Hard to believe it but on February 14, 2011, I celebrated six years of business.  They say that most small businesses fail within the first five years. Kind of like marriages hit that rocky point around seven. Well, as a business owner I have passed that hurdle. I thought I would take a moment and [...]

On Friday I had the pleasure of presenting my Social Media workshop to the participants of the Stark County Board of Mental Health during their annual conference. The group was lively and engaging and I had a great time.  During my discussion about social shopping and the consumer trend to connect with businesses, one of [...]

This topic seems timely on the eve of Black Friday frenzy.  Retailers are expecting a record breaking volume of shoppers and sales this week . In an effort to gain the customer’s first dollars they are opening even earlier – some on Thanksgiving day!  The ads, the offers, the promises being offered in pre-Thanksgiving day [...]

Last evening I had the opportunity to participate in a radio show – Reader’s Entertainment Radio – hosted by Sheila English.  Sheila interviewed myself and Sherre DeMao – founder of SLD Unlimted Marketing/PR, Inc.  Sheila led us through a series of questions which uncovered our philosophies of effective marketing and communication with our prospects and [...]

My son has his first sales job; selling Cutco knives.   It is quite an experience.  He went through 16 hours of unpaid training and had to purchase the sales kit prior to making any money so he is invested in the process.  At least financially. He’s too new in the sales game to have learned [...]

Just saw this link on a tweet The Biggest Shift Since the Industrial Revolution. If your customer is between the ages of 18-35 – you need to learn to master the art of social media – or at the very least – be listening real close and often to what is being said. Of all [...]

I am always focused on the customer and our relationship with them but the other key component to successfully building a reputationfor putting customers first is how your employees feel about the whole thing.  Happy employees equal happy customers.  “If mamma hate happy, ain’t nobody happy.” In the book 30 Reasons Employees Hate Their Managers [...]

I recently received an email bringing my attention to an article focusing on 12 customer service lessons from the best customer service companies. Although I don’t believe there were any huge new “ah ha” moments, the list is a good one that focuses on the importance and value of building relationships with customers. Keep it personal Don’t [...]

Have you ever lost a customer and didn’t know why?  I was talking with Business Coach and Professional Speaker Leslie Ungar of Electric Impulse Communications about customers.  She shared a story with me that really helped put things in perspective. As the economy takes its good old time recovering, the trickle down effect of lower revenues [...]

We did a book swap at Boardroom this morning and I picked up the book 5 Minutes with the VITO – a Sandler Sales book.  VITO stands for Very Important Top Officer and is the one person in the company that can say YES.  The prospect every sales person longs to meet and build a [...]