Lean v. Fat

I had the most amazing conversation last night during an event with a friend and her husband. We were talking almost about everything until my friend's husband enquired about RedRibbon Days, and if I'm doing any marketing at all - as he only knew about it when my friend(the wife) told him about it. Quite honestly, I do not have an up to date marketing plan for RedRibbon Days. All our marketing was executed as we go along - and as a university graduate, I've done 1 subject on marketing - so I know the importance of a marketing plan. Right...Really ? Do we really need to have a marketing plan that we adhere to like a bible?

Back to the conversation I had with my friend and her husband - so, we went on to discuss about the market for "experience gift" in Malaysia, and he went on and mentioned that "RedRibbon Days is a great product - unfortunately, I think you do not have a very strong marketing strategy". I gulped - I had to agree. After being in this business for 3 years, finally, a very honest soul came to me and said that to my face. Was I offended? No. I was thankful.

As we chat into the night, I learnt more about my product - and he went on to give few very critical feedback. He quickly surfed through our website, and within seconds, he pointed out to me things that should be there but was not there - and things that shouldn't be there but was there.

I had to be honest on this. As a growing company, everything that we do is constantly in a "chop chop" pace. Quite simply, there is no room for too many pilot testing - and to gather feedback for everything that we do. Everything has to be done in-house, seeing that I'm rather fussy when it comes to designing work ; from the type of font use, to the very red that represents RedRibbon Days.

And then my friend went on to say "Lean is the way to go" - I had to pause for a second or so ; and I thought it was an answer to a question that has been disturbing me for the past one week. Lean is good. Lean is this context refers to "a small company but with very good,efficient people". It is better than a company that is big(fat), with many team members, but only a handful are top achievers/performers. I had to agree. I had rather have a small team of good, efficient people working with me, rather than a big team - that does nothing productive but give me problems. Of late, I've been very troubled by the fact that I had to let go of some staff. I hate letting people go, as I believe each of them has something unique in them that will do good for the business.

So, when my friend said that - like a light bulb lighting up a room, my question was instantly solved. I do not need a big team for now especially if they are a team of people who are not pulling their weight to meet the company's objective. I need a very lean team - not a fatty team that will cause health problems to the business down the road.

I had to asked myself last night before I slept - Did God/The Universe sent them my way to give me answers to all the questions that I've asked myself before?

We are turning 3 !!!!!

RedRibbon Days is turning three this 19th June 2011! How time flies and within a blink of an eye, we will be blowing 3 candles on the lovely pavlova cake that we will be having tomorrow. I'm very thankful for what we are today, the group of wonderful people supporting me all the way - relentlessly.

It is customary for everyone to indulge in a whole day of good food, good cake and good company! (well, it's not like we are already doing that every day!). For lunch, we will be having the famous Sunrice duck rice - the yummy black sauce, thick chilli sauce and sour soup is just mind-blowing. Story of sunrice duck rice begun 3 years ago, during our launch date (19th June 2008) - we were frantically running around for our launch and we were supposed to have that very duck rice for lunch - but we totally missed it as we were too busy. So, it was a whole bag of duck rice gone to waste. To commemorate this very auspicious day, we decided that we should make up for the waste and eat duck rice every time we celebrate RedRibbon Days birthday. Sound silly ? Well, it might be to some, but to us, the whole tradition of eating duck rice must continue and must be adhere to come this day, every year.

And yes, a birthday celebration can never be complete without birthday cake! Last year we had tiramisu and we even water it down with a bottle of bubbly. This year, we have ordered a Strawberry Pavlova cake (absolutely divine) and waiting to be popped is a bottle of Veuve.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my team members (who seldom comment on my blog, although I know they follow me and read my blog ardently). This day, 19th June forever belongs to us all at RedRibbon Days - and without you guys, we will never be what we are today ; and without you all, we wouldn't be having so much fun and food!! Thank you, thank you and thank you for everything bestowed to RedRibbon Days and me. We are very blessed to have you all as part of the team.

Happy Birthday RedRibbon Days and may our future days ahead be filled with abundance of fun, happiness, joy, pleasure, experiences, good food, good people and good PROFIT !!

Father's Day

Father's Day this year falls on Sunday (19th June). Like any other years, I never had the opportunity to spend Father's Day (or Mother's Day as a matter of fact) with my dad/mum. Come every weekend, I'm either tied down with events or too busy to travel all the way back to my hometown. The 3 hours journey was to me a complete drag and I get edgy even before the journey home starts!

Anyways, I was going through RedRibbon Days website to decide what I should be getting for dad this year. Dad is a very fussy recipient - he never appreciates me buying cologne, wallet, handphone or watches for him. I have actually given all the mentioned to him for his previous birthdays, Father's Day and Christmas. And whenever he sees me giving him a present, like a remote "ON" button, he will say the same thing each time. "Why you waste money and buy this type of things for me? I got so many bottles of perfumes and I don't even go out that often to spray them"....and he will go on and on..

So when RedRibbon Days was borned 3 years ago, I told him - there will be no physical or tangible gifts from us all from now onwards. You will either be receiving cash (who will say no to cash/ang pow, right) or an experience from RedRibbon Days! Dad was clueless at first. What is RedRibbon Days - and what exactly I do in RedRibbon Days? I explained and knowing Dad, he probably nod as if he understood, but when he explained to others about what I do - it is always somehow not that accurate. Anyways, since I won't be going back to spend Father's Day with dad this year, I need to go through the list of "gift options" that is suitable for him and - that gift must be something that he will really like, remember and have no complains about me wasting money ...

Dad loves to eat - but he has to cut down on his food intake due to the rise in his sugar level. So, I'm opting out on our gourmet/dining experiences. He is not really into adventure/outdoor experiences - so that is out too. I'm putting my bet on a get-aways experiences. That is something that he really likes and I know he will not even murmur a word when he receive the gift!

Seeing that we have so many wonderful get-away experience locally, I've filtered my list to the top three get-away experience for dad:-


1. 3D/2N Survivor Island Adventure

2. 2D/1N Jungle Lodge Weekend Getaway

3. Countryside Hill Tour Overnight Getaway

I know dad will surely not object to these gift options as I'm buying it for him and the whole family will be doing this experience together.

What are you planning to get dad for Father's Day this year?