Alain Ducasse Quotes

My dad built his business by providing products he figured the customers would want.

For businesses to be successful, they need to constantly ask the question: 'How can we provide value to our customers?' At the end of the day, that is what matters.

There are two ways to extend a business. Take inventory of what you're good at and extend out from your skills. Or determine what your customers need and work backward, even if it requires learning new skills. Kindle is an example of working backward.

I knew that if I could create a quality product and find the proper retail outlets, it would be a great company.

You have to connect with your market and your employees. First, understand that what your market says is fact and what you say is opinion. Then, take the time to create a good connection with your employees. Without those two key connections, your business will be stuck in mediocrity forever.

When you understand your customer base, you have to provide them with what they want.

Salads was a big indicator of that - there was a huge market out there for it. And why not tap it? Some of the things we are doing now around the globe are responding to customers. It's not because some guy sued you.

You need to focus on creating the actual value of the company, not just the theoretical value. The actual value comes from a great product that sells well and is ultimately profitable.

Relentless improvement of the product and upgrading of consumer tastes are the heart of mass merchandising.

We opened a design center in the South of England last year as part of our strategy for being close to our customers and developing innovative products for exciting new markets.

Great companies are built on great products.

I think if companies start reinventing themselves and focus on the customer experience more, they will win out in the end.

It's easier to build a business around a first-class product, even if it's a more expensive product to produce.

If I've learned anything in this business, how stupid would it be not to do 'It's My Party' when people come to hear it?

Every time we bring someone in we ensure that they are a strategic thinker, but even more important that they understand that if the products aren't successful and the products don't sell that there won't be anything to strategize about.

You need to make certain decisions to expand your market.

I enjoy building something good and having a successful product and making money.

Television networks are a lot like automobile manufacturers or anyone else who's in commerce. If something out there catches on with the public... I guess you can call it 'market research.'

Most of all, I discovered that in order to succeed with a product you must truly get to know your customers and build something for them.

Customers are a great way to finance a business for many reasons. First, customer financing is typically non dilutive. They want something from you other than equity in your business. Customers also help you fit your product to the market. And customers will help debug and improve the quality of the product.

I'm just interested in building a company that doesn't necessarily change lives but adapts people's behaviour.

I just want to make things that people want to buy. I have no confusion about this.

The state of the economy is not the issue when it comes to growing a business. The relevant questions are always: 'What business are you in? Furthermore, is it adapting to the times?'

All business is basically about customers and marketing and making money and capitalism and winning and promoting it and having something someone really wants.

I think the challenge for all technology companies is to modify what they're doing to be what the market needs at that point.