One way to survive lean times: Keeping your operation lean
Posted On February 26, 2019
When the housing market crashed in 2008, Mobile builder Rogers & Willard found themselves in the same situation as pretty much every other construction company in America. After the crash, the company limped through 2009 on only a third of the revenue it had enjoyed in 2008. Times were lean. But fortunately for Rogers & Willard, “lean” is something with which it was already familiar. Our guest in a recent episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston,” Rogers & Willard president Mike Rogers says the company survived those tough years by keeping its operation lean as a matter of principle,… Read More
Categories: Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, Recession Economy, What's Working with Cam Marston, WorkIs it the workplace’s job to make employees happy?
Posted On February 25, 2019
Dr. Elise Labbé-Coldsmith has some well-thought out opinions on happiness in the workplace. First, she says, happier employees are more productive. So for that reason alone, employers should want to make employees happy. But she has opinions on the demands employees are making on their workplaces and where these demands have come from. And interesting thoughts on whether we’ll all be “happier” in the future what technology’s role in that will be, if anything. It’s an interesting, very thoughtful, and compelling conversation with a concise and articulate expert. Check out this episode!
Categories: Libsyn
This Week’s Keeping It Real: Trying to stir the pot on a long walk got me a lesson I can’t hardly imagine today.
Posted On February 21, 2019
Keeping It Real – February 22, 2019 Alabama Public Radio
Categories: Keeping It Real
‘A passion project:’ Varsity Brands not only sells sports gear, but works to create school spirit
Posted On February 19, 2019
With iGen following in the digital footsteps of the millennial generation, having grown up with technology at their fingertips as a primary source of communication, many of us Generation X parents find ourselves desperately seeking outlets that will force them into face-to-face social interaction. And many of us are turning to team sports. Our guest in the latest episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston” is working to fuel – and equip – this phenomenon. Adam Blumenfeld is CEO of Dallas-based Varsity Brands, a major youth sports equipment distributor that does much more than sell bats and gloves. Varsity Brands… Read More
Categories: Entrepreneurship, iGen, Podcast, Product Design, What's Working with Cam Marston
Barley, yeast, water and hops: Starting a brewery from scratch in south Alabama
Posted On February 19, 2019
If we could pick any type of business to own, many of us might choose one that allows us to drink beer all day. Our guest in the latest episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston” did just that. Brian Kane acted on a love for craft beer to open Fairhope Brewery with a partner six years ago. Kane’s dirty little secret, however, is that he’s only ever brewed about four batches of beer himself. “My side is much more on the beer tasting side, if you will,” he says – along with the business and marketing end. So how… Read More
Categories: Blog, Entrepreneurship, What's Working with Cam MarstonRogers & Willard’s motto is Built Lean and Build Smart. It works.
Posted On February 18, 2019
In 2009, Rogers & Willard had 1/3 of the revenue in 2008. The suffering economy had hit them like every other builder. But their close client relationships and their diverse portfolio kept them up and running. Today they’re busy. Very busy. But Mike Roger’s, company president, knows that the decisions made in flush times can be the ones that lead to their downfall when the economy contracts again. So Mike and his team move carefully and deliberately and keep their eyes on the trends shaping this rapidly changing industry. Check out this episode!
Categories: Libsyn
Keeping It Real – February 15th – Alabama Public Radio
Posted On February 15, 2019
Why February 15th should be a holiday called the National Day of Apologies and Reconciliations.
Categories: UncategorizedVarsity Brands wants Students to Feel Proud about their School. And It’s Done through Uniforms.
Posted On February 11, 2019
Adam Blumenfeld is the CEO of Varsity Brands. With sales over $1.9 Billion, they touch tens of thousands of school systems throughout the country and abroad. Last year they sewed their one billionth rhinestone on a cheerleading uniform, where Varsity Brands dominates the cheer market and hosts over 400,000 girls and boys at their cheer camps every year. They are Disney’s largest customer through their cheer camps. But it’s not all sports equipment, uniforms, and the like. Through Varsity Brands, Adam and his team are working with schools to boost school spirit, increase children’s activity, and develop pride in their… Read More
Categories: Libsyn
Finding and Re-Hiding a Lost Video Camera – Keeping It Real – Feb 8 – Alabama Public Radio
Posted On February 8, 2019
Keeping It Real – Feb 1, 2019 Finding and Re-Hiding a Lost Video Camera
Categories: Keeping It Real
Why you don’t have to be a car guy to sell cars
Posted On February 8, 2019
Can you run a successful car dealership if you’re not a car guy? If you answered no, you might want to listen to Ty Bullard. Bullard, our guest in a recent episode of “What’s Working with Cam Marston,” runs Joe Bullard Automotive Group, a successful dealership of Acura, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Cadillac and Ford in Mobile. He is third-generation in the business, and he will be the first to tell you: He’s not a car guy. “I can’t drive a stick-shift,” Bullard says. “We’re not car people. We’re people people. As soon as you can realize this business has… Read More
Categories: Automotive, Blog, What's Working with Cam Marston, Workplace