Gold Data Management was started in 1999 by Barry Goldufsky, a senior analyst for Bridgestone/Firestone. He had seen a void in the company´s ability to properly store data in a way that it was easily retrieved.
"I witnessed high-ranking officers spending days putting together information needed for a meeting or analysis.
Major decisions were being made based on very unorganized and possibly inaccurate data. I was well respected in the organization because I turned days of work into minutes without a lot of red tape."
So far, Gold Data has met with success, although Barry concedes that there are always issues to contend with.
The adage "Good help is hard to find" still rings true in the age of digital technology: "I´m always looking for a talented individual with an entrepreneurial spirit."
In order to keep the entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm alive, Barry doesn´t put his employees on salary, but at the same time, his staff has flexibility more traditional office can only dream of:
"I believe salaried individuals lose the sense of urgency and importance of doing a good job. A talented technology person on my staff could make far more than they could working for an IS department in a company with unlimited freedom and potential. Work on a beach or work in your underwear, I don´t care as long as you get the job done right and on time."
This simplicity and informality are the keys to Gold Data´s success, as is his ability to cater his products exactly to his clients´ needs, allowing them to give input or keep a more hands-off position.
" I build very complicated and large-scale applications for a fraction of the cost and pain. I sit with a client for a day or so and grasp their business. It doesn´t take long for me to fully understand their goals and their day-to-day operations. I then go off and build their application. They participate as much or as little as they like.
"Another big reason for my success is that I control costs. I really help a client keep within their comfort zone financially."
He has found so far that other consulting companies just cannot compete. "They cannot and have never been able to keep things simple, meet budgets and deadlines."
We asked Barry what he has done to increase the value of his company´s brand in the marketplace. How does being a family business affect his efforts in this regard?
He responded that he thinks that businesses that succeed from generation to generation have several things in common—one of the most important factors is figuring out what aspects of the original company to keep over time, and what new things to introduce.
Finding that balance between tradition and innovation is always a struggle for small businesses, but for Gold Data, Barry finds that his clients are the innovative force driving the company in new directions.
"I work with successful and innovative individuals. Their ideas are constantly taking my skills and the technology I use to the next level. There is a balance though.
I do not always let my clients jump into the latest and greatest until it has a track record. So far changing demands have improved my business. My clients are relying on me more as their work forces decrease and workloads grow."
When it comes to giving advise to growing businesses, Barry feels that no one can afford to underestimate the power—and necessity—of technology.
"Any business that deals with reoccurring processes or data-intensive tasks will greatly benefit from technology. Click a button and get your answers, use half the staff and free up time to focus on the tasks that you are good at and enjoy."
When asked to give an example of a company using technology to grow their business, he cited the Retail Marketing division of Bridgestone/Firestone, who have used technology to bring innovations to tire dealers around the world.
Their secure database-driven web applications keep everyone in touch and keep the process moving from dealers to vendors to staff all around the world. The entire globe is supported by a team of five.
Keeping his system a step ahead of the changing industries that he serve is an important ongoing issue for Barry and Gold Data, but it´s also the source of his added value.
"I have many dynamic and reusable modules such as shop carts, variable print, customer service, inventory and even an application that interacts with high-end ultrasound machines.
But the bottom line is that I build custom applications. I am not selling a system. I am selling my ability to help you with your day."
"I make it easy and affordable for my clients to achieve great things. Many of my clients don´t even ask for quotes any more.
They call me and say, `Barry, I need this. How fast can you make it happen.´ They trust me that I will not blow things out of proportion. They have annual budgets set aside for me and they use me as if I am an employee."
"I have been profitable from day one and have never made a cold call yet. My clients refer me to their clients because I make them look good. Once I do some work for you, you won´t want me to leave.
"I have met many individuals at all levels of the technology industry and the more I meet the more confidence I get. Very few can handle such complicated concepts from so many industries at one time.
I meet with clients, grasp concepts, design applications, guide programmers, fix code, write code, install and train.
Even though I don´t always do it all, I can. I oversee everything from within the trenches and this is why no one can compete with me or with my company. "
Barry Goldufsky can be reached at http://www.golddatainc.com.
Profiles of business owners respected in their industry appear in our newsletter and are available on our web site. We encourage association executives to tell us about their members who are leveraging their inherent advantages (trusted brand, excellent service, etc.) by embracing a "doing it right" attitude into their strategy for growth.
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