B.F. Plastics, Inc. 70th Anniversary Advertorial - Article / Essay - Page 2
even at the expense of his own company. “Growing up, I watched my father go
way above the call of duty,” recollects Jim, who bought the business from his
father in 1973. “He put so much care into each order, even for orders that didn’t
make a lot of money. And that’s how we do business today. Our motto is that if
you take care of the customer, everything else will fall into place.”
An industry pioneer.
During World War II, rapid innovation in the plastics industry helped transform vital
materials in the US, which had been largely reliant on a limited supply of metals.
With an engineering mind, U.S. Navy veteran Bob Fichter became fascinated by
plastics being used in the military. Following his service, Bob pursued classes on
plastics technology and how to make his own products – at the same time working
full time as an engineer at a steel company.
Following his service to our country in World
War II, Bob Fichter founded
B.F. Plastics, Inc. in 1953.
In 1953, Bob Fichter and his wife, Marilyn, went into business as B.F. Plastics out
of the family home, becoming one of the industry’s first engravers of plastic signs,
and offering numerous plastic gift items. Although there were only a small number
of engravers in Ohio at the time, word soon got around that B.F. Plastics carried a
large stock of Norplex Phenolic (Formica) and several of the other engravers began
to buy material from B.F. when the manufacturer could not deliver. Bob believed in
helping those in his industry as he did his own customers – a business philosophy
that would yield greater success and cement the company’s reputation as a valued
partner.
For many years, B.F. Plastics operated both as an engraving company and as a
supplier, becoming a trusted industry resource for not only phenolic engraving
material but also the company’s growing offering of shop supplies. Growth in the
signage business eventually replaced gift items, and the company’s and wholesale
materials and supply business expanded regionally, based on the company’s relationships with other engravers and sign makers.
The young Fichter boys, (L-R) Ron, Andy,
Jack and Jim, helped out their parents in the
home-based engraving business.
A new generation. A renewed focus.
In 1970, Bob and Marilyn’s son, Jim, joined the company full-time after growing up
immersed in the business. Jim inherited an entrepreneurial spirit from his parents
that led him to purchase the company from them in 1973. Under Jim’s direction
as CEO, the company has continually expanded its product selection to meet the
growing needs of its customers. By the late 1970s, B.F. Plastics increased their
selection of nameplate holders and engraving materials, and in 1983 became a
distributor for a leading brand of engraving materials.
By then, the company’s wholesale materials and supply business was growing
much faster than their engraving business, and after 30 years, B.F. Plastics made
the decision to forego retail engraving to focus entirely on serving the supply side
of the business.
“It was a hard decision,” Jim recalls. “I knew I was taking a serious risk. The main
reason I decided to get out of engraving, really, was because of the conflict of
interest with my supply customers. Many of those same customers were competing
indirectly against my engraving business. Being a supplier, when it came to bidding
for work, I had an unfair advantage.”
A second significant decision immediately followed. Would he sell the engraving
business, or give his engraving business customers to his wholesale customers?
Once again, B.F. Plastics made a business decision putting the industry first, rather
than its own interests. A decision that earned the admiration of their customers,
many of which remain clients 40 years later.
B.F. Plastics – 70 years of dedication
