Call Sign July 2006 - Page 18 - SELLING DAC WITH LYDIA

Hi there, I do hope I find you in good health and enjoying your life… Since penning my last Call Sign article in May, it feels as though I’ve just blinked and here I am writing for the July issue already! The main reason is that I have simply not stopped since we last met. Earlier this year, I did intimate that the Sales Department had some big announcements to make, but I could not tell you any more at that time. But now you are starting to understand why I have been racing around like a headless chicken. I’m delighted to report that the McKinsey account is running smoothly and it really is just great to have rekindled this account. Then, from the first coffee I had with Citigroup three years ago, here we are suddenly going live with that account! I have known about our being awarded this prestigious account for some time, so just imagine how hard it has been to keep schtum! I have been bursting at the seams to tell you, for no other reason than I am so pleased and I believe it is reflective of all our efforts. Not only have we delivered a very strong tender response and presentation, but also our service offering is second to none. I know that many of you realise the importance of this account. It is hard to understand what was hoped to be gained by our colleagues in Singapore being difficult, but instead the start date has actually been moved forward from 1 September to going live on 1 July. Perhaps it was to put us under pressure? The one thing I have learnt about the team here is that we come into our own when we ‘crisis manage’ and we have really just been given the opportunity to shine. But Dial-a-Cab works particularly well under pressure. I know we will learn many lessons from this experience and deliver a better solution and service – and that is my only real interest. I say let the others fight amongst themselves, we are simply too busy for tittle tattle... With the Project Plan in place and all our targets set, we are so	SELLING DAC WITH LYDIA
	ready to go live. All I would ask is for your wholehearted support to ensure that we have a strong start. Our key focus will be service. Remember, for all the systems in the world, the emphasis will be on our service. I would personally like to ask you to support all our corporate accounts at this particularly busy time. I do appreciate how hard it is to ignore street work; however, we have VIPs to get to VIMs (very important meetings) that will in turn deliver more work for us here in London. Let’s be mindful of our future and secure it by being the best of the best. I would also like to thank my work colleague Natalie for all her support. I’m sure she reads my mind, she simply allows me to get on with the important things I need to deal with and she is a pleasure to work alongside. I am also delighted to inform you that she is making headway with some other projects I started, but ssshhhhh - I couldn’t possibly tell you about those yet. But suffice to say it is very reassuring to know I am undoubtedly on the right team. Misinformation from ComCab… It was a Friday night and I was all dolled up for a ball at the HAC. I’d left Brunswick House and walked over toward the HAC, but en route disaster struck and my shoe broke! So I commandeered the first available taxi, which happened to be from ComCab. The driver was such a lovely man. He brought me back to the office and would not let me	pay for the trip. So as everyone seems to read Call Sign, I’d like to thank him for his kindness. During the short trip, we naturally spoke about Citigroup and he showed me a letter he and the other drivers had been sent. I had to correct the content because I can confirm that all three members of the existing Citigroup/ComCab staff will be staying at Citigroup, but now as employees of DaC. Under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings; Protection of Employment), they have the right to choose who they want to work for - which they have clearly done. Therefore, this will mean as little change surrounding the account as possible and we are delighted to welcome, Shakhil, Fatmeh and Harry on board. As for the ComCab driver; if he is reading this, you are a true gentleman and should you ever wish to join DaC, please just contact myself or Shelagh at HQ. We would be very happy to have you on our team. Drivers leaving… I see there are a number of chaps leaving the circuit this month, but to be frank I was never really too sure why they were here? After all, we just ask our drivers to support the minimum number of credit rides - it is not a big ask - however, it highlights a weak spot in our business and one the Board of Management have once again dealt with proactively. Who said size isn’t important! Someone once said that in a bigger space you have bigger ideas? Well it has been confirmed that we have now exchanged contracts on our new building - a space twice the size! It just begs the question what we will be capable of with all this extra room! So please don’t forget; our key focus is service and ladies and gentleman, thank you for your continued efforts. We deserve our success… *Until next time...* Lydia Foulkes DaC Sales Manager

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