Attending conference as a sales rep is a great experience and my favorite networking event of the year. It’s one of the only industry forums where you can meet with your peers, discuss common issues and successes, and learn how to apply their best practices to your agency. I’ve... Continue Reading
The manufacturers I prefer to connect with make our relationship pleasant and conflict free. They have knowledgeable staff, an excellent technical division, and are available when called. I wish all manufacturers followed suit. One way to make our relationship work is with an easy to navigate... Continue Reading
While working in the same showroom for several years, I have been fortunate to meet various sales representatives. The ones I have formed relationships with stand out for similar reasons. One way to get my attention in the showroom is to acknowledge me. I know this sounds simple, but there... Continue Reading
Some people are more creative than others, and you may wonder why you can’t be as cutting edge or your showroom be more innovative. The first step is to understand the traits teams must have to constantly innovate. The most consistently creative teams are motivated by the work itself. They... Continue Reading
The medical community constantly advises Americans to sleep more and more soundly. Easier said than done for many. And when you and your team members don’t get enough sleep, what is the typical remedy? Coffee. Unfortunately, caffeine, while offering short-term pick-me-up benefits, is not... Continue Reading
There is a reason that the opposite of play is work. And when the work is more taxing and challenging, most of us are likely to put off projects that need to get done. Why do something now that you can put off to last minute, right? A primary reason why we procrastinate, writes social... Continue Reading
ICFF took place this week in NYC, and several of our members were there. Feedback was that our members were impressed by the New York area showroom attendance, as well as that of the New York design community. The smaller footprint of the show and the grouping of vendors helped to create a... Continue Reading
A lesson many decorative plumbing and hardware showrooms learned from sheltering in place during COVID 19 is that coming to the showroom every day may not be necessary for your team to be productive. Continue Reading
I get it, I get it, I get it. Your best showroom people want to work from home. After the initial chaos of Covid, the market settled down to be very busy and much easier to work. Top showroom consultants could no longer be caught working with one good client as another excellent customer walk... Continue Reading
After a 4 month hiatus, I am back at work with a new sense of responsibility and awe. So many things have changed within this short time frame. The most important is that I have been given the precious gift of Motherhood. I now am a parent to a sweet little girl who will look up to me, and I... Continue Reading
Attracting and retaining best-in-class talent are major challenges in today’s job market. Finding people is one obstacle. Determining if they are the right fit for your organization is another. HR expert Ed Kelly calls a resume a balance sheet without liabilities; resumes tell you what... Continue Reading
