The CEW (Chief Executive Women) annual fund raising Dinner last night was a great success. Huge numbers attended to hear Gail Kelly CEO of Westpac speak. Gail is a truly inspirational speaker whose message is always realistic – all about people and customers as well as the bottom line. Westpac’s aim is to DELIGHT their customers. A huge challenge but one they do have strategies in place to make happen. The customer matters- of course we all know this but how many businesses really have processes that support the customer. It is a shame not many large companies try to ‘walk this talk’ A great night – pity we did not win any of the raffles! www.cew.org.au
HOLLA ADVERTISING We had a meeting with David and Alex, their company focus is to deliver integrated thinking – very professional, and interesting ideas on strategy. Visit their site. www.holla.com.au
DAVID JONES As it was Fathers Day last weekend, Amanda and I spent time in two David Jones stores talking to customers and assisting staff in the stationery department. If you ever want to know how a business is running spend a few hours at the ‘coal face’ It is interestingly revealing. How long since you did this in your business? Gail Kelly’s sentiments were clear – if you don’t interface often with your customer you will probably not know your customer (but will think you do) and therefore will have little knowledge of how to assist, let alone delight them.
www.davidjones.com.au
LUNCH at McGRATH. A lunch was held for Donna Rae Smith, a visiting business owner from US who runs a business called BrightSide. Their aim is to ignite leaders and accelerate the results of women in the workplace . Donna had many ideas of how to further women’s progress in the business sphere. This was a small group with stimulating and insightful lunch time conversation. www.bright-side.com
While all this stimulating socializing is going on, it is of course business as usual at Corban & Blair. Orders get dispatched, customers are looked after, and most of our new products are now designed for February and even some for Christmas 2010. Being out and about participating in other businesses, meeting people from different industries and cultures is a method we use to prevent ‘group think’ or as the big companies put it ‘ silos.’
Red and blue cushions from our Landscape fashion collection for Christmas.
Comment by Alex Allwood
Dear Gillian
It’s always refreshing to meet like minded people.
Alex
Posted on September 16, 2009 at 2:49 pm