I have started to see an increasing number of opportunities to pay someone who’ll teach you and your business how to survive in our recent economy. I don’t know whether to congratulate those offering the services for savvy marketing or be repelled by their opportunistic nature.
I began in small business and recognize that the unsettling environment that most small businesses operate in was the perfect training ground for today’s economy. I needed to adapt quickly to seize upon opportunities, calculating gain vs. loss in basic, efficient indicators. This made me agile. It also taught me how to reinvent both myself and my product.
My corporate experience was most valuable for showing me the things I am not suited for: lengthy evaluations and slow moving analysis; rules and guidelines that in promoting uniformity negate opportunities specific to region or demographic.
The biggest advantage corporate life has always offered was stability. Larger meant deeper pockets where ups and downs could be weathered without effects as devastating as those that a smaller entity would suffer. This is no longer the case. Security is gone. Large entities should be seeking those with small business backgrounds, if they’re smart, because they will benefit from the fresh approaches and insights that come with a small business background.
My advice to those who are tempted to pay someone for lofty advice is this: find a friend or associate who has operated a small business and talk to them instead. They, too, are businessmen (women) who are able to deliver both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Their suggestions will be completely different than those contained by large business advocates both in brevity and specificity.
I have always admired those who had the temperament to stay the course. Mine has always sought change. That’s why I am in small business. I just need to remind myself that I’ve trained for this time my entire life.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Thank You (NOT!#%$@) Circuit City
I have been using my laptop as my primary computer for several years now. It has been a workhouse and has performed in a manner well beyond its middle-of-the-road price tag. But eventually the drive was full, and memory too little, despite the addition of an external hard drive. I was constantly being told my "scratch disks were full".
About a month ago, at Circuit City, I purchased an 8 gig (RAM), 750gig HP desktop with the biggest screen possible- at least for my space - a 22" beauty. I was specific with the salesperson about what programs I ran often - Adobe CS3. I went for extended service because they offered phone support as part of the warranty. Three weeks after my purchase, the Vista issues had me ready to return the HP and start over because Adobe has not made CS3, nor almost any of CS4 64 bit compatible. I was back to programming on my laptop while dragging the hard drive from laptop to desktop. However, 7 Days after my purchase Circuit City declared bankruptcy
so they were unable to accept any returns.
This past week I had enough and decided to downgrade to Windows XP. The external hard drive contained all my files so I would just be reinstalling my other software. I would, unfortunately loose the use of 4 mg of RAM. While researching how best to accomplish this I came across the mention of Microsoft Virtual PC which allows you to run 2 operating systems on one computer. I am trying this out and will report on my progress.
Meanwhile Circuit City can go to $#@$^% for employing unqualified salespeople and leaving me with the result of this person's ignorance. He continues to cause me frustration and heartache each and every day.
About a month ago, at Circuit City, I purchased an 8 gig (RAM), 750gig HP desktop with the biggest screen possible- at least for my space - a 22" beauty. I was specific with the salesperson about what programs I ran often - Adobe CS3. I went for extended service because they offered phone support as part of the warranty. Three weeks after my purchase, the Vista issues had me ready to return the HP and start over because Adobe has not made CS3, nor almost any of CS4 64 bit compatible. I was back to programming on my laptop while dragging the hard drive from laptop to desktop. However, 7 Days after my purchase Circuit City declared bankruptcy
so they were unable to accept any returns.
This past week I had enough and decided to downgrade to Windows XP. The external hard drive contained all my files so I would just be reinstalling my other software. I would, unfortunately loose the use of 4 mg of RAM. While researching how best to accomplish this I came across the mention of Microsoft Virtual PC which allows you to run 2 operating systems on one computer. I am trying this out and will report on my progress.
Meanwhile Circuit City can go to $#@$^% for employing unqualified salespeople and leaving me with the result of this person's ignorance. He continues to cause me frustration and heartache each and every day.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sundance Channel's Fashion Week: Ready to Watch
Sundance opened their Fashion Week with the U.S. television premiere of Rudolphe Marconi's Lagerfeld Confidential. Beware - this isn't a film you can watch while doing something else. It's subtitled. I was glad I'd recorded this, I needed to rewind and repeat sections because there was a lot packed into this 90 minutes. I love, love, love Lagerfeld's designs for Chanel, which he joined in 1982. If I could only wear 1 piece of clothing it would be a Chanel jacket. He refers to Chanel, at the time he joined them as a sleeping beauty who was not even that beautiful, and who snored. Lagerfeld speaks eloquently of change, evolution, past ties, and family. Dressed in his uniform of black ensembles with sunglasses, boots and rings, he said that his best designs which have always come to him in dreams. This film followed Lagerfeld the photographer as much as Lagerfeld the designer. He is responsible for the images and direction of the Channel marketing campaigns. Definitely worth viewing again.
Each night for the next 6 nights, at 6p.m. a Fashion Movie will air on Sundance. Seamless follows finalists for the CFDA awards some years back. The group includes Proenza Schouler's designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough.
I've seen the Yves Saint Laurent movie before too. The YSL piece seemed dull and I was terribly disappointed but I suspect if I spoke French, it would have spiced it up a lot. Not enough of the conversation is translated.
Never the less, interesting viewing leading up to Fashion Week. I'm especially looking forward to Marc Jacobs.
The remaining schedule on Sundance Channel:
Who Are You Polly Maggoo?
Showing: February 10, 6:00PM
Ralph Rucci: A Designer and His House
Showing: February 11, 6:00PM
Jack Taylor of Beverly Hills
Showing: February 12, 6:00PM
Seamless
Showing: February 13, 6:00PM
Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton
Showing: February 14, 6:00PM
Yves St. Laurent: 5 Avenue Marceau 75116 Paris
Showing: February 15, 6:00PM
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Schwartz Bookshops - Selling vs.Closing and Buy Local
Recently I've read a lot about the closing of the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops. Our Milwaukee has been very involved in promoting their agenda and has been sited numerous times repeating the statistic that 68 cents of every local $1 spent stays in the community vs. 13 cents for non-local ownership. Granted, Schwartz was instrumental in establishing Our Milwaukee and good for Our Milwaukee, they got their message out. But it isn't as simple as Schwartz closing period. They aren't.
And Our Milwaukee seems to ignore the vast Milwaukee service industry in favor of the easier and more visible retail sector. When contacted last year regarding my service based business, I received no reply. A tax number was required in the contact form. I am not required to apply for a tax number according to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
Business does not use the term global economy for nothing. Commerce is circular. Milwaukee business does not live an a vacuum and is home to numerous corporate headquarters: many were originally local companies which have grown beyond Milwaukee's boundaries. Names like Marcus, Bradley, Flagg, Quadracci, and Cudahy don't end up supporting the Milwaukee community with buildings and wings by staying local. They grew beyond our small world. Imagine how poorer we would be as a community, if each expansion had been met with "Buy Local" campaigns.
One of the primary missions of the MMAC (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce) is to attract companies which sell outside of the local economy. They tie this directly to the future growth and well being of Milwaukee's economy.
Besides, no local enterprise deserves default business by virtue of being Milwaukee based. They must earn their sales in all the traditional ways. They must be well managed, their staff must be well trained, hours must be convenient and products desirable, relevant and competitively priced. They must also be conveniently located - if I must walk 4 blocks from my car does this business deliver something worth this extra effort?
I found it hard to believe that an organization like Harry. W. Schwartz had simply failed. There was evidence of a "smart, passionate" organizational approach to business - words which pepper Schwartz culture. Their staff excelled in personalized service. 82 years of growth and recognition isn't achieved without adapting to the many changes that were needed along the way. Book selling, not to mention consumerism as a whole, has gone through how many mutations since Schwartz opened in 1927. Schwartz has been agile and savvy enough as an organization to evolve. Often Schwartz spokespeople are the ones quoted in the New York Times. This level of recognition comes from success.
Consumer trends, however, ultimately decide. And with the advent of hand held devices, ebooks seem here to stay. As a consumer, I am relieved to no longer have to recycle, in whatever way I choose, the physical parts of a book often read for entertainment and quickly forgotten. Ebooks solve this. Royalties are still paid. The author still benefits. I will, however, always covet those books which rise above, either by quality of prose or impact of design. I own too many such books to count. But my habits have changed.
Schwartz has chosen to sell 2 of its locations. It is closing the other 2. However the 800-CEO-READ.com is Schwartz too. ( Read the Journal Sentinel Article by Geeta Sharma-Jensen) This business focused division sells worldwide in a creative, relevant fashion. (Again - do we want opposing "Buy Local" campaigns?) They go beyond the concept of online listings and were rewarded because this distinguished them. The sales of this division have equaled the total sales of all 4 Schwartz locations. Schwartz hasn't failed; they've succeeded, yet again. They've evolved. I say congratulations.
And Our Milwaukee seems to ignore the vast Milwaukee service industry in favor of the easier and more visible retail sector. When contacted last year regarding my service based business, I received no reply. A tax number was required in the contact form. I am not required to apply for a tax number according to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
Business does not use the term global economy for nothing. Commerce is circular. Milwaukee business does not live an a vacuum and is home to numerous corporate headquarters: many were originally local companies which have grown beyond Milwaukee's boundaries. Names like Marcus, Bradley, Flagg, Quadracci, and Cudahy don't end up supporting the Milwaukee community with buildings and wings by staying local. They grew beyond our small world. Imagine how poorer we would be as a community, if each expansion had been met with "Buy Local" campaigns.
One of the primary missions of the MMAC (Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce) is to attract companies which sell outside of the local economy. They tie this directly to the future growth and well being of Milwaukee's economy.
Besides, no local enterprise deserves default business by virtue of being Milwaukee based. They must earn their sales in all the traditional ways. They must be well managed, their staff must be well trained, hours must be convenient and products desirable, relevant and competitively priced. They must also be conveniently located - if I must walk 4 blocks from my car does this business deliver something worth this extra effort?
I found it hard to believe that an organization like Harry. W. Schwartz had simply failed. There was evidence of a "smart, passionate" organizational approach to business - words which pepper Schwartz culture. Their staff excelled in personalized service. 82 years of growth and recognition isn't achieved without adapting to the many changes that were needed along the way. Book selling, not to mention consumerism as a whole, has gone through how many mutations since Schwartz opened in 1927. Schwartz has been agile and savvy enough as an organization to evolve. Often Schwartz spokespeople are the ones quoted in the New York Times. This level of recognition comes from success.
Consumer trends, however, ultimately decide. And with the advent of hand held devices, ebooks seem here to stay. As a consumer, I am relieved to no longer have to recycle, in whatever way I choose, the physical parts of a book often read for entertainment and quickly forgotten. Ebooks solve this. Royalties are still paid. The author still benefits. I will, however, always covet those books which rise above, either by quality of prose or impact of design. I own too many such books to count. But my habits have changed.
Schwartz has chosen to sell 2 of its locations. It is closing the other 2. However the 800-CEO-READ.com is Schwartz too. ( Read the Journal Sentinel Article by Geeta Sharma-Jensen) This business focused division sells worldwide in a creative, relevant fashion. (Again - do we want opposing "Buy Local" campaigns?) They go beyond the concept of online listings and were rewarded because this distinguished them. The sales of this division have equaled the total sales of all 4 Schwartz locations. Schwartz hasn't failed; they've succeeded, yet again. They've evolved. I say congratulations.
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