As reported in the London Observer today, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz acknowledged recently that the company has lost its “edge” after moving from a culture of entrepreneurship and creativity to one of bureaucracy. Schultz is proposing a number of changes. A decade ago, the company had just over 1,000 outlets. As it expanded, there seemed [...]
It is refreshing to see some companies not in the “duck & cover” mindset that has plagued retail since end of 2006. Two separate reports coming out of the Reuters Consumer and Retail Summit are of interest because they suggest that for Best Buy and Toys “R” Us, at least, this year’s Christmas selling season [...]
May retail sales released today by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 1.0 percent seasonally adjusted from the previous month. That’s DOUBLE the growth economists expected. WOW! Maybe the economy really isn’t as bad as we continue to be [...]
I posted this sales training question on a message board and thought you’d enjoy the answers. Here’s the question: You have to train a sales crew but only have TV shows to reference (1950s-forward to now). What would you pick and why? (Please feel free to post your own) Leave it to Beaver My Three Sons [...]
Zappos has a program that pays new employees $1,500 to quit the company during initial training sessions. The policy is designed to make sure new employees are committed to working at the online retailer beyond just a paycheck. Is this something you could afford to do? Of course! Known to Zappos’ veterans as “the offer,” [...]
