[JTO]

thanks guys,
Let my clarify. I survived the cuts. But yes Harry, I think they expect the remaining folks to pick up the load. Truth be told, my boss doesn't even know what the new organization looks like.

Hi Rick,
I understand and agree with your statements. Adhesives used to enjoy a specialty chemical status but that has been largely replaced by a commodity status. Due to this change, prices have been driven down. My company was/is unique in that a lot of great technical sevice comes (came) with the price of the resin. Our current customers decided that the little bit extra our resin cost was worth it due to all of the technical help they received along with it. This is our (my group's) fear; the current customers we have chose us due to the package we provide. Now, are we going to abandon that philosophy of service and try to go head-to-head with our competetion? If so, we will see our adhesive volumes drop due to the fact that a) we aren't providing the service to justify our premium and b) our cometition is four to five times larger than we are and therefore enjoy better buying power of raw materials and can offer lower prices. Its a spiral of declining volumes causing more cost savings to prop up returns, etc.

As Island and others agree, I need to continue to build those multiple streams of income. Maybe we need to start a new thread called "your multiple streams of income".

Thanks guys. I'm feeling my hope return.
Troy