News from Drews Sign It Pty Ltd

Drews Sign It Pty Ltd Newsletter

Edition 2

April 2009

Greetings!

Welcome to the April Edition of our Newsletter. The positive responses I got from my first Newsletter of the year was very encouraging, and I thank everyone who took the time to write.

I have had some good suggestions put forward about inclusions in future Newsletters, which I also appreciate.

A fair bit has happened since I last wrote. Of course, by the time you read this, I'll be in the air flying over vast expanses of water on my way to the UK. (which reminds me, I should pack my water wings 'just in case'.... I wonder if my pilot is called Sully?).

As you've no doubt heard, our government has finally admitted what most small businesses already knew, and that is that Australia is in a recession. Recession is just another word for 'things will get much worse before they get much better'. Its not the end of the world, but it will need business owners to be acutely aware of not only how their own business is going, but also that of their clients.

I've heard some pundits say that we'll be heading for a depression if things don't change soon. It made me think of a quote by Harry S Truman:

It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours.

I'm no fiscal genius, so I've no idea if we'll head down that path in the near future, but I do know that just like any small business, my own business revolves as much around relationships as it does the physical side of the industry, that is, signs and promotions.

Sadly, many businesses that in the good times only saw clients as a 'meal ticket', and saw no value in building long term relationships, are now realising in the lean times, customer loyalty or lack of, is the price they are paying.

Lets hope each of us don't fall into the same trap.

History Teaches us a Lesson

Henry Ford was well known for his views on value for money. He is quoted as saying "The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed."

However, we all know him better as the American founder of the Ford Motor Company. His Model T revolutionised transportation and American Industrialisation.

Ford introduced it to the market on October 1, 1908. The car was very basic, but importantly, it was simple to drive, easy to repair and sold for just $825!

Within 8 years, as the price dropped to an amazing $360, sales reached 472,000 vehicles. An incredible sales figure in any language. Within 10 years of its initial introduction, half of all cars in America were Model T Fords.

Then, just like you and me, Henry Ford started to experience rising competition.

Better ideas were being incorporated into better vehicles, and by the mid-1920s, sales of the iconic Model T began to decline.

However, Ford steadfastly refused to incorporate new features into the Model T until 1926, when flagging sales finally convinced him to make a new model. The final total production was 15,007,034.

So, what is the lesson for us today?

Simply this;

"There are very few circumstances where we can succeed in business without continuously improving."

There has never been a more critical time for us all to be focused on the Continuous Improvement of our organization.

The key to improving organizational performance is implementing sustainable best practices that will;

Ensure you are focused on what customers value
Make value flow without interruption or deviation
Reduce or eliminate all types of waste
Reduce or eliminate equipment losses
Enable you to produce at the rate required by the market
Improve involvement of everyone in organizational improvement

How can we achieve this? By the Implementation of Lean Thinking Best Practices.

For further information, I'd encourage you to contact my clients from the Team at Contours Customised Solutions. More info here

The Art of Goodbye

If, in the unfortunate event of you being made redundant, or perhaps moving on to greener pastures, have you ever spared a thought about how you would word your farewell email - the people you'd like to thank, the people you'd like to ... not thank?

Sadly I've had my share of electronic farewells here, as have many businesses. I've appreciated the shorter goodbye, the splash of humor, the glad-we-shared-this-space. I've winced at the longer missives, the career recaps, the pain-between-the-lines.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times explored this too common form of communication. Some goodbyes are brief. Some are angry. Some are memorable for reasons good and bad.

One viral 2007 example, from a JP Morgan employee: "Dear Co-Workers and Managers, As many of you probably know, today is my last day. But before I leave, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what a great and distinct pleasure it has been to type "Today is my last day.""

Experts warn against these emails, which might be temporarily gratifying, but are forever public. Their advice: Keep it nice. Keep it brief. Be funny if you're funny (but not if you're not), and include some contact info. The people who want to keep in touch with you already know everything else.

If you need a guide - and we hope you don't - use this, from another newspaper writer:

"Thanks to all who said Hi in the hallway, who made me smile, made me feel appreciated or made me grow professionally. I hope I was able to add something to your time here, too. If I didn't, I'm sorry. Good luck. God bless. And thank you."

Certainly none of us like hearing of staff that we have dealt with moving on, and then losing touch.

But if you do, remember its a small world, and sending a nasty email about someone may well come back to bite you at another time and another job.

Ideally, never having the need to write one in the first place is a better thought.

There is more good reading here

Got Spam? (au only)

For Australian readers only: - Its not widely reported, but the Australian Government has developed a spam reporting link that resides on your email tool bar. You can download ACMA's SpamMATTERS spam reporting software for free here.

If you are using Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, ACMA's free SpamMATTERS spam reporting software enables you to report and delete spam at the same time - with just a click of the mouse.

Unfortunately, with the hysteria that was created with the introduction of the Spam Act 2003, instead of simply unsubscribing from no longer wanted newsletters, people just reported them as spam.

Of course, some were legitimate newsletters which the user had subscribed to some time earlier. Unlike mine however, most newsletters are a money making concern. They sell advertising space via Google or others, to generate an income.

I've not gone down that path simply because my newsletter is a casual affair, and was never intended to be, nor will ever be, a form of revenue.

Of course, I'd hate for you to unsubscribe, but if you do, your wish will be honored without question. I might cry myself to sleep at night as a result, but Constant Contact are very strict about their unsubscribe feature. They get very cross if we don't abide by the rules :)

Well, that's about it for this issue.

Hopefully this newsletter finds you well. I trust you found it informative too.

The next email will include news of our latest investment.

We have purchased new machinery this month, but the installation has been delayed due to my trip. I'll be able to explain it's uses better, but to be perfectly honest, I purchased it sight unseen. More about that later though.

Finally, as I have already stated, I'll be away from the Office until the 9th of May, but if you do require anything urgently, I have several sign shops that will be available to help out if you 'must' have something done.

Just call the office and leave a message, and Mum or Dad will get back to you as soon as they can.

Its worth stating too, that my parents are also having a break, so it may be that they are out when you call. Just leave a message anyway and they'll call you back.

Until next time, please take care, and keep safe.

Sincerely,

Shane Drew

Drew's Sign It Pty Ltd

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