I haven’t been fortunate enough to attend a Savannah Bananas game yet. But as a marketing nerd, I can’t help but marvel at what their founder, Jesse Cole, has created. At first glance, you’d think the rise of this organization is a master class in marketing – but a closer look tells a different and certainly more layered story.
Jesse Cole is certainly a masterful marketer but in my humble opinion, it’s his unwavering dedication to the fan experience that has created the Savannah Banana empire. Of course there is the grit, determination, and pursuit innovation that can also be credited with the success of this unconventional experience at a Bananas game. But a recent LinkedIn post showing Jesse determined to provide every last fan an autograph that truly hits his mantra of “Fans First. Always” home. No matter how popular or rich Jesse gets, I’ll bet he stays to sign every autograph – always.
Nice story, Amber – so what?
Well, the so what for me is a few points 1) externally focused on the industry and 2) internally focused on what we’re trying to do here at TalkLPnews.
Let’s start with you:
- In my humble experience of interviewing asset protection executives from all over the industry – they have one similar mindset in common: putting the business first. This translates to incorporating the sales/operations mindset into every decision that’s made in your department and instilling this mindset into your team as they make decisions. What’s best for the organization? Now of course, sometimes safety considerations will trump sales considerations – but in those instances safety IS the best for the organization. Many of these successful executives take this perspective and the organization appreciates creating this proactive partnership vs. the “no” department. Organizational priorities first. Always. It’s almost like the exercise of asking the “5 Why’s” – are you and your team first asking “what’s best for the organization?”
- TalkLPnews is constantly striving to put this industry first by providing unmatched experiences whether you’re reading this or attending one of our events. There is no better example than our Asset Protection Executive Xchange (APEX) conference experience. We’re constantly striving to put the attendee experience first. Always.
If you’ve been, you know. From the highest level / thoughtful content to skipping the box lunches to delighting our audience with constant surprises – we love providing a high-quality experience no matter the cost. I honestly didn’t write this to promote APEX, but with so many choices out there and the unwavering commitment we have to this principle – I feel compelled to call it out. And others are doing the same. Here’s a recent quote from an SVP of AP, Compliance, and Risk at a major retailer: “Hi Amber, Want to drop you a quick note and recognize you and your team for the quality of these updates. Very relevant and very informative content that is well curated. Keep up the great work!”
It’s always refreshing seeing an example of success and the founder not forgetting where he or she came from. Jesse Cole is a shining example of this and to watch his continue rise in popularity motivates me beyond measure. Ok, I gotta end this article to find where I can catch the next game!