The Nashville Business Journal has published its list of the “100 Largest Private Companies” in Middle Tennessee.
The annual list, based on revenue, ranks Southwestern/Great American, Inc. at #27 with a revenue of $324 million. Southwestern held even from the previous year by staying ranked at #27.
Spencer Hay’s company, Tom James Company, is ranked #35 with revenues of $197 million. Tom James dropped one spot from #34 from the previous year.
In a related note, Southwestern Company alumni Jon Yarbrough’s company, Video Gaming Technologies, was ranked at #36 and $195.1 million in revenue.
On Wednesday, August 18th, the Southwestern Company and our sister company WallStreetRock held the Return to Normalcy Concert Party at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville. This event was in honor of the hard working Southwestern students who were in Nashville after completing their summer internships. The doors opened at at 7pm and the show started at 8:00 with The Compromise, followed by Slow Motion Centerfold at 9, and Thief at 10. Hard Rock reached maximum capacity and our apologies go out to all those who were unable to get in to the show that night. We hope to see you at the next one!
A little background on WallStreetRock: WallStreetRock is a digital music sales outlet that is run by a group of sales professionals who raise fan-based venture capital for top independent talent. You can keep up with WallStreetRock on Facebook and Twitter!
Here is a video from some WallStreetRock artists explaining the difference between WSR as a non-traditional music label differs from the music industry’s traditional ones.
The August 2010 issue of Direct Selling News is all about social media. The cover story by Barbara Seale takes an in depth look at just how social an industry direct selling really is and how the topic is red hot among industry professionals.
Southwestern Company’s Director of Communications, Trey Campbell, was interviewed for the article as one of the industry’s experts in applying social media to connecting with others and building networks.
“We feel the most effective when we generate conversation, elicit a response, evoke emotion or receive feedback from a specific social initiative. We just want to know people are receiving our message and have something to say about it.”
Southwestern has a regular, growing audience who reads its corporate, alumni and sales blogs… The award-winning blogs have helped fuels the company’s PR and education initiatives by educating consumers on topics such as how not to be scammed by traveling door-to-door sales crews; safety tips on when to open the door to salespersons; and even the basics of direct selling.”
The great compliments about Southwestern Company dealers keep coming in through email, Facebook, and phone! Here is another sampling.
Amber Lill was fantastic. She was personable, and patient with our children as distractions. She was knowledgeable, but was honest when she didn’t know something. She presented the product well and gathered good information from us as to our impressions of the material. Thank you Amber, see you in August. Marty
Salina, Kansas
We just met Randall Daniels…in Des Moines, IA. He is from Texas and working his butt off up here. Had a great meeting with him. Got know him and the product. Loved the samples of the books that is what helped make the choice on what we would purchase. My husband and I ordered the whole system for our two girls. Then we asked him to stay for dinner. Lisa
Des Moines, Iowa
On June 10th, my husband & I met Adam Frost. Great personality and very honest. 2 great qualities in our decision to purchase the product for our 3rd grader…Can not wait til August when we will get the books. Kat
Mocksville, North Carolina
One of the most important ways any company can help its local community is to get involved in the difficult but crucial work of the public schools. The dedication of teachers and administration to the lifetime preparation of young people is inspiring, and they often face multiple uphill battles of budget cuts, societal apathy, language barriers, and increasing class sizes. The Southwestern Company is happy to be a part of Metro Nashville Public Schools’ new program, “The Academies of Nashville.” In a first-of-its-kind citywide partnership between businesses and public high schools, programs with a particular, future career, focus are being established within schools. Combined efforts of schools and volunteers from business in these areas of special interest and focus are called “Acadmies.”
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to represent The Southwestern Company at the kickoff of the Academies of Nashville Program. We are united with other businesses in a partnership with Hunter’s Lane Comprehensive High School and its 1600 students to create a Business and Marketing Academy within the school. Over the next year, volunteers from Southwestern will join with teachers, staff, and students to help prepare them for both college and work options upon graduation. Don’t be surprised if this includes inviting a number of them to Sales School next year.
In this way, we are able to help contribute to this essential community responsibility of educating young people. It directly fits our mission, and my thanks to Lee McCroskey for heading up this initiative on our part.
I had the opportunity to attend the Direct Selling Association’s 2010 Annual Meeting & 100th Anniversary Celebration in San Francisco this past week.
Each company designed a commemorative poster for the event.
With well over 1,000 direct selling CEOs, founders and executives, it was the most attended DSA conference ever. The atmosphere was electric and the speakers were mesmerizing (including Southwestern Company’s Dan Moore!). The event closed with a black-tie Centennial Celebration Banquet that blew away all attendees with the amazing talents of singer Sandi Patty, the charm of Powerhouse (inspiration group for Glee!) and the powerful motivation of direct selling industry icons.
At the banquet, the focus was on four companies that have contributed to the direct selling industry in positive ways for over a century. In emotional video tributes, these companies were honored for their longevity and contributions to the industry.
Both Southwestern greats from the past and present were in attendance during various parts of the conference. Dan Moore participated in the DSA and DSEF Board meetings and presented a part entitled “The Training Triangle” in a heavily attended workshop in which he taught the three most crucial success factors for working with your sales force. Trey Campbell (me) moderated roundtables on PR and communications and represented Southwestern Company in various committee meetings. Henry Bedford and wife, Barbara, were able to attend the banquet in which Henry graciously accepted DSA’s Century Award on behalf of Southwestern Company. Former Southwestern Company President Jerry Heffel and current Southwestern Investment Services financial planner Bob Sircy were also present and were recognized as pillars of the industry several times throughout the week – Jerry as a member of the DSA Hall of Fame, and Bob as a member of the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) Circle of Honor. Also there as part of the Southwestern Family of Companies: Howard Lewis, President of Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America and Gina Thayer, Vice President of Sales at Wildtree.
Henry Bedford accepts DSA's Century Award for Southwestern Company
When accepting the Century Award, Henry did so “on behalf of all of the student dealers in Nashville attending Sales School, those on the bookfield and those who have carried the sample case in the past.” He further added what great company we were in alongside the other’s being recognized.
In addition to all of the celebrations, there was a full slate of general sessions, workshops and roundtable discussions. We were also able to contribute locally by participating in an ocean-front beach clean-up initiative sponsored by the DSEF. Another great addition, for which Southwestern Company played a large role was a walk-through, museum-like history of direct selling – including timeline, display case and story board about the history of door-to-door.
Maria & Dan Moore, Trey Campbell cleaning up the beach
All in all, it was a great week of education, networking, saving the environment and award-receiving!
Every year we get several messages from customers who had a great experience with one of our student dealers, and I’m happy to say that this summer is no different! Below are just a couple of the great emails coming in.
Jordan Berby
“Jordan and another intern came to my door selling educational materials. friendly and courteous, he did a thorough job of explaining books suitable to my child’s age. he didn’t push a product, gave us time to think about it, and held true to what he described. it’s rare to meet someone who cares about what he works for and sells, someone who puts people before a commission, and does it all with a smile. i can’t wait for the materials to get here.”
“Dan Messner came to my home and explained to me about the books that would be good for my children. I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old and i am a stay at home mom. I am planning on home schooling my children and i am always looking for something to do with them to see that they get the education they need. Dan Messner was VERY polite. He answered all of my questions very well and he explained the products to me and gave me my options of how to purchase them if i was interested. He wasn’ trying to pressure me into buying anything and he even had respect for my husband who wasnt home at the time. He asked me if my husband would mind if he was there at our home. He never came inside my home and he made me feel very comfortable and I was very pleased with him. I am going to get the my set and ask me why package and i am looking forward to it. My children are half american and half mexican and the books are in both which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!!!! So I really look forward to getting those. I hope Dan does well with his business. I am sure he will. He is very respectful and represents himself very well. Thanks so much!!!”
Southwestern Company Sales School Update:
In the second week of Sales School Niv Ben-Shlomo has brought in the first Wall of Greats Team of 20 or more. According to Nate Vogel, Sales Director with Southwestern Company, “Niv has been motivated to help the students on ”Peaceful Warriors,” (his team name) to be number one in the company and help the University of British Columbia be one of the top campuses in the world.”
On Wednesday, August 18th, the Southwestern Company and our sister company WallStreetRock held the Return to Normalcy Concert Party at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville. This event was in honor of the hard working Southwestern students who were in Nashville after completing their summer internships. The doors opened at at 7pm and the show started at 8:00 with The Compromise, followed by Slow Motion Centerfold at 9, and Thief at 10. Hard Rock reached maximum capacity and our apologies go out to all those who were unable to get in to the show that night. We hope to see you at the next one!
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