My lovely lot looked better than I've ever seen them last
night. Black Tie does something for even the scruffiest chap in the Company.
Which is, mmm, probably me. Justin Howard-Sneyd, MW though, turning-up in a wet
suit? And flippers? Always likes to be different, Justin. MW's are like that.
Mostly, though I found myself talking to a very elegant
crowd. One chap I didn't at first recognise.
Then suddenly it dawned. It’s him who never wears anything but leather,
chains, bandana and such (a programmer … of course). Now transformed.
Civilised. HE won't scare me any more.
The Firm's Do this year looked like Drinks at the Embassy
rather than our old-style thrash. Well,
up to when B and I left, that is. What happened after 11, best we don't know.
But reader, they deserved a little treat. They had just
delivered us a truly Amazing December … especially considering the UK economic
gloom.
Our adorable customers deserve their treats too for playing
their part bloody brilliantly … And we will organise plenty parties for them as
well in 2013.
But my lot had to make it all work in those last bonkers
weeks before Christmas. They did it SO well. Coped with the call deluge, broke
record after record, but got it all out the door and delivered on time, didn't
run out of anything … all whilst seeming to remain calm and charming.
Nobody has a better team than I do. Nobody.
Nobody has a better lot of customers either.
It’s extraordinary what we learn from them. Just heard about
one who has all these top-level contacts in Shanghai. Really helping us so much
as we struggle to find our way in a scary market over there. Just in chatting
to his wine advisor. (She is rather lovely, actually).
Our sales calls sometimes seem to be about anything BUT wine
ordering. They do say wine is really a social thing. Truly, it is.
And so, with gently throbbing heads we peer forward into
2013. A deep breath, couple of aspirins, and Hey Ho, into what's going to be an
even harder year to win, isn't it?
Not going to get any easier here is it? Glad we have offices
in the US, Oz, Germany etc, but it’s here where it’s hardest … and where it
counts most.
But we have a plan. We are transforming our Company.
Laithwaite's is mutating into Laithwaite's Mark II, as we call it.
What's that? Look I'd tell you if I could. But all sorts of
people read this blog. Some do not wish us well. Competitors, we call them. Or
worse.
We are going to beat them of course. But perhaps it would be
better not to announce in advance just how we are going to do it.
The rate of change in what people think is the sort of
business that never does change is quite … exhausting. But … must be done.
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