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 to [...]
Entries from June 2008
June 23, 2008
Starbucks At A Crossroads
June 19, 2008
It’s Going To Be A Good Holiday Season
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 [...]
June 12, 2008
Retail Sales Increase For May Defies Experts
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 told. [...]
June 10, 2008
You Have To Train A Sales Crew But Only Have TV Shows To Reference (1950s-Forward To Now). What Would You Pick And Why?
I posted this sales training question on a LinkedIn 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 and
Father [...]
June 6, 2008
Zappos Pays People To Quit – Should you?
Zappos has launched 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,” [...]
June 3, 2008
Retail Sales: You’ve Got To Sell It
Retail Roundup May 2008
Yesterday I went to the El Pollo Loco not far from my house in Long Beach, California. I’ve always liked the flame-broiled chicken of this regional franchise. The first time I ate there nearly fifteen years ago, I was struck that the owner was going table-to-table with a tray offering samples of [...]
