Walker Miller

Recently Walker Miller Equipment has decided to reorganize its inventory using the cutting-edge technology of barcodes and barcode scanners. We did some product research and got a basic internet education on how barcodes and barcode scanners work, but this did not quite prepare for the barcode adventure that was to come. You may think to yourself, well that doesn’t seem confusing. Don’t most products come with barcodes on them already? And if you just scan it, the computer will automatically pull up the correct item, right?

Au contraire, my friend.  There is apparently far more to barcodes than just those deceivingly-simple vertical lines.

Our first research (courtesy of Wikipedia) taught us that the first barcode was scanned on a pack of Wrigley chewing gum in 1974 – almost forty years ago!  That first barcode used was a Universal Product Code, or what the super-cool barcode-ites abbreviate to “UPC.”  And so began a crazy journey that led us to the wild world of barcodes, barcode types, and barcode scanners.  Apparently there was even a barcoding convention a few weeks ago in Las Vegas – which we were very disappointed to have missed.

Essentially, there are two different types of barcodes: SKUs and UPCs.

UPCs are Universal Product Codes, meaning that that code is unique to that item.  When using a UPC, it means that code will only ever refer to that exact product.  The most common form of the UPC is the UPC-A, which has 12 numerical digits.

SKUs are not universal.  They are made up by an individual company, and usually only hold their association with their individual products within that company.  For example, scanning a SKU of 10985 at Walgreens may pull up a hairbrush, while at Walmart it could pull up a baseball cap.

Because SKUs are so individualized, it’s usually easiest to only use UPCs, but not all items arrive from their manufacturer with a UPC, so then the vendor has to come up with an identifying SKU for the object.  This would normally be the “part number” or “item key” for the object – whichever is the most common identifying number for that item.

To make all these barcodes useful for inventory control, it’s necessary to have a barcode scanner.  For companies that have big warehouses and a lot of inventory in said warehouses, wireless barcode scanners are the most convenient.  Wireless scanners can have a very long range, and often use Bluetooth to transmit their information to their corresponding computers.

There are also different types of scanners – literally, different options for that little red light that scans the barcode.  Laser scanners are, from our research, the most economical and effective type of scanners.  After thorough product research, we started using the Wasp barcode scanners, and are very happy with them so far.  We have also heard good things about Motorola scanners in the customer reviews.

Basically, what a barcode scanner does is simple.  It eliminates the need to type in the product key and hit enter.  Instead, the scanner pulls up the file directly so you can access or modify.  Or, should you be adding the item to a contract or transaction, the scanner will add the item automatically.  Usually it will assume the quantity to be 1, and you can modify that in various ways, depending on your inventory software.

Barcode scanners can come in all different forms.  The barcode guns most commonly seen are particularly useful, but they can be as fancy as a “mobile computer” (a scanner with a keypad and an OS) or even your iPhone.  There is literally an app for that.

As important as the barcodes and barcode scanners are, the inventory control software is equally important.  Before spending money on installing a barcode system, it is extremely important to make sure that your inventory software is barcode scanner compatible in all the ways you want your scanner to help you: sales, receiving, price checks, end-of-year inventory, etc.  The barcode scanner can only do as much as the software will let it; they are both tools that need to be extremely compatible to work best together.

Whew!  Bet you didn’t think barcoding was quite so complicated!  Now that you know more than you probably wanted to about barcodes, look around – they’re everywhere!

Regardless of your position on politics, economics, religion or the great debate of Moe’s vs Chipotle, we hope you agree there’s nothing like traveling abroad and coming home to the great USA.

Thank you to the brave members of the Armed Forces and their incredible families that keep our country free.

We hope you have a fantastic Independence Day.

Ps The answer is always Moe’s

Hope you’re having a lovely Valentine’s Day and a terrific Tuesday!  This picture just captures the most sincere form of love: puppy love!

Hope your day is filled with puppy love!

We are so excited to appear on Construction Equipment Guide’s  fantastic site!  Check us out!

It is always so exciting to see your name in print!  This is the online version of your name in lights, in our opinion.  We really appreciate Construction Equipment Guide taking the time to include us.

The article focuses on our recent milestone birthday, 50 years, commemorated by the Wacker Neuson Roadshow party.  It was a fantastic event and the perfect way to celebrate half a century in Central Florida.

We enjoyed a scrumptious 4Rivers BBQ lunch.  What better lunch to have than a personal favorite of the company’s founder, Walker Miller?  He wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Thanks so much to everyone that attended!  We hope you had as much fun as we did!

Have you noticed the chain-link fence that surrounds the old Amway Arena?  With the gorgeous new arena open and operating, it is finally time to retire the original home of the Orlando Magic.  While you may be waiting for a scenic implosion similar to the one destroying Orlando’s City Hall in 1991 and found in Lethal Weapon 3, the movie offers aren’t present twenty years later.

Thanks to digital technology, movie makers can recreate these scenes without the need for real life situations.  Subsequently, construction crews will tear down Amway brick by brick from the inside out.  The salvageable aluminum and copper will be donated to the Nap Ford charter school nearby, while the drywall and steel will be recycled.  The furniture and other removable pieces have already been sold or donated.  Mayor Buddy Dyer expressed his goal of environmentally friendly demolition:  ”We’re becoming known as the most sustainable city in the Southeast.”  Over 50% of the building will be reused in some capacity.  Even the concrete will sustain roads across the state.

The entire process should take approximately six months.  It began last week.  The city will eventually build a work/live/play development entitled Creative Village on the property.

Do you live or work nearby?  Have you seen any developments?

What do you use as a base for a Christmas tree in a showroom of construction equipment, parts and hand tools?  Did you guess a Wacker Neuson 3.8KVA portable generator?  HOW DID YOU KNOW???

Is it because of the prime location by the front door?  While this does make the tree visible from the parking lot, if not the highway, it doesn’t give the tree the respect it deserves from a prime, center location for those inside the showroom.  The tree in fact may migrate around the room until it finds the perfect home (and a nearby electrical outlet!).  We always welcome suggestions

As quickly as November passed us by, we rest assured December will fly by as well if we naively choose to blink.  It seems that just yesterday we were preparing for our 50th Anniversary Party, while it was actually three weeks ago.  Are you anxiously putting up decorations as well, eager to enjoy them before the holidays pass by?

As this time of year is so busy, we wanted to take the opportunity now to thank you for your support, especially over the past few years.  We appreciate the time and attention you give us from your busy lives.  Walker Miller Equipment wouldn’t be here without you!

We wish you a very happy and blessed holiday season.  Don’t take the decorations down too early

First of all, we would like to extend a hearty thanks to everyone that attended the Walker Miller Equipment 50th Anniversary Party/ Wacker Neuson Roadshow last week!  Party goers enjoyed some excellent 4Rivers BBQ, learned about the equipment Wacker Neuson is taking to World of Concrete in Las Vegas, and even got to try their hand at the manipulating a mini-excavator in the Vertical Digging Challenge!  Participants included our web strategist and local bank manager!  They stepped out of their offices, and their comfort zones, and we really appreciate their support!

We would also like to congratulate the winners of our drawing!!  Dave from Seretta is the new proud owner of a 42″ Plasma TV. 

Congrats also to Bob at Southland for winning a Wacker Neuson BTS 635 14″ Cut off Saw and Jeff at PCL now possesses a HAL 300 Laser Level!  Congrats to all our winners and thanks to everyone who entered!

We really enjoyed meeting lots of new people and having conversations in person with others, instead of phone calls or web orders!  A fantastic local photographer and great friend, Tom Kraft, took some fantastic pictures we will include in a Facebook album very soon.  Get excited!

Overall, it was a wonderful event celebrating both the Wacker Neuson Road Show and Walker Miller Equipment’s 50th Anniversary.  And if you missed the big event??  Don’t worry, you can catch all the equipment in Las Vegas in January!  Or just stop by our Orlando office for all the information!

This month marks the 40th birthday of the Magic Kingdom, the oldest part in the happiest place on earth.  The park originally opened October 1, 1971.  October was chosen so the crowds would be smaller and less chaotic than the opening of Disneyland in California in 1955.

Our own Walker Miller president, Connie Miller, was on site just weeks prior to opening when floods threatened the Contemporary grounds.  It was September of 1971 and her father, Walker Miller, was delivering pumps to counter the 12 feet of rising water.  Unfortunately, women at the time were not allowed on job sites so Connie, along with the wives of the other drivers, were asked to return to the guard house.  After some negotiating, Disney’s desperation for the pumps won out and the women were allowed to accompany the drivers as long as they remained in the trucks.  Can you imagine that happening today?  Gender equality has certainly evolved in the past 4 decades.

Disney itself has grown since 1971 to include four theme parks, two water parks and two dozen hotels.  While Magic Kingdom had a relatively small opening day, by Thanksgiving, they periodically reached capacity and had to deny entrance to visitors.  Disney certainly hit the ground running and now is an essential part of Central Florida’s economy.  Walt Disney World Resort is the largest single-site employer in the US, employing close to 66,000 people.  Walker Miller Equipment employs about 0.02% of that figure but started operating in Central Florida ten years before WDW.  As we discussed several weeks ago, Walker Miller Equipment celebrated 50 years in August.

Like WDW, we have also evolved throughout the decades.  We are thrilled to have our website and online parts store!  Unfortunately, we cannot list all the parts and manufacturers we represent here.  Have you searched for parts not listed?  We can add your parts by request!  Contact us via our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WalkerMillerEquipment.

Have a good week!  Adios till next time.

It’s been 7 long months since championship games ended, but tomorrow we finally return to the wonder that is college football.  ESPN will kick off Thursday’s lineup with Western Carolina at Georgia Tech at 7:30 ET.  As both Walker Miller and Connie Miller attended Georgia Tech, it is certainly a favorite around our office.  Let’s Go Yellow Jackets!!

Michigan State will host Youngstown State on Friday evening, followed by TCU at Baylor at 8pm.  While the Horned Frogs probably aren’t nervous about this matchup, they shouldn’t take Baylor lightly as anything can happen in college football!

We will certainly be tuning in at 10am Saturday for the highly-anticipated return of ESPN’s College Gameday live from Arlington, Texas.  This is the home of the LSU-Oregon game, currently AP’s No. 4 and No. 3 teams, respectively.  You can catch this fantastic game on ABC at 8pm.

Speaking of Texas, Walker Miller Equipment has recently shipped parts to the Lonestar state!  In fact, we have been shipping all over the contiguous United States!  Whether you’re in search of Multiquip, Wacker, Stihl, Stone, Honda, or another equipment manufacturer, we have it available on our parts store or it can be specially ordered.  Please contact us at parts@walkermiller.com as special orders are our specialty!  Check us out during the commercial breaks!

Happy tailgating!

Today, we have the privilege of celebrating 50 years in business.  Half a century.  The Golden Anniversary.  Let’s do a small flashback to how things began:

Walker G. Miller left his job as a crane salesman in Atlanta, Georgia, to move down to Orlando, Florida.  It began as Hi-way Industrial Sales with a partner, Ken Herold.  With just a 2 month old business, Mr. Miller returned to Atlanta to move his wife and four children, including a 3-week old infant, down to Orlando.

The business began with a focus on Marlow pumps and grove equipment.  In a few years, construction would begin for a small development nearby, Walt Disney World.  Maybe you’ve heard of it?

As the next decade began, the partnership between Mr. Harold and Mr. Miller began to end.  Mr. Miller took over the corporation and changed the name to Walker Miller Equipment Co., Inc.  The current President, Connie Miller, started work in 1980.  Mr. Miller remained as President until 1992, when he stepped down for health issues and Ms. Miller assumed the role.

Almost 20 years later, she still maintains the position.  Things have changed quite a bit since August 16, 1961.  Should we take a look back on life back then, before blogging and even personal computers?

In 1961…….

• West Side Story and The Parent Trap were the hit movies.
• Gas was 27 cents/gallon (can we go back to that??)
• The Cold War was in full swing and the Berlin wall was under construction (no, we didn’t have equipment on that job)
• The Soviets put a man in space in April and the US sent Alan Shepard into space in May.
• JFK became President and established the Peace Corp.

Communication was different back then, pre-Twitter and iPhone apps.  The art of doing business has changed and evolved with the times, but the same principles remain true: customer service and a quality reputation are essential to staying around.  We are so appreciate to the vendors and customers who keep coming back, time and time again.  Thank you for your patronage. We hope you enjoyed this history lesson.  Happy 50th Anniversary!