Growing up, skateboarding was just about the most important thing in the world to me. I tore through magazines, like Thrasher and Skateboarder, I idolized Tony Hawk, and I watched every skate video I could get my hands on. I…
Read MoreCategory: Supplier News
A Very Powerful Question
As I returned my Alamo rental car in Newark, N.J., recently, an employee asked if I had any issues with the car and how my trip was. I said, “Fine,” and was prepared to get my receipt and walk to the terminal. Instead, I was legitimately surprised by a simple question: “Could we have done…
Read MoreLooking Forward
Unbelievably, we have entered a new year. 2015 went by so fast that I am still in awe that it is already over. It was such a busy year for the Promo Marketing Media Group. We were not only busy producing our award-winning publications, events, newsletters, online solutions and all the unique custom services we…
Read MoreA Better Way to Access Orders
Question: I have been using the order numbers that QuickBooks auto-assigns for sales orders (SO), purchase orders (PO) and invoices numbers. Is there a better way? Answer: Yes. When I was a distributor, I quickly learned how often I had to access different orders during the course of a day. And thus, being able to…
Read MoreThe New
January is the embodiment of the new. People celebrate the new year, discuss their New Year’s resolutions, outline their plans and, in general, treat the month like it’s a fresh start on life. January is treated as a new beginning every year because it’s the beginning of our calendar year and … that’s it. There…
Read MoreBefore and After
Answer this. Believe your answer. You’ll be well on your way to defining your competitive advantage, your value proposition, and will become more successful at differentiating yourself and your company. You’ll be well on your way to moving away from the commodity business and being an innovative value creator. Describe your client’s life before they…
Read MoreControl What Info Users Have Access to in QuickBooks
Question: How can I set up QuickBooks to control what information users have access to? Answer: QuickBooks allows you to set up users and passwords under the “company” tab. When setting up a user, you can specify which information you want that particular user to see or not see, and edit or not edit. You…
Read MoreSelling in the Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT)
Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT) is about being there whenever and wherever your client might be receptive to your message. It used to be far less complicated to be in sales, especially in the promotional products industry. If you had the relationship, you were the clients’ resource. Your marketing primarily consisted of sending a catalog…
Read MoreA Run in Her Silky Sheer Black Stockings
As she slowly pulled the sheer black nylon stocking up along her shapely leg, her bright red fingernail caught at the edge, causing a fresh run to skittle down her thigh toward her shimmering midnight calf. OK, as much as I love them, that’s about all we’ll be talking about black stockings in this article.…
Read MoreConcubines, Coffee and Change
“Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number; but my dove, my perfect one, is unique…” (Song of Solomon 6:8-9). This Old Testament verse, interestingly written by one of my very distant relatives (Solomon), beautifully makes a point that modern day language can’t quite convey. Every business must have a unique…
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