On Sunday, September 29, 2013, the world said goodbye (no spoilers here!) to the White family, a snaky little guy named Pinkman, a nervous fluttery bird named Lydia, and an empire built on the back of something Blue, not borrowed. We’re talking about “Breaking Bad,” a phenomenon that had loyal viewers glued to their television sets, Hulus, and Netflix accounts for years. What does an AMC show about an ex-chemistry teacher turned kingpin have to do with your furniture business? Here are some lessons learned from the show.
Out of desperation comes deliverance. Before Heisenberg reared his black-bowler-accented head, Walter White (played by a craggy post "Malcom-in-the-Middle" Bryan Cranston) was a desperate man. Cancer was going to take him before he could leave his family in the way he wanted them to be accommodated (rich!). Many people who receive such a devastating diagnosis may curl in on themselves. Perhaps you’ve suffered from a downturned economy, employee turnover, vendor partnerships that didn’t work out, stock that was tough to turn over. There are ways to beat the desperation that are just waiting for you to tap into. Get creative, put your shoulder to the wind, and push.
Pick prospering partners. Your upholsterer’s son who you hired as a temporary delivery driver? Could be your best long-term permanent employee if you give him a chance. Sometimes, the people you choose to work for you are the ones you least expect to ever have on your roster. Walter White found this out with his former chemistry student, Jesse Pinkman. Not an episode passed by without Walt’s tormented “JESSE!” screams or Jesse doing something to annoy Walt, and we’re not saying that all your employee choices will be perfect. But consider giving that sales person a boost after a good couple of months. Turn him into an ally.
Encourage set dressing for all moods. Your customers may be anything from industrial warehouses to office parks, but reading up on a bit of color theory, feng shui, and the latest furniture industry trends may help your business. The “Breaking Bad” designers incorporated such insidious themes into their furniture choices that it spawned the “Breaking Bad Color Bar” as well as copious discussions over Walt’s sister-in-law Marie’s choice for purple-only attire and décor. Having your furniture sellers able to speak about the purported meanings between oak or cedar chairs may just give customers something to sit down and think about.
All good things don’t have to come to an end. Outspoken “Breaking Bad” fans have wailed about the ending of their favorite show to the point of suggesting they’ll cancel their cable subscriptions and “never watch television again.” What they don’t realize is that although their Sunday night fix is going away, there’s always something around the corner. The show’s slimy yet scared lawyer Saul (played by Bob Odenkirk) is getting his own spin-off, “Better Call Saul.” What does this mean for you? If you feel that you can’t ever top your best sales month, delivery speed, or employee performance ratings, push harder. Your own version of franchising success may be right around the corner.
Watch your back. The retail furniture market is not in the same league of danger as Breaking bad is. That doesn't mean you can’t take a few cues from Walt and crew, particularly about keeping an eye on your empire. Walt was fiercely protective of his family and his growing Blue business. One of your biggest priorities should be maximizing your revenue potential, and two ways to do this involve checks. Accepting checks at your place of business gives customers another way to pay (let’s just say Breaking Bad's business is cash and carry). Check guarantee also lowers risk while multiple check helps increase sales so you don't have to hire bodyguards or develop minions.
