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Article of the Month |
Taking the last two steps
by
Tom Shay
Let me start the article of the month column by announcing that we have made some big additions to this part of our website.
While we promote one article each month, the monthly article has long been posted on the website. Over the past two months we have been digging through the archives of our office and have found an additional 133 articles to add to the site; that represents about an additional 175,000 words of observation and advice to share with you. At any time that is convenient for you, looking at our site map will provide you with a directory of all of the articles.
The April 2009 article discusses a technique for dealing with an unhappy customer. As I write the e-retailer today, I think about an experience I had this morning with a business where I have shopped for over 15 years.
Although I was unhappy that the situation ever happened, the issue was resolved. What made me smile about it was in my speaking to the owner of the business, she told me that my experience was one of the subjects of her staff meeting the night before. She asked her staff, "Do you want to have a job? Take care of the customers."
As I mentioned to her, there are too many people out there looking for work for. It is like a giant free-agent market, and a wonderful opportunity for you to trade up in quality.
Click on Article of the Month to read this article. |
Book of the Month |
Lifestyle Stores
by
Martin M. Pegler
Definitely not a new book! This was written about 13 years ago, but I find many people have never seen it.
Lots of pictures an details of what makes the stores great. It even includes floor plans.
And, coming within the next 60 days, our friend George Whalin is going to have a new book out on the greatest independent stores in the US. Did you know that we have an audio interview with George about the economy and his new book on the e-retailer conversations blog? There is a link below to the blog site.
We have more books to suggest for your reading. Click on Book Referralto 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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Business advisories for April 2009
1. Thursday, April 23 is 'National Take Your Child to Work Day'
If you are marking your calendar, National Take Your Child to Work Day is the 4th Thursday of April. Unfortunately as our twins have already taken several days off from school to shadow at various high schools, they won't be working in our office for the first time in many years.
However, your business is something to be proud of. Bring your kids into your business for a day. Don't have kids? Invite someone to come and shadow you for a day to learn about what we all do.
2. Fireside chat for March results and schedule for April
It was the best of intentions in having another fireside chat in March. However, I made two mistakes. The first was that somehow I have scheduled two of these calls and both have been at the same time the president has been giving a speech on national television. We had heard from readers that many of you did not attend the February call because of the presidential address, and then we manage to schedule the March chat on another date he selects. (The president has not responded to our request to clear his televised speeches with our calendar.)
Then we listened to what you asked for, and planned to record the call so that you could dial in to hear it at your convenience or listen to it on the Profits Plus website. So, while I tried to set this up, somehow I failed to punch the right buttons, and there is not recording of the March call.
So, for April I am going to try to solve all of the challenges. We won't announce the April call until somewhere after the 13th of the month, and then we will send out the reminder 48 hours in advance as compared to previously sending it only 24 hours in advance.
And, we have spoken with the conference call company and think we now understand the instructions to do this properly.
Our apologies for not getting everything right. We are trying to get the bugs out of the system.
As before, the fireside chat has no expense to you; all you have to pay is your own long distance charges, if any.
The dial in number and pin number will remain the same. 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, send your questions and concerns to us via e-mail today. Send your questions by using the address in the column on the left; NOT by hitting the reply button to this month's e-retailer.
We will be recording this session and archiving it on the Profits Plus website for those that cannot join us for the live session.
More, next month. Sell and profit my friends.
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Internet Tip of The Month |
Accounts receivable aging calculator
Again on the accounts receivable; this calculator helps you to understand how old your receivables are and what that delay in collecting is costing you.
Accounts receivable aging calculator
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The Power Promoting Idea of the Month |
Getting more from your business cards
Speaking at a couple of events this past month, the issue of business cards has come up several times. And with the discussion, comes a quick pulling out of cards to show each other what you have. From some of the best, here are some great ideas:
Print on both sides of your card; With this people will not have the use of the back of your card as a note card.
Have glossy
finished cards; Same reason as before.
Have your photo on it; People like to remember who they are doing business with.
If you are giving them out to vendors at a trade show and have already done the first two items listed, adhere an Avery label to one side so that you can get the sales representative to write the reason you are asking them to do something for them.
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.
April 2 Mohave, California
April 29 Providence, Rhode Island
May 3 Vancouver, British Columbia
May 4 Denver, Colorado
May 7-8 Meredith, New Hampshire
May 18 Alexandria, Minnesota
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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