If the truth be known, I believe that Columbus, Ohio is the favorite location for the
Fastener Shows, particularly among the veteran exhibitors and attendees. The bar
at the Hyatt just may be the best place for networking in the fastener industry!
Downtown Columbus continues to add new restaurants, with many of the city's
best located in the Short North and German Village areas. The downtown Arena
District is always exciting with new attractions and ever changing venues. So join
us in Columbus this May, and again in 2009, for what promises to be yet another
valuable Fastener Show/EAST.
Last year in the pre-show March/April issue, I announced that the AFJ was adding
a digital version of the magazine. Since then, we have had a very steady growth
pattern in registered readership from around the world. We are discussing some
new ideas with the producer of the digital magazine and will introduce them
either shortly, or at the Fastener Show/EAST. The best value is that the digital version
is FREE for our readers, and all ads are hot linked to the advertiser's website.
If you haven't had the opportunity to view the digital version, please give us a try!
Over the last couple of years the AFJ Stock Index feature has become a preferred
source of information for many of our readers. We are now going to expand this
editorial with an annual recap in each March/April issue, written by Margot Crabtree.
We will also be introducing you to a new contributing writer, Steve Nielsen,
from Holbrook Capital, an investment banking firm. His column, AFJ Fastener
Valuation Multiples, will include enterprise values, operating statistics, EBITDA
and EBIT numbers, margins, price earnings and more. Combining the knowledge
of these two contributors will provide the most detailed, comprehensive fastsener
stock information ever offered in the fastener industry in regards to the publicly
traded fastener stocks listed in the AFJ Stock Index.
We're happy to welcome back Guy Avellon as a regular contributor. He has written
for the American Fastener Journal in the past, and his vast experience in, and knowledge
of, the fastener industry will make for some outstanding articles. He is an
important addition to the AFJ, and his valuable input will be most appreciated.
I have added a new commentary section to our AFJ website to write about various
topics and happenings in the fastener industry. I have a whole laundry list of subjects
I will be writing about in the coming months! Click on Know What Mike
Knows!, and please take a moment to let me hear your opinion. Your feedback
and input will be used to help drive future articles and features. It's meant to be a
fun way to talk about the issues and subjects that are relevant to the fastener
industry, without necessarily going "over the top!"
See you online and in the aisles at the fastener show.
Mike McGuire
Publisher/Editor
What happens when you combine the American Fastener Journal Publisher/Editor Mike McGuire’s direct access to the fastener industry, his 40 plus years of fastener industry experience and the internet? You get KNOW WHAT MIKE KNOWS!
If you want to get the inside scoop, click on KNOW WHAT MIKE KNOWS! Check every day!