Employee Team Players

When employees feel that they are part of the business they will always perform better. Making them feel that way is the responsibility of the managers and owners and is an ongoing process. Don't just pay them for their work give praise when it's due and make them feel important. If they have contact with your customers and clients it will show in satisfaction and loyalty after the sale.

Let employees know that are an important part of your company because they really are. Always greet them and smile regardless of how low they are on the company ladder. Employees are people just like the owners and feeling good and important while working will always produce a better result. A team always works better when everyone on it feels like what they are doing is important.

Unusual & Fun November Holidays

These are some real but unusual holidays that you can use in your business for fun and profit.
1 National Author's Day
3 National Cliche Day
6 Saxaphone Day
7 Hug a Bear day
9 Sadie Hawkins Day
13 World Kindness Day
15 America Recycles Day
17 Take a Hike Day
17 Homemade Bread Day
18 Mickey Mouse Day
19 Discovery Day
19 Have a Bad Day Day
21 World Hello Day
23 National Cashew Day
25 National Parfait Day
29 Square Dance Day

Perseverence Makes Winners

We have all heard the quote "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" and if you really think about it you will see that it's true. So many people will give up when things get difficult or out of their comfort zone. But it's those that gather up all their tenacity and knowledge and forge ahead that come out a success. Think of all the great successes in the world and read about their early days when everything went wrong but they didn't quit.

One example is Thomas Edison who had over 10,000 failed experiments trying to invent the light bulb but he knew that he would succeed eventually. Almost every big success had mountains of failures and doubt but never gave up because they knew the answers were still ahead of them. We never hear about the setbacks but they were there in the beginning for most big successes. There are many people out in the world right now going through the same process and will not give up until they are successful. Are you one of them?

Buy Right to Sell Right

Buying your products or contracting for services that you will resell can make a big difference in the price you will need to charge your customers. First establish the specs and quality you will need and then get prices from several different vendors, suppliers or manufacturers. You will always want an agreement that they will protect your account for at least a year and not let your competitors sell that customer using them. Of course they will not sell it directly themselves and undercut your price.

I have a friend and savvy businessman in Chicago that built his $20 million busines on giving the customer/client the price they wanted to pay (within reason) and then finding a supplier where he could buy it for less. He would attempt to purchase larger quantities in the U.S. or abroad to get his cost where he needed it. He kept his customers happy and was always open to new suppliers from anywhere in the world. He would show loyalty to those that made product and cost adjustments whenever he needed them. Buying right keeps 3 people happy, the customer, the supplier and you.
More short articles you can reprint in the Idea-Letter, free sample at www.idealetter.com

The Chamber is Waiting for You

Your local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau and other business organizations are waiting for you to attend and join their meetings. The more people that participate the stronger they will become. But think of all the knowledge that is being shared among members that you don't get to hear and use. Every meeting that I have attended or spoken at I have left with several ideas that I was able to apply to my business.

Many of these valuable organizations will let you attend a few times without joining or pay the non-member fee for the meeting. It is money well spent or should I say invested because there is always a return for the time you spend there. It's easy to find when and where they meet, just search the internet or look in Monday edition of your local newspaper or business journal. The knowledge of many will always be a helpful advantage to your business growth and survival.
By Barry Thomsen www.idealetter.com

Listen and Act

Do you listen to what your customers are telling you? The answer is probably yes, but do you really Hear what they are saying. Many business owners encourage their clients and customers to express their needs, wants and feelings. The next step is to act on what they say. Just nodding your head with a smile is nice but does it actually improve your relations with them?

Remember that customers and clients are telling you things that will entice them to purchase more and remain a loyal customer. Don't you want to know what those things are, of course you do. And when you hear those requests act on as many as you can as soon as you can. The goal of being in business is to provide what the people who pay you want and the way to do that is Listen and Act. There is no better way to stay a step ahead of competitors that to give customers what they really want. Price only comes into play when there is no other value added.

Many short articles each month in the Idea-Letter, free sample at www.idealetter.com

Business Angels

Do you know someone who is more of an acquaintance than a friend but has adequate capital available for your current business needs? These are personal investors (sometimes high-risk investors) who are looking for an above-average return in their investments. You can probably be introduced through business associates, your banker, accountant or at the Chamber of Commerce meetings.

Most of them will assess you and your business before making any committment to invest. Once they decide to go ahead they will likely back-off and not interfere with the running of your business. Doctors, lawyers, retired entrepreneurs and sport figures are a good source of angels. They are great sources of quick cash but remember they are looking for a high percentage return on what they invest.

Where is Your Business Card

One of my biggest pet peeves about business people is that they don't carry enough business cards with them or NONE AT ALL! Your card is still the accepted way of of introducing yourself to new people you meet. There is no rule that says you will meet prospective customers only during business hours. We all know that opportunities come at any time and place. I met a new client on a beach once by the shore and yes I had business cards by the table where we were sitting. Without giving him one I might not have heard from him again and gotten his business.

I use the "rule of 6" and have at least 6 business cards in my pocket or within reach at all times. I also keep a back up supply of about 50 in the car glove compartment at all times. I like to give each person 2 cards so they can give one to a friend or associate or keep it in 2 places. All the info about how to contact you, go to your website, Twitter, Facebook etc. is there whenever they need it. I really believe that you are losing business if you don't have business cards with you at ALL TIMES.

Contests for Fun & Profit

Giving away a big prize will draw attention to your business and get people interested for at least the term of the contest. It can make a smaller company stand out and be seen in front of other big or small competitors. If you promote it and use it in advertising, new prospects may come to your door and you'll have a chance to capture they away from your rivals.

You will want any type of contest to be fun, intersting and exciting even for the losers. A well run contest will have people coming back to your business more often than they normally would for a chance to win something. Once you have them hooked, you will likely get more business than usual from them. And for those not-yet prospects, they will at least see what your company has to offer and may turn into prospects and customers soon. Contests will make it fun to shop with you over your competitors.

More on contests in #29 of my book "The Jelly Beam Principle", signed copies at 719-268-1322 or idealetter@aol.com

Use Sign Power

Back when the first immigrants came to America they were from many different countries and spoke many different languages. They saw the new opportunities to provide products and services to each other but the language barrier made it difficult to communicate what they had to offer. They used signs to show what they had to offer and the customers came. If you saw a sign with a loaf of bread you knew it was a baker or a man putting on a horseshoe it was a blacksmith.

Signs today still can give that instant exposure to what a business is all about to entice customers to investigate further. Whether it's on a bricks and morter store or a website banner the use of signs is an inexpensive way to let people know who you are and what you do. Don't ignore this proven way to market your business because it still works. Always use all the marketing methods because you never know which one will work with different potential customers. Signs can and do bring awareness to you business.

For a free sample of our 8 page monthly Idea-Letter (since 2002) with many helpful short business articles go to www.idealetter.com

The Holiday Promotions (Again)

As we approach the holiday season again all the big box stores and corporate chains are trying to undersell their competition and have the earliest sales. They entice customers with low prices and limited availability. The profit margin is low so they have to sell more to come out ahead. They spend mega-dollars on advertising to lure shoppers into their stores and to their websites. The same old thing year after year.

But why should a small business retailer or online seller join this madness and try to compete for super low profits or any at all. The big stores aren't going to let you win anyway, they will just lower prices again, maybe below your cost. Why not fight back with something value-added that others are not offering instead of just low prices. Find something your customers want (ask them!) and offer if along with a fair price. There is an old saying that if everything else is equal, people just buy the lowest price.

Don't let your businees be "just equal", make it offer more with a smile and provide the service that can't be found elsewhere. You won't need to spend big bucks on advertising because you will receive more valuable Word-of-Mouth publicity. And remember these happy and satisfied customers will be repeat business after the holidays!

In-Home Sales Still Works

Selling to your customer/prospect in their home can still be a thriving business in todays changing economy. It's a great way to get a home-based business off to an inexpensive start. Getting on a level playing field with prospects and customers should be your first objective. Many of them will be on-guard in the first few minutes and you will need to disarm them them quickly if you want your best chance to make a sale.

It doesn't matter if you are selling aluminum siding, new kitchen cabinets, cosmetics, cooking utensils or vacuums, you need your prospect to let down their defenses. Remember there must have been some interest on their part or you would not have been able to even set the appointment. So get them to relax and not consider you as an intruder in their home so they will have an open mind to what you are going to say.

More on in-home sales in #82 of my book "The Jelly Bean Principle" signed copies available at 877-700-1322.

Business Trivia

*In 1976 14 banks merged to form a bank credit card called "Mastercharge" This was renamed to what is now knwon as "MasterCard"
*If Walmart was classified as a country, it would be the 24th most productive country in the world.
*Each year approximately half a billion dollars is spent by kids on bubble gum in North America
*Frosted Flakes mascot "Tony the Tiger" has a wife, son (Tony Jr) and daughter (Antoinette) and were all used in early advertisements and commercials.
*EPCOT stands for "Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow"

And you thought you knew everything!

Buy Your Umbrella When the Sun is Shining

Isn't it great when your business is doing well? You can't wait to get to work everyday to see how much you are going to make. If you worked hard and long for many years, you don't ever want to go back to those tough beginning times again. You hope to just keep making money at a fast pace and increase growth every year. That's the way it's going to be so let's go on a cruise and have some fun for two weeks.

This is why a small business person puts in all those hours at a low income to build a profitable business. If you stick to it and persevere, you finally reach the light at the end of the tunnel. But you don't really want to go back and travel that tunnel again, do you? So how do you keep from sliding back into the tough times when when staying in business was a real challenge?

You have to plan for the difficult times ahead, whether you think they are coming or not. It's sort of like going to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned. You may not see it's importance when you're doing it but you will wish you had if problems arise later. So pay down debt and buy future supplies when you have the money and you won't have to worry about them if things change in the future.

Free longer articles that you can use or reprint at www.idealetter.com

Your Business Attitude

Your business will have it's own attitude that's different from all your competitors. It will usually take on the character and attitude of it's owner and that can be good or bad. Enployees will adopt the owner or manager's attitude and how they treat customers and everyone else. The top person must be careful not to establish the wrong or a poor atitude or the business can and will suffer.

When you meet or contact a new customer or client there is a first impression extablished, just like any other relationship. It take only about 3 or 4 seconds to give a good, cordial and helpful impression everytime you have contact. But should that impression turn bad, it may take a year to turn it around again. A smile and a helpful attitude will go a long way in creating customer loyalty which means repeat business.

Value Added Services

We've probably all heard this term but do we really understand what it means? "Value Added Service" is providing your product or service with more service. Something extra, something the customer didn't think they were paying for but received anyway. Something that makes you stand out from your competitors because they are not doing it. They are not doing it because it's too much trouble, too costly or because they never thought of it. You can stand out and be remembered by adding some extra value.

Some people really want the extras, especially when they first receive them and are willing to be loyal to a business to get them. Value added service can be as simple as a big smile during the purchase or as much as helping a customer assemble something that comes in 60 parts. Or, really anything in between that is not usually provided with a similiar purchase. If you care about customers and want them to return, find a way to add value to what they buy from you. The return will be greater than the effort.

More on adding value in #83 of my book "The Jelly Bean Principle" signed copies available at 719-268-1322.

Unusual Holidays for October

These are real but unusual October holidays that you can use in your business for fun and profit.

2 World farm animals day
4 National denim day
5 World smile day
7 Bathtub day
10 National angel food cake day
13 U S Navy day
14 National be bald & free day
15 National grouch day
16 Dictionary day
18 Long distance day
20 Shampoo day
24 National bologna day
26 National mule day
27 National make a difference day
29 Oatmeal day