Transparency = Trust: The Getting Naked Approach

Have you ever noticed that all forecasters think they are right, and then when they are not, it’s okay because, after all, they are just forecasters, not fortunetellers?

I think this concept, and the fact that ITR Economics is so different, is one of the things I like the most about working here.  (It’s a long list so I had to start somewhere!)

Transparency

ITR Economics is transparent about what we can and cannot forecast. In fact, it is corporate policy to put any new dataset through a rigorous vetting process that only three people in the organization can oversee! 

As a sales person and marketer, this thought process seemed foreign at first. Why would you willingly turn away business?

That question, and ultimately the answer, is one of the things that solidified the following thought in my mind and has perpetuated my passion for this company. 

ITR Economics isn’t just another forecasting company looking to make lots of money. It’s a forecasting company that believes in the world of business so strongly that it is willing to forego short-term monetary gain to ensure that its foresight provides long-term monetary gain for its clients.

Impact

Wow. A business that cares more about its clients' success than its own immediate success. That’s not something you find often, but it is certainly something I can stand behind and promote.

When I first started working here, I would hear time and time again:

• “those Beaulieu Brothers saved my business millions of dollars”
• “listening to Brian was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made”
• “we wouldn’t be in business today if we hadn’t listened to you through the Great Recession”
• “everyone in my company knows who ITR is and reads your Trends Report™ religiously”

Passion

So why us? Why a small company from New Hampshire and not one of the large conglomerates of the world? What makes us so special? Is it just our forecasting accuracy? Is it our unique services? Is it the family-oriented environment?

I think it is all those things.

Recently, I spoke with a longtime client, Mr. Troy Bishop of Schneider Electric. I've been working with him for many years. He told me that it was our accuracy that first drew him to us, but in the end, he continues to use our consultative services because we teach him strategies based on leading indicator inputs, market trend analysis, and cyclical behaviors. We don’t just ship him a report and say, “Here you go – we wish you the best.” It’s a partnership. 

His success is our success, and it is this type of client relationship that gives me the confidence to say “No, unfortunately, we cannot forecast that for you. Let’s work together to see if there may be a different solution that will help you.”

Kimberly Clark
Director of Sales and Marketing
ITR Economics

Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni