CompanionCabinet Culture

Things we believe to be true:

Simplicity is key. In the world of complex products like cabinetry, it's easy to over-engineer solutions. Screens with hundreds of buttons, functions -- you know, the stuff that gives you a headache just looking at it. So although Aurora and Phoenix are powerful solutions, we believe it is our job to make the end product (what you see) as easy and intuitive as possible.
A handshake still means something. We miss the days where two business people could shake hands and agree on terms of doing business together. Where each party was inexorably linked, wanting what's best for each other's businesses. Entire companies were built on the concept of doing what's right, not necessarily what's in one's own self interest. It's nice to be in an industry where everyone talks. Where the value of your word still means something. We like that - and we prefer relationships with companies who believe the same.
Contagious Passion. We all desire to love what we do. But what if you love it so much it's contagious to those around you? We strive every day for that kind of passion. That kind of dedication. Otherwise, it's just another Monday.
It's okay to have fun. Work is one of the things we spend the majority of our time doing, so it shouldn't just be rewarding - it should be fun. From remote controlled helicopters to company team building events, our culture is a close-knit one where everyone looks out for each other (including looking out for broken helicopter blades).
Knowledge creates power. Sometimes knowledge of how to do things differently can make the difference between being profitable and being unprofitable. Having seen many fellow dealers experience the heartache of failed businesses, we believe knowledge and education is crucial to success.
You can have too many suppliers. As a dealer, it's important to partner with brands that can help you grow your business. Carrying 15 brands so you can sell anything to anyone isn't the best approach. Too many brands means too much confusion - for you and your customers. And although Aurora can technically handle any number of brands, that doesn't make it a good approach. The old adage "less is more" means more today than it ever has.
Technology isn't everything. With the number of technology products out there, it's easy to apply software to a business problem in the wrong way. Software that provides real value to your business is a combination of the technology, participation from vendors, industry know-how, input from a wide audience and changes to how you market, sell and operate.

Product innovation is essential. Like a fine wine, it takes years to create a software product that people rave about. Aurora is the culmination of over 14 years of continued innovation, research and development. And you can't do it alone - you need industry partners, key customers and an unwavering commitment to change an industry for the better.

Software should be intuitive and easy to learn. There's a reason most people learn Aurora quickly. Software that "does everything" usually means hundreds of functions that rapidly become mind boggling. Like the crazy Lego^® set your friends had when you were little, eventually there were so many additions onto the thing that it toppled over from the weight (and looked really weird too). Aurora was built to streamline your business - but to do that, everything around Aurora had to be streamlined too. That means setup, training, implementation and support have to all deliver the same experience: simplicity and ease.

It's okay to say no. We all want to grow, but growing with the right kinds of customers is crucial. So it's okay to say no. Sometimes our solution isn't right for your business. Sometimes you need to go "gun sling" your own way for a while. That's okay from our perspective - our doors are always open to discuss our solutions with you when you're ready.

Being helpful comes naturally for us. We're always here to help when we can. Some of our best customers phoned us first as prospects that we helped in ways that didn't include our marketing services, sales training or software. Only later after a relationship was developed did they ultimately become a customer. We're totally cool with that.