If you're a student, you've probably figured out a few ways to stretch your money. Making your money last can be a real challenge and many students could use some help. One of your biggest expenses, besides your normal bills and tuition, is grocery shopping. New students may have never shopped for themselves before and may find it challenging to squeeze what they want into a tiny grocery allowance.
The first step is to always check your budget before you go to the store. Your budget should show how much money you have coming in and how much you have automatically going back out. Cell phone bills, rent, tuition, books, electricity and water will all be deducted from the amount that you have coming in. Once you're pretty sure that you've accounted for each thing that you'll need money for, then figure out how much you'll need for recreation, food, gas and other essentials like laundry detergent and toilet paper. Remember that your grocery store trip will include buying all of these things, not just food.
Once you've come up with an amount that can be spent on just food, figure out how many meals you'll need to cover on that amount. Plan your grocery list by considering what you'll eat for each meal. Don't make the mistake of buying a whole lot of snacks and running out of things to cook for dinner after just a few days. Don't panic if you get down to just a couple of dollars allowed for each meal. There are plenty of ways to eat good food on a small budget.
One way is to buy in bulk. You can buy a big bag of frozen chicken tenders for around ten dollars. Then, you can use the chicken for easy meals like barbeque chicken, chicken sandwiches, boxed meals that only require you to add chicken, and many other good dishes that are good for you. A college student cooking for themselves can get about ten meals out of one bag of chicken. Hot dogs are not necessarily the healthiest thing you could choose, but you can get between four and eight meals from one package. There are always the college student staples of macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles as well.
Soups are also cheap options and are available in hearty recipes that will actually fill you up. Eggs and milk can go a long way as well. Now that it's winter, a big pot of chili is a healthy cheap option. You can make one big pot of chili for around ten dollars and it keeps well in the fridge. You can quickly microwave bowls of chili for a week off of one pot.
Don't despair if you have a tiny grocery budget. Shop around for coupons and find out if a store near you does double or triple coupon days. Shop for the best deals and get the most meals from each purchase that you can. Don't forget to ask your parents for suggestions. Chances are, they've been through the small budget grocery crisis before, and can give you recipes and tips to survive on a small budget.
If you expect that you'll really be broke and have no money for food at some point, then you may consider student credit cards as an option to get you out of a bind and build some credit at the same time.
Grocery Shopping for Students
Recycling Your Office Paper
A lot of the trash that we found on office waste cans can actually be used for another day. With intensifying effects of global warming that we observe and feel these days, it is important that we consider the recycling in the office as a significant undertaking. Here are some ideas and suggestions to promote and encourage environmental responsibilities in your office.
Because it is the most used office supply, it is paper that comprises most of the waste in the office trash basket. It is therefore imperative that we think of ways to reuse, recycle and reduce paper use. Cutting down on paper use is fairly easy. One way is to use disks in storing office information rather than making hard copies on paper. A whole file which may take twenty pages when printed can fit in just one diskette. This not only saves you paper but it also saves you space in the filing cabinet. A disk can carry more than one file depending on its memory so you will be able to keep more. There is also less risk of losing the files, a missing page or two can make a big difference. Risk of spoiling a report can also be minimized. Further when you have the file saved on the disk, you can always make a printed copy when you need it. No need for photocopying each page.
When sending interoffice memos or even sending messages to another officemate, you may opt to use emails instead. When you really need to make a printed memo, choose to route them around the office or you may centrally post these memos on a bulletin board where everyone can take notice and read them. This should work the same as when you print out each person a copy. The practice is more convenient, less time consuming and gives you savings on paper all on one blow. Make the most out of your paper and your copy machine ink by using the reduction feature of the latter. This not only trims down your paper use but gives you the advantage of getting more items in just one page.
Make sure to use both sides of the paper each time. You may set your printers and copiers for double-sided copying or printing on default. Documents for a previously filed report or a proposal may be worthless in a month or so, you can always use the back side of the paper for printing a new draft. Used papers can also be used as scratch pads or scrap paper that you can use for writing in small notes during meetings or conferences or for taking messages on business calls.
In motivating your employees and staff in recycling paper, make the process more convenient by providing for a recycle box on an office corner where they can deposit their half used papers. It has been observed that most people tend to put everything in the trash can because they can conveniently drop them in. Some people do not have the time and particularly the discipline to keep their scrap papers on one corner until they can be reused. Without an accessible recycle box, your recycling idea may not be that effective.
Father's Day; 10 Gift Picks
Father's Day is a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day. It is a celebration of fatherhood and parenting by males.
In the United States, the first modern Father's Day celebration was held on July 5, 1908, in Fairmont, West Virginia. (The first Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908) It was first celebrated as a church service at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South. Both Mother's Day and Father's Day are secular activities although they experienced their beginnings in the church. It has become a significant commercial holiday in many countries.
So, the third Sunday in June finds most of us looking for a gift to give our Dad, Husband, Grandfather, or Godfather etc. to express our appreciation! I have compiled a list of 10 great gift ideas.
1. Sports Events Tickets; The gift of sporting event tickets will have to be customized to your guy and guarantees a very happy recipient. You have given the gift of the event and permission to go all in one shot!
2. Watch; Men typically wear a limited amount of jewelry if any. A watch is a man's defining ornamental accessory. If your man has a fancy watch perhaps buy him a casual style leather band and vice versa.
3. Leatherman; A leatherman is a staple for most men and it comes in a variety classes and prices. This item has similar functionality of a swiss army knife.
4. Car Cleaning Kit; A fancy car cleaning kit is sure to be appreciated with its specialty brushes and cleaners. If your guy is not the do it yourself type you can give him a gift certificate to have his car detailed.
5. Fishing Gear; There are a variety of items to choose from in this category and you are sure to find something for every budget. You can go for the fancy fishing pole or items for the tackle box!
6. Golf Gear; Like the item above there are a variety of items to choose from like golf gear or supplies. There are items for every price range from golf balls or golf socks to golf clubs!
7. A Handcrafted Coupon Booklet: This is one of my personal favorites. This gift is customized by the giver for the receiver. Coupon examples include taking care of a smaller sibling, clean up the yard, vacuum or other household chore, no whining for a whole day, breakfast in bed or a snack, your TV show choice. This booklet is a free and crafty idea for a child to create for their parent!
8. Educational Computer Software; Computer software is available in language instruction and other hobbies. For example, Family Tree software that helps a person organize and present their genealogy research. Encourage Dad to take some time for herself!
9. Grill Tools; Grill tools may inspire the act of grilling therefore, they will benefit many! They also come in a variety of sizes and prices.
10. Tech Gadgets; An ipod or an upgraded cell phone is a nice and useful gift idea!
If you can narrow down a store that the receiver favors, a safe gift would be a gift certificate from that store or any item with a gift receipt! Home Depot, Lowe's
or Macy's Men Store are some suggestions of stores that just about anyone could find a desirable item in!
Father's Day finds a majority of us searching for a satisfactory gift that represents our appreciation for our father, husband, grandfather, godfather etc. I have provided a list of fabulous father's day gifts sure to please!
Be a Frugal Grocery Shopper
Every week we all have to go grocery shopping, its just one of those things we all have to do whether we like it or not. The trouble it we can become complacent by the routine of it and forget to check what is actually going into our baskets and how much we are paying for it.
Inn these times of price rises and the increase in personal debt, being a frugal grocery shopper should be something we all choose to become. Our weekly shop can be one of the biggest single financial outlays that we make every week and by taking a closer look at how we shop and what we are buying will help to cut out monthly budgets and allow us to use our money more wisely.
There are some simple rules in becoming a more frugal grocery shopper and they are all easy to implement without having to make dramatic changes to the way we shop. Also by becoming more aware of how the supermarkets try to entice us into buying more and understanding how we can avoid these marketing traps will also help us to reduce our weekly grocery bill.
The first rule is to make a list of the things you actually need before you go shopping. This sounds like an obvious thing to do but many people simple go out each week and buy the same things all over again without first checking if they actually need it. The simple step of checking your cupboards first will stop you buying duplicate items and will also help to stop food wastage.
Also plan in advance which meals you are going to prepare for the coming week. Only buying what you are going to eat will also reduce wastage and expense. Planning meals will also allow you to take advantage of what food is in season, costing you less and giving you a much fresher and wider range of meals all year round.
The next rule is to make yourself less vulnerable to all the marketing strategies employed by the large grocery stores to get you to spend more. These strategies include:
Placing staple food items like bread and milk at the very back of the store, forcing you to have to walk through other isles that may tempt you. If all you need is bread and milk then stick to the side isles and to reach the back of the store.
Moving isles around is a common ploy to make you have to hunt for your items and so being exposed to other items along the way. A hard one to avoid but stay focused on the item you are looking for.
Placing higher priced food at eye level on the shelves. Many shoppers forget to take a look at the lower shelves where they will find similar lower priced items such as the stores own brand.
In store advertising signs are often placed along the isles making statements such as "best for you" and "will make you happy". This is advertising hype and many of us fall for it, unfortunately this items will hit your wallet and blow your frugal budget away. Many similar items made by less well known brands are of just the same quality but will cost a lot less. By trying to make yourself less susceptible to these in store advertisements will help you to be the frugal shopper you want to be.
Another rule in becoming a more successful frugal shopper is to drop the packaging. Many process foods cost you more than the fresh variety if they have been specially prepared i.e. shredded, or diced. So when buying fruit and vegetable buy the fresh variety and do the little extra work in preparing them yourself. You will not only be saving yourself money but will be helping to save the planet by not buying all the packaging that goes along with processed food.
Lastly, don't forget to use grocery coupons. They can be found everywhere these days form magazines and newspapers to free downloadable ones from the Internet. Take advantage of this free money and collect the coupons for the items you use on a regular basis. It can be quite a saving over the year.
Being a frugal shopper can be an easy and even fun thing to be, especially when you realise how shrewd you are at getting one over the big marketing boys, whilst saving yourself lots of cash every month.
Suze Orman Financial Expert on Oprah
Suze Orman Financial Expert On Oprah
We learned something from Suze Orman when she appeared on the Oprah show this week. Everyone needs to know what they can afford. Suze Orman appeared on Oprah to discuss easy ways you can save money. Suze Orman's tip is to start with your bi-weekly take home pay, how much is it? Make a budget every month based on your salary and stick to it. This is good advice to stick by, but sometimes easier said than done.
There are many ways to save money, here are a few things we do.
Save money on groceries. Plan your meals and shopping lists around featured sale items. Use your stores monthly flier to plan your menu. Make a list and a budget and stick to it. Having a plan ahead of time will save you from impulse buying. Go to cupons.com and download great coupons on a large assortment of food products. Additionally Weekend newspapers have the most coupons. Buy staples in bulk. Look online at your favorite brands websites, usually there are promotions posted there. Buy meat & fish in bulk and freeze. Look at pricing of all brands. Always go shopping when you are full, shopping when you are hungry is a bad idea for your budjet.
Make coffee & tea at home. Save yourself $4-5 a cup and buy a 2 week supply for the same price!
Ride your bike, walk or run. Save money on gas by taking the bus, carpooling or being active. Your body, the environment & your pocket book will thank you.
Instead of going out, stay in and have friends over. Plan a pot luck dinner around a theme eg. Greek, Mexican, Italian etc. Ask everyone to bring one dish and have an inexpensive and wonderful time. Sharing different foods is fun.
Close all your bank accounts except one and get rid of all those extra addition costs. Do the same thing for your credit cards. Keep one credit card for emergency and never use your credit card if you can't pay it off before the due date.
For more Information on this topic visit http://www.buildwish.com a free Online Home Improvement Directory in 100 Cities in North America. Featuring over 2 million Real Estate Classifieds, Helpful Articles, Contests, Virtual home tools, Qualified Trades people, ask an expert, home improvement videos, a moving center, get free quotes for Insurance, Moving, Mortgages, Contractors, Find Foreclosures and Much More!
Through The Looking Glass: Email Marketing From Your Customer'S Viewpoint
Special Online Deals for Father’s Day
Mothers are always hogging the limelight most of the time that a dad's role is often taken for granted. Celebrate your dad and the love that he has showered so far with all these stylish and trendy father's day gifts that any father would love to possess.
Internet is the best place to look for father's day sales offers. Check out what your dad loves best and surprise him on his special day.
1. Men love jewelry too. Kay Jewelers are offering father's day sale on new and trendy accessories for men
2. There's a large collection of diamond accessories on sale at Zales. Check out for some trendy bracelets and rings to gift your dad.
3. For gourmet dads – check out Impromptu Gourmet for father's day sales on food delicacies
4. An assorted gift bag with wine, lamps, ties, DVDs, shoes, etc is also a good idea for father's day gifts. Check out Wrapables, Forever21 and Steve Madden for free shipping deals and discounts for father's day.
5. f your father is the nerdy kind – Checkout X-treme Geek and HP for all kinds of electronic goods
6. You can surprise your dad with a complete set of trendy clothes and accessories for this summer. Check out Casual Male and Forzieri for their latest collections of shoes, T-shirts, shirts etc.
7. Food gift coupons can be used anytime of the year. So, get one for your dad from Omaha Steaks for this year's father's day and let him enjoy a great meal whenever he wants
8. The Popcorn Factory is a great place to look for gift coupons and save big time on purchases of pastries and snacks items
9. Nothing can beat the sweetness of dark chocolates. Fannie May is offering great offers on purchases of chocolates. Choose your dad's favorite and surprise him.
10. If you're looking for tech gifts like LCDs, GPS systems etc, checkout Staples. They are currently offering superb father's day deals along with free shipping discounts on purchases made before father's day.
If you still haven't found what you're looking for, check out an online shopping guide that can help you find what's best for your dear dad.
Happy Shopping!
Modern Ideas on Catalog Printing
A catalog is defined as a compilation which lists down and describes the contents of a certain collection or group of collections. These catalogs that contain such collections easily bring to minds commercial businesses, shops, and other which offers goods and services.
Catalogs are all too common print materials, but are one of the most handy and useful ones. Catalogs help us search for specific items, identify them and order them hassle-free. Flipping through pages or organized collection or selection is even considered by some a leisurely activity. Other would even go as far as to browsing through catalogs as shopping.
Indeed, catalogs have been transformed itself and have taken more interesting roles. Catalogs do more than to organize or compile collections. It serves varying purposes as seen in the eyes of different fields - advertising, marketing, business and the like.
• Catalogs have become a medium which holds great potential. To name a few, these are:
• Catalogs are effective for it gives product visibility, heightening their exposure.
• Catalogs strongly influence a need to buy.
• Catalogs, which may be likened to window shopping, gives reader a more in depth knowledge of the product or services.
• Catalogs, depending on how detailed they are, can be persuasive and highly motivating.
• Catalogs give reader a fuller view of the product they are purchasing and leads them to view similar products that might hold their interest.
• Catalogs functions as a guide that makes buying easier.
• Catalogs are portable, compact and can easily be shared, especially when they are directly mailed to subscribers and other potential clients.
Catalogs can be considered as booklets, which are limited to the standard sizes of 5.5 in x 8.5 in, 8.5 in x 11 in, 6 in x 6 in and 12 in x 12 in. Different printers have varying minimum and maximum number of pages required. But it is a standard procedure that pages increase in increments of 4.
As for binding them, catalogs may be saddle stitched, Wire-O or perfect binding among a number of variations. Catalogs may be stapled on the 8.5 way of a 5.5 x 8.5 catalog. Unless preferred and specified by the client, it can be stapled on the 5.5 way.
Modern Ideas
Catalogs are continuously evolving due to the various demands of the market and the economy. Therefore, it is best to remember some ideas that are necessary in order to ride along the currents of time.
Catalogs, as any print material, rely on visual stimulation. Use creative layouts and designs
Along with out first point, another is to use great pictures with focus and balance. A photo with a focal point gives the eyes a seemingly better view of things. It frames everything and leads the eyes to appreciate the whole picture.
Use colors that can help you enhance your theme. Use colors too that can effectively highlight the right details. Not just on graphics but texts as well.
Think of innovative ways to further make your catalogs interactive. Promos, coupons and the like entice recipients to see just what kind of package or bargain you are offering.
Create a sense of suspense and hold out on your readers until they get to the middle of the catalog. This way, more of your items are seen and read.
Group your items – products and services – effectively. Be sure to immediately include within the page or nearby pages complementary equipment and accessories that would enhance your recipient's response towards your goods.
Five Timesaving Tools to Maximize Productivity at your Church
Churches rely on the good graces of their congregations to get the bills paid. Because contribution amounts vary so much, churches must keep an eye on the budget and on the needs of their communities. Having the right equipment in place can free up church staff to take on more important projects and activities. This article describes five pieces of equipment that can help you use your church resources wisely.
Color coil binding machine
Investing in the right machinery can mean fundraising dollars for your church and its community programs and ministry. One popular piece of equipment for churches is a color coil binding machine. This machine binds documents using simple and affordable equipment. This machine is the perfect choice for membership directories, custom hymnals, and prayer and meditation journals. In addition to these uses, you can also bind publications to sell for profit. Items such as cookbooks, youth group scrapbooks, and coupon books are popular choices.
Paper cutter
Churches tend to pass out a lot of paper as part of their outreach programs and general ministry management. Do not waste time and energy cutting large volumes of paper by hand. If you have notices, prayer request slips, and the like, you can cut them quickly and cleanly using a high-quality paper cutter.
Combination Electric Stapler and 3 Hole Punch
Don't waste time on monotonous tasks like hole punching and stapling. Not only might you subject staff to a range of injuries associated with repetitive movements by hand stapling and hole punching, but you will also waste the time of your staff and volunteers—time that would be better spent interacting with people about the ministry.
Paper Shredder
A church is a safe haven for many people to share their worries and problems. It is also a center of financial activity. No one wants to be the victim of a church's lack of vigilance in protecting their personal information of any kind. You have a responsibility to those you support as well as those who support you. Having a shredder on hand keeps unnecessary information away from prying eyes.
Paper Folding Machine
Churches have a lot of information to disseminate to parishioners. Oftentimes this communication comes in the form of the weekly church bulletin or newsletter. Depending on the size of your organization, folding bulletins can take a few hours to a day or more. This work is tedious and very hard on hands. A quality paper folder can do the job for you more quickly and neatly and allow you to focus on your ministry.
Some churches mistakenly believe the power to produce professional looking documents rests solely in the hands of professional printers, but that is simply not true. The only thing keeping you from publishing like a pro is the right tools. You can purchase the timesaving tools discussed here in a variety of styles and price points, ensuring the right one for your church is out there. With the time you save, you can focus on reaching out in faith to your community.
Grocery Shopping Cost Of Living Shopping Prices
The cost of living has become painful. One trip to the gas station and grocery store will clearly put you in touch with this pain. As painful as the $4.00 per gallon for gas is, it represents less than 3.5 percent of the family budget. Their food purchase is almost 4 times as much in the family expenses coming in just under 13%.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Consumer Price Index for the past year indicates the five grocery items that rank at the top of the inflated price list that you are now paying at your supermarkets. Number One on the list is FLOUR, increased by 37%. Not only does this increase affect the bag of flour you purchase, but every item that is made using flour....breads, bakery goods, etc.
Number Two on the list is EGGS, increased by 34.8%. Again, this goes beyond just the dozen or two of eggs that you buy for your family. The bakery goods and breads are also affected. The third most inflated priced item at an increased rate of 29.2% is SWEET PEPPERS (green, red, yellow). The GOOD NEWS here is that peppers are one of the easiest plants to grow with very little work. I will address home gardening in the next newsletter for all your summer salad needs.
The fourth most increased inflated price goes to MILK. MILK is up by 23.1%. This is one the most essential purchases on the grocery list for a family of any size with growing children. Number 5 on the list, up by 21.6%, is DRIED BEANS. This may be the most insulting of all, because it represents the most basic and last resort for the poor to put something on the table for the family to eat. One of the other world's basic food staples, RICE, has gone up by 10% in the last month alone. Costco and Wal-mart have recently limited the quantity of RICE that you can buy. Families will need a cost of living calculator to keep up with these flour prices, egg prices, and milk prices to figure out all the changing weekly grocery prices.
If you have visited our website and read the "BeSmart....ShopSmart....Shopping Tips", you know that we want you to save 40% to 50% off your weekly grocery shopping trips, including meat and high priced items such as coffee or laundry detergent. Of course, this is possible when you use your store loyalty card, store and manufacturer coupons, and take advantage of the BUY 1 GET 1 FREE OFFERS. We are very concerned about your bottom line savings on your groceries with these inflationary increases on some of the most basic food staples.
Being a good "Scout" you need to "Be prepared". First, study your local grocery circulars. Become price conscious as to what the marketplace is asking for these particular items as well as what your cupboard and refrigerator is lacking. Secondly, read the ad papers thoroughly to OPTIMIZE YOUR SAVINGS. For example, at a chain drug store, reading through their weekly circular....in smaller print that the rest....I discovered that if I bought the brand name skin lotion at the regular price, I would receive the same brand name liquid soap for FREE -- $3.99 value.
Another discovered sale at Safeway/Dominic's was getting FREE Safeway brand pasta (sale priced at a $1.00 per/box) when you purchased a 26 oz. jar of a brand named Spaghetti Sauce. The spaghetti sauce was reduced to a sale price of 3/$6.00....that's just $2.00 a jar, and less the free pasta....becomes a $1.00 item. This becomes a $1.00 MEAL, and represents an overall savings of $3.25 per each box of pasta and jar of sauce. NOTE: PASTA is one of the most flexible items you can have in your pantry for making simple dishes quickly, or creating a great meal of leftovers. Whole grain pasta is recommended for people with diabetes.
Use the ad circulars to plan your meals when you shop. I have advocated planning your menu around the SALE ITEMS in their circulars. Make sure you mark out what day of the week their shopping advertisement begins and ends. Some start on Wednesday and end on the following Tuesday. Others begin on Thursday and end on the following Wednesday. You could miss out on a sale item of importance by not knowing this.
For example, in their sale circular a brand name roasting chicken was on sale for 69 cents/per lb. at the local grocery store. Unlike the major store chains, this local grocery store week begins on Wednesday, not Thursday. So, if you didn't pay attention to this fact, and wanted to purchase the roasting chicken on Wednesday before the sale ended, it would have been TOO LATE. The new week began, the sale was over, and the price increased by 80 cents to $1.49 per/lb. The same 5-lb. Roasting Chicken went from $3.45 to $7.45 -- a lost savings of $4.00 per a 5lb. Chicken. That's ONE GALLON of GAS. PAY ATTENTION and SAVE!
Don't let image fool you that you are going to get the BEST PRICE because a store is known for its LOW PRICES. A recent story of comparative shopping prices revealed the following prices for a gallon of Skim Milk
•$2.69 at Aldi (discount store)
• $2.99 at Costco (saving club/membership needed)
• $3.99 at a local supermarket
• $4.49 at Wal-Mart
Who would have thought that? That's an image buster for Wal-Mart always low prices advertisements! And don't forget about looking at your local drug store such as CVS or Walgreens for some of these grocery items. Recently I was able to purchase 2- 64oz. Walgreens Brand Orange Juice for $3.69 compared to other grocery store offers of 2/$5.00, and 2 dozen eggs for $3.00 ($1.50 per dozen) compared to $2.89 per dozen elsewhere.
When your comparative shopping list results in SAVINGS at different stores, the discussion of the cost of gas comes into play. Is it worth it??? I usually suggest you map out a circular trip to include as many of the stores as possible on your list. This way you can max out your SAVINGS by getting as many of the sales items as possible with one shopping trip. With a single stop to save $5.00 on a can of coffee, meat, laundry detergent, or ice cream you will have covered the cost of a gallon of gas for your vehicle.
I believe in buying in BULK when often used family products are on sale. If you have the capabilities, utilize your freezer. When shopping for Milk on Sale, search the back of the shelf for the latest possible expiration date. If you choose to freeze milk, remove 8-to-12 ounces to allow for expansion during the freezing process. You can also freeze eggs in freezer bags; just crack them open into the bag for later use in baking or for scramble eggs. AVOID waisting Money and Food...Rather than throw out eggs or milk that are about to expire make a cake or pudding.
For additional savings, investing in a bread machine would help cut the cost of bread and provide you with Fresh Homemade Healthy Bread daily per your creative ingredients. Put the ingredients in the bread machine and in a period of three-to-three and a half hours, FRESH BREAD for less than a $1.00 a loaf. The bread machine will pay for itself in a short time with current store bought bread prices.
One U.S. Agricultural Department study estimated that 25% of the food bought by consumers and restaurants is wasted or spoiled before it can be served. TV commercials advertise storage bags that will preserve the life of fruits and vegetables. If you are going to spend the high prices for your fruits and vegetables, then it might be wise to spend $10.00 for these reusable bags. They will pay for themselves over a short period of time compared to the price of lost/spoiled produce.
For your meat purchases, avoid paying for bones. At $10.00/lb. every pound of bones will cost you ten dollars for the throw away. Or, you might choose to wait until its on sale. Many dollars are saved by using your store loyalty card when it comes to your meat purchases. Buy Sale Price Meat in larger quantities, cut in portions, and FREEZE. Meat provides flexibility in one's menu planning. First meal is hot, freshly cooked. Leftover portions can be served as cold as sandwiches, or cubed and added to a fresh salad. Any other cubed leftover meat can be added to soup. THAT'S FOUR MEALS from one piece of meat.
Speaking of soup, homemade or store bought, you don't have to waste the crumbs from the bottom of the bag of chips, or Doritos ("breakage" in food industry language). Smash the remaining crumbs in the bag, and empty the crumbs on top of the soup when ready to serve for added flavor and fiber...no waste.
To eat healthier and save your time cooking, I recommend purchasing a Ronco "Showtime" Rotisserie. Put the meat on the spit or in the basket, set the timer, and let it cook away, allowing the fat to drip away. Place vegetables in steamer tray on top of the unit. When the timer goes off, take the meat out, and serve. This is a Very Nice MOTHER'S DAY GIFT that will KEEP ON GIVING. But remember: you'll have to figure out what you want to do with your free time while everything is cooking. It can cook up to a 15 lb. turkey. I have had mine for over six years.
Again, read your grocery ad circular carefully. Try to take advantage of the first opening days' "Sale Specials". Some stores run specials within the store that will provide FREEBIES or MONEY BACK for your NEXT SHOPPING VISIT. Last month Safeway/Dominick's had a $10.00 kick back for your next visit on a purchase of $30.00 or more of certain listed brand name products ...that's a 33% savings right there. Many of these items weren't ON SALE. This week they have two $5.00 kick back offers, the first is instant at the check out counter, the second is for your next visit.
Lastly, keep your eyes open for offers to add to your Government Stimulus Checks or Tax Refund Checks by Grocery Stores or Department Stores. Jewel (owned by Albertson) is offering a 10% Bonus if you use one of these CHECKS to purchase a Jewel-Osco Gift Card in increments of $300 up to $1200. Limit one offer per household. That's a FREE $30 to $120 depending on the size of your check. Details are available in the store. Using these Be Smart...Shop Smart...Shopping Tips can add another 40-to-50% to this free money opportunity. Make Your Money Work for YOU!
So BeSmart.....ShopSmart.....Save Money.....Be Happy!
By Robert Walsh
Consumer Electronics That Capture The Moment
People are more inclined to purchase products that allow them to be creative while still capturing a moment in time. Many moments are captured with consumer electronics such as cameras and people can be creative by choosing one that is the perfect style. Point and shoot cameras give people ease of use when taking pictures, but the cameras with digital programming nodes are the favorite choice of many camera buffs.
Capturing moments using consumer electronics is an activity that has taken hold of people creative outlets and gotten them involved in life again. People can be seen all over town taking photographs with the help of consumer electronics that have cameras listed as one of the accessories. This purchase option is widely preferred by people who are on the go and do not want to be encumbered while they are enjoying other consumer electronics that make life more enjoyable.
People use a variety of electronic devices at home to capture moments. Most will select consumer electronics that give them storage capabilities for all types of images captured with a camera. These electronic devices allow people to capture and relive moments repeatedly, and then the memories are saved for other days when moments in the past can be remembered again. Sharing photos with friends is an inexpensive hobby enjoyed by many and compact disk allow people to capture many moments of time on computer disks.
The opportunity to recapture youth comes from electronic devices that play games. These electronic marvels are equipped with devices that give game players the ability to control the action on the screen and the game player can feel the intensity of the action when the consumer electronics begin to vibrate in their hands. Capturing that moment of surprise is priceless and lead parents to understand why kids enjoy the thrill of playing video games so much.
The personal computer has been an active participant in many parts of American history. Treaties, pardons, and Executive Orders were written with them that captured moments in history on paper. Meetings have been held through the internet that allowed families to recapture evenings lost earlier to long distance travel commitments. Consumer electronics have allowed that history to be printed on paper or allowed the writer to transcribe it verbatim without touching a computer keyboard or any other electronic machine.
Memorable moments that have occurred in the entertainment industry are captured in time for future generations to enjoy. Music artists have created albums recorded with consumer electronics in a recording studio and released them to millions in the world who want to create musical video libraries. The voices and music styles of many music artists will never be forgotten because of these recordings. Some careers in the music industry started with a song created using electronic microphones.
People can capture a satellite connection and be entertained for hours since satellite radios were introduced. People have a choice between listening to free radio programming or those that are guaranteed to be free of commercial interruptions. People have the choice of tuning into any cable television network using consumer electronic access points, or they can connect to it wireless with the aid of consumer electronics that provide networking services throughout the home.
Digital Television Transition- High Definition Answers
This is the biggest thing to happen to TVs since the introduction of color. Digital television is no longer a subject discussed only among the techno-savvy and gadget-obsessed. It's now a hot topic ignited by the United States government, fueled by cable providers and electronics retailers, and spread in the everyday conversations between even the most casual consumers. You can try to avoid the escalating digital hype, but by February 2009, the digital transition will hit home whether or not you're ready for it.
The switch from analog broadcasting to digital has been years in the making. In the 1990s, Congress passed a mandate to change TV broadcasting from analog to digital to free-up more bands of the broadcast spectrum for public safety and emergency services, as well as for popular wireless services. Currently, most TV stations broadcast on digital and analog channels, with over 1,600 out of 1,745 full-power stations broadcasting digital programs. After February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations are required by law to end analog broadcasts.
David Rehr, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, considers this digital television transition "the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced." Television broadcasters will be able to offer programming with characteristics similar to DVDs: higher quality pictures without the typical TV interference or "snow." But you don't have to see DTV to tell the difference; the multi-channel digital surround sound, including Dolby Digital 5.1, will turn casual TV watching into a theatrical experience.
For many people, these benefits will come at a cost. Consumers who use an antenna on an analog set and do not subscribe to cable or satellite will need to upgrade in order to continue receiving television programming. Upgrading can be done in one of three ways: purchase a digital converter box (also known as a set-top box or converter box), purchase a digital television or subscribe to cable or satellite. Digital to Analog Converter Box On February 18, 2009, the curbs will not be cluttered with 70 million analog television sets and antennas. These TVs will continue to work after February 17 with the addition of a digital converter box. Because DTV broadcasters have been designated channels in the VHF and UHF bands, antennas should also continue working as long as a DTV signal is available ' so don't throw out the rabbit ears just yet.
The digital converter box is an electronic device that hooks up to an analog TV set to convert digital signals to analog signals. Converter boxes, priced from $40 to $75, can be purchased at electronics retailers across the country. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is currently providing an opportunity for consumers to cut down on the price of the digital transition. Each household may receive up to two coupons worth $40 each toward the purchase of digital converter boxes. However, the NTIA is offering enough coupons to supply only half of the nation's households. To receive these coupons while they last, consumers must apply online as soon as possible at https://www.dtv2009.gov/ or by phone at 1-888-388-2009.
Cable and Satellite Depending upon the service provider, some cable customers may also need a digital set-top box to receive and convert DTV signals. Satellite customers may need a different set-top box to receive high definition programming. Because no single information source claims to be 100% certain of exactly how the transition will affect all cable and satellite customers, the only way to know for sure is by contacting your provider.
Cable network channels such as MSNBC, Lifetime and CNN are not required by law to make the digital transition. However, some cable providers, such as Comcast, are removing popular channels like these from basic cable and offering them only in a digital broadcast tier.
Although most cable customers will be able to receive basic cable without a converter box, there may be few channels left to watch. In order to receive additional channels (including ones that were once staples in basic cable service), consumers are thus forced to upgrade their service in addition to purchasing a digital converter box.
A New TV If you want to take advantage of the full quality of DTV, you won't need a converter box ' you'll need a new digital television set. Contrary to popular assumptions, going digital does not mean going broke. As the prices of electronics continue to fall, most households are able to afford a digital televisions of some kind ' Standard Definition, Enhanced Definition or even High Definition.
Standard Definition television is the basic digital TV format; its quality is comparable to traditional analog television. Like analog TVs, SDTVs can deliver up to 480 interlaced (480i) lines of resolution and are transmitted in 4x3 ratio. Unlike analog, SDTVs can include the 16x9 widescreen aspect ratio.
Although it has the same resolution as SDTV, Enhanced Definition television provides a smoother picture because it has progressive scanning rather than interlaced scanning. EDTV can also be in 4x3 or 16x9 ratio with a resolution of 480 x 640 or 480 x 720 pixels.
The superior quality of "pure" High Definition is achieved through the combination of an HD television and an HD signal. With more lines of resolution and smaller gaps between scan lines, images on High Definition televisions are two to five times sharper than those on Standard Definition televisions. HDTVs can cost as low as $200 for a small screen LCD, or as high as $15,000 for a large flat-panel plasma. The options of HD resolution include 1080i (with more lines and pixels) or 720p (with progressive scanning for smoother images), but the difference is virtually undetectable unless the TV screen is very large. High Definition programming shown on an HDTV ' 1080i or 720p, over-the-air or cable, DLP or plasma ' is a strikingly significant upgrade from Standard Definition.
Buying Advice As of March 1, 2007, all new TVs are required to include digital tuners. While retailers may continue to sell their pre-existing stock of analog-only TVs and devices, they must indicate in a Consumer Alert that the product is analog-only.
When shopping for a new digital television, be on the lookout for product labels with tricky wording. Televisions with labels such as "Digital Monitor," "HDTV Monitor," "Digital Ready" or "HDTV Ready" do not necessarily include a digital tuner, which means the additional set-box may still be required. Labels such as "HD Built-In" and "Integrated HDTV" mean a digital tuner is included. The best and easiest way to find out is by contacting the retailer or product manufacturer.
Free Marketing Alternatives Do Exist
Have you ever wanted to find a low cost alternative to marketing your company? Have you wanted to promote your business to thousands of people, outside of your local area, but couldn't afford the cost? Did you ever wish you could spread the word about a fabulous small business that you frequently use? Then you are going to love this co-op marketing idea.
Simply put, you join groups that agree to help market each other's materials, free of charge.
There are several groups set up online for this very purpose, but you'll have to do a little research to find them. One such group is The Mom Pack (http://themompack.com). It uses the free listserv, Yahoogroups, for its correspondences.
Basically what happens is you send a notice to the online listserv that you are willing to accept promotional materials in exchange for distribution of your materials by the person who sends you his or her materials.
Promotional materials can be anything that has your company contact information. Such as:
- business cards
- flyers
- discount coupons
- buy one get one free coupons
- pens
- pencils
- notepads
- samples of your products
- free one hour consultations
- free one-time service
- contest announcements
- magnets
- bookmarks
- gimmicks with your promo info
Are you planning to send just a filler? A filler is any paper material that has your company contact information, plus other marketing lingo, such as:
- a cute ad slogan
- information about a particular product you want to highlight
- a coupon code
- a percentage off
- announcing a new product
- holiday themes etc.
Your fillers can be any number of shapes, sizes, and/or colors. But all fillers should be taken as an important marketing tool that represents your business. Make sure that:
- there are no typos
- quality paper is used (even copy paper)
- ink is not smudged
- ink is not starting to bleed
- ink is not starting to lose its print quality
- there are no torn edges
- pictures are clear, crisp, uncluttered, and not blurry
- the cut looks professional, not like a child cut them
Once you receive the promotional materials from others, simply place them in clear bags and seal by stapling or tying with a nice ribbon. You can even add a nice label on the front of the packet, describing the group that you are promoting. Each of the above groups have nice logos that you are free to use when promoting the packs within their group.
Use fillers that compliment your business, but are not your direct competition. Also keep filler packs to a maximum; fifteen per pack is a great number -- which guarantees that other businesses will not get overlooked, passed by, or even worse, not read.
Try to keep your costs down by shipping the cheapest way possible. Also, try to send enough fillers that you are spending under 37 cents per person/ad.
Once the packets are put together you can distribute the packets throughout your area. In return, those who have received your information will distribute their packets throughout their local areas.
Distribution of packets can be as follows:
- Sent out with customer orders
- Local Family Support Center (such as those found on a military air base)
- Moms and Tots Groups
- Church Functions
- Day Care Providers
- Hospitals/Child Birth Classes
- La Leche Groups
- Sporting Events with your kids
- Chamber of Commerce Members
- Parent/ Teacher Associations
- Craft shows
- Home Party Businesses (at the shows)
- Doctors offices - especially OB/GYN
- Media Outlets with Press Releases
- Enter a parade. Prepare a float for your business and have your kids and their friends pass out packs to the on-lookers, while you advertise and drive your float in the parade.
- Wherever you put up or hand out your flyers and information
If you choose to deliver the packets to an organization, it is always best to speak to someone ahead of time and get their permission to leave the packets.
Start with the first person you see, as they have more time to listen to your idea and will be able to help you pitch the idea to their boss. If the person in charge is unavailable to meet with you, leave a sample packet and a promotional letter for his or her review, then make an appointment to meet and discuss the benefits these packets have for their customers or clients.
But if the person in charge can spare a few moments to meet with you, simply introduce yourself and your business. Then state, "I am a member of a National Mothers Group that distributes promotional packs, for FREE, to local area moms and dads. Would you be interested in offering our packets, free of charge, to your clients (or customers)?"
While you are speaking with this person, hold your best packet in your hand, dangling it ever so carefully in front of the person you are speaking with.
Do not hand the packet to this person right away as you want her to be curious about contents of that packet. Also, by holding onto the packet, you are keeping her interest a bit longer. Once she asks to see the packet however, hand it over.
As she looks over the packet, say, "We try to include at least one sample or treat in each pack so that the packet is not just paper. The average packet has a minimum of one sample, but we strive to have at least three samples in each packet. (If you find that you do not have enough samples for one location, fill half the samples with hard candies and the other half with sample products.)
Once you have explained the contents of the packets and their purpose (savings and samples), offer to bring in a display that can be placed on a counter, the edge of a desk, or by the front door. The display can simply be an old shoebox decorated with nice wrapping paper and the logo of the group that you are helping to promote. The front of the display can simply say, "FREE. TAKE ONE." It can also have a second title tag that says, "Great discounts and samples for parents."
Once you get the okay to leave the packets, ask how many are needed, what is the best time to distribute the packets, and how often you can return with more packets. Finally, ask if she knows of any other programs or organizations that would benefit from the packets. (You want to ask for references whether she says yes or no to leaving the packets.)
On a final note, always work in what you do for a living and what product or service you are selling. You just never know when self-promotion can lead to something better. For instance, if you were Tracy of Tracy Trends, you could say, "I wrote a great book about potty training, which I have included information on, in this packet, everything else is from different businesses in our groups."
In closing, you will have a better chance of getting a "yes" because you are promoting a NATIONAL GROUP, not just your individual business, and you are offering something of value… samples, discounts, and an extra perk for visiting that company or organization.
Identity Kits Part II – Putting it All Together
In the first part of this article, we discussed the different fundamentals you need to serve as the basis to your identity kit. In this article, we will dive into some suggested elements of an identity kit and how to get started creating them.
*Please Note: Many of these article sites do not allow too many pictures or links, and this article is full of them. I will try to post the URL instead of an actual link to see if they are approved. If not, you can also see the full version at our blog which is listed in our sig.
Business cards
The standard staple of old school business. While less important for a web based enterprises, business cards will still add an air of "realness" to you and your business. When getting your cards printed, make sure to do it right. Nothing says cheesy like a business card printed on your own ink-jet and showing perforated edges.
Things that matter: Stock weight, color, double sided.
When I get cards printed, I tend to use a double-sided full-color card on the heaviest stock I can get. The reason for the double siding is to add more color, not more text on the card. Having your business card stand out in a pile of 1000 other white cards is always important. A slick card can help.
I use Vista Print for my card printing. Their prices are much more reasonable than your local print shop and you have the option of creating the entire design of your card, rather than simply choosing a font and filling in a few lines of text.
* Special note about Vista Print - ALWAYS look for coupons or special deals for Vista Print on the web. Often you can save up to 50% of your entire order costs by just finding an online promo code.
Vista Print Website - www.vistaprint.com
Letterhead/Fax:
With the advent of affordable quality inkjet and color laser printers, you no longer need to have your letterhead done at the printer. For me, I usually start with the contemporary letterhead and fax templates found in MS Word (I use both 2003 and 2007) and then modify to suit.
If you have an iconic part of your logo, try using the watermark feature in Word. Just make sure that it is subtle enough to not overpower the content of your document. The washout settings in Word 2003 are limited, so you may need to use your favorite design tool to adjust the opacity.
Also remember, your faxes will be sent at limited resolutions and in black and white. Make sure the design elements on your fax take that into consideration (Yellow, light blue, or any other light hue'd colors will often disappear entirely when sent via fax)
Lastly, after creating your fax or letterhead template, make sure to save them in the .dot format in your templates folder. That way, you can choose your own template when you create a new document.
Microsoft Office Online has plenty of free templates.
Invoices
As with letterhead, I use a free Office Online template as my base and modify. Once an invoice is created, I usually find it is easiest to send a digital copy to my clients. To protect your invoice from being edited and to guarantee that it will be readable on all machines by all clients, make sure to save and send it in Adobe Acrobat PDF Format. I have the full Adobe CS3 package, so I can create a .pdf on the fly from any document.
Another great option for creating pdf's is Primo PDF. It's free and installs as another printer driver. Just go to print, and choose Primo PDF as your printer. It will convert whatever document into .pdf format and dump it into the folder of your choosing.
Check out Primo PDF. Its cool and its FREE.
Email signature
I don't know about you, but I send hundreds of emails. Why waste that advertising space with a crappy sig. MS Outlook and Outlook Express have options for setting up several signature files. Just make sure you have an alternate non-html(no picture or formatting) sig that your system can default to when responding or sending to known text only email addresses.
*special note: make sure to keep your logo file size VERY small - Optimize it as much as possible. Many email packages will block larger pics from being downloaded, or even worse, treat as an attachment even if embedded and block your email all together.
Click here for a great video tutorial on setting up Outlook Signatures
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jof7T6FIJ34
Envelopes
If you send a lot of physical mail, custom envelopes present a very slick appearance. Again, I use the built in MS Word envelope printing option and customize with my own logo and formatting.
What I like to do is pre-print a bunch of envelopes with my design already set up. Then when sending out mailings, I'll have someone handwrite the send to address. I've found that this has a much higher open rate for whatever reason.
Having pre-printed envelopes also allows you to print a bunch of envelopes quickly if you are using a mail merge from your favorite contact management software (which usually do not allow any type of envelope printing customization)
Folders
When sending out a high-end mail solicitation, or any contact with clients, I include the documents in a custom folder. Even with online discounts, full color folders are pricey (from $.75 to $2 each) but the level of professionalism it exhibits is well worth it.
On a related note, I ALWAYS send packages via FedEx. The reason is simple- it works. My open rates for FedEx blow away any other type of mail. While a standard overnight package does run about $15, you can also send with them as a 3 day mailer which costs the same as a post office priority mail (Around $5) but looks exactly the same as a standard FedEx mailer.
Datasheets/articles
Make sure to use your business color and font standards across all documents. I have a standard article template that I use for all .pdf's that I create for download. Consistancy and cross-marketing are the big key items.
Remember, people will find your stuff all over the place, and that includes completely out of the context of your business. Make sure to include your logo, business name, urls, and cross marketing content on anything that a person can download. Having your stuff show up on torrents or obscure file sharing sites is not always a bad thing if you plan accordingly.
Postcards
I use postcards all the time for new client solicitation and reminder advertising. I use full-color, double-sided, oversized postcards. They are super cheap, and even if they get dumped in the trash, seeing your prominent logo and business name will just fill in one of those seven contact points needed before somebody implants your name in their brain.
While cards are cheap, postage is not. I've found it very cost effective to hire a college student for $10 an hour to run around to different locations and distribute postcards to businesses, parking lots, dorms, or whatever niche you are targeting.
Like business cards, I usually use Vista Print for printing my postcards. Don't forget to search the web for coupons before ordering. I've had $1000 orders drop to $500 with a coupon I found after a few minutes of searching.
Video
Lastly, don't forget to incorporate your logo and branding into your videos. A catchy opening animation with your logo will go a long way. While not cheap to get produced, it will add both an air of professionalism to your business and set a tone for your content even before it is seen.
Wrapping it up
My final advice is this: Slick matters! Don't skimp on this part.
Blogs and web videos can get away with looking amateurish and unprofessional. Your identity kit can't. In fact, none of your marketing can. The difference between looking like Joe Schmo working from home and a polished professional will come entirely from your marketing package. Customers will decide long before they ever hear you speak what they think of you.
I encourage you to explore and learn all the tools at your disposal. However, if you are not 100% sure your promotional materials rock, hire a professional. It will be well worth it down the road.
Just Say “no†to the Recession: a Refresher Course for Retailers Who Want to Boom Rather Than Bomb This Holiday Season
These are the times that try retailers' souls. Unemployment is at a 14-year high, consumer confidence is at an all-time low, and the stock market has yet to mellow out. If you own a retail store, you're not sure what sales numbers to expect this holiday season. Should the stronger-than-expected Black Friday sales give you hope that holiday goodwill could trump the much-vaunted bad economy and surprise savvy retailers with a healthy (if not spectacular) shopping season? Or will shoppers stay away from stores now that the Black Friday deals have come and gone?
Why not ignore all of this economic bad news, let your more positive way of thinking win out, and just say "no" to the recession?
I've been noticing lately that the restaurants I go to are still full of patrons. And when the ski shop in my town had its preseason sale, its parking lot was full. And a good friend of mine, a real estate broker, just told me she had one of her best months in three years. My point? People are still buying stuff, big and small. And it's not like Christmas was cancelled this year, so people will keep on buying. It's your job to make sure they are buying stuff from you.
In other words, you can no longer use the bad economy as an excuse for not doing well. In fact, overall retail sales are much better than recorded because of two simple reasons:
Gift cards have become a best-selling gift. However, they are not counted as retail sales until they are redeemed. So, many of these sales will not show up on the books until after the holidays, and as we know, not everyone redeems all of their gift cards.
The biggest growth in retailing has been from the Internet. Those numbers are never included when retailers report same store sales.
Retailers who have a successful holiday season will be the ones who simply tune out the bad news and do everything they can to keep their doors open.
Poor management puts stores out of business, not economic climates. Recessions reward the flexible and nimble. There is business out there to be had, and I believe sharp retailers can achieve great sales numbers now despite the economy. They need to adopt the attitude displayed by a store owner who recently posted in response to my weekly Q&A session, Retailer's Advantage. He said, "We choose NOT to participate in the recession." The more store owners who mimic his resolve the better.
To make the most of the slow economy, retail store owners should get back to the basics. Here are a few suggestions:
Bring them in with hot items. To get customers into your store this holiday season and after, you must offer them merchandise they simply can't turn down. Stock your shelves with items that have the Wow Factor and thus send customers into an "I have to have that" or an "I must give that as a gift this year" buying frenzy. Once you've identified the "hot" items for the season, determine which ones are the best fit for your store. Then research which other stores in your area sell those products. If you can become the sole seller of a certain "hot" item in your area, you will be in great shape. Providing great merchandise that's heavy on the "hot" items for a given period will be your trump card for surviving any recession. Don't you forget it!
Make your store the place to get the best stuff. Too many retailers put price first and item second. Reverse it—always put the item first and the price second. But do remember, this doesn't mean that you can stick your head in the sand about price. I was at the airport in Louisville recently, and as I was walking past the PGA store, I noticed they had a table out in front with some terrific buys. I was shocked when I saw a sweater I liked for only $9.99. I quickly tried it on and decided at that price I had to buy it. As I was checking out, a store employee suggested another sweater that was $39.99. And since I already had my wallet out I figured I might as well buy it too.
My point is that pretty much everyone has a hard time resisting a good sale. So, get in touch with your vendors and see what buys they're offering for cheap these days. And don't be afraid to do some negotiating if necessary. Many of your vendors will be willing to sell cheap because of the slow economy. By including items in your inventory that you've purchased from your vendors on the cheap, you'll be able to tempt your customers to part with their cash.
Give them something to talk about. Strong businesses are built on word-of-mouth advertising. The kicker is that in order for word-of-mouth advertising to work, you have to get people talking about your store. A great way to do that is through creative promotions, eye-catching window displays, in-store contests, and of course, all that great merchandise. All of these things are what make you different from the competition and what make your store stand out in the eyes of your customers.
The holidays are a great opportunity to use promotional activities to excite your customers and generate enthusiastic word of mouth. For example, offer a discount on a certain weekend to anyone brave enough to come to your store dressed as a holiday-related personality or character. Or partner with a nearby bakery and offer delicious holiday treats for shoppers along with a coupon that gives a discount at the bakery to every customer who buys in your store that day.
Stay in front of your customers. If you don't already ask your customers for contact information when they buy from you, now is the time to start. Simply following up with past customers to ask how they like an item they recently purchased, to inform them about an upcoming sale, or to offer them special discounts is a great way to capture the fruit closest to the ground during a tough economy. You'll tempt them into coming in again and making a purchase without giving away the store.
The key to having your existing customers come back to your store lies in you and your salespeople mastering the Art of the Friendly Reminder. I have seen stores have huge increases just by requiring their employees to make follow-up phone calls to customers. For example, if a customer recently purchased new cookware from your store, have a sales associate follow up with her to see how she is enjoying it and let her know that you just received a great shipment of cooking utensils or cookbooks.
Introduce the discount-later sales technique. There is a relatively new promotional idea that is being adopted by many retailers with a great deal of success. Here's how it works: A customer makes a purchase for a certain amount, let's say it's $105. Because she's reached the sales mark of $100 or more, you, the store, give her a coupon for 15 or 20 percent off of her next purchase. The kicker is the coupon cannot be used the day of the initial sale and is valid for only the next six days.
These kinds of deals are proving to be very effective. They give customers a compelling reason to come back to you and come back soon, while that sweater or purse or espresso machine she thought about but didn't buy is still fresh on her mind. In fact, studies show that the return rate on these discounts is over 70 percent. That is a pretty significant success rate that will help you bring in a bunch of customers who may not have come back at all.
Sell every person who walks through the door. Remember, it is your job to maximize every customer who walks through your doors. You might be rolling your eyes at the impossibility of that proposal, but these tough times require a change in attitude. And yes, you can do this without being too aggressive or pushy.
Keep in mind that if someone enters your store, the potential exists for him to buy simply because he is in your store. Take the time to train your sales associates on how to engage your shoppers without alienating them. Remind them that just selling one item to one customer is not good enough and that the store benefits the most when a customer buys multiple items. So, make sure the phrase "May I also show you our fill-in-the-blank?" becomes second nature to them.
I believe we are about to observe an unprecedented period of growth. But in order to take part in that growth, you have to be around to see it, and that means taking the right steps now. Block out the naysayers who say you can't be successful in this economic climate and ignore your own negative thoughts. If you take on a positive attitude and stay focused on doing everything you can to please and impress your customers, you will weather the economic storm.
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About the Author:
Rick Segel, CSP, a seasoned retailer of 25 years, owned one of New England's most successful independent women's specialty stores. He is the marketing expert for Staples.com, a contributing writer for numerous national publications, and a founding member of the Retail Advisory Council for Johnson & Wales University. Rick is the director of retail training for the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. He is the creator of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts Awards of Excellence Program (RAMAEs) that has recognized over 50 of the most innovative retailers in the state.
Rick is currently serving on the Boards of Directors for five corporations and associations. After authoring and developing The Retail Technology Assessment Survey and The Retail Store Assessment Survey, online assessment applications designed for small- to medium-sized retailers, he created The Retailer's Advantage, a membership website devoted to helping independent retailers improve their businesses.
CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation from the National Speakers Association, an elite rank held by only 7 percent of professional speakers. Rick is a past president of the New England Speakers Association, and he has been a featured speaker in 49 states, and on four continents, delivering over 1,900 presentations.
Rick has authored nine books, two training videos, and a six-hour audio program. Retail Business Kit For Dummies, published by Wiley, Inc., became the #1 selling retail how-to book in the United States in January 2002 and is now in its 2nd edition. Laugh & Get Rich: How to Profit from Humor in Any Business, published by Specific House, has been critically acclaimed as a must-read for its insightful outlook at our entertainment-based society and has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. The Essential Online Solution: The Five Step Formula for Small Business Success, published by Wiley, Inc., is a primer for business owners on creating e-commerce success. He is also the author of Rick Segel's Retail Inventory Control Solution: Open to Thrive and The 5,000 BEST Sale & Promotional Names & Ideas Ever Compiled and co-author of Retailing in the 21st Century. Most recently, he authored WOW Them Into Your Store: The Art and Science of Creating Powerful Promotions and Sensational Sales and Becoming the Vendor of Choice: The Secrets to Powerful Retail Relationships, both published by Specific House.
Rick also has tons of experience with the media and has appeared on TV, radio, and in many print articles. His down-to-earth, street-smart approach to business makes him a crowd pleaser wherever he goes.
About the Book:
Retail Business Kit For Dummies®, 2nd Edition (Wiley, September 2008, ISBN: 978-0-470-29330-0, $34.99) is available at bookstores nationwide and from all major online booksellers.
For more information, please visit www.RickSegel.com.
Customer Loyalty With a Mobile Twist
Customer Loyalty programs have been around for many years, but recently it seems they have been experiencing a bit of a resurgence. Popular programs such as the Staples Reward Program and those CVS "Extra Bucks" give members extra benefits just for doing their everyday shopping. But if you're looking for an innovative, fresh marketing strategy for your business, you can make things simple for customers and less costly for you by implementing a customer loyalty program with a twist - a Text Message Loyalty Program!
Popular customer loyalty programs often feature frequent shopper cards or programs that reward advance purchases, repeat visits, or include free merchandise or special bonuses. Rewards are typically offered to members via snail-mail, email campaigns, or placed in traditional print advertisements or in-store coupons. However, using text messages to broadcast these offers has several unique advantages, such as:
1. It's immediate - you can send out a text message, and recipients typically read it within 15 minutes
2. It's convenient - people are already dependent on their cell phones, and usually have their phones with them and turned on
3. There's no need for users to remember to bring along their coupons or loyalty cards
4. It's paperless and can be less expensive than using email or snail-mail delivery methods
5. Almost all U.S. cell phones and plans can accept text messages, and text message usage has moved into the mainstream for most users (it's not just for teenagers anymore!)
A Text Message Loyalty Program also requires permission from your customers to send text messages to their cell phones, so be sure your customers "opt-in" to the program. Ask them if they would like to join your Bonus VIP Club (or whatever loyalty program you come up with). Explain to them that by providing their cell phone number, they will receive occasional offers or coupons delivered right to their phone. Then, follow up with a text coupon offering them a great deal on something.
For instance, right before a customer's birthday, you could send a text message that offers him or her 20% off any purchase on that day, or offer a free "birthday bonus" item to go along with their purchase.
You could also use text messages to remind customers of an upcoming event ("Don't forget that tomorrow is our Holiday Open House from 5-7 pm"), or that time is running out on a limited-time offer ("Reserve your seat for our upcoming seminar before Nov. 15 - seating is limited").
If your business could benefit from an immediate response, text messaging can give you an instant promotion channel that leads directly to your customers. One example I read about recently involved an ice cream shop that was empty of customers one rainy afternoon. As an experiment, they sent out a text message to their VIP Club offering $1 off any purchase for the rest of the afternoon. Apparently, the text message resulted in 45 customers showing up within the first hour of sending out the message!
Getting Started
Before you jump in and start a Text Message Loyalty Program for your small business, there are a few things you can do to help ensure the program is successful and runs smoothly. Here are some tips:
- Invite your customers to join your Text Message Loyalty Program by direct mail (by sending an invitation or a postcard), or through an email marketing campaign sent directly to their inbox. Also mention the new program in your newsletter, advertisements, and other marketing efforts as well.
- Regularly monitor program results by tracking the number of sales from registered program members, and by measuring campaign responses.
- Remember to offer the program to your new customers, and also periodically remind non-participating customers about the benefits of the program as well.
- Plan ahead - have several "ready made" text message offers available, and set the target dates for sending the offers to program members (once a month, once a quarter, etc.).
- Create loyalty rewards that match the products and services that are most popular with your customers.
A Text Message Loyalty Program is an innovative marketing technique that not only captures the attention of your customers, but also rewards them for doing business with you. It's a new twist on the tried-and-true marketing tactic of customer loyalty programs, with many new possibilities for you to be creative and relevant in communicating with your customers. Customer loyalty programs have been around for such a long time for a reason, and that's because they work really well. So take advantage of the technology, try something new, and watch the results as you reward your loyal customers - with a mobile twist.
20 Ways to Slash Your Grocery Bill and Still Eat Great
Everyone's trying to stretch a dollar these days, and grocery costs are a logical place to look for savings. Food normally ranks among the top three or four expenses for most families, after mortgage/rent and healthcare bills, but this year, food costs are threatening to eat into your budget even more.
Grocery store food prices rose 6.6% in 2008, the largest annual increase in nearly 30 years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Cereal and baked goods saw the biggest spikes, increasing in price by 11.7% compared to a year earlier, followed by meats, chicken, fish and eggs, which rose 5.1%. Fruits and vegetables rose 3.4%; dairy prices rose 2.7%.
Obviously, the more you can cook your own meals at home, the more you'll save, compared to eating out, but you don't have to be a gourmet chef to stretch your grocery budget.
Here's how to do it:
1. Circle round the supermarket sales circulars. Most of the big supermarket chains have websites where you can download or view the weekly sales circular. But don't stop there: sign up to receive each week's circular in your email inbox so you can check in advance to see what's on sale, then plan your weekly grocery run according to which store has the best sales
2. Coupons have gone clipless. Love 'em or hate 'em, coupons save you money. And now you don't have to spend tedious hours clipping them in the paper; many websites, offer coupons you can print from your computer. If you time the use of your coupons during a supermarket sale of specific items, your savings can become really impressive
3. Shop for in-season produce. Shop for fruits and vegetables only when they're in season and more affordably priced. In the winter, don't pay an arm and a leg for strawberries or cherries; opt for lower-priced citrus fruits and bananas instead.
4. Lose the brand loyalty. Generic and supermarket brand products are not only cheaper, they're the nutritional and taste equals of brand-name products. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that generic brands are sometimes made by the same companies that make brand-name products! Only the label is different.
5. Don't be store-loyal, either. These days, you can find groceries, household cleaning items and personal care products at big-box stores, drug stores, warehouse clubs, discount supermarkets and even online. Don't make a special trip, but if one of these is on your way, stop in and familiarize yourself with their pricing. Costco, for example, is known for its competitive pricing on staples like milk and eggs, but costs can run higher on other specialty-food items. Small mom-and-pop convenience stores will typically be more expensive.
Farmers markets and pick-your-own farms offer additional opportunities for affordable, locally grown produce.
6. Don't drive miles to save pennies. Be careful when chasing sales from one store to another. If you end up spending more on gas just to save a dollar here or there, you're defeating your purpose of saving money. Strike a balance between getting the absolute best deals at a half-dozen stores and consolidating your shopping at the one(s) with most, if not all, of the best prices.
7. Keep an eye on unit costs. Get used to looking at the unit cost on the left side of the store's pricing labels, not the total cost for the package. Unit cost tells you how much the product costs per ounce, quarter, gallon or pound. Many food makers try to deceive shoppers by putting less food in the same size package, so comparing unit costs will tell you what unit size delivers the most bang for the buck. Larger quantities don't always offer the best prices.
8. Buy in bulk. Most sales of specific items repeat every 10 or 12 weeks. Stock up only on those you know you'll use; if you're watching your weight, keep in mind that having larger quantities stashed at home could make you consume more, too. Many perishables, like milk, orange juice, butter or bread, freeze well. If you're lucky enough to have an extra freezer, you can really go to town.
9. Become a one-day-a-week vegetarian. Try substituting less expensive (and healthier) sources of protein such as beans, tofu, eggs or nuts, for red meat at least once a week. Check online recipe sites for free recipes (e.g., meatless chili, vegetarian lasagna or your own unique pizza creation).
10. Beef down. When you do buy red meat, save money by buying cheaper, less tender cuts of beef (round, chuck or shoulder), and use the pressure cooker or slow cooker to make a meal that's just as delicious.
11. Look up, down and sideways. At the supermarket, sale items are often placed at the end aisles; lesser-known brands, which may cost less, also typically occupy the very top and bottom supermarket shelves. Premium brands are most often placed at eye level.
12. Grow your own. Even a modestly-sized garden plot can yield a tremendous bounty of organic, homegrown vegetables. There are many varieties especially developed for container gardening, such as dwarf cherry tomatoes. If you're a beginner, stick with the easiest-to-grow veggies, including tomatoes, string beans, squashes, zucchini, green peppers, snap peas and lettuce. Herbs like parsley, basil or chives are especially undemanding.
13. Get to know the back of the fridge. A lot of food often goes to waste simply because you lose track of a hunk of cheese or last week's stuffed peppers. Make it a priority to incorporate leftovers in soups, stews, stir fries or salads to minimize waste.
14. Stock up on "free after rebate" offers. Nationally-known drug centers like Walgreens and Rite Aid regularly offer monthly discounts and "free after rebate" offers on a host of cosmetics, shampoo, aspirin, toothpaste and other toiletries. Simply check the store website to see what's available, make your purchases, and then submit your receipt for reimbursement online.
15. Take advantage of Cooperative Extension Service resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service is active in every state. Although often thought of as a resource for farming communities, cooperative extension service offices offer a wealth of resources for suburban families, including family budgeting.
16. Stick to the basics. Remember that food in its most basic, unprocessed form is the least expensive. Shredded cheese will cost more than a brick of cheese that you can grate yourself. One serving of soup in a microwaveable container is pricier than a standard-sized can of soup.
17. Frozen, dried or ccanned? You can save money by buying frozen, dried or canned produce instead of fresh. Foods are flash-frozen or canned at the peak of ripeness, so you don't have to sacrifice nutrition to save money. It's best to rinse canned produce, though, as it's often packaged with a sugary syrup or salty liquid, neither of which benefits your health.
18. Cook up a storm on Sundays. Many of us are too rushed during the week to spend much time in the kitchen, so why not use part of your Sunday to cook a meal big enough to supply you with leftovers for weekday lunches well into the workweek?
19. Never heat up the stove for just one thing. If you know you're going to bake a tray of brownies, prepare some other dishes that can cook simultaneously. You don't have to plan multiple meals, but it's easy to dethaw frozen chicken in the microwave and toss that in, or chop up some sweet potato wedges for fries. You'll save on your energy bill and your time, and you'll make it more likely you won't resort to fast food because you have nothing to eat at home.
20. Make a list, and stick to it. If you plan your shopping trips in advance, you're less likely to make impulse purchases. By planning ahead, you can also think through how you'll incorporate the leftovers from one meal into the next and limit waste.
Alternative Uses of Business Cards. Let your Creativity Guide You
You all know what a business card is, and what its uses are. If not, read the next article for creative networking ideas. But if you think outside the box, you will realize that a business card is nothing more than a 3 x 2.5 cards that can serve a greatest purpose than just simply presenting your company's information.
Business card size cards can be a flexible and inexpensive way to introduce a promotion, a contest or a raffle around your store or during a trade show. At the same time they can be great tools for your branding efforts. Spread the word on hangers, gift boxes, tags, key chains, pocket calendars and more. Custom hangers, gift cards, and tags can cost a fortune but business cards can service the same purpose with a fraction of the cost and the flexibility to replace them frequently, making them an ideal promotional piece for upcoming events or sales.
Here are some ideas that might help you get started.
Promotions: Announce upcoming sales or specials. Drop them around town, staple them on receipts and include them inside shopping bags. Be generous. Your customers will share them with friends and will spread the word of mouth for you.
Contest: Include simple and fun questions and invite clients or traffic passing by your store to answer them on the back side. Give out simple gifts. It will create lots of excitement and grow your mailing list.
Raffle: Create your own customer raffle tickets and invite customers who meet certain criteria to fill it out with their information. Raffle drums attract traffic, so have one in hand and in a visible spot.
Hangers/Tags: If clothing is your business, you can use business cards to give a custom look to your price tags. Customers will walk home with them and have your number handy.
Gift cards: Spice up your gift packaging by offering customers free gift cards with every order. The second side it could be yours to brand your company.
Pocket size billboards: Your message can be easily passed to by passers or visitors in a trade show. The more creative and informative, the more the chances it will end up in your prospects pocket for reference instead of be thrown away.
Referral cards: Create special referral cards and leave space so that your customers could write their information before passing the cards on. It is ideal if you are running a multilevel marketing team, an affiliate program, or have an incentive rewards program for referrals.
Appointment cards: Doctors, hair salons, mechanics, all use appointment cards to assure that their clients will be back. Find innovative ways to hand everyone an appointment card if your company service/product permits.
Coupons: Issue your own coupons and see sales skyrocket. It is a great way of tracking response of your promotional efforts if customers return a coupon in return for a discount. Create unique coupons for each campaign and do not forget to include "coupon code" if your company has the ability to sell online or over the phone.
Double the Sides - Double the Sales
By now you all know the power of business cards as a marketing tool. But you will be surprised to find out that not many people get to utilize all the real estate a business card has to offer and maximize its potential.
Although the primary role of a business card is to provide contact information, it can become a promotional vehicle if the second side of it gets utilized. The second side remains usually blank; instead, it should be used to announce discounts, promotions, and a list of the company's products or services.
Most of the time a company name or logo does not say much about the product or the service. At the same time the business card will be the only piece a lot of your prospects will file in their rolodex, and you will have to make sure your message is as descriptive as possible so that your prospects associate your card with you and your service in the future.
Do not distract them from your personal information by overloading one of the card sides. Instead, use side one to include the contact information as well as one line text outlining who you are and what you do. You might also consider prompting the card holder to turn it over by including a small command such as: Please turn Over, See Over for Special Offers, Turn Over For Important Information , etc.
The more informative the card and the more valuable the information is to your prospects, the higher the chances are they will keep it. Try to be concise, straight to the point and use graphics and illustrations that can summarize your points. Above all, have the target audience in mind when deciding on the content of the second side of your card, and consider the information you are providing them.
Here are some ideas of content for the second side of your card:
Promotions : Announce upcoming sales or specials. Drop them around town, staple them on receipts and include them inside shopping bags. Be generous. Your customers will share them with friends and will spread the word of mouth for you.
Pocket size billboards : Your message can be easily passed to by passers or visitors in a trade show. The more creative and informative, the more the chances it will end up in your prospects pocket for reference instead of be thrown away.
Referral cards : Create special referral cards and leave space so that your customers could write their information before passing the cards on. It is ideal if you are running a multilevel marketing team, an affiliate program, or have an incentive rewards program for referrals.
Appointment cards: Doctors, hair salons, mechanics, all use appointment cards to assure that their clients will be back. Find innovative ways to hand everyone an appointment card if your company service/product permits.
Coupons: Issue your own coupons and see sales skyrocket. It is a great way of tracking response of your promotional efforts if customers return a coupon in return for a discount. Create unique coupons for each campaign and do not forget to include �coupon code� if your company has the ability to sell online or over the phone.