  |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
| President's Letter By Jerry Robinson Carving Out Your Niche IT'S A FACT: A company that succeeds in carving out a niche in the marketplace can compete successfully against strong competitors. On July 6, Bill La Macchia, Jr., CEO of Sun Country Airlines, revealed his strategy for differentiating Sun Country Airlines. He has two business cards, one titled: "President & Chief Executive Officer" - the other titled: "Chief Lavatory Inspector." This second title signals La Macchia's strategy for differentiating Sun Country. He explained that he inspects the lavatories on every Sun Country airliner he flies because he knows that people appreciate clean lavatories. This demonstrates La Macchia's commitment to making Sun Country a people-friendly airline. You can see this people-friendly focus in every Sun Country ad. Established airlines, known for their people unfriendliness, can't compete with Sun Country in this arena. They can only use low airfares and more flights in attempt to undo Sun Country. La Macchia's people-friendly strategy is a classic example of how a newcomer can carve out a niche for itself against entrenched competitors. You won't want to miss learning how Mark Peltier, founder of AromaSys, Inc., created a successful business out of "thin air" - at the August 3 MEI meeting. Thank You Gerald Keinath The First MEI Benefactor Long time member and past MEI speaker, Gerald Keinath, has become the first official MEI Benefactor. He contributed $5,000 to the Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc. to help the MEI achieve its mission to educate, to inspire and to act as a resource for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. As the founder of Novus Windshield Repair, Keinath created a global success that expanded into 2,500 franchises throughout 52 countries with 750 franchises in the US. Now retired, Keinath continues to pursue his interest in entrepreneurism. He seldom misses a MEI meeting. Keinath was recently hospitalized and is now home recuperating from surgery. The Minnesota Entrepreneurs congratulates Gerald Keinath’s for his sincere interest if furthering entrepreneurship and expresses its sincere appreciation for his generosity. We wish Gerald a speedy recovery. Thank You WELLS FARGO For supporting the Minnesota Entrepreneurs WELLS FARGO Business Credit, Inc. has contributed $1,000 to the Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc. to help the MEI achieve its mission to educate, to inspire and to act as a resource for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. The Minnesota Entrepreneurs expresses its sincere appreciation to WELLS FARGO for this support. It will help further entrepreneurship in Minnesota. Top |
||||||||
| August 3 - Creating A Business Out Of "Thin Air" Mark Peltier’s entrepreneurial dream began in the mid-1970s when, as a transplant from Minnesota to California, he visited a nearby forest to escape the city smog. Peltier says, “I was overwhelmed by the fresh aroma and how it affected me. I was more relaxed, and more alert. It gave me a peace of mind, and I remember thinking that someday, someone would figure out how to get this smell into buildings.” At the August MEI meeting, Peltier will reveal how he became that someone. Peltier has literally created AromaSys, Inc. out of air ... with a bit of scientific assistance. His system of environmental fragrancing helps diners imagine themselves in a rain forest and hotel guests experience the beach (complete with the aroma of cocoa butter). In 1986, Peltier began researching the technology of environmental aroma systems and its application to the workplace. By 1991, he had co-founded AromaSys, Inc. with Eileen Kenney. It took eight years for AromaSys to become “an overnight success.” That’s because Peltier, like many entrepreneurs, had to wait for his idea to enter into the American consciousness and lifestyle. Now that aroma therapy and sense stimulation are hot trends, Peltier is “scenting” luxury resorts, hotels and restaurants. His clients include the Bellagio, Mirage and Treasure Island Resort hotels as well as other leading properties in Las Vegas and Miami. He has developed aroma diffusion systems for over 900 retail stores, health care facilities and corporate offices throughout the United States. AromaSys, a patented liquid vaporization system, releases scents electronically instead of using spray methods. Peltier, one of a handful of founders of The Minnesota Entrepreneurs, played an integral part in the formation of our organization. On August 3, he will describe how he maintained courage during the eight years that he waited for the public to catch onto his aromatic idea. You are invited to smell the sweet smell of the AromaSys success with Mark Peltier on August 3. Time: 7 p.m. St. Thomas University - 10th & LaSalle, Minneapolis Room 406 (Note Room Change) Cost: Non-members $15, Students $10 Come early at 5 p.m and attend Special E-Commerce seminar in Room 310 - $15.
|
||||||||
| July 6 - Sun Country Airlines’ La Macchia Soared Although Bill La Macchia Jr. has a marketing degree, his real education came from casinos. After graduation, instead of joining his father in the travel industry, he headed for the neon of Las Vegas, eventually, becoming the sales manager of the Mirage Hotel. Now that he is CEO of Sun Country Airlines, Inc., La Macchia falls back on lessons he learned from his casino days that apply to every business: “You must remember that your business is all about serving people," he said. On July 6, La Macchia animatedly described his strategy to transform the 16-year-old charter-based Sun Country Airlines into a full fledged scheduled carrier. “Sun Country is not going after that other airline,” he said. “That would be like Paul’s Hardware on the corner going after Home Depot.” Instead, Sun Country is focused on being people-friendly. Despite his eye-catching ads on television, La Macchia insists, “Commercials mean nothing if you can’t take care of the customer. We’re redefining our product to do this.” If you missed Bill La Macchia, you missed: How starting a business “from scratch” may be easier than reinventing an existing business. Sun Country’s strategy for positioning itself. Why the La Macchia father-son team decided to transform Sun Country from a charter operation into a regularly scheduled airline. Mistakes commonly made by entrepreneurs. What entrepreneurs can learn from recalling their earliest venture - the "lemonade stand." Top |
||||||||
SPECIAL SEMINAR! "E-Commerce and E-Business" August 3 - 5:00 p.m. Presented by: Franz Corneille, E-Commerce Expert Sponsored by The Minnesota Entrepreneurs™ - E-commerce - The new way to use technology to decrease costs, forge stronger customer relationships and increase revenue.
When: Tuesday, August 3 |
||||||||
The Minnesota Entrepreneurs encourages three monthly breakfast networking meetings. These informal breakfast meetings offer opportunities for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to meet informally and discuss entrepreneurial issues. There is no charge for these meetings. Each attendee pays for his or her own breakfast. The meetings: St. Paul Group meets 3rd Tuesday monthly - August 17th at 7:30a.m., Bakers Square Restaurant on Fairview and 36 (across from Rosedale Shopping Center in Roseville). Call Chuck Prescott - 612-978-1673 Bloomington Group meets 2nd Tuesday monthly - August 10th at 7:30 a.m., Byerly's Restaurant in Burnsville, County Road 42 and Portland. Call Scott Kaiser - 612- 948-1005 Minneapolis Group meets 3rd Thursday monthly - August 19th at 7:30 a.m., Dover Restaurant, Double Tree Park Place Hotel in St. Louis Park. Call Bill Lehnertz - 612- 897-5002. Welcome New MemberCate Bartman - Rapp Collins Worldwide |
August 1999 Newsletter of the Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc.