Benchmarks
Kevin… I wish * more * dealers took the same tack that your group does.
Though I don;t like to admit it much, but at one point in time I had three
computer stores in the area (I was the founder, not the backer). I left on
a sore note (my `sweat-equity' percentage of the corporation contract was
re-nigged). My philosophy that I put accross to each and everyone of our
staff (30) was the customer *is king *. Period. However, management's
philosophy was ^&*&^& the customer, GTFM and forget them.
I like Anderson Consulting's philosophy: Sell specialized applications to
Fortune 1000 firms and staff the project with your own people. Seems to
work (though I hear that Anderson hires fairly `green' grads and runs them
through a short, but intensive, training period).
Anyway you look at it, retail is tough. Find a specialized niche market, be
the best and you have a chance of survival. I honestly can't see how even
the mail-order people stay afloat these days with margins well below 10
percent. – Greg