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Written by Joel Owens If you’re chic and trendy and thinking of a good business venture, your mind must be leading you towards the fashion avenue. Are you up to the challenge of owning up a clothing store? Just let it be hip and you’ll never go wrong. Spice it up with stylish promotional tools like vinyl banners to make a statement.
Know What You’re Getting Into
Start now while the fire is still there. Don’t let the negative thoughts enter your mind right now. That’s the least that you need when you are just starting.
There are so many things that you have to think about. So drop the pessimist side of you and start from scratch.
1. Analyze the market. Look at your location and see who you will be competing with. You have to be aware of what they offer because you have to come up with a more exciting line. Compete with the cost as well to easily make an impact.
2. If you already have a plan when you will open your clothing store, make sure that you’ve researched about the season. No, not the weather, but the fashion season. You can do this by browsing through fashion magazines and watching shows of this type on TV.
This way, you’ll know what will click with the market so you can get ready for it. You better be armed with the right weapon fit for the battle that you’re about to get into.
3. Ask for a professional help. It’s always better to seek out the help of a guru in the field. If you know somebody who have already achieved some success in the fashion world, go ahead and ask for tips. You never know that the ideas that you’ve been postponing to do are the ones that can really help you.
With a mentor to aid you at the start of the process, you’ll be braver to take big tasks and try harder.
4. Prepare for success. At the very start, create a name for your brand that you will be proud to tag along even when you’re already at the top. There are already many brand names in fashion out in the market so make yours unique, easy to remember and classy all at once.
5. Advertise well. Use the materials appropriate for your business. Experiment on this one because you want your ads to represent what you offer. As a sample, you can use vinyl banners, or how about static clings, even attention-grabbing posters.
6. Organize your business. Know exactly how much will you allocate for every aspect of it. Conduct a head count of the people that you’ll be giving a monthly salary. Estimate all the costs involved to run your business smoothly. This way, you’ll be able to spend your money where it is needed.
Keep those ideas in your mind, the stylish ads like vinyl banners, the way you organize and finding the one person who will lead you to the right path. Start the business and give your competitors a good fight. Owen loves to read and talk anything under the sun. From current events, magazines, social life, metro lifestyles, traveling etc. Not a born writer but experience could make a difference. He also loves to eat especially travel in different places. Going to beaches and mountains really completes his life.
For more details you may check out >Vinyl Banners. You may also try >Vinyl Signs for your signage displays. |
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Written by Marsha Friedman You talk to a lot of people about your book: but do both men and women hear you in just the same way?
The answer is probably no.
It's not a question of chauvinism, sexism, or any other ism for that matter. We're just geared differently. And the more you know about these key gender/marketing differences, the more books you'll sell. It's that simple.
So consider these differences the next time you do a radio, TV or print interview to promote your book.
*Just the Facts, Ma'am Versus Telling the Whole Story.
According to the great Marketing to Women book by Martha Barletta, a book I often refer to, men tend to strip propositions down to the nuts and bolts, to the bottom-line reasons for buying or not buying. And the faster they can do that, the happier they are. Think of this as a sort of Dragnet, just the facts, Ma'am, buying philosophy.
Women, on the other hand, tend to be more information driven. You could say, the more information, the better. This is almost the opposite for men. Martha Barletta says women are looking for the Perfect Answer. Now I realize this is a generalization and there will always be loads of exceptions to any rule but women tend to want more surrounding data than men do before acting.
You might try testing the above research in your next interview, talk about your book in headlines, outlines and shorthand if you're selling to a predominantly male audience, but tell as much of the whole story as you can if you're selling mostly to women.
And, as I wrote before, if you're speaking to both genders, blend the two approaches. Decide ahead of time how to present the nuts and bolts case as well as the inside scoop. Maybe begin a new interview direction by doing a quick outline that covers the basics, the facts, then launch into stories that flesh out the topic, and just repeat that formula until the interview is over. There's another thing you need to know about marketing your book to men and women.
The Value of Warm and Fuzzy.
If you'll forgive another seeming cliche, women tend to care about the things they buy. Here's what Barletta wrote in her book: Remember that women's gender culture is geared toward empathy rather than aspiration. She goes on to write about a hypothetical SUV ad campaign that might have particular appeal to women it wouldn't talk in terms of our 270 horsepower engine but instead of our 4,000 pound guardian angel. Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on publicity for authors for nearly two decades as CEO of Event Management Services, Inc (EMSI). If you would like to receive her free Ebook How to Be a Great Talk Radio Guest visit >http://www.emsincorporated.com. |
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Written by Jacqueline Benjamin-Thomas Jim Rohn, a titan in the speaking business once said, No matter what goals you set in life, there will always be some simple things you must identify - and do - along the way. For instance, if you want to lose weight, you’ll have to cut back on saturated fats and sugar - drink lots of water – exercise - and add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Do these things and, like magic, the pounds will begin to melt away. If you want to be a better spouse, you’ll need to spend more quality time with your mate and family - help out around the house - and be more respectful of your spouse’s time. If you accomplish each of these interim goals, you’ll reach the larger one, too.
Your business is no different. Setting and reaching a few simple interim goals can lead you to the larger one – a recognizable business that soars above all others in your field. Here are a few simple tips that can make a huge difference.
First of all, remember the words spoken by the famous actor, Don Cheadle: … mediocrity is what’s rampant, but excellence is rare. Always produce a quality product. If you’re sending emails, make sure your document is well written. If you’re printing T-shirts or publications, use top-notch images or photography. Your attention to detail speaks volumes about you and your business. Quality always beats quantity - and your prices can reflect your demonstrated expertise and concern for your clients. Just ask Porsche or Rolls Royce.
Secondly, if you advertise in print, spring for a full page or cover so that you’ll leave a large and lasting impression. Most business owners are satisfied with business cards or quarter-page ads. To achieve celebrity status for your business … a full page is a must and repetition is the key.
The third tip that can help you become a business celebrity is to fall in love with taking risks and though you may be afraid to step out into the unknown, do it anyway. You’ll separate your business from the rest of the pack when you take just one extra step. You don’t have to run an entire extra mile. Trust me, you can soar above the crowd by doing a little bit more. Most people would rather remain comfortable with where they are, rather than move forward. So … take a risk with one extra step and you’ll get some attention. Always remember, succeeding in business is all about taking risks.
My fourth tip for you is to promote your business as an expert source. You know your strong points. Accentuate those attributes. Write them down. Keep them in front of you when you’re talking on the telephone. What makes you an expert? Why do they need your product or service? Develop a catchy slogan or jingle and make sure you have a great logo and website design.
Tip number five: stick to your niche. It is better to dig one deep well than many shallow ones. If you’re in the printing business, for example, set goals to increase your business progressively. You might start with your own printing press and progress to offering graphic design while planning to establish a full-service distribution company. As you add more services within your niche, your revenues will grow, allowing you to offer even more aligned services.
And finally, network, network, network. Promote your brand image as often as you can. Attend trade shows, health fairs and other events. Talk about what you do with as many people as possible. Increase your web presence. Pitch a TV or radio show. Write a book or an e-book to establish yourself as an author and an expert in your field. In other words, find a way to serve more people.
Stay on this celebrity model course to brand your business and the public will be more likely to remember your organization when they need your product or service. And increased revenue? That’s a natural by-product of celebrity. Jacqueline Benjamin-Thomas is the co-publisher of People You Need to Know, a publication which spotlights business celebrities in metro Atlanta. She is also the co-author of Grow Through It & Lead, an inspirational book about overcoming obstacles, embracing challenges and moving forward. Jacqueline invites you to visit her business website at >http://www.sparkplugpeople.com and her podcast at >http://myideas1.podbean.com to discover some of the top professionals you need to know in metro Atlanta. |
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Written by Sue Currie I’ve recently noticed an increase in articles, seminars and books on branding and in particular personal branding – perhaps because it is one of the areas I speak and consult on. I have a keen interest in this area, as I believe it is integral to the success of any company no matter what size.
So what is personal branding?
I believe personal branding is really personal public relations. Public relations is relationships with your public and it’s about how you or your business is seen and how you interact with other people that will build your reputation.
After all business and companies are based on people. People make products for people. People sell to and serve other people and people work with people and for people.
If we want our business or ourselves to succeed, we need to be in personal alignment with what our company represents. Not everyone loves their job – but boy does it help if our personal aims, vision and values are in alignment with what that organisation represents. Why not share with your suppliers and customers your values and vision for your company.
According to Kevin Roberts CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi who has written a book on branding called Lovemarks, he says,To me, it's all about spirit, not about values.
Lovemarks go beyond the relationships to a loving relationship. If you're not in love with your business, why should your employees
or customers be? If you want to create a lovemark, you've got to be passionately in love with your own business.
And if you haven't fallen in love, don't expect your employees or your customers to fall in love, says Roberts.
Therefore personal branding is more than just your image and the outer package that you present to the world. Although appearance and packaging does plays a major part in representing yourself and your company in a positive light. Personal branding is the emotional connections between the service or product and the customer.
A number of Managing Directors of companies in Australia have recognised the power of personal branding in building a strong company. They have established a memorable face behind the company to add a personal perspective to their business. Examples include Julia Ross (Julia Ross Recruitment) Sonia Amoroso (Skin Doctors), Sarina Russo (Sarina Russo Group), John McGrath (McGrath Real Estate) and John Symond (Aussie Home Loans). These people are inextricably linked with their companies and are very clear about the image they project.
No doubt there are many examples of well known personal brands in your country also. In the US think of Donald Trump or UK – of course there’s Richard Branson.
They are examples of where personality of the company shines through the CEO. Or perhaps in the case of small business COE (Chief of Everything!).
Building a strong personal brand has the added bonus of building further recognition and media exposure. These people are known and used by the media as spokespeople in their area of expertise and as commentators on business issues. They are sought after as keynote speakers, television personalities and are invited to participate in numerous high profile and industry events. Through this personal public relations strategy, the exposure they receive is more credible than advertising.
Are you in love with your company and can you work toward establishing a strong personal brand? Sue Currie, the director of Shine Communications Consultancy and author of Apprentice to Business Ace – your inside-out guide to personal branding, is a business educator and speaker on personal branding through image and media. To learn more about how you can achieve recognition, enhance your image and shine, sign up for free monthly tips at >http://www.shinecomms.com.au/subscriber.html |
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