Money, Money, Money, Money.... Money!

Running a business is a ton of work but very gratifying. One of my big tests comes however, when customers do not pay. I personally do not understand how a person can purchase something from a supplier and then not think there is an obligation to pay for the material. I suppose all business go through this but I feel taken. It hits me as theft.

So what do the experts say?

1. Have a credit policy in place: and get a signature before doing any terms.


2. Do not ignore overdue bills. When it is getting close to due have a warning light go off.


3. Re-bill promptly with late charge added. 1.5% is what I charge.


4. Pick up the phone. (It is your money and the money of your employees that is at stake)


5. Never apologize when you call or write. “Hi ____. Show me the money!”


6. Be friendly. Yeah, yeah, yeah!


7. Ask for the full amount. And when they give you part of it don’t congratulate them.


8. Never negotiate the amount, just the terms. You know like pay now, pay now, pay now.


9. Take them to small claims.


10. Sick the creditor dogs on them. Something is better than nothing. You already have lost that amount by this time find a company that only gets paid a percentage of what they collect.
    (some of this came from New York Life)

Always remember you have to pay the bill whether or not your customer pays. It is your promise to the manufactures that give you terms.

I am glad for the majority of people that their word is honorable. Doing continued business with people like that is totally worthwhile and enjoyable. Some of my best friends today are customers that I purchase from or that purchase from me.

Tell me what you have done to collect money from dead beats in the comment section. I would love to hear from you.

Jon Mullender
Summitfencesupply.com
blog: summitfencesupply.blogspot.com

"Primetime all the time!"

Let Me In!

Starbucks and I have a lot in common. They have mochas and I love to drink Grande Mochas… They have frappuccino and I drink frappuccino. I stop at my neighborhood Starbucks all the time. I have spent hundreds of dollars there this past year. I love the people I meet there and the atmosphere. Over the last year I have sat outside in the warmth of the sun drinking and talking to friends. I have sat inside working on business plans or meeting with contacts or interviewing part time employees. I have drawn up plans for marketing campaigns and laughed with my grandson.

But now while the winds blow and the snow is here I am stopped in my tracks. Not by mother nature, not by inability to get out in 8 degree weather but by the 6 feet of unshoveled snow.

Not until the snow melts can I look forward to sipping the fruit of the bean. No more will the chocolate flavor slip through my lips warming me in the middle of the morning commute. I have been set apart with a symbol that says, “No longer welcome!”

Yes it is the snow pile that covers the ramp onto the sidewalk. Yes, as the snow shovel sits by the door showing how they have shoveled the entry for the walkers but not the wheelers.

Is it intentional? I am sure the answer is no... However, am I inside drinking coffee? Again the answer is no.

So as I sit outside in my wheelchair I long for the spring or a person who will lift a shovel and clear a path to the doorway of paradise or at least to a no whip, extra hot, Grande mocha.

Jon Mullender
President
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
summitfencesupply.com
summitfencesupply.blogspot.com

Edifice Complex:

Even today there is a strong love for buildings. I want my space and you stay off. I have seen people ask a neighbor to move his fence 1 foot because that one foot was on their property. I saw an ad recently, “buy your internet material from me because I have a warehouse and a showroom.” Wow! If you live in Minnesota I am sure you care about a showroom in Ohio.

I remember watching a TV commercial where a young man drove his father out into the middle of the desert to show him the location of the new warehouse. His father said, “How can we run a business way out here.” His wise son said, “The Internet!”

According to Jargon Database.com an Edifice Complex is defined as “The tendency of politicians to have large buildings and stadiums built as a concrete reminder of their "Legacy". Look around and you don’t have to look far to see business with the same mentality. What they are saying is I want a place where I can bring people to show my importance, control and power. The interesting thing is who is paying for that building?

Well let’s take a look at it from my point of view. YOU! The consumer pays the loan off, the utilities, the open space where products sit and sit and sit allowing you to buy material that may be 2 or 3 years old. You pay for the tow motor that is only used two or three time a week and the driver. You pay for the person stuck behind a desk to answer the phone. Your hard earned dollars pay so some guy or gal can say, “We have a brick and mortar facility with a warehouse.”

Now let’s look at the other side. In today’s market if you are not a manufacturer you can cut the price to a realistic number by keeping your “Edifice” to a realistic space. Yes, I have a warehouse but it is small. It is for bringing in stock for local repeat customers who want to pick it up, but I would not call it a building to the glory of Jon or Steve. It is a small facility to serve those who need it.

I and my office are on the move along with millions of people around the world. In other words where I take my computer I am taking the office. I deal with people from Vermont to Florida, Washington to the tip of California every week. I want them to see http://www.summitfencesupply.com/ as the showroom of the future. If you need to touch the product FedEx will bring a sample it to your door. If you want a load of vinyl fence or a truckload of snow fence it will be shipped to your facility or your home.

I love the future of commerce in the world. I can do business with you anywhere in the world through e-mail or, in some cases, video feed. Let us come to you when and where you are by the touch of your finger.

I would love to hear from you as to your feeling about e-commerce in the now!

Jon Mullender
President
SummitFenceSupply.com
e-mail jon@summitfencesupply.com
Blog summitfencesupply.blogspot.com

Is 10% Still Costing You Money

I am amazed at how many people have not realized that 10% off doesn’t always mean 10% off. In reality it means, companies will mark the price up 30% and then give 10% off. You are still paying 20% more than some places sell their items but you walk away with the feeling, “I saved 10% wow I am the greatest shopper!”

The other one I love is, “Guaranteed lowest price” In essence that means if you are not fooled by that tagline and are willing to pay our higher price then companies still get you by getting you to call us back after you’ve done all the work.

Here are 5 things to think about when shopping anywhere, not just online.

1. Find someone you feel safe with. Talk to them! You get a sense of their willingness to work with you as a person first.
2. Check pricing with other people selling the same product.
3. Remember anything times zero is still zero. That is to say that many companies will come down in price to some extent just to get your business.
4. If someone’s website is covered with 10% off and “guaranteed lowest price” they don’t have confidence in their abilities and pricing and are trying to trick customers into buying.
5. Shop around, shop around, shop around.
   

Our philosophy as Summit Fence Supply, LLC is that we have margins we have to sell products in order to make a living and to be there in the long run. But to lie to a customer or mark up our price so that they will think that a discount is a true savings makes the Internet Market place the same as a used car lot.

I would love to hear from you. If you have had an experience in Internet shopping good or bad… please feel free to comment.

Jon Mullender
President
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
jon@summitfencesupply.com
summitfencesupply.com
http://www.summitfencesupply.blogspot.com/

2009 Time to Grow so Let's get Going.

I love new years because they offer a clean slate, a time to move forward with an eye on the future. A new 365 days are available to dream, create, work, love, and build for what I want out of life. This is a time to start new goals to where I want to be at the end of those precious 365 golden gems. I know that in order to reach my objective I have to think about what obstacle will stop me from reaching them and then develop a plan to attack to win the war.

My goals need to be divided into personal, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual goals. A rounded person does not just focus on the development of the business but the development of personal relationship with those dear to him. Is his wife his best friend? Does his grandchild, son and daughter-in-law know that they are loved unconditionally by the time I spend with them. Do my customers know I care more about them than I do their purchasing power? How do I show them their importance?

This year will be a great year. I could care less what the media says about recession because by listening and believing that malarkey allows me to make excuses for not taking personal responsibility for my life and my results.

So with the help of friends and God bring it on. I am ready for action.

I hope all my family and friends the very best 2009 and when the year is done and life has given us what it will we will be talking about the great New Year 2010.

Jon Mullender
President
Summit Fence Supply, LLC
http://summitfencesupply.com/
jon@summitfencesupply.com