It can be extremely frustrating to have to deal with someone who doesn’t seem to care about their job. Whether that person is your supplier, customer or co-worker, the effects of one person’s negative attitude can be far reaching. Not only do our attitudes (good and bad) contribute to the morale of everyone we deal with on a daily basis, they can directly affect the bottom line. Your customers might want to turn to another supplier simply to avoid dealing with your cranky or inefficient personnel. Especially in this highly competitive economy, no one can afford to send business away.

On the other hand, working with people who are capable, effective and cheerful can be a real joy, improving not only your employees’ productivity but also the profitability of the company as whole. Customers are often more than willing to pay a little more for excellent service.

Robert Townsend, who rejuvenated Avis during his tenure as president of the company, said, “If you don’t do it excellently, don’t do it at all. Because if it’s not excellent, it won’t be profitable or fun, and if you’re not in business for fun or profit, what the [BLEEP] are you doing there?”

We strive to be at your service by providing high-quality, timely, useful information that will help you succeed in your business. As we begin to plan our editorial offerings for 2013, we’d love to hear your feedback. What articles were most useful to you over the last year, and what could you have done without? What new topics or technologies would you like us to cover next year? How do you prefer to receive the information we have available (e.g., print, digital, website, e-newsletters, etc.)?

We continually work to makeCeramic Industryas useful to you and your business as possible, and your input is essential. Please send your comments and suggestions to me at suttons@bnpmedia.com, or feel free to give me a call at (330) 336-4098. I look forward to hearing from you!