Odd Holidays for January

Here are some real but little known January holidays that you can use for your business for fun and profit.

 1 Get a Life Day!
 2 National Science Fiction Day
 4 National Trivia Day
 5 National Bean Day
 7 Not Going to Take It Anymore Day
 8 National Bubble Bath Day
 10 Volunteer Fireman Day
 13 Blame Someone Else Day
 15 National Hat Day
 18 Winnie the Pooh Day
 19 National Popcorn Day
 20 Basketball Day
 21 National Hug Day
 23 National Pie Day
 25 Opposite Day
 27 National Toilet Day
 28 National Kazoo Day
 29 National Puzzle Day
 30 National Croissant Day

Offer a Seminar

Bringing prospects from your target market is one key to increasing sales and acquiring new loyal customers. Here are some ideas to make it successful.

*Make it free - no cost to attend
*Keep the time limit under 2 hours or people will lose interest
*Make it educational - not a sales pitch
*Try to get trainers and speakers from outside sources
*Send a formal invitation about 3 weeks in advance
*Make follow-up calls to any who have not responded
*Allow invited people to bring others with them
*Have an open door policy for anyone else who wants to attend
*Ofeer to pick up anyone over 25 miles away
*Ofeer a light refreshment but nothing too heavy
*Be sure a restroom is nearby
*Select your carefully from your customer want list
*Give them something when they leave, literature, small gift etc
*Try to set a follow up date or appointment
*Have a question & answer session at the end
*Thank each one personally for coming

Barry is a business coach/consultant by the hour and speaker at conventions

Essential Strategies for Entrepreneurs

Starting your own business means wearing tons of different hats and facing endless challenges. The entrepreneurial journey is filled with peaks and valleys. It can be difficult to stay motivated, remember your vision and stay on course, especially during tough economic times. As an entrepreneur who's in the trenches every day, here are the top five lessons that have best served me along my journey:

Stay Focused
When you're starting a new venture, it's easy to get pulled in a million directions. The most important thing you need to remember is to focus on your end goal. But that doesn't mean having tunnel vision. Concentrate on the finish line, but always be open to new and different ways of getting there. Keep your eyes on the prize and know where you want to go.

Build the Right Team
No one's perfect and I've definitely learned from my own mistakes when it comes to hiring the right talent for the right position. The most important lesson I've come away with is to work with people you trust. Lots of people might have the right skill set you're looking for, but do they share your enthusiasm, emotional intelligence and values? Don't just look at their credentials, look at how they're going to fit in personality-wise. Remember, they're going to be working in a team, so everyone else needs to get along with them, too.

Don't Be Afraid of Change
Many roads can lead to the same destination, so stay flexible. People often think veering off from the original plan is a bad sign, but in truth, it's important to recognize when something's not working or could be evolved for the better. That way, you have the chance to turn a setback into a positive. A successful entrepreneurship is a long road and often, tweaks and pivots are needed. It doesn't have to mean there's an issue; it just means you're keeping an open mind to methods you haven't tried before. The capacity to evolve signals adaptability and leads to progress.

Ensure Proper Funding
Proper funding and resources are key. Funding is essential to the survival of any new venture. Consider self-funding if possible. The advantage is that you retain more ownership. It also ensures a level of commitment on your part and can appear more attractive to investors. After all, how can you expect others to want to invest if you won't? If you do opt for outside funding, be realistic about your needs. Don't seek big bucks just to get them. If you take money you don't need, you end up looking reckless. Think carefully about how much you need and then self-fund or seek it from the right sources.

Believe in Yourself
It sounds trite, but it can be tough to stay positive when dealing with the unavoidable ups and downs of starting and running any business. You must believe in your vision, even in the face of detractors and naysayers. They will always be there, so it's crucial to rise above the noise. This doesn't mean to ignore critical feedback given by sound advisors - consider all feedback thoughtfully. What's important is to stay positive at all times and don't be afraid of failure. Any failure is just one of many stepping-stones on the way to success. Keep your eyes on the prize and focus on your ultimate destination- not the bumps in the road.

by Monica Zent

Finding Retail Employees

If you don't want to use (and pay) the newspaper to find employees for your retail store here are a few other ideas:

*Current employee referrals - offer an incentive if you hire a person that stays at least 6 months.

*Craigslist - this usually draws a lot of response so you might ask them to email a resume or list of experience first. If you include a phone number it will ring all day.

*High school bulletin board - Most high schools have business classes and you can let the teachers know you are looking to hire and ask for their recommendations.

*Internet Help-Wanted sites - Many are free and some charge a fee to list you jobs.

*Colleges - Just like the high schools you can let class instructors know you are looking to hire. Also send announcement to the business office and ask them to post.

*Customer referrals - Have a sign in your store or restaurant and hand out applications when someone inquires.

*Local unemployment office - they have people available but be sure to specify the qualifications you want or they will send many unqualified applicants.

Wherever you get applicants from be sure to interview many and check references.

Barry is a business advisor that only works by the hour, no contracts, to help you grow your business.  www.idealetter.com

Gift Card Bonus Deals

Applebee's: Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 gift card for free
Bonefish Grill: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card for free

NEW Boston Market: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free

NEW Buca di Beppo: Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $15 gift card for free

Buffalo Wild Wings: Buy $25 in gift cards and get a free Mystery Gift Card worth at least $5
California Pizza Kitchen: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card for free

NEW California Tortilla: Buy $25 in gift cards, get an entrée for free

NEW Capriotti's Sandwich Shop: Buy $50 in gift cards, get a 9" sub for free

NEW Caribou Coffee: Buy $25 in eGift cards, get a $5 eGift card for free

Carrabba's Italian Grill: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card for free

NEW Chili's: Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 gift card for free

NEW CiCi's Pizza: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a free buffet meal

Del Taco: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a free combo meal, or buy $100 in gift cards and get 5 combo meals for free

NEW DSW: Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free

NEW Famous Dave's: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free

NEW Fandango: Buy $50 in gift cards, get a movie ticket for free

NEW Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free

NEW Hooters: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 Santa's Bucks gift card for free

Jamba Juice: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a small smoothie for free

L.L.Bean: Spend more than $50, get a free $10 gift card

Lawry's: Buy $125 in gift cards, get a $25 gift card for free

NEW Ledo Pizza: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free

LongHorn Steakhouse: Buy $25 in gift cards, get $5 off 2 adult entrées

NEW Maggiano's Little Italy: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card and a Food & Wine Magazine1-year subscription for free

Morton's Steakhouse: Purchase $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card for free

Olive Garden: Buy $50 in gift cards, get $10 off 2 adult entrées

Outback Steakhouse: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card for free

P.F. Chang's: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card for free

Panera Bread: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $10 eGift card for free

Papa John's: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a large 1-topping pizza for free

Pei Wei: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a small entrée for free

NEW Pinkberry: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free

Qdoba Mexican Grill: Buy $30 in gift cards, get an entrée for free

Red Lobster: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 off coupon for use on a future purchase

Red Robin: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free, or buy $250 in gift cards and get 20% off

NEW Rita's: Buy $10 gift card, get a treat certificate for free

NEW Romano's Macaroni Grill: Buy $25 in gift cards, get 2 $5 gift cards for free

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $20 gift card for free

Ruby Tuesday: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free, or buy $50 in gift cards and get a $15 gift card for free

NEW Smith & Wollensky: Buy $100 in gift cards, get a $25 gift card for free

Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes: Buy $50 in gift cards in-store, get a meal pass for free

Taco Bell: Buy $20 in gift cards, get two Doritos Locos tacos and a drink for free

Texas Roadhouse: Buy $30 in gift cards, get a $5 eGift card for free

NEW TGI Friday's: Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 gift card for free

The Cheesecake Factory: Buy $25 in gift cards, get a free slice of cheesecake

The Children's Place: Buy $40 in gift cards, get a $10 off coupon for use on a future purchase

NEW Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Buy $20 in gift cards, get a 24-oz. smoothie for free

NEW Yogen Früz: Buy $20 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card for free

UPS Absence of Service

October 28, 2013 | David Lazarus

It's pretty much expected that everyone knows everything about you in today's privacy-free world. But it's still freaky to see how easily a business can crawl into your life. Elaine Miller, 61, recently was expecting a package from UPS. She called the company and asked whether she could find out a rough time frame for the delivery in case her signature was required. A rep said the package would arrive at Miller's Mar Vista home at some point between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. - not the most customer-friendly arrangement.

How to Value Your Business

What is my business worth? It's a question I've asked myself hundreds of times over my 40-year long ownership career. And valuing your business, as an exercise, is a great thing to do from time to time -- it gets you thinking and dreaming, which is not a bad thing. But it wasn't until I started buying, expanding, and selling my own businesses that I really got a feel for what valuing a business means. And now, after completing more than 100 buy/sells for myself and others, my understanding of value has become very clear.

When you start to value a business, whether you're doing it because you're selling or buying, there are three essential Facts of Business Life you need to bear in mind.

• The best time to sell a business is when you don't have to, because that's when it has the greatest value.
• If you don't pick your own time to exit a business, regardless of why you're doing it, something or someone else will, and that's a value killer.
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder -- that is, the buyer -- and the buyer's banker.

These three issues have an overriding effect on your business's value, and if you don't understand their power it can be terribly costly.

In addition to these, however, there are a number of other important realities you must take into consideration when you begin to value a business:

1. There are only two ways to sell, or value, a business -- an asset sale or a share purchase -- and the more you know about these alternatives the better you will understand the business's market value. An asset sale takes place when one party sells and the other party buys the assets of the business, free and clear of liens, so the seller is responsible for paying all income taxes, outstanding debts, etc. In other words, one business winds down and another begins. Most sales and business valuations are done this way. In a share purchase, or valuation, a buyer assumes both the assets and the obligations (liabilities) of the business. This is not a popular way to buy or value a business because there may be financial obligations that the buyer is unaware of, which can raise the cost of the purchase considerably. This method can, however, provide benefits for both the seller and the buyer and, if done skillfully, can raise the business's net overall value.
2. There are only three things to value in any business -- goodwill or blue-sky, assets, and real estate. Goodwill is anticipated profits over a certain period of time, usually measured in years. Assets are those things, such as equipment, that can be valued at replacement cost, book value, or some combination, which is usually decided on during goodwill negotiations. Real estate is the value an appraiser puts on the land and buildings. And these are something every bank looks at.
3. Accurate financial statements are a must for everyone concerned, including any bank considering lending money to a buyer. But your financials are not the only indicator of your business's value. There may, for example, be more (or less) demand for your products in the future, and this will weigh on the business's value. Similarly, if you are a big part of the business's success, with you gone it may be worth less.
4. Supply versus demand may have a significant impact on a business's valuation. For example, my friend Charlie Thomas owned the Houston Rockets and sold them in the mid-1990s. He told potential buyers that if they brought their accountant or lawyer with them to a negotiation they would be wasting everyone's time, because the price he was asking didn't make any economic sense. Even so, he got what he wanted, because Houston was the only viable NBA franchise for sale at the time.
5. It's important to learn as much as you can about potential buyers and their motives, because not all buyers are created equal. Some may be willing to pay more than others, which affects value. For example, buying your business might give a competitor market dominance, which would certainly make it more valuable to that buyer than others. Similarly, one competitor might pay more just so you won't sell your business to someone else. In other words, you can increase your business's value by studying the value "landscape" just as you studied the marketplace, and identify your best buyer -- the one who will pay the most -- even if he or she doesn't realize it yet!

Whenever you're valuing a company -- whether as an exercise or because you're thinking of either selling or buying, it's a serious business. And, if you're new to this area, you will need help. The first steps are finding a business lawyer who knows the rules of the road and is willing to explain them to you, getting an accountant who can tell you about your tax consequences.

Plan Now ?

The end of the year holidays are the time of year to spend with family, friends and worshipping the real reason for the holidays. But the time you have alone during this period can also be used to plan your goals and strategy for the new year ahead. Just forgetting about your business and marketing until January 2nd will keep you behind all those who didn't wait to plan. Some of the best ideas can come to you when you are away from your business, office or store.

Think about what you want to accomplish next year and jot the goals down on any paper and save it. Also write down something new you want to try that you have not done before. Contact other business people or join a networking group in early January to exchange ideas and potential new target marketing ideas.  You will be ready to challenge the new year and add that sales growth you will need to advance your career and business.

 Barry is a business coach and consultant that works only by the hour, no contracts.  www.idealetter.com

Staffing Tips for Start Ups

The kind of staff a startup chooses to support its organization will be critical to success in the early game. Startups have limited cash, which means hiring decisions are often made by executives instead of human resources. The job ad and interview process are crucial to the hiring process. Before you begin the hunt for the perfect candidate, consider the means of the business and the role of the person.

Hire vs. Contract
The core functions of your business are duties you want carried out in-house. These are people you need face time with, like developers and systems administrators. This is why companies hire for UI/UX positions and outsource the actual coding of the system to others. There are skilled coding positions that are done in-house, but these are usually management-level positions. Contract out low-level tasks that require little skill. Empower project managers to hire their own work force remotely and hold meetings to check the progress of those tasks and make suggestions on removing roadblocks along the way.

Facility Costs
When you’re relocating, or even if you’re settled, the upkeep of your facility takes time and energy. Small duties like taking out the trash or making coffee can be shared among the office, but ordering supplies is a bit more involved. There are intern positions that can help with this, but you should consider a person to manage resources as your company scales. You can designate an office manager and hand those responsibilities to that person.

Allow Devices
Allowing employees to bring their own devices to work lowers the cost of your hardware, but it can cause a need for IT staff. You can contract positions out while you grow familiar with candidates by posting engineering staffing IT job openings with recruitment firms. This saves you the time of sorting through applications and leads to more qualified candidates. These firms often prep you ahead of time, with information about the candidate. Once you’ve hired a candidate, you can work out a more permanent contract with the employee and handle most IT concerns in-house.

Hire Slowly
Remember to hire for your most critical positions first. It’s easier to explain to investors that you didn’t meet a goal because you were understaffed than overstaffed. Make a list of the duties you can’t do yourself and start small. For individuals, use contractors to augment the work you’re already doing. Once you have a viable product, scale with a partner and your first few hires. This gives you time to refine your pitch and practice the important beats. Once you have a working product supported by a small staff, you’re ready to get more funding and do some hiring.

Hire for Cost
Everyone wants the best, but talent is expensive. Remember that you need to work within your means as you launch, replacing your group with better people as your business scales. Be sure that you reward your ground floor employees with positions that fit their performance, but hire people you can afford until you can show that your product will grow and make money.

Network for Hires
The best hires are people you meet through others. These are contacts that may know your fellow professionals and can offer some recommendations for people you should work with. If you don’t have the money to pay a staffing firm to qualify hires for you, and most startups don’t, you need a more efficient way to meet people. Job fairs also get you some face time with employees, and provide an outlet for branding.

Budget Time
The most valuable asset you have is your time. As important as hiring can be, you can only sacrifice so much time toward finding the right candidate. Delegate as much of these duties as possible to your administrative staff, and leave the review process to you or someone equally technical.

You Target Market

We all have an idea of who are best type of customer is and sometimes we get too comfortable and stop looking for new ones. There are several way to increase sales, growth and find new target customers for more sales. The first one is to see what else you can market and sell to the customers you already have. There may be related products and services that you can present to your current customer/client base that will increase sales. If you are not sure what those are just ask customers what they would consider buying if you offered them.

Another way is to start looking for other target customers that you were not sure would be interested in your products and services. These could be related industries that you can reach by possibly changing what you offer a little. You can also hire a marketing coach or consultant to help you find these new customers. They work with many clients and have ideas that you may not think of yourself. However you do it, you must keep trying to expand your target market so your company can grow.

Barry is a speaker, author and business consultant that helps businesses by-the-hour, no contracts.  www.idealetter.com

No Holiday Sales?

As we get closer to the holidays that seem to take over everyone's lives at this time of year, do not forget that your business must survive and stay on track. Not every business benefits from holidays sales and if yours does not use the time to plan for the post-holiday business period. There are some products and services that will start to pick up sales in January and February and you need to be ready. Just because you don't see competitor's promotions doesn't mean they are not silently planning for the near future.

The main thing to remember is not to waste the time and just give up because your business does not particpate in holiday sales. Be ready for the New Year and plan  something new and innovative that will catch your competitors off guard (before they do it to you). Some of the best new ideas come when business is slow and you can concentrate on the future of your business. Don't take too long of a holiday vacation and you will be ready for customers and clients next month.

Barry is a business coach and consultant by the hour only, no contracts. www.idealetter.com

Little Known December Holidays

You can use these real holidays in your business for fun and profit.

 1 Eat a red apple day
 2 National fritters day
 4 Wear brown shoes day
 7 National cotton candy day
 8 National brownie day
 9 National pastry day
 10 Human rights day
 12 Poinsettia day
 13 Violins day
 13 Ice Cream day
 15 National lemon cupcake day
 16 National chocolate cover anything day
 17 Underdog day
 17 Wright brothers first flight day
 18 Bake cookies day
 19 Oatmeal muffin day
 20 Games day
 21 National flashlight day
 21 National Hamburger day
 21 National fried shrimp day
 23 National date nut bread day
 25 National pumpkin day
 28 Card playing day
 29 Pepper pot day
 31 Unlucky day