Occupation:
President, Flame-tec, Warren Marketing Group, and RepCorps

Special Interests/Hobbies:
“I love the water, so being on the lake, whether fishing or just cruising, is relaxing for me. Even though it’s part of my work barbecue is a passion. I enjoy competing, judging, and entertaining family and friends.”

Problems/Issues Facing the Barbecue Industry:
“Currently, pellet grills are seeing strong growth in the market, for a lot of good reasons. A quality unit will be easy to use, it will control temperatures well, and deliver the real wood-fired flavor customers love.

“The biggest trend in all appliance categories is the inclusion of smart controls, and barbecues are no exception. Many pellet grills have the ability to monitor and control the cooking process from a smart device, and soon you will see that same ease of use in gas and even charcoal grills. Technology for technology’s sake is meaningless, but in grills it’s very useful, helping everyone be a great backyard chef.”

Advice to Retailers on Increasing Business:
“Become a grilling destination. That means proper accessories displayed well, along with a good selection of spices, rubs, cookbooks, and more. Give people a reason to come to your store again and again.

“Have demo days with reps from the manufacturer or a local chef. Focus on one specific brand at a time and showcase its strong points. Have one person cook and another sell; it’s very hard to do both well at the same time.

“Nothing sells grills like cooking classes! Teach customers how to do a complete meal on the grill, from salad to dessert, or get a local chef to prepare his/her specialty. When consumers learn to cook with more variety, they appreciate the better products you represent.”

Forecast for Sales in 2020:
“We expect a great year. Grill sales have been relatively consistent for a number of years. Last year sales were a little soft in some regions, which many retailers relate to poor spring weather. That points to some extra demand in 2020, and paired with new technology, we believe sales will be strong in all grill categories.

“We see real growth in the meal kit business as consumers enjoy having a tasty meal at home, skipping the traffic, crowds and noise of the average casual restaurant. Grilling apps will bring this same ease and recipe guidance to customers capitalizing on the eat-at-home trend.”

Years Reading Hearth & Home:
“Since 1981. Wow, that’s a long time and a lot of issues!”

Reasons for Reading Hearth & Home:
“You must keep up with happenings in your industry, and no one covers it better than Hearth & Home. I always make time to read the whole publication, and appreciate its commitment to showcasing innovation!”

Article(s) Ideas:
“Although self-serving, I think new technology in controls for fireplaces and fire pits would be of interest to many.”