Out of the blue-gray October sky something very positive is happening out there. The companies I visited these last few weeks are singing a similar upbeat song. Companies seem to now be looking for key players from the outside that will make a difference in their top lines. Some selected comments heard this last few weeks on the road are:
- “We have hunkered down by cutting inventory, personnel, overhead, and non profitable customers during this economic downturn. Now all we can do is grow the top line to survive so we are looking for the “rainmakers” to hire”.- 20 million dollar digital printing company.
- “Our company was poised to grow rapidly when the bottom fell out”. Now we feel it is time to get back in the game and put our “shelved” strategic plan into play as we can’t cut anymore. – 45 million dollar CPG American manufacturing company.
- “Do you know of any top salespeople out there we could hire”? We are ready to expand again. -37 million Distribution/Fulfillment third party Warehouse company.
- “With the coming election we will now get a better sense of future cost planning for health care, taxes, and regulatory business “rules”. Regardless of which political party wins, at least now we can set our course with some knowledge of how we the company will proceed for the next few years. -55 million dollar consumer garden products reseller.
- We are proceeding with upgrading to new web based computer systems as our repair and servicing costs are now more expensive than the “new” technologies available. – school product fundraising company.
- “Our average order is starting to rise and is now higher this year compared to last, same customers. –B to C 140 million dollar CPG internet/mail order catalog /Retail Company.
Could this chatter be a small trend indicator of next year’s economy? Cross your fingers!
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