Casual Articles - Business

Change Management: Training Is Not Enough
It is difficult to find organisations that would say, "We find that training has little impact on our bottom line year on year".Is this because organisations know exactly what return they get from training? The answer to that question is a clear no. The American Society for Training and Development reported that only 3% of organisations measure what happens to their bottom line as a result of training.Or is it that it is politically incorrect to say in an organisation

tc. They are always watching for new resources. If you aren't sure where you are going to meet these people, don't worry too much about it. If you tell everyone what you are doing, and make a few initial contacts, word-of-mouth will take care of the rest.

That doesn't mean that you can sit back and not do anything, but you will find that at least once a week, you will hear about a new prospect that you can contact--whether it's a mason who is looking for a new supplier, or a contractor looking for an alternative to natural stone, or a remodeler who's looking for a way to spiff up an older building. Just send them a brochure with a note inviting them to come look at your product, and you'll be surprised at how many show up on your

Bringing Your Brand Into Focus
To promote your brand, you first have to be clear what it is, or what you want it to be. In essence, your brand should be unique. In a nutshell, it is what can be associated with your business and no other. Think of any hugely successful brand and you’ll know exactly what I mean.To identify what it is about your business that you should be promoting, take a piece of paper and make a list of the key points of your business operation that you’d like to be known for

How do I sell my product?

This is the question I hear most often from people interested in making cast stone. I've always found it odd that they aren't intimidated by the prospect of learning how to do the manufacturing process, but the thought of selling gives them the willies. In fact, they act like they'd rather be struck by lightning than face a prospective customer!

Here are 5 tips for selling your product--and you should note that none of the 5 have anything to do with hard-sell techniques. This is a business where the hard sell will damage your results more than help them. The best approach is to simply inform people about your product, and stay in touch with them.

Tip #1--Look for commercial contractors who do larger buildings. Church contractors are especially good prospects, since many churches use large amounts of artificial stone. My first customer was a small church in Tennessee, and even with a "trade discount" to the contractor, I made a healthy profit that more than paid for my time and effort.

Tip #2--Another group of people to get acquainted with is subdivision contractors. Most states have builder's associations with regional chapters, and many of them will let you join if you are involved in the building industry in any way. You can find one in your area with an Internet search. If you consider that the average house takes about 200 square feet of cast stone (foundation or fireplace/bumpout), one subdivision contractor doing 50-250 houses can keep you busy for a very long time! (Just be sure to give him a good deal.)

Tip #3--Look for log home builders/contractors in your area. This style of construction almost always has some kind of stone, and many of them have massive fireplaces and cathedral ceilings, which means a lot of stone from floor to ceiling!

Tip #4--Your local building supply is a good place to find people who are looking for your product. Work up a good wholesale price, make up several sample boards that display your product attractively, and take them down to the manager. Ask them if they'd be willing to take orders for your product. They deal with the customer, you supply the product. A good arrangement all around.

Tip #5--Go to your local mall, and find out what it would cost to put up a semi-permanent kiosk. This is an idea that I haven't tried personally, but have seen in several places. You can build 4 low walls or set up several boards that display your various shapes and colors and what they look like installed. Include some boxes for your brochures and business cards, and a sign with your business name and contact information. With all of that in place, you don't even have to be at the kiosk--the displays and the brochures do all the selling for you!

In addition, you can talk to remodeling contractors, interior designers, stone masons, etc. They are always watching for new resources. If you aren't sure where you are going to meet these people, don't worry too much about it. If you tell everyone what you are doing, and make a few initial contacts, word-of-mouth will take care of the rest.

What Can American Idol Teach You About Business?
Well, folks, as luck and ratings would have it, it’s time for yet another season of that train wreck of reality TV, American Idol; the show that attempts to separate the talented from the terrible and brings them all into your living room each week for you to enjoy. Get ready to call in and cast your vote for who should be applauded and who should be muzzled. How fortunate we are to be living in a time when we can judge our fellow man via text message.And don’t forget your

ercial contractors who do larger buildings. Church contractors are especially good prospects, since many churches use large amounts of artificial stone. My first customer was a small church in Tennessee, and even with a "trade discount" to the contractor, I made a healthy profit that more than paid for my time and effort.

Advertising in a High School Booster Club Program Pays
Most small businesses in many communities spend thousands of dollars each year in advertising that may not pull in customers like it should. And then there are the small advertising opportunities, which it seems do great and cost hardly anything. Consider if you will advertising in a high school booster club’s program. Perhaps it is for the football team or the high school band.Each one of those students and their parents also live in the local community and would rather

fireplace/bumpout), one subdivision contractor doing 50-250 houses can keep you busy for a very long time! (Just be sure to give him a good deal.)

Over 50 and Job Searching - Cultivating Your Upper Hand
No one really knows when youth ends officially. But if you are over 50 and looking for a job, you probably feel that the rules have all changed. These are the times of downsizing, ‘right-sizing’ (whatever that means) and cost-cutting. If you have ever lost a potential job to a much younger, lower-paid candidate, you might have asked yourself if you’ve reached your expiration date.Yes, age bias still exists – let’s not be in denial about that. But there are all kinds o

with the customer, you supply the product. A good arrangement all around.

A Man and His Razor
It is vain to do with more what can be done with less. William of Ockham This is Ockham’s famed Razor. A shorthand version of the razor might be, “keep it simple.” When complexity is added to a relationship, process or organization without good reason, the result is usually a loss of focus, clarity and effectiveness. Roles become blurred, goals are uncertain and success is haphazard. Bureaucracies are prime violators o

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You can have your cake and eat it too! Enjoy the best of both worlds. Make money and have fun at the same time as a mystery shopper.

Aspiring franchisees often find themselves in the situation of having plenty funds, not wanting to work for somebody else, but lacking basic business skills to start a business on their own. What exactly is a franchise?

Performance metrics need to be tracked diligently. Setting up a profit and loss type statement is an excellent way to track your performance metrics.

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Casual Articles - Cast Stone Manufacturing: 5 Tips For Selling Your Product

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