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2020 is over, and good riddance! This past year we learned a great deal through the struggle of the COVID-19 pandemic and what we needed to change. We saw issues, and we changed them; we saw failures, and learned from them; we saw successes, and we replicated them.
The button below is for a great Forbes article on preparing your teams for a successful 2021. It's our wish that 2021 will a wonderfully successful year for your business!
![]() British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stated, “There is nothing wrong with change….if it is in the right direction.” In this current condition, it can seem moving in the right direction is unclear and unknown, with so many challenges we face during this global pandemic. Businesses have met so many problems over the last several months from total shutdown, laying off workers, pay cuts, loss of revenue, and complete business closures. What have we learned from these difficult times? Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, stated it best; “Change before you have to.” One of the lessons, as an organization, we implemented right away was to look at new opportunities for new products, services, and with our customers. We looked at how our customers were shifting from the production of items they had been producing for years to new PPE items. We looked at what we could do to support them with labeling and promoting these new products with new or stock labels. We developed more robust relationships with our customers by working with and providing resources based on the pivot many were making. Partnerships rely on trust and commitment; these trials that our customers have faced for the last several months have encouraged growth and developed our ability to be a reliable partner. Flexibility has been critical to successfully navigating this new challenging business world. Some of our customers came to us as the viral pandemic began that slowed economic growth and affected everyday lives with concerns about paying invoices. Our customers saw products returned, canceled purchase orders, and full-scale manufacturing shutdowns; they did not see the healthy cash flow to be able to continue paying mounting invoices becoming due. As calls and emails came in asking for additional time to pay invoices, we had to make a decision; maintain the status quo and say no, or be flexible and work with our customers. We choose to consider the long-term relationship that we strive for with each customer, working with each one on a specific plan to help them in their time of need. The outcome, our customers fulfilled their commitments to the financial arrangement established with them. We now have stronger business relationships because we worked together to support one another. Elenor Roosevelt, an advocate for social and equality change, stated, “In business, courtesy and efficiency have a symbolic relationship.” Flexibility and working with our customer’s needs allowed a greater understanding of how we can be more than just a transactional partner but an essential resource to our customers. We are grateful for all of our customers, but more importantly, we love being a part of their journey. ![]() As I came into the office today, I notice our petunia flowers by our front door. They were blooming and beautiful; these flowers produce a fragrance that was delicate and sweet. I had to stop and take in these beautiful flowers for just a moment and the elegant design they made in our planter. I wondered for a moment what can I learn as a business owner from these flowers. Here a few things I reflected on:
![]() Many of our customers have experienced many difficult challenges during this COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has affected every aspect of our lives from our schools closing, online graduations, cancellations of trade shows to our businesses shutting down, or working from home. As businesses, we have had to change how we meet our customers' needs. One area we have been able to help old and new customers with branding products with our stock Made in the USA labels. We have seen our customers pivot their business to manufacturing PPE, and we have been able to help them brand their products with these labels. Here at W&W Associates, we are proud to help our customers pivot with new products that help protect our families, healthcare workers, and those that a vulnerable to this virus. |
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September 2022
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