currency of the future like we were told so we can get the Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape!

~Kristine

Company News: Samantha Barone Joins Gordon!

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Samantha Barone has been hired by Gordon Electric Supply as the new e-commerce customer service representative. She will be working with the web sales team in support of our customers by providing helpful information and answering questions.

Samantha’s computer skills will be an asset to the team from her experience working on inventory management at a local train yard as well as the completion of Computer Applications courses. She is excited to join Gordon after learning about “how everyone works together and the opportunities to grow,” Samantha said, adding, “I knew I wanted to be a part of that.” In her free time, she enjoys reading and trying new foods.

A news brief about Samantha’s hiring was published in The Daily Journal on October 28, 2020 and can be read here.

Company News: Gordon Gives Back

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The Core Values Award was introduced to the Gordon team back in March 2020 as a new way to recognize employees who embody the company core values–reliability, compassion, teamwork, resourcefulness–as well as supporting local charities. The Core Values Award winner, announced at our semi-annual meeting, chooses a charity and Gordon Electric Supply will then donate $1000 on behalf of the employee.

The purpose for the Core Values Award, according to Gordon CEO Cara Gordon Potter, “is to recognize an employee’s exceptional contribution and reward them with the honor of supporting our community with a donation from Gordon to the nonprofit of their choice.” Rob Burgess, an e-commerce sales representative, was recognized by coworkers for his dedication to teamwork and to training new employees on company culture as well as systems and procedures. He chose the Iroquois County Animal Rescue (ICARe) to receive the $1000 donation for their commitment to the welfare of local animals.

On Saturday October 24, Rob Burgess and his family joined Sheri Ritchie, human resources manager, to represent Gordon Electric Supply and award ICARe with the donation check in a small ceremony at the shelter in Iroquois, IL. The Burgess family had previously adopted a cat from ICARe, so they have firsthand knowledge of the hard work that the shelter does for the community. They were excited to return and look to give another cat a good home!

Congrats to Rob Burgess and the ICARe team!

If you haven’t been checked, then maybe it’s time!!

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. We see the advertisements and posters so much that they don’t sink in so we don’t think about it until it is too late.

If you have never been tested it’s a good idea to get it done. Early detection is the key!!

Gordon Electric Supply takes cancer very seriously, so to show our support we once again will be selling the pink 3M hard hats and donating a portion of the proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

3M H-713R PINK HARD HAT
Technical Description:
4-Point Ratchet Suspension Type; HDPE Material; Pink Color; ANSI Z87.1 Applicable Standard; Grinding, Electrical, Remediation, Machine Operations, Sanding, Welding, Demolition, Painting, Assembly, Cleaning Application; SERIES H-700 Model

~Woody

All Tied Up

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A friend recently lent me a copy of the book Spark Joy by Marie Kondo, saying it inspired her to organize her house. I was skeptical at first because I can be indecisive at times, which defeats the purpose of the Spark Joy method—determining the objects that bring joy to you and the ones that do not. This method helped my friend to declutter her house and donate a lot of clothing.

I decided to give Spark Joy a shot and see if it made a dent in my autumn cleaning (I missed spring cleaning big time this year). What I found out is that electric cables and cords do not spark joy for me.

Now, hear me out! The electric cables and cords are a necessary and well-done part of my home, but they have gotten out of control in a tangled mess in my office and basement. I could not throw them out, obviously, so I needed to find a solution that brought the joy back, organized the cables, and did not end in a literal spark.

Luckily, I came upon the TY400-120-Anti cable tie from Thomas & Betts by ABB! These antimicrobial-treated cable ties are durable enough to hold a bundle of cables up to 4.02 inches in diameter.

The best part? They are bacteria resistant and eliminate more than 99.9% of common surface bacteria. Now that bonus feature sparked joy within my household! The cables and cords in the basement and office are much neater and make me feel safer as the anti-microbial silver ion additive prevents the growth of bacteria, fungus, and mold.

The TY400-120-Anti Cable Tie from Thomas & Betts by ABB:

  • Is ideal for contamination-sensitive industries like healthcare and food processing
  • UL listed, RoHS and FDA compliant
  • Was tested by an independent lab to determine that it eliminates more than 99.9% of common surface bacteria.
  • Available in packages of 50
  • For indoor application up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Length of 14.6 inches, width of 0.299 INCH, thickness of 0.075 inch.
  • 540 Newtons (120 lbs.) tensile strength rating

~Kristine

Company News: Welcome Tony Mays!

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Gordon Electric Supply is excited to announce the addition of Tony Mays.

Tony, a native of South Wilmington, brings ten years of sales experience to his role as an e-commerce representative. He earned an associate’s degree in cinematography from Columbia College in Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from the University of Phoenix.

Tony’s responsibilities as an e-commerce representative include building relationships with online customers, processing orders, and handling customer service calls. “We are excited to have Tony join the Gordon sales team with his impressive experience and work ethic,” said Dan Korthauer, vice president of sales and marketing.

A news brief celebrating the hiring of Tony was published in the Daily Journal on Saturday September 5, 2020.