Competition is fierce in the household
goods arena, and John McCann, president of Saeco USA Inc., knows that his company must set itself apart to win
business.
A Northeast Ohio native, McCann relocated Saeco USA from Annapolis, Md., to
Glenwillow, Ohio, in 2004 to facilitate its
growth and establish a centralized distribution point to benefit Saeco’s customers.
Saeco USA, a division of the Saeco
International Group, designs, produces and
markets high-end coffee machines for household, professional and automatic vending
machine use.
When McCann moved the company, he
implemented new business strategies. First,
he built his management team using local
resources and brought key members of his
Annapolis team with him. The relocation
offered Saeco USA lower overhead and provided it with the opportunity to work with
neighboring businesses to share resources, such as logistics and shipping capabilities.
McCann also relies on product innovations
to focus on and anticipate customer needs
regarding function and style. One new Saeco
coffeemaker serves its owner by making different types of coffee drinks at specific times
throughout the day. Saeco USA also is working with other segments of the beverage
industry to introduce new products.
A challenge in selling high-end household
goods is educating customers about the
products’ value. Through strong customer
service and unique demonstration methods,
Saeco USA gets its products in front of potential customers. McCann also developed a
“Houseware Showcase” where Northeast
Ohio houseware companies take to the
streets of downtown Cleveland to display
their products. In addition to consumer education, the showcase also spotlights the thriving businesses of Northeast Ohio.
McCann and Saeco USA also take an active
role in supporting community organizations, such as the Center for Parents and Children,
Big Brothers Big Sisters and Mothers Against
Drunk Driving.
Saeco USA boosted its sales from less than
$4 million in 2004 to $27.1 million in 2006.
HOW TO REACH: Saeco USA Inc., (440) 528-2000 or
www.saeco-usa.com