I received an email this morning from someone who reads this thread but doesn't have posting access. I don't know him, but I think he has some valid points, so at the risk starting another flaming bout, I'm going to paste it here...
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I am very positive on OZON technology, but a few things have disturbed me on this SI message thread and about the company itself. It should also concern you.
First, I was one of three owners of my own company (we subsequently sold our company at a nice profit). I was also Director of Marketing and Sales. From experience and common sense, It is highly unprofessional to post on a public OZON message forum as a PR/Marketing rep stating "Na na na na na!" .
This concerned me greatly. PR reps aren't supposed to be little kids playing games with the company reputation. I don't care WHO they are responding to. Grow up!
Second, the poster did say "ads" in the WSJ. When I called the 801 number, the person there also said Melinda was working on an "ad" for the WSJ the following week. If Melinda was smart, she would have said to the 40 callers: "Yes, we are working on a WSJ ad for next week, and I have read the SI post, and it is indeed just an ad as posted and not a WSJ article as you are misinterpreting or despite what you heard"
I was smart enough to interpret ad as an ad and not an article. People will read into it what they want. I've said the term "OZON ads" on IRC chat rooms, people come back 3 minutes later and say "There BETTER be a WSJ article like you said there would be"...
See, people can't read. Period. If Melissa needs to get a point across, she should lash out at those who cannot read. Please, get the facts straight, THEN respond. The fact that the Dr. didn't pick up on the word "ads" also worries me. She could have nipped this in the butt herself by reporting this to Melissa, or reading the message verbatim to Melissa.
Third, whoever is answering for IR at the 801 number better get their facts straight or get ready for lawsuits. When I called the 801 number, asked for IR, she said "yes, what can I help you with" leading me to believe she was IR. I called her right after I saw the ABC news story (which she didn't see as of yet due to different time zones). I asked who was Tri-Clean systems? She told me that Tri-Clean makes Ozone Generators and was a large multi-million dollar company, she also added that they don't compete with any of Cyclops products. I said "Really? not food processing? or laundry? or composites?" She said: "No". Now, this person wasn't Melissa...but I am an investor, and have better things to do than figure out who in the company is the IR rep. When I ask for IR, if the person that answers at OZON says she's the person to speak to, I take that as FACT.
From what I saw, thats a complete lie. I could sue OZON stating that IR was giving me a false impression of NO competition from Tri-Clean Systems.
It is obvious Tri-Clean does some laundry cleaning via ozone and washes produce (Oranges/Grapefruit) with ozone.
I called the next day, same girl said she didn't mean to mislead me. And told me that Tri-Clean did wash Grapefruit/Oranges but that was it. (Still didnt mention Laundry- and I didnt ask). A little bit after the fact.
I don't like the idea that OZON is opening themselves to lawsuits through misrepresentation of their competition. They should either say "We don't comment on other ozone companies/competition" or get their FACTS straight on their competition and report it accurately. Period. My god, thats one of the golden rules of marketing/sales.."Who the heck is my competition?!" If this is just a secretary I keep speaking too, I wouldn't want OZON liable for someone they are paying $10 -$15/hour to answer phones. I'd nip that in the butt. Pronto!
Fourth, Ok, I might not be a marketing genious...though I have personally made several million in sales myself on aircraft avionics packages for corporate jets/clients: so I know how to effectively market/sell something.
If ABC is going to do a news story on OZON, and I know about it a week in advance, I'd get that OZON ad in the WSJ the morning after the ABC story airs, and throw it into IBD, possibly USA Today. Any time there's news on ozone technology, I'm going to do everything in my power as a Marketeer to capitalize on the story -news can fade quickly - you need to capitalize on it immediately.
The next large food poisoning outbreak: I'd place advertisments and PR releases to the papers/trade newspapers up the Wazoo. Local/National Newspapers want follow up stories or alternatives to these huge recalls of beef/chicken/apple cider...you name it. Is OZON currently advertised in any food processing trade magazines (the people who BUY this technology)? Is Tri-Clean?
Fifth, believe it or not, I believe there is a good side to the current marketing.
The ad looked nice. I like the 800 number. And it was placed nicely on the second page of the WSJ. I hope it is run again at the RIGHT time. And gets more coverage at the next food recall.
The OZON Web site looks great as well. Very nice and professional.
And ozone technology just seems like an awesome concept. I like how OZON is spread into so many different areas from laundry, to food, to composites.
Also, someone was right on the money. If they get one food processing contract, say in the poultry business, they are IN the industry. One of the questions I got selling avionics was: "Who else is a client of yours?" Corning or US Tobacco didn't want to jump in to using our avionics services unless we had references of successful installations. I think the same holds true for the food industry and this product. If they can test a system at a food processing facility, and they get good results, they can probably get that company to buy the product. I don't see OZON making a system out of scratch, then going to some random poultry company stating "Here, Buy this, it works". This is why food processing is going to take awhile to get a contract (I think).
What suprises me is that I'm not hearing about more laundry systems being sold. If this is more effective, and cheaper, using less money per load, why aren't hotels, prisons, etc jumping on this? Does it take a year per Laundry contract for an entire US market that is open to a small amount of competitors?
Well, that's it. I'm sending this to the few people I know that have SI posting ability.
My email address is davidcg580@aol.com. Do not attack my issues at the person that decides to post this on my behalf. These are my views.
By the way, if OZON needs me to market their product effectively in this area, feel free to contact me...I have a glowing resume/contacts.... I could possibly do this part time (when markets are closed) if the compensation is right. Where do I live? In the HEART of apple country, central Washington State. Not just apples...pears, peaches, cherries you name it. I'll show you a contract..QUICK. TreeTop is literally just around the corner here in Cashmere (like 5 blocks away). I wonder..does OZON have sales reps? or just Bill and Melissa to conquer all this US territory?
Oh yes, another big company: Boeing is based out here too in WA. Maybe they'd have use for that new composite. Just a gander.
-David
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