My work is my life. This is my story. The Innovative Flip-Top Head is filled with 40+ Years of Experience. Experience in sales, where effective marketing let me close more sales. Experience in advertising and public relations, persuading the masses to buy products, services and ideas. Tap into my experience, and achieve greater success. Who's next? Let my long, strange trip lead to your greater success.
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Media
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Motorhead
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Sales
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Hired as an Account Executive, promoted to General Manager a few months later. Re-branded station and expanded format, growing audience, advertising base and revenue by 20% annually.
Reset team expectations. Took the staff out for diner, fired the lot, then hired them back on the condition that they help create a better position than they one had just lost. Coordinated budget, staff, promotions and sales.
Had fun doing the news as Uncle Rog, until the station was sold to a broadcaster who automated. It marked the end of an era - we were the last station to broadcast live 24/7 on the island. (12) |
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Became Salesman of the Month in my fourth month in the phone room at Innovative Street Machines. Subsequently handled Tech Help Desk, then became Marketing Director and grew sales of 'half-a-car-in-a-box' from under 20 per month to over 50.
Digitized workflow, integrating web orders into a central database created for the phone room. Created real-time reporting to track ROI on media and sales efforts. Developed displays and exhibited at over 40 events a year.
Instrumental in creating new profit centers with new kit designs and component sales of "the-other-half-a-car". Handled all facets of print ads, direct mail and public relations. (14) |
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Performed in the top 2% of the video sales force at the 7th largest electronics retailer in the nation. We set annual sales records of Mitsubishi products with only four stores in the conservative Midwest, nipping at the heels of Radio Shack - with 360+ stores nationwide. My niche became video editing and satellite tv systems.
Attended my first sales and motivational training seminars while working here, including the One Minute Salesman course.
Here I learned how easy sales could be when coupled with great advertising and marketing. I began to study both as I continued down my sales path. (5) |
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My first job in media was as a Sales Rep for API. Upon promotion to Sales Manager, we increased revenues significantly, moving from red ink to black, fueling the move from bi-weekly to weekly publication.
Managed a diverse workforce - artists, musicians and students who, if given a choice, would prefer not to be sales-folk. Finding personal motivations was the key. By stepping into the role of teacher, I really had to analyze my game - which improved as a result.
Learned print ad layout. Started building client relationships that later led to opening my own shop. (8) |
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This autosports manufacturer stressed work ethic, enthusiasm and genuine love of automobiles in the interview. Didn't hurt that I drove up in my '68 Ford.
Shot photos, wrote installation instructions, press releases, web and catalog content; helped with a charity auction and other events! Created digital portal to facilitate distribution of press releases. Assembled low-power FM transmitter to broadcast at in-house and track day events.
My efforts here helped earn Steeda a place on the Ford stage at SEMA in 2004. (15) |
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Repositioned company from Lumber Yard to Home Center with dramatic impact on the bottom line. Responsible for estimating, bidding and closing sales of home improvement projects and the day to day operations of the store.
Many projects required design or layout for presentation and construction, putting my drafting abilities to good use. My first retail management position provided the opportunity for my first logo design.
Managed a small staff, including the owners two sons every summer. And once again I got to drive the forklift! (3) |
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Billing more than doubled within a year of my hire. Clients ranged from gun shops to ski hills and jewelry stores. And the Catholic Church, where we leveraged new media technology and "Gave away a car for Jesus".
Also produced nationally-syndicated parody songs, comedy bits and live phoners for Radio personalities like Jonathan Brandmeier and Jay Thomas. Our parody spots for "Saddam-Eleven" convenience stores aired during Operation Desert Storm.
Attended the first of many Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy seminars while working at the Warehouse. (10) |
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On his way to the Bonneville Salt Flats for Speed Week, a fellow media motorhead whom I had worked with at Innovative Street Machines stopped by. He lamented the fact that he was being held hostage by his webmaster, who was not posting content to his online magazine in a timely manner.
Took over back of house operations, installed a content management system and trained the author how to properly prepare photos for web and to post his own content. Bill went from an admitted techno-phobe to online publisher in the process! (21) |
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Stepped into the lowest producing territory this building materials distributor had, rebuilt client relationships, and then lead the company in sales the following year. Focusing on customer service and satisfaction was the ticket, using the empathy of having been on 'that side of the counter' in my previous job. Developed Truckload Sales promotions for small retailers that leveraged our inventory and JIT distribution.
Put my "windshield time" to good use, learning from Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy and others. (4) |
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Traded "the new-guy's list" for unclaimed motor sport and hospitality prospects in my first Radio gig. Got to write and voice spots, including some for the local drag strip. and 1/3 stock car track. "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!"
Attended Walter Hailey's Power of Persuasion Boot Camp in Plano, Texas and the Chris Lytle Radio Sales Seminar while working here. (9) |
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Sold 250+ automobiles a year at Wilde Honda, and for British race car driver David Hobbs. Sold both new and used vehicles
Attended the Wisconsin Auto Truck Dealers Association training course and the went through the Stuker Phone Sales Program at Wilde, where my mentor Wally Martschenke demonstrated a "Silent Close". (6, 7) |
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My initial interview with the owner of the High Desert's premier HVAC contractor began during the production of their TV ad, leading to some freelance work before becomeing a direct hire.
Managed day to day operations in the company's Paint Store while managing external communications for both companies. (19) |
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Sales and production opportunities in local media found me when we moved to the High Desert.
Attended an RAB seminar where I learned Optimal Effective Scheduling techniques, then taught many in the market how to get the maximum ROI from their ad spend - buy just enough ads to be effecctive, and fill that time with truly distinctive radio ads. (17, 18 & 20) |
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Seduced by an ad in a comic book for the Junior Sales Club of America as a lad, I sold greeting cards door-to-door. Despite a severly restricted territory (mom wouldn't let me cross the street by myself), I was earning my first commissions at the tender age of eight.
Proceeds bought dozens of 1/24 scale car models. Also managed the pet department at a McLellan's while in high school. (1) |
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Hired in sales at the local lumber yard, I was promoted to Receiving Clerk, but my best opportunity to advance came when the company opened a new store. As Receiving Supervisor, I also helped train new hires.
More service than creative selling here but I did get to drive a forklift, and can always claim truthfully that I once was a Crafty Beaver! (2) |
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As I opened my own agency, I also forged a partnership with two artist friends, and handled sales for them. Placed over $500K in media annually for clients ranging from fine jewelers to municipal governments to bars and race tracks.
A Chicago radio station's attempt to jump a motorcycle with a school bus gained national TV exposure for my client, Great Lakes Dragaway. And a single press release for another client moved over 400 cell phones in one month. (11) |
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When WOZN was sold, I hung out my shingle out in Key West and began working with the local GM / Nissan dealer along with a splendid assortment of bars and restaurants. They required help with everything. including event production, employee incentive programs, television and radio ads and print layouts.
The Internet was brand new, so taught myself how to write HTML and helped many businesses access this brand new medium for the very first time. (13) |
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When we moved to Nevada for family reasons, I dusted off my shingle yet again, working with existing clients while acquiring new ones, including the Elko Chamber of Commerce, The City of Elko, Nevada and assorted medical and retail clients.
Also served as Vice President of the Morrodders Car Club for two years, producing multi-media support for their annual car show. Life in the high desert was nice, but pending duties as grandparents prompted our return to sunny South Florida. (16) |
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