Word on the Street by Kevin Carty
Out with the Old and In with the New
This past week was filled with a flurry of new (albeit last minute) orders and lots of quote requests for the New Year. It was a promising sign heading into 2011.
Around Classic, talk was about what to expect in the first quarter of 2011 . . . internally and externally.
Mel and I have been in full blown planning mode for the past eight weeks, and this past week was no different. We have many things on tap for 2011, especially the first quarter. Along with the recent launching of the new SEGUE Sunrise, we are launching new variations of existing systems as well as multiple Island exhibits that reflect current “minimalist” trends and the growth of silicone edge graphics.
Along with that, we are refining our internal “customer experience.” Some examples include setting better expectations to make the overall process more predictable. The advent of tighter time lines, which have become the new “norm,” bring new challenges to our process. I am personally addressing many of these not only for you but also for our internal Project Management and Production Departments.
Pricing will receive some attention in the first quarter of 2011 as well. As many of you have probably seen in the financial markets, aluminum and plastic prices have slowly been on the rise. Does this mean an increase is pending from Classic Exhibits and ClassicMODUL? Yes in part, but we have been looking at more creative buying practices to control costs, so it will not be an across the board price increase. You will actually see some price decreases as well.
In the next few weeks, I will publish my Annual Company Letter. I am currently working on it and do not know the exact release date, but it will be in January.
I hope you and your families had a safe and happy New Year’s celebration. Be well.
–Kevin Carty
http://twitter.com/kevin_carty
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a