Based in Loveland, Colo., Kelly Kramer is an author, inventor and owner of Kelly’s Carpet Wagon. He is a 27-year veteran of the flooring industry, with 25 of those years as a retail sales advisor. To contact him with questions or to book him for public speaking engagements, call or email: (970) 622-0077; retaileducation@netzero.net
Throughout my career as a retail sales advisor, manufacturer representative, and educational writer for the flooring industry, I’ve worked hard not to use negatives about my competition to influence a purchase in my direction.
Going back in time to places like South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and other older civilizations people have cut and shaped stone or made some form of tile so you might say those places have been manufacturing, bartering and selling these products for just a few more years than we have in the good old US of A.
Going back to my first job in sales, I’ve fought the battle of just what is the level of ethics and honesty I needed to be at to remain in the business of selling.
As my long-time editor and chief mistake-fixer Matt Spieler can tell you, I often start out writing about one subject and end up finishing on an entirely different one.
Recently, I had an elderly lady who I had worked with for about 40 minutes say something to me I had never been told before in all my years selling retail.
In the past year my wife Anne and I have been taking steps to build a new home. This house will be built on a lot we own right next-door to our existing home overlooking Lake Loveland in Colorado.
Take a look at the photo of me with a big bag of potato chips. Now I’m sure you’re wondering just why this photo of me with this junk food deserved to be published.