Posts Tagged ebizine
Diana Nelson, CEO of Kazoo Toys, discusses business trials and triumphs with Tom Polanski
By Tom Polanski, EVP. eBrand Media and eBrand Interactive
Tom Polanski: Folks, I’m very pleased that Diana has found the time to spend a few moments with us today. Hi Diana, I hope that you’re doing well.
Diana Nelson: Thank you Tom. I am and how are you?
Tom Polanski: I’m doing great. Thanks for asking. You bought Kazoo Toys didn’t you?
Diana Nelson: Yes. I purchased Kazoo & Company is 1998 and launched Kazoo Toys in 1999, The Good Toy Group Catalog co-op in 2000 and Kazoo Global in 2008.
Tom Polanski: Why did you target Kazoo Toys for purchase?
Diana Nelson: I looked at an assortment of companies. Franchises, coffee shops, box and tape companies and nothing felt like a good fit. Nothing felt like coming home. I also looked at corporate positions within Fortune 500 companies and going back into the corporate fray. That did not feel right because I knew I needed to find a firm that allowed me time with my sons and cash flow. Nothing fit easily. One conversation led to another and I approached a business (Kazoo) that was not on the market and it was NOT for sale. Of course they stated no they were not interested and not for sale. My comment to them was: “The best things in life are not for sale. Can’t we talk?”
Posted by Tom Polanski in Interviews, Tom Polanski on July 30th, 2008
eBrand Media introduces Mel Ronick as a guest eBizine contributor.
By Tom Polanski
Mr. Ronick’s first article will appear in eBizine tomorrow, Wednesday, the 16th. So that you get to know a little about Roncik we’ve taken the liberty of preparing an over view.
Mel is President of Stacks and Stacks, www.stacksandstacks.com, an e-commerce business which offers storage, organization and furnishing products. He started his career at IBM and has worked in computer sales, shopping center development and as a national retail leasing agent.
Mr. Ronick started Stacks and Stacks in 1984 when shopping center development slowed because of high interest rates. He thought he might be able to grow the original store into a 50 store chain and go public. Instead he closed the stores he’d opened and went online in 1999 – 2000.
He feels his biggest risk was when he decided to open on the Internet and close all of his stores. At that point in time big-box stores were coming into the Bay Area and each opening diminished his sales. His solution was to try something else, Stacks and Stacks. Ronick has stated that his business took off rather quickly and that it’s been growing 25 to 40 percent year after year.
Posted by Tom Polanski in Advertising, Customer Centric, Growing a Business on July 15th, 2008