Real But Unusual May Holidays

Use these in your business for fun and profit.

 1 Mother Goose day
 2 Space day
 3 Hug your cat day
 4 Kite day
 6 National No Diet day
 8 National day of thought
 10 Clean up your room day
 11 Trust your intuition day
 12 National limmerick day
 13 National apple pie day
 14 Astronomy day
 15 True confessions day
 16 Wear purple for peace day
 18 Rooster day
 20 Flower day
 21 National waitress/waiter day
 23 Penny day
 25 National tap dance day
 27 National Jazz day
 28 Whale day
 31 Speak complete sentences day

 HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MAY !!!

Want to Own an Ongoing Business?

If you would like to own your own business and don't have too much up front start-up capital I am working as an agent for a friend who is interested in selling. The business has a physical location in Colorado Springs zip code 80918 and built up over the last 10 years. The asking price is lower than the inventory, business software, computers and other equipment combined. He is also willing to do seller financing for most of the cost and 100% training for as long as needed.

The business will provide revenue from the first day you own it. There is daily work to do, mostly by computer and you may want to hire 1-2 empoyees or do it yourself. This is an independent business and not part of any national organization. If you or know someone interested please send me a message and I can set up a meeting to see the business and meet the owner.

Barry at  idealetter@aol.com

Don't be a "Me Too" Business

Many new business owners try to piggy-back on a successful concept in the market with the hopes of making big profits. Clients and customers will just see this as a "me too" attempt to capitalize on another company's idea. It is better to make your business different or unique in some way and provide a little better product or service that will be unique to only your business. And don't just think that a lower price will do the trick because people will look at the value not just the price. If it's a "me too" that you're trying to sell, most people will usually go back to the First to Market company. Be unique, be different and you will have a much better chance in your market.

Barry is a marketing consultant & speaker.  www.idealetter.com

Get Marketing Help

Without marketing your business or organization won't grow and may not even last. Most entrepreneurs andexecutives already know that and have someone or a department dedicated to marketing. The ideas and concepts they come up with may be working to some extent but is it enough? Every time your business introduces an innovation in it's target market, the competition either matches it or betters it. That's a fact of life for business and why you need new marketing ideas on an ongoing basis.

The inside marketing person or people can't always come up with the golden idea every time and when it's needed so you may need to look outside the company on occaision. Marketing consultants can see things that you may not see from "inside your box" and from a different perspective. Give them the vision you are trying to create or target customer profile and you may be surprised at what they can offer. They are already outside the box so nothing is limited. If they do well use them for a while then change consultants before they become stale. Outside marketing help can give your business the boost it needs to remain a leader.

Barry is a marketing speaker and consultant by-the-hour, no contracts.  www.idealetter.com

Dilute Your Brand ?

Many successful brands were built by being the only choice in their product or service category. When people hear or think of the brand name they connect right away. There are some unfortunate brands that tried to capitalize on the brand name by adding line extensions the were different than the original products. As a result they diluted the brands effectiveness for it's basic products or service and ended up confusing some buyers. The new products names, in some cases, made no sense to what the buyer was thinking when they heard the brand name. Would buy Quaker State cottage cheese?

The brand can also be diluted by adding too many versions of a successful product just to increase sales. These can also confuse the buyer when they really wanted the basic product and now have to choose from from several options. The brand may have added: light, no sugar, cherry flavored or other versions. The buyer may try one of the new versions and not like it, then dumps the original brand altogether. Instead of increasing sales it does just the opposite, and the entire brand suffers.

The best way to introduce new products is to use a different brand name that if successful can stand on it's own and grow independently. You can still use the same distribution channels and have store or market influence for merchandising. The big known brand has the power to make the new brand name successful without hurting itself if something falls short. The most successful new brands are the ones that get to market first or are a viable alternative to the first-out brand. Use your strong brand to grow but not by diluting it.

Barry is a marketing speaker and consultant.  www.idealetter.com

Out of Town Competitors

When traveling for business or pleasure out of your target customer area you can pick up some new ideas. Find an hour or two and visit a competitor of your home business and get to know them. Since you are in the same business you will have a lot in common. And since you are far enough away from each other you can ask for and offer some ideas to your businesses. You won't get this opportunity very often so don't pass it up.

Discus ways that each of you get new customers and build loyalty with current customers. Are you each selling the same products or can you find new products or services to sell or offer. What problems are each of you having and can you suggest solutions that may help. How are each of you using and supervising employees and what benefits do you each offer. The list is endless and if you buy lunch for your new business friend it will be well worth while.

Barry is a business coach, trainer & speaker.  www.idealetter.com

The Only Choice

When a customer or client is looking for a product or service there are usually several choices where they can spend their money. You may think as a business person that you want your company or store to be the best choice of all those available. That's a good goal to strive for but why not go beyond the Best Choice and be the ONLY CHOICE. Be the business that will always get the sale because no other competitor comes close to measuring up to what you will offer the buyer or purchaser.  Not price, selection, guarantee, delivery and especially the Customer Experience. Establish a pre-decision in the buyers mind that they won't even consider another option because you will always be well above the rest.

This is the way to build a business that grows, prospers and lasts regardless of what the economy is doing. You must establish your company as the Only Choice that a buyer will ever need, want or consider. I travel to conventions, conferences, company meetings and trade shows/expos speaking on how to achieve this level of Customer Experience. I have more than 20 ways to establish that Only Choice attitude in your buyers and prospects mind. By using stories and case studies you will understand how and why to become that Only Choice and see that it will grow your business to the successful enterprise that you you always wanted it to be. I will travel anywhere safe in the world to deliver this message at your meeting or event.

Barry Thomsen www.idealetter.com

Moment of Truth for Airlines

Any time that a customer comes in contact with any aspect of your business, however remote, you have an opportunity to make an impression. That impression can be favorable or not and will be remembered as a part of your brand recognition. Some Moment of Truth situations for an airline are:

 *When passengers make reservations/but tickets
 *When they check bags curbside
 *At the ticket counter when confront an agent
 *When they need a flight change
 *When a flight is delayed or canceled
 *When they are greeted boarding the plane
 *When they leave the plane at their destination
 *At the baggage claim area to pick up bags
 *If they have to report lost bags

Some of these situations are from Jan Carlzon former president of Scandinavian Airlines
Barry is a customer experience speaker & trainer  www.idealetter.com

What a Profitable Business Can Do

We all want our business to successful and grow in it's target market. When a business becomes successful and profitable it can provide many positive results. Here are 4 of the most important.

1. It can better serve the owners and their family. No extra long hours to just get by and worry about paying bills both in the business and at home. Less time away from home and ability to hire managers to delegate some of the tasks  and duties to who will also grow with the business.

2. It can better serve employees with good pay, good benefits and a real chance for advancement. They will be able to learn more about the business and be groomed to move to more important positions. It can also let those who are ambitious learn how to run a business of their own.

3. It can better serve the customers who really support the business and help it grow to success. The business can offer fair prices, outstanding customer service and an above average buying experience. It can provide more help, advise and assistance with products and any problems that arise.

4. It can better serve the community by sponsoring and supporting charity events and causes. The business will be known as one who cares and supports the people who support it. People will want to buy from a company that gives back to their community.

Some of these ideas comes from Ace Hardware Corp.

Barry is a Customer Experience speaker and trainer.  www.idealetter.com

Share the Profits

A small business can't afford some of the expensive perks and benefits that a big corporate company can but there are ways to share the business success with your staff. If your business is doing OK or better, consider sharing some of the profits with employees. You can take 10% to 20% of your profits and put in an account or fund quarterly that will be distributed or given to employees either yearly or every 6 months or whenever timetable you select. They can be divided by years of service, performance or other criteria you choose. Checks can be given out at a special pizza party, regular meeting or just included in their paycheck.

Sharing your profits will make everyone aware that their performance, customer service, attendance and working as a team will pay off. They will feel part of the business, not just another employee who can be replaced. Their productivity should rise as well as how they treat your customers who they need to come back. As the business gets bigger and better the profits will increase as well. This will also reduce turnover some because they know there is more than a paycheck if they stay and do a great job. The employee wins, the business owner wins, the customer wins and the comapny pays less tax on profits.

Barry is a marketing and customer satisfaction speaker and author. www.idealetter.com

Peer to Peer Lending

This process had been around on the internet for a while but is getting more attention lately. It's a way for new or growing businesses to get capital without going to a bank or lending institution. The site lets a business looking for business money make an offer to pay interest at a rate they think will attract people to lend them that money. Investors will look at the borrower's credit score, purpose of loan, interest offered and repayment term before deciding to loan part or all of what is requested. It's a way for borrowers with poor credit or no collateral to get loans that they would have no chance with a bank, etc.

The investor may get a bigger return than other investments and the interest rate is usually based on the risk associated with the borrower. It's also a way to help startups and struggling entrepreneurs grow a business when they had no other way to finance it. Investors can expect some loans to go bad but the overall high interest rate will usually make the average return still worth the effort. Investors and borrowers can register at sites like... lendingclub.com and prosper.com and many others if you search the web. Never invest more than you can tolerate losing if you select the wrong borrowers.

Barry Thomsen  www.idealetter.com