May 2013

BACK TO THE BRICKS

     MONTHLY UPDATE

1.  A lot to report on so let’s get started.  It is with great pride that we would like to introduce our newest sponsors.  First is our newest ‘Platinum’ level sponsor, Hubbard Supply Company.  Founded in 1865, Hubbard Supply is a privately held, Flint, Michigan-based general line industrial distributor with branch locations and distribution centers, servicing the Michigan, northern Ohio and northern Indiana markets.  They represent more than 2500 manufactures including 3M, Kimberly Clark, Norton, Black and Decker, Dewalt, PIP, Brady, Loctite, Milwaukee Tool and GOJO.  Our memberships with two national associations, Affiliated Distributors and Edge Group, allow Hubbard Supply Company to serve our customers with the competititiveness and breadth of lines of a national chain while having all of the benefits of a local, independent and value driven distributor.
   
   Historically, Hubbard Supply Company has had strong ties to the automotive industry, building long-term customer relationships by way of commodity management and integrated supply programs.  These relationships remain strong today as we expand our markets, customers and business across new industries and regions.  Our proven core competencies in the procurement process, total inventory reduction, cost savings and increased workplace efficiency allow us to meet the needs of our growing customer base.  It truly is an honor to introduce Hubbard Supply to our ever growing list of monthly update subscribers and to have a company that will soon be reaching their 150th year anniversary is truly special.  It is an honor to have Hubbard Supply on board as one of our valued sponsors.
   
   
2. Next up is  Birch Run Premium Outlets in Birch Run, Michigan.  The Outlet Mall as we locals commonly refer to them as is the largest manufacturer’s outlet mall in the mid-west.  Having more than one-hundred stores located at the Birch Run exit on I-75 expressway is a shoppers dream come true with merchants offering everything from clothing, home entertainment systems, kitchen utensils, sporting goods, shoes, dinner ware and more.  If you can’t find what you are looking for there, it probably is not made.  The Birch Run Premium Outlets is a short 20 miles north of Flint and straight up I-75.  It is a great day time stop during the ‘Back to the Bricks’ week and gives all of our cruisers something to do during the day.  Get up in the morning, take your wife or better half shopping during the day and we can guarantee you will have no problem kicking tires later in the day.  It is with great pleasure we introduce to you our newest ‘Silver’ level sponsor, the Birch Run Premium Outlets.
   
   
3. The ‘Security Credit Union Car Corral’ which is located at the corner of Saginaw and MLK streets is now open for taking applications for those wanting to sell their collectable cars.  There is no cost for this service but there are a couple of restrictions in that the cars must be driven in under their own power (no room for trailers) and please, no rust buckets.  Security Credit Union will once again be offering on-site financing for those who want to buy a car.  If you have a car for sale, please visit our website: http://www.backtothebricks.org and under the schedule tab you will find the application to fill out and mail in to the address listed at the bottom of the form.  For questions, please email  BttB member Carl McEIrath.  With the success of last year’s car corral we anticipate that the area allotted for the car corral will fill up fast.  Don’t wait until it is too late and remember there is no cost to place your car in the corral.
   
   
4. Let’s talk swap meet!  This will be our third year for hosting a mid-week swap meet on the grounds of the Presbyterian Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.  It will be held again on Wednesday, August 14th and Thursday, August 15th from 8AM until 5PM.  Swap meet Chair, Don Dumler is anticipating continued growth this year with more vendors signing up.  The cost is $10 per day which is one of the lowest cost in the entire state of Michigan.  I have personally talked to a number of vendors for the past two years and all of them have been very satisfied with their sales.  If you care to reserve your vendor spot(s), please contact Don Dumler at 1-810-624-0708 and he will assist you with your reservation.  So clean out the garage of those old unwanted car parts and sign up.
   
   
5. This year’s ‘Brick Flicks’ feature movie will be ‘Grease’.  A ‘70’s classic that has lots of good music and great cars.  This year’s sponsor include three of our long standing and great sponsors, ELGA Credit Union which will be hosting a period ‘70’s costume contest (more to come on that), ABC12, Health Alliance Plan better known as HAP and a new media sponsor Cumulus Radio.  As many know, ‘Brick Flicks’ kicks off the ‘Back to the Bricks’ week and is one of our most popular venues.  Last year’s ‘Bricks Flicks’ was attended by more than 1,500 owners of classic cars!  And you might ask, ‘How do we know that?’  Well, we had just 1,500 red and white miniature street signs printed up and they were only given out to owners of collectable cars.  The only real problem we had is that we ran out of them!
   
   
6. The ‘Promo Tour’ - It is just a short three weeks away before we leave on the tour and I can honestly say this will be without a doubt, our best tour to date.  The overnight stop host cities are going out of their way to insure that we have a great time in their cities.  Registrations are running ahead of last year and we are anticipating setting a record for the number of attendees on this year’s tour.  It is not too late to sign up and in fact you can sign up until June 7th which is the day that the tour leaves Flint.  ABC12 will be providing daily live reports and our new radio media partner, Cumulus Radio, is sending Super Talk radio host, Lou Lobsinger on the tour and he will be broadcasting his show daily from the tour.  How about that!
   
   Well, I am getting a little long winded and should probably button it up for this month.  We are just a short 10 weeks away from our 9th Annual Back to the Bricks Week and we are looking forward to seeing all of you again this year.

CORDially,

Al Hatch, Chairman, Back to the Bricks, Inc.
             A 501 (c)(3) charitable non-profit organization