Happy Holidays! Can you believe that 2025 is less than 3 weeks away? A new year, a fresh start and certainly a new way of doing business. It happens every year, in every industry and with every business. By the way, it’s the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese Calendar which just happens to have strategy, transformation, and opportunity as it’s characteristics. Go figure.

Some industries have already made significant changes, others are knee deep and still others are just starting to awaken to the possibilities of change. I’m pretty sure we don’t need to do a deep dive into the K & B Industry to get a good feel for where they may stand. It’s kind of like opening a cellar door and peering down into the darkness and immediately knowing that time has been standing still behind that door. It’s got a musty smell to it with a hint of mothball. It’s also a room that begs for light.

We all know that it’s going to take more than a year but 2025 is going to be the first one that starts lighting the fire. Yes, the “fire of change,” the thing that burns down the old and shapes the new. Next year will be one that will start defining businesses into two categories: The path less travelled by the Proactive Group or the well beaten path of the Reactive Group. The decision comes down to the Leader who decides to take a “wait and see” or an “embrace it and roll” approach. Clearly technology and their digital strategy will be the driving force that increases the gap between the two.

This first group will be defined as the Incremental Change Agents. Most K & B Dealers that fall into this category and these characteristics:

1. They see themselves as “explorers.” The explorers are open to change but the truth of the matter is that when the rubber hits the road, there won’t be a shimmer of smoke.

2. The second group are considered the “sloths.” They like the slow and go pace and will change but only when pushed.

3. The last group is easy. They are known as the “skeptics” or the “laggards.” Their approach is to find fault with any new solution, and given the time, they will create a long list of whatever it is that won’t work. You might know some of these people. The funny thing is that they think they are helping you with warnings of mass destruction if you try anything new. Yes, they annoy me too…

Let’s move on to a much sunnier pre-dispositioned group. They are the Transformational Change Agents. I wish there were more, but my guess is that there might be say…2% of Dealers next year that will grab hold of technology and start implementing their digital strategy. These Leaders play the game to win and when they see a way to gain a true competitive edge, they seize it!

People like John M. in St. Louis, Scott M. out of Maine, Stacey W. from NC and Isaac A. from…. well, that last one has a pretty sketchy past so we will leave that alone…

Anyway, I’m not suggesting that other Dealers won’t check out new technology, it will just be more in a window-shopping way. What does all this mean? It’s the beginning of the “Great Divide.” I have been writing about it for over 7 years now and honestly thought that it would have happened by now. (note to self; never underestimate how legacy business practices can be so ingrained that only kryptonite could break that superhuman grip on the past)

And so it goes, what has happened in so many other industries as they move from fragmentation to consolidation. Digital Darwinism will start to move like a shadow over the landscape as it changes quickly and those without the ability to adapt to these conditions will become part of the natural selection process. The business environment will ultimately decide who stays and who goes. Just make sure you keep in mind; it really comes down to the ability to adapt and change quickly. (I know, I know, I know, I’ve said it again!)

Bet your bottom dollar that you will see the items below surface and engage with Dealers in 2025:

• Virtual Showrooms

• AI Design

• AI Analytics

• KPI’s (whaaaat?!)

• Tech Stacks

• Webs of Integrations

Plus, more cool things! Why do I think they are cool? In one word…because they are. Yep! They can help improve a lot of areas and take others to a whole new level.

Keeping these blogs real and short, just not real short…

Do me a favor over the Holidays and plan to give yourself some pretty cool tech toys. It will be the gifts that keep giving.

We still have the last couple of spots open for our 2025 Elevate Leadership Program. We’ve got a great group of Dealers signed up that you would be able to meet and spend the next year collaborating with about how to improve your business. It’s a lot better than going the isolation route.

Learn More Here

Note to all: We don’t grow much when things are comfortable and this only works when the Leader can inspire change. If you are going to ask others to change, you damn sure need to be the first to jump in and sometimes that means the deep end.

If you’re not changing…you’re choosing.

Carpe Diem! Thad

PS: Ready to take your customer relationships to the next level? KABS integrates with programs you are already using, like 2020 Design, Pro-Kitchens, and QuickBooks online. We’d love to show you how it can streamline your organization and processes. Ask about our end-of-year/New Year savings plans!

KABS information here