July 22, 2008 by John Stubbs.

In a few short weeks Mac Productions will return to the world wide web.  All of at Mac Productions, are deeply grateful to all of the vendors, suppliers and most importantly our customers, who have stood by us during this challenging period.  To that we are eternally grateful.  During this period we have strengthened our infrastructure, revamped our entire product line, extended our reach to the mobile web, and expanded into 7 countries.  While improving customer service.  And we’re just getting started.

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May 26, 2007 by John Stubbs.

Today, (05.25.07) ended what was a particularly difficult week, putting the finishing touches on a nationwide hiring initiative, reviewing future long-term investment options for our company and ironing out a few logistical issues with a vendor.

So to say I have been the poster child for stress this week is an understatement. On Friday, I emailed a potential employee apologizing for such a lengthy delay in receiving the results of their background check. Their reply one of the most humbling comments in recent memory as follows “Thanks for keeping me informed, nice to know I’m not invisible or anything like some places treat you. Your company must be one of the better places to work for”.

Those words hit home in a big way, because its what I’m all about, and what my company is all about. The feeling of “hey I matter” is how I want everyone who comes in contact with Mac Productions to feel.

So about that stress filled week. It’s All-Good.

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May 12, 2007 by John Stubbs.

What benefits do I get with a website? Asked the treasurer from a nonprofit customer of ours. A good question, but one that left me saying, “why now, why ask two years after the fact”?

This revelation came as we enter year two of a multi-year agreement, and after being found online by organization such as:
• HBO Sports
• The Toledo Blade
• NBC News Columbus
• L.A. Times

If they’re think this, so late into the game, what percentage of our target market is being held back with this line of thinking. Furthermore, we do not have a prepared response to address this question.

So we crafted 8 Great Reasons Why ALL Nonprofits Should Have A Website. This will be posted on our website and emailed to all of our virtual sales representatives ASAP.

Not to say our FREE websites for nonprofits have not been a smashing success. Since 2005, we have witnessed a 300% increase in our nonprofit business. To the point we’ve given this product its own web address. Calling it “Freesite”. We provide every nonprofit with
• 3 Gig of website storage space
• 300 + spam filtered and virus protected email addresses
• A website with an unlimited number of pages, plus a blog

There’s always room for improvement.

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May 11, 2007 by John Stubbs.

Mac Productions is all about ltr’s (long term relationships), whether it’s with customers, vendors or staff; building ltr’s is in our DNA. Which lead me to my point, today we had to terminate a four-year relationship with a vendor.

For several weeks I have agonized over this decision, looking for any reason to maintain our relationship, in the end I kept returning to the reason behind the break-up.

Prior to 2007, we had a solid relationship that would only get stronger in 2007.

Sometime in March of 2007, the vendor in question modified our agreement, without informing us, and allowing us to sell services they no longer offered.

We understand things change, but it was how it was done and when we were notified of these changes that put our relationship with them in jeopardy. Basically, we were NOT informed until our customer had a store full of customers wanting to purchase a service that no longer existed.

Our customer was attempting to make a sale, when sale after sale failed, so they contacted us, and we contacted the vendor. At which time we were informed, they no longer carried that service. I was understandably shocked and outraged. I asked our representative, when did this happen, and was told some time ago. Again, I responded asking if they are aware the contracts we are presenting to our customers still have the service listed. The answer was yes. Do they even care how we looked in front of our customer, or how our customer felt having to turn away thousands of dollars in sales? To that I have no answer.

In summation, we lost the customer, so we had no choice but to lose the vendor. With a little thing called “proper notification” all of this could have been prevented.

And life goes on…..

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April 2, 2007 by John Stubbs.

Creating a truly global community based sales force is much easier said than done. That being said, I have learned so much about the world and its many cultures and customs. I am truly humbled by how well Mac Productions is being received around the globe. For, example in the Philippines we have already begun to build relationships and establish our presence their, ditto for Japan, India and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

Places like the United Kingdom, Mexico City and the Philippines seem like a million miles away from the inner city. Those not familiar with the term, let’s just say it is a very harsh environment to live in. Where I grew up just living to see another day is a major accomplishment, I am truly blessed.

Anyways, back to going global. There are numerous challenges in creating and maintaining a global sales force; those challenges are multiplied when you attempt to do this from a virtual standpoint. What is virtual? For us virtual means a sales force with an unprecedented view of customers a 1-800 type sales force cannot have. Our virtual sales force operates from the privacy and comfort of their own homes, they set their own hours and make their own schedules. In the age of outsourcing where a salesperson or customer service representative can be half a world away, ours live and work in the same communities, so they can identify more closely with the needs of each and every customer, often on a first name basis.

Within each country and each region a new set of challenges await. And we look forward to each of those challenges. Our partners are the best in their field, our virtual sales representatives are the most skillful, knowledgeable and customer focused individuals in the world.

So, bring it on!!

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March 10, 2007 by John Stubbs.

At Mac Productions, we’re all about transparency in communication. Just like we ask everyone to be open and honest about their opinions on Mac Productions and how to improve upon what we do and how we do it, we strive to be open and honest about what’s going on inside our business.

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