Meet Ken Olan | Co-CEO and Chief Experience Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ken Olan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ken, what do you attribute your success to?
I don’t think that any single factor drives success. That is, there is no single factor that can create success if it isn’t accompanied by an array of other factors. Just as a table cannot stand with legs on only three of four corners, achieving success is depends on multiple factors working together.

I define “success” as a continuous process rather than a destination or outcome. As long as the company is working to improve our brand and business outcomes, it is always in the “process of being successful.” Success as an event, where working to be successful is a continuous process.

Our company pays acute attention to a number of factors which, when combined, continously advance the company in the eyes of our customers, in the marketplace, and financially.

The following list includes what I believe are some of the most important factors to success. If any one element is missing, it creates a gap that makes it impossible to consistently advance a brand. And if you can’t advance the brand/the company, you are no longer being successful.

1. Know who you are as an organization. That core driving factor will define and drive what you do and how you do it. The brand is about the promise the company will consistently makes to the marketplace . What you do or what you are takes a second seat to the essence of who the organization truly is.

2. Have clear brand promises. That is the compass that guides an organization. As they say, if you want to go in the right direction, you need to define the right direction first.

3. Live up to your promises with dogged determination.

4. Invite collaboration within the organization so that the entire team can get behind the promises. Each employee must, individually, feel like they are contributing to a greater whole. That mean’s keeping them involved, informed and inspired. In fact I’m writing a book about that triad. It is that important.

5. Treat your customers like people you respect. There may be times when you disagree with something, but respect and acknowledgment of it will always win their hearts.

There are so many more factors including quality, consistency and value to name a few, But the base line will always be a philosophy that is driven and supported by top leadership.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
ExactMats began with a vision and a common-sense idea. To create perfect-fitting, clear floor mats for every vehicle make and model. Now we make products that protect and preserve all kinds of everyday surfaces.

This simple idea led to further innovation, product quality, and a recognized brand of customer service.

Supported by an American-made team and culture committed to excellence and to earning unmatched customer loyalty.
We design our products knowing it’s the surface we’re protecting that’s most important.

We are driven by innovation and realizing that in today’s world, a company must continue to be better than it was yesterday. Better products, a better customer experience, and never ceasing to make the work environment one that will nurture a high performance, committed team,

Our products are designed to look great and to blend in with their surroundings, because quality protection doesn’t have to be a distraction.

After more than 25 years, our perfect-fitting products have protected millions of surfaces. Virtually every major cabinet and . closet brand, nearly every kind of table and desk, and they’ve kept the flooring of countless homes, offices, and vehicles clean and wear-free.

We make our customers quality surface protection solutions for their furniture, hard foors and carpeting, shelves and drawers, place mats, pets, fitness products, and whatever else one can imagine. All made to the perfect size and shape.

We’ve been called “the world’s fastest made-to-order company.” When all is said and done, it all comes down to helping create peace of mind for our customers with products that meet individual needs.

With a commitment to design, quality, and affordability our products last, and they’re recyclable, helping ensure sustainability.

Looking to the future, we will continue to ensure anyone can keep their furniture and cabinets scratch-free, floors and carpeting protected from stains and wear, and we continue to work with our business partners to create value for their companies.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It would really depend on the friend and their interests. But if I could cram as much of Houston into a single week to show it off, we’d visit the Johnson Space Center and the Museum of Natural Science, and the Museum of Fine Arts for some education and culture, go see the Astros, Rockets, Comets, or Texans play to get a sense of Houston fans, visit Tilman Fertiitta’s Kemah boardwalk, for the ambiance and food, and a trip to the ExactMats factory, because they usually ask to see it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shout out to our employees whose dedication ensures we can keep our promises to our customers, our customers whose wonderful loyalty and appreciation for what we do keeps our team inspired and proud, and to our strategic business partners who help us enjoy ever increasing success, as we do for them.

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