Today we’d like to introduce you to John Flint.
John, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Started in marketing in high tech companies – Raytheon, Wang; jumped to marketing/management of computer/networking trade shows. A year later, started my own company producing trade shows in the Space Industry with NASA… Left and came to Wetmore Company to revitalize sales and I’ve been President and CEO for 13 years.
The company provides packing and crating services primarily to customers exporting high-value equipment. Customers include Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Hewlett Packard, Panasonic, Pfizer, EMD-Millipore, Philips Healthcare Alcatel Lucent, Amgen, and companies in robotics, biotech, medical devices and commercial equipment manufacturing.
Tried to buy the company for several years. Finally, owners agreed, and on October 1, 2017, in a stock deal, I acquired the company.
The former owners were risk-averse, did not want to add capital to expand, preferring to draw distributions. This week I have added funds to our operations, started to reorganize and will focus on growth.
My background education: MBA in Marketing/International Business from Babson College, MA in English from University College, Dublin, Ireland, and BA in English from Holy Cross College.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been some frustrations over the years.
I found that procedures/policies/management in large companies dampens innovation. and enthusiasm. There isn’t the flexibility to make immediate decisions. Smaller companies have that capacity which can make all the difference in sales especially if manufacturing can also respond. to fulfill the order… However, smaller family-owned companies have their own set of difficulties and culture, which can occasionally hamper efforts. That’s been the case in this company until now…
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Wetmore Company, Inc. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We provide custom packing services for air, ocean or truck shipments. We design cases, add foam cushioning and protective wraps and pack the equipment at our 60,000 sq. ft. facility or travel to our customers to pack onsite.
Our business depends upon flexibility. Our customers are demanding and their requirements change daily. We have to be ready to act quickly. For example, equipment doesn’t pass the final test today but expect it could be ready tomorrow, so we need to be ready to handle it on short notice. A telecommunications system in India breaks down and needs a replacement immediately. Lithium batteries, which can be flammable and are considered a hazardous material for air shipments. must be in Frankfurt overnight and we must package and prepare dangerous goods declarations to accompany the package the same day. Our ability to respond is why our customers come to us and our ability to provide exceptional customer support keeps them loyal.
We have a great reputation, especially among freight forwarders who engage us when their clients aren’t sure how to transport products from one location to another safely.
We are also a bell-weather for the export market for equipment and machinery. If we’re very busy, then exports are up. If not, our client companies are experiencing a slower business cycle.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Adding specialty services through our partners- warehousing, freight forwarding, expanding into other types of packaging, offering an all-inclusive packaging/packing solution tailored to any business.
Contact Info:
- Address: 326 Ballardvale Street
Wilmington, MA 01887 - Website: www.wetmorecompany.com
- Phone: 978-988-0055
- Email: jflint@wetmorecompany.com
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