From wrapping up Q4 tasks and futures planning to holiday shopping and attending events, December is always a busy – and often hectic – time of the year. There’s a lot of joy and happiness, but there’s also stress and pressure. Over the years, I’ve found a great way to stay grounded and focused is
One of my favorite aspects of operating a small business is our ability to make agile decisions. Where larger companies often have extended approval processes and varied hoops to jump through, we have a lean and compact structure which enables us to streamline information sharing and expedite the launch of new initiatives. That said, agile
Currently, I’m a second-generation small family business owner. Whenever I meet someone new and share this information, I can see their minds piecing together an image of what it looks like. Unless they are involved with a family or small business themselves, what they envision is usually inaccurate. This is neither a bad thing nor
At the base level, businesses exist to serve customers. Whether individual consumers, communities, or even other businesses, it’s their continued support which keep brands afloat. So, expressing gratitude and appreciation for their support can go a long way in building relationships and strengthening retention rates. When discussing customer appreciation ideas with clients and colleagues, I’ve
We do our very best to put clients at the center of our business. All the decision we make, the way we operate, and the team we put together; everything is done with clients as the priority. I believe most brands are the same. They want to make decisions and operate in ways that keep
Whether in our personal or professional lives – or both – most of us struggle with finding a balance between instant and delayed gratification. As consumers, we’re willing to pay a premium for faster download speeds, quicker package delivery, and location-based convenience. None of these things are inherently wrong, but some would say patience is
Why is it that some brands can reinvent themselves in the right ways at the right times and maintain long-standing competitive relevance while others cannot? How is it that some brands seemingly know what is around the corner and had already planned for unexpected market shifts? What pipeline of information do they access and where
A few weeks ago, I was on a call with a client and their marketing team who was sharing some incredibly creative ideas for an upcoming marketing campaign. My creative juices were flowing, my strategic wheels were turning, and my hands were doing their best to get my racing thoughts on paper. With a huge
Before I get into the topic at hand, go ahead and take a moment to process the fact that we are already nearing the end of March 2021. Crazy, right?! Ok… moving on. As we quickly approach Q2, it is a good time to check-in on a few strategic brand development topics. Regardless of your
In 1985, our family business – MacKenzie – started in a bonus room home office. In 2019, we were inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Center for Family Business Hall of Fame. Having celebrated our 35th anniversary last year, it was a good time to reflect on our journey from then-to-now. In addition to our
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