Archive for June, 2007

Don’t Mess With Jerry Kohl

Friday, June 29th, 2007

jerry-brighton-ala-moana.JPGWhen Jerry Kohl and Brighton went up against Kay’s Kloset, he never backed down, and the case went all the way to the US Supreme Court.
The result was new law. Yeah Jerry!!!
6/29/07
High Court Rules Manufacturers Can Set Prices
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that manufacturers have the legal right to set minimum prices for goods sold through retail stores. The ruling overturns a 96-year legal decision that had put pricing in the hands of retailers and, in the process, may change the relationship between merchants and manufacturers.
The case brought before the nation’s top court pitted Leegin Creative Leather Products, a manufacturer of a wide range of casual and dress leather products under a variety of labels including Brighton, against Kay’s Kloset, a retailer in Texas.
In 2002, Leegin discovered that Kay’s Kloset was moving Brighton merchandise but at 20 percent below the manufacturer’s recommended minimum. The retailer argued the pricing was necessary for it to compete against others also discounting Leegin merchandise while the supplier said Kay’s Kloset was, among other things, contributing to a devaluation of the brand.
When Leegin requested the discounting stop, Kay’s Kloset refused and the Brighton line was pulled from the retailer. It was then that the retailer brought a suit, which argued that Leegin was in violation of a 1911 ruling (Dr. Miles Medical Co. v. John D. Park & Sons Co., 220 U. S. 373) that determined minimum prices set by manufacturers were anticompetitive and therefore illegal.
In its new ruling, the Supreme Court has taken the position that manufacturer-set minimum prices do not always discourage competition and in some cases encourage it.
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We at Success Dynamics are proud to have Brighton as a client, and I am proud to call Jerry my friend. After reading this article I called him last night and found him celebrating with his wife Terri in a Newport Beach restaurant. YEAH JERRY!!!
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The World is Shrinking

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

willie-nishi-and-ron-off-to-vegas.JPGWillie Nishi and I found ourselves on the same flight to Las Vegas yesterday.
I am not a gambler, but if I see a place to gamble on the number 37 I will.
Willie is celebrating 37 great years with ABC Stores. With six (or more) ABC Stores in Las Vegas he may have chosen a tough place to “get away”.
As for me, we have clients all over this place so I feel right at home.

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The Only Way to Go!

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

first-class_002.jpgI have only flown 1st Class for more than 30 years (long before I could afford it).
Masae on the other hand is a bit (lot) more frugal, so when she elected to come along to Las Vegas she insisted on flying coach. She pointed out that she is much smaller than me (thanks a lot), and that’s it is only a six hour flight.
Upon web check in last night I saw a 1st Class upgrade for “only” $379 and suggested she go for it. “No way” was her answer.
When we checked in at the Premier Club lounge today I asked Marilyn, a long time Hawaiian Air employee if a 1st Class upgrade was available. “Yes” she said, “And it’s only $379, and there is a seat available right next to you (2A).” I commented that it isn’t worth that much for Masae to move up. Marilyn said, “But is it worth it to you?”
What else could I say but, “Sure?”
My next comment was, “Hey Marilyn, how would you like to have a job in retail?”
Hawaiian Air is fortunate to have someone like this .
What was Masae’s reaction? She said, “I would have rather had that $400 bucks to gamble with”. Sometimes feeling appreciated can be a tough task!

On The Road Again…

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007

las-vegas.jpgI am off to Las Vegas to meet with Team Lassen Las Vegas, attend two Lassen art shows and watch Masae tote full shopping bags around The Forum Shops.

I will leave Las Vegas on Sunday to go to INspiration in Vancouver, BC; more on that later.

Here They Come

Sunday, June 24th, 2007

walgreens.jpg“Drugstore giant Walgreen Co., in the midst of an aggressive nationwide expansion, plans to go head-to-head with Longs Drug Stores Corp. in Hawai’i, eventually opening as many as 40 stores in the state and locating them next to Longs whenever possible.”

That story in the Honolulu Advertiser must have Long’s worried.

If it doesn’t they are asleep at the wheel. With the lack of major competion all these years, they have been able to survive complacently.

I sense that those days are over. Competition is a great motivator and it will be very interesting to see how they (Long’s) go about that process.

What do you think is going to happen as more and more Walgreen stores are opened?

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Resting up in Tahiti

Saturday, June 23rd, 2007

tahiti-action.jpgSome people go to Tahiti to just sit and relax; and then there’s Christian Riese Lassen.
Those that are used to success find different ways to “relax” than others.
Surfing, Kayaking and jet skiing might be a bit too much for some, but not this guy.
And he somehow finds the time and energy to paint new masterpieces and send me 20 or more e-mails a day as well, and I’ll bet I am not the only one.
What a vacation!

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Flashy Night Out

Friday, June 22nd, 2007

bob-and-barbi-with-flashing-eyes.JPGBob and Barbi McAllaster had their “prospect-icles” on at the Honolulu Star Bulletin’s presentation of the Best Businesses in Honolulu.
INspiration and the Honolulu Design Center were voted the Best Furniture Store.
Congratulations to Thomas, Peter and the whole staff at both stores.

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Management on Wheels

Monday, June 18th, 2007

beverly-from-blue-hawaii-surf.JPGBeverly; Blue Hawaii Surf manager, not only showed up for Ron’s Success Rally at Waikele Shopping Center, but she won one of the door prizes as well; no not the skateboard; a calculator from Success Dynamics to add up her sales.

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There’s Blue, and Then There’s BLUE

Saturday, June 16th, 2007

photo-crew-in-tahiti.jpgWhen Christian Lassen told me that a Japanese film crew was meeting him in Tahiti to capture him in some “blue photos”, I thought it was a good excuse to go surfing, I mean after all; we do live in Blue Hawaii.
I used to dream of going to Tahiti one day, but those dreams stopped when I moved to Hawaii. But when I saw the photos of Christian in Tahiti my dreams have returned.
What a place!

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Don’t Mess With Mother Nature

Friday, June 15th, 2007

bird-fishing.jpgWhile doing my early morning trek around Ala Moana Beach Park this morning I saw two Japanese ladies throwing bread crumbs to the fish.
Suddenly a large bird swooped down and snapped up one of the fish that had come up for the bread; flew over to the grass and landed there holding the wiggling fish.
One of the women freaked out and started chasing the bird, throwing crumbs at it and screaming (in Japanese).
The bird flew off with the fish in its beak.
There must be a lesson in here somewhere; maybe it is the title of this post.