Q:
What is Like Sew doing to continue supporting TRS users?
Robert:
Hours after I was told about the acquisition I was contacted by Milo LeBaron, one of the three owners. He asked if I would stay on board until the end of 2015, which I agreed to. In early November 2015, they realized that they needed to support TRS further into the future and Milo asked if I would stay on board until the end of 2016, which again I agreed to. As we’ve worked together and gotten to know each other, we mutually decided to continue the relationship indefinitely. I will be staying on to support TRS and eventually work in other areas of the company. Because I know that Sean, Brian, and Milo have the best interests of this industry at heart, I decided to stay on without hesitation.
Q:
What is the biggest challenge you see facing sewing and quilting stores today?
Robert:
To me the biggest challenge today, is what the biggest challenge has always been, competition. Early on when I worked with my in-laws, competition came from big box stores like Joann and Hancock's. It's still the same issue but now a lot of that competition comes from the internet. The answer back then is the same as the answer now, you must give great service. Stores need to provide great service and a destination experience for the customer. I will never forget listening to my mother in law talk about classes. Classes were never supposed to be just classes but they needed to be sales opportunities. Every teacher was required to demo one of more products as part of a class. Everyone wants to be part of something, customers need to feel that they are part of a store. Relationships are key to having a successful store.
Q:
Should TRS users migrate over to Like Sew?
Robert:
Absolutely…when the time is right for you. TRS isn't going to work forever. It's built on older technology. Eventually, Microsoft is going to change something in Windows that will most likely make TRS no longer usable. I remember about 7 years ago, Microsoft made a change to Windows XP and the next day after the update I received a flood of calls because everyone's reports were blank. That was the most miserable two days of all the time I worked to support TRS. Eventually, it will happen again as the technology that was used to create it becomes obsolete. Like Sew is built and based on newer cloud-based technology. You can run it on Windows computers and Macs. What I tell people I talk to is they should make a list of their must-have features in TRS. Then have the team at Like Sew import their TRS data into Like Sew and start to use and learn the software while at the same time making sure that every one of those must have features is in the software and working to their satisfaction. If they do this then when day one of their live switch over comes it will be smooth and easy.