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The Weekly Giggle
When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it.
We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver's side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. "Hey," I announced to the technician, "It's open!" To which he replied, "I know - I already got that side."
The Latest News - Member News
Our Member in Arizona, Melanie Corpstein, CEO of Adorable Originals has won Creative Child Magazine's 2007 Top Toy of the Year Award for her dolls designed just for girls. Ask Nordstroms and Bloomingdales for the Adorable Girls Self-Esteem Dolls. They make a great holiday gifts!
Marla Hockfeld, Owner of Abrakadoodle of Henderson/Las Vegas has partnered with Candlelighters supporting families with children with cancer. Her business now offers free art lessons in the waiting rooms of two pediatric oncology clinics. Once a week, children can do art and have fun while undergoing treatment.
Lisa Estep, of Arbonne Intl. has been appointed the Southern Nevada President of the American Business Women's Association.
Moms In Business Network has been named as a leading business resource in the latest book by Dr. Joel A. Freeman, "if nobody love you, CREATE THE DEMAND. A Powerful Jolt of Entrepreneurial Energy and Wisdom". More of Mr. Freeman's books can be found at www.freemaninstitute.com
Did You Know?
Each month we give away a free gift to our members?
If you are a member of either Moms In Business Network OR The International Association of Working Mothers, be sure to log in and sign up for a chance to win this month's great gift!
This months gift -"The Complete Woman" Gift Bag from Barefoot Parties - Includes:
The Complete Woman Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet
The Permission to Play CD
Plus some extra little fun mystery items!
Marketing Tip
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5 Tips on Advertising Basics
Be consistent in your ad message and style including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, invoices, signs and banners.
While word-of-mouth advertising has been around a long time, it usually falls short of being able to attract the number of customers needed to be successful in business.
Newspapers, radio and TV stations are helpful in producing the advertising that you will be running with them.
Promote benefits rather than features. A benefit is the emotional satisfaction your product or service provides, or a tangible performance characteristic.
Know your competitors. Knowing everything about your competitors is just as important as knowing everything about your own business.
Work/Life Balance Tip
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Remember: You DO have a choice. Open your mind to the possibilities.
Find a New Career. Some careers are simply more stressful and time-consuming than others. If you need more time for yourself or your family, now may be the time to explore careers that are less stressful and more flexible. Find a New Job. Rather than a career change, perhaps you simply need to take a less stressful job within your chosen career. This change may involve working with your current employer to identify a new position, it may involve a full job-search, or it may involve temping or becoming a consultant or starting a freelancing or other home-based business.
Business Tip
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5 Tips for Making the Most of Your Business Plan
Take the long view and do long-term planning. Map out where you want to be five years from now and how you plan to get there.
Write the plan yourself. You will learn more about your business by doing so.
Think of your plan as a living document. Review it regularly to make sure you are on track or to adjust it to market changes.
Share the plan with others who can help you get where you want to go-such as lenders, key employees and advisors.
Understand that you might pay a price in the short run to obtain long-term business growth and health.
Sales Tip
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5 Tips for Business-to-Business Selling
Listen well. Let your customers talk so you can learn their needs and determine how your products or services can help them.
Learn as much as you can about your prospects' industry. You may come up with ideas to help them that they haven't thought of before.
Make yourself a part of their team. Demonstrate that you are there to help them increase their bottom line.
Emphasize the benefit of your products or services. Show how you can help customers cut costs, increase profits, or beat the competition.
Follow up. Keep customers coming back by making sure your products or services work well for them. If not, show concern and fix things cheerfully.
Moms Making A Difference
Lisa Hammond- Creating Careers One Piece of Art at a Time
Femail Creations is a $6m+ catalog company focusing on art and products made by women for women. Here's Herstory:
Femail Creations was born out of a passion to make a difference in the lives of women and girls. At the time the seeds of this dream were first planted I was managing a construction company.
The idea of creating a catalog seemed like the perfect chance to combine my creative side with my passion for women's issues. I didn't want to let the fact that I had absolutely no experience in the cataloging field stop me- and it hasn't! I have found that the best experience has been years of being a catalog shopper. As a mother and a businesswoman I rely heavily on the convenience of catalog shopping and delivery right to my door.
Being a catalog fiend, I often wished a woman-owned catalog would show up in my mailbox that I could support with my shopping dollars. When that catalog never came, I decided to do it myself. The process has been completely overwhelming at times and required more courage than I ever imagined. Many late nights and long hours have gone into this dream. All of the positive letters, touching stories and great feedback from the customers and artists keep me going.
Focusing support on women artists and women-owned businesses is unique to Femail Creations. As a women business owner, I know all too well how hard it is to get a company off the ground. I want to support women who dare to make that leap. I feel strongly about honoring women artist and validating their work. Our products are by, for and / or about women.
I began Femail Creations as a way to make a difference. I have mortgaged my house and worked hours I frankly didn¹t think were humanly possible because this is a dream I believe in. I want women to laugh, and to inspire them to dream big. From the very first issue Femail Creations has featured a charity on the inside back cover. I feel strongly about the principal of giving back. As our family of "femails" grows so to will our ability to give back.
We rely heavily on word-of-mouth to get the news of Femail Creations out. So keep talking!
Have a Happy, Healthy and Properous Week!
Sincerely,
Moms In Business Network
Monthly Giveaway
For MEMBERS ONLY
Every month we have a new giveaway available to all members who enter to win. Each month we offer a new chance to win. Log In to check what promotion we are offering and Enter To Win! www.mibn.org
Offer Expires: At the End of Each Month
Originally Posted: Jan 10, 2008 at 9:46 AM Last Updated: Jan 10, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Did You Know?
Femail Creations is a $6m+ catalog company focusing on art and products made by women for women. Here's Herstory: