| |
COVER STORY:
Outlook ’09: Get Ready for a Rough Ride Ahead |
Last year was a pretty good one for independents, even with some dramatic softening in the last quarter. Unfortunately, the story this year may be quite different.… |
| |
EDITORIAL:
Good News for Independents |
Dealers in California, Texas and North Carolina found plenty to celebrate last month as they took their message of superior value and service and deep community roots to the state house.... |
| |
FEATURE STORIES: |
|
| The Winner's Circle |
| We salute some of the outstanding independents who are making headlines with special awards, expansion moves and more... |
|
| Secrets to Success: Ables-Land |
| Everything’s coming up roses for the family-owned and operated Texas dealership... |
|
| News This Month |
| A look at recent trends and developments of interest to the dealer community in the industry at large... |
|
| VENDOR UPDATE: Safco Products |
| Safco’s got a new web site and, they say, it’s something to get exSited about.. |
|
| Your Mindset Will be a Critical Factor for Success in 2009 |
| An advance look at what dealers can expect from S. P. Richards’ 2009 catalog and flyer program.... |
|
| Critical Success Factors for the Independent Dealer |
| The ability to maintain and convey a positive mindset in the face of tough business challenges may well be one of any dealer’s most important management skills in the year ahead, says consultant Bill Kuhn… |
|
| Do This Now Or Else! |
| From Tom Buxton: Three specific actions dealers need to start working on right now to prepare for tough times… |
|
| Brickwalling |
| Krista Moore offers an innovative approach to building a wall between your customers and your competition and giving your sales reps a greater sense of purpose and direction… |
|
| Make Sure You Avoid the High Cost of Broken Trust |
| Scandals on Wall Street and in statehouses and Office Depot’s problems with its state contracts are just some of the factors that have sent trust plummeting to an all-time low, says Mark Slatin and it’s important for dealers to make sure they don’t get tainted as a result of guilt by association… |
|
| The Election is Over, Now It’s Time to Keep Those Campaign Promises! |
| Last year’s Presidential campaign generated plenty of pro-small business rhetoric but now, says government affairs expert Paul Miller, it’s time for our new President to start living up to his campaign promise of support for small businesses… |
|
| The Other Side of Al Lynden of Chuckals Office Products |
| Even though he’s got a 15-year track record of successful growth, this Tacoma dealer has got the blues, and he’s got them bad.... |
|
| The Last Word |
| It’s time to make NOPA a valued asset for your business, says this Pennsylvania dealer... |
|
|
| |
