Offer First Class

Many people feel that first class products and services are just not worth the money. But there is another group of customers who are willing and eager to pay the premium price for that something extra. It may be higher quality or personal service but they want it. Here are premium ideas that come to mind:
.First Class airplane seats
.Luxury cars over economy models
.Spa resort over a budget motel
.Wedding planner over eloping
.Limo rather than driving yourself
.Designer purses over discount handbags
.Lawn maintenance service over DIY
.Personal trainer over a home treadmill
.Custom built home over apartment living
And the list goes on to whatever you can create that will appeal to high end buyers. The number of sales may be lower but the profit percentage will be higher. More on offering first class in Chapter 58 of my book "The Jelly Bean Principle"

Use for Sales & Advertising

Census data released last week offered these insights into the state of American homes.

48% of homes have a "dining room" but no word on how often people actually eat in them
One in three homes has either a spare living-room or a rec room
65% of housing units had central air (89% for newer housing); 21% have window units
64% of homes have at least three bedrooms (80% of new homes)

Having Trouble Paying Suppliers?

When invoices get old because of slow sales or slow customer payments suppliers will put pressure on you for money. This happens to most of us from time to time. They don't want to stop doing business with you or hold your shipments but may use that tactic to get you to pay faster. One method I have used several times when a major supplier's bills got old and I mean 90-120 days or more is to to ask them to put those old bills aside. They want to get them off their A/R report and they can do that with this idea. Take those invoices as a lump sum and turn them into a loan that's paid off over 1-2 years with monthly payments. Even offer 1-2% interest added in the front only and say that you will keep new invoices current from that point on. It's a win-win situation because thay get them off their A/R report that their bank may see and you get immediate relief to get back to business. More info on this in Chapter 5 of my book "When the Shit Hits the Fan" available at amazon.com & B&N.

Doing Business in Japan

.Men should wear dark conservative suits
.Casual dress is never appropriate for business
.Shoes should be easy to remove because you will take them off often
.Women should not wear pants in a business setting
.Pointing is not an acceptable gesture
.Do not blow your nose in public
.Let the host order your meal and pay for it
.Punctuality is not expected at a social event
.Do not openly display money
.Tipping is not expected
.Gifts should be given at the end of a visit
.The customary greeting is a bow
.In most of Asia the numbers 4 and 14 are bad luck

Writing Your First Book

It's been said that everyone has at least one book inside them waiting to be written, what's yours about? I will present a seminar on Thursday Oct 14,2010 called WRITE-PUBLISH-PROMOTE at my office from 6:30 to 8PM (Colorado Cards, 5585 Erindale Dr #203, Colo Spgs, CO). I have 4 published business books and 2 more in process. You'll learn how to come up with a catchy title, organize chapter outlines, plan for the correct number of pages and words, write the first draft, edit, search for a publisher and agent, submission guidelines and accept rejection. Find out the difference between a mainstream publisher, print on demand, self-publishing, e-books and which one is best for you. Then promoting your book after it's published using many different ways is just as important. Attendance is limited to the first 15 adults at $22.00 per person. Nothing else will be sold at the seminar. The space is limited and past seminars have been selling out so please call 719-268-1322 or email: idealetter@aol.com to reserve a seat.

Your Competitor's Website

When was the last time you checked some of your competitor's websites? You should be doing this every 30 to 60 days to see what's new. When they announce something new or a special sale they usually put it on their website first. It's better to find out sooner there than have a customer tell you when it's too late to react. You need to do this yourself or assign a trusted employee to it and report back to you on any changes. You can be assured that if they are smart they will be watching your website also. Know what's going on in your target market by watching what your comprtitors are doing and how they react to your changes. The few minutes it takes to check their website can save hours of headaches later.

Make Them Say WOW !

In today's competitive marketplace it's important to exceed your customer expectations. If you don't do it, your competitors will and they will be gone. Here's a few ideas that you can consider:
.Valus Plus-they expect a good value for the price they are paying but still try to offer a little more
.Be Quick-when people decide on a purchase they want it now. Don't miss a promised delivery date without offering something in return
.Friendly & Helpful-be so nice that it hurts, not them..you. People like to buy where they can count on help with a smile if they need it
.Informed Staff-front line employees in retail or on the phone should know all pertinent information and about every special offer
.Be Available-have convenient business hours to accomodate all customers needs
.Reward Regulars-All repeat customers are the backbone of any business, give them perks and Thank them after every purchase
.Refunds & Exchanges-go out of your want to make this process fast and pleasant with a smile on your face
More free articles that you can reprint at www.idealetter.com

Questions About Competitors

When you know the answers to most of these questions you will be a much stronger business in your target market.
.Exactly who are your comprtitors?
.Are they big, small or franchises?
.Where are they located?
.Are they expanding or growing?
.How elaborate is their website?
.What is their pricing strategy?
.How many employees do they have?
.How do they pay their employees?
.What are their strengths?
.Do they have niche products?
.Are the owners on-site?
.How are customers treated?
.Are their OPEN hours different than yours?
.Are they watching your business?
.How do they react to changes you make?

Small Business Recession Ideas

A recession or economic slowdown is not the end of the world although it may seem like it. Learn to cope and forget what competitors are doing. Here's some ideas:
.Don't go price reduction crazy
.Promote, Network, Promote
.Outsource more and save
.Cut costs but slowly and cautiously
.Add related products & Services
.Reduce inventory but not too low
.Don't stop marketing
.Reduce travel expense and use webinars
.Focus on great service
.Watch for disappearing competitors
.Negotiate longer payment terms
.Keep a positive & optimistic attitude
.Smile even if it hurts

Will They Accept Your Job ?

When you finish all your interviews and think you have found the perfect candidate for the position how do you get them to accept the job?
.Salary is not always the deciding factor but make sure it's competitive
.Introduce the candidate to other positive, happy and creative employees
.Remember that they are evaluating you at the same time you are interviewing them, do it with honesty and respect
.Let them talk to a few of the people they will be working with and leave the area for a few minutes
.Explain how they can reach their goals at your organization
.Let them know that you want them to be part of your success team
.If they ask for a little time to give an answer, ask if they have other offers
.Be sincere and professional at all times

Doing Business in India

With over a billion people, many of whom speak English, there's a tremendous market fo US companies. Following some business etiquette rules will help you and your business go in the right direction.
.Men are expected to wear a suit & tie for business
.Women should wear long pants or long dresses
.The use of leather products including belts or handbags may be considered offensive
.Never touch anyone on their head, adult or child
.Standing with your hands on your hips may be interpreted as angry or aggressive
.Never point your feet at another person, they are considered unclean
.Gifts are not opened in the presence of the giver
.Business lunches are preferred over dinners
.Never diectly refuse an invitation, be evasive or say I'll try

Make it Funny

When you're having a bad day you don't want to make it worse by getting angry or depressed. Try the opposite method and get the day over with on a different note. Whoever said that laughter was the best medicine hit the nail on the head. Try these other ideas to get a smile back on your face.
.Take a break and read the daily comics or a joke book
.Watch a couple of youtube videos that you have saved
.Think of a silly situation you remember concerning a relative
.Visit a friend who makes you laugh and buy them lunch
.Look in the mirror and make funny faces until you laugh
.Turn the comedy channel on TV for 20 minutes
.Don't take life to seriously because it won't take you serious

Temporary Help

Every business has peak times when your staff or yourself can't handle the extra volume and give the same great service. Rather than hire permanent new people who you may have to let go later use a temp service. With a temp you only use them and pay for the days or weeks you actually need them. Plus there are no payroll taxes or benefits to worry about. If you want to replace them you just call the agency.

Select at least 3 temporary agencies and give them a list of the experience that you need and a job description. If their temps don't live up to your expectations or they don't return calls promptly quickly eliminate them from your list. They can also be used as a temp-to-perm source when you need to expand your staff with a regular employee. You will get to see how the new person performs before you make a permanent committment. More ideas in my book "The Jelly Bean Principle"

5 Steps to Success

.Set a goal - Where do you want to go and what do you want to achieve in realistic terms
.Focus on goals - Believe in the reason for your goals and the vision and purpose
.The strategy - How are you going to reach these goals and have plan B ready
.Tactics to follow - What are you going to do first, second etc and how long should it take
.Small steps - Resolve to get a little closer to your goals every day by making small moves it a positive direction

Need Lots of Stuff ?

If you're opening a new business, expanding your current business or just replacing old equipment the costs can be stagering. We never seem to have enough in our budget to pay for everything we need. The answer may be leasing some or all of it. Leasing equipment such as copiers, computers, printers and even furniture is available for almost any business. You get the newest models without a large cash payment at one time.

Most equipment companies have lease plans that will eventually turn into a purchase with a flat fee at the end of the term. You may pay more over the long term but it's worth it to satisfy your cash flow requirements now. Most lease payments are tax-deductable (check with your accountant). And some lease plans may even let you upgrade to newer models as they become available. Leasing makes sense when the cash outlay in full is not possible but you must have the equipment. Always check several companies before you make a final decision. More free articles at www.idealetter.com

Old Before New

Of course we all want new customers and spend a lot of time and money going after them. But don't neglect the current customers you have that provide repeat business and referrals. These are the ones that support you in tough economic times.

Thank them for their business and never have a sale for new customers only. Ask them for feedback and have a suggestion box on your website. Don't ever let them feel that you are putting a new customer's needs before theirs. If you haven't heard from them for a while call or email to stay in contact. Putting old before new will create stability and growth for your business.

Do Customers Enjoy Your Business?

To build trust and loyalty for your business you must make customers feel like they are the focus of all your efforts. Are you doing these easy loyalty builders?
.Try to "WOW" them whenever possible
.Set hours for their convenience not yours
.Have easy to find merchandise or a store directory
.Have a knowledgeable sales staff and customer service
.Have perks for frequent customers
.Offer many convenient ways to pay
.Don't make them wait to pay for their purchase
.Follow up on all large purchases
.Easy refunds and exchanges
.Thank them after EVERY sale
.Smile, even on the phone
.Make them smile after every sale
More articles that you can reprint at www.idealetter.com

If You Say It - Do It

You can build loyalty and trust with customers and clients when you follow through on what you say or promise. If there is a critical delivery deadline then make sure the product arrives on time. If you know in advance that it's not going to make it, don't say that it will. You are better off risking loss of the order than losing trust. You can always get another order but trust is difficult to get back.

Returning phone calls and emails on time or at all is another "Must do it" situation. Even if you don't have the information let them know that you are working on it and didn't forget them. It's like telling someone that you will meet them at a restaurant for lunch and not showing up, call or text to say that you can't make it. What are the chances that they will trust you next time. Be honest and don't say what you can't or won't do. People will remember and your business depends on it. More ideas in my book "The Jelly Bean Principle"