Here’s the story…

Mike Root to present NHFA seminar on social media at national furniture market

Jay and I have finally done it – we have corrupted my wife Nancy.  With all of our marketing conferences, newsletters and audio and video training we have here, Nancy decided to see what all this is about.

So while she has been in the process of building a professional consulting practice, she also has developed a really cool website and ezine to help working women, stay at home moms and anyone else who is juggling raising a family with other responsibilities.  Nancy has lived that life for over a quarter of century and has the wisdom brought on by experience to help others with the challenge.

If you get a chance, check it out and pass it on to the working women, the cool moms, and anyone multi-tasking way too much in their lives these days.  Go to www.coolmomsonly.com and sign up for the free ezine.  You’ll be glad you did.

Last weekend I got the privilege of a guy’s golf weekend at a gorgeous golf course in the upper Northeast corner of Colorado called Ballyneal.  My host for the trip flew our group of 8 from Omaha to Holyoke, CO on a King Air jet.  We left at 8 am and were on the golf course at 10:30.  That’s the way to play.

This is the way to go on your next golf trip!!!

The afternoon we started a Ryder Cup type event that kept us on the links for 2 1/2 days.  We played a four ball event, a scramble event and an individual match play.  Unfortunately yours truly did not putt very well and consequently did not score well.  But the experience of traveling on private airplane to a private course should definitely be on any golfer’s dream list.

The best part of the trip for me was to meet and get to know my golfing companions over the three days.  We shared lots of stories, golf experiences, and red wine at dinner.  When you get out to a golf destination with nothing else to do, no cell phones or computers to operate, I realized how great it is to really unplug every once in a while and just enjoy the surroundings and the company of my fellow golfers.

If you love the game of golf, a guys trip to a an out of the way course where the only thing you can do is play golf, is the only way to go.  No distractions, just 36 or more holes a day and when you are tired, you eat a good meal, drink some red wine, and go to bed only to start again the next day.

I know the College World Series is a big deal in Omaha.  We just built $150,000,000 facility to keep it around for another 25 years after hosting it for over 50 years.  The city loves it.  The College World Series loves Omaha.  ESPN has been touting the Road to Omaha for weeks, and with a brand new stadium we will be the talk of the sports world for ten hot, humid days of June.

What a casual observer does not know is how much an impression this series makes on the players of America’s favorite past time — Baseball.  Last November, Jay and I met Cal Ripken, JR.  better known as Iron Man.  He holds baseball’s record of most games consecutively played – 2632 consecutive games, 17 straight years without missing a game.  He was loved in Baltimore and other big league cities because of his work ethic.  Jay and I met him and he said to us “I love Omaha.  I hear they have a new stadium and I would love to come see it.”

Mike and Jay Root discuss the Omaha College World Series with Iron Man Cal Ripkin, Jr.

Here are a few comments to share as we get ready to enjoy our baseball moments of glory in Omaha.  Cal told us of 8 elements of perseverence that make a difference.

1. The Right Approach -  It entails the right attitude, a personal mission statement, and a honest simple approach
2. A strong will to succeed – Your drive, the fire within, your desire
3. Passion for what you do – Love what you do, too many people working doing things they hate, passion carries you through and makes it worthwhile
4. Love to Compete – you’ll have internal and external competitions and you have to tame both, when you have success don’t get complacent
5. Consistency – ability to perform everyday, solve problems and find solutions quickly, make yourself irreplaceable
6. Conviction – you need thick skin, need to be stubborn about seeing things through to the end
7. Strength – physical and mental, there is a link between excercising and maintaining focus
8. Life management – how can I bring control over aspects of my life and achieve balance

So as you are watching the College World Series from Omaha this month, think of Iron Man who never gave up no matter what because he had a job to do.  Where do you measure up on a perseverence scale?  If it’s not as high as you would like, take a look at Cal Ripkin’s 8 steps to see how you can become an “Iron Man” as well.

And of course look for Jay and I along the third base line.  Cal, if you’re reading this let me know and I’ll get you some tickets to come join us.

Jay, Nancy and Mike Root with Consumer brands CEO Kathy Ireland

 

Recently, Nancy, Jay and  I got to hear Kathy Ireland speak to a group.  She is a remarkable businesswoman who is passionate about her brand.  She launched her business in 1993 and today it is a $1.5 billion dollar company selling over 45,000 products.

She told the story of starting the brand with a pair of socks selling them out of the trunk of her car.  Now she has sold over 100,000,000 pairs of socks.

Her success stems from the intimate knowledge of her customer and what the customer wants.  She said to keep those doors of communication open with those you serve.  The customer will honestly tell you how you can do better and serve her.  Listening to our customers is critical.

A few other points she talked about were as follows:

• We are our own brand.  What kind of brand to we portray to the world?  If we have to make a change in that brand, do it now.
• A well branded product (or person) will outperform a non-branded, lesser priced product.
• Men buy products but women are loyal to brands.
• Corporate America no longer controls brands.  Do to social media like Facebook, Twitter and blogs, people want to be reached in their own terms and not corporate terms.
• Independent retailers can offer what big boxes can’t – customer service.

She was an inspirational speaker who siad her priorities were faith, family, and service to work.  She indicated whenever she got the priorities mixed up, she was really in trouble.

Probably my major takeaway from her was her persistence in the face adversity.  Anybody can see her now as a celebrated wife, mother and CEO of a $1.5 billion dollar brand.  Some may remember her as a swim suit model.  But throughout she faced lots of people who told her “no” and she still struggled on to build an empire.  The difference between her and millions of others who want the fame and fortune is that she never quits.

If everyone had to write checks on April 15, people would pay more attention to how much the government really takes from us.

The government does not have a revenue problem, they have a spending problem. 

 Stop the spending, let us keep more of what we earn, and prosperity returns for everyone.

The day has arrived when we are launching Get Customers TV, the best of the best customer acquisition strategies designed to get you customers right now.  We had a lot of fun with this and I hope you stop by and take a look

www.GetCustomers.TV

Three generations of Root’s all in one Web TV show.  How much fun can that be?  But the show stopper really is Huey, the marketing wonder dog.  He is such a ham that if there was a doggie idol show he would be the star.

By the way there’s some great content in the show as well.  I talk about the huge marketing lessons you can apply to your business from the successes of Apple.  Jay will give marketing tips for online marketing and even Huey checks in with his take on a great marketing tricks from pets.

Be sure and leave your comments.  If you like the show make sure to register your name and we will notify you as soon as the next one is up and streaming.

Check it out now at www.GetCustomers.TV

Cindi Williams grimaces with the great deal she gives Mike…

Mike Root interviewed Cindi Williams from the Western Home Furnishings Association about the upcoming all industry Home Furnishings Industry Conference. This is open to reps, retailers, designers, factory personnel, online retailers and any other suppliers to the home furnishings industry.

It will be held April 30 – May 2 at the Westin River Walk in San Antonio, TX

 More information can be found at   www.HomeFurnishingsConference.com.

My fellow rep and friend Jeff Giagnocavo was kind enough to spend a couple of minutes during a recent furniture market telling me what he was hearing about the economy from his retail customers. Thanks Jeff

Kevin Sauder’s Belief That Independent Furniture Reps Are An Asset to a Manufacturer

In reading an excellent blog post on Furniture Today by Jim Green, (Reps and Breaking Ties article) I was reminded of an interview I did with Kevin Sauder, the third generation leader of Sauder Woodworking.  He leads a company that is one of the top manufacturers in the furniture industry doing over half a billion dollars in sales annually.  I’ve had the audio interview posted at this link Mike Root interview with Kevin Sauder, but Jim’s article reminded me I had not shared it here.

In my interview, Kevin spoke of many topics such as

• How Sauder grew from the humble beginnings to the fifth largest furniture manufacturer in the country
• Life lessons in a family business (albeit a very big family business)
• What he has learned from dealing with the largest retailers in the country like Wal-Mart and Office Depot
• Changes he sees our industry needs to address like the new California CARB compliance, getting younger people involved in the industry, how to make our offerings appealing to the consumer and the Green movement
• What he sees successful businesses doing in the jobless recovery
• His take on sales training and it’s not what you think it might be.
• Internet retailing perspectives
• Some of his greatest successes and challenges

What reminded me of the interview when I saw Jim’s column is Kevin Sauder’s opinion on the use of manufacturer’s reps.  He felt the use of independent sales reps was much more beneficial for a company on a number of fronts.  Here are the advantages he mentioned for employing independent sales reps:

• The relationships independent reps have with the retailers are generally better than any factory guy would have.
• A good experienced manufacturer’s rep is the eyes and ears on the ground in the customer’s door.  They can listen not only when they are presenting the manufacturer’s line but when they are presenting other manufacturer’s lines.  (In my own case, there are several placements I have made over the years because of my relationship with another line, that allowed me to present a new line)
• Reps have a reason to be in the retailers store and they know more people
• Reps are a variable cost.  If business is down, the factory does not have to pay as much.
• And the biggie that he told me was how reps actually create more sales for Sauder from product that didn’t even exist.

Probably the most interesting thing in the whole interview was Kevin’s take on integrity in business.  If all businesses (and government for that matter) had his philosophy on how to manage ethically, our country and our economy would be a much better place.

To hear the entire discussion go to Mike Root interview with Kevin Sauder.  Click on the link for the Kevin Sauder interview.  As always, feel free to share your comments.

PS.  If the above link does not work on your computer because you receive messages in text format go to http:/mikeroot.com/root-note-resources for the audio posting of the Kevin Sauder interview.