Rossi & Co Inc

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When I first started in this business, I was employed as a terroritory manager for Olympic Stain, which at that point was owned by the Clorox Company. It trained me well on technical knowledge, salesmanship, time management, and of course closing the sale. My previous employer in the pharmaceutical industry was equally as big on training and put a large amount of effort into, frankly speaking, turning its sales staff into "selling machines."

My peers and I were then let loose on you unsuspecting retailers with secret Weapons of Mass Persuasion (WMP's).

I am most fortunate to have called on some of the most special retailers on earth. My customers taught me lessons in life that far outperformed the products that I sold them. I quickly learned the most important sales lesson and that is the needs of my customer far exceed anything else. Keeping that in mind, I always tried to place myself in their shoes when "selling" something. Do not make the mistake of saying no for your customer. Also, try to have a sense of what your customer's needs are when making your presentation to them.

My customers, or should I say my company's customers, gave me a great gift back. I am sure that not all of my customers loved or even liked me, but they had the trust, respect and understanding that I was there to help them make more money and succeed. That was and still is my ultimate goal in making a sale. Their success yielded my success and the success of my company.

Let me tell you about one of the men that I was lucky enough to meet and, over the years, was able to call a friend.

Joe Rossi, the founder of Rossi Decorating Centers, passed away last year. He started his business after serving our country in World War II. His dad, Louis Rossi was an artistic high-end painter who started his career in the early 1900s. You could say it is in the Rossis' blood, for two of his sons, Louis and Bernard, carry on the proud name and tradition. Louis' two sons, Matt and Mike, work in the business as well, another generation of gentleman.

Joe Rossi is in Orange, NJ, a working class area with a lot of ethnic flair. I have stood in his store and heard Italian, Spanish, I think Portuguese, maybe some Greek, and heaven only knows what other languages were going back and forth over that paint counter. I have to believe that if some people came into their store and all they spoke was mandarin, Louis would have that under control, too.

Talk about giving back, the Rossis live it. When I found myself caught up in a cutback in my employment in my employment, Joe made a call and I got an interview with another company, which led to an offer.

They've helped with time and money for local projects such as turning vacant lots into beautiful gardens that help elevate their neighborhood into a place to be proud of-and for the people to take care and pride in themselves. They've helped fund scholarships through an organization that they help run for kids who don't have enough money to go to college. They have donated paint and supplies to local charities, helping recipients restore pride in themselves. They've spent time with a mother who was concerned about lead paint in her home.

I could go on and on, but at risk of embarrassing the Rossi Family, I will simply say that all of them are great assets to the communities they work in as well as members of the paint industry.

Anybody who has called on the Rossis knows that it is not a quick stop. Louis and Bernie always have a story or a joke or fascinating event to relate. I have learned a lot about wine, dogs, artistic painting techniques, foreign countries, sports, etc. from these men. Just standing around in their stores you will learn a lot about paint, but also a lot about giving back. Customers want to buy from them, because they give back to the people who buy from them. Take a lesson from them; give back to your customers, to your community, to your neighborhood. You will get back much more than a sale, you will get a customer for life.