It seems like only yesterday I was writing my "year end" blog, and now we're down to the final 2 1/2 weeks of 2010. WOW. I can't believe how fast this year flew by. It's been a great year filled with new technology, awesome tradeshows and a lot of new customers for the NJ office of TyrrellTech and we're going to ride that wave right into 2011.
NEW FACES..SAME GREAT SERVICE!
So within the past month, we've added a familiar face to the NJ office in Steve Rife. I have had the pleasure of knowing Steve for quite some time now and I truly feel he'll make a solid addition to the TyrrellTech team. He understands the meaning of quality support and truly explaining to the customer what this business is really all about. It's not just about taking someone's credit card and giving them a printer and saying "ok good luck". It's that same philosophy that everyone in the TyrrellTech offices tries to follow and Steve has shown me he is no different.
USSC SIGN SHOW! WHAT A GREAT SHOW..
Each year, I do my best to attend the USSC show in two ways; as an Exhibitor and as an Attendee (somewhat). For as much fun as it is to walk the show, I always try to find some time to walk the show and see what's new. Last year, I was able to spend more time than expected walking the aisles as the "economy" reared it's ugly head and took its toll on the attendance list.
However, this year was completely different! Business is back! We had great success at the USSC and bought nearly every machine out of Roland's booth! Roland and TyrrellTech offered some really great deals on equipment and people were ready to buy. Not to mention, one of the best parts about the show is to be able to meet your customers in person and really get to know them and explain to them why we stand out above the competition.
We can sit here and write about it, blog about, talk to we're blue in the face about it but the numbers certainly don't lie. People who attended this show we're really into what we had to offer. We met many people who had been "burned" and "left out in the cold" by the competition that would sell them equipment for "such a great deal" and then fail to provide them with the top quality support they deserve. If it sounds like a song and dance, here's an example for you. We had a group of guys spend $1500 MORE on the price of a machine than the competition..WHY? Because he LIKED us and the way we do business. He admired the fact that we got on a realistic level with him and explained how business is a two way street. You put a fair commission in a sales rep and you'll be in solid hands and we'll do whatever it takes to keep you up and running. He wasn't too fond of the pathetic "we really want your business" and "here's my cost and here's what I'll sell it to you for" attitude. The customer UNDERSTOOD that this business is built on relationships.
I personally had a great time at the USSC show and I look forward to working closely with all the new customers we met at the show and showing them why we are the best at what we do.
FORUM MADNESS!
There's a LOT of forums out there that offer some pretty solid advice, but in my own personal opinion and let me state that again..In MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION, I think sometimes those same forums can really be taken too far when it comes to knowing when to draw the line on advice.
For example, I'll see guys on these sites that will share knowledge that honestly, isn't something they should have possession of, such as service manuals and a whole lot more. These are things that only Roland Dealers should have knowledge of and if you are under warranty, you shouldn't even WANT to be doing this type of work yourself. Why would you NOT want your dealer and service tech to take care of the problem? It's a question that is NEVER answered on these sites. Does the Dealer not know what they are doing? Is it because you got such a "great deal" that now that sales rep is too busy trying to sell another machine?
Here's a good example. Recently, we had a customer contact us in an emergency because he was having "issues" with his print head. After overnighting the parts and making special arrangements to get out to the customer the following day, we ended up uncovering that because the customer had used 3rd party inks in the machine, he was hesitant to contact his dealer because he didnt want them to know he had switched over to 3rd party. So he went on Sign Forums (I'm not saying which one) and got advice on "how to fix the problem, and decided to make the attempt. He ended up blowing a board and ruining a head, and in the end it cost him over $3400 all because of a bad ink cartridge. Yup. A bad ink cartridge, but thanks to these know it all forums, he did more harm than good.
Bottom line, opinions are like noses, everyone has them, but not everyone has the proper training. Get the right advice from the right people and save yourself a lot of time and a lot of headaches!
IN CLOSING 2010
All and all this has been a fantastic year! Our supplies sales in NJ has more than doubled, and we have taken on so many new accounts and worked with so many fantastic people. I would like to personally thank all the people that have supported us throughout the year and I wish you all the best this Holiday Season and Have a Happy New Year!
See you in 2011!!!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Odds and Ends of the Fall
Back Up Inks On Hand!
A word of advice to some of my peeps, always keep a back up set of inks on hand. You should have one cartridge on the shelf for every one you have in the machine. Therefore, 12 colors in the printer, 12 colors on the shelf. It’s simple business practices like this that can save you so much time and aggrevation in the long run. Look at it this way, you want your machine running at all times, so why would you not want to have inks on hand to replace.
For those of you VS-640 VersaCAMM users with Metallic Ink configuration. You’re going to want to have a Metallic on hand at all times for a different reason. Through various service trips and technical support, we have found that the while a majority of the Metallic Ink gets sucked into a well, if the cartridge reads as being empty, you will not be able to use your machine no matter how much ink is in the lines or the well. Therefore, you will need to have a Metallic Ink Cartridge on hand before your existing runs out.
Seal E.L. Laminator Anticipation Grows…As Expected!
Over the years I have seen many people left frustrated and disappointed over their laminator. Some have issues with laminating. Some have issues with mounting. Some want to use it to drop on their ex’s house. No matter what, on Thursday October 28th, you have a chance to save yourself from the pain and suffering of your laminator!
Representatives from Seal & Neschen will be here in our NJ office on Thursday October 28th from 10am-5pm to provide our customers with an detailed look at the new EL Laminator and the list of registered customers grows more and more each day!
Jump on board and find out what all the hype is about! Contact Kelly @ ext 231 for more details!
TyrrellTech 2nd Annual Golf Outing…Never a dull moment!
So what’s the point in spending 40+ hours with the same people 5 days a week if you can’t create a little mayhem on the weekend?! My point exactly. Pops and yours truly traveled a few hours on 95 to join the Maryland office for the festivities.
My game was mediocre at best despite some very lucky shots. I blame the stink bugs, the beer, and the deer that seemed to be following me from hole to hole. In fact, I’m convinced they were stealing my balls from the course!
Ever notice how you can have some really great drives on a golf course until your boss happens to be watching that one shot you take and then you absolutely tank just so he has the pleasure of laughing at you? No? Ok maybe it was just me then!
PM Call Thank You!
To all the customers who took part in our Roland PM Call program by purchasing a full set of Roland Eco Sol Max Inks, we thank you! It’s through this program that we learned that there are a lot of customers out there that are no focused on price when the quality of the service is there! It makes us feel really good to know that there are a lot of people out there who realize this and we want you to know we take pride in providing you with great support and service day in and day out and will continue to do so!
Customers should use this as an adjustment to their current business model for their company. We all have customers who tend to “beat us up on price” from time to time, but what are they REALLY looking for? Maybe there have just been so many people burned on service and support that they feel by getting the “best price possible” they can compensate down the road for any lack of support they get from their vendor. It’s time to turn that around. By providing your customers with added value and going the extra mile, you can show them that added value is not just some term people use to fluff up their sale. It means reliability, knowledge, and the ability to help your customers be successful. Spread that message to your customers and practice what you preach and price concerns won’t outweigh quality.
Farewell VP Series..Hello VS!
For those of you in the digital printing world who have been living under a rock the past few weeks, Roland DGA has upgraded all the Roland VP Series VersaCAMMs into VS Series models. They are now available in 42”, 54” and 64” sizes and focus on the following key features..
Eco-solvent inkjet printer/cutters now available in three sizes
64” VS-640 54” VS-540 42” VS-420
Offered in three ink configurations:
• 4-colors KYMCCMYK for the highest print speeds
• 6-colors CCMMYK + Lc+Lm for enhanced blues and reds, flawless flesh tones and improved image quality across lighter colors
• 8-colors CMYK+ Lc+Lm+Mt+W for white and metallic applications
State-of-the-art 8-channel print head technology
Industry’s most advanced print head
Variable droplet technology with seven different dot sizes
Ensures the smoothest gradations and rich color density
Gold plating reduces static electricity
Rugged, scratch resistant ECO-SOL MAX ink in 220 ml and 440 ml cartridges (white and silver available in 220 ml only)
Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX Ink
Prints as a spot color
Combines with CMYK for stunning metallic colors
Named 2009 DPI Product of the Year
Tyrrell Tech will be offering Trade In Value for anyone looking to upgrade their machine to a VS so why wait? Order yours today!
A word of advice to some of my peeps, always keep a back up set of inks on hand. You should have one cartridge on the shelf for every one you have in the machine. Therefore, 12 colors in the printer, 12 colors on the shelf. It’s simple business practices like this that can save you so much time and aggrevation in the long run. Look at it this way, you want your machine running at all times, so why would you not want to have inks on hand to replace.
For those of you VS-640 VersaCAMM users with Metallic Ink configuration. You’re going to want to have a Metallic on hand at all times for a different reason. Through various service trips and technical support, we have found that the while a majority of the Metallic Ink gets sucked into a well, if the cartridge reads as being empty, you will not be able to use your machine no matter how much ink is in the lines or the well. Therefore, you will need to have a Metallic Ink Cartridge on hand before your existing runs out.
Seal E.L. Laminator Anticipation Grows…As Expected!
Over the years I have seen many people left frustrated and disappointed over their laminator. Some have issues with laminating. Some have issues with mounting. Some want to use it to drop on their ex’s house. No matter what, on Thursday October 28th, you have a chance to save yourself from the pain and suffering of your laminator!
Representatives from Seal & Neschen will be here in our NJ office on Thursday October 28th from 10am-5pm to provide our customers with an detailed look at the new EL Laminator and the list of registered customers grows more and more each day!
Jump on board and find out what all the hype is about! Contact Kelly @ ext 231 for more details!
TyrrellTech 2nd Annual Golf Outing…Never a dull moment!
So what’s the point in spending 40+ hours with the same people 5 days a week if you can’t create a little mayhem on the weekend?! My point exactly. Pops and yours truly traveled a few hours on 95 to join the Maryland office for the festivities.
My game was mediocre at best despite some very lucky shots. I blame the stink bugs, the beer, and the deer that seemed to be following me from hole to hole. In fact, I’m convinced they were stealing my balls from the course!
Ever notice how you can have some really great drives on a golf course until your boss happens to be watching that one shot you take and then you absolutely tank just so he has the pleasure of laughing at you? No? Ok maybe it was just me then!
PM Call Thank You!
To all the customers who took part in our Roland PM Call program by purchasing a full set of Roland Eco Sol Max Inks, we thank you! It’s through this program that we learned that there are a lot of customers out there that are no focused on price when the quality of the service is there! It makes us feel really good to know that there are a lot of people out there who realize this and we want you to know we take pride in providing you with great support and service day in and day out and will continue to do so!
Customers should use this as an adjustment to their current business model for their company. We all have customers who tend to “beat us up on price” from time to time, but what are they REALLY looking for? Maybe there have just been so many people burned on service and support that they feel by getting the “best price possible” they can compensate down the road for any lack of support they get from their vendor. It’s time to turn that around. By providing your customers with added value and going the extra mile, you can show them that added value is not just some term people use to fluff up their sale. It means reliability, knowledge, and the ability to help your customers be successful. Spread that message to your customers and practice what you preach and price concerns won’t outweigh quality.
Farewell VP Series..Hello VS!
For those of you in the digital printing world who have been living under a rock the past few weeks, Roland DGA has upgraded all the Roland VP Series VersaCAMMs into VS Series models. They are now available in 42”, 54” and 64” sizes and focus on the following key features..
Eco-solvent inkjet printer/cutters now available in three sizes
64” VS-640 54” VS-540 42” VS-420
Offered in three ink configurations:
• 4-colors KYMCCMYK for the highest print speeds
• 6-colors CCMMYK + Lc+Lm for enhanced blues and reds, flawless flesh tones and improved image quality across lighter colors
• 8-colors CMYK+ Lc+Lm+Mt+W for white and metallic applications
State-of-the-art 8-channel print head technology
Industry’s most advanced print head
Variable droplet technology with seven different dot sizes
Ensures the smoothest gradations and rich color density
Gold plating reduces static electricity
Rugged, scratch resistant ECO-SOL MAX ink in 220 ml and 440 ml cartridges (white and silver available in 220 ml only)
Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX Ink
Prints as a spot color
Combines with CMYK for stunning metallic colors
Named 2009 DPI Product of the Year
Tyrrell Tech will be offering Trade In Value for anyone looking to upgrade their machine to a VS so why wait? Order yours today!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Hey..That’s Just MY Advice..
A lot of people go to a lot of places for advice. Blogs, Forums, Dealers and even other Sign Shops. I love exploring Sign & Digital Graphics Forums and finding out what other people have to say, but sometimes I truly wonder whether people take the RIGHT advice as something to follow, or do they just follow the advice of what seems the to be the easiest and in most cases, the least expensive path.
It can often be summed up to human nature. You walk down the streets of New York City in the dead of winter, and you are in desperate need of a wool hat since it’s so cold. You see two street vendors within 50 feet of each other, the closer one is selling a more durable and much warmer hat for $10 but 50 ft away is a less durable and cheaper hat. Instinct takes over and you go and walk the extra 50ft to buy a cheaper product. Some people say “yeah exactly what I would do”, but let’s think about this. In the long run is it really saving you any money? Cheaper products never outlast a quality made product and in the end you end up spending more money to replace the product you bought when you went the “cheaper route”.
It’s the same way in my line of work, over the past few years, people have seen a drastic change in the economy and have come up with some pretty “unusual” for lack of better terms to do what they think is best for their business. Now I’m not going to go and name any companies in particular that I have dealt with over the past few years, but let’s just say some are still in business and some are struggling now more than ever. The decisions you made 2-3 years ago are now the same decisions that can be holding you back from succeeding today!
SUPPORT DOESN’T MATTER-A while back, I had a customer come to me and took up four hours of my day running around my shop pointing to things, saying “I want this, and I want that” So I did demonstrations on each and every piece of equipment I had in my showroom. I carefully explained what each one does, the good points, the bad points and how each machine can help him be successful. I take pride in what I do. I don’t play the “well this is the (model) and here is the price...you want it?” game.
I gave the customer a price and when he saw that we are charging for training and support, he proceeds to question me and tell me he doesn’t need it. WOW. So let me get this straight. I have been doing this for 13 years, and I’m still learning each and every day but you wake up one morning and decide you want to open a business and you don’t need any training or support. I’ll just leave it at that.
Here’s the cold hard facts: When you pay a dealer in this industry for support, you are paying for their time to help you be successful and keep you running smoothly. Whether you like it or not, this is a whole new era, and the days of “I want the best price and best support at the same time” doesn’t exist. Period. The money you pay for training covers our time that we AREN’T selling to help you out. Now if we get a guy who chooses to nickel and dime a sales rep, when the time comes for him to need support, the last thing we’ll want to do is help because we need to focus on our next sale. Simple reality. Ever hear of “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”?
TRADE IN VALUE-This story always makes me laugh. I had a customer come in and wanted to do a trade in from an SP-540V to a new machine. I gave them the trade in value and instantly they became upset “THAT’S IT? DON’T THESE THINGS HOLD ANY VALUE?” Let’s look at this a little closer. The customer was trading in the machine because he was out of warranty and a head was blown. With time and labor that’s over $1000 right there at least. Not to mention AFTER the machine is replaced, TyrrellTech adds a warranty to it so we can resell it to a customer. That’s also IF there isn’t anything else wrong with the machine.
So now we move on to the new machine he wants. I give him the price and first thing out of the customer’s mouth is to offer me $3000 less than what the price I gave him. Again, I tell things like it is, and I call it the way I see it. You mean to tell me that you want MORE money for a machine that is 5 years old and needs a lot of work, but a brand new, faster and not to mention under warranty machine is worth LESS?? Think about this one.
SAVING MONEY v MAKING MONEY-You don’t start a business to SAVE money. No one starts a business called “Saving Money Inc”. I had a customer who I had helped out of so many situations literally tell me in front of a group of people that a competitor was $0.40 cheaper on a roll of vinyl. No trust me, you read that right. FORTY CENTS! Really? I started to laugh and thought he was joking. Apparently he wasn’t. At the end of the day I felt bad for that customer because I tried to make them realize that you can get into any business to MAKE money or you can get into a business to SAVE money. But you can not make money by saving money. It just doesn’t happen.
The same goes for this whole 3rd party ink mess. I’ve had customers walk away from service contracts and say “Ok well I guess my machine is not going to be able to get a service contract from you since I put third party ink in my machine, but hey it will all work out. The 220ml cartridges are only $48 each so I’m saving so much!” Are you really? I’m not about to get on my high horse about 3rd party inks. There’s been enough of that posted around that whoever doesn’t get it by now, they are on their own. Bottom line, no matter how you spin it, first service call that pops up on your machine, call me after you get the bill and let me know how much you “SAVED”
Look, I don’t sugar coat things. I don’t mix words. There have been a LOT of machines, a LOT of dealers, and a LOT of 3rd party products to come and go. I choose to work for the best and work for a company that carries ONLY the best. This is your INVESTMENT. This is the equipment that you want to be successful with. This is the occupation that you want to send your kids to college with. Why take chances? Why waste time spending less money with the wrong people to get mediocre support and the runaround when you need help? Why sit around and shop 10 different vendors and set yourself back two weeks when in that time you could be printing and selling to your customers.
A lot of people go on forums looking for the best prices. They spend all day every day posting and emailing people asking where they can save a few bucks. The time you spend doing everything but working on selling your product costs you money. I know this just as well. It’s 7am as I write this. Why? Am I crazy? No. I know that at 8:30 my day starts and my customers are calling. So why take away from their time. This industry is not a giant infomercial. The manufacturers and the dealers work hard to provide you with the RIGHT information to help make you successful and bring you the absolute best. Follow their words and listen to what they are telling you. They haven’t been able to get to where they are today but nickel and diming everyone. It’s all hard work and perseverance. Nothing else.
Forums can be filled with a LOT of useful information don’t get me wrong, but if you spend your day using it for the wrong information, your business will suffer. I have a lot of customers who follow TyrrellTech’s advice and share the same beliefs and they are kicking butt right now! Unfortunately, it’s those who sat back and held onto their money until CNN reported a change in the economy that are now light years behind. Take it from me, I get calls all day long from businesses out there. I ask each one how things are going. There are so many people out there that are extremely busy and it’s easy to tell how they run their shop compared to those who are struggling saying “well what’s my price?”
The price is the price and the advice is the advice. Like or it not, that’s my two cents. My words don’t come off friendly to everyone, but at the same time, you need to ask yourself one question. Do you want to do business with someone who will tell it to you like it is? Or do you want me to tell you want you want to hear? It’s the same way in life, marriage, education, and so on. The key word in today’s world isn’t CHANGE. It’s REALITY and the more realistic you are about your business practices, the better off you will be.
Until next time.
It can often be summed up to human nature. You walk down the streets of New York City in the dead of winter, and you are in desperate need of a wool hat since it’s so cold. You see two street vendors within 50 feet of each other, the closer one is selling a more durable and much warmer hat for $10 but 50 ft away is a less durable and cheaper hat. Instinct takes over and you go and walk the extra 50ft to buy a cheaper product. Some people say “yeah exactly what I would do”, but let’s think about this. In the long run is it really saving you any money? Cheaper products never outlast a quality made product and in the end you end up spending more money to replace the product you bought when you went the “cheaper route”.
It’s the same way in my line of work, over the past few years, people have seen a drastic change in the economy and have come up with some pretty “unusual” for lack of better terms to do what they think is best for their business. Now I’m not going to go and name any companies in particular that I have dealt with over the past few years, but let’s just say some are still in business and some are struggling now more than ever. The decisions you made 2-3 years ago are now the same decisions that can be holding you back from succeeding today!
SUPPORT DOESN’T MATTER-A while back, I had a customer come to me and took up four hours of my day running around my shop pointing to things, saying “I want this, and I want that” So I did demonstrations on each and every piece of equipment I had in my showroom. I carefully explained what each one does, the good points, the bad points and how each machine can help him be successful. I take pride in what I do. I don’t play the “well this is the (model) and here is the price...you want it?” game.
I gave the customer a price and when he saw that we are charging for training and support, he proceeds to question me and tell me he doesn’t need it. WOW. So let me get this straight. I have been doing this for 13 years, and I’m still learning each and every day but you wake up one morning and decide you want to open a business and you don’t need any training or support. I’ll just leave it at that.
Here’s the cold hard facts: When you pay a dealer in this industry for support, you are paying for their time to help you be successful and keep you running smoothly. Whether you like it or not, this is a whole new era, and the days of “I want the best price and best support at the same time” doesn’t exist. Period. The money you pay for training covers our time that we AREN’T selling to help you out. Now if we get a guy who chooses to nickel and dime a sales rep, when the time comes for him to need support, the last thing we’ll want to do is help because we need to focus on our next sale. Simple reality. Ever hear of “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”?
TRADE IN VALUE-This story always makes me laugh. I had a customer come in and wanted to do a trade in from an SP-540V to a new machine. I gave them the trade in value and instantly they became upset “THAT’S IT? DON’T THESE THINGS HOLD ANY VALUE?” Let’s look at this a little closer. The customer was trading in the machine because he was out of warranty and a head was blown. With time and labor that’s over $1000 right there at least. Not to mention AFTER the machine is replaced, TyrrellTech adds a warranty to it so we can resell it to a customer. That’s also IF there isn’t anything else wrong with the machine.
So now we move on to the new machine he wants. I give him the price and first thing out of the customer’s mouth is to offer me $3000 less than what the price I gave him. Again, I tell things like it is, and I call it the way I see it. You mean to tell me that you want MORE money for a machine that is 5 years old and needs a lot of work, but a brand new, faster and not to mention under warranty machine is worth LESS?? Think about this one.
SAVING MONEY v MAKING MONEY-You don’t start a business to SAVE money. No one starts a business called “Saving Money Inc”. I had a customer who I had helped out of so many situations literally tell me in front of a group of people that a competitor was $0.40 cheaper on a roll of vinyl. No trust me, you read that right. FORTY CENTS! Really? I started to laugh and thought he was joking. Apparently he wasn’t. At the end of the day I felt bad for that customer because I tried to make them realize that you can get into any business to MAKE money or you can get into a business to SAVE money. But you can not make money by saving money. It just doesn’t happen.
The same goes for this whole 3rd party ink mess. I’ve had customers walk away from service contracts and say “Ok well I guess my machine is not going to be able to get a service contract from you since I put third party ink in my machine, but hey it will all work out. The 220ml cartridges are only $48 each so I’m saving so much!” Are you really? I’m not about to get on my high horse about 3rd party inks. There’s been enough of that posted around that whoever doesn’t get it by now, they are on their own. Bottom line, no matter how you spin it, first service call that pops up on your machine, call me after you get the bill and let me know how much you “SAVED”
Look, I don’t sugar coat things. I don’t mix words. There have been a LOT of machines, a LOT of dealers, and a LOT of 3rd party products to come and go. I choose to work for the best and work for a company that carries ONLY the best. This is your INVESTMENT. This is the equipment that you want to be successful with. This is the occupation that you want to send your kids to college with. Why take chances? Why waste time spending less money with the wrong people to get mediocre support and the runaround when you need help? Why sit around and shop 10 different vendors and set yourself back two weeks when in that time you could be printing and selling to your customers.
A lot of people go on forums looking for the best prices. They spend all day every day posting and emailing people asking where they can save a few bucks. The time you spend doing everything but working on selling your product costs you money. I know this just as well. It’s 7am as I write this. Why? Am I crazy? No. I know that at 8:30 my day starts and my customers are calling. So why take away from their time. This industry is not a giant infomercial. The manufacturers and the dealers work hard to provide you with the RIGHT information to help make you successful and bring you the absolute best. Follow their words and listen to what they are telling you. They haven’t been able to get to where they are today but nickel and diming everyone. It’s all hard work and perseverance. Nothing else.
Forums can be filled with a LOT of useful information don’t get me wrong, but if you spend your day using it for the wrong information, your business will suffer. I have a lot of customers who follow TyrrellTech’s advice and share the same beliefs and they are kicking butt right now! Unfortunately, it’s those who sat back and held onto their money until CNN reported a change in the economy that are now light years behind. Take it from me, I get calls all day long from businesses out there. I ask each one how things are going. There are so many people out there that are extremely busy and it’s easy to tell how they run their shop compared to those who are struggling saying “well what’s my price?”
The price is the price and the advice is the advice. Like or it not, that’s my two cents. My words don’t come off friendly to everyone, but at the same time, you need to ask yourself one question. Do you want to do business with someone who will tell it to you like it is? Or do you want me to tell you want you want to hear? It’s the same way in life, marriage, education, and so on. The key word in today’s world isn’t CHANGE. It’s REALITY and the more realistic you are about your business practices, the better off you will be.
Until next time.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Inside of My Mind..
So with March came an absolute explosion in our industry. Sales returned with a fury and yours truly has been busier than ever. I have seen all the hard work that I have done all last year helping to get the NJ office off the ground pay off in spades. A lot of people have asked me how I manage to stay busy while the rest of the world seems to be continuing to “wait it out”. After all the different blogs I have written I feel that now may be a good time to write one that gives people a more inside look as to how I operate.
Now the thing is with me, I don’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum but my own. I don’t do things the “conventional way” and I don’t follow a set routine. The answer lies within the question. While many people “wait it out” and sit on their couch waiting for CNN to report that the recession is over, I set out and overturn those rocks and find diamonds. I refuse to sit and hold off and not pursue my dreams and chase my goals until the so called “economy” revives itself.
It’s probably a good time to set the disclaimer here. The opinions here in this blog are mine and mine alone. I don’t believe in censoring myself if I feel something isn’t true or right. I don’t go with the flow or follow the just because. When the world says take the road to the right, I tend to say “why the frig can’t we see what’s to the left?” That’s just the way I am. Some like it some don’t. The thing is with me, I don’t put up a fight or have an attitude about it. I just tend to be myself with the volume turned up. I live life to the fullest. I take each day as a new opportunity and I seize it. We’re only on this earth for a short time, why waste it.
I don’t believe any politician is better than the other. I don’t believe in labeling my beliefs into some silly catch phrase or social class. I speak for no one but myself and I truly believe that when it comes to religion, politics, education, and raising children, people have totally lost all concept of reality, yet somehow I’m the insane one for my love of pro wrestling, go figure.
So here’s the deal. Each day I get up at about 5:30am. I don’t really use an alarm clock since I’m always up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Five-Six hours of sleep and I’m good to go. I either hit the gym in the am or the evening and from 8:30am-5:30/6:00pm it’s game time, sometimes longer. When I’m at work, I block out all worldly issues and just focus on my work. I used to stress myself out for no reason over things that I really had no control over. I would lose focus and become easily distracted. When I was at work, I’d be worried about household tasks and vice versa. When I was at the gym, I’d be thinking of things I had to get done later. I would get lazy, get distracted and lose all my concentration. I didn’t rule my own life, my life ruled me.
It’s when things get this hectic where you learn to just give in and breathe. You have to just let go and be the person you know you are deep down. Life can be one big mind game and if you let it get the best of you, you’ll never truly be at peace. Over the years I’ve learned to control my impulsions, be a little less cynical and focus on the positive. Things will always have added stress but what can you do? Flip out and scream? Maybe that will help for a whole 5 seconds, but that’s 5 seconds wasted. You gotta learn to breathe. I did. It wasn’t easy but over time you begin to realize that one simple day of frustration will be so easily forgotten in a lifetime of happiness ahead. It used to be work was my life. Now my wife and family are my life, and my work is my work. That’s all it should be. It’s balanced and I feel I’m more successful for it.
How this relates to my day to day? Simple. There are so many people that live in fear. Fear of what may happen in such an “unstable” economy. Fear of what may be the end result of politicians having a verbal battle royal on CNN over the Healthcare in our country. To me, there’s never been a time to upgrade your business equipment, buy into a new business or help make some changes to help increase your product offerings. Now trust me, I’ve been house hunting for a while so I’ve heard the whole “never been a better time to buy” crap so I am only relating this to the Digital Graphics Industry. Disclaimer number 2!
In my line of work, and the customers I deal with, my job is not to go in and “sell them something” and I almost find it insulted to say “he’s my sales man” Salesmen have a goal and it’s summed up in two words, “to sell”. I do more than sell. I provide. There is a HUGE difference. I work with my accounts on a more personal one on one basis and they have access to me 24/7 (Trust me some have taken me up on that). My customers know they can call on me anytime day or night for advice or assistance. Salesmen don’t do that. I do.
When I was growing up, there’s was only one thing I ever truly wanted to be, a professional wrestler. Oh my word. Did he just really write that? Of all the things in the world why a wrestler? Oh the horror! Yup, I admired the those guys. I watched it religiously. But it wasn’t until about 5-6 years ago where I realized what I truly admired about those guys. The passion. Sure I loved the matches, but it was the concept of the whole thing that drew me. These were guys, everyday people like me and you, that went out and gave everything they had to entertain and to provide their fans, and customers so to speak, with the absolute best money can buy.
Their stories showed them rising above any adversity that was thrown at them. And just like in our business, there are wrestlers that succeed and wrestlers that don’t. There are companies that just do enough to put money in their pockets, and there are guys who provide so much value and superior service to their customers that the people they work with feed off their energy and learn to turn the volume up themselves.
That’s what I do. That’s who I am. I live and breathe everything I do in this business. I tell my customers my opinion and help them reach a goal and guide them in the right direction. I show more enthusiasm and genuine passion for not just this industry, but for the people I work for and believe in that more and more people each day want to get on board for the ride. There isn’t a single thing on the face of this Earth that I do better than provide valuable solutions to my customers day in and day out, and it’s that passion that gives me the ability to say there isn’t a company around that does what we do, and if there was, I’d be employed there.
Now where do we go from here? There’s a whole new world out there to seize for yourselves. Each day there are over a thousand new opportunities that present themselves. You can sit around, count your pennies and spend half the day to see who has the lowest price on a roll of 24” Oracal vinyl. Or you can just order the damn roll of material, get your job done right and move on to the next one. I’ve tried many times to explain to customers, you can sit and do your best to save your pennies, but who is doing all the work while you’re number crunching.
Fact is, life is not one big infomercial, which by the way are usually on at 5am for a reason. Not to get off subject, but if I was able to make $30,000 a month running websites on the internet, I surely wouldn’t spend time in a Hawaiian shirt with a bunch of dorks talking about how I did it while two women who show more cleavage than talent try to sell me on it. But I digress.
Bottom line, in order to truly be successful, we have to undo all the negative thinking. We have to be more responsible for our actions and remember why we got into the business in the first place. Our love and passion. Nobody gets in the business to save money. They get into business to MAKE money. I’ve made a good amount of money for myself by taking my love, my passion, my sweat, my tears and everything I have and putting into this business. It what makes me truly believe I can do it better than the next. Some call it arrogance, but I don’t get paid to come out and say I’m second fiddle.
Anyway, there you have it. It may seem like a ramble, but this is what runs through my mind when it comes to this business. I live it. I breathe it and it’s a culmination of all my hard work and energy. For those reading, I hope if anything, this helps fire you up like it does me. You don’t need a framed poster on your wall from a Poster Shop in the mall to tell you’re great and motivate you. You can do that yourself by digging down deep and finding what you’re truly made of. When you do, simply grab the knob and turn the volume way up.
Now the thing is with me, I don’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum but my own. I don’t do things the “conventional way” and I don’t follow a set routine. The answer lies within the question. While many people “wait it out” and sit on their couch waiting for CNN to report that the recession is over, I set out and overturn those rocks and find diamonds. I refuse to sit and hold off and not pursue my dreams and chase my goals until the so called “economy” revives itself.
It’s probably a good time to set the disclaimer here. The opinions here in this blog are mine and mine alone. I don’t believe in censoring myself if I feel something isn’t true or right. I don’t go with the flow or follow the just because. When the world says take the road to the right, I tend to say “why the frig can’t we see what’s to the left?” That’s just the way I am. Some like it some don’t. The thing is with me, I don’t put up a fight or have an attitude about it. I just tend to be myself with the volume turned up. I live life to the fullest. I take each day as a new opportunity and I seize it. We’re only on this earth for a short time, why waste it.
I don’t believe any politician is better than the other. I don’t believe in labeling my beliefs into some silly catch phrase or social class. I speak for no one but myself and I truly believe that when it comes to religion, politics, education, and raising children, people have totally lost all concept of reality, yet somehow I’m the insane one for my love of pro wrestling, go figure.
So here’s the deal. Each day I get up at about 5:30am. I don’t really use an alarm clock since I’m always up at the same time every day, even on weekends. Five-Six hours of sleep and I’m good to go. I either hit the gym in the am or the evening and from 8:30am-5:30/6:00pm it’s game time, sometimes longer. When I’m at work, I block out all worldly issues and just focus on my work. I used to stress myself out for no reason over things that I really had no control over. I would lose focus and become easily distracted. When I was at work, I’d be worried about household tasks and vice versa. When I was at the gym, I’d be thinking of things I had to get done later. I would get lazy, get distracted and lose all my concentration. I didn’t rule my own life, my life ruled me.
It’s when things get this hectic where you learn to just give in and breathe. You have to just let go and be the person you know you are deep down. Life can be one big mind game and if you let it get the best of you, you’ll never truly be at peace. Over the years I’ve learned to control my impulsions, be a little less cynical and focus on the positive. Things will always have added stress but what can you do? Flip out and scream? Maybe that will help for a whole 5 seconds, but that’s 5 seconds wasted. You gotta learn to breathe. I did. It wasn’t easy but over time you begin to realize that one simple day of frustration will be so easily forgotten in a lifetime of happiness ahead. It used to be work was my life. Now my wife and family are my life, and my work is my work. That’s all it should be. It’s balanced and I feel I’m more successful for it.
How this relates to my day to day? Simple. There are so many people that live in fear. Fear of what may happen in such an “unstable” economy. Fear of what may be the end result of politicians having a verbal battle royal on CNN over the Healthcare in our country. To me, there’s never been a time to upgrade your business equipment, buy into a new business or help make some changes to help increase your product offerings. Now trust me, I’ve been house hunting for a while so I’ve heard the whole “never been a better time to buy” crap so I am only relating this to the Digital Graphics Industry. Disclaimer number 2!
In my line of work, and the customers I deal with, my job is not to go in and “sell them something” and I almost find it insulted to say “he’s my sales man” Salesmen have a goal and it’s summed up in two words, “to sell”. I do more than sell. I provide. There is a HUGE difference. I work with my accounts on a more personal one on one basis and they have access to me 24/7 (Trust me some have taken me up on that). My customers know they can call on me anytime day or night for advice or assistance. Salesmen don’t do that. I do.
When I was growing up, there’s was only one thing I ever truly wanted to be, a professional wrestler. Oh my word. Did he just really write that? Of all the things in the world why a wrestler? Oh the horror! Yup, I admired the those guys. I watched it religiously. But it wasn’t until about 5-6 years ago where I realized what I truly admired about those guys. The passion. Sure I loved the matches, but it was the concept of the whole thing that drew me. These were guys, everyday people like me and you, that went out and gave everything they had to entertain and to provide their fans, and customers so to speak, with the absolute best money can buy.
Their stories showed them rising above any adversity that was thrown at them. And just like in our business, there are wrestlers that succeed and wrestlers that don’t. There are companies that just do enough to put money in their pockets, and there are guys who provide so much value and superior service to their customers that the people they work with feed off their energy and learn to turn the volume up themselves.
That’s what I do. That’s who I am. I live and breathe everything I do in this business. I tell my customers my opinion and help them reach a goal and guide them in the right direction. I show more enthusiasm and genuine passion for not just this industry, but for the people I work for and believe in that more and more people each day want to get on board for the ride. There isn’t a single thing on the face of this Earth that I do better than provide valuable solutions to my customers day in and day out, and it’s that passion that gives me the ability to say there isn’t a company around that does what we do, and if there was, I’d be employed there.
Now where do we go from here? There’s a whole new world out there to seize for yourselves. Each day there are over a thousand new opportunities that present themselves. You can sit around, count your pennies and spend half the day to see who has the lowest price on a roll of 24” Oracal vinyl. Or you can just order the damn roll of material, get your job done right and move on to the next one. I’ve tried many times to explain to customers, you can sit and do your best to save your pennies, but who is doing all the work while you’re number crunching.
Fact is, life is not one big infomercial, which by the way are usually on at 5am for a reason. Not to get off subject, but if I was able to make $30,000 a month running websites on the internet, I surely wouldn’t spend time in a Hawaiian shirt with a bunch of dorks talking about how I did it while two women who show more cleavage than talent try to sell me on it. But I digress.
Bottom line, in order to truly be successful, we have to undo all the negative thinking. We have to be more responsible for our actions and remember why we got into the business in the first place. Our love and passion. Nobody gets in the business to save money. They get into business to MAKE money. I’ve made a good amount of money for myself by taking my love, my passion, my sweat, my tears and everything I have and putting into this business. It what makes me truly believe I can do it better than the next. Some call it arrogance, but I don’t get paid to come out and say I’m second fiddle.
Anyway, there you have it. It may seem like a ramble, but this is what runs through my mind when it comes to this business. I live it. I breathe it and it’s a culmination of all my hard work and energy. For those reading, I hope if anything, this helps fire you up like it does me. You don’t need a framed poster on your wall from a Poster Shop in the mall to tell you’re great and motivate you. You can do that yourself by digging down deep and finding what you’re truly made of. When you do, simply grab the knob and turn the volume way up.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Moving Forward
Could it be? The snow is finally beginning to melt? The air is beginning to get a little bit warmer and the sun is beginning to finally shine? I don't think I need to even attempt to speak for everyone when I say how happy I am to finally get closer to spring! I've seen enough snow to last me a lifetime!
With the new season of course comes a lot of new ideas and products. Ones that we hope will make our lives a lot easier and our products shine a lot brighter. For those of you who are just as excited as I am, keep that excitement in check for two more weeks. Why? Well let's get to the "What's Hot?" listing and #1 will tell you why!
Roland Announces New VersaCAMM 64" Printer Cutter
w/Metallic & White Ink Option
Not since the VersaCAMM's were first introduced over 6-7 years back have I seen such excitement over a Roland machine. They have really outdone themselves with this model and the price point doesn't get more attractive than $26,495! We have a lot of people who have older model VersaCamms that have been wanting to jump into the Metallic and White Option but dropping $40,000 simply isn't realistic at this time, and sometimes you gotta do what's right by your budget right? Well as soon as the news broke on this puppy, and people got word that they were getting 10" more in a print & cut and now have the metallic and white ink option, we are making some big time moves these days in preparation for it's arrival. I proudly salute Roland for coming out with yet again an awesome product and to the customers who stopped playing the "waiting game because of the economy" and put their faith in TyrrellTech to help show them the way!
TyrrellTech SIXTH Annual Show and Seminar!
Each year we try to out do ourselves with bringing a little bit of fun and humor to our Tradeshows. We've done a Summer Cookout, a football theme, and this year for our Sixth Annual TyrrellTech Show and Seminar invites you to head under the Big Top! That's right! We're taking this Three Ring Circus of an Industry and packing it all under one roof on May 19th & May 20th.
The Show will be held in the Ten Oaks Ballroom as always in Clarksville MD. There will be plenty of demonstrations from Vendors as well as all sorts of exciting new tips and tricks. Not to mention a Vehicle Wrap Seminar! Come check out all we have in store! Get registration information @ TyrrellTech.com!
Great Price on the JWX-30 Milling Machine from Roland!
Imagine.Design.Create. It's just that simple with the Roland JWX-30 Milling Machine & Jewelry Model Maker! This complete jewelry model maker comes with powerful software that allows you to create detailed 3D models that clients can review from every angle! From these files, the 4 axis desktop mill automatically produces intricate wax models of beautifully crafted rings, pendants, bracelets, broches, earrings and cufflinks. From now until March 31st, you'll save $2900 off this unit with a final base price of $14,995! Contact Brian MacLusky @ ext 232 in the NJ office for more info!
TyrrellTech hits Facebook and Twitter!
So it was only a matter of time but we've reached "social networking status" HA! TyrrellTech can now be found on both Facebook and Twitter! Just look us up on Facebook under TyrrellTech and add us as a friend! We'll keep you up to date on all the latest news and products on the market! You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TyrrellTechDan.
Service Nightmares?
Time and time again we prove we are the best in the business when it comes to support and service on Roland equipment simply by cleaning up after others in the industry. I don't need to come on here and name names and point fingers. In fact I would rather thank them! TyrrellTech has always tried to stand out as a different type of company. Sure we may not always be the cheapest in the business, but if your business goals are revolving around the word "cheap" then chances are that's what the quality of your work is going to look like as well!
No, TyrrellTech prides itself on knowing every single aspect of the equipment it sells and not a week goes by where 2-3 customers fall into our laps because another dealer just decided to sell them on price and not service. These are customers that are simply fed up with getting poor service just to save a few extra pennies, and to make matters worse there are dealers out there that simply don't care. Again, I don't need to name names, if any other dealer would even be reading this and getting mad, well then chances are I'm talking about you.
We have played the roles of the hero a dozen times this year alone. Helping people where we can, and while we appreciate being given the title of heros, this is not something we need be acknowledged for. This is what we do and the truth is Nobody does it better than us. Ready to give us a try? It doesn't always have to be with a purchase. Next time you have a question, a problem, a concern..give us a call. Let us know how we can help and we'll be sure to make you a believer as well.
And as for the "other guys"..well..how should I say this..."we appreciate your business!"
Roland University Training!-FIRST TIME EVER!
TyrrellTech & Roland proudly bring you our first ever Roland University Training in our NJ Facility on Friday March 26th from 10am-3pm. Learn from the best. We'll work closely with our customers on how to be successful with thier equipment and offer up exclusive tips and tricks in both vinyl cutting and digital printing applications! Class is $99 and limited to 20 people. Spots are going fast so reserve today! For more information and details on what will be covered during this training, please contact Kelly at ext 231.
With the new season of course comes a lot of new ideas and products. Ones that we hope will make our lives a lot easier and our products shine a lot brighter. For those of you who are just as excited as I am, keep that excitement in check for two more weeks. Why? Well let's get to the "What's Hot?" listing and #1 will tell you why!
Roland Announces New VersaCAMM 64" Printer Cutter
w/Metallic & White Ink Option
Not since the VersaCAMM's were first introduced over 6-7 years back have I seen such excitement over a Roland machine. They have really outdone themselves with this model and the price point doesn't get more attractive than $26,495! We have a lot of people who have older model VersaCamms that have been wanting to jump into the Metallic and White Option but dropping $40,000 simply isn't realistic at this time, and sometimes you gotta do what's right by your budget right? Well as soon as the news broke on this puppy, and people got word that they were getting 10" more in a print & cut and now have the metallic and white ink option, we are making some big time moves these days in preparation for it's arrival. I proudly salute Roland for coming out with yet again an awesome product and to the customers who stopped playing the "waiting game because of the economy" and put their faith in TyrrellTech to help show them the way!
TyrrellTech SIXTH Annual Show and Seminar!
Each year we try to out do ourselves with bringing a little bit of fun and humor to our Tradeshows. We've done a Summer Cookout, a football theme, and this year for our Sixth Annual TyrrellTech Show and Seminar invites you to head under the Big Top! That's right! We're taking this Three Ring Circus of an Industry and packing it all under one roof on May 19th & May 20th.
The Show will be held in the Ten Oaks Ballroom as always in Clarksville MD. There will be plenty of demonstrations from Vendors as well as all sorts of exciting new tips and tricks. Not to mention a Vehicle Wrap Seminar! Come check out all we have in store! Get registration information @ TyrrellTech.com!
Great Price on the JWX-30 Milling Machine from Roland!
Imagine.Design.Create. It's just that simple with the Roland JWX-30 Milling Machine & Jewelry Model Maker! This complete jewelry model maker comes with powerful software that allows you to create detailed 3D models that clients can review from every angle! From these files, the 4 axis desktop mill automatically produces intricate wax models of beautifully crafted rings, pendants, bracelets, broches, earrings and cufflinks. From now until March 31st, you'll save $2900 off this unit with a final base price of $14,995! Contact Brian MacLusky @ ext 232 in the NJ office for more info!
TyrrellTech hits Facebook and Twitter!
So it was only a matter of time but we've reached "social networking status" HA! TyrrellTech can now be found on both Facebook and Twitter! Just look us up on Facebook under TyrrellTech and add us as a friend! We'll keep you up to date on all the latest news and products on the market! You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TyrrellTechDan.
Service Nightmares?
Time and time again we prove we are the best in the business when it comes to support and service on Roland equipment simply by cleaning up after others in the industry. I don't need to come on here and name names and point fingers. In fact I would rather thank them! TyrrellTech has always tried to stand out as a different type of company. Sure we may not always be the cheapest in the business, but if your business goals are revolving around the word "cheap" then chances are that's what the quality of your work is going to look like as well!
No, TyrrellTech prides itself on knowing every single aspect of the equipment it sells and not a week goes by where 2-3 customers fall into our laps because another dealer just decided to sell them on price and not service. These are customers that are simply fed up with getting poor service just to save a few extra pennies, and to make matters worse there are dealers out there that simply don't care. Again, I don't need to name names, if any other dealer would even be reading this and getting mad, well then chances are I'm talking about you.
We have played the roles of the hero a dozen times this year alone. Helping people where we can, and while we appreciate being given the title of heros, this is not something we need be acknowledged for. This is what we do and the truth is Nobody does it better than us. Ready to give us a try? It doesn't always have to be with a purchase. Next time you have a question, a problem, a concern..give us a call. Let us know how we can help and we'll be sure to make you a believer as well.
And as for the "other guys"..well..how should I say this..."we appreciate your business!"
Roland University Training!-FIRST TIME EVER!
TyrrellTech & Roland proudly bring you our first ever Roland University Training in our NJ Facility on Friday March 26th from 10am-3pm. Learn from the best. We'll work closely with our customers on how to be successful with thier equipment and offer up exclusive tips and tricks in both vinyl cutting and digital printing applications! Class is $99 and limited to 20 people. Spots are going fast so reserve today! For more information and details on what will be covered during this training, please contact Kelly at ext 231.
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