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A new year, and more to learn...
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I had an old friend and ex-employer over for dinner in December- he was the chairman of CEDIA last year. I had seen that he had opened my November newsletter and I asked for feedback. He said that he only got a third of the way through the newsletter and was then onto something else. An epiphany! I realized that I do the same thing when getting all the emails I do. My action? Highlight only one or two important items per newsletter.
2011 was a very good year for me. I presently represent 8 manufacturers, and I was the Rep of the Year for three of them -
My revenue was up 87%, and I have great products and customers to thank for that!
The high-end is alive and well, and there are many opportunities created by Apple, Sonos, Microsoft, and Logitech. On the surface they do not appear to to be opportunities, but all the stuff they connect to and control, do.
Here is to a prosperous 2012!
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| Who works for whom?
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My family settled in the Bay Area in 1849, and at one time was reputed to be the largest furniture merchant west of the Rockies. Jackson's donated mattresses to all those who lost their homes in the 1906 earthquake. Subsequently, in 1929, they wrote off all the debt owed by those affected in Berkeley by a very destructive fire. The Jackson's understood the importance oif the customer. I try to conduct business by the same standards.
I know exactly who I work for- you and your customer. I will only align myself with manufacturers who also understand this dynamic.
I just returned from CES and will add 2 lines who are managed by teams that understand that "the customer is always right" and will do anything in their power to provide a superior experience.
If we, as an industry, always keep our customer in the fore, with the understanding that they pay our salaries, and we make it easy for them to do business with us, we not only prosper, but we have fun at the same time.
I think that In-N-Out and Apple stores are a very good example of how we should conduct our respective businesses. Efficient, fun, and easy. And the 8 manufacturers that I am fortunate to represent do just that.
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