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Article of the Month |
Making Life Simpler
by
Tom Shay
Making Life Simpler is not about how you can sit back, relax and enjoy life. Well maybe that concept can be a part of the end result of your having done what is in this article.
Making Life Simpler is a guide to how and why you should create job specifications for your business. As detailed in the article, we found that detailing what a person was to do in their job and how to do it, helped solve a lot of problems and prevent problems as new people were added to our staff.
And, this material helped us to redirect a staff person when things were not going as we needed them to go. You will find a lot of valuable information in this month's article.
Click on article of the month to read this article. |
Book of the Month |
Buying In
by
Jim Walker
Found this book as I was waiting for a flight. Come read about the concept of 'murketing' which is 'murky-marketing'.
This information is very applicable today as traditional advertising mediums - television, radio and newspaper - are finding their sphere of influence is dwendling. I think you will get some great ideas of how to spread the message about your business as you read this book.
We have more books to suggest for your reading. Click on book referral to visit this page on our site.
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Contact Us |
Profits Plus
P.O. Box 128
Dardanelle, AR
72834 USA
(727) 823-7205 Voice
(727) 898-3179 Fax
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Got a question for some of you and something for all of you:
1. Fireside chat
Watching parts of the presidential inauguration last month, I thought back to a previous president known for his radio broadcasts that were known as 'fireside chats'. The commentary during the inauguration was that the conversations did much to help people get through challenging times.
So, we are going to have our own version of a fireside chat and we want to invite you to join us. This is no charge for this; you only have to pay your own long distance charges, if any.
Bring your questions and concerns and join us on Tuesday, February 24 at 8:00pm EST. To participate you need to dial 1-218-339-4600 and upon getting the recorded message, enter the pin number of 270985#. To help us prepare, you can send your questions and concerns to us via e-mail today.
2. Open note to those of you on planning committees and advisory boards: What are you thinking?
When there is an economic downturn, there are several things you can count on. One is vendors telling businesses not to let their inventory levels get too low so as to not cause customers to do business elsewhere.
The second aspect occurs as we watch vendors and associations make drastic changes in their strategies.
I am not sure I understand either concept. With the first one, when you review reports of some manufacturers you find how they are making substantial cutbacks in their inventory levels. But why did they cut back when they told their accounts not to cut back?
With meetings, it just shocks me to see the first budget cut is for education. Why would anyone decrease or eliminate business education at a point in time where the business needs the most help? If ever there was a time when education was needed, wouldn't this be it?
And while the meeting still occurs, the receptions are not what are eliminated or diminished?
Here are my questions to those who are on planning comittees or advisory boards:
Which do you think the participants get more from; two cases of Jack Daniels or two hours of business education?
In an economy that is like a sinking ship; business education is like swimming lessons. Why would you stop them now?
Or, the situation where a conference decides that education is going to be a series of dealer 'round table' discussions. Well, I am just glad the doctor doesn't ask all the patients to sit together and discuss their challenges. The patients need the physician.
I have heard the, "We can't afford them". You cannot afford to be without them!
While the nature of our business at Profits Plus keeps us very busy, I am hearing these reports from speakers telling us how much their business has decreased.
Now is the time to determine a strategy for going forward; you don't survive by just 'hunkering down'.
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Internet Tip of The Month |
Days sales outstanding calculator
Are you a banker? Of course your aren't; well, maybe not intentionally. But, you may be one without knowing you are one.
We all know that people are holding onto their money longer. This includes those individuals that owe you money. So, how long does it take you to collect the money from your customers on the accounts they have with you?
This calculator will help you see how much lost money there is to be had by chasing this money owed to you.
Days sales outstanding calculator
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The Power Promoting Idea of the Month |
Keeping your store looking fresh
Here in St. Petersburg, there is a major street that when I am home I travel on every day. On that street are two dress shops that are very interesting.
Both sell to a similar market; one knows they are on a busy street. The other does not know that, or perhaps, has not figured out how to utilize it.
With the first one, the lights are always on. And the windows are always attractive. I am sure they are changed daily, but it seems like every time I drive by the store the window displays are different. The store is a head turner, even though two years ago the building was a run down coin laundry.
The other store has a dirty parking lot. The landscaping looks like it is weed infested. The lights are not on so the display is not very visible from the road.
Did you know that a very sizable portion of the impression your customer gets of your business is that from the road? From my description, which of these two shops would you want to go to first?
If you are in a mall or strip center, the same concept still applies. You have to create an inviting appearance that begins to work as soon as the customer can first see your business.
We list the next 60 days of travel in the e-retailer as we often hear from readers who are asking about opportunities to hear a presentation when I am in your area. And we are always glad to help you obtain an invitation to those events.
February 1 Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
February 3 New Orleans, Louisiana
February 8 Corona, California
February 13 Vancouver, British Columbia
February 14 Orlando, Florida
February 17 Charlotte, North Carolina
February 18 Orlando, Florida
February 19 Denver, Colorado
February 21 Meadlowlands, New Jersey
February 22 Meadowlands, New Jersey
February 27 Nashville, Tennessee
February 28 Atlanta, Georgia
March 1 Atlanta, Georgia
March 5-7 Nashville, Tennessee
March 18 Reno, Nevada
March 27 Tucson, Arizona
March 28 Orlando, Florida
The calendar for all of 2009 is posted on our website and updated daily. Click here to see when I am going to be in your area.
The calendar for all of 2009 is posted on our website and updated daily. Click here to see when I am going to be in your area.
Where's Tom?
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