damien...
>>I don't really buy the mania for stocks like AMZN but I can see a real possibility that ODIS may start to be viewed in the same light if it starts producing consistent revenue growth well above 50%. <<
It is too late for ODIS to be viewed like some of the Internet stocks such as AMZN. Those stocks are in a class by themselves, fueled by the hype and reality of the Internet growth and expectations that are up in the stratosphere someplace. If ODIS grows by 50% per yr, and can show similar earnings growth AND, the stock market does not "hit an iceberg as ahahaha says, then ODIS can command a PE multiple around 50. I will take that and be VERY HAPPY.
Awhile back, you questioned their marketing and wondered if I had an opinion. I guess I always have an opinion for what it is worth.
People outside the company can only see a few things and make some judgements. for example, I was very disappointed that ODIS did knot get a story into the Boston Globe. Now the Boston Globe is not the end all of newspapers however to my way of thinking when a local company has something to say by golly it should hit the local press. is that poor marketing. I don't know since there might have been reasons that I am not aware of however it is yet another "point on the curve" that keeps saying marketing needs to get hopping.
Now, marketing is a whole lot more than getting out press releases and doing advertising. IMO, marketing should be THE driving force in a company. That includes competitive analysis, product design (functional) based on market needs, training the sales org., (not pure sales training but how your products SOLVE customers problems (both end users and resellers), setting the overall sales strategy, doing the promotion of the products and company and monitoring the overall results.
The above is a BIG task. Again IMO, having both Sales and Marketing report to the same person is not ideal. It can work but often, one group is short changed at the expense of the other. Kirk B. I understand is an excellent sales manager. Sales managers have a personality that thrive on quick results. Marketing managers, on the other hand tend to be more long term oriented and do not need the quick "fix" of a sale to keep them highly motivated. Can the same person do both? Some can, most cannot.
Someone (Gustave?) indicated that the sales/mnarketing expenses jumped this past Q and sent of a note to you that you should be pleased. If my memory serves me correct, you speculated that most likely the bulk of the money went ot sales. My guess is that Sales got the biggest hit since, most sales people and sales managers feel that if you increase the size of the sales force, sales will follow. Very true to an extent but I maintain balance is needed.
iBTW, money should not be the big issue. IMO, there is enough $ to do the job. the question are they getting the results they need.
I end by saying that all of the above is done by an outsider who does not know what is going on inside the company. I continually feel that what we see indicates that marketing needs to be more proactive. ODIS appears to be a product driven company. Build a great product and orders will come. DEC did that for years until, their lack of marketing as I described above(and I was one of them although I nearly got fired with my constant yelling that we needed PC's to be on the front burner)eventually killed them.
This is too long but you asked my opinion.
Bob T. |
