Gary Zimmerman Jr., President
Creative Business Interiors Inc., Milwaukee
Favorite quote: “Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity.” (Henry Hartman)
‘In November, Gary Zimmerman Jr. was contacted about the sudden availability of more than 200 workstations from a financial institution in California that closed before it could move into its new office. The new workstations were being sold at used furniture prices, but the decision had to be made within two working days, and the workstations had to be moved and paid for in cash immediately.
“I flew to California, inspected the product and arranged to have it disassembled and transported to Wisconsin – a shipment that filled nine semi-trucks.
“Logistically, this was an immediate shift in our company’s business plan. It affected warehousing, distribution, pricing and structure. But by the end of the following week, we had already sold and installed a dozen workstations for a client who desired both function and aesthetics but had a limited budget.
“None of this could have happened if we did not remain adaptable to opportunity. As a result of our flexibility, both our company and our clients will be able to remain competitive in the current economic climate.
“From day one, our strategic plan has been drafted to allow us to expand into new territories and markets as finances and the industry allowed. We’ve always been careful to create a flexible plan that would adapt to the changing needs of our clients and the economy. The flexibility in our plan was a key factor in allowing us to seize this opportunity immediately.”
