Company Culture

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The Golden Pacific Way

August 18, 2011 in Company Culture by Kevin Austin | No comments

In an era of devaluation of traditional print management and production overcapacity, our company has continued to thrive because of our commitment to a service based model to our customers. It is our compelling culture that is the intangible that sets us apart in a world where products and services are viewed as interchangeable. Our employees, supplier partners , and valued customers have enabled us to grow in a very challenging economy.

What sets our employees and partners apart from our competition? Our employees are creative, passionate, enthusiastic, optimistic and enjoy having fun in the work they do for our customers. This positive attitude results in a more energized and fulfilling work environment. Each one of them takes a “whatever it takes’ attitude toward completion of their goals. They take the initiative to be in control and own it. They act with our customer’s best interests in mind and with a sense of urgency. Each one addresses issues with solutions. They believe in innovation and take pride in their work.

These are the values that have become our culture. We will continue to strive to do what we do well and be the best. We will continue to pursue new creative solutions to our customer’s problems. This is the formula that has worked for over 34 years.

Kevin Austin
President and CEO

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Empathy + Enthusiasm = GREAT Service

May 31, 2011 in Company Culture by Laura Thurston | No comments

Running this simple math equation when looking for great team members will almost certainly guarantee success! At GP these traits are a requirement for our Client Services Team members. Employees who are enthusiastic and high in empathy expect positive results every time they deal with a customer. Because we are high energy and are able to put ourselves in the customer’s shoes, we are highly successful when it comes to solving problems and pleasing the customer.

Most problems have a simple solution and it is emotion or circumstance that hinders a customer from seeing the way out. The GP staff is trained to be skilled at helping customers to effectively navigate problem resolution. What’s great about the team here at GP is that this enthusiasm and deep sense of understanding is infectious and inevitably spreads to customers. Add in a positive attitude and what you get is one who tends to look on the bright side of any circumstance. They aren’t idealists, they do face the brutal facts, but they don’t let adversity overwhelm them.

Laura Thurston
CPO – Chief People Officer

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The Cacophony of Clutter

May 25, 2011 in Company Culture by Gail ORoke | No comments

This summer Golden Pacific Systems’ East Bay Division will be moving into a more efficient distribution center. We are all excited about the upcoming site improvement, and are eagerly anticipating the many benefits that our customers will reap from the efficiency upgrade. This is an overall positive event, but the change has caused some consternation as we look around our current office, where we have spent the better part of two decades, and realize just how challenging it will be to purge the collection of clutter prior to our move.

Twenty years is a long time, but this distraction of disorder could have been avoided by following a few simple rules:

  • Implement a clean desk policy where desks must be cleared of excess paperwork at the end of each day.
  • Date reports and miscellaneous material with an expiration date. Spend a few minutes each week reviewing items that have reached their “use or discard by” date and get rid of dead weight.
  • Ask the right questions when reviewing dated items, including: When was the last time you used it? Why would you need it again? Is it easily replaceable?
  • Discard newsletters or periodicals that are piling up for more than two weeks (either hard copies on your desk or electronic versions in your email).
  • Reevaluate stagnate “projects” that have been dormant for more than a month. If the benefits of completing the project are worth the time, take the time to get it done right away. If the benefits do not justify the time required, abandon the task.

Each unnecessary piece of paper within eyesight has its own little voice demanding attention and creating disorder.  Don’t expend energy ignoring those voices. Dedicate that energy to silencing them. You’ll be amazed at how must more productive you can be without the cacophonous chorus of clutter.

Gail O’Roke, CDC
Vice President, East Bay Division

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Boosting Morale – Part Two

April 13, 2011 in Company Culture by Laura Thurston | No comments

Stop what you are doing right now. No, really. Take a few minutes, stand up and walk around your office. Do you see shoulders slouched? Hands on foreheads? The look of gloom on faces? These and many more are signs of stress at work.

This is the second in my series demonstrating the affordable and easy-to-implement solutions which are producing very positive results. A relaxed co-worker pays more attention to detail, is more productive and is less likely to crack under the pressure.

#2 – RESISTANCE BANDS

Implemented in December 2010
Cost to company: Less than $50
We provided GP employees with their own resistance band and showed them basic stretching exercises they can do right at their desks. They are encouraged to stretch multiple times during the day, or anytime they notice the tension creeping in. It is great to walk around and see the different colored bands stretching away the stress.

So go get some bands and help your staff relieve their stress!!!

Laura Thurston
CPO – Chief People Officer

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Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

March 29, 2011 in Company Culture by Kevin Austin | No comments

I come from the old school, believing very strongly that the best way to foster business relationships and communications is through old fashioned personalized service. Even though I enjoy the efficiencies brought on by technology, I also like face-to-face meetings and talking to a person on the other end of the phone.

However, I have come to realize how important it is to be visible through the use of social networking. Blogs enable us to communicate with our growing customer base and vendor network. It has always been very important for me that our company understand our customer and their needs. It is also important for us to partner with the best suppliers. I truly believe this is one of the factors that have differentiated us in the marketplace for the past 34 years. This enables us to know each other better, establish trust, respect, and motivation to make it work better.

It has never been about the products we sell. There are lots of competitors out there that can also produce the same items. We understand that it is about our personal connections, relationships, and living up to our promises. I also understand now that the use of Facebook, Linked In, and Blogs make it easier to communicate with our customers and for them to get to know us better.

Kevin Austin
President and CEO

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Boosting Morale – Part One

February 23, 2011 in Company Culture by Laura Thurston | No comments

Is your staff feeling the effects of today’s economy? Even if they are not showing the stress brought on by these tough times, it is safe to assume that the emotions and concerns are there. What can a company do to boost the morale of its workers yet have minimal or no cost to the company? Golden Pacific has found affordable and easy-to-implement solutions which are producing very positive results. A happy co-worker pays more attention to detail, is more productive and is less likely to crack under pressure.
This will be the first in a series of posts showcasing some of the ideas we have implemented here at Golden Pacific.

#1 – SLIPPERS

Implemented in December 2009
Cost to company: Less than $100
Yes, we gave our people an inexpensive pair of black slippers to keep at their work stations. Once they are at work, they are free to slip off their uncomfortable work shoes and slip into something fun and comfortable. If we have office visitors, they just slip back into their nice shoes and are ready for meetings, etc. It’s a simple idea that makes everyone feel cozy and special.

So get out there, get cozy, and get your “feet on”.

Laura Thurston
CPO – Chief People Officer

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