I feel so old even saying this but back when I was dating (I was just married this year on June 2nd so as Brent always tells me: I’m not a real man until I have kids),  I always found it interesting that with each new person I met, they were always perfect. ...

Demonstrating value in your product is a way to get a customer's business; showing that they are valued is a way to keep a happy customer (who has the potential to refer future business).  During the sales process, your customer wants to be treated personally -- not...

We’ve touched upon the issue of salespeople wearing too many hats at times – and we fully believe that each department should focus on their own workload instead of having to do two jobs at once.  That doesn't mean we don't think cross-training is crucial to your...

It has been an interesting year in marketing for us.  Budgets were low for most and the world of social media and a phenomenon called "inbound marketing" became even more prominent.  I personally found 2011 to be one of the most challenging and yet rewarding years. ...

If at some time now or in the future you want to sell your business, there are some things that a potential buyer really wants to see (other than financials that look good). Aside from the financial numbers, inventory, etc. these things will make your business much...

There's no better opportunity than Thanksgiving to take a moment and reflect on some of the things we are very thankful for.  This year, we thought we would share them with you (in no specific order). Our customers.  We have been lucky enough to have customers that...

Unfortunately, the marketing portion of your business is usually the first area to get pushed aside until a later date.  Why? Because marketing doesn’t show an immediate return like closing a sale or contacting a lead. We are creatures who like instant gratification,...

We previously posted about extra costs associated with current employees.  That post may have been sobering, but don’t go stiffing all of your workers to make up for it.  The cost to replace employees if they leave is all but guaranteed to exceed the cost to keep...

What if I told you that your $40,000 salary employee may be easily costing you $15,000+ extra?  If you don't already know how much your employees cost, it's about time you do the math – not to scare you, but rather to help you budget and make informed decisions.  Here...

Not many people want to start a new project during the holidays, unless it’s one that doesn’t require as much time as an entire kitchen remodel.  So, the end of the year for cabinet dealers, contractors and remodlers tends to become a time for finishing tasks (current...

Everyone has been holding out and hanging on for the light at the end of that ruthless dark tunnel we call today’s economic slump.   I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard the utterances of wishful thinking, “It’s going to get better…the future is looking...

The holidays really sneak up on you, don’t they?  It seems they come earlier every year.   One day you’re looking longingly at the summer sun through your office window; and then a day later it's snowing and you can almost swear you hear the faint sound of “Jingle...

Have you ever been to a restaurant that you just loved...and then went to the same restaurant in a different location and didn't get that same vibe?  Maybe they didn't seat you right away, the food wasn't up to par, or the order time was slower.  Whatever the...

There's a great story of a young man named Edwards Deming who began thinking differently about quality before most American companies even considered it. The year was 1947 and what he discovered and taught us has somehow been forgotten by just about every kitchen and...

The last place a kitchen and bath industry professional wants to invest these days isn't necessarily their kitchen and bath inudstry software.  As it turns out, marketing isn't something that really hits the radar for most cabinet dealers, contractors or remodelers....

Yes, we’re in a down market. Intuitively it seems like a good idea to start slashing people and expenses to survive. Indeed that may be a necessary action, but owners need to avoid making an emotional decision and step back for a minute. When many businesses opened...

Way back when I was a child burning ants with my magnifying glass (hey, I'm a boy you know), you guys were submitting purchase orders with no costs because it was just too time consuming to manually figure out line item level costs on the order. This cabinet has a...

I love that show "America's Dirtiest Jobs".  I get so grossed out by what it actually takes to make everything work sometimes.  I also find it fascinating that people actually do those jobs for a living. Then it made me think about our industry and it made me laugh. ...

The problem with most cabinet dealers is that owners and managers rarely realize the minutiae that their employees have to go through on a daily basis.  They look at costs, sales volume and other things their employees don't see.  You know, business stuff. Take your...