Treading Through Turmoil

Presented  by:      

Kerry  Rasmussen  /  Farrow    Sara  Bowersox  /  KEEN  Footwear  

   

Footwear  Importers  and  Service  Providers  Partnering  For  Success  

FTDC  2016  –  HunCngton  Beach  

“Life’s  LiLle  InstrucCons”  •  Compliment  3  people  every  day.  •  Ask  for  a  raise  when  you  feel  you  have  earned  it.  •  Drink  champagne  for  no  reason  at  all.  •  Wear  polished  shoes.  •  Learn  3  clean  jokes.  Tell  one!!!!  

• Always  accept  an  outstretched  hand!  

Sara  Bowersox  Self  proclaimed  “Footwear  Serial  Monogamist”    

 What  Kerry  knows  about  Sara:      Proud  mother  of  2  children    Lives  in  the  country  and  has  a  house  on  the  beach  (available  for  rental  on  VRBO)  

  ThriMy  shopper    You  will  not  find  her  on  Facebook    3  degrees  of  Kevin  Bacon    ThoughQul,  caring,  personable  and  smart  as  a  whip    日本語に堪能です。  

Kerry  Rasmussen  Trade  Professional,  Fashion  Icon  

 What  Sara  knows  about  Kerry:      She  is  an  authenSc  Canadian!  Honest,  self  effacing  and  says  “a-­‐boot”…    She  LOVES  shoes.  Loves  them  to  tears,  actually.    She’s  a  Mom,  a  former  rugby  player,  and  a  dog  lover.    She  is  learning  to  box,  loves  camping  and  the  outdoors.      Will  wear  silly  costumes  in  public.    

Kerry  has  many  impressive  professional  achievements,  which  you  should  ask  her  about!    

Now  You  Some  quesSons  for  the  room:  

•  Which  (if  any)  lucky  sole  is  footwear  only???  •  Who  has  a  global  team?  •  Whose  team  is  US  or  CA  only?  •  Who  is  a  Service  Provider?  Stand,  this  is  free  adverSsing!!!!!!!    •  How  many  people  on  your  Trade  Team?  •  Who  has  the  power  to  select  service  providers?  •  Who  finds  this  exercise  excruciaSng  and  wants  to  melt  into  the  

floor  right  now?  

When  you  don’t  know  things,  Seek  Professional  Help!  

Service  Providers    •  Customs  Brokers    •  TransportaSon  Providers  •  CBP  (WHAT?)  •  CBSA  (Again  with  the  WHAT?)  •  PGAs  •  TesSng  FaciliSes  •  SoMware  Providers  •  Co-­‐workers  

Industry  AssociaCons  •  FDRA    WOOT!  WOOT!  •  OIA  (Outdoor  Industry  Assoc.)  •  PDX  Importers  Anonymous  •  CRCBFA  (Columbia  River  Custom  

Brokers  &  Forwarders  Assoc.)  •  ICPA  (InternaSonal  Compliance  

Professionals  Assoc.)  •  Former  co-­‐workers  &  FUTURE  co-­‐

workers.  

The  Kerry  &  Sara  Show  

 Strong  relaSonships  (professional  or  otherwise)  are  based  on  real  connecSons.    It’s  corny,  but  customers  /  providers  really  do  need  have  to  have  some  chemistry  to  ensure  success!  

 

Kerry’s  top  Cps  for  being  an  awesome  service  provider:  

  See  your  clients  as  oMen  as  you  can    Build  a  plan  that  is  right  for  you  and  your  customer    Be  innovaSve  and  responsive    Get  execuSve  buy  in    Stay  on  top  of  issues    Offer  addiSonal  services  that  you  can  perform    Know  where  you  are  at  –  measure  your  performance    Be  at  the  front  of  the  line  with  your  technology  

Sara’s  top  Sps  for  being  an  awesome  trade  customer:  

  Ask  for  what  you  NEED.  Be  specific,  provide  examples,  keep  working  for  soluSons.    Recognize  that  you  (trade  customer)  may  not  know  what  you  need.      Don’t  shy  away  from  asking  for  what  you  WANT.  No  majer  how  picky.    Be  up  front  about  requested  service  changes.  Share  why  you  want  them.    Let  the  experts  lead  -­‐  you  hired  them  for  a  reason!  Funnel.  With  new  projects,  start  big  picture  &  work  down  to  small  details.    

  Reconcile  processes  /  procedures.  Avoid  duplicaSon  or  overexerSon  on  both  sides  of  the  fence.  

  Be  prepared  to  grow,  change  &  learn.      If  you  are  unhappy,  say  so  right  away!  Allow  opportuniSes  for  improvement.      Audit  Smely  and  share  results  immediately.    Finally  –  another  “lijle  instrucSon”.  Strive  for  excellence,  not  perfecSon.  

Everybody  Cut  Footloose  

Partnership  Props  Sara’s  story  about  what  happens  when  you  don’t  know  what  you  don’t  know,  and  how  a  good  partnership  can  right  your  ship.      Kerry’s  story  –  what  it  means  to  be  a  Strategic  Partner  with  the  FDRA.  

ParCng  Shots  From  Sara:  Mary  Krueger,  teacher  of  English  and  Drama  at  Nathan  Hale  High  School  in  Seajle  and  the  world’s  highest  compliment.    From  Kerry:  Be  true  –  in  life,  in  love  and  in  your  work.    Good  things  will  come  to  you  when  you  are  your  authenSc  self.  

   Find  your  perfect  match…    

 And  everyone  wins!