Even Jarltech has a dress code. Ergo, a suit for customer visits, otherwise just a shirt with a collar (not folded up), no visible tattoos and no sportswear in the office. Anyone who jogs into the office in the morning can please immediately change his clothes. Only the boss is allowed to wear ripped jeans, if he has no appointments (mostly).
Where does all this come from? When I was young, I practically slept in a suit - without a tie, no bank would have taken me seriously at age 20, and certainly no customers. But the further I get, the less anyone really cares about it. And the best wife of all has loosened me up a bit. I have to look really hard for a tie at home. Plus the times have changed tremendously: I can greet a bank executive in jeans. And he can address me informally. The board member can arrive with a driver, or drive himself with the Smart. So what? That's all superficial. But there is a minimum standard of respect, so be neat, clean, wear a collared shirt and clean shoes (but no sportswear). We show our hospitality with tailor-made cheese platters and a variety of freshly baked cookies. I'd rather have that than a company in which everyone wears a different tie every day, but the guests only get tap water and store-bought cookies.
Company clothing with a logo. This is actually an American disease, and this would never have happened to me 20 years ago. But now, I can welcome everyone in a Jarltech polo shirt. And with a Jarltech cap and even with Jarltech shoes (the logo is on the sole, for leaving the perfect footprint), not to mention the famous Jarltech anti-slip socks. This is not high fashion, but it does make me proud. Jarltech polos simply make you look beautiful.
After some logistics employees decided that Jarltech polos were not enough, there were suddenly Jarltech hoodies and jackets. And without my intervention! Some of my staff have actually privately embroidered clothing with the Jarltech logo. At their own expense. What a compliment!
My reaction was the usual Spranger overreaction: a Jarltech collection of T-shirts, jackets, polo shirts, hoodies, caps, baby bodysuits and so on, from black to pink.... Of course, by the boat load. Who would be bothered by that? Oh yes, wait there was someone else: the tax office. If I provide employees with non-safety-relevant company clothing, it is subject to German flat-rate taxation. Here's mud in your eye! If an employee dresses in »Jarltech« clothes, we have to collect a few euros from our employees and in fact sell the clothes. But if I give away Jarltech socks to customers, then there is no further taxation. Yet, if I warm the feet of my own team, then the tax office has to be involved. A real pity, since there is hardly any better advertising than employees who voluntarily wear »Jarltech«.
There's only one thing still missing, and that is a Jarltech tattoo. True, this fashion trend is long gone, but a QR code on the forehead is better than any dating app, assuming you have a large, pretty forehead - like me. I can also recommend putting the Jarltech logo on the arm to anyone who wants to enter into salary negotiations with me. That's guaranteed to help! But wait, a tattoo on the arm only works if no shirt is required. And oh yes, even the employees of the savings banks have finally understood that a shirt has long sleeves (and no breast pocket). Back to compliance. Do I bribe my team if I give away Jarltech clothing? Or maybe they are bribing me if they voluntarily wear it? Maybe things just shouldn't be taken so seriously. After all, Jarltech makes you slim and beautiful.
Complaining – the national pastime of the Germans
Let’s be honest, we Germans love to complain – about the weather, football, the economy, politics, etc....
Let’s be honest, we Germans love to complain – about the weather, football, the economy, politics, etc. This unites us all – regardless of our social class or political affiliation. Complaining is a national pastime in Germany. We love to grumble about high prices, the shortage of skilled workers and the weakening economy, while at the same time discussing our next holiday or the four-day week. Please don’t get me wrong, I am all for everyone taking a lot of time off and having a good rest – the only thing that bothers me is the fact that we love to see everything in such a gloomy light! We have to start working together to find solutions, because what we forget amidst all the moaning are our own abilities.
No, Germany is not falling apart! Germany still has a lot of untapped potential. We have people with great ideas, curious and inquisitive people (yes, even among Gen Z), a high average level of education, a high degree of legal certainty, a consistently strong industry, very good research ... and yes, we also have the capital. But we have to stop complaining and focus on our strengths. We are capable of innovation, we can be or remain market leaders in many areas, but, at the same time, we have to be open-minded. Even if one area collapses, we can successfully develop and expand a subsequent one. These are our strengths. However, we have to accept the challenge – be it in society, in politics or in the economy. Burying our heads in the sand won’t help us.
We are once again facing enormous opportunities for our future – whether in medical research, industry, the energy sector or, of course, across the board in the field of AI. And that’s just what comes to mind. There is, of course, much more. Let’s work together to develop new ideas that will advance us not only as a society, but also as a business location. There is potential out there, it just needs to be tapped! And by the way, we’ll have less reason to complain!
The road to success: do we really have to get worse at everything?
Last week I had a conversation with a customer that left me speechless....
Last week I had a conversation with a customer that left me speechless. Our sales department asked me to speak to a customer on the phone who doesn’t buy from us because we supposedly supply end customers.
No problem, I thought. I called and explained that this is exactly what we don’t do, and that this is a key promise to our dealers. There are extremely rare exceptions – only if a vendor forces us to or a retailer explicitly asks us to. But that almost never happens.
Then it turned out that there was a misunderstanding: the customer said that we also supply small retailers. My answer: »Yes, we do and we have to, based on our contracts with the vendors. Our competitors do that too.«
»All correct«, I hear, but then it got exciting: »Your large competitors are not interested in small customers, so they are poorly served. At Jarltech, small dealers feel comfortable because you provide great service.«
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry ... A customer doesn’t buy from us because our service is too good? I hadn’t expected that.
But don’t worry, contrary to the headline: We will continue to endeavour to offer every customer the best service we can!
Why is good service so important again?
I'm writing to you today from China. Here I have learnt once again why good service is so important....
I'm writing to you today from China. Here I have learnt once again why good service is so important. If you want a customer to pay more than elsewhere, then you have to make the difference! You have to know what they like and anticipate their wishes.
Here in Shenzhen is the Grand Hyatt Hotel – I was here at least six times a year before Corona – and even stored some luggage in Shenzhen, so that I only had to fly with hand luggage. Liquids and such ... that was difficult on the plane.
It’s been over three years since I was last here, and I arrived to be greeted by an armada of hotel staff. My beloved Coke Zero was waiting for me in the car outside the airport. My luggage, which I hadn’t expected to see again, had been stored for three years and completely cleaned for my new stay. Everything was hanging in the wardrobe and the bathroom was neat and tidy. My razor was charged and my chargers stood on the desk. Of course, the fridge was full of Coke Zero and the white wine I had last drunk three years ago. Even the room service knew what I liked to eat.
That’s what hospitality really is. And we have to do the same at Jarltech. Always write down what our customers want and like. And when I go out to dine with a customer, I need to know whether they are vegan or if they don’t like pork, for example. Some customers want to be called and courted on a weekly basis, whereas others find this rather annoying. Some still prefer paper catalogues, others believe it’s environmental pollution. And all the better if a customer returns after three years, and I still have it all written down somewhere. Jarltech may not be a hotel, but we are a service provider that has to differentiate itself The difference is always in the details.
The world's smallest chef gives a guest performance in Usingen
It's finally back on: Our 3D projection dinner show »Le Petit Chef« will be back in our restaurant »Uwe and Uli« (www.uwe-uli.de) from the 11th of October...
It's finally back on: Our 3D projection dinner show »Le Petit Chef« will be back in our restaurant »Uwe and Uli« (www.uwe-uli.de) from the 11th of October 2023 to the 30th of April 2024. Personally, I always have fun enjoying delicious food with a bit of a show. Come by sometime – it's also great for Christmas parties with up to 20 people. And if you're a customer of ours, why not have your sales contact invite you next time you visit Jarltech? 😊
Have fun with the little chef!