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C o n s u m e r E l e c t r o n i c s D a i l y N e w s E v e n i n g E x t r a 1 1 F r i d a y, J a n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 6 THREE TIPS FOR REFRESHING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN IN 2016 By Cliff Rucker, Vice President of Sales, United States Postal Service. Stand out from the competition. Consumers are inundated with informa- tion everywhere they go. It's critical that your business is able to cut through the clutter of the modern media marketplace. If you are looking for new ways to acquire customers in 2016, consider Every Door Direct Mail ® . Every Door Direct Mail is the local- ized marketing option when your busi- ness needs to acquire new customers in key market locations. Reach local con- sumers with the USPS online Every Door Direct Mail tool, which allows you to digitally map a neighborhood to quickly find and target an ideal consumer based on demographics. According to Forbes Magazine, 80 percent of consumer dol- lars are spent within a 20 mile radius of their home. Minimize costs. Take a look at your entire business and look for areas to refocus on in the New Year, such as shipping costs – it is more important than ever to make sure you aren't paying more than you should for your shipping needs. Choose a service like USPS Priority Mail ® , which differentiates itself from its competitors with no fuel, residential or rural surcharges for delivery to all 50 states. The Postal Service offers several outbound and return pricing options that can provide great savings, such as ounce-based, flat- rate or weight and zone pricing. Our Merchandise Return Service offers low rates for variable-volume returns, with a no minimum volume threshold. Innovate. Companies you partner with are always making changes. At the U.S. Postal Service, we are constantly looking for new ways to provide more effective solu- tions for our customers: Better online tracking: Through an improved tracking system that offers up to 11 scans, packages can be tracked online or with text alerts – increasing package visibility like never before. My USPS ® : Managing incoming packages has never been so simple. With My USPS, users get automatic, real-time delivery notifications and can set text or email alert preferences, schedule redelivery and add delivery instructions free of charge. USPS Mobile App: Today's con- sumers are on the go, so a trip to the post office isn't always possible. The USPS mobile app puts a post office in your hand. Use it to schedule free package pickup, scan shipping labels and QR codes, get tracking information, calculate shipping prices or put your mail delivery on hold. Resolving to make changes to boost your business success in the coming year doesn't have to be time consuming or challenging. Visit a USPS Solutions Specialist at booth #31026 to find out more. BRICK AND MORTAR ISI STORES HERE TO STAY An interview with Michael Berkowitz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ISI. CEDN: What were the initial grounds of ISI and how has the business evolved ever since? MB: They say business is a passion, and I couldn't agree more. My partner and I have been living and breathing anything tech. We go back a generation, when devices were simpler and technology was only emerging somewhat on the market. We test ran, experimented and owned the newest gadgets, and that interest mani- fested itself into a full blown business. We initially worked for an electronics company, gaining the original knowledge in the industry, and then started what is known today as ISI. We first stocked cameras, lenses and accessories. From there on out we expanded to include many other lines, always keeping up with the trend. Today, ISI is proud to be at the forefront of the new revolution in gaming and touchscreen. We've proven that you can take a passion and harness it into a business. We've given it all our attention and knowledge, so that the business took off to a great start and an even greater future. CEDN: From a business perspective, how would you say the electronics indus- try changed? MB: Technology is here to stay and, in fact, the model numbers and styles keep changing at record speed. In business, we need to keep ahead of the trends, and I can tell you a lot has changed even in just one year. Newer versions are constantly produced, featuring more GB, speed, accuracy and pixels. Except for the stock changing of new items, we need to keep our clients in the know about what's new and what's next. And, the speed of which manufacturers and brands pro- duce their finds are amazing. We use that fascination and our obsession with all things tech to change along with the updates that come along with the fast emerging markets, particularly with gaming and tablets, which have recently experienced a large growth surge. CEDN: How do you keep your staff up to date on product information? MB: At ISI, we provide our staff with special courses to give them the invalu- able education on the latest updates in their field of expertise. They join the courses and participate in give and take, increasing knowledge for sales and prod- uct use. We feel that a staff that lives the product as much as we, the owners, do, will spread their passion for overall excellence. CEDN: What is unique about ISI as far as efficiency and product? MB: We make sure to always get the lat- est products right after they're released, and to stock them in full for same day shipping. We know that stocking items while they're hot is important for our clients, which is why we hired a team dedicated to supplying what's new and trending. CEDN: Do you see a need for tech retail stores, with all the online retail purchases of gadgetsand accessories? MB: Clients still like to touch live mer- chandise and familiarize themselves with the product lines, especially for new releases. There's also the expertise that you get when entering a brick and mortar store and getting the ins and outs of each product to see which suits your needs most. We don't see that market going anywhere just yet, and are there to supply the retailers with the best in product ful- fillment. For more information, call 208.343.5800 or visit www.isi-sales.com.