Early this morning I drove to a local fruit and vegtable stand and purchased fresh produce for the week. I love the smell of cilantro! When I buy it at the grocery store I can barely smell it, but at the market the smell lures me toward it. The fresh strawberries filled my car with a sweet scent all the way home! I filled two grocery sacks to the top with fresh fruits and vegtables for $19.50. Thank you farmers! Tonight I will make stirfry for dinner with a fresh salad!
Later in the early afternoon I visted the Village of the Arts community. It is a community of brightly colored, craftsman era homes that serve as live/work spaces for local artists. It was such a wonderful treat! These people are so creative!
As a designer I have always tried to fill the spaces I do with local art scenes by local artists. It gives each space a unique, one-of-a-kind feeling.
I found so many different art mediums. There were welded metal sculptures with local underwater themes, framed photographs of beach scenes and crustacians, folk art with unique sayings such as "I'm from Florida, I can drink with the best!" Or, "I see drunk people" - it was pretty funny. There was also watercolor and oil paintings, and one artist was painting a 4 foot long gecko. One gallery showcased the works from students at the Ringling School of Art and Design.
We also discovered a small restaurant that has theme dinners ranging from Ethiopian to Peruvian to fresh made pizzas!
So be a tourist in your own town and buy from the locals. Walking through this small village churned the creative juices in me and inspired me to follow through with some of my artistic ideas.
Beautiful Sarasota
Condo at Ritz-Beach
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Follow Up and Follow Through
My networking and marketing efforts really paid off this week. I reconnected with businesses that have fed my business in the past to let them know that I am still in business and stronger than ever. As a result I got two leads for new owners and an offer to keep my marketing materials in the business center of a downtown condo building, I was also offered a priceless phone and contact list for a key real estate office! So next week I will touch base with the people who had the leads and I will get my marketing materials and some acrylic holders to put in the condo building. I am also going to update my website with new info and pictures and will contact a couple of my past clients for testimonials to add to the website.
I also helped three other people build their businesses. I referred a client to a personal trainer with a unique approach to physical fitness. I also helped get a key contact name for another person just building their business. In return she is going to give my card to someone who is ready to decorate in her subdivision and get me the information for advertising my business on the subdivisions website! Finally, I attended an open house for a contractor that I cross refer with and invited a client to the open house.
By helping others build their businesses they will keep me at the forefront of their minds when they hear of an opportunity to pass on to me. And, it's so easy to do because I have a mind for business and I love helping others!
I also helped three other people build their businesses. I referred a client to a personal trainer with a unique approach to physical fitness. I also helped get a key contact name for another person just building their business. In return she is going to give my card to someone who is ready to decorate in her subdivision and get me the information for advertising my business on the subdivisions website! Finally, I attended an open house for a contractor that I cross refer with and invited a client to the open house.
By helping others build their businesses they will keep me at the forefront of their minds when they hear of an opportunity to pass on to me. And, it's so easy to do because I have a mind for business and I love helping others!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Marketing my Business.
Ok, so I haven't blogged for awhile. A year to be exact. I AM still in business! 2008 was a tight year. Since I specialize in vacation homes and rentals my business is slow at the beginning of the year due to the fact that the rentals are full with seasonal visitors, but once they leave, around Easter, the phone starts ringing again. This was the case in May. Although I had my regulars calling me at the beginning of the year to do little touch ups to their units, the bigger jobs started in May. This confirms to me that my marketing efforts paid off and even though it was a horrible economic year I was still able to attract business because of my referal base. It just goes to show that if you do a great job and make sure everyone is happy at the end you will get repeat business and referrals.
What I have learned to do during the slow times is reconnect with those that referred business to me and to develop new marketing and networking plans. It's good to look back and see which plans worked and which didn't. The best plan for me is t0 network. I try different organizations each year and at the end of the year determine if they were worth it or not. I also decide what new organization I want to join that might help build my business.
The key things to look at when determining what organization will work is who are the members, are they businesses that can help build my business, how many events/opportunities does the organization provide that I can attend and meet these people.
Also, it is important that you have the opportunity to present your business at these events, such as an introduction or a 30 second opportunity to let them know who you are and why you are unique. Tailor your speech to what the members would feel is important about your business.
I find that the fact that I've won 1st runner up for rookie small business of the year in '06 gives me credibility. Also, I let people know what trade shows I'm going to and offer to bring back specific product information that they might be looking for. This let's them know that I feel its important to stay on top of new trends and products and that I want to help them with their business at the same time.
I try not to hand out my business card unless I am asked for it and then I ask for their's as well. I'm also a great listener and I ask questions about their business and what challenges they are dealing with, then I try to think of a great idea or tip to help them overcome that challenge and I reconnect with them.
I keep a large binder in my office that holds every business card I have ever received and it is organized in groups pertaining to the type of business. I also enter the contact info into my Constant Contact database as well as my email database for future marketing. When my clients ask me if I have a painter or a place to buy silk arrangements I can always pull out my binder and refer someone I have met personally!
Creating personal relationships is critical to building a successful business. Don't be short-sighted. Everyone you come in contact with is important now and can be even more so in the future. I make everyone feel they are important. I try to refer people to other business as much as possible.
When I have finished decorating a residence I go to the chamber office and pick up all the brochures, business cards, telephone books and magazines that I feel would be important to the owner and the renter and I fill a drawer with the information. This helps the local businesses and puts restaurants, parks, and arts information right at their fingertips.
When people know that you are trying to help build their business they like to help you in return!
What I have learned to do during the slow times is reconnect with those that referred business to me and to develop new marketing and networking plans. It's good to look back and see which plans worked and which didn't. The best plan for me is t0 network. I try different organizations each year and at the end of the year determine if they were worth it or not. I also decide what new organization I want to join that might help build my business.
The key things to look at when determining what organization will work is who are the members, are they businesses that can help build my business, how many events/opportunities does the organization provide that I can attend and meet these people.
Also, it is important that you have the opportunity to present your business at these events, such as an introduction or a 30 second opportunity to let them know who you are and why you are unique. Tailor your speech to what the members would feel is important about your business.
I find that the fact that I've won 1st runner up for rookie small business of the year in '06 gives me credibility. Also, I let people know what trade shows I'm going to and offer to bring back specific product information that they might be looking for. This let's them know that I feel its important to stay on top of new trends and products and that I want to help them with their business at the same time.
I try not to hand out my business card unless I am asked for it and then I ask for their's as well. I'm also a great listener and I ask questions about their business and what challenges they are dealing with, then I try to think of a great idea or tip to help them overcome that challenge and I reconnect with them.
I keep a large binder in my office that holds every business card I have ever received and it is organized in groups pertaining to the type of business. I also enter the contact info into my Constant Contact database as well as my email database for future marketing. When my clients ask me if I have a painter or a place to buy silk arrangements I can always pull out my binder and refer someone I have met personally!
Creating personal relationships is critical to building a successful business. Don't be short-sighted. Everyone you come in contact with is important now and can be even more so in the future. I make everyone feel they are important. I try to refer people to other business as much as possible.
When I have finished decorating a residence I go to the chamber office and pick up all the brochures, business cards, telephone books and magazines that I feel would be important to the owner and the renter and I fill a drawer with the information. This helps the local businesses and puts restaurants, parks, and arts information right at their fingertips.
When people know that you are trying to help build their business they like to help you in return!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
