Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Tony Palumbo, owner
LocalTech4Hire.com
support@localtech4hire.com
www.LocalTech4Hire.com
847-331-8764
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
LocalTech4Hire.com provides economical website development for small business owners who know they need an online presence, but up until now, thought website development was cost prohibitive. Building basic websites that are affordable gives new companies the opportunity to get started with Internet sales and marketing. At the same time, it takes their goals and vision directly online. As they begin to prosper and outgrow their site, I’m then able to help them, at that point, with the development of a more advanced site to better suit their current needs.
WHY I GOT STARTED
I began LocalTech4Hire.com after realizing that I was as far as I was going in my current career. I had gone as far as possible in my position and advancement did not look promising so I needed to take control of my own future success. I knew that my true interest, talent and value lie in web development. So, I pursued the education and training necessary to become a professional website developer and, soon after, started LocalTech4Hire.com.
MY UNIQUENESS
Besides my very affordable pricing which, first and foremost, is what sets me apart from my competition, my ability to quickly understand the individual needs and requirements of my clients is also a unique capability. Finding the most cost-effective solution to what will work best has resulted in solid relationships among my customers.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
Companies that don’t have any online presence and, as a result, are not prospering would, naturally, be a good client for me. In addition to that, businesses ready to upgrade or refresh their websites would also fall into my ideal customer profile.
MY MARKETING METHODS
I’ve found that doing a lot of face-to-face networking is working well for getting my business the recognition it requires. At the same time, I’m a member of the local Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce. MeetUp group networking is another means of meeting other business owners who might need my services. Another method for generating awareness is to engage in online Q&As and leaving a link to my website.
SHARED ADVICE
What I found more encouraging than surprising was how helpful people can be with regard to my business startup. I have received so many tips, ideas and advice from other professionals that it has truly been a most positive experience. I wish I had known about the great source of information and opportunity my local chamber of commerce provided. I spent quite some time not really knowing how to get my name out into the marketplace before becoming a chamber member. I’d recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs that they prepare and follow a detailed business plan. Having a set direction will keep you on course and help to ensure that you waste little time building your business. Also, get involved in networking to make the important contacts it takes to move your business forward. It’s a good idea, as well, to research your competitors. Find out who they are, where they’re located, who they are targeting and what they are offering. By doing so, you’ll be in a better position to provide a greater value at the fairest price which is one formula for future success.
Showing posts with label janice long. Show all posts
Showing posts with label janice long. Show all posts
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, December 13, 2010
Professional segues from commercial interior design into commercial real estate sales
Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Patricia Keegan, senior vice president
Vertical Brokerage, Inc.
O: 312-362-0360
M: 847-612-0504
F: 847-550-0679
keegan@vbire.com
www.verticalbrokerage.com
MY MOTIVATION
There were several circumstances that motivated my becoming a commercial real estate broker with Vertical Brokerage. First, I had more than 20 years in the corporate world of land acquisitions, corporate building, recruiting tenants, negotiating their leases, getting their space designed, etc. So, I had that behind me. Secondly, after I left the corporate world four years ago, I started an interior decorating business. I became certified as an interior decorator and also had earned certification as a commercial interior decorating specialist. Then, more recently, a friend offered me the opportunity to join her brokerage firm as senior vice president of commercial real estate. So, I decided to jump at that. But, in order to do so I first had to go to school to obtain a real estate brokerage license which I did and, subsequently, joined Vertical Brokerage.
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
Vertical Brokerage is a small commercial real estate brokerage firm that works with the small business person who wants a small office or retail space. Our focus is on anything under 20,000 sq-ft. which the large firms traditionally don’t care to handle. As far as our marketing efforts, we use traditional online brokerage sites to list our properties, do a lot of networking, and make use of a onsite signage at our listed properties.
OUR UNIQUENESS
Along with our niche of serving the small business owner, Vertical Brokerage specializes in helping both owners and tenants find the right match. While we do help clients find land or buildings for investment purposes, our expertise goes beyond just helping them find properties, we also help them evaluate the perspective space, show them how they can use it efficiently and effectively, and help them build the business image they want to convey through interior design recommendations.
IDEAL CLIENT
Our ideal clients are building owners who are seeking tenants, business owners who are seeking office or retail space and investors who are looking for commercial properties to add to their investment portfolios. Our area of focus is from Naperville to Vernon Hills along the Schaumburg corridor.
SHARED ADVICE
If I would have done anything differently, it would have been to start this career sooner. I just feel that this is such a perfect fit for me. I love the idea of helping clients find the right space and match tenants with landlords looking for the perfect tenant. Tenants, on the other hand, are looking for the perfect space that is functional and a landlord who is reasonable. So, making those match ups is what this job is all about. The best advice I can offer new entrepreneurs is to choose a business that you love, because, if you love what you’re doing everything else will fall into place.
Editor's question: How many of you have changed career paths within the last year?
Patricia Keegan, senior vice president
Vertical Brokerage, Inc.
O: 312-362-0360
M: 847-612-0504
F: 847-550-0679
keegan@vbire.com
www.verticalbrokerage.com
MY MOTIVATION
There were several circumstances that motivated my becoming a commercial real estate broker with Vertical Brokerage. First, I had more than 20 years in the corporate world of land acquisitions, corporate building, recruiting tenants, negotiating their leases, getting their space designed, etc. So, I had that behind me. Secondly, after I left the corporate world four years ago, I started an interior decorating business. I became certified as an interior decorator and also had earned certification as a commercial interior decorating specialist. Then, more recently, a friend offered me the opportunity to join her brokerage firm as senior vice president of commercial real estate. So, I decided to jump at that. But, in order to do so I first had to go to school to obtain a real estate brokerage license which I did and, subsequently, joined Vertical Brokerage.
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
Vertical Brokerage is a small commercial real estate brokerage firm that works with the small business person who wants a small office or retail space. Our focus is on anything under 20,000 sq-ft. which the large firms traditionally don’t care to handle. As far as our marketing efforts, we use traditional online brokerage sites to list our properties, do a lot of networking, and make use of a onsite signage at our listed properties.
OUR UNIQUENESS
Along with our niche of serving the small business owner, Vertical Brokerage specializes in helping both owners and tenants find the right match. While we do help clients find land or buildings for investment purposes, our expertise goes beyond just helping them find properties, we also help them evaluate the perspective space, show them how they can use it efficiently and effectively, and help them build the business image they want to convey through interior design recommendations.
IDEAL CLIENT
Our ideal clients are building owners who are seeking tenants, business owners who are seeking office or retail space and investors who are looking for commercial properties to add to their investment portfolios. Our area of focus is from Naperville to Vernon Hills along the Schaumburg corridor.
SHARED ADVICE
If I would have done anything differently, it would have been to start this career sooner. I just feel that this is such a perfect fit for me. I love the idea of helping clients find the right space and match tenants with landlords looking for the perfect tenant. Tenants, on the other hand, are looking for the perfect space that is functional and a landlord who is reasonable. So, making those match ups is what this job is all about. The best advice I can offer new entrepreneurs is to choose a business that you love, because, if you love what you’re doing everything else will fall into place.
Editor's question: How many of you have changed career paths within the last year?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Social networking referral turns into website solution for graphic designer
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Jennifer Strezo
Principal Brand Designer
Red Seal Design
Jennifer@redsealdesign.com
http://linkedin.com/in/jenniferstrezo
www.redsealdesign.com
773-456-2732
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Red Seal Design is a full-service graphic design company specializing in creating signature brands for small businesses. A signature brand is a company’s image or identity that appears on all of its sales and marketing materials. It includes the look of your logo, your brochures, your letterhead, business cards, website, PowerPoint™ presentations, direct mail, newsletters and the like. A signature brand gives companies a more professional look over something that they’ve tried to create themselves or have taken off the Internet. A signature brand will help to set a company apart from its competition and be immediately recognized and long remembered.
MY UNIQUENESS
We develop customer solutions for your communications materials based on the personality of your company. Red Seal Design doesn’t create a great-looking design without first learning what the image is that the company wants to portray. I begin with a series of basic questions regarding the client’s goals and target audience, but then move into more aesthetic questions pertaining to the client’s likes and dislikes, what adjectives would best describe the compeny, its core values and culture. In this way, my team can create a custom signature brand that truly reflects what the company is all about.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
A perfect client for us would be your small business that has been operating for at least three years and in the beginning may have created their own brand identity or used some form of online template, but now is ready to move up to the next level of brand identity. With so many businesses struggling, today, many come to realize that they need to stand out from their competitors. That’s when they come to us for that professionally-designed custom signature brand.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE
Like most small businesses when they’re just starting out, I had limited funding. While I was able to design my own signature brand for all of my marketing materials, I still needed to hire someone to develop my website which I knew would cost thousands of dollars. The challenge was figuring out how to secure a great custom website design at minimal cost. At first, I attempted to create one on my own, but it was taking up too much of my time and was not getting me to where I needed to be. Meanwhile, I was losing potential business with no website to which I could direct prospective clients. So, after several months of frustration, I decided to seek the help of a professional web developer.
RESOLUTION
I turned to all of my contacts including those on LinkedIn™ and asked for some referrals. It so happened that a friend from college gave me the name of someone who was able to create economical custom websites by using free WordPress™ and Joomla!™ templates. Among the features that make these templates so attractive is that they allow the website owner to make his or her own website edits avoiding additional costs of having to call back the web developer to make them. This sounded perfect. As a result, I was able to design all of my web pages in Photoshop™ and my web developer found a suitable free template into which he could import all of my custom designs. So, after spending months trying to accomplish this on my own, my new found web developer was able to produce a new customized website for me in a couple of days for a fraction of the cost of HTML development. Meanwhile, he and I have created a partnership that now offers our clients economical custom website designs that focus on signature brands.
Editor's question: Who has struggled with developing their own brand identity? Who believes a fresh new signature brand will help better your position among your competitors - and how?
Jennifer Strezo
Principal Brand Designer
Red Seal Design
Jennifer@redsealdesign.com
http://linkedin.com/in/jenniferstrezo
www.redsealdesign.com
773-456-2732
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Red Seal Design is a full-service graphic design company specializing in creating signature brands for small businesses. A signature brand is a company’s image or identity that appears on all of its sales and marketing materials. It includes the look of your logo, your brochures, your letterhead, business cards, website, PowerPoint™ presentations, direct mail, newsletters and the like. A signature brand gives companies a more professional look over something that they’ve tried to create themselves or have taken off the Internet. A signature brand will help to set a company apart from its competition and be immediately recognized and long remembered.
MY UNIQUENESS
We develop customer solutions for your communications materials based on the personality of your company. Red Seal Design doesn’t create a great-looking design without first learning what the image is that the company wants to portray. I begin with a series of basic questions regarding the client’s goals and target audience, but then move into more aesthetic questions pertaining to the client’s likes and dislikes, what adjectives would best describe the compeny, its core values and culture. In this way, my team can create a custom signature brand that truly reflects what the company is all about.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
A perfect client for us would be your small business that has been operating for at least three years and in the beginning may have created their own brand identity or used some form of online template, but now is ready to move up to the next level of brand identity. With so many businesses struggling, today, many come to realize that they need to stand out from their competitors. That’s when they come to us for that professionally-designed custom signature brand.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE
Like most small businesses when they’re just starting out, I had limited funding. While I was able to design my own signature brand for all of my marketing materials, I still needed to hire someone to develop my website which I knew would cost thousands of dollars. The challenge was figuring out how to secure a great custom website design at minimal cost. At first, I attempted to create one on my own, but it was taking up too much of my time and was not getting me to where I needed to be. Meanwhile, I was losing potential business with no website to which I could direct prospective clients. So, after several months of frustration, I decided to seek the help of a professional web developer.
RESOLUTION
I turned to all of my contacts including those on LinkedIn™ and asked for some referrals. It so happened that a friend from college gave me the name of someone who was able to create economical custom websites by using free WordPress™ and Joomla!™ templates. Among the features that make these templates so attractive is that they allow the website owner to make his or her own website edits avoiding additional costs of having to call back the web developer to make them. This sounded perfect. As a result, I was able to design all of my web pages in Photoshop™ and my web developer found a suitable free template into which he could import all of my custom designs. So, after spending months trying to accomplish this on my own, my new found web developer was able to produce a new customized website for me in a couple of days for a fraction of the cost of HTML development. Meanwhile, he and I have created a partnership that now offers our clients economical custom website designs that focus on signature brands.
Editor's question: Who has struggled with developing their own brand identity? Who believes a fresh new signature brand will help better your position among your competitors - and how?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Mapping out life's memories turns entrepreneur into visual eulogist
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Ronnis Oher, owner
LifeMaps - The Story of a Lifetime
www.lifemaps.biz
info@lifemaps.biz
847-398-0187
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
I’ve been called a visual eulogist because I’m in the business of creating customized keepsake treasures called LifeMaps. A LifeMap is a full-color, hand-drawn geographical map that outlines someone’s life. It incorporates their personality traits, their relationships, their major life events and some of their fondest memories. It captures not only the facts of the person’s life, but also who they are/were. The maps are humorous and whimsical featuring mountains, deserts, swamps, rivers, campgrounds, highway and small businesses - all representing a specific story about a person’s life. Yet, at the same time, they can be touching because they not only allow people to see what impact their lives have had on those around them, but also to learn how fondly they are viewed by others in their lives.
MY UNIQUENESS
While I don’t have a great deal of direct competition, what makes my business unique among those who provide a similar product is that I bring great interviewing skills to the project along with a sense of humor and custom creativity which others may not.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My ideal client would be anyone looking for a special gift for a special person who may be celebrating an anniversary, birthday, graduation, wedding or retirement. That would include corporations and non-profits that are looking for special retirement gifts and awards or visual mission statements or sales presentation handouts. Since LifeMaps make great memorials or family member keepsakes, some of my perfect clients would also be the families of seniors who wish to capture the lives of their loved ones while they still have the opportunity to do so.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My greatest challenge seems to be how to close the sale. How to get around a prospect’s saying LifeMaps are not within their budgets without realizing just how economical they are and the lifetime value they provide.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
I approached this obstacle head on by offering a traditional lay-away plan to people. If they have an event coming up in six or nine months down the line, I give them the opportunity to start making payments well in advance so that by the time the day arrives, most of the LifeMap will be paid for. This makes the transaction much more manageable. This seems to help people make the commitment which allows me to introduce more LifeMaps into the lives of more people.
Ronnis Oher, owner
LifeMaps - The Story of a Lifetime
www.lifemaps.biz
info@lifemaps.biz
847-398-0187
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
I’ve been called a visual eulogist because I’m in the business of creating customized keepsake treasures called LifeMaps. A LifeMap is a full-color, hand-drawn geographical map that outlines someone’s life. It incorporates their personality traits, their relationships, their major life events and some of their fondest memories. It captures not only the facts of the person’s life, but also who they are/were. The maps are humorous and whimsical featuring mountains, deserts, swamps, rivers, campgrounds, highway and small businesses - all representing a specific story about a person’s life. Yet, at the same time, they can be touching because they not only allow people to see what impact their lives have had on those around them, but also to learn how fondly they are viewed by others in their lives.
MY UNIQUENESS
While I don’t have a great deal of direct competition, what makes my business unique among those who provide a similar product is that I bring great interviewing skills to the project along with a sense of humor and custom creativity which others may not.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My ideal client would be anyone looking for a special gift for a special person who may be celebrating an anniversary, birthday, graduation, wedding or retirement. That would include corporations and non-profits that are looking for special retirement gifts and awards or visual mission statements or sales presentation handouts. Since LifeMaps make great memorials or family member keepsakes, some of my perfect clients would also be the families of seniors who wish to capture the lives of their loved ones while they still have the opportunity to do so.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My greatest challenge seems to be how to close the sale. How to get around a prospect’s saying LifeMaps are not within their budgets without realizing just how economical they are and the lifetime value they provide.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
I approached this obstacle head on by offering a traditional lay-away plan to people. If they have an event coming up in six or nine months down the line, I give them the opportunity to start making payments well in advance so that by the time the day arrives, most of the LifeMap will be paid for. This makes the transaction much more manageable. This seems to help people make the commitment which allows me to introduce more LifeMaps into the lives of more people.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Entrepreneur sells clients on full-service marketing with accountability workshops
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Claire Slattery, director of client marketing
and business development
Mindful Mix
http://www.mindfulmix.com/
claires@mindfulmix.com
847-284-4404
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Mindful Mix is a full-service marketing agency that helps companies determine the right marketing strategies for their business. Working within the budgets of each client, we specialize in maximizing the reach and ROI of each promotion. We provide business planning, strategies, budgets, branding, corporate communications, sales collateral, website development, seminars and webinars, along with marketing coaching.
MY UNIQUENESS
I bring a wealth of well-rounded marketing experience to the table. Unlike some contemporaries who specialize only in specific marketing disciplines such as graphic design, PR, or research, I offer personal expertise in every aspect of marketing. There are few small agencies of our size that offer this hands-on working relationship. In essence, I serve as the client’s marketing director without its having to incur the expense of hiring a full-time staffer or paying the premium costs of contracting with a large, high-priced marketing firm. In addition, I offer accountability coaching to keep clients on target toward reaching their short and long-term goals – unusual for marketing firms.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
The ideal client for Mindful Mix is any size business that has a genuine commitment to marketing, but is also aware that it may not be in the position to hire its own full-time marketing professional. A secondary client profile would be that of a company that has downsized its staff and is comfortable with outsourcing its marketing projects to professional contractors.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My primary challenge is determining how to get business owners to make that initial investment in marketing in order to take their businesses to the next level. Most understand the value of a marketing program, but shy away from committing the funding necessary to take that first step.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
We have designed coaching and accountability seminars that give business owners a sampling of how marketing can increase their bottom line. As a result of these programs, clients begin to see the measurable results of a concentrated marketing focus. In turn, clients not only readily accept the concept of a more complete, on-going marketing plan, but also choose Mindful Mix as the full-service marketing resource to put their plan in place.
Claire Slattery, director of client marketing
and business development
Mindful Mix
http://www.mindfulmix.com/
claires@mindfulmix.com
847-284-4404
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Mindful Mix is a full-service marketing agency that helps companies determine the right marketing strategies for their business. Working within the budgets of each client, we specialize in maximizing the reach and ROI of each promotion. We provide business planning, strategies, budgets, branding, corporate communications, sales collateral, website development, seminars and webinars, along with marketing coaching.
MY UNIQUENESS
I bring a wealth of well-rounded marketing experience to the table. Unlike some contemporaries who specialize only in specific marketing disciplines such as graphic design, PR, or research, I offer personal expertise in every aspect of marketing. There are few small agencies of our size that offer this hands-on working relationship. In essence, I serve as the client’s marketing director without its having to incur the expense of hiring a full-time staffer or paying the premium costs of contracting with a large, high-priced marketing firm. In addition, I offer accountability coaching to keep clients on target toward reaching their short and long-term goals – unusual for marketing firms.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
The ideal client for Mindful Mix is any size business that has a genuine commitment to marketing, but is also aware that it may not be in the position to hire its own full-time marketing professional. A secondary client profile would be that of a company that has downsized its staff and is comfortable with outsourcing its marketing projects to professional contractors.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My primary challenge is determining how to get business owners to make that initial investment in marketing in order to take their businesses to the next level. Most understand the value of a marketing program, but shy away from committing the funding necessary to take that first step.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
We have designed coaching and accountability seminars that give business owners a sampling of how marketing can increase their bottom line. As a result of these programs, clients begin to see the measurable results of a concentrated marketing focus. In turn, clients not only readily accept the concept of a more complete, on-going marketing plan, but also choose Mindful Mix as the full-service marketing resource to put their plan in place.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Developing new relationships part of consultant's marketing strategy
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Jerilyn Willin, owner
JWillin Consulting, Ltd.
www.jwillinconsulting.com
jerilyn@jwillinconsulting.com
630-924-8362
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
JWillin Consulting, Ltd. helps people look forward to going to work. How? By providing leadership development program design and facilitation, customized team interventions, change management in terms of working with folks who are left after downsizing, and career strategies coaching for those who are in the midst of career changes – planned or otherwise. Most people enjoy going to work when they believe their employer appreciates their efforts and wants them to grow. Our services deliver that message.
MY UNIQUENESS
My services are all customized. I have no off-the-shelf offerings. I talk with the identified client to discover the problem and the goal from their perspective, then I design a solution. In addition, 98 percent of my coaching is face-to-face which I believe is of unique value. As a coach, there are so many cues I get from that in-person interaction which I would miss over the phone – be it facial expressions or body language – all of which helps to better serve the client.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
I have two levels of clients. There are the individuals who come to me for coaching. They are motivated and willing to work hard by doing the "homework" that I prescribe. They also really believe that they will get a return on their investment. Secondly, there are the organizational clients. These ideally would be the small to mid-size companies that may have experienced either growth and want to help their employees make the most of their jobs, or, they have gone through downsizing and want to ensure their surviving employees have the necessary help adjusting to their new work circumstances and responsibilities.
BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My biggest challenge is to realize that when I am not working with clients I should be marketing my business. Most of my business comes from word-of-mouth. So when my calendar is full, I don’t feel the need to market. That is a dangerous mindset because at times you may have all your proverbial eggs in one basket and in this type of economic climate that basket can be easily dropped.
SOLUTION
Early on, I made a mind map to determine where most of my business was coming from and found that is was from people who knew me or had known of me. This didn’t surprise me because consulting is a relationship business. So, as a way to form new relationships, I have joined new business networking groups, have developed a book review newsletter and have collaborated with a colleague in actually writing a book. The book, Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still, was published in 2009. All of these methods are giving me new opportunities to put myself in front of a lot of new people. To keep my marketing efforts ongoing, I am committed to spending eight hours a week both planning new marketing strategies as well as actually following through on them.
Jerilyn Willin, owner
JWillin Consulting, Ltd.
www.jwillinconsulting.com
jerilyn@jwillinconsulting.com
630-924-8362
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
JWillin Consulting, Ltd. helps people look forward to going to work. How? By providing leadership development program design and facilitation, customized team interventions, change management in terms of working with folks who are left after downsizing, and career strategies coaching for those who are in the midst of career changes – planned or otherwise. Most people enjoy going to work when they believe their employer appreciates their efforts and wants them to grow. Our services deliver that message.
MY UNIQUENESS
My services are all customized. I have no off-the-shelf offerings. I talk with the identified client to discover the problem and the goal from their perspective, then I design a solution. In addition, 98 percent of my coaching is face-to-face which I believe is of unique value. As a coach, there are so many cues I get from that in-person interaction which I would miss over the phone – be it facial expressions or body language – all of which helps to better serve the client.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
I have two levels of clients. There are the individuals who come to me for coaching. They are motivated and willing to work hard by doing the "homework" that I prescribe. They also really believe that they will get a return on their investment. Secondly, there are the organizational clients. These ideally would be the small to mid-size companies that may have experienced either growth and want to help their employees make the most of their jobs, or, they have gone through downsizing and want to ensure their surviving employees have the necessary help adjusting to their new work circumstances and responsibilities.
BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My biggest challenge is to realize that when I am not working with clients I should be marketing my business. Most of my business comes from word-of-mouth. So when my calendar is full, I don’t feel the need to market. That is a dangerous mindset because at times you may have all your proverbial eggs in one basket and in this type of economic climate that basket can be easily dropped.
SOLUTION
Early on, I made a mind map to determine where most of my business was coming from and found that is was from people who knew me or had known of me. This didn’t surprise me because consulting is a relationship business. So, as a way to form new relationships, I have joined new business networking groups, have developed a book review newsletter and have collaborated with a colleague in actually writing a book. The book, Deep, Deeper, Deeper Still, was published in 2009. All of these methods are giving me new opportunities to put myself in front of a lot of new people. To keep my marketing efforts ongoing, I am committed to spending eight hours a week both planning new marketing strategies as well as actually following through on them.
Monday, June 28, 2010
'Touchy feely' becomes new marketing mantra for entrepreneur
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Marianne Guinee, group leader
Private Quarters
www.4cimgmt.com
mcguinee@4cimgmt.com
847-858-3610
MY BUSINESS
Private Quarters provides luxury bed and bath linens and gifts at affordable prices. We service consumers and businesses, do wedding registries and bridal party gifts, work with health & wellness professionals to ensure individuals get the best night's sleep possible. We offer 'green' materials such as bamboo and seacell fabrics in addition to those more traditional including fiber and feather & down.
OUR UNIQUENESS
We're unique in the sense that we provide high quality, individualized customer service and attention via one-to-one appointments and reviews, along with small group interactions. We really aren't faced with strong, same-level competition. Retail stores could be labelled competition, in a sense, but they don't provide the same quality, variety, unique exchange/return policy or shopping and satisfaction quotient that Private Quarters does.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
Whether a business or a consumer, our ideal client is someone who recognizes quality and customer service while still looking for a good value for the money spent. We are not your big box discount retailer, nor are we the highest end provider. We look to service the mid to upper-class market with exceptional value and customer service.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Our challenge is simply getting in front of people in person so that they get that 'touchy feely' experience with our products that can't be described adequately any other way. As soon as a potential customer touches our bamboo linens, for example, they instantly 'get it.' Just seeing a picture of the same product in a catalog invariably raises the question, "So how are you different than any other supplier?" Just hearing how great a product is often times is not enough. Our clients need to feel it first before they will make that next leap to our other product offerings.
SOLUTION
Our experience has shown us that marketing in the normal sense doesn't bring in sales. So we have gone to the word-of-mouth/network marketing approach. This includes friends telling friends, home parties, vendor shows, fund raisers, etc. All of which are methods in which we can get in front of people. A number of interior designers have 'seen the light' now as well and are either representing our products or providing us with referrals to their customers. Even some of the higher end bed and breakfasts have started coming to us to use our linens. All these new avenues support the crux of our business which, ultimately, is relying on the human element to make the sale.
Marianne Guinee, group leader
Private Quarters
www.4cimgmt.com
mcguinee@4cimgmt.com
847-858-3610
MY BUSINESS
Private Quarters provides luxury bed and bath linens and gifts at affordable prices. We service consumers and businesses, do wedding registries and bridal party gifts, work with health & wellness professionals to ensure individuals get the best night's sleep possible. We offer 'green' materials such as bamboo and seacell fabrics in addition to those more traditional including fiber and feather & down.
OUR UNIQUENESS
We're unique in the sense that we provide high quality, individualized customer service and attention via one-to-one appointments and reviews, along with small group interactions. We really aren't faced with strong, same-level competition. Retail stores could be labelled competition, in a sense, but they don't provide the same quality, variety, unique exchange/return policy or shopping and satisfaction quotient that Private Quarters does.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
Whether a business or a consumer, our ideal client is someone who recognizes quality and customer service while still looking for a good value for the money spent. We are not your big box discount retailer, nor are we the highest end provider. We look to service the mid to upper-class market with exceptional value and customer service.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Our challenge is simply getting in front of people in person so that they get that 'touchy feely' experience with our products that can't be described adequately any other way. As soon as a potential customer touches our bamboo linens, for example, they instantly 'get it.' Just seeing a picture of the same product in a catalog invariably raises the question, "So how are you different than any other supplier?" Just hearing how great a product is often times is not enough. Our clients need to feel it first before they will make that next leap to our other product offerings.
SOLUTION
Our experience has shown us that marketing in the normal sense doesn't bring in sales. So we have gone to the word-of-mouth/network marketing approach. This includes friends telling friends, home parties, vendor shows, fund raisers, etc. All of which are methods in which we can get in front of people. A number of interior designers have 'seen the light' now as well and are either representing our products or providing us with referrals to their customers. Even some of the higher end bed and breakfasts have started coming to us to use our linens. All these new avenues support the crux of our business which, ultimately, is relying on the human element to make the sale.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Manufacturer succeeds by switching focus to customized products
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Michael Boskovic, Chief Strategic Officer
Lingraph Services Co.
Michael@lingraph.com
www.lingraph.com
630-924-7771
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
Lingraph Services Co. offers a real broad product mix. We focus in three main areas – printed products, packaging materials and promotional items. We go pretty deep vertically within these areas trying to be a one-stop-shop. And, within each of these disciplines we manufacture products as well as subcontract and distribute products.
OUR UNIQUENESS
What sets us apart is that we make it possible for our clients to buy printed products, packaging materials and promotional items all under one roof. It’s our mix of machinery and know-how that allows this. Most often in these areas, manufacturers are set in their product mix and in what they’re willing and able to produce. Clients are stuck within these limitations. Conversely, we are a very custom shop building many items from scratch according to the client’s particular needs. We really try to meet the client on their terms being more solutions-driven rather than confining ourselves to pure product specs.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
We really do well for big clients that have robust needs and have what we call program needs meaning something is happening on a daily or weekly basis. These kinds of clients tend to be larger B2C type companies. For example, a retailer with a large national consumer base, or a cataloger, or an Internet-based marketing firm that is selling to a broad populous. That way they are dealing with one entity and they can funnel their broader needs down to us again and again.
OUR BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Our biggest fundamental challenge was the whole differentiation issue that led us to becoming a manufacturer. The problem that we were seeing, years ago, was that a lot of the product that we were distributing as a broker was becoming very commodity-like and out of our control because the manufacturers were dictating what could and could not be made. Many items were becoming price driven. There was a lot of overseas influence followed by bigger companies buying up smaller companies. It became all about the bottom line and not about relationships. At the time, our existing client base wasn’t looking to us for anything innovative and long-term. We saw this as certain death. Somehow, we needed to reconnect with the clients in a very interactive way. We wondered how we could do that in a way that would make us unique. Manufacturing some of our own wares and controlling our own destiny was the solution. Having no previous manufacturing experience became the biggest part of the challenge. Suddenly, we needed to become proficient in machinery and workflow. From a financial capital perspective we now needed to secure the machinery, the infrastructure, the power and, of course, the people.
RESOLUTION
We did become a manufacturer allowing us to be the end source for our clients. From a strategic viewpoint, it positions us well. We continue to look for a fit in the marketplace - to see what works and then leveraging that to finding new clients. We’ve learned from sources and clients that there are few, if any, companies that are doing exactly what we’re doing – in-house printing, and packaging product and promotional items manufacturing. Now, we have enough breadth and innovation to be doing things that people in the industry, as well as potential clients, are not used to seeing. So, that’s a good thing!
Michael Boskovic, Chief Strategic Officer
Lingraph Services Co.
Michael@lingraph.com
www.lingraph.com
630-924-7771
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
Lingraph Services Co. offers a real broad product mix. We focus in three main areas – printed products, packaging materials and promotional items. We go pretty deep vertically within these areas trying to be a one-stop-shop. And, within each of these disciplines we manufacture products as well as subcontract and distribute products.
OUR UNIQUENESS
What sets us apart is that we make it possible for our clients to buy printed products, packaging materials and promotional items all under one roof. It’s our mix of machinery and know-how that allows this. Most often in these areas, manufacturers are set in their product mix and in what they’re willing and able to produce. Clients are stuck within these limitations. Conversely, we are a very custom shop building many items from scratch according to the client’s particular needs. We really try to meet the client on their terms being more solutions-driven rather than confining ourselves to pure product specs.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
We really do well for big clients that have robust needs and have what we call program needs meaning something is happening on a daily or weekly basis. These kinds of clients tend to be larger B2C type companies. For example, a retailer with a large national consumer base, or a cataloger, or an Internet-based marketing firm that is selling to a broad populous. That way they are dealing with one entity and they can funnel their broader needs down to us again and again.
OUR BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Our biggest fundamental challenge was the whole differentiation issue that led us to becoming a manufacturer. The problem that we were seeing, years ago, was that a lot of the product that we were distributing as a broker was becoming very commodity-like and out of our control because the manufacturers were dictating what could and could not be made. Many items were becoming price driven. There was a lot of overseas influence followed by bigger companies buying up smaller companies. It became all about the bottom line and not about relationships. At the time, our existing client base wasn’t looking to us for anything innovative and long-term. We saw this as certain death. Somehow, we needed to reconnect with the clients in a very interactive way. We wondered how we could do that in a way that would make us unique. Manufacturing some of our own wares and controlling our own destiny was the solution. Having no previous manufacturing experience became the biggest part of the challenge. Suddenly, we needed to become proficient in machinery and workflow. From a financial capital perspective we now needed to secure the machinery, the infrastructure, the power and, of course, the people.
RESOLUTION
We did become a manufacturer allowing us to be the end source for our clients. From a strategic viewpoint, it positions us well. We continue to look for a fit in the marketplace - to see what works and then leveraging that to finding new clients. We’ve learned from sources and clients that there are few, if any, companies that are doing exactly what we’re doing – in-house printing, and packaging product and promotional items manufacturing. Now, we have enough breadth and innovation to be doing things that people in the industry, as well as potential clients, are not used to seeing. So, that’s a good thing!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Correcting management/employee behavior brings new business to HR entrepreneur's client
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Andrea Herran, owner
Focus HR
http://www.focushr.biz/
andrea@focushr.biz
newsletter sign-up: http://conta.cc/a98j1n
773-531-8199
MY BUSINESS
Focus HR helps entrepreneurs and business owners become great people leaders. I help them work better with their employees in becoming more effective, efficient and more customer-focused. By working closely with business owners, I learn what their goals are and how they are trying to achieve these goals through their people. Ultimately, I put programs in place to get it all done. In addition, I offer all the traditional HR services that are the foundation of reaching that higher ground of having everyone working in the same direction toward the same goals.
MY UNIQUENESS
What’s exceptional about my business is that I actually go on site once a month. I am not one who works exclusively over the phone or via email. This is an entity that you rarely see in my industry. By being at the client’s location, I’m able to experience the working environment. I sit in on employee meetings, answer questions, address their concerns, and whatever else is needed of me. Another facet of Focus HR that sets it apart is that all of my services are flat fee. This fee covers all the work I do with no additional charges for extras. Small business owners are very cost-conscious. By offering a flat fee, they know what to expect and how to budget. No one needs to worry what it’s going to cost just to pick up the phone.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My ideal client is any business with less than 70 employees and an owner who knows that changes need to be made – especially in HR – for the business to grow.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE
One of my clients was experiencing a high turnover in one of her two employee positions. After visiting the office I was quickly able to see the cause of the problem. My client had a disruptive manner of communicating with others. It wasn’t necessarily what she was saying, but how she was saying it. So, I recommended that we work on her style. She needed to say things in a way that this one particular person would understand. My client needed to know how that person takes in and processes information. She had to learn to look for the clues that would tell her what kind of learner her employee was so she could communicate accordingly. At the same time, her employees had no idea of what their exact roles within the company were or what what expected of them.
RESOLUTION/OUTCOME
The resolution was two-fold - changing the client's management style and developing the proper HR programs for her employees. I attended meetings to observe the client’s communication behavior and critiqued it afterward. I also conducted supportive sessions over the phone. She came to learn the different personality types with which she was communicating. With regard to the employees, creating job descriptions and defining their position expectations contributed greatly to the company's growth. After a year and a half, the results have been dramatic. The client has become a better manager. There no longer is employee turnover. And the business has been increasing month after month. The change has enabled her to concentrate on selling and not on the day-to-day operations of the business. A productive management style and employees' clearly understanking their roles have become the norm. Now, my focus is on helping the client and her employees keep these thought processes top of mind so the business continues to prosper.
Andrea Herran, owner
Focus HR
http://www.focushr.biz/
andrea@focushr.biz
newsletter sign-up: http://conta.cc/a98j1n
773-531-8199
MY BUSINESS
Focus HR helps entrepreneurs and business owners become great people leaders. I help them work better with their employees in becoming more effective, efficient and more customer-focused. By working closely with business owners, I learn what their goals are and how they are trying to achieve these goals through their people. Ultimately, I put programs in place to get it all done. In addition, I offer all the traditional HR services that are the foundation of reaching that higher ground of having everyone working in the same direction toward the same goals.
MY UNIQUENESS
What’s exceptional about my business is that I actually go on site once a month. I am not one who works exclusively over the phone or via email. This is an entity that you rarely see in my industry. By being at the client’s location, I’m able to experience the working environment. I sit in on employee meetings, answer questions, address their concerns, and whatever else is needed of me. Another facet of Focus HR that sets it apart is that all of my services are flat fee. This fee covers all the work I do with no additional charges for extras. Small business owners are very cost-conscious. By offering a flat fee, they know what to expect and how to budget. No one needs to worry what it’s going to cost just to pick up the phone.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My ideal client is any business with less than 70 employees and an owner who knows that changes need to be made – especially in HR – for the business to grow.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE
One of my clients was experiencing a high turnover in one of her two employee positions. After visiting the office I was quickly able to see the cause of the problem. My client had a disruptive manner of communicating with others. It wasn’t necessarily what she was saying, but how she was saying it. So, I recommended that we work on her style. She needed to say things in a way that this one particular person would understand. My client needed to know how that person takes in and processes information. She had to learn to look for the clues that would tell her what kind of learner her employee was so she could communicate accordingly. At the same time, her employees had no idea of what their exact roles within the company were or what what expected of them.
RESOLUTION/OUTCOME
The resolution was two-fold - changing the client's management style and developing the proper HR programs for her employees. I attended meetings to observe the client’s communication behavior and critiqued it afterward. I also conducted supportive sessions over the phone. She came to learn the different personality types with which she was communicating. With regard to the employees, creating job descriptions and defining their position expectations contributed greatly to the company's growth. After a year and a half, the results have been dramatic. The client has become a better manager. There no longer is employee turnover. And the business has been increasing month after month. The change has enabled her to concentrate on selling and not on the day-to-day operations of the business. A productive management style and employees' clearly understanking their roles have become the norm. Now, my focus is on helping the client and her employees keep these thought processes top of mind so the business continues to prosper.
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