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WINTER 2009
 Going Green: How Green Business Practices can Color your Bottom Line Green
75% of consumers are using eco-friendly practices at home. If your business isn’t on the bandwagon you can jump on anytime. The sooner the better! Going Green is a benefit in the consumer’s eyes and they will base their buying decisions accordingly. In this seminar Lisa Duncan will present 5 tools for creating a successful Green business. You will walk away with a wealth of ideas that you can put into practice immediately:
- G reen advertising—Consumers are decreasing paper mail whenever possible. Be certain that your advertising campaign mixes the media using high-impact visual and auditory stimuli.
- R ecycling—Why not provide reusable shopping bags for your store? Whatever your type of specialty store, offering discounts for bag reuse can not only be profitable and fun but an exciting marketing campaign, as well.
- E nergy-saving—Concentrate on a merchandise mix made of natural materials, not petroleum by-products. Promote your display and design props and fixtures as being energy-saving using everything from “green” lighting techniques to “green” shelving.
- E nvironmentally friendly—Use special advertising and in-store events to educate your customer on your Green business practices. Give your customer the opportunity to participate by selling reusable bags or paper products with maximum available recycled content, for example.
- N atural resources—The loss of natural resources is enough of a concern with consumers to make them change their buying habits. Be creative with your merchandising. Provide innovative air and water filter products, free seed packets with purchase, or biodegradable soaps.
Be genuine with your Green campaign and your customers will appreciate and support your good business practices!
Customer loyalty has never been more important. The customer experience will drive success in your business over the next few years like never before. Focus on the customer and they will remember your business when they need what you have to offer.
Here is my 15-point Service Success™ formula:
C is for Courtesy —Anticipate the customer’s needs even before they know they have them.
U is for Understanding —Listen to your customer.
S is for Smile! —The universal language!
T is for Tenacity —Is anyone really “just looking?” Find a need and fill it!
O is for Open Minded —Be willing to think outside your policy.
M is for Make a Friend — Make a friend, not just a sale.
E is for Empathy — Agree with the disgruntled, diffuse the anger, and then give them everything they want.
R is for Resourcefulness — If your mission is service then do whatever it takes to help your customer achieve their goal.
S is for Serve — If you don’t have what the customer is looking for then don’t be afraid to tell them who does.
E is for Enthusiasm — It’s catching!
R is for Recognition — More than money, prestige, promotion, or power, what a person really wants is recognition.
V is for Value — The value of goods but also the value of service.
I is for Indulge — Pamper your customer!
C is for Commitment — Do what you say you’re going to do or don’t say it.
E is for Establish Integrity — Uphold your part of the relationship. Be a genuinely nice person.
Investment Dressing is about building a work wardrobe with your hard-earned money that not only exemplifies your personal style but also gets you noticed in the right way at the office. By adding a clothing allowance into your monthly budget you continually modernize your appearance and never strap your financial resources. Here are a few tips to remember before you go shopping:
- Put together a simple clothing budget, perhaps $5 a day or $150 a month, and stick to it. When out in the stores earmark pieces that fit into your workplace collection. Give them a number from one to five, five being a perfect fit. If they are ideal, then pay full price for them. If not, then wait for them to go on sale.
- Choose two neutral colors and one statement color for the foundation of your wardrobe—such as camel, chocolate and ivory; charcoal, black and white; navy, white and red—and build upon these colors year after year.
- Never buy anything unless you have two things to wear with it.
- Don’t impulse shop.
- Spend 80% of your money on “hard pieces,” such as suits. Spend 20 % of your money on trends.
- When buying trends opt for less expensive pieces such as a scarf, belt or updated legwear. Buy a leopard print belt, not a leopard print suit!
- Just because it is in style does not mean that you should own it. Stick to your own personal style regardless of what’s trendy for the season.
Now let’s discuss your responsibilities to your employer. If your company has a dress code it is your duty to adhere to it. Look around your office. What do the managers and executives wear to work? If you’re in a service industry such as banking or mortgage lending, a brokerage, or an accounting or law firm, chances are you’ll see suits and ties. Assuming that your career goal is to advance, then wouldn’t it make sense to emulate those in charge? I doubt very seriously if the bank president is wearing a midriff and flip-flops, even on Casual Friday.
Always remember to dress for the job you want, not the job you have!
Yes, I have taken up the game of golf! I come from a long line of terrific golfers. Recently, when my dad was visiting, I asked him to go to the driving range with me to see if I got the “golf gene.” Well, after his blessing, I decided to take lessons. As I travel to warm climates I’ll be happy to start playing some beautiful golf courses. It will be wonderful to sign up for charity events and play with my clients; and keep the ball in the fairway long enough to make par! Right now I’m still on the driving range but I can’t wait to put together a decent game of golf out on the course. I look forward to teeing off at 7:00 a.m. and walking 9 holes in the peaceful morning of a new day! |
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P.O. Box 4164 •
Evergreen, CO 80437 •
303-512-7638 •
fax: 303-674-5356 |
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