News, Information & Hot Issues for REALTORS® on the go.

California REALTOR® EXPO 2008

Understanding the Starbucks Experience

Just about every REALTOR® with a laptop has conducted business at a local Starbucks, whether it’s answering e-mails or posting listings on a laptop. If that includes you—and chances are it does—then chances are you’ve occasionally marveled at the endless stream of customers who are drawn to Starbucks for what is essentially a mundane product. Right, it’s only coffee?!

Bring your keen powers of observation to this year’s CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO where another observer, Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D., will describe the five principles of Starbucks’ success and how these principles can transform any business. Michelli, an organizational psychologist, business consultant, radio host, and author of The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary, studied the Starbucks model and discovered the secret to the chain’s personalized customer experience and the implications for your firm and business.

CALIFORNIA REALTOR®  EXPO, the state’s largest real estate trade show, draws thousands of California’s key franchise execs, top producers, and vendors every year for educational, networking, and professional development opportunities. Tech Tuesday, a special pre-EXPO event, features a full day of comprehensive and hands-on training geared toward assisting today’s REALTOR® .

California REALTOR®  EXPO 2008, a free event, will be held in Long Beach Oct. 14-16, at the Long Beach Convention Center. Tech Tuesday is held Oct. 14. Registration is required to attend Tech Tuesday and California REALTOR®  EXPO 2008. Early-bird registration for Tech Tuesday only through June 20 is $75 ($125 with a luncheon ticket) for members and $99 ($149 with a luncheon ticket) for non-members.

More Info

For more info, visit www.realtorexpo.org to register.

Member Advantage Program

T-Mobile Extends Discounts to C.A.R. Members

T-Mobile, a national provider of wireless voice, messaging, and data services capable of reaching more than 268 million Americans where they live, work, and play, has joined C.A.R.’s Member Advantage Program. This special offer, extended to C.A.R. members, includes: 12 percent off recurring monthly service charges (does not include overage, roaming, long distance, and data usage not already part of a recurring monthly charge); waived activation fee ($35 value); free shipping and special pricing and promotions on handsets including the BlackBerry® Curve for just $49.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate (MSRP $449.99, promo expires June 30). Current customers will be able to transfer their service and enjoy the same discount on their monthly service charges as new customers.

T-Mobile is ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction among wireless telephone users in all six regions according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Wireless Regional Customer Satisfaction Index Study. T-Mobile also offers T-Mobile HotSpot @Home, a revolutionary new phone and service that provide unlimited nationwide calls over home-based Wi-Fi.

To view current promotions and to place an order, visit the Member Center on www.car.org (click on Member Benefits/Member Advantage Program) for offer details and a direct link to the T-Mobile/C.A.R. Web site or call (866) 464-8662, Option #3. Use promo code (9362TMOFAV). Offer not available at retail stores.