  Doma Member Username: Doma Post Number: 19 Registered: 05-2008 |
Best story I have seen in quite sometime! http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.d ll/article?AID=/20081113/BIZ/8 11130404 | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2195 Registered: 03-2008 |
Very nice! So, in other words one or more of these five things are helping sell businesses; 1. Novelty and originality. 2. Serving the under-served. 3. Discounted goods. 4. Good customer service. 5. Quality product. We have been using all five of those to build our business (I work in e-commerce retail and fashion). (Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on November 13, 2008) | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1175 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: I hope you are not responsible for the book keeping. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2196 Registered: 03-2008 |
I clearly was looking past "business 101". (Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on November 13, 2008) | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 3861 Registered: 01-2005 |
Folks who took "Business 101" are okay. It's the MBA's that screw things up......  | ||
Thnk2mch Member Username: Thnk2mch Post Number: 1441 Registered: 02-2006 |
LOL @ Toolbox | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2197 Registered: 03-2008 |
LOL... I added the fifth... | ||
Cheddar_bob Member Username: Cheddar_bob Post Number: 2173 Registered: 10-2003 |
So out of the five, which one are you not using? Because I'm not buying a scrotum ring from you if it's number 4 or 5. | ||
Alley Member Username: Alley Post Number: 780 Registered: 02-2008 |
isn't a scrotum ring considered a novelty? | ||
Lowell Moderator Username: Lowell Post Number: 5149 Registered: 09-2003 |
quote:Everything^ our hat-in-hand 'big' 3 have ignored. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 9263 Registered: 11-2004 |
Well put Lowell. I still contend that our true strength is our innovation (the Japanese generally improve upon it and build it overseas cheaper YEARS later) and ingenuity. I truly wish the Big Three would be brave and cutting edge again. I really think that's truly the way out of our financial quagmire. | ||
Registeredguest Member Username: Registeredguest Post Number: 446 Registered: 10-2003 |
I beg to differ. Not well put - rather, overly simplistic generalization based on another overly simplistic generalization. 1. Novelty and originality. Tell that to the designers of the Flex, Outlook, Arcadia, Volt, Camero, CTS, G8, Astra, Flex-Fuel vehicles, Edge, first generation mini-van, Malibu, etc. Just because Toyota makes their hybrid look like a turd doesn't mean they're innovative. 2. Serving the under-served. I think the job bank, work rules, no co-pay health care and other un-competative arrangements are doing a fine job at that. 3. Discounted goods. Yeah - like 0% financing, employee pricing for all, massive rebates and competitively priced goods? 4. Good customer service. Saturn ranks top in customer service from JD Power and Associates. Other brands and divisions are comparable. 5. Quality product. Quality has improved, and is nearing comparison to the imports. Also, the warranties offered by GM rank among the best in their class. | ||
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634 Post Number: 760 Registered: 10-2005 |
quote: Nice fluff piece. Before this thread spins off into auto talk, a couple of things here beg the question; how is 'thrive' defined? Good Girls has been open for three months and depends on walk up traffic. I would think that is about to drop off considerably in the coming months. Mercury has been open for TWO WEEKS. The paint isn't even dry. Perhaps being open for at least a year should be an minimum threshold for THRIVING? Not a knock at either we need more like them, but c'mon. NO other business in the city were better choices for this article? Are there THAT few that can be considered as thriving or was the reporter just that lazy? | ||
Cooper Member Username: Cooper Post Number: 42 Registered: 02-2008 |
Higgs -- the article's split half and half. The first three are businesses that have survived and thrived for at least a generation. The second set are new businesses that "at least initially, have carved out a niche" aka businesses we *hope* will thrive. Cut the reporter some slack. | ||
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634 Post Number: 761 Registered: 10-2005 |
quote: Ok, i guess one could read it in that bifurcated way, but that is not what it said. And, weren't there 6 in the article. Where does People's Records fit? I just don't feel that a business has "carved out a niche"( even initially) by simply managing to stay open for two weeks (mercury) or two months (good girls). Awfully low bar being set there, no? And that is my issue with the article. Neither of the so called "niche" businesses have been open long enough to "beat the odds" or "carve out a niche". That is disappointing b/c there are many others that are and have, which could have used the well deserved free pub. | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 857 Registered: 11-2007 |
Have to agree with Higgs. I just glanced over the article yesterday and my immediate thought was that a new business that survives and then thrives after their 1st yr. has "beaten the Odds" | ||
Thecarl Member Username: Thecarl Post Number: 1418 Registered: 04-2005 |
why is there no mention of markowycz's european sausages? WHY? nearly 60 years of doing business making sausages in a neighborhood where the original clientele has been displaced by dope dealers, hookers, and boozers - and this business has still held strong. i use markowycz's as an example to point out the following: it doesn't appear that the writers know detroit very well; the businesses featured in this piece are very tightly clustered - and, largely, "hip." i also agree with other posters who point out the lack of tenure of some of the establishments. it's like seeing 1995's list of greatest songs of all time, and seeing "the macarena" at the top. and continuing with markowycz's as an example, i'd like to review this list: 1. Novelty and originality. 2. Serving the under-served. 3. Discounted goods. 4. Good customer service. 5. Quality product. they have nailed #5. item #4 is highly debatable; the lady i've always dealt with has been somewhat surly to others, but i think she's got a heart of gold, with a self-protective, potentially gruff exterior. the other items? i don't see how. |
