Strictly Business on KSVY

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Strictly Business engages the people and issues of business and management history, corporate growth and profitability, entrepreneurial breakthroughs, operating successes and failures. Covering all factors contributing to Sonoma County’s economic growth and development. Kip Altman: Raised in Boston, graduated from Georgetown and the Un-O-Chicago Graduate School of Business. Worked on Wall Street and lived in New York City for many years, moved to S.F. in 2003, Glen Ellen in 2013. An active trader of stocks, author, and creator of the largest existing business history site businesshistory.com.

  1. 4d ago

    Strictly Business KSVY - Founder and Proprietor, Book Passage, Independent Book Store - Elaine Petrocelli

    We will talk about: 1. How did you get the idea for a bookstore In 1976, and what did you do after you got the idea? 2. You started hosting authors live in that same year. Considering how many books are published each year, how do you decide which authors to host? Is attendance at live authors' events predictable? In other words, the bigger the name, the more people you expect?, 3. Did you have a focus on which books you wanted to carry or which authors you wanted to carry? 4. How difficult was it to get distributors to send you books as a new bookstore owner? 5. Did you have a feeling on which books would sell best? 6. I have read that you've been credited with finding Khaled Hosseni, author of The Kite Runner. What do you think makes for a book's 'buzz'. Are there some books that you're surprised succeeded, as well as those you were surprised that failed? 7. Were there any books or authors which you refused to carry? 8. Were you surprised that Sausalito (2017-2019) did not work as a location for another Book Passage store, considering it's a major tourist town? 9. You opened in the Ferry Building in 2003. Was it hard to get space? 10. How often do you get authors to come and talk about their books? How do you attract authors to come to either of your stores? 11. Do you deal with publicists of authors' books or the authors themselves to sign them up for a personal visit? 12. Do you make your own decisions on which books to carry, or do publisher's representatives advise you on selection? 13. I read recently a person's opinion that the nonfiction book market is collapsing. Over a period of 8 years, best-selling fiction books have greatly outdistanced best-selling nonfiction books. Is that what you're finding? 14. What are the best-selling genres of books in either of your two bookstores or the region in general? 15. How have people's tastes changed over your 50 years in business? 16. How has the availability of Kindle and Audible affected the market for physical. books? 17. What is the health of the Book-selling business today versus when you began? 18. How many books per author do you decide to buy and display? 19. Which author is the best-selling of all time in your stores? 20. Have you ever thought about expanding to the South Bay? 21. Who is your biggest competition? 22. Were you surprised that Barnes and Noble opened in Corte Madera, close down and then reopened in one-sixth of the prior space? 23. Do you sell other items besides the books? Other merchandise? 24. How are different kinds of books priced by the publishers? Do all types of books carry the same profitability to you? 25. Does your staff read and recommend many of the books you carry? 26. What kind of customer feedback do you get? 27. After 50 years, upon reflection, is there anything you would have done differently? 28. What do you wish readers knew or appreciated more? 29. Do customers spend as much on books today as they have in the past? 30. What portion of your total sales is online? Did that increase significantly during the COVID era? 31. How do you compete successfully against Amazon? 32. Do you have a succession plan for Book Passage? Book Passage URL: https://bookpassage.com/

  2. Sep 23

    Strictly Business KSVY - Author of Tin Can Coast: A History of Industry, Greed and Fishing in the Golden State - Joseph Ogilvy

    We will Talk about: 1. Whole story seems a sad commentary on rational (human) expectations and behavioral economics (how human psychology, emotions, and cognitive biases influence financial and economic choices), 2. Is fishing (and ‘over fishing’) a prime example of the ultimate battle between economics and sustenance?, between market opportunity and sustainability of resources for that market? 3. Would you characterize the book as an ultimate battle between nature and man?, the frailty of human need to capitalize on perceived present opportunity at the expense of future potential?, 4. What motivated you to write this book?, 5. Was consumer awareness (or lack thereof) of source of food one of the reasons you wrote the book?, 6. How/where did you start your 5-year book writing journey?, 7. How did the California Current become the focus of your research?, 8. Why the title?, 9. Was your move to Austin, TX relevant to the development of your book thesis?, how?, 10. Was the subject matter disturbing, at times, as you wrote this book about man’s destruction of natural resources and exploitation of/violence towards - animals and immigrants? 11. ‘Hard to read intention from the archaeological record’ (Chumash foraging)- that changed with the Russian pursuit of otters? 12. ‘Every technological innovation is an ecological one’ (Chumash tomol watercraft) - short-term positive broadening of economic base, long-term destruction of ecological resources? 13. Chumash (1500s) - last people to understand the economic consequences of their actions and incentives to care about their actions? 14. The book is a cautionary tale - of what? 15. Seems clear that man will exploit/destroy the natural environment unless restrained and restricted…are we as a planet doing enough to preserve and foster nature? 16. Is this the book’s lesson - Harmony isn’t the way of the world (‘the end of the fishery in the village meant the loss of a relationship between people in the ocean. It could never be harmony’) 17. Why characterize the ‘price of entry for California’s arrival into the modern world’ was 40,000 otter pelts (1733)? 18. ‘Missions of California (1769-1833) were built to protect her otters’ - byproduct but not the essence (conversion to Catholicism)? 19. Chinese - 1852 - 20,000 left HKG for CA (gold) - anti-foreign resentment (sinophobia as they still found gold) ‘fueled by the bitterness of dashed hopes’ = ultimate human frailty & weakness? 20. Abalone - the new gold for the Chinese? (dominated CA ocean fisheries in 1860s-1870s - only people landing real quantities of seafood in CA = new source of sinophobia; national by 1870s); environmental regulation = about competition, racism (prices, catches), not environment?; 21. Chinese abalone fishery regulated out of existence by racially-targeted legislation (1872 - Exclusion Act); why were white Californians not competitive, needed regulation to compete? 22. 1902 - Cannery Row - industrial canning - preservation in tin cans = effect on sales of fish?; 1930 - Chicken of the Sea’ - effect on sales of albacore tuna? 23. Reduction (sardines): canning = entry fee to the reduction game, key to over fishing (profitability of industrial sales vs. retail sales)? 24. Arrival of Japanese immigrants = repeat of abalone and Chinese harvesters? 25. Fisheries management: farm raised vs. wild caught - is that the ultimate solution to preservation of ocean species? 26. Federal/state regulations on fishing - (CA seasonal closures on dungeness crab, sturgeon, ocean salmon, pacific halibut) = enough government protection? 27. Maximum sustainable yield - always at risk due to prospective profitability? 28. Comparable natural resource food disasters in history or present day? 29. Best success stories of natural resource rescue and restoration? 30. What do you want readers to take from the book or do after reading it? What would you want readers to do? Guest URL: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/tin-can-coast-9781639736812/

  3. Sep 15

    Strictly Business KSVY - Co-author, Wineland; Celebrating the Heart of Sonoma - Matt Villano

    We will talk about: 1. How did you wind up in Healdsburg, since you're from Long Island and moved to Seattle before coming to California? 2. We live in an agricultural county, but it doesn't seem that you've written that much about agriculture. Is that correct? 3. Had you ever done this kind of book before?, 4. Is this book a bit of a travelogue?, 5. The blurb describes you as a food writer, but that doesn't really seem accurate?, 6. How were the 20 profiles selected: friends of Charlie Palmer, notably successful businesses in Sonoma County, high-profile individuals?, 7. Were many potential profiles rejected?, Any potential interviewees not interested in being profiled?, 8. Were the interviewees ready and willing to talk, or did you have to probe to get them to talk about themselves and their work? 9. Did you have much of a say in the layout of the contents: land, artisans, community, tomorrow?, 10. Are there any other sections or topics which you might have liked to have included in this book?, 11. Were you surprised by any of the interviewees: the work they do, how they do it, why they do it, their plans for the future?, 12. What did you learn about Sonoma County which you did not know before doing this book?, 13. What do you hope this book will do for your small business writing career?, 14. Why are you a cetacean? How do you satisfy that interest in Healdsburg?, 15. Why so much focus on Las Vegas?, 16. How long did these interviews take?, 17. Difference between doing a book like Wineland and doing guidebooks?, 18. Do you hope to be able to convert your work in Wineland into corporate work in the wine industry?, Or the restaurant industry?, 19. Is there a Wineland sequel in the future?, 20. How do you make money on this book?, 21. Tell us about your alter ego, Matty Vino?, How often is Matty out there performing, and at what kind of events?, 22. Do you hope your daughters will become writers too? Guest URL: https://whalehead.com/about/

  4. Sep 1

    Strictly Business KSVY - Author, "Brand New Beat" - Peter Richardson

    What we will talk about: 1. Why focus on Rolling Stone magazine?, 2. Why write about just the first decade of its existence, 1967-1977?, 3. Was Wenner an example of right place/right time phenomenon?, 4. Wenner wanted to be ‘the Henry Luce of the counterculture’ when he started Rolling Stone magazine - does that mean money, power, influence, fame, change the culture of the country?, was he a ’hip capitalist?, 5. Gleason & Wenner believed in the power of R&R to change society and race relations - from their perspective: what had influenced ‘youth’ before R&R?, 6. How did Wenner want RS to be characterized (trade or cultural critic, not underground)?, 7. Did Wenner see RS as a direct competitor to Ramparts magazine (former employer)?, Crawdaddy magazine?, how differentiate it?, 8. Was it music or counterculture which attracted readers?, 9. Why predominantly male, white readers (targeted demographic or existing market?, did readership profile change in the first decade?, 10. 1969 - featured black musicians on the cover six times = newsstand sales dropped significantly…why?, 11. What was RS’s relationship to the counterculture (Altamont, Manson)?, to music?, 12. How did rock and roll clarify ‘the reality of what’s happening today’ (as described by Ralph Gleason)?, 13. Wenner as ad salesman: prime ad revenue source = record labels: weakness or strength?, designed for full-page advertisements - why?, 14. What did Wenner want the magazine’s first cover (Lennon) to accomplish?, 15. ‘Much of magazine’s impact revolved around its design’ - what did that mean?, 16. Revenue impact of Annie Liebowitz and Hunter Thompson hiring? 17. Impact of Clive Davis on advertising and funding? 18. Magazine sales: record stores and newsstands (14%) - was that the preferred mix? 19. Issue #18 = circulation of about 20,000; on target or better than expected? 20. 1970 - RS reputation for being ‘viciously anti-woman; sexism = part of larger rock culture; why (no appeal to or coverage of successful female artists)?, why not seek larger audience?, 21. 1971 - impact of introduction of political coverage on magazine sales?, 22. 1975 - total readership averaged 2 million, net paid circulation = 417,000; as expected?, self-described as a “biweekly general interest magazine, covering contemporary American culture, politics, and arts with a special interest in music” = quite a change in theme?, 23. 1977 - why the move to NYC?, abandonment of readership base? 24. Your opinion: did RS ‘change society’?, how? 25. Other issues you might want to discuss Guest URL: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/brand-new-beat/hardcover

  5. Aug 25

    Strictly Business KSVY - K3 Innovation Supporter, Philanthropist - Gary Nelson

    We will talk about: 1. Take us back 56 years - did you find the market for staffing or did it find you?, 2. How did HR policies change over your years in the business?, 3. You were in HR in-house for about 10 years before starting your business - what need did you see which needed to be filled?, 4. Why retire on 2012?, hard to do?, 5. What have been the catalysts for your choices of philanthropy?, 6. Why focus on education, healthcare and the performing arts?, 7. You had some pushback in establishing Sonoma Charter School in 1995, some considered it hostile - were you surprised by the reaction?, 8. Tell us about K3 Innovation - what motivated you to get involved? 9. Hard to sell the concept?, 10. Satisfied with the results thus far (12 schools in Sonoma County)?, 11. Is reading proficiency affected more by home influences or classroom motivation?, 12. Is reading, as an activity, down amongst young persons or is it ‘multi-modal’ (books, audible, online)?, 13. How have you selected people over the years with whom you’ve worked - what did you look for?, 14. How is For You From Me Creations doing? How much money did you hope to raise - per production?, per year?, 15. Life lessons you told your son about - any additions?, 16. Would you enter the workforce management business again?, 17. Perceived effect of AI on staffing and job retention/loss?, 18. Effect of downturn in wine industry on philanthropic support in Sonoma County?, 19. Can there be too many philanthropies seeking support from a finite pool of contributors?, 20. Other issues which you might want to discuss Guest URL: https://www.k3innovation.org/

  6. Aug 11

    Strictly Business KSVY - Blue Sky Vacations - Ann Macker

    We will talk about: 1. How has travel industry changed over the past 30 years?, 2. How did travel agency management change over your years of ownership?, 3. Effect of 9/11, 2008 financial crisis, COVID on the travel agency business?, 4. How did the Internet affect travelers’ decision making and use of travel agents?, 5. How did airlines and tour companies compensate the agency for reservations? How did that change over the years?, 6. Why start theme cruise business with jazz?, 7. How choose which musicians to approach?, 8. Celebrity promotion impact on customer recruitment?, 9. Impact of social media - easier promotion?, 10. How follow up with customers after conclusion of a theme cruise?, 11. Value of customer feedback?, 12. Why leave flying Dutchmen in Sept. 2017?, 13. How does Blue Sky differ from Flying Dutchmen - business mix, target customer?, 14. Describe the risk associated with a full ship charter? How expensive, pricing decisions, break-even analysis?, 15. Demographics of cruise clients?, 16. Profile of cruise client: family, singles, couples?, 17. What do cruise customers want: entertainment, destination, food, safety, service, experience, convenience, all inclusive?, 18. Which are the most popular cruises? Which are the toughest to sell?, 19. Many wineries as charter cruise clients?, 20. Do you go on Blue Sky cruises - how decide which ones? 21. What you wish cruise clients understood about the challenges of organizing group travel?, 22. Is there a positive correlation between size of group and complexity of organizing charter?, 23. How much time do you need between booking a celebrity performer and filling a cruise ship with paid customers?, 24. Preferred cruise ship lines? Why?, 25. Effect of cruise ship ‘horror stories’ on customer demand (overboard, death, illness)? Guest URL: www.blueskyvacations.com

  7. Aug 4

    Strictly Business KSVY - Founder & Executive Chairman Black Bear Diner - Bruce Dean

    Bruce Dean - Founder & Executive Chairman Black Bear Diner We will talk about: 1. Why would your first job as a dishwasher at Sambo's Restaurant at 15 ignite your passion for the restaurant business?, 2. You took over a defunct Jerry’s restaurant in Shasta to start the business from scratch in 1995 - how did you start?, what was the ‘concept’ you hoped to sell (family dining, casual dining, experience-based dining)? 3. You started the business with Bob Manley who was a teacher and owned a wildlife art gallery - why?, 4. Your source of differentiation- ‘cabin’ theme (bears) - why (may work in Shasta but elsewhere?), anywhere that cabin concept doesn’t work?, ‘value proposition’ (price vs. portion)?, 5. How did you create a strong culture - what did you look for in your employees?, 6. Restaurants # 3 and # 4 failed - what did you learn from that?, 7. You seem to see opportunity in small towns, not cities (17 restaurants in Bay Area, no BB in SF, for example) - why?, what are the demographic characteristics which work?, 8. How quickly did the business grow? Were you surprised and prepared to handle it?, 9. Why a diner concept vs. a restaurant or fast food?, 10. Why large portions - customer retention?, 11. Why start franchising in 2002 - when Jerry’s Restaurants wanted to convert to your dining concept - why (profitability, steady growth, customer loyalty)?, 12. How hard was it to integrate Jerry’s into your system?, 13. How did you create a franchise model - patterned after other restaurant companies?, ‘you took failures of other concepts and converted them to Black Bear’ - why did they fail?, 14. Your model — take second-generation restaurants and convert them to Black Bear Diner - why?, difficult to shed prior restaurant image and reputation?, 15. How did you decide where to expand franchises?, how did you choose franchisees - location, person, competition?, how did you decide on site selection?, 16. Which states have been the best for your franchise model?, 17. Challenges to maintaining quality control among about 170 franchises?, 18. How handle a franchisee who wants more franchises?, 19. What food sells best?, which meals sell best (breakfast, lunch or dinner)?, 20. Has the menu ever changed?, 21. Average annual sales per franchise?, ever had to intercede in case of low performing restaurant?, 22. 2016 - you partnered with the growth equity arm of Weinberg Perella - what did you get?, what did you give up?, 23. Impact of technology on operating decisions?, 24. Anita Adams has been with the company for almost 10 years in various capacities - she has nearly doubled the number of diners to 160 locations in 13 states (now 168 in 14 states) - too aggressive?, 25. Customer feedback - make a difference in menu selection or pricing? 26. Other issues which you might want to discuss Guest URL: https://blackbeardiner.com/founders/

  8. Aug 3

    Strictly Business KSVY - Garret ACE Hardware of Healdsburg and Windsor - Jordan and Rod Matteri

    We will talk about: 1) Why did Carole buy the business from the Klein family?, 2) When did the company become an ACE Hardware affiliated retailer?, 3) Benefits of becoming a member of ACE Hardware Coop (greater buying power through the agreement, as well as business upgrades; store dramatically expanded its scope and inventory)?, 4) Burden or benefit of 137 year legacy (customer expectations, community demands)?, 5) Why expand to Windsor (as opposed to Santa Rosa or another town)?, 6) Reasons for family’s success (customer service & knowledgeable employees)?, 7) Succession plan?, 8) ACE data on selling more goods (greeting them = 54% chance they buy more)?, 9) Why did Rod sell SBI Building Materials?, any lessons learned applicable to Garrett?, 10) How does the marketing of home improvement supplies differ from the marketing of wine?, 11) You have 9 departments and cite 8 services - which sells best?, 12) No online buying ability - typical of the hardware business?, 13) How have customer tastes changed over the years?, 14) What ‘influences’ have affected your business most over the years (fire, pandemic, tax changes, generational shifts, etc.)?, 15) How do you train your employees?, 16) How do you grow in the future: new cus, new products, new stores?, 17) How was recovery from Covid - specifically supply chain problems and spikes in building materials costs?, 18) How do you differentiate Garrett from other hardware stores?, 19) Current condition of the home re-modeling business and new home construction?, 20) Who is your primary customer - home owner or professional builder?, what percentage of the business serves each?, 21) What do you do with products which don’t sell?, any surprises there?, 22) How do you tailor product offerings to the local market?, 23) How do you manage product pricing and costs to what the local market can bear?, 24) Other issues which you might want to discuss Guest URL: https://www.garretthardware.com/

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About

Strictly Business engages the people and issues of business and management history, corporate growth and profitability, entrepreneurial breakthroughs, operating successes and failures. Covering all factors contributing to Sonoma County’s economic growth and development. Kip Altman: Raised in Boston, graduated from Georgetown and the Un-O-Chicago Graduate School of Business. Worked on Wall Street and lived in New York City for many years, moved to S.F. in 2003, Glen Ellen in 2013. An active trader of stocks, author, and creator of the largest existing business history site businesshistory.com.

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