Post on 22-Jul-2018
Treading Through Turmoil
Presented by:
Kerry Rasmussen / Farrow Sara Bowersox / KEEN Footwear
Footwear Importers and Service Providers Partnering For Success
FTDC 2016 – HunCngton Beach
“Life’s LiLle InstrucCons” • Compliment 3 people every day. • Ask for a raise when you feel you have earned it. • Drink champagne for no reason at all. • Wear polished shoes. • Learn 3 clean jokes. Tell one!!!!
• Always accept an outstretched hand!
Sara Bowersox Self proclaimed “Footwear Serial Monogamist”
What Kerry knows about Sara: Proud mother of 2 children Lives in the country and has a house on the beach (available for rental on VRBO)
ThriMy shopper You will not find her on Facebook 3 degrees of Kevin Bacon ThoughQul, caring, personable and smart as a whip 日本語に堪能です。
Kerry Rasmussen Trade Professional, Fashion Icon
What Sara knows about Kerry: She is an authenSc Canadian! Honest, self effacing and says “a-‐boot”… She LOVES shoes. Loves them to tears, actually. She’s a Mom, a former rugby player, and a dog lover. She is learning to box, loves camping and the outdoors. Will wear silly costumes in public.
Kerry has many impressive professional achievements, which you should ask her about!
Now You Some quesSons for the room:
• Which (if any) lucky sole is footwear only??? • Who has a global team? • Whose team is US or CA only? • Who is a Service Provider? Stand, this is free adverSsing!!!!!!! • How many people on your Trade Team? • Who has the power to select service providers? • Who finds this exercise excruciaSng and wants to melt into the
floor right now?
When you don’t know things, Seek Professional Help!
Service Providers • Customs Brokers • TransportaSon Providers • CBP (WHAT?) • CBSA (Again with the WHAT?) • PGAs • TesSng FaciliSes • SoMware Providers • Co-‐workers
Industry AssociaCons • FDRA WOOT! WOOT! • OIA (Outdoor Industry Assoc.) • PDX Importers Anonymous • CRCBFA (Columbia River Custom
Brokers & Forwarders Assoc.) • ICPA (InternaSonal Compliance
Professionals Assoc.) • Former co-‐workers & FUTURE co-‐
workers.
The Kerry & Sara Show
Strong relaSonships (professional or otherwise) are based on real connecSons. It’s corny, but customers / providers really do need have to have some chemistry to ensure success!
Kerry’s top Cps for being an awesome service provider:
See your clients as oMen as you can Build a plan that is right for you and your customer Be innovaSve and responsive Get execuSve buy in Stay on top of issues Offer addiSonal services that you can perform Know where you are at – measure your performance Be at the front of the line with your technology
Sara’s top Sps for being an awesome trade customer:
Ask for what you NEED. Be specific, provide examples, keep working for soluSons. Recognize that you (trade customer) may not know what you need. Don’t shy away from asking for what you WANT. No majer how picky. Be up front about requested service changes. Share why you want them. Let the experts lead -‐ you hired them for a reason! Funnel. With new projects, start big picture & work down to small details.
Reconcile processes / procedures. Avoid duplicaSon or overexerSon on both sides of the fence.
Be prepared to grow, change & learn. If you are unhappy, say so right away! Allow opportuniSes for improvement. Audit Smely and share results immediately. Finally – another “lijle instrucSon”. Strive for excellence, not perfecSon.
Partnership Props Sara’s story about what happens when you don’t know what you don’t know, and how a good partnership can right your ship. Kerry’s story – what it means to be a Strategic Partner with the FDRA.
ParCng Shots From Sara: Mary Krueger, teacher of English and Drama at Nathan Hale High School in Seajle and the world’s highest compliment. From Kerry: Be true – in life, in love and in your work. Good things will come to you when you are your authenSc self.