Paul Graham Quotes

We got to know the competition very well. In the '50s popcorn made a big growth in sales. Our main push was to produce the best quality and sell in quality retail outlets.

That's the ultimate gratification in any business situation - do customers buy the product? And do they use it and do they come back and buy more of it?

We all need to become more customer-focused and recognize the power of marketing to sell more diamonds.

For many years, we have repeated that the direct-to-consumer channel is growing and capturing a larger share of our customers' wallet.

I have more contact with people who consume, for lack of a better word, my product than any other performers.

I'm all for it. In these days, regional marketing is the only way to survive.

When I hear people debate the ROI of social media? It makes me remember why so many business fail. Most businesses are not playing the marathon. They're playing the sprint. They're not worried about lifetime value and retention. They're worried about short-term goals.

Like Free People, the Urban brand is planning to grow by expanding product assortments, expanding the brand reach and by improved marketing.

As far as sustaining our popularity, I believe we can.

The markets where we've got real good presence are the older, more mature markets like Australia, and Western Europe - where we've only got 6,000 stores, compared to the US with 13,000.

I never really paid attention to sales until the second record.

The response to the Starbucks brand has been phenomenal in our international markets.

I am concerned about any attrition in customer traffic at Starbucks, but I don't want to use the economy, commodity prices or consumer confidence as an excuse.

Advertising moves people toward goods; merchandising moves goods toward people.

As a small company our fastest way to market was going to be by working with other retailers that were known for pioneering new technologies and categories.

I can't complain about the way I've been marketed because it's been so successful.

All business success rests on something labeled a sale, which at least momentarily weds company and customer.

So long as new ideas are created, sales will continue to reach new highs.

I say at our management conferences that the amount Wal-Mart grows in just one year is the equivalent of Costco's size.

Get your product in front of actual, living, breathing strangers. Your college roommate's approval does not mean there's market demand.

The most interesting information I can have about a competitor is the cost.

Inherently, department stores have significant advantages compared to all other retailers.

2008 was a good - a very successful year for Volkswagen.

From the store windows, the store touch-points, the website, social media, or a magazine, it has to be one pure customer experience, not just to gain market share but to gain mind share.

Word of mouth is way more important than millions of dollars spent marketing.