Let’s start with a verifiable fact. Everyone hates their ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. Yes, a few of you will say your ERP is great, wonderful, etc. However, you are wrong, or at least using “alternative facts.” I hate my ERP system, and yet I realize that my ERP is actually great. I just want…
Read More
Question: Is there a way to view my profit by type of customer? Answer: QuickBooks has a function within it to allow segmenting your business in reports. It is called “classes.” You can create a set of classes, which you enter into QuickBooks and apply to customers, vendors or other categories. For instance, you can…
Read More
Are you ready? Ready to make 2017 your best year ever? Here are seven steps to make it happen. 1. Identify a Big Goal for Your Business. I recommend setting a big sales goal for three to five years out. Identify a specific sales goal and a specific deadline. Then, write it down and read…
Read More
Question: I called Intuit/QuickBooks support and was told something that I know is not the way we do business. How can that happen? Answer: We have a complex and unique business. We do not fit typical business models, and it is confusing to many bookkeepers, CPA’s and, yes, even QuickBooks support on occasion. Recently, a…
Read More
If you haven’t started with home automation yet, now is the time. Even if you have, now is the time to add one more thing: Amazon Echo Dot, better known as Alexa. On its own, Amazon Echo Dot ($50) is a great deal. It plays music (although only loud enough for one room), creates shopping…
Read More
In my last blog article, I discussed the fact that most distributors don’t really own a business, but rather, they own a job. The test to determine if you own your own business is if you can fly to Hawaii for three months and tell someone else where to send your check. The key words…
Read More
I love data. I really do. The more data you have, the better decisions you can make. Unless… Unless you read the data without context and understanding. Consider this example: Your e-commerce vendor is reporting to you that your Google Adwords (the ads that show during a Google search) campaign is doing extremely well and…
Read More
Donald Trump shocked the world last night when he won the 2016 presidential election. While political campaigns are usually won on the issue, there’s another element that I think is worth looking into: promotional products. It may be a leap, but I believe promotional products played a huge…
Read More
As I look at Center City Philadelphia from my office window, it is clear something big is happening: Cranes are at work, hoisting materials to new high-rise buildings. From high-value commercial properties, mixed-use developments and hospitals to multi-family housing and luxury condominiums, there is more building and revitalizing going on in this city than in…
Read More
We get very excited this time of year—fall is in the air, pumpkin-flavored treats are everywhere, and Pantone announces its color trend predictions for the next year. If you deal with promotional products, it’s important to always be in the know with trending colors. Last year, Pantone named pastel shades of pink and blue to the…
Read More