Frankly we’re dead tired of politicians telling us one thing and the market telling us another. After reading Warren Buffett’s biography, I have learned many lessons.

Lesson #1: The market is always right. Politicians spend money, they don’t earn money. They have no idea what it’s like to risk everything you own to make a profit and support employees, communities and the business overhead. Worse, most of them including Obama, want to take whatever profit is left and give it away to everyone else to support their spending.

Both Detroit papers are eating crow this morning. If you went to bed last night thinking Chrysler was safe, you gagged on your morning coffee.

Granholm is worse. She still lives in a fairly land and she zooms across the country ignoring the realities of her state. She is already spending $125 MILLION PER MONTH more than budgeted. Her deficit is nearly doubled and yet what is she doing about it? Raising taxes and introducing a gradual income tax so those that are making any money in Michigan can give more to her.

Lake Orion is wearing black because it doesn’t know if it’s 4,000,000 sq. ft. Pontiac plant is going to survive. The plant makes the popular G6 model but we know that Pontiac is being flushed down the preverbal toilet next year.

GM is closing plants and recently told its salaried staff to take a long vacation this summer; you are not needed. June 1 is the deadline for GM to declare bankruptcy. Let’s make it tomorrow. We need to know already our future so we can plan accordingly.

But no, the politicians love this. Obama has criticized Bush over "water boarding"; I think residents of the state of Michigan has been tortured for 8 years and we don’t even know when it’s going to end.

Private equity can’t run a car company. A GE executive can’t run a car company. Heck, Bill Ford Jr. himself stated he can’t run a car company and he wisely stepped aside. Whatever our future here in Michigan is, let’s get some people who can run a car company or two and perhaps in the same odds as winning the $220 MILLION lottery, someone who can run this state.

Happy Thursday!

Fresh, clean and temperate running water is one of life’s basic necessities and it’s also one of life’s most taken-for-granted things that can be adopted in pursuit of happiness, well-being and even wealth.

Let’s take the shower. There have been many great inventions over the years in this category. Most of us  shower at least once daily. There is nothing better to clean our hair and bodies. But not all showers are created equal.

Greatest invention #1: The stall shower

Worse invention #1: The shower curtain

Bathtubs were invented to take baths, not showers. Taking a shower in a stall is so much better than stepping into a bathtub and hoping you don’t trip over the side or slide on the bottom which brings me to:

Worse invention #2: The shower mat

Egad. They get moldy, come in awful colors and never dry out because no one puts them over the bathtub side when finished.

Greatest invention #2: Speakman shower heads

Worse invention #3: Shower hoses

What’s worse than taking a shower and the shower head doesn’t have any pressure coming out of it? Speakman figured this out long ago and their adjustable shower heads maximize water flow so you can actually rinse shampoo and conditioner out of your hair.

Greatest invention #3: Single handle adjustable temperature control. Now here is where true science and technology come into play. Each of us has the perfect temperature that our shower must be. A smidgeon either way doesn’t work. What’s also amazing is that how different each of us enjoy the temperature of our shower. The BUB has the handle on middle RED and I have to have mine at middle BLUE.

What’s does all this have to with anything you might be wondering? There is a method to my madness: The salon sink.

Unless you are patronizing a chain salon, the first stop at most salons is the shampoo bowl. Typically a shampoo "girl" gets you situated, tests the water temperature on your head until it is just right and proceeds to wash and condition your head.

But like all experiences, this one differs depending on which shampoo "girl" you get, to how each salon decides which kind of importance to attach to this service.

Greatest invention #4: The head massage

Worse invention #4: The lousy shampoo application

It’s truly ironic. We wash and condition our hair daily with our own fingers. Like brushing our teeth, most of us don’t spend long enough doing it. But when someone else washes our hair, the entire sensation is not only different, but truly enjoyable when done right. A good five minute head massage is worth the price of admission by itself. But too many salon owners miss this opportunity to differentiate themselves and even the shampoo "girls" lose a huge opportunity to earn bigger tips.

Fresh, clean and temperate water truly is one of life’s greatest luxuries when all is said and done. Those that understand this best revel in all its benefits.

Happy Wednesday!

AP Detroit, Tuesday, April 28, 2009

In a mysterious way that not even Monica Conyer’s can comprehend, the same Swine Flu that has stricken 149 in Mexico has struck Detroit.

Conyer’s, President of the City Council was first to wear a 3M face mask and buy a bottle of Pinnacle Foaming Hand Sanitizer. "I can’t take the risk of getting the flu," stated Conyer’s.

3M is working overtime to make more masks. Clorox can’t keep its signature bleach in stock and has doubled production. In the meantime, Daimler has announced that it is giving up its $1.5 BILLION dollar stake in Chrysler for "good will" reasons and so it doesn’t have to deal with the Swine Flu either.

"We are in no condition to travel to Detroit at this time to try to get our $1.5 BILLION back," stated the CEO of Daimler, "At this point, we will just write it off and at least we don’t have to worry about getting sick or even dying from this mess."

Certainly the Swine Flu has hit the Ren Cen. People are evacuating as fast as they can and they would be quicker if they could only find their way out. GM has announced it’s boldest plan to date: Idle 21,000 more factory jobs, close more plants and let the government own most of the company. Declares the new CEO who has yet to even have a single slice of Supino’s pizza since he has been so busy, "I wish this flu thing would create demand for our products like 3M and Clorox, but we are trying to come up with a strategic plan that might do just that."

Fiat under no obligation to give a single nickel to Chrysler for its 20% stake has until Thursday to make a decision. Says the CEO of Fiat, "Truthfully we have the best pizza in Italy right now and with the Swine Flu thing hitting Detroit, I don’t even think offering us Slow’s ribs will make a difference. We are weighing the possibilities heavily."

Alas, Detroit is out of face masks and hand sanitizer as its deficit cut out non-essential items.

Wait, this just in. BREAKING NEWS! Swine Flu hits Cobo Center. Cobo is being evacuated (four security guards) as there is the potential that Cobo will now need to be burned down to prevent the spread of Swine Flu. This could be Conyer’s break she has been looking for. Now Detroit will really need to rebuild Cobo into a world-class facility. But wait!

More BREAKING NEWS! With GM and Chrysler’s ordeal, BMW, Nissan and Rolls-Royce already backing out of the Detroit Auto Show, the Detroit auto show is moving to…The Palace of Auburn Hills. Conyer’s is quoted at being livid. "Swine Flu or not, the Detroit Auto Show must stay in Detroit. Who do they think they are to make this change, Jay Leno?"

Fritz wondering what to do next is thinking about the saga of the Swine Flu. "Heck, if no one wants to buy our cars, maybe we can convert our factories into something that people want to buy like guns and ammo." The National Rifle Association, one of the strongest associations in the U.S. has endorsed such a move. However, the FBI is against it because with guns and ammo being made in Michigan, gun offenses might be a state issue instead of a federal issue. But more news on this topic is coming up later.

Happy Tuesday!

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since the hit show Who Wants to be a Millionaire premiered. Regis was the perfect host, the lights and music were captivating and it made Jeopardy! seem like playing the instant lottery vs. the Powerball.

It was so much fun to watch especially when the contestants had to use a lifeline. It seemed that Ask the Audience was the best and 50/50 the worse. Can you imagine the pressure if you were "the friend" being called?

What brings this up is that I finally got to watch Slumdog Millionaire. It was a riveting movie with the premise being a "slumdog" or poor Indian boy growing up around poverty, crime, abuse and just about every other bad thing who got lucky enough to appear on the show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire. With each correct answer, a flashback would play until the story caught up with the final question.

While I’m not going to give away the ending, the $100 question of the day is at what point would you tell Regis "give me the money" and not risk everything to double up? For instance, you got every question right and earned $500,000. Just one more question right and you earn a cool million. But answer it wrong and you pay for cab fare home.

But forget about $500,000. What about $25,000? What about $5,000. At what amount does the risk/reward ratio hit you hardest?

Lucky for us, ABC is bringing the show back for a couple weeks in August based on the success of the movie. It would be nice if the name of the show afterwards changes to Michigan Millionaire.

Happy Monday!

They say you got to start somewhere. And what better place to start than landing on the cover of Detroit’s premier business magazine? Hey, Business Week might be next!

The BUB and I had no idea we were going to be the cover story until friends called to let us know (they got the magazine before we did). The May-June issue features four full pages on tng worldwide and the article is written in a style that more resembles a personal diary from beginning to current than the typical nuts and bolts article magazines write about.

I especially loved the opening spread that features the massive carousels in our Lyon Township distribution center and a single tote cruising along the conveyor. There is no doubt we are fascinated with stuff like this; no wonder why we love roller coasters.

The writer of the story, Ric Bohy, interviewed us until exhaustion but picked up enough key points to add a twist that makes the story interesting. I also learned that it’s OK to use the word "begat" multiple times.

If you are so inclined to read the story, stop by a bookstore or drugstore and pick up the issue. You can’t get it at their website since they don’t update it for current issues. In the meantime, onwards and upwards.

Happy Friday!

With the alternative media surrounding us and each of us plugging into something that suits us, one wonders how relevant TV is.

I remember back when I was a kid and I had to go to bed by 8PM, my favorite TV show was Gilligan’s Island. To tell you how long ago that was, it was the days when there were only channels 2, 4, 7, and 9 (Canada). Kids watching TV with their parents were the remote controls, "Larry, turn the TV to channel 7 if you want to watch Gilligan’s Island," would state my mother as she was comfortable on the couch.

Fast forward forty years later (ouch!), and guess what? The same channels are still the most popular (Fox wasn’t around then so now there are four biggies). In the Detroit area, WDIV/TV 4 is the biggest and their website, clickondetroit.com dwarfs the other channels.

So when Kym Riffel and I met with Jon Jordan, WDIV’s fabulous Style Editor yesterday, we were quite intrigued to learn about the opportunity to offer salons 60 seconds of fame.

Jon would oversee select Kemon salons of our choice and take his video crew on location to the salon. Each segment would focus on a specific issue such as PPD-Free color, styling, cuts, at-home tips and best of all, their website would feature all the Kemon salons along with downloadable coupons via texting.

The spots would air prime time during the morning news and repeat two-three times daily during peak days. The goal is to bring exposure to salons as more than a place to get a hair cut or color service. As Jon pointed out to us, "the public really needs to know why after they spend $60 for a color service that the right product is important."

The idea sounds cool and of course, involves a significant investment. But at the end of the day, people still love their TV and their morning news. What do you think of the idea?

Happy Thursday!

I love spas. As the largest distributor to the spa market, I get to visit many spas and learn from them what works and what doesn’t. Over the years, I have developed a checklist what works and it’s amazing how many spas pay attention and how many don’t.

All references are for destination spas many of which are owned and operated independent of the hotel:

Calming music played throughout the locker room, relaxation room and treatment rooms

Full size robe and fit-to-size shower sandals

Cold bottled water and fruit-infused water dispensers

Hot tea, coffee station along with fresh and/or dried fruit and nuts

Relaxation room in locker room and in main spa area

If applicable, lounge chairs in outdoor privacy area

Locker rooms equipped with sauna and steam; rain showers; full amenities including toothbrushes, razors, and mouthwash

Dirty towels and robes removed immediately

Newspapers and magazines

Iced washcloths and cucumber slices at steam room entrance

Cold plunge pool

Hot whirlpool

Friendly attendants

Sound simple? It is but sometimes the simple things are the most difficult to pull off. What are your must haves?

Happy Wednesday!

One of the ideas floating around our Idea Lab today involved salon uniforms. The idea came about from Delta that just completed its brand positioning from Northwest.

All former Northwest planes now feature the Delta logo rich in blue and highlights of red. The flight attendants sport the Delta uniform which is several steps higher in professionalism than the old Northwest uniforms. Music is played in the cabin during boarding. Coach class is served peanuts and cookies. But back to the uniforms.

Why do flight attendants where them? Better yet, name one professional industry that doesn’t utilize uniforms. From doctors and dentists to chefs and cooks to hotels and rental car agencies, the list is lengthy. No wonder Cintas does such a great business.

How would you feel if your doctor wore jeans and an Old Navy T-shirt? How would you feel if you checked into a Marriott and the receptionist was wearing a work-out outfit with Nike shoes? How would you feel is the captain of the Delta airplane was wearing a Jimmy Buffett sweatshirt?

Police, fireman and even mall security guards all wear uniforms for a reason. We respect people in uniform. We trust that people who wear a uniform are professionally trained and competent. We feel safer.

So back to my original question. The salon industry is the only one that comes to mind. High end spas and signature salons use uniforms. But for the 90% plus of salons out there, the uniform is mostly up to the person that works the salon to wear something decent. Some salons invoke the "all black" rule.

Front desk personnel seldom wear a uniform or name badge with the logo of their salon. One test would surely prove that when a uniform was used, retail sales and advanced bookings would increase substantially.

Why not uniforms? Good question. Is this something worth testing? Does this idea have merit? I think so.

Do you?

Happy Tuesday!

Along with the Kemon factory tour and detour to Rome to scarf down Fior Fiore pizza, we also attended Kemon Days to help celebrate Kemon’s 50th Anniversary.

Based on requests, I have added some photos of Kemon Day’s. Our very own Kemon Days is coming up May 3-4 at the MGM Grand. It’s going to be a very exciting program and will feature the top Italian Kemon Artistic Team along with plenty of surprises.

Of course what would Kemon Days be without a Ferrari in front? Sorry to say there won’t be one in front of the MGM!

Happy Wednesday!

During our Kemon visit, Daniel and I took a side trip to Rome for a couple of days via the train. The moment we got off the train and exited the train station, we got into a taxi and headed straight to Fior Fiore.

I first went to this pizza place 10 or so years ago: Max and Essie introduced us to the best pizza in the world. The secrets are many, but unlike traditional pizza that is round, Fior Fiore makes their pizza in sheets and then you order by how many inches you want. Then they slice it off and hand it to you. It is best folded over and when you bite into it, it’s nirvana.

So the excitement level was intense when the taxi dropped us off. Since then, the place doubled in size and I wasn’t sure it was even the right place. But sure enough it was and we went to the counter to order our slices.

We got the traditional Margarita and also one with only tomato sauce; one with zucchini and one with mushrooms. They were all devoured in minutes. Best of all, they were just as good as 10 years ago, and perhaps better.

The place has been around since 1975. All I can say is that it’s worth getting on a plane to Rome to eat their pizza. In fact, Delta starts June 24 non-stop from Detroit.

Now I’m getting hungry for more!

Happy Tuesday!