The goWholesale Blog

Where the virtual world meets the real world…right around the corner.

February 27th, 2008

How awesome is this?

Did you know that every year the National Retail Federation’s conference and expo features the latest advancements toward the stores of the future. The X08 is a “mock store” where buyers can try before they buy. IBM is already trying to incorporate this virtual technology into their business. Their version of the virtual store allows customers to choose from various features and get a nearly complete sense of what they’d be investing in, using 3D technology.

And electronics is just the beginning. A company called Fit Just Right has visions to create a virtual shopping experience for shoppers that would include the store knowing your measurements so that you get the right fit whether in store or online as well as featuring a jazzed up dressing room.

It starts with a sales assistant scanning your clothes so that he or she knows exactly what you’re taking into the Retaligent dressing room.

“As the customer is in the fitting room, you can request a different size, different color for a particular item,” said Russ Miller of Retaligent Solutions. “They may want to request coordinating items. They may just want to page the associate for additional assistance, so they’ll use the kiosk in the fitting room to do those things, and then the associate will get a page on their mobile device that says bring a blue medium or bring the coordinating sweater for this item or just stop in and help.” (Virtual Store -BeepBeep.com)

Amazing.

This is a trend that, while still in the works, you need to consider as a possibility for growing your business. The opportunities of combining cutting edge technology and more efficient customer service may prove to be worth the investment.

Keep your eyes peeled!

Posted in General Discussion, In the News | No Comments »

When is enough, enough?

January 24th, 2008

I’m all for instant access–to everything from entertainment news to directions from my TomTom. I mean, if I could have instant access to being showered and dressed every morning by pressing a few buttons, believe me, I WOULD. However, in this increasingly “instant” world we now live in, is there going to be a point when everything is so readily available that it just becomes too much?

Allow me to illustrate using a brand new business networking technique called “workstreaming.” You’ve heard of blogging as a means of keeping customers, clients and visitors up to date on different goings on, and perhaps you’ve also heard of micro-blogging tools such as Twitter. Workstreaming combines these tools to give people INSTANT instant access to what you are doing. Web Worker Daily describes it as:

“the publishing of work-related activities and events to your remote colleagues, usually via RSS but sometimes in other formats and ways.”

Another description from the AnyWired blog:

“A workstream is a live updated record of work you’ve completed. When doing group work with remote colleagues, it allows you to keep track of what everyone else is doing. When working solo, it helps you keep track of your own productivity.”

Now, if you’re using it in the context of keeping co-workers up to date on accomplishments on a group project, fine. But otherwise, it begs the question: Who cares?

What do you think?

When you’ve already got plenty of virtual responsibilites (email, blog, myspace and/or facebook pages, etc) do you want to tie yourself down to posting up to the minute tidbits? And do you think there are enough people out there that would read them enough to make it worth your while? What about if you did this strictly for your business website involving store promotions, job openings…..?

Talk to me. Tell me how this is productive.

Posted in General Discussion | No Comments »

Are you a workaholic?

January 21st, 2008

If you are starting a new business, chances are that you aren’t getting much sleep, much exercise, or much free time to do anything. This kind of dedication to the business is necessary and understandable in the start up years–even expected. Almost like earning your entrepreneur “stripes” or paying your dues. I mean, you’ll want to have some good stories for your grandchildren right?

But there comes a time when some people, for whatever reason, cross the line between hard work/dedication and slip into the “workaholic” zone. If you are single and childless and plan on staying that way for the rest of your life, then by all means, go for it. But if you are like most, you have a spouse and/or children (and if you don’t you’d probably like to have one or both someday) and will need to learn the importance of balancing your work life and your personal life. If you are struggling with this and feel like your personal life is suffering due to your addiction to your work then you may want to reevaluate your routine.

While some of you reading this may find this post amusing or even a bit ridiculous, for others, it is truly an issue. So for those of you who think you might be a compulsive worker here are a few questions straight from the Workaholics Anonymous webiste that may help you figure out if you are working too much:

Do you get more excited about your work than about family or anything else?
Are there times when you can charge through your work and other times when you can’t?
Do you take work with you to bed? On weekends? On vacation?
Is work the activity you like to do best and talk about most?
Do you work more than 40 hours a week?
Do you turn your hobbies into money-making ventures?
Do you take complete responsibility for the outcome of your work efforts?
Have your family or friends given up expecting you on time?
Do you take on extra work because you are concerned that it won’t otherwise get done?
Do you underestimate how long a project will take and then rush to complete it?
Do you believe that it is okay to work long hours if you love what you are doing?
Do you get impatient with people who have other priorities besides work?
Are you afraid that if you don’t work hard you will lose your job or be a failure?
Is the future a constant worry for you even when things are going very well?
Do you do things energetically and competitively including play?
Do you get irritated when people ask you to stop doing your work in order to do something else?
Have your long hours hurt your family or other relationships?
Do you think about your work while driving, falling asleep or when others are talking?
Do you work or read during meals?
Do you believe that more money will solve the other problems in your life?

If you answer “yes” to three or more of these questions you may be a workaholic. Please visit the Workaholics Anonymous website for more information.

If you don’t think you are a workaholic, but would still like some tips on maintaining a healthy work/life balance you might want to check out “Achieving a Work Life Balance Wherever You Work”

Oh, and Happy MLK Day!

Posted in General Discussion | No Comments »

The Resolution Quandary

December 31st, 2007

Do you know anyone who actually achieves their new year’s resolutions? And I don’t mean the resolutions like “I won’t eat chocolate for a week.” I’m talking about the long term, takes-the-entire-year resolutions.

You do?

…………….Really?……………

I don’t believe you.

Well if you truly do, or you are one of those amazing people, that’s wonderful (and thanks for making the rest of us look bad). But if you are like me (and the majority of the population) if you even bother getting around to jotting down a few resolutions the likelihood of them coming to fruition are about as good as getting Britney Spears to clean up her act (possible, yes, but definitely a stretch of the imagination).

So what do people like us do when the new year is upon us? Well, we usually roll our eyes at the Resolution Setters. But in the back of our minds we know that that really isn’t such a bad idea. Especially when it comes to your business. Let’s be honest. There are bound to be areas that weren’t as strong in the past year that you want to work on this year. Perhaps it’s keeping better records? Maybe you want to improve your website or customer service?

Setting goals for your business is going to help focus your efforts in the coming year. So whether they are company wide, division wide, cubicle wide or personal business resolutions, just set a few reasonable ones to get going on this year. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the others you did.

Need some ideas? Here are some New Year’s resolutions for your business.

From all of us at goWholesale.com, we wish you a healthy, happy and successful New Year!

Posted in General Discussion | No Comments »

Is an MBA really necessary?

December 20th, 2007

MBAs (Masters in Business Administration) are one of the most popular degrees our country offers. But there is a lot of dissension amongst business people as to whether you actually need one to get ahead and/or to be successful. Numerous polls and surveys have been conducted on the subject, but unfortunately the results are usually skewed.

Graduates of the top business schools in the country say yes, an MBA is necessary but this could be seen as merely a recommendation for their alma mater. But in polls taken from less niche populations, the results are a little less black and white. Many say that while an MBA is a nice neat little package wrapped with a bow, everything you need to know to start and run your own business can be learned sans formal education.

So I suppose the bottom line would be that if you can afford the time, money and effort, an MBA is beneficial, but if times are lean, you can still succeed if you make a point to educate yourself.

What are your thoughts?

Posted in General Discussion | 1 Comment »

The goWholesale Blog

Where the virtual world meets the real world…right around the corner.

When is enough, enough?

Are you a workaholic?

The Resolution Quandary

Is an MBA really necessary?

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