Alpha Knife Supply
Always Innovating
- Joined
- Oct 14, 1998
- Messages
- 2,157
Since the last post we have received a tremendous amount of support. We want to thank everyone for their posts, e-mails and phone calls. Our intent was to make everyone aware of the potential risk so they could make plans to protect their property.
Before continuing, I need to clarify the security personnel at Blade Show. There are two groups of security personnel. The first group is security for Cobb Galleria. They are the people who have access to the security video in the show hall. The second group is Eagle Security. They are hired by F&W to provide security for the show. They are the people who are indemnified by the F&W contract. They cannot be held responsible if a theft occurs.
Eagle security also does not have authority to detain anyone if they see a theft occur. At almost all shows we attend, off duty law enforcement officers provide show security. The advantage of having off duty LEOs provide security is they have authority to search, detain and arrest anyone caught stealing.
Several people expressed concern about F&W retaliating against us. I said I appreciated their concern but I did not think there would be retaliation. The day after I sent the e-mail and made the posts, our credit card was charged by F&W for almost $100. This was an unauthorized charge.
In the last week we spoke to a supplier who told us they had more than $5,000 in materials stolen at Blade two years ago. They have not attended Blade since the theft.
Last week Blade show staff sent an e-mail to table and booth holders. In the e-mail several new security procedures were outlined. One of the new procedures was to have the show staff and/or security sweep the room to get everybody out in order to secure the room.
Thursday June 10, 2011 is setup day for Blade Show. The show hall closed at 6:00 PM. At 7:00 PM a supplier was still in the room. The show setup was not complete and there were also setup personnel in the room. The supplier watched as the setup personnel went into the Jantz booth and looked through the materials! A little later, the supplier saw a security guard and asked about security. The security guard said he was locked in the room at night alone. A few minutes later the same guard said he was locked in the room with two other guards. This supplier told us he also has materials stolen at a few Blade Shows. He thought the theft was from shoplifting but is now questioning when the thefts occurred.
I just heard about a supplier who stored his materials in a box under his table last night. The box was covered with a lid and a chair placed on top. This morning when he arrived at his table the chair was gone and the lid was off the box.
We have made several changes to facilitate attending Blade and having materials to sell. We have worked to resolve the problems and in our usual innovative way, developed a new process and software. Jon & Jessica are at Blade show representing AKS. They have a computer with them and are taking orders. The orders are sent to us here in Seattle. Brenda and I fill the orders and ship them to the knifemaker. Knifemakers do not have to be concerned about overweight luggage, carrying materials around, limited selection or seeing my hairy face! We are able to have an infinite supply of materials at the show. It is a win win situation.
I think we made lemonade!
Before continuing, I need to clarify the security personnel at Blade Show. There are two groups of security personnel. The first group is security for Cobb Galleria. They are the people who have access to the security video in the show hall. The second group is Eagle Security. They are hired by F&W to provide security for the show. They are the people who are indemnified by the F&W contract. They cannot be held responsible if a theft occurs.
Eagle security also does not have authority to detain anyone if they see a theft occur. At almost all shows we attend, off duty law enforcement officers provide show security. The advantage of having off duty LEOs provide security is they have authority to search, detain and arrest anyone caught stealing.
Several people expressed concern about F&W retaliating against us. I said I appreciated their concern but I did not think there would be retaliation. The day after I sent the e-mail and made the posts, our credit card was charged by F&W for almost $100. This was an unauthorized charge.
In the last week we spoke to a supplier who told us they had more than $5,000 in materials stolen at Blade two years ago. They have not attended Blade since the theft.
Last week Blade show staff sent an e-mail to table and booth holders. In the e-mail several new security procedures were outlined. One of the new procedures was to have the show staff and/or security sweep the room to get everybody out in order to secure the room.
Thursday June 10, 2011 is setup day for Blade Show. The show hall closed at 6:00 PM. At 7:00 PM a supplier was still in the room. The show setup was not complete and there were also setup personnel in the room. The supplier watched as the setup personnel went into the Jantz booth and looked through the materials! A little later, the supplier saw a security guard and asked about security. The security guard said he was locked in the room at night alone. A few minutes later the same guard said he was locked in the room with two other guards. This supplier told us he also has materials stolen at a few Blade Shows. He thought the theft was from shoplifting but is now questioning when the thefts occurred.
I just heard about a supplier who stored his materials in a box under his table last night. The box was covered with a lid and a chair placed on top. This morning when he arrived at his table the chair was gone and the lid was off the box.
We have made several changes to facilitate attending Blade and having materials to sell. We have worked to resolve the problems and in our usual innovative way, developed a new process and software. Jon & Jessica are at Blade show representing AKS. They have a computer with them and are taking orders. The orders are sent to us here in Seattle. Brenda and I fill the orders and ship them to the knifemaker. Knifemakers do not have to be concerned about overweight luggage, carrying materials around, limited selection or seeing my hairy face! We are able to have an infinite supply of materials at the show. It is a win win situation.
I think we made lemonade!