I was running around doing the usual Christmas errands the other day including heading to the post office to mail my cards and packages. The line was long yet moving at a steady pace. Customers were very patient. As we stood there many of us struck up conversations about our plans for the holidays and to whom we were mailing our packages.
Competition has been a recurring theme in my conversations with small business this week. Specifically what to do when the competition appears to be doing everything to drive business away from you and to them.
I love the Blue hill Fair and this year I was fortunate enough to broadcast from the KISS 94.5 van at the fair. When my shift was over I walked around and took in all the sights, sounds and good eats of the fair. Frankly, most fairs don’t appeal to me. This one does because of the animals! I grew up in Pennsylvania farm country so the sight of cows, the smell of a bail of hay and even manure is comforting to my inner child! 
I noticed the headlight was out on my 2002 Jetta so I took it into the dealership to replace it. My car has 130k miles on it and like all of us with a few miles on us Ms. Jetta requires a little more upkeep than a newer vehicle. While I was there they pointed out several other issues that I need to address soon.
I’ve just returned from California where I enjoyed a wine tasting at Chateaux Montelena in Napa Valley. This winery has a very interesting history that was told in the movie “Bottle Shock”. Part of that history was told to me by the gentleman pouring the wines. He told me that way back in the beginning of the winery the owner wanted to produce red wines - but reds take years to produce and the winery needed cash flow to tide them over before the reds were ready to be bottled and sold.
I was talking with a girlfriend recently and asked how her husband was doing. He was laid off from his corporate job several months ago. She said he’s had a great attitude about the whole thing. There have been days when he’s been down-in-the-dumps but after several days of feeling sorry for himself - he recognize that bad attitude wasn’t going to do him or anyone else any good and he snapped himself out of it.
Ask anyone who works with the public and they will tell you that one of the keys to survival is having a good sense of humor and the ability to let criticism roll off your back. I learned this lesson quickly when I operated businesses in Bar Harbor during the summer tourist season.
I recently interviewed the operations manager from a local bakery that distributes products through out the US and Canada. One of their most popular products are whoopie pies. If you are not familiar with them - imagine two chocolate round cakes filled with a butter cream frosting center. There are many variations to the recipe - different flavors and sizes - but the traditional whoopie pie continues to be the most popular.
Yep... that would be me --- numb!
Summer is finally here!
Congratulations to all the recent grads who are now job hunting! This time of your life is likely equally exhilarating and terrifying. Landing that first "real" job often requires a lot of persistence, patience, a little luck and paying attention to details that matter to your potential employer.
I'm guessing that, like me, you're taking advantage of this great weather to plant your gardens, window boxes and hanging baskets. I love this time of year, planting something that I can nurture into beauty and enjoy for the coming months.
As the weather warms up you may be thinking more about what type of dress is appropriate for your place of business. It might be a good idea to develop a written dress code policy so your employees understand what is acceptable to wear to work and what is not.
Remember when your mom used to tell you that “just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to.” I guess mom was right, except when it comes to knowing what to wear and what not to wear to work. 
More and more businesses are allowing employees to bring their dogs to work. The upside can be a boost in morale, employee retention a reduction in stress levels and absenteeism. Certainly, not every business is suited for pets - but if your business is considering it – here are some tips for making it work.
On of the best and least expensive ways to promote your business is to partner with other businesses and promote each other! This is called Fusion marketing.
As a business owner you are dealing with all sorts of daily demands making it easy to get so bogged down in the day to day operations and challenges of your business that you fail to get away from your business to network!
Even with all of the options available to promote your business these days, your business card remains your most effective marketing tool.
Every small business should develop an elevator pitch as part of their marketing and networking strategy.
A recent study conducted by a Professor at the University of Calgary indicates that we’re procrastinating more than we used to - in 1978 -15 percent of us were guilty of it. Today that number is more like 60 percent. If you find you’re among the many saying “I’ll do it later” here are five tips to help you step procrastinating and get it done now!
Ask anyone who works with the public and they will tell you that one of the keys to survival is having a good sense of humor and the ability to let criticism roll off your back. I learned this lesson quickly when I operated businesses in Bar Harbor during the summer tourist season.
If you have employees in your small business, you know that well motivated employees are more satisfied with their jobs and as a result, more productive.
I didn't buy the pants. Not because I didn't like them, but because I lost all interest after dealing with too many barriers " the barriers retailers put up between a customer's interest in making a purchase and actually making the purchase.
When I was a teenager, my mom worked out of a home office. There were strict rules pertaining to Mom’s workday: She was not to be bothered unless the house was on fire or there were people at the door with balloons and a “ginormous” check from Publishers Clearing House. Mom laid down very clear ground rules, and she and Dad enforced them. Here are some tips to help you make working at home a home run:
Customers are critical to the success of your business especially in these challenging times. Your customers are also a valuable resource when it comes to making decisions regarding the direction of your business.
According to a new study by the University of California, Berkeley, workers who are more generous at the office had more influence and are more likely to get ahead in the workplace. This likely comes as no surprise, but it's a good reminder to give more than you get when it comes to how you interact with your co-workers. It's good for you, for them, for business and for your career prospects.
I recently returned from a fantastic trip to Aruba where customer service is as much a part of the island as the sandy white beaches. Tourism is the economic driver in Aruba so being nice to tourists is key to the survival of the island. From the hotel staff to the restaurant workers to the bus drivers – everyone is so nice!
The National Retail Federation recently named LL Bean the number one retailer when it comes to providing exceptional customer service. There were a number of reasons customers voted LL Bean number one - including their liberal return policy. If you’re unsatisfied with a product you purchased at LL Bean they’ll take it back no matter how long ago you purchased it.
It will likely come as no surprise to you that when workers were asked what is their biggest time waster at work – many said --- meetings!
It's April Fools week and that means we can expect "kick-me" signs and whoopee cushions. Having been raised by the "King of Pranks" " my dad " I'm a big fan of good fun. Dad taught us at a young age that it's important to take what you do seriously " but to not take yourself too seriously. 
According to the Direct Selling Association more than 15 million people in the US are operating direct selling businesses. Direct selling is defined as the sale of a consumer product or service, person-to-person, away from a fixed retail location. Examples include Avon, Mary Kay and Pampered Chef.
“Earn thousands of dollars working from home”
We entrepreneurs tend to be the fiercely independent types. But - being too independent can often do more harm than good when it comes to the success of your business! With many of us concerned about the survival of our businesses in these tough economic times – it makes smart business sense to look for ways to collaborate with other businesses to save money and improve visibility.