Stanley and Bostitch find synergy at demo day

NEW YORK CITY -- With an integration plan in the works, Bostitch and Stanley showed off a variety of new products during a hands-on demo day here at the Westin New York Hotel in Times Square.

While all the details about the combination of Bostitch and Stanley have yet to be revealed, Stanley's VP Beau Parker explained during a new product presentation that Stanley Tools and Storage and Bostitch will consolidate. "Prior to this meeting they were two completely different businesses, two completely different marketing departments, two completely different back-end organizations," Parker said. "We are essentially putting those together, and they will be one business."

Back in April, Stanley Works announced with its first-quarter earnings that Bostitch and Stanley Consumer Tools & Storage would consolidate under Jeff Ansell. Significant channel and customer overlap were cited as the reason for the move.

During a series of presentations Thursday, Stanley and Bostitch product managers took turns leading news media representatives through new technologies and new features of products.

Among the hightlights of the product presentation were two professional grade compressors from Bostitch -- the higher end model, the CAP204OST, at $269 retail, includes an ergonomically designed roll-bar handle that protects the pressure gauges and regulator knob.

(View compressor listings in the HCN Buyers Guide & Product Directory.)

Stanley turned back the clock with the introduction of five Stanley "Sweetheart" branded hand planes -- bringing back the sweetheart logo that it says coincided with the height of the plane's popularity. It also introduced a three-in-one Tripod LED Flashlight that allows the user a new level of versatility. Stanley also unveiled what it calls the "world's first" line of lighted box beam levels, making it easier for users to work in the dark.

Borrowing technology and concepts from golf and tennis manufacturers, Stanley's new FatMax graphite hammers offer an expanded sweet spot. The new hammers have a 70% larger strike face than traditional hammers.

In the first quarter, Stanley's earnings were $39 million, down from $64.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Sales were down 15% to $913 million.