Surprises

Some people just love surprises -- surprise parties, surprise visitors, surprise gifts. While I don't exactly thrive on routine, I am a bit of a planner. Surprises don't usually fit into a plan. I like to know there is something to look forward to, and basically, what to "expect" everyday. Don't get me wrong, if anybody wants to surprise me with a leisurely trip to Paris or kidnap me for a day at the spa -- I would be all for it.

For CG companies, surprises are definitely not a welcome event. An unexpected order that cannot be filled is breaking a cardinal rule. Inadequate product supplies alienate customers and consumers, not to mention affecting the bottom line. CG companies do all they can to avoid such situations and our Best Practices section (Page 22) this month focuses on demand planning.

The annual Tech Trends section features aggregated research and original commentary from a variety of AMR Research analysts. Take a look at where the industry is headed.

One last word on surprises -- I had two very big surprises in September when Steve Rosenstock resigned as publisher and I was subsequently offered the position. For the last six years, Steve has grown the franchise, solidified relationships and continually raised the level of CGT. Saying we are sad to see him go is a huge understatement, but we are excited that he is remaining in the consumer goods industry and that we will get to work with him in a different capacity. Of course, I am also excited to become the publisher and work with such an excellent team to cultivate CGT's vision and advance our mission.