Cleaning Made Simple, Safer & Cheaper

Supersan Sanitizer 1 Gal 2/Ct (Item 26603)

How important is it to use proper cleaning supplies in your establishment? Maintaining a clean, sanitary environment is crucial for your workplace! In no way does a “gross” store equate to more gross profit for you either. In fact 70% of patrons won’t come back to an unclean store, and 94% of that being based off of restroom cleanliness. Basic cleaning skills are simply not enough in order to comply with OSHA food safety requirements. That doesn’t mean it can’t be a walk in the park for you to keep your business up to par with current food safety regulations. Removing complexity from your daily tasks and simplifying them is exactly what Southwest Traders and SSDC sought out to do. A defined program was built to meet your needs, with simplicity in mind. This allows you to focus on customers, spending less time worrying about OSHA compliance. We’d teamed up with Lenell Moran (an expert with SSDC) and David DeMatteis (our Southwest Traders regional sales leader) in order to research what cleaning supplies stores are using and why. We learned that stores steer clear from commercial-grade cleaning supplies, and instead stick with products such as Fabuloso, Clorox Bleach, Dawn Dish Soap, Windex, 409, and Purell hand soap- but why? David DeMatteis explained, ”Stores are looking for the best priced chemicals; low cost is what they are looking for above all other things”. We wanted all the answers so we could understand what the true benefit of using commercial-grade chemicals is, versus picking up items from the dollar store. While we agree that price is always a factor, understanding your daily cleaning cost is a priority! We challenge you to factor in all the cleaning supplies you use on a monthly basis to identify your daily cleaning expenses.

SSDC Clinging Degreaser 4/1 Qt (Item 26616)

What is the benefit of using a commercial-grade chemicals vs. your everyday household cleaning supplies?

The products are safer and easier to use, keeping your employees safe and labor cost down. Brands such as 409 and Windex will damage or etch into Taylor machines and other surfaces over time. SSDC chemicals cause no damage to your facility, and are also
registered with the National Floor Safety Institute! The commercial-grade chemicals are also heavily concentrated so the product lasts much longer than the competitors’. All around, SSDC’s cleaning chemicals are the best products for the job!

What do customers know about chemicals and back of store products?

A lot of our customers are not as educated as they should be, with 9 out of 10 stores not realizing they are supposed to wash, rinse, and sanitize per OSHA food safety regulations.

What do stores think about the price of commercial grade chemicals? Is the Price Worth It?

Multisheen RTU Glass & Multi Surface Cleaner 1 Lt – 12/Ct (Item 26606)

Stores are under the belief that commercial grade chemicals are far more expensive then your everyday household cleaning supplies, which is far from the truth. The up-front cost is more, however, because the product is highly concentrated it lasts much longer than household cleaning supplies. For example, a SSDC Super Rave Dish Detergent 1-gallon jug is diluted with 1/oz per 10 gallons of water. The product fills 128 sinks! Commonly used products, such as Dawn Dish Soap don’t compare in price nor do they provide portion control solutions. The price is worth it; in fact, commercial-grade chemicals not only clean better and faster, they also amount to only $3/day while conquering every food safety requirement. Your chemicals include floor cleaner, sanitizer, restroom cleaner, hand soap, and wallpaper-safe window cleaner. On top of that, the window cleaner is also a multi-surface cleaner that will not damage surfaces unlike products with ammonia.

What is the importance of portion control?

Latex Glove Large Powdered 100 Ct (Item 21303)

At home its easy to overload on Dawn dish soap, spray more 409, or use more bleach then needed when cleaning. When cleaning your store you MUST refrain from this over-the-top approach. Trying to gauge that can be tough. That is why our Southwest Traders SSDC program removes the calculating from the equation. With portion control dispensers, hand soap dispensers, free sanitizer test strips, spray bottles, bucket with MSDS information labeled on it, a sanitizer test strip holder and sanitizer test strips. This is $350 worth of equipment free of charge which also includes installation and lifetime servicing. ($350 starter kit located in the picture to the right)

What do customers think when switching to SSDC commercial grade chemicals?

The employees using the products love that they are easier to use, quicker with portion control applicators and don’t have the harmful fumes other chemicals have like Clorox Bleach. Stores are excited to use only 1 chemical for the bathroom versus 4-5 different products to get a mediocre clean. Customers are seeing the product is more cost effective in the long run and they don’t worry about having everything needed to fulfill OSHA food safety requirements. They find value in the fact SSDC labels products with MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) information as well as knowing that Southwest Traders has those on file and receiving them is only a phone call or email away. Not to mention your products are delivered to your store with your normal delivery saving time and money.

Are SSDC commercial grade chemicals safer?

Pvc Mb Glove Vinyl Medium 100/Ct (Item 21301)

Absolutely! They have no chemical scent, so instead of your customers smelling cleaning supplies they will be able to catch the aroma of the products you’re selling. If SSDC chemicals are mixed together they are not dangerous, unlike other chemicals. For example, when bleach is mixed with anything else or alone are extremely toxic not to mention the strong chemical scent. SSDC products have no ammonia that won’t damage plexi glass unlike Windex and other glass cleaners. Hands down SSDC chemicals are MUCH safer then your household cleaning chemicals. Products manufactured by common, inexpensive brands (including: Clorox, Fabuloso, 409, Windex, Walmart Great Value Brand, Spic & Span, and Simple Green) contain dangerous, harmful chemicals.

For more information about corrosive/toxic chemicals, visit the following links:

http://www.ewg.org/cleaners/hallofshame/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/worst-household-cleaners-cleaning-products_n_1871420.html

Is their a core item that would fulfill all cleaning needs in a store? If not what is your recommended item if they chose one?

For most stores between the SSDC floor cleaner and multi-purpose glass cleaner. However, in order to meet OSHA requirements you must have sanitizer and hand soap in order to open your store doors.

What you should be aware of?

OSHA Is Cracking Down!

Global harmonization is big across the world OSHA is on a mission to make more money by fining you $200 per spray bottle if you are missing the required MSDS sheets.

Excellent Neutral CA 2oz 128/ct (Item 26604)

Your Liability

If your employees accidentally get a chemical in their eye and you have no MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) its a HUGE liability issue.

Return Business – Cleanliness is #1 For Your Customers!

“70.5% of patron’s never return after noticing unclean conditions in a restaurant.”

– Source – Strategic Foodservice Solutions and NRN, 1999

“94% of consumers claim that restroom cleanliness has a substantial influence on their confidence in a restaurant’s food safety.”

– Source – “Food Safety Study” performed by Restaurants and Institutions, August 1998

Corrosive/Toxic Chemicals

http://www.ewg.org/cleaners/hallofshame/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/worst-household-cleaners-cleaning-products_n_1871420.html

Clorox Bleach
Fabuloso
409
Windex
Walmart Great Value Brand Chemicals
Spic & Span
Simple Green

Ask Yourself the Following Questions:

Do you know what your chemical cost is in your store? Remember to factor in your transportation cost when buying these supplies as well.
Do you know what products you MUST have in your store at all times to comply with OSHA regulations?
Do you have MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for all chemicals used in your store?
Are you using chemicals that are corrosive resulting in damages to your equipment and harmful fumes to you and your employees?

Email Safety To Armor Yourself

***Always keep in mind that email is not private, so be aware of what you send, attachments you open, links that you click on!***

Be Professional

Make sure to use proper grammar and always spell check before sending
Respond to emails in a timely fashion; generally the professional rule of thumb is to respond within one business day
Always read the message from a sender in its entirety before responding
Avoid typing in all capital letters
Before clicking on send, always give your message one final glance-over
Make sure to have descriptive, yet simple subject lines
Use only your Southwest Traders email address for business communication
Avoid hitting “Reply to All” when responding to email

Signature Lines

Use artwork that can be seen below in my signature
No clipart

Proper Use of Carbon Copy (CC) and Blind Carbon Copy (BCC)

When copying recipients on an email, ensure the message concerns them
Use BCC sparingly and if the topic is that sensitive, consider taking the conversation off-line either in person or over the telephone

When to Forward

Before you forward a message, ensure it is relevant to the recipient and has a purpose
Never forward confidential information
Never forward internal, proprietary communication to external or unauthorized recipients outside the company
Never forward “chain” emails

Helpful Hints

Always keep in mind that email is *not* private, so be aware of what you send, attachments you open, links you click on!
Email is not always appropriate, sometimes a face-to-face or phone discussion is needed and/or required.

Perfected After-Hour Deliveries

Key Drop Deliveries

Wanting a change from your everyday go, go, go lifestyle? Do you need a breath of fresh air and peace of mind? We know the feeling! That’s how we know that, with your delivery ready for you night-time-truck-accidents before your day begins, it’ll bring a smile to your face. Whatever your situation, let’s face it: deliveries during your normal store hours can be a colossal nightmare. Stacking a hectic schedule of checking-in orders onto your top priority (your customers) gets old quickly. That is why we want you to know about our after-hours service, Key Drop Deliveries.

What is an after hours store delivery?

These are deliveries made after your store’s hours of operation, allowing you to focus on what’s important; brightening your customers’ day! We’ve all been there; trying to check-in deliveries with a growing line of valued customers, creating a stressful situation for all. While you and your consumers sleep, we keep our wheels turning like clock-work and to guarantee a swift delivery.

What is the walk-through process of a key drop delivery?

Your store hours will be collected, along with other pertinent store information. After-hour delivery windows are then established during your non-business hours. A copy of the store key must then be provided to our customer service team, or provided to the driver during a regular delivery. After the key is slotted, your deliveries will be made after-hours along with your invoice attached. The driver will check off each item at the time of your delivery, crediting any non-received items immediately so you are not charged. Though very rare,
mistakes can occur and when they do we fix them immediately.

Reinventing the delivery wheel

We understand the struggles you face daily as a store owner. This is why we are trail blazers, leading the way with top-quality services in order to make your life easier. Let us concentrate on what we do best, allowing you to grow your business with no added worries. We won’t stop pursuing what our customers want, as long as they promise to continue sharing that information.

Why we are the best?

For over 30 years and thousands of customers, we continue to improve our key drop deliveries. We believe in constant engagement with our customers, in order to gain an understanding for their needs. This knowledge alone has brought us to the forefront of our industry. We are at the top of our game because we choose not only to hear our customers’ feedback, but to implement their wants and needs. We are the best because our customers made us the best.

Diary of a Cloud User

Southwest Traders

We recently sat down with Danny Ruckel, IT Director at Southwest Traders, to ask about his experience moving to the Zumasys Cloud.

Tell us about your company.

Southwest Traders is a regional food distributor and restaurant supplier for the southwestern United States, based in Temecula, CA. Our supply network spans 17 states west of the I-35 corridor, with distribution centers in Temecula, Stockton, Fresno, Denver, and Dallas. We’re 325 people strong and have been in business since 1977.

My job at Southwest Traders consists of managing IT across the entire enterprise. We’re a 24×7 operation, and our IT has to be able to keep up. Our mission as a company is to develop solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations, and IT plays a pivotal role in our ability to deliver on that mission.

How important is technology to your business?

Technology, and IT in particular, is vital to our business. Customers want to provide a high level of service to their vendors, and they expect the same from us. Our ability to print labels and ship orders relies heavily on the availability of our technology and our data.

Our Mark Information System ERP runs our entire business: everything from inventory control and warehouse management to finance and purchasing. From the moment a pick release is received from a customer to when the payloads within that release are translated SWT Front Building into an order, our ERP system manages the whole process—often running several orders at one time. And with the web service tools at our disposal, we can generate and receive orders in a variety of formats that seamlessly integrate with our customers’ systems.

Mobility is huge for us. Our distribution network is built on remote offices with mobile devices for warehouse management and inventory control. We’re using both Motorola 9090 scanners as well as commodity tablets that allow our teams to perform order fulfillment functions efficiently while improving data accuracy.

Prior to moving to the cloud, what were your objections to/perceptions of cloud computing?

For me, cloud computing seemed like a solution that just didn’t fit with our business model. We met with a number of different cloud providers to try and design a virtual environment in a collocated data center. After talking with these providers, I felt that the expense was prohibitive, and I wasn’t confident that any of the vendors really understood the needs of my business.

I had come very close to signing with another cloud provider for colocation. They would provide the space, the HVAC and the data line, but I would have had to pay for and provide my own equipment. On top of that, they weren’t very forthright in sharing information, including what their redundant systems were like or what my bandwidth charges would be for data. That level of service was just inadequate for what our business needs were.

Why did you decide to move your data and applications to the Zumasys Cloud?

With our old system, we were constantly monitoring our storage and server components. The equipment was close to 10 years old, so components were failing all the time. It was expensive to keep on its feet, and I knew I was going to have to do something. I was looking into the cost of investing in a new server and new storage, and it did not look pretty. Just to get a single IBM Power Series 7 server with the new storage would have cost north of $100K—not including the professional services to install it.

The other problem was maintenance. I was having daily concerns about whether I was going to come in to work and find our server dead on arrival. There are four employees in our IT department, and we did not have the bandwidth to handle that kind of instability.

Finding Zumasys bordered on a miracle. In 2013, I attended my first Mark user group event. Dave McCary from Zumasys approached me, and after learning about our needs, he seemed convinced that Zumasys had a solution for me. He provided a proposal that made my jaw hit the floor. I was excited—almost giddy—at the prospect of finally being able to get into the cloud with Zumasys. I just couldn’t believe that it would be possible.

In the number of conversations that I had with Dave and the other technical staff at Zumasys, they showed me how the technologies in the Zumasys cloud aligned perfectly with ours. They really brought me to the point where I was confident that this was a good solution for us. Being able to move into a managed, virtual data center environment with an SLA that would make me and my customers happy was a very exciting prospect.

How has moving to the Zumasys Cloud impacted your business?

Today, both our ERP solution and our web services are entirely run out of the Zumasys cloud in the SUPERNAP data center. And since we started with Zumasys in June 2014, I’ve been able to sleep a little bit better at night. Our employees have noted significantly improved throughput, and the performance of the solution is wonderful.

I love the pay-per-use model because it puts more cash in my pocket. I’m paying for storage used and my spot in the data center, plus an hourly support cost per month. It is a far cry from the $100K I would have spent just to refresh our server.

Then there’s the improved availability of the Zumasys solution. We have customers that cannot tolerate us being offline for more than four hours—ever. If our old infrastructure had experienced an outage that caused us to be offline for more than that period of time, it would have seriously compromised our relationship with our customers and endangered our business. With Zumasys, we no longer have to worry about downtime, and we can give our customers the SLAs they need to trust us and grow their business with us.