I sat down with my staff last week and talked about operations and processes. Over the past 7 1/2 years, we have been providing pretty darn good service to our clients. However, over time things tend to drift.
I used the analogy that we are on a ship traveling in a straight line of 300 degrees. As time goes on, we tend to drift off of the 300 degrees. Just getting back to our original destination requires that we make a major adjustment. That is what is going on now. We are in the process of pulling every piece of rental equipment and treating it like it were a brand new unit. That means the case, foam, unit, etc. must be reworked.
Every now and then you need to clean the room and sweep where you don't normally sweep. Right now, we are sweeping quite a bit. After about a week of this, things should run smoother and we will start anew.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Re-Building Basics in Operations
I sat down with my staff last week and talked about operations and processes. Over the past 7 1/2 years, we have been providing pretty darn good service to our clients. However, over time things tend to drift.
I used the analogy that we are on a ship traveling in a straight line of 300 degrees. As time goes on, we tend to drift off of the 300 degrees. Just getting back to our original destination requires that we make a major adjustment. That is what is going on now. We are in the process of pulling every piece of rental equipment and treating it like it were a brand new unit. That means the case, foam, unit, etc. must be reworked.
Every now and then you need to clean the room and sweep where you don't normally sweep. Right now, we are sweeping quite a bit. After about a week of this, things should run smoother and we will start anew.
I used the analogy that we are on a ship traveling in a straight line of 300 degrees. As time goes on, we tend to drift off of the 300 degrees. Just getting back to our original destination requires that we make a major adjustment. That is what is going on now. We are in the process of pulling every piece of rental equipment and treating it like it were a brand new unit. That means the case, foam, unit, etc. must be reworked.
Every now and then you need to clean the room and sweep where you don't normally sweep. Right now, we are sweeping quite a bit. After about a week of this, things should run smoother and we will start anew.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Finding Purpose in What You Do
Getting purpose out of your job is pretty important. If you do it, then you enjoy your job and life. Failure to find a purpose leaves you feeling empty and hollow.
Purpose is different for each person. For me, my purpose or true joy is in service to the clients. I know it sounds corny and lame, but it works. When I make a client feel valued and served, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Likewise, anything that diminishes that relationship drives me nuts. Ask Rick!
Serving the customer can also be in how we communicate, what systems we use, how things look or even what the price points are. I hate those companies that put you on hold for 20 minutes and continually tell you that they value your call. If they really valued my call, they would put enough people there to answer it.
Find a purpose and keep coming back to it for strength. Once you get it, it will work like a life jacket in your life. When everything else is crap, your purpose will lift you up.
(I feel like Dr. Phil!)
Purpose is different for each person. For me, my purpose or true joy is in service to the clients. I know it sounds corny and lame, but it works. When I make a client feel valued and served, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Likewise, anything that diminishes that relationship drives me nuts. Ask Rick!
Serving the customer can also be in how we communicate, what systems we use, how things look or even what the price points are. I hate those companies that put you on hold for 20 minutes and continually tell you that they value your call. If they really valued my call, they would put enough people there to answer it.
Find a purpose and keep coming back to it for strength. Once you get it, it will work like a life jacket in your life. When everything else is crap, your purpose will lift you up.
(I feel like Dr. Phil!)
Friday, September 16, 2005
Focusing On Marketing
I have been working on marketing more and more over the past month. Marketing can be a total pain in the neck because it never works out the way you expect it to.
For instance, we just ended a year long print ad with an industry magazine. I can honestly say it didn't bring in a single customer.
I have found that the best way to grow the business has been to focus on serving the needs of the clients you have. Serve them really well and everything else takes care of itself.
Our new ProjectorCare service is a little different. Since it is new, we don't have a long list of happy clients who will sing our praises. Although, the service is exactly like what we are already doing: providing equipment where it is needed when it is needed and supporting the people who use it. The only difference is who owns the equipment.
So my struggles now are in how to market this service in a way that works without breaking the bank. I do believe this will be our most successful venture though. There is just too much pain out there in IT departments playing the role of AV Librarians for it not to work.
For instance, we just ended a year long print ad with an industry magazine. I can honestly say it didn't bring in a single customer.
I have found that the best way to grow the business has been to focus on serving the needs of the clients you have. Serve them really well and everything else takes care of itself.
Our new ProjectorCare service is a little different. Since it is new, we don't have a long list of happy clients who will sing our praises. Although, the service is exactly like what we are already doing: providing equipment where it is needed when it is needed and supporting the people who use it. The only difference is who owns the equipment.
So my struggles now are in how to market this service in a way that works without breaking the bank. I do believe this will be our most successful venture though. There is just too much pain out there in IT departments playing the role of AV Librarians for it not to work.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
New Service Is Up
Our new ProjectorCare service is now live on the Rentquick.com website.
ProjectorCare Service
I am excited about this service since it really doesn't exist anywhere else. The big problem for me has been how to explain the service in "Marketing Speak". If we were accountants, it would be easy to explain what we do since everyone knows what accounts do. Since this service is new to the industry, it is a little hard to get the point across.
Again, I welcome any comments on it and how we are presenting it.
ProjectorCare Service
I am excited about this service since it really doesn't exist anywhere else. The big problem for me has been how to explain the service in "Marketing Speak". If we were accountants, it would be easy to explain what we do since everyone knows what accounts do. Since this service is new to the industry, it is a little hard to get the point across.
Again, I welcome any comments on it and how we are presenting it.
Monday, September 12, 2005
It is hard to define a new service
Okay, I have been beating my head against the wall trying to define RentQuick's new service for our clients.
Here is what it is:
Our clients who own projectors and share them or move them around alot send their projectors to live with us. When they need one, they simply order it for where they want it. We charge a nominal fee for the tracking and support. In addition, we take care of the projector and check it out everytime it is used.
Pretty simple business concept right? Try explaining it in "MarketingSpeak"! It have been driving me crazy. So right now, I have a first shot up after a couple of weeks of procrastination and attempting to make it work out right.
I expect it to change alot over the next week or so.
Wish me luck.
Comments are welcome.
Here is what it is:
Our clients who own projectors and share them or move them around alot send their projectors to live with us. When they need one, they simply order it for where they want it. We charge a nominal fee for the tracking and support. In addition, we take care of the projector and check it out everytime it is used.
Pretty simple business concept right? Try explaining it in "MarketingSpeak"! It have been driving me crazy. So right now, I have a first shot up after a couple of weeks of procrastination and attempting to make it work out right.
I expect it to change alot over the next week or so.
Wish me luck.
Comments are welcome.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Empty Buildings and Rent
I currently have a nice, brand-new, 10,000 square foot building that is finally done and ready to rent. Originally, I was going to use this for the tent business, but that plan has changed. So how do I rent it out?
Experience tells me that using a realtor to find tenants is not the way to go. Why? It is a matter of economics. Realtors are set up to sell houses or land. They suck at renting things. A lease is much more complicated than a purchase contract. There are just too many variables. In addition, the landlord and tenant will need to work together for a number of years after the realtor has moved on. Having a middleman realtor doesn't help in the relationship building.
The do it yourself method works as follows:
1. Create color fliers with all the details and pricing.
2. Take a little time to make a webpage for the building.
3. For commercial rentals, the signage is the most important. Signs on the building are best.
4. Narrow your marketing to the Chamber of Commerce.
5. Call likely businesses and network your butt off.
So I am just getting started on this. I hope to have the webpage done in the next couple of days. The fliers and the signs are being printed now.
Experience tells me that using a realtor to find tenants is not the way to go. Why? It is a matter of economics. Realtors are set up to sell houses or land. They suck at renting things. A lease is much more complicated than a purchase contract. There are just too many variables. In addition, the landlord and tenant will need to work together for a number of years after the realtor has moved on. Having a middleman realtor doesn't help in the relationship building.
The do it yourself method works as follows:
1. Create color fliers with all the details and pricing.
2. Take a little time to make a webpage for the building.
3. For commercial rentals, the signage is the most important. Signs on the building are best.
4. Narrow your marketing to the Chamber of Commerce.
5. Call likely businesses and network your butt off.
So I am just getting started on this. I hope to have the webpage done in the next couple of days. The fliers and the signs are being printed now.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
On Trying to Rent a Building
I just met with a couple of gentlemen who are interested in buying my industrial building that we finally finished this past week. It is a tough one since I could find a renter and have the building free cash flow for me pretty easily. However, it makes sense to consider selling the property and moving on to something else.
Often times, I will flip properties quickly versus holding them long term. It really is a matter of cash flow. If the property is generating cash, then it makes sense to keep it and draw cash off. You can always sell it later.
However, the tough part is the beginning when the property is sitting empty and no cash is coming in. That is where I get nervous.
My next step is to put up lease signs and see what I can do with the property.
Often times, I will flip properties quickly versus holding them long term. It really is a matter of cash flow. If the property is generating cash, then it makes sense to keep it and draw cash off. You can always sell it later.
However, the tough part is the beginning when the property is sitting empty and no cash is coming in. That is where I get nervous.
My next step is to put up lease signs and see what I can do with the property.
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