Myriad learns by listening
Ray Allegrezza, Editor in Chief -- Furniture Today, April 3, 2005
Carolyn Crowley and Russ Higgins are very smart people. Smart people do things like launch a software company. Very smart people figure out ways to continuously enhance that company year after year.
In July, Carolyn and Russ will begin their 16th year at the helm of retail software systems supplier Myriad. For the past 11 of those years, they've done something that has been, in my opinion, a cornerstone of Myriad's growth.
I'm speaking of their users' conference. As with most conferences, attendees get to hear a motivational speaker, attend workshops and seminars, and have a little fun as well. This year in New Orleans, golf and a river cruise were available.
But the folks at Myriad do something more critical: They listen to their customers. During the conference, a number of sessions are essentially open-mike, best-practices forums that encourage attendees to share what works and what doesn't in areas such as advertising, in-store promotions, transportation, logistics, customer service or whatever else is on the group's mind.
In another workshop, appropriately called Enhancement Requests, Myriad's customers are given a platform to tell the company what features and benefits they would like to see added to the software. Here's where the listening comes in. As part of the dialog, Carolyn and Russ report on enhancements made during the year — enhancements that were suggested by users at the prior year's event.
Imagine if our industry paid that much attention to its customer, the consumer. What if we really listened to what she tells us she wants? Even better, what if our customer focus was such that we not only acted upon those wishes, but also found a way to communicate to her that we had taken steps to make her wish a reality?
That, my friends, could open up a myriad of opportunities!
-
Storis to introduce latest software suite, Vision9
Jul 26, 2011 -
Storis showing upgraded business software
Aug 5, 2011 -
Myriad welcomes retailers at 13th annual conference
Apr 29, 2007 -
Escalate Retail names 4 to executive positions
Jul 29, 2007
Specialty retailer LoveSac introduces new store design
Belfort Furniture, Lawrance Furniture are NHFA Retailers of Year
Kincaid Furniture honors Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter for Habitat work
Singapore furniture show expecting increased turnout
Omnia Furniture ends relationship with Kathy Ireland Worldwide
Featured Company
-
Brandwise Inc.
Brandwise serves a model - not just an industry - by integrating, automating, and optimizing the entire sales channel, from wholesale Suppliers to their Reps and the Retailers they service. In short, our software helps Reps and Suppliers sell more and create... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
