Free tips, information, advice, ideas, with business examples
from a lifetime of experience starting up and operating businesses.
A business frequently grows out of our early years. As a child or teenager, we show an interest in the activity that can later become a business.
Example: As a child, Jennifer watched her grandmother sewing. Needle and thread became magical to Jennifer--things got joined together and became something else. Out of the scraps from her grandmother's work, she made little outfits for her dolls. As a teenager, Jennifer's sewing became more ambitious. Encouraged by her mom, she made blouses and tops to wear herself. Fabric fascinated her. She turned old jeans into jackets and handbags. When she graduated from high school, Jennifer and her grandmother opened a small shop. It was filled with Jennifer's creations and they sold well. While Jennifer created new designs, her grandmother waited on customers and helped with the sewing. They reworked the shop's layout, installed a short runway and small stage, and today they hold regular fashion shows featuring Jennifer's designs.
Example: Jeb worked summers during high school for a small construction company. He learned how to install siding, gutters and downspouts, build steps, paint and pour concrete and more. Jeb saved his earnings. When he graduated high school, Jeb could have started his own renovation and repair business, but he had a bigger idea. He used his savings to make a down payment on a three-family building that needed work. He put the place in tip top shape, rented the apartments to three tenants, and looked around for another building.
Example: Dave and Jim were buddies as teenagers and both were into fitness. They spent hours in the local gym working out and playing sports. When they graduated, they talked with the owner of the local weight training center about how to open a gym. Their idea was not to compete with weight training but to have an up-scale fitness center--offering weight reduction programs, healthy living, with a smoothie bar with vitamins and supplements. To their surprise, the owner proposed that Dave and Jim take over the weight training center and turn it into what they had in mind. The owner offered to structure a loan to cover the payout over several years. Dave and Jim were suddenly in business and on their way.
These examples show how young people can take their interests to the next level. Keep in mind that anything can be turned into a business. It takes time, planning and lots of hard work.
It's not limited to young people. At any age, take your interests to the next level.
More examples of turning your passion into a business can be found in these write-ups. In addition to the hard work, it takes an attitude, confidence, and persistence.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Educating customers
Free daily tips, information, advice, ideas, with
business examples from my lifetime in business.
Your business can handle more sales than you have. You can sell more. You know that.
But did you know that some of your customers/clients don't know what you do? Some of them get accustomed to coming to you for one thing, but they ignore--or don't know about--all the other things you do.
In business, you must educate your customers/clients. You must tell them about all the things you can do for them. Otherwise, they tend to pigeon-hole you as expert at only one thing.
Example: Linda is a reflexology practitioner. Her clients are happy with results. They return and they refer others to Linda. She also offers clinical hypnosis counseling and childbirth education sessions. One of her reflexology clients (who was pregnant) asked Linda if she knew anyone who could help her with her weight gaining. The client didn't know that Linda could provide the advice she sought.
Example: You hired a web site designer and you were more than happy with the result. Now you need someone to set you up with social media. You call your web site designer and ask for a recommendation. He tells you that he can help you with social media. You suspected as much, but he had never mentioned it. He had not educated you in all the things he could do.
Example: Your regulars enjoy your restaurant's healthy meals, and they return again and again. But you haven't reminded them often enough that you also do catering. So, when they were planning that corporate event or a family reunion, they called a caterer who has contacted them. You've lost a sale.
Example: John handles taxes for several small businesses. He knows that few people in small business give much thought to selling the business or practice. He announces a seminar and invites all of his clients. There he will discuss how to get the business ready to sell, what a buyer might expect, how to negotiate, what value to place on the business, etc. At the meeting, he answers all their questions. During the following month, he gets several calls from business owners wanting a private meeting with John to further pursue the matter. He has expanded his business by educating his present clients.
Every time you interact with your customers and clients, try to remind them of the whole range of things you can do for them. Otherwise, they will tend to think of you in a narrow way.
The examples in these write-ups are good ways to communicate information and ideas for you to use in your business. Even if it's a different type of business, the example can get your creative juices flowing and give you fresh ideas. Never give up!
business examples from my lifetime in business.
Your business can handle more sales than you have. You can sell more. You know that.
But did you know that some of your customers/clients don't know what you do? Some of them get accustomed to coming to you for one thing, but they ignore--or don't know about--all the other things you do.
In business, you must educate your customers/clients. You must tell them about all the things you can do for them. Otherwise, they tend to pigeon-hole you as expert at only one thing.
Example: Linda is a reflexology practitioner. Her clients are happy with results. They return and they refer others to Linda. She also offers clinical hypnosis counseling and childbirth education sessions. One of her reflexology clients (who was pregnant) asked Linda if she knew anyone who could help her with her weight gaining. The client didn't know that Linda could provide the advice she sought.
Example: You hired a web site designer and you were more than happy with the result. Now you need someone to set you up with social media. You call your web site designer and ask for a recommendation. He tells you that he can help you with social media. You suspected as much, but he had never mentioned it. He had not educated you in all the things he could do.
Example: Your regulars enjoy your restaurant's healthy meals, and they return again and again. But you haven't reminded them often enough that you also do catering. So, when they were planning that corporate event or a family reunion, they called a caterer who has contacted them. You've lost a sale.
Example: John handles taxes for several small businesses. He knows that few people in small business give much thought to selling the business or practice. He announces a seminar and invites all of his clients. There he will discuss how to get the business ready to sell, what a buyer might expect, how to negotiate, what value to place on the business, etc. At the meeting, he answers all their questions. During the following month, he gets several calls from business owners wanting a private meeting with John to further pursue the matter. He has expanded his business by educating his present clients.
Every time you interact with your customers and clients, try to remind them of the whole range of things you can do for them. Otherwise, they will tend to think of you in a narrow way.
The examples in these write-ups are good ways to communicate information and ideas for you to use in your business. Even if it's a different type of business, the example can get your creative juices flowing and give you fresh ideas. Never give up!
Friday, October 10, 2014
Referrals more
Free daily tips, info, advice, ideas, with business examples from
personal experience starting up, operating, and growing businesses.
Referrals are as natural as sliced bread. Mary tells Sue where she gets her hair cut, and Sue tries out the salon. Bill tells John where he bought his new miter saw, and John checks out the inventory at the place.
Referrals bring you the best new clients and customers. They come to you on someone else's reputation or advice.
Example: Alyce is a massage therapist. She posts pictures on her Facebook page showing hands hard at work on the back of someone's neck. The pictures not only get "liked" on Facebook, they get passed around. This has the effect of referring other people to Alyce. It worked so well, Alyce decided to post the pictures on other social media. Today, Alyce's appointment bookings extend far into the future.
Social media works very well in introducing your business to a widening circle. Pictures are powerful communicators.
People naturally talk about their experiences with others. As a business person, you want to keep this process positive and continuing.
Example: A tried and true older method is one I learned from my insurance agent. Every three months he would call me and ask for referrals. I began using the same method--calling satisfied customers, asking if I could do anything for them, and then ask for referrals. Most of the time, my customers would gladly furnish names and phone numbers. Then I would call these people, engage them in a conversation about the person who referred me to them, and ask them for an appointment to further explain my services. It did not work every time, but it worked often enough that I grew the business without spending a ton of money on advertising.
Every business needs to extend its reach, expand its circle of customers. Getting the referral process moving and keeping people talking about you and your business is vital in business.
It's like a stool with three legs--your business, your customer, and the referred person. You want to put that third leg on many stools.
Social media today can give you lots of opportunities to promote the referral process. Facebook posts are one way. Think about the possibilities using Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and more.
More information and tips on increasing referrals can be found scattered throughout these write-ups. Build your business on these third party referrals.
personal experience starting up, operating, and growing businesses.
Referrals are as natural as sliced bread. Mary tells Sue where she gets her hair cut, and Sue tries out the salon. Bill tells John where he bought his new miter saw, and John checks out the inventory at the place.
Referrals bring you the best new clients and customers. They come to you on someone else's reputation or advice.
Example: Alyce is a massage therapist. She posts pictures on her Facebook page showing hands hard at work on the back of someone's neck. The pictures not only get "liked" on Facebook, they get passed around. This has the effect of referring other people to Alyce. It worked so well, Alyce decided to post the pictures on other social media. Today, Alyce's appointment bookings extend far into the future.
Social media works very well in introducing your business to a widening circle. Pictures are powerful communicators.
People naturally talk about their experiences with others. As a business person, you want to keep this process positive and continuing.
Example: A tried and true older method is one I learned from my insurance agent. Every three months he would call me and ask for referrals. I began using the same method--calling satisfied customers, asking if I could do anything for them, and then ask for referrals. Most of the time, my customers would gladly furnish names and phone numbers. Then I would call these people, engage them in a conversation about the person who referred me to them, and ask them for an appointment to further explain my services. It did not work every time, but it worked often enough that I grew the business without spending a ton of money on advertising.
Every business needs to extend its reach, expand its circle of customers. Getting the referral process moving and keeping people talking about you and your business is vital in business.
It's like a stool with three legs--your business, your customer, and the referred person. You want to put that third leg on many stools.
Social media today can give you lots of opportunities to promote the referral process. Facebook posts are one way. Think about the possibilities using Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and more.
More information and tips on increasing referrals can be found scattered throughout these write-ups. Build your business on these third party referrals.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Expanding your business
Free daily tips, information, advice, ideas, with business examples
from my lifetime experiences starting up, operating, and growing businesses of my own.
Expanding your business takes time, planning and moving forward one step at a time. I'm not talking growing--growing means getting bigger and bigger. Expanding means taking on a related market.
Example: Jilletta is a chiropractor. She decided some time ago that she wanted to head in the direction of becoming a wellness center. She didn't know how many wellness experts she would be able to attract, and she didn't know how much space would be needed. So she spent several months talking with holistic providers, looking at buildings, investigating the market, and doing the numbers--projecting forward several scenarios and arriving at a business plan that made sense. Today, Jilletta's wellness center attracts clients looking for all sorts of treatments, including Reiki, massage, acupuncture, yoga sessions for individuals, nutritional guidance, aromatherapy, and other popular wellness interests. She provides space for the experts to meet and treat their clients--transients can simply pay her a fee, or longer term rentals can be made. There is a small room for information displays, including video. The center has attracted lots of attention in the community and beyond. Jilletta still sees her chiropractic patients here.
Rushing into a business expansion is not a good idea. The business-like way to approach an expansion is to research the market, carefully plan out steps, and then take the plunge.
Example: Bill runs a landscaping service. He cuts grass, trims shrubbery, helps homeowners put plants in their yards. He parks his truck and trailer behind his own house, and his garage is full of equipment and materials. Inside, he turned part of a bedroom into a small office setup. To grow, his wife reminded him, he needed to get the business out of the house, out of the garage, and out of the yard. To expand, Bill looked around. He found a small garden center owned by an elderly man who was willing to enter into a lease-purchase agreement, selling the place to Bill. After carefully projecting the numbers, Bill jumped at the chance. The elderly man was looking for an income for his declining years, so they agreed to a payout that Bill could afford over the next 15 years. If Bill defaulted, the elderly man could repossess the place and sell it again. Today, Bill has expanded his landscaping services into a full-blown garden center attracting many more customers. With the expanded business, he has never missed a payment. To keep an eye on things, the elderly man still putters around the place, helping Bill with the operation and providing invaluable advice.
When you want to expand your business, get creative. The possibilities are out there. It's up to you to home in on what works for you.
Other examples of expansion possibilities are scattered throughout these write-ups. I have used various methods to expand, and I have worked with others on their expansion plans. The important thing is to know what you're getting into--check out the market for what you're expanding into, and project some solid numbers with a business plan.
from my lifetime experiences starting up, operating, and growing businesses of my own.
Expanding your business takes time, planning and moving forward one step at a time. I'm not talking growing--growing means getting bigger and bigger. Expanding means taking on a related market.
Example: Jilletta is a chiropractor. She decided some time ago that she wanted to head in the direction of becoming a wellness center. She didn't know how many wellness experts she would be able to attract, and she didn't know how much space would be needed. So she spent several months talking with holistic providers, looking at buildings, investigating the market, and doing the numbers--projecting forward several scenarios and arriving at a business plan that made sense. Today, Jilletta's wellness center attracts clients looking for all sorts of treatments, including Reiki, massage, acupuncture, yoga sessions for individuals, nutritional guidance, aromatherapy, and other popular wellness interests. She provides space for the experts to meet and treat their clients--transients can simply pay her a fee, or longer term rentals can be made. There is a small room for information displays, including video. The center has attracted lots of attention in the community and beyond. Jilletta still sees her chiropractic patients here.
Rushing into a business expansion is not a good idea. The business-like way to approach an expansion is to research the market, carefully plan out steps, and then take the plunge.
Example: Bill runs a landscaping service. He cuts grass, trims shrubbery, helps homeowners put plants in their yards. He parks his truck and trailer behind his own house, and his garage is full of equipment and materials. Inside, he turned part of a bedroom into a small office setup. To grow, his wife reminded him, he needed to get the business out of the house, out of the garage, and out of the yard. To expand, Bill looked around. He found a small garden center owned by an elderly man who was willing to enter into a lease-purchase agreement, selling the place to Bill. After carefully projecting the numbers, Bill jumped at the chance. The elderly man was looking for an income for his declining years, so they agreed to a payout that Bill could afford over the next 15 years. If Bill defaulted, the elderly man could repossess the place and sell it again. Today, Bill has expanded his landscaping services into a full-blown garden center attracting many more customers. With the expanded business, he has never missed a payment. To keep an eye on things, the elderly man still putters around the place, helping Bill with the operation and providing invaluable advice.
When you want to expand your business, get creative. The possibilities are out there. It's up to you to home in on what works for you.
Other examples of expansion possibilities are scattered throughout these write-ups. I have used various methods to expand, and I have worked with others on their expansion plans. The important thing is to know what you're getting into--check out the market for what you're expanding into, and project some solid numbers with a business plan.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Facebook alive
Free daily tips, info, advice, ideas, with business examples
from my lifetime of experiences in business--been there, done that.
Facebook is a fantastic promotional tool for small business. It's almost effortless from the standpoint of your time. And it's free.
Example: Leonetta is a therapist specializing in Reiki. Her client base for people is growing with referrals. She decides to expand her operation by offering Reiki for pets. Pictures of pets always attract attention. She snaps pictures of dogs, puppies and other animals and posts them on her Facebook page. These pictures are exchanged among groups of friends--and calls come in. To speed up appointments, Leonetta posts new pictures daily. To slow it down, she posts only once each week.
Example: Robert's garden center uses Facebook. He posts close-up pictures of blooming plants to attract attention. If he can capture a butterfly, so much the better. These pictures of chrysanthemums and asters bring people to the garden center. For autumn interest, he posts pictures of corn stalks and pumpkins. In spring, it's daffodils and tulips. He avoids people's faces in the pictures he takes, but frequently shows a working hand.
Example: Sara runs a gift shop. She photographs every new item--giving her a record of her inventory. Many items in her shop are from artists and artisans who produce one-of-a-kind pieces--jewelry, ceramics, photographs, paintings, and the like. She selects from the photographs those that she knows will attract attention and posts them on Facebook. It stirs interest and brings people to her shop.
Example: Franklin is an attorney. He regularly volunteers to speak at public events--club meetings, senior centers, organizational gatherings, etc. He gets an agreement to take and use pictures of the meeting on Facebook. The pictures go on Facebook, looking like a news items in the local paper. People see themselves on Facebook, pass the pictures around, and calls come in to the attorney's office for appointments.
Facebook can work in any business. Snap pictures and post them. If you snap pictures of people's faces, get an okay to use them.
Don't know how to use Facebook? Go on the website and let them lead you through the simple process. If you're still confused, ask any teenager for help.
from my lifetime of experiences in business--been there, done that.
Facebook is a fantastic promotional tool for small business. It's almost effortless from the standpoint of your time. And it's free.
Example: Leonetta is a therapist specializing in Reiki. Her client base for people is growing with referrals. She decides to expand her operation by offering Reiki for pets. Pictures of pets always attract attention. She snaps pictures of dogs, puppies and other animals and posts them on her Facebook page. These pictures are exchanged among groups of friends--and calls come in. To speed up appointments, Leonetta posts new pictures daily. To slow it down, she posts only once each week.
Example: Robert's garden center uses Facebook. He posts close-up pictures of blooming plants to attract attention. If he can capture a butterfly, so much the better. These pictures of chrysanthemums and asters bring people to the garden center. For autumn interest, he posts pictures of corn stalks and pumpkins. In spring, it's daffodils and tulips. He avoids people's faces in the pictures he takes, but frequently shows a working hand.
Example: Sara runs a gift shop. She photographs every new item--giving her a record of her inventory. Many items in her shop are from artists and artisans who produce one-of-a-kind pieces--jewelry, ceramics, photographs, paintings, and the like. She selects from the photographs those that she knows will attract attention and posts them on Facebook. It stirs interest and brings people to her shop.
Example: Franklin is an attorney. He regularly volunteers to speak at public events--club meetings, senior centers, organizational gatherings, etc. He gets an agreement to take and use pictures of the meeting on Facebook. The pictures go on Facebook, looking like a news items in the local paper. People see themselves on Facebook, pass the pictures around, and calls come in to the attorney's office for appointments.
Facebook can work in any business. Snap pictures and post them. If you snap pictures of people's faces, get an okay to use them.
Don't know how to use Facebook? Go on the website and let them lead you through the simple process. If you're still confused, ask any teenager for help.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Arranging for space
Free daily tips, information, advice, ideas, with business examples
from my lifetime of personal experiences starting, operating, growing businesses.
Expanding? Need space for that new business? Moving it out of the house?
You have three choices--lease the space you need, share a space with another business, or you can buy a building.
Example: Rita was excited. She was about to realize her dream of establishing her own retail shop. She found the perfect storefront in an upscale small town. The landlord asked a reasonable price, but he wanted a one-year lease. This raised a red flag in Rita's mind. On the one hand, if her store didn't do well, she would be out of the lease in 12 months. On the other hand, if all went well, she would be in a bad position to negotiate a continuing lease. The landlord could insist on doubling the rent, knowing she would not want to move. Or perhaps he had other plans for the building and was simply looking for rental income for one year. Rita held her ground--she told him she wanted a 5-year lease or she would look elsewhere. Her persistence paid off. The landlord counter-offered and they settled on a 3-year lease at a slightly higher rent.
Example: John is a furniture designer. He could not afford a storefront on his own, so he went looking for a another type of space. He found a gift shop that catered to buyers of works produced by up-and-coming artists and artisans. He made arrangements to display his chairs and tables on a consignment basis. Also, he uses Facebook and Etsy to reach out to buyers.
Example: Diane is a personal trainer. She sees clients in their homes, and she sees employees in company fitness centers. She is building up a following with an eye to the day when she can open her own facility. Her plans don't stop there. She would like to expand eventually into a full wellness center, offering space to nutritionists, Reiki practitioners, massage specialists, and other holistic experts. With her goal firmly in place, her business plan writes itself.
Example: Elise is a ceramicist. She used a part of her inheritance to buy a small building. There, she established her working studio and display shop. She is supplementing her income by teaching small classes along with individual instruction. She is set up so that the business pays her back with a monthly rental income, thereby recouping over time the money she spent buying the building.
Finding the space you need for your business can be daunting. Opportunities can vary.
Explore all the possibilities and work each one through your overall business plan. Make certain that the arrangement you make matches your long term goal.
Elsewhere in these write-ups, you'll find other entries on finding and leasing space. It's just another part of managing your business. Many will tell you that in today's computerized world, you don't need a space. Well, you must do your work somewhere, even if it's done at home.
from my lifetime of personal experiences starting, operating, growing businesses.
Expanding? Need space for that new business? Moving it out of the house?
You have three choices--lease the space you need, share a space with another business, or you can buy a building.
Example: Rita was excited. She was about to realize her dream of establishing her own retail shop. She found the perfect storefront in an upscale small town. The landlord asked a reasonable price, but he wanted a one-year lease. This raised a red flag in Rita's mind. On the one hand, if her store didn't do well, she would be out of the lease in 12 months. On the other hand, if all went well, she would be in a bad position to negotiate a continuing lease. The landlord could insist on doubling the rent, knowing she would not want to move. Or perhaps he had other plans for the building and was simply looking for rental income for one year. Rita held her ground--she told him she wanted a 5-year lease or she would look elsewhere. Her persistence paid off. The landlord counter-offered and they settled on a 3-year lease at a slightly higher rent.
Example: John is a furniture designer. He could not afford a storefront on his own, so he went looking for a another type of space. He found a gift shop that catered to buyers of works produced by up-and-coming artists and artisans. He made arrangements to display his chairs and tables on a consignment basis. Also, he uses Facebook and Etsy to reach out to buyers.
Example: Diane is a personal trainer. She sees clients in their homes, and she sees employees in company fitness centers. She is building up a following with an eye to the day when she can open her own facility. Her plans don't stop there. She would like to expand eventually into a full wellness center, offering space to nutritionists, Reiki practitioners, massage specialists, and other holistic experts. With her goal firmly in place, her business plan writes itself.
Example: Elise is a ceramicist. She used a part of her inheritance to buy a small building. There, she established her working studio and display shop. She is supplementing her income by teaching small classes along with individual instruction. She is set up so that the business pays her back with a monthly rental income, thereby recouping over time the money she spent buying the building.
Finding the space you need for your business can be daunting. Opportunities can vary.
Explore all the possibilities and work each one through your overall business plan. Make certain that the arrangement you make matches your long term goal.
Elsewhere in these write-ups, you'll find other entries on finding and leasing space. It's just another part of managing your business. Many will tell you that in today's computerized world, you don't need a space. Well, you must do your work somewhere, even if it's done at home.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Partnering with others
Free daily tips, info, advice, ideas, with business examples
from a lifetime of personal experiences---been there, done that.
Small businesses can extend the reach out into the community by partnering with other businesses. It can be as simple as joining together to hold an open house.
Example: A chiropractor partners with a nutritional expert. They announce an open house. Emails go out, phone calls are made, a news release is sent, and the event is posted on Facebook. The big day arrives and people hungry for information show up. The chiropractor and the nutritionist talk about what they do and answer questions. The session results in additional clients for each of them.
Example: A potter partners with a florist and they put together a workshop. Attendees can learn hands-on how to throw a pot on the potter's wheel and learn how to make flower arrangements and take care of house plants. The workshop attracts many more people than either could do alone. Several new customers result, and the subsequent Facebook pictures attract even more attention.
Example: A small independent book store partners with an ice cream shop. Book signings and readings (adults and children) are held while attendees enjoy a free scoop. The sessions bring new people to each operation--particularly when pictures later show up on Facebook.
Example: A computer expert partners with a local cafe. Everyone has questions about computer problems, and everyone has to eat.
Events create excitement in the community. The word goes around on Facebook and other social media. When two businesses get together to hold an event, more people are introduced to each of them.
Success depends on getting the word out ahead of time.
More partnership possibilities are to be found in other write-ups in this series. If you know of others, send me an email. Put BLOG in the subject line so I don't delete. Send to AlWarr16@gmail.com. No names, please.
from a lifetime of personal experiences---been there, done that.
Small businesses can extend the reach out into the community by partnering with other businesses. It can be as simple as joining together to hold an open house.
Example: A chiropractor partners with a nutritional expert. They announce an open house. Emails go out, phone calls are made, a news release is sent, and the event is posted on Facebook. The big day arrives and people hungry for information show up. The chiropractor and the nutritionist talk about what they do and answer questions. The session results in additional clients for each of them.
Example: A potter partners with a florist and they put together a workshop. Attendees can learn hands-on how to throw a pot on the potter's wheel and learn how to make flower arrangements and take care of house plants. The workshop attracts many more people than either could do alone. Several new customers result, and the subsequent Facebook pictures attract even more attention.
Example: A small independent book store partners with an ice cream shop. Book signings and readings (adults and children) are held while attendees enjoy a free scoop. The sessions bring new people to each operation--particularly when pictures later show up on Facebook.
Example: A computer expert partners with a local cafe. Everyone has questions about computer problems, and everyone has to eat.
Events create excitement in the community. The word goes around on Facebook and other social media. When two businesses get together to hold an event, more people are introduced to each of them.
Success depends on getting the word out ahead of time.
More partnership possibilities are to be found in other write-ups in this series. If you know of others, send me an email. Put BLOG in the subject line so I don't delete. Send to AlWarr16@gmail.com. No names, please.
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