NKBA as a Valued Resource!
Open your hearts & minds to receiving new information.
As we discuss resources and team building that will provide your customers with the best products and services you can offer, remember the largest association in our industry. I will not bore you with a lot of statistics and bulleted reasons why you should participate - just this one point - you get out of it, what you put into it. Put more into this resource so it will inspire your resourcefulness!
Over the last 24 years, I have made friends and contacts across the country that inspire me and help me with ideas, and processes to enhance my business. If you are a member of a buying group the NKBA is an enhancement of the services you are already receiving. Buying groups only make up about 10% of the current NKBA membership however. ( Members are dual members) I have used NKBA meetings to find employees, employers and to find out where jobs I have lost ended up and why. It is a great resource for top dealers to network and learn from each other.
The NEW NKBA WEBSITE is easier to navigate and much better looking, in my opinion. I have only begun to scratch the surface in my exploration of the site.
It amazes me how many vendors do NOT go to the NKBA meetings. Representatives say theyare too busy dealing with the leading buyers in their communities. What is that? Their leading buyers are usually attending NKBA meetings and it is a great time to have an informal discussion that may end up expanding both businesses.
If you are operating on the upper end of the Kitchen and Bath business, I have heard that NKBA is too "pedestrian or lower end for my business" - PLEAAASE. What is that? That is like saying you already know so much you cannot learn any more...open your mind to new ideas, or even, recycle old ideas that can be easily adapted to your business model.
When you open your heart and mind to receiving new information, or even relearning old information, it is amazing the transformation that takes place within your business mindset. Ideas are looked at positively and with an "How can I make this work" attitude, instead of " I already tried that once" negative attitude.
My first webinars have been a real learning experience. Thank you for your patience as I have tried them out on you. I made some mistakes and they have not gone as smoothly as I would have liked. However, instead of giving up, I am adapting and changing for the better. For example, I do not like talking into a "dead space" with Go2Webinar. If you have more than 15 people sign up, you cannot let everyone talk. From now on, I am making panelists out of the first 15 people that sign up and we will hold a lively discussion. Also, I am holding one on one Go2Meetings with individual companies with less than 15 participants. Instead of giving up on an idea that I know will work, I am adapting.
Take a second look at your local NKBA, go to EVERY meeting, be involved, you will find it to be a valuable resource and tool for ideas, market information and great friends over the long run.
Thank you and keep your mind focused on forward thinking ways to serve and add value to your clients!
Robert Foltz, CKD
Kitchen Sales Coach
