Take for instance when we started our PGS Machine business 15 years ago, we were so confident we had the best and latest pouch machine solution for the market only to find no customers for the first three months and eight months before the first machine delivery. The struggle, the anxiety and the need to survive pushed us to another level we never knew we had and then to eventual success as customers started buying. Amazing what you can do in the event of possible personal failure.
Our ShotPak® brands business was so cool and so modern. A social pouch that is safe, secure and "deep green." We felt it was bound to succeed when we introduced it three years ago. What we found out was that we couldn't sell where we wanted to in the USA and our customers couldn't buy our product s in some states.
As an entrepreneur these unexpected setbacks made it fun and challenging to beat the system. My belief was to build both businesses as if they were going to be sold, even though we had little interest to do so. That meant all these years we have looked at the business as potential buyers would and that has kept us ahead of the game.
So we pushed creativity in both businesses, took several risks and created an invitation to customers to join us for wonderful beyond expectations experiences. Our daily theme was innovative machinery and parts backed by outstanding service and always available Ready-To-Drink cocktails made exactly to recipe using premium spirits. We were uncompromising in business deals, our integrity was never in question and we were accountable for all sales. Customers liked this approach.
We never had concrete goals, but targets that continually moved to another level. Our personal strengths and resources contributed to achieving customer satisfaction which was top of all goals. We made sure we could do it and then did 50% more. Our market plan was to make sure customers wanted our products and came back for more.
We don't believe in predicting the future, hence is the sky going to fall? We prefer forecasts and operate on ready, aim, fire then watch all the good things happen. We developed a tremendous rapport with engineers and plant personnel, while the ShotPak ambassadors concentrated on, "It's ready, it's safe and enjoy yourself by Drinking Different!"
We treat customers as investors in our business and now they become our best sales people. We operate on the fringes of both our machine and liquor businesses; we push Unique Purchase Decisions and entice partnerships with the products. We have always been eternal optimists and this has shown through all the challenges we have solved these past years including the bankruptcy of a major machine supplier last year and the ShotPak® challenge of finding new distributors. We never gave up and our customers never knew of these disturbances.
Now look at the world as the turmoil in the Middle East continues and we see oil prices increasing immediately due to the speculators. What happened to the oil pipe line, storage inventory etc.? When the oil price drops why does it take weeks for gas prices to decrease? These speculators are hurting the economy and the general public should speak out.
In my spare time, with a group of friends, the following conversation points arose and not all the answers were available as we discussed, if the sky is going to fall -- because of oil prices, money or stock market issues, how to take advantage of the best kept energy secret [natural gas] in the USA, food for China and the new Healthcare bill -- who knows?
- where to invest at this time? and be cautious with municipal bonds with your spare cash / stock market, possibly oil, beverage and food shares
- there is no doubt that oil at $100.00 a barrel is sustainable, but will that hurt the economy if it goes above this for long periods then call your Congressman
- The USA has lots of natural gas and thus cheap nitrogen needed for fertilizer production which will give us an edge in food production / China needs food
- The China food base was starch and is now becoming protein, based on the ratio of grain needed it is one starch at present to four starches for protein and starch based foods like wheat, corn etc.
- The new healthcare systems are going to be based on molecular medicine which will look at your genetics and individualize tailor made products which in turn will lower health care costs
