Marketing Quotes

"You can't install a sprinkler system when you are spending all your time fighting fires."

Told to a fire protection company that had no marketing department. They only had a sales department and no long term marketing plans.

"Fax machine! No one will ever use those damn things."

An actual response from a client when an in-fax order program was proposed. - The client since went out of business.

"The Sales/Marketing Manager is like an amphicar (amphibious car). Great idea, but what you really get is a highly ineffective car and a highly ineffective boat."

Told to a small company president whose sales were falteringly and his sales manager was spending all his time designing his own brochures.

"We can't change our logo. We have had it for over 25 years."

A response from a client that manufactured ceiling fans when he was advised to change his logo. His logo looked very similar to a Nazi Storm Trooper insignia. He was attempting to sell his product to home centers whose buyers and owners were primarily Jewish. - The client is no longer selling product in the U.S.

"The trend in our industry is from roofing distributors to Home Centers. We want to stop that trend."

A statement from a prospective client when he was asked what he wanted to accomplish marketing-wise. The prospective client thought he could change a trend rather than capitalize on it. - The prospective client's market share decreased dramatically.

"Everyone knows us."

A response from a client when a marketing survey was recommended. The survey was conducted and it turned out that 30% of his best customers did not list him as the viable main source of components. - The marketing manager's solution was to change the survey data.

"We're a small regional business."

A statement from a sales executive that didn't like to travel. The company only had local salesmen. The response to the executive was that "You made it a regional business." - The company is now a major national manufacturer with manufacturers' reps across the country.

"Golly... I'm already working 60 hours a week. It would be impossible to double sales."

A statement from a Vice President of Sales that was very insecure and didn't like to delegate. The executive had to oversee everything that was done. The response to the executive was "Get some sales managers." - The executive is no longer Vice President of Sales.

"He hasn't called me."

A response from a Vice President of Sales when asked if he talked to a manufacturers' representative whose territory was not producing a satisfactory sales volume. The response to the executive was "Why don't you try calling him." - The territories suffered and the reps spent their time with other manufacturers.

"Become a pimp!"

A response to a manufacturing company's president after he stated that the primary marketing goal of his company was to make money. The company experienced minimal grow and never became a market leader. Their solution was to reduce expenses by charging their customers for product brochures.

"We're not doing marketing this year."

A statement from a Company's owner that believed that if he could cut $50,000 a year of expenses, it would go directly to the bottom line and the value of his company would increase 10 times that amount. He would then get half a million dollars more for his company when sold. - He never sold the company and he lost market share.

"We were in last year's directory and decided to cut cost"

A response from a company's operations manager when the company's sales were dropping and it was pointed out that the company wasn't even listed in the current Thomas Register. - The company is in trouble.