[TenTec] Status

[Silevitch, Michael]

Bravo to you John, and the new owner.

Regards
    Michael K1PEV

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 3, 2015, at 6:16 AM, John Henry <jshenry1963 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I wanted to bring people up to date on what is happening right now.
> 
> 
> I had a discussion with the new owner last night, and I wanted to relay
> some information.
> 
> He is now officially the new owner of TEN-TEC.
> 
> 
> 
> He is planning the rigs and amplifiers and other accessory products to
> engineer and to manufacture for the coming year to cover the purchase and
> expenses for the year, working on the details of the various plans for
> service, sales, and marketing, etc.
> 
> Don't underestimate the amount of time and planning and effort that this
> business strategy planning maintaining overhead etc stuff takes.
> 
> Learning lessons from the past to help the future of the company be more
> viable.
> 
> 
> 
> What will you see? and when?
> 
> Planning on having the OMNI-VII back in production in 1st quarter 2016,
> hoping to ship in 2nd quarter 2016.
> 
> Dayton, He will be there, going to try to get the same TEN-TEC booth/booths
> as possible. Showcasing the existing products, and possibly something new
> based on the existing products, time will tell.
> 
> He did say that he will either bring back the Orion II or have an Orion
> III. Time frame is tbd. could be as early as end of 2016 or Dayton 2017????
> 
> There might be improvements/changes to certain rigs, e.g. maybe there will
> be an OMNI-VII+ maybe an OMNI-VIII in a year???
> 
> The Eagle will go back into production some time after the 1st OMNI-VII run.
> 
> Prices will return to the original pre liquidation sale prices when the new
> website is up so that each will be at a point that will make enough profit
> to make the company viable. Other features will get added where possible.
> 
> TEN-TEC was actually shipping a $200 bill with every one of a specific
> model that it sold this last year.
> 
> There were so many ways that TEN-TEC has been hemorrhaging over the last
> couple of years, and even back a bit further, that changes will have to be
> made. Some the public won't like, but then the alternative is that TEN-TEC
> would close forever.
> 
> Also remember, it was made public that the two owners of RKR were looking
> for a new owner, and how many stood up to say "I'll buy it/fund it/save
> it". This gentleman did and will do what he has to do to keep the brands
> alive.
> 
> There are plans to bring back some VERY good products, items that have been
> big sellers for TEN-TEC just a few years ago, and were profitable and have
> been requested for quite some time.
> 
> 
> Also, there are still commercial orders coming in that will be there for
> maybe another year or two using the same RX331/RX340 platforms that will
> help him maintain a cash flow that will help realize amateur market
> production runs. There might be a need in the future to try to raise some
> more capital if certain plans come to fruition with commercial and fema
> customers, if those work out, may need to raise some cash to buy the parts,
> so there might be a gofundme funding campaign set up, where amateur
> customers can help donate to purchase the parts, and then part of or all of
> or x times the amount of the donation is taken off of their next order of a
> TEN-TEC product > a certain dollar amount. No, don't look for exchanging
> your $100 donation to cover 1/2 of a Rebel, that won't happen, Talking a
> major product, e.g. an OMNI-VII, or a high powered amp..... To do this
> first class, we need a 200K capital infusion for a new factory building and
> some new equipment to replace what was liquidated if anyone cares to step
> up and accelerate our success. 400K would give us the facility, equipment
> and capitol to put everything back in production to a stocking basis and
> allow us to complete the Orion III. If 400 people will give us 1K each,  we
> will commit to the Orion III of your dreams in 18-24 months and give you 2K
> off the target price of 5K as well as engrave your name and call on a
> plaque on the new building that says you helped build it and save TEN TEC.
> 
> 
> 
> Where do I fit in?
> 
> No, I'm not the owner, but I am going to do whatever I can in the evenings
> to ensure that TEN-TEC is a success. I want to see it be a success, and
> maintain what can be maintained of the people, and improve it's
> image/products/etc back to where they were years ago. The owner is quite
> insistent that I remain intimately involved with TEN-TEC even if it is on a
> part time basis. It is my choice of how much or little I spend on TEN-TEC
> and the door is assuredly left open for me to come and go as I please. He
> wants me to be the VP of Engineering, but, well, time will tell how all of
> this plays out.
> 
> I am also working on digital modes for HRD, so, my evenings are quite
> interesting.
> 
> In the future, who knows?
> 
> 
> 
> Where do you fit in?
> 
> Be patient, this is a total reboot of a company, ripping away the excess
> that bleeds it dry (e.g. high rent, using an MRP system that costs $$$$
> monthly when something is already in place to take care of it, changing to
> a cost effective internet/phone system, so many "luxuries" will be removed
> and put in their place the necessities to get business going profitably),
> and building the business and products with the key employees to make it
> strong again. You build the employees, the employees build the company. But
> it will take time.
> 
> The products are there, the technology is also there for the future (some
> things that were in the works that no one in the public knows about) that
> the new owner has a plan to finish soon.
> 
> 
> 
> Actually, TEN-TEC does need to take the time it will take to make it a
> success. Otherwise if he runs headlong into this as was done in the past,
> he will fail. If people buy rigs and amps and tuners and other accessories
> elsewhere in the meantime, well, that is their decision. The market
> continually has new and continued customers. existing customers
> periodically look for something new, enough of a continual market that
> should sustain itself for years.
> 
> The new products coming out that are planned include continuances of good
> known technology, and of course some are a step ahead of what is in the
> market today, and you will see those in 1-2-3 years.
> 
> I will not divulge nor answer speculation on anything further than what I
> have stated above as to what products, when, etc.  I can also tell you is
> that the owner has emphatically stated to me that this the last time Ten
> Tech will change hands for the next 15-20 years or so as he is my age and
> plans for us both to operate it until we are in our 70s or physically
> unable to continue, so Ten Tech could not be in the hands of anyone more
> SERIOUSLY long term goal oriented. He has wanted Ten Tech for a long time
> for the excellent DSP AGC technology built in to our transceivers so I
> think it is safe to say that there will be future generations of the Omni,
> and Orion style units as finances permit. But again in order for this to
> happen it is critical that YOU support TEN TEC by purchasing existing TEN
> TEC products. Look for the Omni 7+ next year.
> 
> 
> 
> So, whereas he still wants to remain anonymous until his formal
> announcement in the first quarter, I myself am convinced that this will
> work, enough so to help him wherever I can, and so are the key core
> employees at TEN-TEC. If anything, our message at this time is please be
> patient with the negativity. There are other things happening behind the
> scenes which can not yet be publically discussed before they are finished.
> 
> 
> 
> If this sounds like cheerleading, well, then so be it, I care about
> TEN-TEC, the people, the legacy, and will do what I can to make it a
> success, and, if this fails, well, we will give it a valiant effort.
> 
> 
> 
> Please understand that I have other commitments from now until Monday next
> week that I may not be able to respond/answer questions until then. But do
> realize, that I have disclosed about as much as I can for now.
> 
> 
> This statement came from a draft I created, and the new owner gave me
> inputs on, which items he felt like disclosing now, etc. So, there may be
> some he/I/our's mixed up, but I hope the message from him is clear. TEN-TEC
> is something he is passionate about, and is committed to making it a
> success. Yes, there are trials and tribulations, but, he is convinced he
> can do it, and I will do whatever I can to assist, and so will various core
> TEN-TEC individuals.
> 
> 
> 73, KI4JPL
> 
> John Henry
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