Testimonials
I wanted to write with regard to two articles I read
yesterday in the March edition of SSI.
The story presented the all-too-confusing labyrinth
of advertising and marketing choices in a clear and
concise manner. It also helped banish some "urban
legends" about what works and what doesn't work
in the alarm industry.
As a 25-year industry-marketing veteran, I've seen and
heard it all, but his article presented the closes look
at reality I've seen in some time.
Your yearly SAMMY Awards have done an outstanding job
in helping educate the industry at large, but this article
has done more than just tout the industry's best creative
products. It grabbed hold of the argument most of us
face when needing to cost-justify advertising expenses,
and said this side of the business expeses can really
pay off - if it's done right and if the marketing mix
selected by each company makes sense for them.
Thank you so much.
Dave Merrick, Marketing Director
Vector Security, Inc.
Pittsburgh
Thanks for coordinating an outstanding SAMMYs awards presentation!
The event was incredibly well attended. I have already
begun to set my sights on next year's event and setting
new standards of excellence in our industry.
Howard Himmelman, VP Sales & Marketing
All-Guard Systems
Thank you for the honor of being included in the SSI Hall
of Fame and all the kind words at the SAMMYs event. What
a thrill! Talk about something changing the industry...
look at how the SAMMYs have matured and helped the industry
better understand marketing.
You can all really be proud of your work.
Sandra Jones, Principal
Sand Jones & Co.
Chardon, Ohio
Wow! I just got back from Las Vegas and have yet to come
down from the excitement and high of winning our first
SAMMY award! For me, it culminates
my lifetime of dedication to doing the best possible job,
regardless of the task.
As a child, my grandmother crocheted hot pads for pans
and had me go around the neighborhood to sell them. For
every one I sold, I got to keep 50 cents. In short order,
I would come back and tell her I had sold all of them
and give
her orders for more. She would then fill them and reward
me for my hard work.
Eventually, though, my grandmother asked me to stop taking
so many orders!
So ended my career in the hot pad business. At the time,
I did not know it was
the beginning of a long journey into my sales and marketing
future.
Back
in 1985, Perry Atha, president of Atronic Alarms Inc.,
gave me the opportunity to create and manage a marketing
plan for his company. It is amazing how resourceful
you can be when you have to get your message out on
a shoestring budget! Now in our 22nd year, we have learned
a few things and continue to learn more with each project.
The SAMMY Awards has become an event we look forward
to each and every year. We set high standards for our
company and know that the SAMMYs recognize only the
best.
Being selected as a runner-up in years
past, for Best Web Site (www.atronicalarms.com) and
Best Newsletter, was very exciting to everyone here
since we do all production, writing and design in-house,
and on a very tight budget. We have listened and learned
in the hope that we might someday become a winner, rather
than just a finalist. Now that day has finally come.
This has been a great year for us. In addition to again
receiving the Home Automation Inc. (HAI) 5- Star Dealer
Award, we had the great pleasure of winning the grand
prize at the SAMMYs for Integrated Residential Installation
of the Year in front of 150 of the security industry’s
best.
The walk I took to the podium to collect the SAMMY was
paved by 22 years hard work and 26 employees who strive
daily to be the best of the best, as well as an owner
and president who recognizes that taking care of business,
employees and customers leads to success.
Thanks again Security Sales & Integration
for making my year! I look forward to returning to compete
again at the 2004 SAMMYs.
P.S.: After the awards were over, I hit a 900 jackpot
on a nickels slot machine. truly was my lucky night!
John D. Erickson,Vice President
Atronic Alarms Inc.
Overland Park, Kan.
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