Hi All
We have our systems all dialed in now. The color system is great, the parts department is making beautiful blanks and all the other systems are tuned. We will see a large upturn in shipping volume over the next 10 days.
I cannot adequately here express our sincere gratitude for the support you (our customer) have given us during this challenging period in our history. The letters, calls and e-mails in support and in commitment to our products and people are the reason for our quick return. We were motivated to return quickly - but, you all made it very easy for us to push real hard and get back to operations faster than we thought possible.
Thank you!
Scott Neal
Other housekeeping items:
We are currently in the process of updating and bringing back our website. I think it will be up and running next week.
The website will have all the updated forms and contact information you need. If you have any ideas for our website in the way of support information, please send me an e-mail at scott@paradisepictures.com
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Update on our Shipping Progress
September 23, 2008
Shipping Rate
Our shipping rate continues to improve. Color is starting to be very good and consistent and so is the blank parts flow.
Due to our own high internal standards, we are rejecting quite a few jobs before they ship - all this is related to color adjustments with the new system and parts manufacturing using a revised porcelain formula. We soon expect to be back where we were before the fire.
A note about reject rates: Is this our best work? Does it closely match the photograph? These are a few of the questions our people ask when doing final quality control reviews on every portrait. I won't share our current reject rate here because it just gives our competitors something to talk about. It's only important to us and it reflects how we are meeting our quality standards. The secret is - we all have a reject rate and I'm sure we all manage to varying levels of acceptability. It's the nature of what we all are challenged with every day. You'd be surprised at what happens in an oven between 900 and 1400 degrees!
Domes and Frames
Our doming dies are almost finished. What happened to the machinist that could calculate an arc and make a die that won't rock? Need I say more? They are coming soon. If you've ordered a dome and need it quickly - please give us a call and we'll change it to a flat part to ship sooner.
Frames - our original covered frames are just starting to be delivered this week. Thank you for your patience. Your jobs will ship soon if waiting on either of these frame types.
We appreciate your patience. We are working very hard every day to get back to being a seamless part of your supply chain.
Thank you for your business.
Scott Neal
Shipping Rate
Our shipping rate continues to improve. Color is starting to be very good and consistent and so is the blank parts flow.
Due to our own high internal standards, we are rejecting quite a few jobs before they ship - all this is related to color adjustments with the new system and parts manufacturing using a revised porcelain formula. We soon expect to be back where we were before the fire.
A note about reject rates: Is this our best work? Does it closely match the photograph? These are a few of the questions our people ask when doing final quality control reviews on every portrait. I won't share our current reject rate here because it just gives our competitors something to talk about. It's only important to us and it reflects how we are meeting our quality standards. The secret is - we all have a reject rate and I'm sure we all manage to varying levels of acceptability. It's the nature of what we all are challenged with every day. You'd be surprised at what happens in an oven between 900 and 1400 degrees!
Domes and Frames
Our doming dies are almost finished. What happened to the machinist that could calculate an arc and make a die that won't rock? Need I say more? They are coming soon. If you've ordered a dome and need it quickly - please give us a call and we'll change it to a flat part to ship sooner.
Frames - our original covered frames are just starting to be delivered this week. Thank you for your patience. Your jobs will ship soon if waiting on either of these frame types.
We appreciate your patience. We are working very hard every day to get back to being a seamless part of your supply chain.
Thank you for your business.
Scott Neal
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Now Shipping Portraits!
Day 85 of 90
Friday September 5, 2008 our first customer orders were shipped from the new Chico, California location. All of our employees are very proud at what they've accomplished in the rebuilding of Paradise Pictures.
We have quite a few orders to work through and we are still completing the manufacture of domed parts and receiving the last portion of our initial bronze frame orders.
The Phase One order period is expected to continue for at least one to two weeks. Check back soon for another update.
Again, Mike, David, Lynne and I thank you for your support and encouragement during this challenging time.
Scott
Friday September 5, 2008 our first customer orders were shipped from the new Chico, California location. All of our employees are very proud at what they've accomplished in the rebuilding of Paradise Pictures.
We have quite a few orders to work through and we are still completing the manufacture of domed parts and receiving the last portion of our initial bronze frame orders.
The Phase One order period is expected to continue for at least one to two weeks. Check back soon for another update.
Again, Mike, David, Lynne and I thank you for your support and encouragement during this challenging time.
Scott
Friday, August 29, 2008
Update On The Week Just Ended (8/29/08)
This week has gone very well.
The parts department worked the bugs out of a coating and firing issue - all is well now. The white parts are beautiful!
Mike reports that the color system is looking very nice so far. He has printed a number of images and they will go through a first firing most likely on Tuesday.
The digital room is up and running and the scanner is working overtime to get scans to our folks.
Yes. I can say week one was a success. When will the first product ship - don't quote me but it could be late next week!
Have a great holiday weekend and thank you for your business.
Scott Neal
The parts department worked the bugs out of a coating and firing issue - all is well now. The white parts are beautiful!
Mike reports that the color system is looking very nice so far. He has printed a number of images and they will go through a first firing most likely on Tuesday.
The digital room is up and running and the scanner is working overtime to get scans to our folks.
Yes. I can say week one was a success. When will the first product ship - don't quote me but it could be late next week!
Have a great holiday weekend and thank you for your business.
Scott Neal
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Paradise Pictures is Now Ready For Orders (Phase One)
Day 69 of 90
What a long strange trip it’s been! We can’t believe it but we are ready to implement Phase One of our return to production.
Phase One Order Period
If you have orders that you’ve been saving for us, we are ready for them with one condition: we will not be able to promise our fifteen working day turnaround time in Phase One.
What does this mean?
The front end of our operations are ready. We can receive your order, we can check it in and do the image preparation necessary to ready the photograph for printing.
The back end or printing process is initially scheduled to come online later this week or early next week. We’ll start by making test images early next week. Then comes calibration to the color sets and more test images. Images will go all the way through the firing process to ensure we’ve got a handle on the color shift that naturally occurs. The goal is always to get the color as close to the original photograph as possible.
What can go wrong?
Calibration and firing setup can take longer than a few days. But, I will assure you Mike and David will do everything necessary to get the system calibrated and setup as quickly as possible.
How long will it take to get my order?
I’m going to under promise here and hopefully over deliver. We might have your order for a month to five weeks. But at the same time, don’t be surprised if we significantly beat that estimate. Like getting the plant rebuilt quickly, our goal to start shipping product is first and foremost on our minds now.
If you need orders in our standard turnaround time of fifteen working days, you may want to wait to send orders to us in Phase Two. We understand some retailers experience high demand for timely placement of stones. If you are one of those retailers, please wait for Phase Two.
A note about frames:
We are planning to offer the full line of frames presented in our catalog. They are the only items that we source outside the company. Our manufacturers have been producing our frames and have promised delivery by September 1.
A note about returned orders :
If we sent you an order back after the fire and you received a page that included a quote on one side and your order form on the other, there is a very high chance of the image prep having already been done and the image is ready to print. In this case, if you are still wanting that work to be completed by us, please send us the photograph and the quote/order form and we’ll pull it from the server and set it up for printing. We ask for the photograph to ensure we are printing the correct image. This will save time and help us deliver these orders quicker.
Order Forms and Address:
Our new address is:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
650 Thunderbolt Street
Chico, CA 95973-9025
Phone: 800-960-8040 or 530-895-9300
Fax: 530-895-9600
We have put a download file of our new order form on the right panel below our address for the link.
Thank you for your patience and support!
Scott Neal
Monday, August 11, 2008
Office Staff Returns to..... The Office!
Day 60 of 90
Tuesday August 12, the office staff returns to work. We've completed the office space portion of the building and have both servers running and the telephone system running. Phones are now live with the same 800# ringing to our new Chico numbers. See the end of this post for our new phone numbers and address.
The remainder of this week in the office we'll be testing and loading the accounting system to see how it performs. We'll be updating data that we've been accumulating and getting ready to process orders in the system.
The parts department has a goal of firing blanks by the end of the week. Spray booths are almost installed completely and dust collectors are being plumbed. Ovens are being burned in.
The digital department - what we call the room where all of your photo's are scanned, cleaned up and color corrected is complete with the installation of (now don't laugh) ... fire sprinklers.
The printing system is in process and has a few weeks to go. Then on to testing and calibration.
We are getting a lot of calls about when we can take orders. I can't say just yet - maybe as the end of the week approaches, we'll have more clarity on our status. Stay tuned.
Paradise Pictures, LLC
650 Thunderbolt Street
Chico, CA 95973
Toll free: 800-960-8040
Direct: 530-895-9300
Fax: 530-895-9600
We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you again soon.
Scott Neal
Tuesday August 12, the office staff returns to work. We've completed the office space portion of the building and have both servers running and the telephone system running. Phones are now live with the same 800# ringing to our new Chico numbers. See the end of this post for our new phone numbers and address.
The remainder of this week in the office we'll be testing and loading the accounting system to see how it performs. We'll be updating data that we've been accumulating and getting ready to process orders in the system.
The parts department has a goal of firing blanks by the end of the week. Spray booths are almost installed completely and dust collectors are being plumbed. Ovens are being burned in.
The digital department - what we call the room where all of your photo's are scanned, cleaned up and color corrected is complete with the installation of (now don't laugh) ... fire sprinklers.
The printing system is in process and has a few weeks to go. Then on to testing and calibration.
We are getting a lot of calls about when we can take orders. I can't say just yet - maybe as the end of the week approaches, we'll have more clarity on our status. Stay tuned.
Our new address:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
650 Thunderbolt Street
Chico, CA 95973
Our new phone numbers:
Toll free: 800-960-8040
Direct: 530-895-9300
Fax: 530-895-9600
We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you again soon.
Scott Neal
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Pictures
Day 55 of 90
We've been asked for pictures - so here are few shots that I was able get without being run over by a forklift:
The Building on an average day right now - many contractors!
Painting the Image Prep Room
Carpet Done! Light install in the Image Room
From One End - the Alley - Office on the right - Parts and Imaging on the Left.
Cabinets ready for placement in the Shipping Department
We've been asked for pictures - so here are few shots that I was able get without being run over by a forklift:
The Building on an average day right now - many contractors!
Painting the Image Prep Room
Carpet Done! Light install in the Image Room
From One End - the Alley - Office on the right - Parts and Imaging on the Left.
Cabinets ready for placement in the Shipping Department
As of Tuesday night, many machines and other pieces of the manufacturing process are now in place - much more to go. Telephone is close to being complete as is the network. The electricians should be done today with any luck as should be the heating and air people. Safety railings are almost done on the top of the rooms and parts are still being prepped for inventory.
If all goes well, our office staff may move to the new location Friday at which time we'll publish new local phone numbers but you can rest assured that our toll free number hasn't changed. 800-960-8040.
Our new mailing and physical delivery address is:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
650 Thunderbolt Street
Chico, CA 95973
Thanks for keeping in touch. We appreciate your business!
Scott Neal
If all goes well, our office staff may move to the new location Friday at which time we'll publish new local phone numbers but you can rest assured that our toll free number hasn't changed. 800-960-8040.
Our new mailing and physical delivery address is:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
650 Thunderbolt Street
Chico, CA 95973
Thanks for keeping in touch. We appreciate your business!
Scott Neal
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Construction Update - 7/30
Day 48 of 90
Wow! I arrived Monday to find spaces built out, drywall in place. Now - you see what our work-flow is through the building - it will be more efficient!
What's happening now - texturing, painting, cabinets being built, electrical in the final stages, heating and air in the final stages.
The offices have desks and carpet and windows. One of a kind manufacturing equipment is being built from scratch. As I've said before - we make portraits with a very unique process. You just can't buy some of the things we use. It's presented some fun and interesting challenges for the partners. We've had to source some equipment from other industries.
And as I mentioned in my last post..... I was hoping to find the parts department in operation. It is! At least the first half of the process. Metal prep is going on amidst all of the chaos! When the spray booths and ovens are ready - there will be a lot of blanks to coat and fire.
Next week - we slip out of the bottle neck of the room prep and explode into many areas that we can work to finish. Telephone can be finished, network can be finished. Some of the printing process can be placed in their departments. Cabinets placed, ovens tested. Porcelain powder can be sprayed. Too much to list.
So you may ask - when will you be ready to accept orders? We are thinking in the later part of August. But don't hold me to that - we're moving as fast as we can and I know the partners are going to test the process before they run orders. I can say this - we will definitely be shipping product in September.
I'll see if I can snap a couple of pictures for my next blog post - stay tuned.
Again, thank you for all the cards, letters, e-mails and phone calls. They've been wonderful! Our people love them.
Thank you for keeping in touch. Check back soon.
Scott Neal
Wow! I arrived Monday to find spaces built out, drywall in place. Now - you see what our work-flow is through the building - it will be more efficient!
What's happening now - texturing, painting, cabinets being built, electrical in the final stages, heating and air in the final stages.
The offices have desks and carpet and windows. One of a kind manufacturing equipment is being built from scratch. As I've said before - we make portraits with a very unique process. You just can't buy some of the things we use. It's presented some fun and interesting challenges for the partners. We've had to source some equipment from other industries.
And as I mentioned in my last post..... I was hoping to find the parts department in operation. It is! At least the first half of the process. Metal prep is going on amidst all of the chaos! When the spray booths and ovens are ready - there will be a lot of blanks to coat and fire.
Next week - we slip out of the bottle neck of the room prep and explode into many areas that we can work to finish. Telephone can be finished, network can be finished. Some of the printing process can be placed in their departments. Cabinets placed, ovens tested. Porcelain powder can be sprayed. Too much to list.
So you may ask - when will you be ready to accept orders? We are thinking in the later part of August. But don't hold me to that - we're moving as fast as we can and I know the partners are going to test the process before they run orders. I can say this - we will definitely be shipping product in September.
I'll see if I can snap a couple of pictures for my next blog post - stay tuned.
Again, thank you for all the cards, letters, e-mails and phone calls. They've been wonderful! Our people love them.
Thank you for keeping in touch. Check back soon.
Scott Neal
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Construction Update - 7/22
Day 40 of 90
Framing inspections are done! Electrical is almost done. Later this week insulation will go in and drywall can start on Friday. Next week we will be painting, building desks and shelves in the building.
I will travel to Chico on Monday July 28 to start work on the both the Macintosh and PC Networks. A new server on the PC side will be installed. Telephone lines are scheduled for next week along with Internet Service, and our telephone hardware will be installed.
I am hearing rumors that the parts department may start up next week. Check back next week to see if it comes true! We need to have blanks on the shelf when we start printing.
Employees are being rehired to help us finish the space and test the information systems when they are up and running. We have a lot for them to do in preparation for operations.
Thank you for staying in touch. We value your business and are eager to serve you again soon.
Scott Neal
Framing inspections are done! Electrical is almost done. Later this week insulation will go in and drywall can start on Friday. Next week we will be painting, building desks and shelves in the building.
I will travel to Chico on Monday July 28 to start work on the both the Macintosh and PC Networks. A new server on the PC side will be installed. Telephone lines are scheduled for next week along with Internet Service, and our telephone hardware will be installed.
I am hearing rumors that the parts department may start up next week. Check back next week to see if it comes true! We need to have blanks on the shelf when we start printing.
Employees are being rehired to help us finish the space and test the information systems when they are up and running. We have a lot for them to do in preparation for operations.
Thank you for staying in touch. We value your business and are eager to serve you again soon.
Scott Neal
Monday, July 14, 2008
Building Progress
Day 32/90
The building is framed. Were still receiving equipment and the raw materials for production.
This week we have city inspections, network and telephone wiring, insulation and drywall. We'll also be coordinating the heat and air install for later this week.
Thanks for keeping in touch. I'll keep you up to date!
Scott
The building is framed. Were still receiving equipment and the raw materials for production.
This week we have city inspections, network and telephone wiring, insulation and drywall. We'll also be coordinating the heat and air install for later this week.
Thanks for keeping in touch. I'll keep you up to date!
Scott
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Framing Starts Today
Day 26/90
Here's an update on our progress:
One major piece of equipment is in place!
We have a number of contractors that have rallied around us to get the framing done this week. Hopefully, we can have framing inspections by Friday.
Our telephone and network provider is walking the building today to draw plans for pulling wire as soon as possible. We'll be able to move data at Gigabit speeds which should improve productivity. Our new telephone system may include a seamless connection for our customers between our California and Minnesota locations. Still working out the details.
Stay tuned!
Scott
Here's an update on our progress:
One major piece of equipment is in place!
We have a number of contractors that have rallied around us to get the framing done this week. Hopefully, we can have framing inspections by Friday.
Our telephone and network provider is walking the building today to draw plans for pulling wire as soon as possible. We'll be able to move data at Gigabit speeds which should improve productivity. Our new telephone system may include a seamless connection for our customers between our California and Minnesota locations. Still working out the details.
Stay tuned!
Scott
Monday, July 7, 2008
Paradise Pictures Closes on Building
Day 25
Today we took possession of the building where we will locate Paradise Pictures. Our quick two week escrow went smoothly.
This afternoon we will receive on the dock one the key pieces of equipment to our printing process. It will be un-crated and located in the building today.
Tomorrow (Tuesday July 8) our contractors will start work on the build out of the interior space with an eye towards city inspections and approvals.
Stop back later this week to see how we're doing.
Thank you for your interest in Paradise Pictures, LLC
Today we took possession of the building where we will locate Paradise Pictures. Our quick two week escrow went smoothly.
This afternoon we will receive on the dock one the key pieces of equipment to our printing process. It will be un-crated and located in the building today.
Tomorrow (Tuesday July 8) our contractors will start work on the build out of the interior space with an eye towards city inspections and approvals.
Stop back later this week to see how we're doing.
Thank you for your interest in Paradise Pictures, LLC
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Paradise Pictures Buys a Building at Chico Airport
This afternoon, the seller signed our offer for a building at the Chico Airport. Simultaneously, we executed a lease agreement with the seller for 20% of the space to be immediately available for a staging area to receive equipment.
The closing is scheduled in early July. At which time, we will begin to build out the space inside to meet our departmental needs.
We have retained an architect to draft the changes necessary and fast-track them for approval with the City of Chico. We have 22 people that are ready to go back to work.
Stay tuned and thank you for keeping in touch.
Scott Neal
The closing is scheduled in early July. At which time, we will begin to build out the space inside to meet our departmental needs.
We have retained an architect to draft the changes necessary and fast-track them for approval with the City of Chico. We have 22 people that are ready to go back to work.
Stay tuned and thank you for keeping in touch.
Scott Neal
Monday, June 23, 2008
All Orders In House Are Returned
All orders that we were working on in house have been sent back to our customers. We cataloged them so we could answer any questions and ensure they were properly accounted for.
We've also returned deposits. At the end of the month we'll send statements to customers that have open invoice balances.
Thank you for your support and patience.
More news tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Thanks - Scott
We've also returned deposits. At the end of the month we'll send statements to customers that have open invoice balances.
Thank you for your support and patience.
More news tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Thanks - Scott
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Mail to Paradise Pictures
We still maintain our post office box in Paradise.
Please send mail or remittances to:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
PO Box 3190
Paradise, CA 95967-3190
For express delivery:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
2419 Ceanothus Avenue
Chico, CA 95926
As always, you may call us at 800-960-8040 and send e-mail to lynne@paradisepictures.com or scott@paradisepictures.com
Please send mail or remittances to:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
PO Box 3190
Paradise, CA 95967-3190
For express delivery:
Paradise Pictures, LLC
2419 Ceanothus Avenue
Chico, CA 95926
As always, you may call us at 800-960-8040 and send e-mail to lynne@paradisepictures.com or scott@paradisepictures.com
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Sorting and Returning Orders
We have sorted all of the jobs that we had in house and are checking them with our records. We will begin sending incomplete orders back to our customers on Wednesday.
Thank you for your patience.
Thank you for your patience.
Paradise Pictures Telephone Now Operational
We will be maintaining regular office hours during the rebuilding process. If you have any questions, please call us at 800-960-8040.
We are receiving e-mail at:
Main Office: lynne@paradisepictures.com
Business Information: info@paradisepictures.com
Scott Neal: scott@paradisepictures.com
We are receiving e-mail at:
Main Office: lynne@paradisepictures.com
Business Information: info@paradisepictures.com
Scott Neal: scott@paradisepictures.com
Paradise Pictures Lost to Wild Fire
On Thursday afternoon June 12, 2008, the manufacturing facility and California offices of Paradise Pictures, LLC “the Company” were lost in Northern California’s Humboldt Fire.
Employees were able to successfully execute the Company’s disaster plan and removed all historical archives, customer records and photographs, most of its data processing equipment and certain propriety manufacturing technology during the mandatory evacuation.
Some employees will resume work Monday June 16, 2008 to process uncompleted orders and return them and related deposits to its customers. The Company expects its phone lines to be transferred to the new location and be operational by the end of business Tuesday June 17, 2008. In the meantime, voice mail is operational and the Company’s customers are encouraged to leave a voice mail if they have questions and calls will be promptly returned.
The Partners and Employees thank all of our customers for the business they have given us over the last seventeen years. We all deeply appreciate the loyalty our customers have bestowed upon us. While we understand that our customers will have to source Memorial Portraits elsewhere while we are rebuilding, we hope our customers will rejoin us when we resume operations.
Thank you for your business.
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