Ask most print company owners what’s holding their business back and you’ll hear many of the same answers: equipment cost, technology gaps, difficulty winning new work and a competitive market. I almost never hear anyone say, “honestly, I think it’s the people.” But...
If you don’t have the sales you need, nothing else matters. I believe this wholeheartedly. You can have the best equipment, an excellent team, an operation that runs lights out, and you’ll still lose ground. As the CEO of the business, you’re number one responsibility...
Stop bidding on jobs. Start winning accounts. This is a continuation of an earlier blog on chasing accounts. I see it happen all the time: a sales rep rushes to put together a competitive bid for a new prospect, asking everyone to sharpen their pencils to squeeze out...
We’ve seen this movie before. You’ve got a press or bindery operator who can fix any mechanical or technical issue in seconds. They’re the ones who save the jobs that go sideways. But here’s the question that needs to be asked: what if keeping them on the production...
Most leaders think they have a “people issue.” In reality, they often have a clarity issue. What does this mean–and it’s not about modifying your eyeglasses prescription. My experience tells me that it begins with having clear expectations for the role and what...
The sales department is humming. Reps coming in and out of the office, phones are ringing, emails are chiming, and the estimating department is backed up with many quotes to do – but the question I’ve got to ask is: are they busy with transactions and jobs, or are...