January 2012
5 posts
10 Strategies to Fix the Reason You’re Stuck →
Article by Dan Rockwell @leadershipfreak on Twitter
Waiting is the reason life hasn’t changed.
Waiting seldom takes you where you want to go. You aren’t where you hoped because you haven’t taken steps to get there; you’ve waited.
The path to disappointment and dissatisfaction is paved with waiting.
Why we wait:
Expecting giant leaps.
Rejecting incremental progress.
Forgetting that...
Three Ways to Convince a Skeptic
Swaying an executive to accept an idea is tough, especially if she’s a skeptic. To overcome her cynicism, you need to adjust your style. Here are three ways to influence a non-believer:
Co-present with a trusted source. Skeptics are highly suspicious of any information that challenges their worldviews. You can increase your chances of success by sharing the stage with someone the...
50 Things Your Customers Wish You Knew
by Sonia Simone
Here are 50 things your customers wish you knew: about them, about how they see you, and about your relationship.
I don’t need you to be perfect, but I do need to know I can rely on you.
Telling me what you don’t know makes me trust you.
It means a lot when you take the time to thank me for my business or a referral.
You don’t need to do all that much to be a superhero....
Happy New Year! Hello 2012!!
Happy New Year! We hope that this post finds you wrapping up a terrific 2011 and looking forward to what 2012 has in store.
We wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that helped make our 2011 the best year yet at Zola Distributing. We truly appreciate all the support that you have shown us and cannot thank you enough.
Have a great 2012!!
December 2011
7 posts
Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for Small Business... →
As humans, we’re continually looking to improve and advance. Whether it’s trying to eat better, to quit smoking once and for all, to spend less money, or to spend more time with family and friends, we formally or informally create our own goals — optimistic that we’ll stick to them this ye…
Relationship Before Opportunity
As most of you know, I truly believe that any success at business ultimately lies in one’s ability to build real relationships with clients, vendors, employees, etc. It’s all about the quality of the relationships. This takes time and effort. Often today, we want results now, but you need to think long term in a short term world. Sure, you may succeed for a short time by faking...
Zola Distributing Announces Holiday Special
Zola Distributing will be running a special Holiday Promotion through 1/1/2012. The promotion will include FREE FREIGHT on any order over $75.00 and a Tool Deal of The Day every day from now until the New Year. Click for Deal of the Day! Check back each day to find out what item we will have on sale! HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ZOLA DISTRIBUTING!!!
November 2011
5 posts
Why American Consumers Will Spend Lavishly Again -... →
patricfransko:
Very interesting read on why, rather than a permanent demand shift, this writer believes American spending will return as the economy improves.
Click for Article
Patric Fransko: Simple Explanation of Marketing →
patricfransko:
If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying “Circus Coming to the Fairground Saturday”, that’s advertising. If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into town, that’s promotion. If the elephant walks through the mayor’s flower bed, that’s publicity. If you get the mayor to laugh about it, that’s public relations. If the elephant walks...
October 2011
3 posts
8 Things That Leadership Is Not →
The idea of leadership is profound. Leadership is many things, and it is also “Not” many things. Here I outline 8 things that leadership is not and a connecting blog post to further explore the topic. I look forward to discussing this with you soon! Leadership is not…
About saying the right thing, it is about doing the right thing. Read: The Leadership Minute 4 – Integrity
About...
3M film turns windows into transparent solar... →
servicegroupdist:
Very interesting technology. This has the potential to dramatically change our industry. With initiatives like Net Zero 2020 in CA, this may be one of the only ways many buildings can meet that standard. Hopefully this is the first of many new exciting products coming from 3M as a result of window film being in their Renewable Energy Division.
September 2011
2 posts
Great Article on Prioritizing Ethics, Customers &...
patricfransko:
Check out this great article on what the proper priorities should be at a business with integrity.
Click for Article
August 2011
8 posts
Great Customer Service Story About Morton's →
If you think Twitter cannot be used to build your business, how much positive juice do you think Morton’s is gonna get for this one act of listening to what was being said on Twitter? Pretty sure they used Twitter Search to see the original tweet. Big props to Morton’s!
Click for Full Story
3 Characteristics of a Real Team
The word “team” is so commonly used in today’s organizations, most managers are oblivious to its true meaning. Here are three characteristics a group must have to be considered a real team, and to maximize its potential:
A meaningful and common purpose. This is more than an outside mandate from the top of the organization. To be successful, the team must develop and own...
Patric Fransko: 5 Rules for a Creative Culture →
patricfransko:
by Ben Chestnut, Founder of Mailchimp
1. Avoid rules. Avoid order. Don’t just embrace chaos, but create a little bit of it. Constant change, from the top-down, keeps people nimble and flexible (and shows that you want constant change).
2. Give yourself and your team permission to be creative. Permission to try something new, permission to fail, permission to embarrass ...
IWFA Unveils a New Website
In an effort to increase the visibility and awareness of the window film industry, the IWFA unveiled their new website, which now has a more modern and contemporary look. You can take a look Here.
There are many new exciting features on the new IWFA website, including:
Sleek, updated layout using the IWFA’s fresh new colors and branding
More timely updates highlighting current IWFA and...
Turning Customers Into Salespeople →
This is a great article to get you thinking about ways to turn your existing customers into an active sales force for your company. Although some of the techniques discussed do not directly relate to our industry, the article should stimulate some ideas on how you can begin engaging your customers in this manner.
Click for Article
The Dark Side of Discounts →
servicegroupdist:
Great reading before you decide to offer that next discount. Used correctly and it can be great for your business. However, pay attention to these caveats to avoid doing more harm than good.
Click for Article
July 2011
11 posts
Branding in the Digital Age: You’re Spending Your... →
patricfransko:
If you are interested at all in the future role marketing will play within organizations, this is a terrific article. Well worth the 20-30 minutes to read and fully digest what it is saying.
Click for Article
A Visualization of the USA National Debt in $100... →
This was certainly eye opening!!
Click for Link
“Success is understanding that good morals is good economics.” Mike Hanes”
– I wish more people understood this universal truth.
Advice from Dale Carnegie
Become a Friendlier Person
1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain. 2. Give honest, sincere appreciation. 3. Arouse in the other person an eager want. 4. Become genuinely interested in other people. 5. Smile. 6. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language. 7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. 8. Talk in terms...
Watchservicegroupdist:
This is a great video about a guy I knew from the past industry I worked in. Even though this is not related to window film, the concepts and thoughts still apply.
Take care of your customers. Think about the lifetime value of each customer you deal with.
Read the full article
Great job Chris and congrats on your continued success!
Here Are The 10 Coolest Twitter Tips And Tricks →
servicegroupdist:
Here are some pretty basic, but cool set of tips on ways to more effectively use Twitter.
Click for Article
“To be successful, you have to be able to relate to people; they have to be...”
– (via patricfransko)
How To Dig Out After A Long Weekend →
Thought this would be a great article after a 3 day weekend. Hope everyone had a terrific holiday and this article helps you get a fast start this week.
Click for Article
Drivers More at Risk for Skin Cancer →
servicegroupdist:
Another great article about the dangers of UV exposure while in your car. This is great information to share to customers that are having their cars tinted. All the SUVs and Minivans that have factory tinted glass should consider a light film on the back glass to stop UV and protect their kids. Not only is it a great idea for them to consider, it turns a two door tint into a...
June 2011
4 posts
Can you get sunburned through a window? →
servicegroupdist:
Great article that discusses how people are still vulnerable to the sun’s rays while in their car. Many people do not know this and assume that they are protected. Window film is the best way to block these harmful UV rays and protect you and the family while driving in your car.
The Power of a “Like” →
Check out my latest blog post for Window Film Magazine about the power of customer “likes” on your Facebook page for business. Tell me what you think. I would love to get your feedback.
Click for Blog
The End Of The Social Network Era, The Rise Of The... →
Wow! Great read and exactly in-line with what I think is going to happen. This is exciting for business as someone endorsing your product to their “social circle” is going to be much more powerful than an endorsement to their “social network”. It will carry much more weight. Be careful though, a negative review of your business is going to carry much more weight with the...
What the Heck Are We Doing on Twitter? →
Great article by Josh Bernoff that discusses how to be successful using Twitter.
Click for article
May 2011
5 posts
Nine Things Successful People Do Differently →
Great article by Heidi Grant Halvorson on the Harvard Business Review site. Most of these things we already know, but it never hurts to hear them again.
Click to Read
Why I Will Never, Ever Hire A "Social Media... →
I thought I would post this great read on what social media can be and what it never should be. I really liked the insight in this article as it would be easy to get suckered by a “social media expert” if you are new to the field. If you are interested in using social media to build your business, PLEASE READ THIS!
Click for article
Why is a facebook page for your business... →
In this latest blog, we discuss how this tool can be used to increase the visibility and credibility of your business.
Tell us what you think.
Click here for blog
