Grateful for the Greatest: IBM
Samantha Noble, Marketing Manager
Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude. A day to be thankful for the f-words: family, friends, and of course, food. While this day is a holiday, it can also be a lot of work, preparing food, traveling to relatives, and arguing over politics at the dinner table (some people are not meant to drink wine). Like many, my family has traditions. Every year, we allocate a kernel of corn for each person. We go around the table and say one thing we are thankful for before dropping it into a jar. If Retail Tech put a kernel of corn in their jar, it would be a kernel for our relationship with IBM.
IBM is a global giant. Most people are unaware of the number of verticals within the company. Software, Servers & systems, Internet Security, Personal computers, Point of sale, and Semiconductors are a few that skim the surface of the product offerings. As it states in the 2009 IBM Annual Report, “IBM has among the broadest global footprints of any corporation or institution. We service clients in more than 170 countries…” Incredible! While point of sale systems are what Retail Tech does, only 7% of total IBM sales come from the Hardware segment. Good thing we do not have confidence issues, otherwise Retail Tech would feel pretty insignificant.
Aside from selling new IBM systems (like other traditional Business Partners), Retail Tech holds the consignment vendor contract through IBM Global Finance. Through this environmentally conscientious program, Retail Tech cleans, refurbishes, and tests the IBM pre-owned equipment. Retail Tech is able to resell the equipment with a three month quality satisfaction guarantee, and an IBM Certified seal of approval. Our integration center also allows us to configure the systems to the clients needs.
So why are we thankful for IBM? I look at it like this, no matter how much you tell an employer how great you are, they won’t truly know until you can prove it. IBM has given Retail Tech this opportunity to prove it because they believe in our capabilities. IBM trusts us to refurbish and sell their products as we trust them to manufacturer quality systems. It is a mutual relationship in which we are grateful to be a part of. We have been able to show IBM that Retail Tech is capable of holding up our end of the bargain.
Before leaving the office next week, think about what you are thankful for at your company. Is it a relationship with a certain manufacturer, an optimistic co-worker, or having a window in your cubical? Thank these people who made it happen, you don’t do it enough. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on everything you have appreciated that year, not to overflow the jar with corn kernels of guilt and forgetfulness. Make 2011 a year to be grateful.