Want To Boost Business? Try Some M&M's!

Dear Colleagues,

Today, let's play a little game of "ASSOCIATION" regarding what these four seemingly disparate topics below have in common. I'll bet most of you will need my answers.

ONE is my incredible dining experience at our CEO Summit Conference hotel, The Ritz Carlton Dallas. Fearing's restaurant was without a doubt the finest hotel dining I have ever encountered, a shining example of how Olympian quality and service can produce glowing client response.

TWO is the CEO Summit presentation by Alan Beaulieu, president, Institute for Trend Research, which offered insights into our country's economic future. A positive note is the incremental economic up trend portending a gradual recovery. However, this was trumped by his observation that the United States needs to create 250,000 jobs a month for the next TEN YEARS to return employment to pre-recession levels.

THREE is the H.J. Heinz Co.'s positive 3rd quarter news that sales climbed nearly 13% and profits from continuing operations rose 9%. These results were attributed to increasing prices by 1.8% and increasing overall marketing dollars by 41%.

FOUR is the 2010 Ford Motor Co. In 2006 it seemed on death's door when it suffered a $12.6 billion loss when the industry was actually strong. Last year Ford was the only American car manufacturer to avoid bankruptcy, and actually posted a $2.7 billion profit. Alan Mulally, president & CEO, credited one of his many motivating mantras, "Improve Focus, Simplify Operations."

Now, take a few moments to formulate your answer. Come on, it's really obvious! OK, let's take them one at a time. It's really just a bag of M&M's.

Fearing's food quality and service are such a tribute to excellent MANAGEMENT training that they actually become their premier MARKETING message. The food and service were so spectacular I took a large group of clients there the last evening of the conference. Why, because the quality and service were so superior I couldn't imagine going anywhere else.

The trend predictions offered by Alan Beaulieu mean one thing, and one thing only to me. It's going to be an economic battlefield out there for the foreseeable future and the winners will be the companies that MANAGE and MARKET most effectively - stressing efficiency and innovation.

The Heinz Co. had the fortitude to make a MANAGEMENT decision to raise prices at a time when that might seem counterproductive. They also increased their MARKETING dollars nearly 50% in challenging economic times, and it paid off big in rising sales and profits.

Ford's new MANAGEMENT team broke the corporate mold by going back to Henry Ford's model of simplicity. They cancelled unprofitable lines and MARKETED new products they could sell. What an innovative corporate policy their new CEO from Boeing brought - build profitable cars that people actually want to buy! What a novel concept!

Superior MANAGEMENT and MARKETING are the common denominator of our four examples. We need to take note... and continually introduce superior management and marketing into our own companies.

What's that you say? You think you're good enough already?

Well, Shaun White knew he was pretty good four years ago when he won a gold medal in the half pipe at the 2006 Winter Olympics. But, he didn't coast. Afterward, he built his own half pipe facility and practiced new techniques for the past four years because HE KNEW WHAT HAD MADE HIM GREAT IN THE PAST WOULDN'T BE GOOD ENOUGH IN THE FUTURE. Rewardingly, the innovative new techniques he worked so hard to perfect won him a second gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

And the same applies to all of us. Last year's winning management and marketing solutions are this year's runner-up.

Which is why our May 5-7 Reno International Client Conference includes extensive professional Marketing and Management sessions designed to bring you the most modern business practices and technology, such as:

MARKETING
  • Selling Marketing Services
  • No Budget Marketing
  • How To Make Your Small Business Look Big
  • Web Store Profiling & Email Marketing
  • Increasing Your Online Presence
  • How To Market e-Commerce
  • New Marketing Materials 2.0
  • Q-Power: What's New
  • Ennis Online
MANAGEMENT
  • New Vendor Center
  • New Sales Force Center
  • New Job Status Tracking Center
  • New Online Digital Library
  • Strategies For Employee Development
  • Leveraging Technology For All Aspects of Business
  • Evaluating & Implementing Technology In Your Company
  • The Next Step In Business Intelligence: Analytic Dashboards
  • What You Should Know About Benefits and Your Policies/Procedures Manual
And, these are less than half of the FORTY-TWO exciting learning sessions offered in three tracks at our conference. You won't find a better learning opportunity in our Industry! Now, throw in peer-to-peer networking, our largest ever Vendor EXPO, 1-on-1 Learning Labs, unveiling e-Quantum's next release, the latest e-commerce enhancements, a world-class resort casino, great fun and entertainment, and...

Well, if Shaun White owned your company, he'd register today. Which is what YOU and your staff should do - so you can train TODAY for TOMORROW'S success.

See YOU at The Peppermill in May!




Sincerely,



Ross Barker



800-328-7804 | e-quantum.com