Paying It Forward – Page 3 – Advertisement Ideas

Advertisement Ideas: Prioritize This!!!

When you opened your business today what were your priorities? Did you write down your priorities and make sure they were in sync with your goals and objectives? So many times when working with entrepreneurs I find that many do not set priorities and thus continue to be on this endless hamster wheel that creates a struggle. The end result of this struggle is that they fail to thrive and eventually close their business. I always ask people who I work with what did you do to promote your business today? Many times the answer is nothing people will come because they are in the plaza anyway or they are by where we are located and will see us and come in out of curiosity. I give the people I work with the strategy to do out reach to potential customers daily while also having a retention program to keep existing customers. I have worked for people over the last 40 years and I have seen that the successful ones are innovative and seek to stay ahead of the curve while those who close up their business get set in their ways and are closed-minded. I have also found that many business owners do not get out of their own way and as a result they believe they know everything. I was told by a very prominent business coach, Bert Oliva, that “The Day You Think You Know Everything Is The Day You Start To Lose Everything,” this is so true as you begin to alienate those that truly want to help you. What are your priorities today? How do these priorities fit with the over all core model for your business? Are you listening to the people working with you? Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Prioritize This!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Wake Up And Be Open To Receive!!!

This entry was inspired by my recent foray back into to The Sports Apparel and Memorabilia Business. I worked with two companies that had the potential to be million dollar sales companies and grow. Unfortunately at one company there was an owner who thought he knew more than everyone else and at the other there was a manager that would tell you why things couldn’t work. One of the aspects of business that I have learned over the years is to always get input from your employees especially from those that are very knowledgeable about the industry. I have worked with several people to help them excel and those who listened to my input and took positive action have found success. I believe if you are going to make a profit in any business you must know the business and be in tune with all the current trends in the business. I have also learned that you must be true and authentic when dealing with people. The reason that you may be holding onto to merchandise is that you have items that are not in demand or that you are not marketing properly or that your staff is not engaging the customer.

When an employee comes to you in your sports business and says there is a growing trend toward throwback jerseys you should look into that and have a plan of action to carry the jerseys that people are looking for not jersey that you ordered at the end of the season that people aren’t looking for at that time. The key is to be open to receive new ideas and to implement them with a solid marketing plan. It was funny because one of the places decided to spend $2000 on plaques that had already been in the hands of two other companies that didn’t sell instead of taking the $2000 and buying up to date in demand merchandise. Imagine had the owner taken the $2000 and bought some popular throwback jerseys and advertised in the community that they had the jerseys what might have been. He chose not to do this and is still sitting on cases of plaques that are taking up space and not moving. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Wake Up And Be Open To Receive!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Getting High!!!

If you want to get high in business you must commit to working hard and maximizing your message. If you want high revenue and high brand recognition you must have a strategic plan that defines what type of business you are going to have, who your target audience is going to be, and how you are going to cultivate that target audience. In today’s business world the sole-proprietor is the underdog and thus has to work that much higher having a definitive vision for their business so as to get a percentage of the niche market that will create sustainability. As you continue to open the doors to your sole proprietorship it is important that you are listening to those you have hired as some of those people may have ideas that increase sales and also increase brand recognition. It is important to check your EGO at the door and realize that you may not know everything and the day you think you know everything is the day you lose everything. Make sure you know the demographics of the area you decide to do business in so that you can have the merchandise that they desire. Make sure you know the competition that is around you so that you can create your own unique selling proposition to attract and keep customers.

When I was a member of The Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) we had what we called a Chairman’s Planning Guide which was really a small business plan that served as a road map so you could have a successful project.It asked what the primary purpose of the project was, what the goals and objectives were, who was responsible for certain tasks, the budget, and the items needed to bring the project to fruition. It also asked questions as to things that could have been done differently and what changes you would make. Many people used the CPG to secure small business loans and continued to plan their work and work their plan making adjustments that they now have thriving businesses. It is imperative to plan your work and work your plan. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Getting High!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Listen Up!!!

As I turned in my key after being let go by Sinbad Sports I started to think that it was time to listen up and pay attention to the signs that GOD was delivering. I found myself like the character Billy Jack as I have become a tin soldier in the fight to help businesses grow. I have run into some obstacles like stubborn business owners who think they know everything and have not realized that the day you think you know everything is the day you start to lose everything. In my 40 years of marketing, sales, advertising, media relations, public relations, and non-profit experience I have found that many of those in ownership roles and leadership roles do not listen and as a result leave a lot of money on the table. The really good business owners gather input from their employees and value that the employees may have a better feel for what the consumer seeks. The key is to listen up and not take anything personally when an employee comes to you with something that makes sense. When an employees sees what the trends in the market place and comes to you with the trends you as a business owner should be aware and formulate a plan that will help you strengthen your brand and increase your revenue by staying ahead of the trends.
As a business owner it is important to listen to your employees especially the employees who have a working knowledge of the industry and a proven track record of success. When you find an employee who truly has a dedication to your business make sure you are listening and keeping that employee happy for if you let them go they may just go out and follow their dreams and become your competitor and thus take business away from you. When customers are bragging about an employee and tell you that the reason they are coming to the store is that particular employee don’t say oh they would have come any way as it is the merchandise not the employee that they are coming for. Remember people do business with people they know, like, and trust and if an employee is cultivating those customer relationships you keep them and you listen to them. When you empower an employee and allow them to thrive your business will grow and your revenue will increase. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Listen Up!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Being Open To Change!!!

In the business environment that is ever evolving we as business leaders must be open to change. As we all know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In my 40 years of working on special events, helping business owners to excel, and fundraising I have recognized so many people who were not willing to make changes or listen to alternatives. These people kept struggling and many went out of business. I have witnessed many a successful entrepreneur or marketing executive gather input from employees and put some of the ideas into action and as a result they have had success as their revenue went up and their brand recognition increased. I have come to realize that when someone is not willing to make changes or listen to ideas that have their best interest in mind you simply have to let go and let GOD knowing you did the best you could to improve their business. In recognizing that changes must be made to create a viable business you will grow your business.

Sometimes in order to make a positive change you must look at the person in the mirror and realize that you may be part of the problem. The first step to solving a problem is recognizing that you have one. In recognizing the flaws that have created the issues you can work on eliminating the flaws and thus grow your business. I have stated it many times that the day you think you know everything is the day you start to lose everything. If you continue to point fingers and blame everyone else eventually your business will be so flawed that you either close it or change your ways and improve it. When evaluating your business you must look at problem areas and make a change. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Being Open To Change!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Diversity Is A Necessity!!!

In a sports apparel, accessories, and memorabilia store diversity is a necessity. Many entrepreneurs of these type of stores get caught up in what they like that they do not diversify their offerings and as a result lose sales. The key is to see what is selling and to order accordingly. I saw a store where it appeared that FSU Seminoles items were outselling University of Miami Hurricanes items at a 2 to 1 ratio yet the entrepreneur of the store insisted on stocking up on Hurricanes items. This same store had only 3 hats for Notre Dame where Notre Dame is one of the top-selling schools in America. The key to having a successful sports apparel, accessories, and memorabilia store is to have a diverse selection of teams that the consumer is seeking with full size runs. If you have one item that is selling well make sure you are replenishing that item regularly so that when a customer comes looking for it you have it so you can make the sale.

Advertisement Ideas: Ways to Create Diversity!!!

One way to create diversity is to look at your Point of Sales Reports and see what are your top sellers and to stock items for those teams. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Diversity Is A Necessity!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Action, Action, We Want Action!!!

If you are going to succeed in any business especially in the retail business you must commit to becoming an action taker. Over the years I have approached many new business owners as well as experienced business owners who are opening a new location to ask them about their strategic marketing and advertising plans as I have become quite astute at promoting local businesses. I am always surprised by the response of I haven’t set up a budget for that or I spent so much on the build out and opening that I don’t have money to advertise. My look on my face usually says it all when I hear this as it shows a wow you got to be kidding me look. In today’s day ad age I am bewildered by how many so-called business people lack the basic principles to build and grow a business. When I work with entrepreneurs I am brutally honest and I peel back the onion so as to see where we can overcome the blockages that are keeping them in the lack mode instead of the abundance mode. Most times I find it that it is their lack of organization and inability to take proper action as they have an attitude as I am the owner and I am doing my way and I know what I am doing. When in reality they have put up the money but had no realistic plan to market to attract and keep customers. I have witnessed many tines a business owner fly by the seat of their pants only to lose those pants. If you open a business and you do not have a daily, weekly, or monthly action plan you are destined to struggle. If you open a business and do not take input from your employees who have experience you will continue to struggle. The key is to be an action taker and understand that the day you think you know everything is the day you begin to lose everything.

Every action you take should be guided by the concept of positively affecting your business. The first action you need to take is getting to know who your customer base will be and then marketing to that customer base. The next action you need to take especially with a retail store is what you will be known for as a business.Previously I wrote about having a unique selling proposition and this concept is very important to the success of your business as you must ask what is it that I want to be known for when attracting new business and retaining old business. It is great to have a diverse product offering but make sure you are too diverse. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Action, Action, We Want Action!!!

Advertisement Ideas: The Power Of Goodwill!!!

In business there is a very intangible component that is hard to measure called goodwill. It is a simple act of making your customer happy or serving the community. It is hard to measure as some goodwill is done without fan fare and you never know the power of goodwill until it someone mentions that they heard about what you did for a charity or how you went out of your way for a customer. The power of goodwill is amazing and can lead to increased brand awareness and revenue. In sacrificing a profit today by doing goodwill you will increase future profits.

The other day I had a customer come into Sinbad Sports located at 2164 S. University Drive in The Tower Shops next to Best Buy in Davie, FL and they asked about The Nike Vapor Knit Gloves as their son needed gloves to match his school uniform. I told them they are normally $100 but I could sell them to them for $75. They came back the next day and bought the gloves. The following day one of the players teammates came to the store and bought a pair. I gave him the same deal. Now word is getting around and I anticipate selling The Seahawks gloves out. In giving a little I was able to move a product that had been stagnant. It is in extended goodwill and extending excellent customer service that you drive sales. Remember people will forget what you said or did but they will remember how you made them feel. In extending goodwill to all you create customers who will share their positive experience and thus you will exceed your revenue goals.

Recently Sinbad Sports hosted Reshad Jones, Safety of The Miami Dolphins. As a result we had a few footballs to give away. One was presented to the winner of a contest we sponsored on WQAM and another was given to The Divas For The Cure of The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Pembroke Pines to use in a fundraiser. As a result of this goodwill we received some publicity that drove people to come to the store to shop. In doing goodwill the word gets a round and people begin to support your business. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: The Power Of Goodwill!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Spending Your Money Wisely!!!

On of the things I have noticed from entrepreneurs while working in The Sports Apparel and Memorabilia Industry is how ineffectively they tend to spend money. I have seen this happen in many businesses as the entrepreneur will buy items that he or she likes thinking they will sell and they do not leaving them with what I call dead merchandise. I witnessed one entrepreneur buy a Dolphins Pool Table and then tell employees he didn’t have funds for items that customers were requesting. I thought wow here you have a pool table that is going to be hard to sell when you could have bought items that were being sought after and turned then into cash flow quickly and turned a profit that would have been frequent and consistent. I witnessed one entrepreneur who refused to put up a website with his memorabilia and then stopped paying rent and as a result was forced to dissolve his business and settle with the landlord and then change names and relocate. This same owner still doesn’t have a website and guess what isn’t making the sales as he should be. I have always said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Continue reading Advertisement Ideas: Spending Your Money Wisely!!!

Advertisement Ideas: Do You DWYP?

Over the years I have taught about the concept of deliver on what you promise (DWYP), which is a key aspect to having a successful and thriving business. So many times over the years I have dealt with people who have forgotten this principle and a s a result have struggled in their businesses. The key factor is to know what you can do and then to deliver on what you promised. I recently had someone make a spelling mistake on a custom jersey that I ordered and told me they would send another one this was done in June. Several calls have been made and I have been told it is being sent and that they sent me a free jersey that was spelled right. They made the decision to send a free jersey with the one I ordered I didn’t ask for a free jersey. I still haven’t received the corrected jersey. What do you think happened when I wanted another jersey? I went to a business that has always delivered what they promised and guess what? My order was filled with the correct spelling and an excellent quality jersey. I tell this story to remind you of the importance of delivering what you promised. It is important to make sure that all your customers are happy and that you do the right thing.

Remember in life there is no try so when you make a commitment honor that commitment and if you can not honor the commitment then find a solution. So many ties people will try to cut corners and a s a result will find themselves without a way out thus making it impossible to deliver on what they promised. I recently had a situation where a business owner was hosting an event and one of the people who was supposed to come and sign autographs was a no-show leaving a customer without items signed. The business owner cashed the check and thought they would get the person to sign and then send the customer the signed items. This was in May and the person who was supposed to sign still haven’t signed the items. I suggested to the business owner that he simply write a refund check and send the items back and in the future wait for the event to be over and of someone doesn’t show simply repack the items with the payment or if the customer paid by credit or debit card simply do a refund. It is important to honor your commitments and if there are other parties involved don’t make promises. In another instance a business owner was given a custom framing order and misplaced the item to be framed and finally located the item and will be able to complete the order but it took 3 months and needless to say the customer is unhappy. When you do business with people you need to ask yourself am I delivering what I promised?