(B2) Busy Season

TRANSCRIPT
Busy Season

NARRATOR:
It’s midsummer in the eastern United States and business is heating up for Acme Ice and Dry Ice Company in Massachusetts. When the temperature rises, so does customer demand. Marc Savenor, the owner, says it can be difficult to meet all the orders.

SOUNDBITE - Marc Savenor:
"Well, it's hard to keep up because everybody wants it at once and, like you hear, the phone is ringing off the wall, but you know, in the winter they don't want to know us, but in the summer they definitely want to know us, and we're pretty well known right now. So, you know Acme Ice, is very busy right now."

NARRATOR:
Marc has been in the ice business for over forty years, delivering to big brands like Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, and McDonald’s, as well as biotech companies and local stores. Summer is always his busiest season. In winter, ice sales usually slow down. But when a heatwave hits, the phones barely stop ringing. 

SOUNDBITE - Marc Savenor:
"During the heat waves, my phone will ring at 3 in the morning till 11 at night and you've got to get it when it's coming in and everybody wants some."

NARRATOR:
That means long hours, fast decision-making, and careful demand planning. Marc must prepare sales forecasts, increase stock levels, and make sure production can keep up. For many businesses, summer heat is a problem. But for Marc, it’s an opportunity.

SOUNDBITE - Marc Savenor:
"Well you know we have a regular business but when it's hot it kind of makes the phone ring a lot more because everybody is in need of ice at the same time because nobody's ice machines are working and it's very hot out."

NARRATOR:
Marc knows the heat won’t last forever, so his team works hard to make the most of the busy season — keeping customers happy and the supply chain running smoothly.