“Black Friday” sounds a little sinister, but its name comes from the famous Friday after Thanksgiving when folks take a day off work solely dedicated to Christmas shopping; a noble cause but the sheer volume of people can cause all sorts of mayhem. People in the United States have been conditioned to spend their hard earned consumer dollars on these events laden with special discounts and super deals. Every year this is a major shopping event that retailers and distributors must prepare for and has even expanded to “Cyber Monday” as digital transformation and e-Commerce continue to dominate the markets. Hectic stores plus quick-selling online deals – Whew this could go really wrong. What can you do to get it right?
DCSC Customer Summit – Post Play Recap
A huge thank you to our Vendors, Team Members, Partners and Sponsors for our first ever Customer Summit in Estes Park, Colorado! Everyone seemed to enjoy the YMCA of the Rockies! Not only did we see deer and other wildlife blended into an ideal location, the staff really knows how to accommodate group events and the relaxed atmosphere was a welcome change to stuffy over-priced hotels elsewhere. We were delighted that many of our clients and vendors brought their significant others to take advantage of this gorgeous location and make a mini-vacation of it. Of course there was excitement as several of us witnessed an amazing Elk Rut from a relatively safe distance. Trust us, we did not stick around to figure out the winner but certainly know that both of those guys meant business.
Be Unique, Don’t Try To Imitate
The other day I was at a restaurant and it seemed like the entire staff was just following the motions. I was once a server, so I was a little surprised. I remember hard days, issues in the kitchen, and crabby customers and yet I still put my little spin on the job. I tried my best to be positive (hey while at work, work) and even signed my “bills” with a little cartoon moon saying Goodnight and Thank You. Even in the most structured, menial, or meaningful job you can still be you! Let’s take a look at why this can help you with success.Read More
Block Chain vs. Good Ol’ Data Integration
According the the Oxford English Dictionary, a blockchain is a “system in which a record of transactions made in bitcoin or another crypto-currency are maintained across several computers that are linked in a peer-to-peer network”. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data (generally represented as a Merkle tree).
It seems like Blockchain is all the rage. In my humble opinion it may be right for some companies but not all. Let’s talk about something that’s been around for a long time and is still extremely necessary for suppliers, distribution and manufacturing companies; Data Integration. There are many reasons for integrations. Let’s take brief look into this.
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How to “Get ‘er Done”
Years back I was camping with some friends and we heard all sorts of laughing and splashing a little ways down the river. We decided to check it out and found some young kids climbing up a challenging tree, manipulating a rope swing, then kicking really hard to the side and somehow out before dropping down into the river. One of the little boys, you could tell he was the leader of the pack, said, “When you let go of the rope yell “Get ‘er done!” before you drop in the water.” I just stared for a while in amazement. Needless to say, I’m not a kid anymore and I just kept thinking about everything that could go wrong. I think the forerunner saw that on my face and he simply said, “Lady you can do it. You just have to start.” So I did. And I yelled “Get ‘er done!”
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Practicing Gratitude
grat·i·tude
/ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od /
noun
The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
(As defined by The Oxford English Dictionary)
We talk a lot about the importance of kindness, no matter the situation, especially when it comes to things like customer service and business practice. But how do we show our appreciation towards those that show us kindness? It’s simple, say thank you and return the favor. Let’s look at how this can impact your business relations inside and out.
Presentation and Preparation
First of all, if you have not read Why My Mom Would Have Been a Good Warehouse Manager, please do so. This will give you a very quick understanding of Helga. Now, a quick story; I make these homemade meatballs that are extremely labor intensive and well worth it. My Mom and I joined a church pot luck event one year and upon arrival, one of the ladies grabbed my meatballs in the crock-pot and immediately put them on a lower shelf as if to say they weren’t good enough to be displayed. So the following Christmas, Helga bought me a beautiful serving dish with a sterno underneath. The card read, “No one will ever poo poo my daughter’s meatballs again.” What does this have to do with presentation and preparation? Let’s take a look at it.
How To Learn From Someone Who Does Not Like You
Have you ever wondered how to deal with someone who doesn’t like you? Have you ever thought maybe, just maybe, you could learn from them? Most likely, no. So this may sound like the strangest or possibly most hypocritical read you will ever come across. All my life I have been happier when I know someone likes me and it always seems easier to get through life that way, I am a true people-pleaser. However, it doesn’t always work out. That is why I wish young people entering their careers would hear this one out. Guess what? Sometimes people will just not like you, period, end of story. You could spend time analyzing it and never know the true reason. So what can you do now?
Getting To Know Kirsten Austin
Hi everyone! Yep, that’s me, Kirsten Austin. For those of you who don’t know, I have been involved in the software business with a focus on manufacturing, distribution and fulfillment for over twenty five years.
Technology and People – What Is the Right “Combo”?
So, being a woman, I do of course have an emotional outlook on business and life. Working in the automation and supply chain industry for several decades has also provided me with an interesting, experienced-based prospective on technology and people. Let’s delve into this a little more.
Our company sells software that works with wireless technology. It eliminates the need for humans to have to hand-key data into a system for inventory control, shipping, materials, operations, etc. This technology comes with a price tag but has definite returns. So the question is when can a human solve an operational problem and when can technology?
