JANE APPLEGATE: Looking for Ways to Cut Costs? Just Ask Your Employees
Faced with intense pressure from office supply discount superstores and the worsening recession, the Miller family, owners of Quill Corp., challenged their employees to launch a dramatic cost-reduction program.</br></br>In good times, itÛªs easy to exceed budgets and encourage spending to grow your business. But, in these tough times, cutting . fixed and variable costs may be the only way to keep your doors open.</br></br>DL, grew quickly, selling office supplies to thousands of businesses nationwide, through mail and telephone orders. But aggressive moves by.some discount office supply chains,, such as Office Chib and Staples, forced QuillÛªs owners to competein a new ballgame..</br></br>new, lower prices cut deeply into QuillÛªs profit. QuillÛªs founder and president. Jack Miller, turned to his employees to help him save time, money and their jobs. Challenged and encouraged to think creatively. QuillÛªs employees came up with scores of money-saving measures.</br></br>ÛÏWe are a much better company now than we were before 1990,ÛªÛª Miller said. ÛÏThe management set the major goals, but the people really doing the work are below management level. They are meeting, using their brains and coming up with tremendous solutions.Û