Casual Articles - Business

The Power of a Brochure
Why use a professional brochure?If you want to do business with anyone, you have to look the part. You would not likely show up to an initial meeting in a boardroom with torn jeans and a muscle shirt. On the contrary, you would likely dress up for the occasion and wear dress slacks and a business like shirt or blouse.The same needs to be true for a business brochure. Besides the business card, the business brochure is your first step forward. The brochure tells the potential customer not only about your company through the conten

erything we are all wear is not made in North America. There aren't many items now.

I know not to take this personally but when it keeps up for as long as it did, how do you handle it?

Hi B,

Thank you for your "war story."

In no special order of significance, here are my reactions:

The real key is this question: "

Dirty Little Secrets of International Advertising
International Advertising is not easy and it gets a little tricky due all the many cultural differences and this of course makes a lot of sense, however when you couple that with the language translations well it can get rather tricky indeed, say the top University Professors teaching International Advertising. In fact there are numerous case studies and many dirty little secrets say Advertising Experts.One online advertising writer and experts reminds of a couple of really unfortunate instances; Clairol introduced the "Mist Stick", a c

I received this inquiry asking how I would assess this Customer-Gone-Wild episode. After I share it with you, I'll affix my answer, which I hope everyone will find useful.

Two women came into the store and I greeted them with a smile and a pleasant hello and one "lady" proceeded to tell me what a rotten company (ours) was and how disgusting that the figurines were now being made in Thailand, not England. Said she had over 100 figurines and started saving them over 40 years ago. She never would have started if she had known. It went on for several minutes, no matter how I explained what we have been advised to, she just kept on and on. Telling me I will never convince her that it was wise or a smart move and she raised her voice.

At first I tried to tell her what companies like ours do when they open new factories {as we have been trained}, then I tried to show her the figurines that are still manufactured in England --they start at $550.00 and upward for these prestige pieces. Most pieces run into several thousand dollars. The average person cannot afford that. So by having them made offshore they have become affordable again.

This all took place over approximately 12 - 15 minutes. When I started to leave her to attend to other priorities she followed me and kept it up..... I finally made a comment about our clothing and said just about everything we are all wear is not made in North America. There aren't many items now.

I know not to take this personally but when it keeps up for as long as it did, how do you handle it?

Hi B,

Thank you for your "war story."

In no special order of significance, here are my reactions:

The real key is this question: "W

Children At Work: Looking at Child Labor in the Victorian Age
Today, it isn’t that uncommon for some children and teenagers to work. They may earn extra money by baby-sitting, doing yard work, or maybe even walking dogs. Others, once they go on to high school, may go to work in their local grocery store, malls, or food chains. However, in the Victorian Age, it wouldn’t seem at all strange to see children as young as five or six, go to work full-time (sometimes sixteen hours a day!) in often dangerous conditions.As you read, ask yourself questions. Why do you think children so young were workin

that the figurines were now being made in Thailand, not England. Said she had over 100 figurines and started saving them over 40 years ago. She never would have started if she had known. It went on for several minutes, no matter how I explained what we have been advised to, she just kept on and on. Telling me I will never convince her that it was wise or a smart move and she raised her voice.

I know not to take this personally but when it keeps up for as long as it did, how do you handle it?

Hi B,

Thank you for your "war story."

In no special order of significance, here are my reactions:

The real key is this question: "

How to Conduct Your Background Check When Hiring Someone
In hiring people, skills and qualification is not the only consideration that you should examine. There are many employers now who have been victims of deceitful employees. Hiring a wrong person is very dangerous especially if you hire someone to take care of your business and your family. For your peace of mind and to ensure the safety of your business and family, it is important to conduct your background check before hiring someone.There are many factors that you have to consider if you want to conduct your background check and be s

was wise or a smart move and she raised her voice.

I know not to take this personally but when it keeps up for as long as it did, how do you handle it?

Hi B,

Thank you for your "war story."

In no special order of significance, here are my reactions:

The real key is this question: "

Why Facts Tell, And Stories Sell!
Since the first caveman figured out how to tie a sharp rock to the end of a sturdy stick with a piece of vine, and hack off slabs of mastodon meat with it for fire roasting, storytelling has been the way knowledge has been passed from one person to another.Around the campfire blaze, the tribal members would gather, the little children gazing cautiously out from behind their parents, their eyes shining wide like silver dollars, listening… The grizzled old witch Doctor—can you hear his crackling voice, as he spins a yarn of bygone days?nd dollars. The average person cannot afford that. So by having them made offshore they have become affordable again.

I know not to take this personally but when it keeps up for as long as it did, how do you handle it?

Hi B,

Thank you for your "war story."

In no special order of significance, here are my reactions:

The real key is this question: "

Free Catalogs
If you don’t have time to shop but would like to browse through products and order in the comforts of your own home or office, then you should order free catalogs. The internet is a great source for such freebies, and if you log on to the right sites, you will be able to browse your way into the product you are looking for in no time.You can get free online catalogs from virtually everywhere, but be careful not to immediately sign up for free offers – some merchants may flood your inbox with catalogs you did not even request.Visi

erything we are all wear is not made in North America. There aren't many items now.

I know not to take this personally but when it keeps up for as long as it did, how do you handle it?

Hi B,

Thank you for your "war story."

In no special order of significance, here are my reactions:

The real key is this question: "What is VALUE to the customer?" In her case, the answer is complicated.

Value, I suspect, for her means a certain snob appeal, a sense she is part of something exclusive, having bragging rights, impressing her friends.

Collecting your products served these purposes for her, but no longer. She is HUGELY disappointed that your firm decided to cater to from her view, a downscale clientele.

This is a classical example of the fact that a company cannot serve everyone perfectly, that it will inevitably disappoint many by making strategic and sourcing and pricing decisions as yours has done.

Instead of being able to cast a spell on her friends as they listen aptly to how and where she acquired each unique piece, there will always be a cynical voice threatening to seize the stage and her limelight, trying to take her down a notch by inserting, "Well, you know they're made in THAILAND now!"

For her, the decision to offshore is a disaster, devaluing her entire collection, EMOTIONALLY and EGOTISTICALLY.

Possibly, the value of her overall collection may have decreased, and this could be an undisclosed fear on her part. Maybe in a pinch, she always felt she could fetch a premium for it, but perhaps no longer.

We're getting into something that is probably called, "collector psychology." Come to think of it, those folks who insist

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Consider Branding

A brand sets you apart from your competition. Your brand can send multiple signals to people who then make judgements on you consciously and subliminally about you, your product or service. This then forms a basis of opinion. This instinctive process is what makes your brand so powerful. The key is to tap into what gives the customer the right reaction when presented with your brand.

7 Steps to Workforce Retention

It's an IT jungle out there …and many of your employees may be thinking the jungles a bit greener somewhere else. With solo contracting becoming increasingly attractive, how do you make sure you retain key IT personnel? Here are seven tips I’ve found helpful when working with companies suffering from talent drain, things you can do to not only retain staff but increase productivity and performance.

Customer Reviews Online Can Make or Break Your Business

Customer satisfaction has always been important to business success. However, in the Internet Age, it is more important than ever since its easy for customers to express their feelings about your business in online forums and other technological means. Once you understand how your customers communicate, you can develop a strategy to ensure that communications helps rather than hinders your business.

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