» Got Staffing Problems? Bob Negen shares How You Can Develop a Whiz Bang Staff From the Desk of Marlene Green:

Had the pleasure of meeting Retail Guru, Bob Negen, at Jeff Walker’s Product Launch workshop. Bob founded the Mackinaw Kite Co., a small chain of specialty toy and kite stores, in 1981 when he was only 23 years old. He had just graduated from college, didn’t want to get a “real job” and loved flying kites.

He spent the next twenty years learning how to be a successful merchant. He made more mistakes than you can shake a stick at, but managed to survive and earn the status of “battle tested retail veteran”. Among many noteworthy accomplishments, Bob helped create a yo-yo craze that generated over 2 million dollars in yo-yo and yo-yo accessory sales.

In 1999, Bob and his wife Susan founded WhizBang! Training to help independent retailers thrive in today’s super-competitive market.

Bob says “kites, yo-yos, shoes or sleeping bags, it’s all about giving your customers the kind of EXPERIENCE that makes your business memorable and parlaying that first experience into a highly profitable long-term relationship”. Great Kennedy speak!

Bob and Susan are the authors of the Amazon.com bestseller “Marketing Your Retail Store In The Internet Age”, and Bob is a regular guest on Jim Blasingame’s nationally syndicated radio show “The Small Business Advocate”. His learning resources at www.whizbangtraining.com have helped hundreds of independent retailers play David in a marketplace filled with Goliaths.

Bob’s niche is retail store owners and he shares many gems on this recording that will be useful to you on hiring superstar staff people, setting up an ongoing recruitment program, getting your staff to do things while you are not around and much, much more! Please provide your comments after listening to this recording! Lots of great gems and food for thought on how you are hiring, developing and retaining staff. Enjoy!