Crawford Co. hopes to heat up sales

Reprinted from the Dispatch/Argus
by Rita Pearson

ROCK ISLAND - With the high cost of home-heating bills only a fading memory, Crawford Co. is launching a campaign to drive up home-heating sales for the near 50-year firm.

Crawford, founded in 1952, recently consolidated operations with a 21,000-square foot expansion at its home in the Sunset Business Park.  The new building at 1306 Mill St. houses the company's laser-cutting and specialty welding operations.

With one project finished, Crawford is focusing on its home-heating division and has added a new residential division director.  Dan Shoemaker, former president of Quality Heating and Air Conditioning in Davenport, started with the company Aug. 20.  He plans to expand the company's residential sales and service. 

Mr. Shoemaker has 32 years' experience in the Quad-Cities residential heating and cooling market.

"We are genuinely excited to have Dan join our team,"  said Robert Frink, company president.  "We are fortunate to have someone with his background and experience."

Crawford has competed in the residential heating and cooling market since 1952.  While it never stopped installing and servicing home furnaces and air conditioners, sales in other business segments outgrew the residential business as the company diversified, Mr. Frink said.  "The company has been looking for someone to increase its residential operations for 10 years, he said.

The heating season in the Quad-Cities typically starts in mid-September, Mr. Shoemaker said, just in time for the company's new advertising campaign.  "It's never too hot, too cold, or too late."  The message is aimed at homeowners planning to replace furnaces this fall.

"Most people don't replace furnaces on cold or dark nights, although it does happen," Mr. Shoemaker said.

The public is much smarter about energy efficiency, Mr. Shoemaker said.  Manufacturers are answering the demand with furnaces that are 40 percent or more energy efficient than they were 15 years ago, he said.  Typically, a high-efficiency furnace pays for itself in energy savings in five to seven years, he said.

Crawford, a Bryant dealer, is offering factory rebates of up to $300 on certain models.

Besides heating and cooling, Crawford also offers sheet metal fabrication, architectural sheet metal, laser cutting, and specialty welding.

The company has 65 employees.  Mr. Frink has been president since 1976.  The management team also includes James Maynard Jr., Tod Luppen, and Hank Burns as vice presidents.  Crawford's field and shop employees are members of Sheet Metal Workers Local 91.

Crawford and its subsidiary, DSP-Monoxivent, operate out of a 47,000-square foot facility across from the Rock Island Public Works Center in Rock Island's Sunset Business Park.