November 14, 2024 • 17 mins
Join us for a captivating episode featuring Jim Archard, the dynamic sales director at Wards, who has witnessed firsthand the remarkable journey of the company over four decades. From his start as the youngest member of the team in 1984 to his influential role in Wards' expansion, Jim shares a treasure trove of insights into the company's transformative partnerships and technological evolution. Discover how Wards navigated the decline of US yacht builders and embraced the burgeoning international markets, all while maintaining professionalism and adaptability. Jim's stories are not just a testament to his personal growth but also a reflection of the industry's incredible evolution.
As we explore the unexpectedly thriving sport fish market, we uncover Wards' pivotal role in meeting the complex electrical demands of larger and more advanced boats. Traditional family-owned businesses now seek Wards’ expertise to design state-of-the-art electrical systems, highlighting the shift towards more sophisticated technology. We also celebrate the power of a strong workplace culture, where accountability and mutual support have fostered long-term relationships and a thriving work environment. Join us as we cherish past successes and look forward to nurturing the next generation of talent in this ever-evolving industry.
Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/
Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kristina Hebert (00:08):
Welcome to the Wards Way podcast.
We're here at the FortLauderdale International Boat
(00:36):
Show and I'm here today I'm notgoing to say friend with my
family member, jim Archard.
He's part of our Wards family.
I am Celebrating 40 years yearsand you are our sales director.
Yes, and thank you for beinghere.
So this is a shout out to youranniversary.
Do you believe that it's been40 years?
Jim Archard (00:54):
Of course not.
Okay.
How does that even happen?
Kristina Hebert (00:57):
So tell me, tell me how you started.
How did you start with boards?
And you were young young.
Jim Archard (01:04):
Yeah, when, when I was hired, I believe I was the
youngest person on staff.
I was 20, 25, okay, back in1984 I started it.
Kristina Hebert (01:14):
I was 25 too, so yeah, all right.
Jim Archard (01:17):
so, um, they started, they, they offered me a
position, and, uh, to work atthe sales counter.
Okay, with a guy named Scott.
Kristina Hebert (01:28):
I didn't realize you had worked with him.
Well I, he wasn't here longafter you started.
Jim Archard (01:33):
Yeah, yeah, and Dan .
I can't remember Dan's lastname, but there was a Dan at the
counter 40 years ago.
Kristina Hebert (01:41):
It's a long time ago and now we were still
in a very similar square blockradius to where we are now.
But where were we?
We were on the opposite side630 Southwest Flagler Avenue.
That's where you first started3,500 square feet.
So we still have that building.
That was your first locationright next.
Jim Archard (02:00):
Okay, all right, yeah, and within 10 years, I
think, the lot next door hadbeen purchased and we doubled.
So we went to 7 000 square feet, built some new offices, the
executive offices yes, come onum, you know, continue to add
vendors and manufacturers andand have just continued to grow
(02:22):
this business okay, so I haveone for you.
Kristina Hebert (02:24):
So we started.
How long is her?
You were when you started.
Let me go back when you firststarted.
Is also around the same time.
We had just started reallyformalizing some of our work
with hubble, for example yes,and that's that's.
Jim Archard (02:39):
That's a little bit of a story, because that's what
we're here for oh well, it's alittle bit of a different
business model, if you will.
But in order for us to godirect with Hubble, they put
together a program where we werepurchasing through distribution
for X amount of time and at thetime everybody had
relationships with one another.
(03:00):
So the vendor that we werebuying from knew at that time
that this was going to last fora year or two and then it would
transition over and we would bedirected to manufacture, and we
are now probably their largestUS distributor of marine
electric product in the UnitedStates.
Kristina Hebert (03:16):
And I think that you have a lot to do with
that.
Jim Archard (03:18):
So thank you.
I think I've got a good.
You guys have hired greatpeople to be around me, so it's
not just me, but I've been therefor the duration of all this,
so it's been a good run.
You know, there was years agothere was more motor yachts
being built in the US, yeah, andwe were very from coast to
coast from Delta Marinedirectors, lazara Trinity.
(03:41):
We were involved with all thesebuilders and, like you said,
what's changed's changed.
Well, some of those guys aren'tbuilding boats anymore.
I mean, there's more and moreboats being built in europe and
turkey and in asia, um, and wework on all these boats.
Kristina Hebert (03:57):
so goodness, down the street from us was
hatteras of lauderdale.
Jim Archard (04:01):
Think about that right and then look where we are
today.
Kristina Hebert (04:04):
So so some of the other manufacturers?
How about technology?
I, I, I, you know where I'mgoing to go with this.
I remember you, we and we.
You know, listen, I started in1996, 84.
So you had been there 12 years.
You'd probably seen me as a kid, you know, coming in and out.
Yeah, and, but you know, backthen we didn't have cell phones,
(04:28):
we had pagers.
Jim Archard (04:30):
Yeah, no computers.
Kristina Hebert (04:31):
We didn't have computers.
And then we finally.
I can remember being a teenagerand working to load all of our
inventory.
When we finally went tocomputers, you were there too.
Remember that.
Jim Archard (04:45):
Oh my.
Kristina Hebert (04:45):
God and we were using dos and we only had 16
characters to do our productdescription.
So I look back at some of thoseand it's all like an acronyms,
you don't you know yeah, yeah,we had.
Jim Archard (04:57):
I mean, when I started there, everything was on
, was on cards.
We had rolodex and oh yeah,manually done, and all the
invoices were manually done.
All the accounting was done.
I mean again, you don't eventhink about it.
You're there so long that youalmost forget where you've come
from.
Kristina Hebert (05:13):
It's nice to sit down and yeah, well, that's
the origin of the Ward's Way.
You've been a part of thatgrowth and how we've developed
the Ward's Way and you'reactually a symbol of the Ward's
Way because of doing it rightand taking the time and the
level of professionalism andevolving.
I mean being a sales directorand part of sales with a company
(05:34):
for 40 years is not easy eitheron yourself or on a company.
If it didn't work well and Ifeel like you made that work
well.
You helped us evolve, youhelped us be a part of you know,
changing from pager faxmachines to pagers to cell
phones to now we sit here andI've watched you sit in a
(05:55):
meeting with a laptop and you'relogging in remotely.
Yeah, we've got two in stock.
You need it.
You want me to get it over here.
You know the world is adifferent place.
Jim Archard (06:03):
It is, it is and the internet and the competition
that that's changed has forcedus to kind of evolve with our
business model and how productgets to market.
Kristina Hebert (06:12):
Well, so now let's talk about how else.
What other companies?
I know I've been speaking withlots of different people and
lots of different companies, andyou know we've talked about how
other companies have changed.
For example, somebody I wasspeaking with was talking about
how a lot of small mom and popbusinesses have now become large
corporations.
(06:32):
Do you, do you feel you agreewith that?
Even on the vendor side, do yousee a lot of manufacturers that
we used to work with that arenow part of these big buying?
Jim Archard (06:42):
groups.
Well, even it's maybe not somuch that, as we've seen, some
of the manufacturers all beinggobbled up by the larger
corporations, the Navicos, theBrunswick corporations.
Kristina Hebert (07:01):
And for people who don't know what that is like
what does Navico own?
Well they own or Manit orhowever that verbiage is yeah.
Jim Archard (07:08):
Well, I mean, they own Blue Sea Systems, they own
Mastervolt, they own about eightdifferent major brands that are
sold and installed in theUnited States, and that is now
all under one umbrella, is that?
Kristina Hebert (07:23):
easier or harder.
Jim Archard (07:26):
It's different.
Okay, I'm not going to say it'seasier or harder, it's just
different.
You get a lot more corporatestructure there.
Things don't happen quite asfast, right, but we were able to
get done in two or three weeks.
It takes six months now.
Yeah, it's just, it's justdifferent it's just different.
Kristina Hebert (07:43):
The way the world is a little bit different.
Yeah, now I'm going to segueinto another market, though that
I bet you probably didn't seecoming, but maybe you did the
sport fish boom that we've beena part of oh, wow we've always
been working with merits, sport,fish oh yeah and and obviously
the the local Michael Rybovichand the Jim Smith and LinkedIn
and yep but you have been reallyinvolved in that from an
(08:08):
electrical perspective, thepanel perspective.
You manage our outside salesteam and talk to me about that,
what you've seen, how you'veseen that grow over the years.
Jim Archard (08:17):
Well, these guys have been in business for years,
all privately owned familybusinesses.
As the boats have gotten larger, they've come to us for help
with our expertise in designingand building their electrical
panels and their switchgearfrequency conversion and they've
(08:39):
relied on us and they trust usbecause we've been doing it for
so long.
And as we did something forMerritt and Jim Smith found out,
or Garlington found out, orBayless was like, well, that
looks pretty darn good and itjust evolved and we've been able
to basically do for Merrittwhat we do for some of these
(09:01):
other builders and therelationships are as long as
I've been there, yeah, and I wasgoing to say, and I think it's
been your experience too, that alot of times they were doing
their designs and not in anunprofessional and I don't want
to mischaracterize it, but it'sbeen on the back of a napkin.
Kristina Hebert (09:18):
And what does the owner want?
And you know, let's keep themsimple, A lot of rotary switches
and let's not overcomplicate.
And now that industry has justabsolutely embraced complication
, embraced technology, embraced,Well, totally, and now I know,
maybe by force, but they'veembraced it nonetheless.
Jim Archard (09:36):
Yes, they have.
Kristina Hebert (09:37):
Could be via Velcro.
There we go, but I do thinkthat that's been a challenge, as
it is for ourselves.
I think we've learned the sameway that you know it used to be
everybody had one generator thatran everything.
You switched over to the othergenerator, even on boats.
These sport fish guys they wantto be able to fish all day, but
they want to be able to comeback.
They want to have the galleyall day, but they want to be
(09:59):
able to come back.
They want to have the galley.
They want to have the airconditioning, the chillers, the
hair dryers, the wine coolers.
There's a lot more toys on thosethe beer cold yeah yeah, you
know so, and the underwaterlights and I think the toys and
all of that have led to hugepower consumptions that you've
well, and again they shore.
Jim Archard (10:15):
Power used to be years and years ago would be 30
amps.
Right you got.
And now you've got 50 amps andnow you've got 100 amps and
you've got single phase andthree phase and now there's even
200-amp shore power.
Absolutely, you know, you'renot going to see sport fishes
with wiring 200-amp shore power,but a lot of these sport fish
boats have single or dual100-amp shore power.
Now, for the exact reason youjust brought up is the
(10:38):
consumption and the toys and thebait coolers and everything
else that they've got on board.
It just gets more complicated.
It all runs the same but it's alittle more complicated.
Kristina Hebert (10:50):
Do you think that trend's gonna continue?
Jim Archard (10:53):
Well, everything is going to evolve.
It's hard to say.
You know, with the advent oflithium and alternative power
and the green power, that iskind of a trend right now.
I don't see that affecting thesport fish guys too much.
Some of the smaller motoryachts, yes, they're trying to
replace.
(11:13):
Even the center console markethas evolved.
I mean, who would have thoughtyou'd see a 65-foot center
console market?
Um has evolved.
I mean when?
Who would thought you'd see a65 foot center console?
I agree, with six outboardshanging right back, that you
know these are two, two to fourmillion dollar boats.
We never thought we'd see that,no, so I agree, it's, it's.
there's always something new forus to to look at, and how do we
(11:35):
incorporate what we do and helpthem build better boats?
Kristina Hebert (11:38):
And I'm going to tease you on this because I
know you're a glass half fullkind of guy.
Yeah, what are we worried about?
What do you think somethingthat we should be concerned with
?
It could be regulation, couldbe parts, could be consumer,
could be anything you think thatwe should.
Difficulty that we haveattracting qualified people yeah
(12:01):
has been something that we'vetalked about off and on for for
a long time um well, you know,on two podcasts I've already
said, by the way, we're hiringwars, marine electric.
Go to wars, marine dot com, um,but but yeah, you're right.
I mean, we now have employedwith us a full-time recruiter,
yes, and she's doing a great joband she's already found us two
wonderful and new one engineers,yep, but yeah, you're right.
Jim Archard (12:17):
I mean, we now have employed with us a full-time
recruiter.
Yes, and she's doing a greatjob and she's already found us
two wonderful and new engineers.
Yep, I'm excited to be workingwith these guys.
It's nice to see new blood, yep.
Kristina Hebert (12:26):
Young blood.
Yes, remember we were that age,yeah, long time ago.
Jim Archard (12:30):
Literally.
I think these guys are rightthere in their mid-20s, yeah, so
it's awesome and I try toexplain to them.
Kristina Hebert (12:37):
So um it's.
I'll give a shout out to Landonand Connor.
But I was talking to them andthey kind of look at us and I
can imagine that I was doing thesame thing, looking at the
older people right and goinglike man, you know, am I really?
I'm never going to be like themand we and I.
And then we have to tell themno, we were your age, you know,
when we all started here too.
So it goes by fast, sure does.
Jim Archard (12:58):
Yeah, I went from being your youngest staff member
to your eldest staff member.
Kristina Hebert (13:03):
At this point I know you said that the other
day and I had to like stop andsay no think, but you're not,
you're not.
There is somebody older, butI'm not going to call her out
okay, well oh yeah, but see,you're not the oldest.
But the other thing that youhave is you have your son, works
for us as well and has for 18years already 18 years.
Yes, it's not like you know.
Jim Archard (13:24):
He started young.
He started younger than me.
Kristina Hebert (13:26):
Yes, yes, I think he was only 18.
Jim Archard (13:28):
He was 18 when he started.
Kristina Hebert (13:29):
And he's been a recent employee of the year and
you know he's gone from thewarehouse to working in inside
service and doing panelproduction to now being an
outside service technician.
So, which is important, becauseI feel like he too will get the
entire company experience.
Jim Archard (13:45):
Oh yeah, he's studying for his approaching
certification.
Good, so I'm proud of him.
Kristina Hebert (13:52):
You should be, and we're proud of you too.
Thank you.
Did you ever think you would behere 40 years?
It's okay.
There's no right or wronganswer.
Jim Archard (14:00):
You know I.
Kristina Hebert (14:01):
You didn't plan .
Jim Archard (14:03):
I just can't believe that it's been 40 years,
and I think to myself you knowhow did it get to be this way.
And you're not alone by the way, no, I know there's two people
literally within 24 months of methat will be 40 year employees.
So there's a lot of.
There's a reason for that, anda lot of that has to do with the
people I work for and thepeople I work with.
Kristina Hebert (14:26):
I agree, I agree, we work really hard to to
.
You know, I know that we all,we all.
What do I always say?
If you won the lottery, youprobably wouldn't work there
anymore, and I get it.
But since we all have to work,why not have it be a fun place?
And a place that also it's notjust fun.
I think it's a sense ofaccomplishment that we all are
for a common ground that we'reall trying to accomplish,
(14:46):
whether it's growing ourbusiness with Hubble, growing
our business with othermanufacturers, growing with the
sport fish recognizing I mean,that's really been in the last
five to 10 years that that'sreally taken off and seeing it
and going with the challenges.
And I have to say that, um, I'mgoing to make you blush, but, as
an employee of over 40 years,sometimes people talk to me
about um, what do you do withlong-term employees?
(15:10):
You ever get people that arekind of like well, that's the
way we've always done it and, tobe honest, you've never had
that attitude, ever, and and andI think that that's also why
you still run the sales team andyou have a lot of people under
you, because you're always, infact, even before this boat show
, you were like, hey can, are wedoing?
What kind of lead generationare we doing?
(15:30):
And you were responsible forthe topics for our manager
meeting how are we using our CRM?
How are we going to keepgetting these contacts and be
able to contact them later?
And you know you're not sittingback on your laurels and I love
that and I appreciate that,because so many people work for
a company a long time and justget like I'm on my way out and
(15:50):
you're always strivingcontinuous improvement.
Jim Archard (15:52):
I appreciate that.
Thank you so much.
You know you guys have done awonderful job in the people that
you've hired and we and again,if we sit here 40 years, there's
a ton of people that have beenhere 30 plus years and people
that have been here 25 years,and these are people I've worked
with and I respect.
And even though we have a lotof fun at work these people, we
(16:14):
hold each other accountable.
We do so and I think that justbreeds the success.
Kristina Hebert (16:19):
That's the ward's way?
Jim Archard (16:20):
Yes, it is, it is.
You know, we can have fun andwe can joke and whatnot.
But you know I've had peoplecall me out, you know, when they
don't think I'm headed down theright road and they'll talk to
me about it.
Kristina Hebert (16:32):
I've had people call me out too.
Okay, I think we both have beensitting there.
Jim Archard (16:37):
Yeah, we're willing to listen.
Yes, in the end, but it's, youknow, if you work where you like
to be, it's not really likework and it's been a great ride.
You know, I'm not done yet.
I was going to say I'm not doneyet.
I'm not done yet Good.
Kristina Hebert (16:53):
Good, good, good.
You better not be.
But I wanted to say thank you,thank you on behalf of all of us
, all of us at the Wards family,everybody in the industry.
But I appreciate everythingthat you've done and I look
forward to many years to come.
Jim Archard (17:06):
I appreciate you more than you might think, but
no, I know better.
Thank you, jim, thank you verymuch, okay, you.
Welcome to the Wards Way podcast.
We're here at the FortLauderdale International Boat
(00:36):
Show and I'm here today I'm notgoing to say friend with my
family member, jim Archard.
He's part of our Wards family.
I am Celebrating 40 years yearsand you are our sales director.
Yes, and thank you for beinghere.
So this is a shout out to youranniversary.
Do you believe that it's been40 years?
Jim Archard (00:54):
Of course not.
Okay.
How does that even happen?
Kristina Hebert (00:57):
So tell me, tell me how you started.
How did you start with boards?
And you were young young.
Jim Archard (01:04):
Yeah, when, when I was hired, I believe I was the
youngest person on staff.
I was 20, 25, okay, back in1984 I started it.
Kristina Hebert (01:14):
I was 25 too, so yeah, all right.
Jim Archard (01:17):
so, um, they started, they, they offered me a
position, and, uh, to work atthe sales counter.
Okay, with a guy named Scott.
Kristina Hebert (01:28):
I didn't realize you had worked with him.
Well I, he wasn't here longafter you started.
Jim Archard (01:33):
Yeah, yeah, and Dan .
I can't remember Dan's lastname, but there was a Dan at the
counter 40 years ago.
Kristina Hebert (01:41):
It's a long time ago and now we were still
in a very similar square blockradius to where we are now.
But where were we?
We were on the opposite side630 Southwest Flagler Avenue.
That's where you first started3,500 square feet.
So we still have that building.
That was your first locationright next.
Jim Archard (02:00):
Okay, all right, yeah, and within 10 years, I
think, the lot next door hadbeen purchased and we doubled.
So we went to 7 000 square feet, built some new offices, the
executive offices yes, come onum, you know, continue to add
vendors and manufacturers andand have just continued to grow
(02:22):
this business okay, so I haveone for you.
Kristina Hebert (02:24):
So we started.
How long is her?
You were when you started.
Let me go back when you firststarted.
Is also around the same time.
We had just started reallyformalizing some of our work
with hubble, for example yes,and that's that's.
Jim Archard (02:39):
That's a little bit of a story, because that's what
we're here for oh well, it's alittle bit of a different
business model, if you will.
But in order for us to godirect with Hubble, they put
together a program where we werepurchasing through distribution
for X amount of time and at thetime everybody had
relationships with one another.
(03:00):
So the vendor that we werebuying from knew at that time
that this was going to last fora year or two and then it would
transition over and we would bedirected to manufacture, and we
are now probably their largestUS distributor of marine
electric product in the UnitedStates.
Kristina Hebert (03:16):
And I think that you have a lot to do with
that.
Jim Archard (03:18):
So thank you.
I think I've got a good.
You guys have hired greatpeople to be around me, so it's
not just me, but I've been therefor the duration of all this,
so it's been a good run.
You know, there was years agothere was more motor yachts
being built in the US, yeah, andwe were very from coast to
coast from Delta Marinedirectors, lazara Trinity.
(03:41):
We were involved with all thesebuilders and, like you said,
what's changed's changed.
Well, some of those guys aren'tbuilding boats anymore.
I mean, there's more and moreboats being built in europe and
turkey and in asia, um, and wework on all these boats.
Kristina Hebert (03:57):
so goodness, down the street from us was
hatteras of lauderdale.
Jim Archard (04:01):
Think about that right and then look where we are
today.
Kristina Hebert (04:04):
So so some of the other manufacturers?
How about technology?
I, I, I, you know where I'mgoing to go with this.
I remember you, we and we.
You know, listen, I started in1996, 84.
So you had been there 12 years.
You'd probably seen me as a kid, you know, coming in and out.
Yeah, and, but you know, backthen we didn't have cell phones,
(04:28):
we had pagers.
Jim Archard (04:30):
Yeah, no computers.
Kristina Hebert (04:31):
We didn't have computers.
And then we finally.
I can remember being a teenagerand working to load all of our
inventory.
When we finally went tocomputers, you were there too.
Remember that.
Jim Archard (04:45):
Oh my.
Kristina Hebert (04:45):
God and we were using dos and we only had 16
characters to do our productdescription.
So I look back at some of thoseand it's all like an acronyms,
you don't you know yeah, yeah,we had.
Jim Archard (04:57):
I mean, when I started there, everything was on
, was on cards.
We had rolodex and oh yeah,manually done, and all the
invoices were manually done.
All the accounting was done.
I mean again, you don't eventhink about it.
You're there so long that youalmost forget where you've come
from.
Kristina Hebert (05:13):
It's nice to sit down and yeah, well, that's
the origin of the Ward's Way.
You've been a part of thatgrowth and how we've developed
the Ward's Way and you'reactually a symbol of the Ward's
Way because of doing it rightand taking the time and the
level of professionalism andevolving.
I mean being a sales directorand part of sales with a company
(05:34):
for 40 years is not easy eitheron yourself or on a company.
If it didn't work well and Ifeel like you made that work
well.
You helped us evolve, youhelped us be a part of you know,
changing from pager faxmachines to pagers to cell
phones to now we sit here andI've watched you sit in a
(05:55):
meeting with a laptop and you'relogging in remotely.
Yeah, we've got two in stock.
You need it.
You want me to get it over here.
You know the world is adifferent place.
Jim Archard (06:03):
It is, it is and the internet and the competition
that that's changed has forcedus to kind of evolve with our
business model and how productgets to market.
Kristina Hebert (06:12):
Well, so now let's talk about how else.
What other companies?
I know I've been speaking withlots of different people and
lots of different companies, andyou know we've talked about how
other companies have changed.
For example, somebody I wasspeaking with was talking about
how a lot of small mom and popbusinesses have now become large
corporations.
(06:32):
Do you, do you feel you agreewith that?
Even on the vendor side, do yousee a lot of manufacturers that
we used to work with that arenow part of these big buying?
Jim Archard (06:42):
groups.
Well, even it's maybe not somuch that, as we've seen, some
of the manufacturers all beinggobbled up by the larger
corporations, the Navicos, theBrunswick corporations.
Kristina Hebert (07:01):
And for people who don't know what that is like
what does Navico own?
Well they own or Manit orhowever that verbiage is yeah.
Jim Archard (07:08):
Well, I mean, they own Blue Sea Systems, they own
Mastervolt, they own about eightdifferent major brands that are
sold and installed in theUnited States, and that is now
all under one umbrella, is that?
Kristina Hebert (07:23):
easier or harder.
Jim Archard (07:26):
It's different.
Okay, I'm not going to say it'seasier or harder, it's just
different.
You get a lot more corporatestructure there.
Things don't happen quite asfast, right, but we were able to
get done in two or three weeks.
It takes six months now.
Yeah, it's just, it's justdifferent it's just different.
Kristina Hebert (07:43):
The way the world is a little bit different.
Yeah, now I'm going to segueinto another market, though that
I bet you probably didn't seecoming, but maybe you did the
sport fish boom that we've beena part of oh, wow we've always
been working with merits, sport,fish oh yeah and and obviously
the the local Michael Rybovichand the Jim Smith and LinkedIn
and yep but you have been reallyinvolved in that from an
(08:08):
electrical perspective, thepanel perspective.
You manage our outside salesteam and talk to me about that,
what you've seen, how you'veseen that grow over the years.
Jim Archard (08:17):
Well, these guys have been in business for years,
all privately owned familybusinesses.
As the boats have gotten larger, they've come to us for help
with our expertise in designingand building their electrical
panels and their switchgearfrequency conversion and they've
(08:39):
relied on us and they trust usbecause we've been doing it for
so long.
And as we did something forMerritt and Jim Smith found out,
or Garlington found out, orBayless was like, well, that
looks pretty darn good and itjust evolved and we've been able
to basically do for Merrittwhat we do for some of these
(09:01):
other builders and therelationships are as long as
I've been there, yeah, and I wasgoing to say, and I think it's
been your experience too, that alot of times they were doing
their designs and not in anunprofessional and I don't want
to mischaracterize it, but it'sbeen on the back of a napkin.
Kristina Hebert (09:18):
And what does the owner want?
And you know, let's keep themsimple, A lot of rotary switches
and let's not overcomplicate.
And now that industry has justabsolutely embraced complication
, embraced technology, embraced,Well, totally, and now I know,
maybe by force, but they'veembraced it nonetheless.
Jim Archard (09:36):
Yes, they have.
Kristina Hebert (09:37):
Could be via Velcro.
There we go, but I do thinkthat that's been a challenge, as
it is for ourselves.
I think we've learned the sameway that you know it used to be
everybody had one generator thatran everything.
You switched over to the othergenerator, even on boats.
These sport fish guys they wantto be able to fish all day, but
they want to be able to comeback.
They want to have the galleyall day, but they want to be
(09:59):
able to come back.
They want to have the galley.
They want to have the airconditioning, the chillers, the
hair dryers, the wine coolers.
There's a lot more toys on thosethe beer cold yeah yeah, you
know so, and the underwaterlights and I think the toys and
all of that have led to hugepower consumptions that you've
well, and again they shore.
Jim Archard (10:15):
Power used to be years and years ago would be 30
amps.
Right you got.
And now you've got 50 amps andnow you've got 100 amps and
you've got single phase andthree phase and now there's even
200-amp shore power.
Absolutely, you know, you'renot going to see sport fishes
with wiring 200-amp shore power,but a lot of these sport fish
boats have single or dual100-amp shore power.
Now, for the exact reason youjust brought up is the
(10:38):
consumption and the toys and thebait coolers and everything
else that they've got on board.
It just gets more complicated.
It all runs the same but it's alittle more complicated.
Kristina Hebert (10:50):
Do you think that trend's gonna continue?
Jim Archard (10:53):
Well, everything is going to evolve.
It's hard to say.
You know, with the advent oflithium and alternative power
and the green power, that iskind of a trend right now.
I don't see that affecting thesport fish guys too much.
Some of the smaller motoryachts, yes, they're trying to
replace.
(11:13):
Even the center console markethas evolved.
I mean, who would have thoughtyou'd see a 65-foot center
console market?
Um has evolved.
I mean when?
Who would thought you'd see a65 foot center console?
I agree, with six outboardshanging right back, that you
know these are two, two to fourmillion dollar boats.
We never thought we'd see that,no, so I agree, it's, it's.
there's always something new forus to to look at, and how do we
(11:35):
incorporate what we do and helpthem build better boats?
Kristina Hebert (11:38):
And I'm going to tease you on this because I
know you're a glass half fullkind of guy.
Yeah, what are we worried about?
What do you think somethingthat we should be concerned with
?
It could be regulation, couldbe parts, could be consumer,
could be anything you think thatwe should.
Difficulty that we haveattracting qualified people yeah
(12:01):
has been something that we'vetalked about off and on for for
a long time um well, you know,on two podcasts I've already
said, by the way, we're hiringwars, marine electric.
Go to wars, marine dot com, um,but but yeah, you're right.
I mean, we now have employedwith us a full-time recruiter,
yes, and she's doing a great joband she's already found us two
wonderful and new one engineers,yep, but yeah, you're right.
Jim Archard (12:17):
I mean, we now have employed with us a full-time
recruiter.
Yes, and she's doing a greatjob and she's already found us
two wonderful and new engineers.
Yep, I'm excited to be workingwith these guys.
It's nice to see new blood, yep.
Kristina Hebert (12:26):
Young blood.
Yes, remember we were that age,yeah, long time ago.
Jim Archard (12:30):
Literally.
I think these guys are rightthere in their mid-20s, yeah, so
it's awesome and I try toexplain to them.
Kristina Hebert (12:37):
So um it's.
I'll give a shout out to Landonand Connor.
But I was talking to them andthey kind of look at us and I
can imagine that I was doing thesame thing, looking at the
older people right and goinglike man, you know, am I really?
I'm never going to be like themand we and I.
And then we have to tell themno, we were your age, you know,
when we all started here too.
So it goes by fast, sure does.
Jim Archard (12:58):
Yeah, I went from being your youngest staff member
to your eldest staff member.
Kristina Hebert (13:03):
At this point I know you said that the other
day and I had to like stop andsay no think, but you're not,
you're not.
There is somebody older, butI'm not going to call her out
okay, well oh yeah, but see,you're not the oldest.
But the other thing that youhave is you have your son, works
for us as well and has for 18years already 18 years.
Yes, it's not like you know.
Jim Archard (13:24):
He started young.
He started younger than me.
Kristina Hebert (13:26):
Yes, yes, I think he was only 18.
Jim Archard (13:28):
He was 18 when he started.
Kristina Hebert (13:29):
And he's been a recent employee of the year and
you know he's gone from thewarehouse to working in inside
service and doing panelproduction to now being an
outside service technician.
So, which is important, becauseI feel like he too will get the
entire company experience.
Jim Archard (13:45):
Oh yeah, he's studying for his approaching
certification.
Good, so I'm proud of him.
Kristina Hebert (13:52):
You should be, and we're proud of you too.
Thank you.
Did you ever think you would behere 40 years?
It's okay.
There's no right or wronganswer.
Jim Archard (14:00):
You know I.
Kristina Hebert (14:01):
You didn't plan .
Jim Archard (14:03):
I just can't believe that it's been 40 years,
and I think to myself you knowhow did it get to be this way.
And you're not alone by the way, no, I know there's two people
literally within 24 months of methat will be 40 year employees.
So there's a lot of.
There's a reason for that, anda lot of that has to do with the
people I work for and thepeople I work with.
Kristina Hebert (14:26):
I agree, I agree, we work really hard to to
.
You know, I know that we all,we all.
What do I always say?
If you won the lottery, youprobably wouldn't work there
anymore, and I get it.
But since we all have to work,why not have it be a fun place?
And a place that also it's notjust fun.
I think it's a sense ofaccomplishment that we all are
for a common ground that we'reall trying to accomplish,
(14:46):
whether it's growing ourbusiness with Hubble, growing
our business with othermanufacturers, growing with the
sport fish recognizing I mean,that's really been in the last
five to 10 years that that'sreally taken off and seeing it
and going with the challenges.
And I have to say that, um, I'mgoing to make you blush, but, as
an employee of over 40 years,sometimes people talk to me
about um, what do you do withlong-term employees?
(15:10):
You ever get people that arekind of like well, that's the
way we've always done it and, tobe honest, you've never had
that attitude, ever, and and andI think that that's also why
you still run the sales team andyou have a lot of people under
you, because you're always, infact, even before this boat show
, you were like, hey can, are wedoing?
What kind of lead generationare we doing?
(15:30):
And you were responsible forthe topics for our manager
meeting how are we using our CRM?
How are we going to keepgetting these contacts and be
able to contact them later?
And you know you're not sittingback on your laurels and I love
that and I appreciate that,because so many people work for
a company a long time and justget like I'm on my way out and
(15:50):
you're always strivingcontinuous improvement.
Jim Archard (15:52):
I appreciate that.
Thank you so much.
You know you guys have done awonderful job in the people that
you've hired and we and again,if we sit here 40 years, there's
a ton of people that have beenhere 30 plus years and people
that have been here 25 years,and these are people I've worked
with and I respect.
And even though we have a lotof fun at work these people, we
(16:14):
hold each other accountable.
We do so and I think that justbreeds the success.
Kristina Hebert (16:19):
That's the ward's way?
Jim Archard (16:20):
Yes, it is, it is.
You know, we can have fun andwe can joke and whatnot.
But you know I've had peoplecall me out, you know, when they
don't think I'm headed down theright road and they'll talk to
me about it.
Kristina Hebert (16:32):
I've had people call me out too.
Okay, I think we both have beensitting there.
Jim Archard (16:37):
Yeah, we're willing to listen.
Yes, in the end, but it's, youknow, if you work where you like
to be, it's not really likework and it's been a great ride.
You know, I'm not done yet.
I was going to say I'm not doneyet.
I'm not done yet Good.
Kristina Hebert (16:53):
Good, good, good.
You better not be.
But I wanted to say thank you,thank you on behalf of all of us
, all of us at the Wards family,everybody in the industry.
But I appreciate everythingthat you've done and I look
forward to many years to come.
Jim Archard (17:06):
I appreciate you more than you might think, but
no, I know better.
Thank you, jim, thank you verymuch, okay, you.
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