Okay I admit it. I was a little, what was that feeling, jealous? when one of my competitors got noticed in the newspaper. Upon reading the article I was struck by the inaccuracy of the story, knowing the background myself. Wow , if I hire a PR firm I too can have articles written about my company thereby impressing my customers and maybe even getting more customers! Should I do it?
Why does it feel somewhat "wrong" to me especially given that my dad owned a PR firm and regularly got others noticed. Hmmm what IS that feeling. I think it might be my compass, moral or ethical as it may be sometimes called. For some reason, it seems that doing a good, no GREAT job for my customers is the best use of my energy. Will they see Artscape as a better company if it's written about in the paper? Should I ask for my awards to be published? I was always taught to believe that the best award is the one you get when you know you've done a great job. That feeling of "I did it" . It's a feeling of EARNED pride, some times a quiet, not showy, often silent reward of knowing and sharing a sense of accomplishment is way better than a picture in the newspaper.
I am not taking away any glory from any of my wonderful peers who have won awards. Their trophies and plaques are symbols of their achievements. I have a few of those too. They are in my office and I've never shared them with my customers. I prefer to just quietly go about doing my best, every day and reap the rewards from the satisfied comments and compliments my wonderful customers give to us on their own.
After all, how we choose to celebrate our successes is a very personal matter. Now about that PR firm....... not a bad idea!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Spring
Spring has come with a GUSH... it's raining and raining and raining, making the grass green, the trees bud out quickly and our shoes wet !
This is a great time to think about plants and flowers. Inside and out. Artscape is getting some really cool plants in next week from Florida. Sometimes we even get a chameleon or tree frog with them, no extra charge.
Call us to come see your offices or interior spaces and we'll put a little life into your environment!
This is a great time to think about plants and flowers. Inside and out. Artscape is getting some really cool plants in next week from Florida. Sometimes we even get a chameleon or tree frog with them, no extra charge.
Call us to come see your offices or interior spaces and we'll put a little life into your environment!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
As I sit here looking out at the 7" of snow we got last night, unable to get to work but not feeling too badly about it, I realize how much I like the quiet beauty of a snowed in day. When you live in Michigan, it's not unusual to hear people talk about the weather as if it's the most interesting topic in the world. At work "you got your snowblower all gassed up for the big storm ?", at the grocery store counter "looks like you've stocked up on food for the snow storm headed our way", at the gas station "filled up for the storm, did ya?", outside shoveling the sidewalk, the neighbors yell "hey when you're finished with yours, come on over and do my walk!".
The snow creates a kind of comaraderie, as we all prepare for a snow day when schools are closed, work is shut down, people hunker down in their homes and prepare for a day of making cookies, reading the paper or a book, doing puzzles, and just plain relaxing.
Yesterday I had the task of looking at budgets and increasing monthly fees to my customers to catch up with inflation. Not a fun task but one that needs approaching annually. Rarely do I get a complaint about it because any business person knows it's a part of surviving as a business owner. I also reminded myself that not only do I have a great bunch of customers, but my employees "the green team" are the best ! I often forget to say so, but the snow being the topic of the last three days, I had time to reflect on other things, appreciation being one of them. I appreciate my green teams dedication, their loyalty, their talents, and their contribution to Artscape's reputation, which I've been told "on the street" is one of quality and integrity. Cool. Not much more I can ask for.
Except now I have to go shovel snow, happily I might add, and then I think I'll open up that jigsaw puzzle in my cupboard.
The snow creates a kind of comaraderie, as we all prepare for a snow day when schools are closed, work is shut down, people hunker down in their homes and prepare for a day of making cookies, reading the paper or a book, doing puzzles, and just plain relaxing.
Yesterday I had the task of looking at budgets and increasing monthly fees to my customers to catch up with inflation. Not a fun task but one that needs approaching annually. Rarely do I get a complaint about it because any business person knows it's a part of surviving as a business owner. I also reminded myself that not only do I have a great bunch of customers, but my employees "the green team" are the best ! I often forget to say so, but the snow being the topic of the last three days, I had time to reflect on other things, appreciation being one of them. I appreciate my green teams dedication, their loyalty, their talents, and their contribution to Artscape's reputation, which I've been told "on the street" is one of quality and integrity. Cool. Not much more I can ask for.
Except now I have to go shovel snow, happily I might add, and then I think I'll open up that jigsaw puzzle in my cupboard.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Customers: The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Having been in sales for all of my working life, I can truly say that I have dealt with just about every type of customer.
The polite one, who asks you if you'd like a cup of coffee while you wait, the rude one who keeps you waiting with no apology for an hour, the ugly one, who says nasty things like "if you have the cheapest price I might consider your company" .
It has made me immune to some of the less pleasant encounters, taught me how to deal with "certain" types, and always, most importantly helped me to be me, and not change who I am or react negatively to a negative situation.
Fortunately I am selling plants and plant service, which in of itself is a product and service that is considered good, healthy, aesthetic and for the most part, important. If I am lucky enough to get a property or office manager who likes plants, even better! Common ground!
Artscape has some of the best customers I could wish for. I often think it's because we were attracted to each other -the law of attraction indicates that thoughts influence reality. My book keeper Julie always says to me "whenever you say you are going to get that customer or account, sure enough you do! Perhaps I am just lucky (do you believe in luck?) or I know how to "hull out the seeds from the fruit".
The customer is always right. I'm sure we have all heard that over and over and over. At first, I thought "what the heck? that is not true!" But over time I have realized, it IS true.
Because if a customer perceives something to be true, it is true to them. Therefore we must address it as truth. MUCH easier to solve a problem when you approach it from that angle.
That said, there are some plants in the back of the warehouse I'm going to go visit- good ones, bad ones, and ugly ones.
GO FIGURE!
The polite one, who asks you if you'd like a cup of coffee while you wait, the rude one who keeps you waiting with no apology for an hour, the ugly one, who says nasty things like "if you have the cheapest price I might consider your company" .
It has made me immune to some of the less pleasant encounters, taught me how to deal with "certain" types, and always, most importantly helped me to be me, and not change who I am or react negatively to a negative situation.
Fortunately I am selling plants and plant service, which in of itself is a product and service that is considered good, healthy, aesthetic and for the most part, important. If I am lucky enough to get a property or office manager who likes plants, even better! Common ground!
Artscape has some of the best customers I could wish for. I often think it's because we were attracted to each other -the law of attraction indicates that thoughts influence reality. My book keeper Julie always says to me "whenever you say you are going to get that customer or account, sure enough you do! Perhaps I am just lucky (do you believe in luck?) or I know how to "hull out the seeds from the fruit".
The customer is always right. I'm sure we have all heard that over and over and over. At first, I thought "what the heck? that is not true!" But over time I have realized, it IS true.
Because if a customer perceives something to be true, it is true to them. Therefore we must address it as truth. MUCH easier to solve a problem when you approach it from that angle.
That said, there are some plants in the back of the warehouse I'm going to go visit- good ones, bad ones, and ugly ones.
GO FIGURE!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Dog Days of Summer
The other day, someone used the phrase "the dog days of summer" so of course I had to google it, being fairly certain that it did not mean my dog was enjoying the hot summer days.
Webster defines it as the period between early July and early September that usually occur in the northern hemisphere. The second definition is "a period of stagnation or inactivity" ...probably because it's too hot to move!
But where does the term come from? Why do we call the hot, sultry days of summer “dog days?”
In ancient times, when the night sky was unobscured by artificial lights and smog, different groups of peoples in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. The images drawn were dependent upon the culture: The Chinese saw different images than the Native Americans, who saw different pictures than the Europeans. These star pictures are now called constellations, and the constellations that are now mapped out in the sky come from our European ancestors.
They saw images of bears, (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), twins, (Gemini), a bull, (Taurus), and others, including dogs, (Canis Major and Canis Minor).
The brightest of the stars in Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky. In fact, it is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth received heat from it. Look for it in the southern sky (viewed from northern latitudes) during January.
In the summer, however,Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the dog star.
The conjunction of Sirius with the sun varies somewhat with latitude. And the “precession of the equinoxes” (a gradual drifting of the constellations over time) means that the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome. Today, dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11. Although it is certainly the warmest period of the summer, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. No, the heat of summer is a direct result of the earth's tilt.
(quoted from wilstar.com)
Webster defines it as the period between early July and early September that usually occur in the northern hemisphere. The second definition is "a period of stagnation or inactivity" ...probably because it's too hot to move!
But where does the term come from? Why do we call the hot, sultry days of summer “dog days?”
In ancient times, when the night sky was unobscured by artificial lights and smog, different groups of peoples in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. The images drawn were dependent upon the culture: The Chinese saw different images than the Native Americans, who saw different pictures than the Europeans. These star pictures are now called constellations, and the constellations that are now mapped out in the sky come from our European ancestors.
They saw images of bears, (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), twins, (Gemini), a bull, (Taurus), and others, including dogs, (Canis Major and Canis Minor).
The brightest of the stars in Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky. In fact, it is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth received heat from it. Look for it in the southern sky (viewed from northern latitudes) during January.
In the summer, however,Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the dog star.
The conjunction of Sirius with the sun varies somewhat with latitude. And the “precession of the equinoxes” (a gradual drifting of the constellations over time) means that the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome. Today, dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11. Although it is certainly the warmest period of the summer, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. No, the heat of summer is a direct result of the earth's tilt.
(quoted from wilstar.com)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
planters!
Today I had a wonderful visit from Architectural Supplements (ASI) National Sales manager, Bill Meade. As we sat and talked about their latest container lines, his background and the direction of ASI environmentally friendly decorative container line, I remembered why I love this business so much. The people. For the most part, people in this industry are not only interesting, but have sometimes been in more than one career (like me) and have a strong interest in not only plants, which you would assume is obvious, but also design.
When Bill left, I felt great about what I do and what we do for our customers. Sometimes we forget who our real boss is, our customer! I remembered the path I took to get in the business of plant and people (great pair!) with a sense of satisfaction. No matter what competitors are out there, there is plenty for all of us, and I am happy to be here!
When Bill left, I felt great about what I do and what we do for our customers. Sometimes we forget who our real boss is, our customer! I remembered the path I took to get in the business of plant and people (great pair!) with a sense of satisfaction. No matter what competitors are out there, there is plenty for all of us, and I am happy to be here!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Reasons not to get new business
I recently read an article by Debbie Bermont titled "Seven Reasons to Say No to New Business". I thought "wow that is so spot on"! It articulates many of the things I have thought and even shared. Gut Instinct (my favorite) and how you treat people, value of our services, investing time and resources often unrewarded, all great points! I have copied it below.
Have a wonderful second day of summer!
Seven reasons to say no to new business
17 June, 2010
By Debbie Bermont
If your company is dependent on larger sales from fewer customers, then you could put yourself at financial risk by taking on the wrong customer. One of the most common mistakes business owners make is to accept money from anyone who is willing to pay for their product or service -- even if the customer is not the ideal fit for their business. Whether you're a startup or a large corporation, taking on a new customer who doesn't match your ideal customer profile can be a big mistake. Here are seven situations that indicate you should say no to new business. If you don't heed this advice on when you should turn down new business you will be in serious danger of having a database of customers that can take your business into bankruptcy.
#1: Your gut instinct says no.
This reason is at the top of the list. Your gut instinct or intuition is the most powerful weapon you own that is always correct & even if it isn't always a logical thought. You should never ignore a nagging feeling something isn't right. When you hear that little voice inside telling you to turn away the new business you should follow it or you could regret your decision later.
Here's a common scenario that raises the gut instinct red flag. You're sitting in a new business meeting and everything on the surface seems to be going well but you can't ignore a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. You can't put your finger on it but you know something just isn't right and you feel you're not seeing the whole truth. Then your head gets in the way. Your rational voice talks you out of those feelings and instead you dismiss your instincts as ridiculous so you take on the new customer. Ultimately that customer doesn't pay their bills or makes unreasonable demands which take away any profits you could make on the deal. You then realize you should have listened to your original gut instinct.
Sometimes there doesn't have to even be a logical explanation why you don't trust the situation. Just remember that if you get that inner message don't let financial greed talk you out of your first impression. Whether you're a business owner, a sales professional, or a corporate executive, your gut instinct is the best resource you have. Listen to it at all times.
#2: The customer does not appreciate the value of what you offer.
While some people make decisions based upon price, the most profitable business for your company will be from customers who appreciate the value of what you offer. Value could include your expertise, credibility, service, knowledge, reliability, and guarantee. Anybody who selects your company based on price alone views you as a commodity, not a valued service. A disloyal customer who is more concerned with price rather than value will switch very readily to any competitor who will undercut your price. Your chances are greatly diminished for repeat business from a customer who doesn't appreciate the value of your products or services.
#3: The customer expects you to invest time and resources into pursuing their business without any financial commitment on their end.
Anyone who is just shopping around and is looking for free advice is not going to be a good customer. You should determine how much time and energy you are willing to spend for free before you ask the prospect to make a commitment. Giving away products or services for free before the prospect makes any financial commitment diminishes the value of your company. It also raises the level of what they expect you to deliver beyond what you would normally offer for a specific price because they have already received something from you for free.
#4: The customer does not treat you in a courteous or professional manner.
Profitable business is based on strong relationships between you and your customer. This doesn't mean your customer has to be your best friend, but in essence your best customers will be those who respect and value your professionalism. Anybody who constantly questions your recommendations, nit-picks at your pricing, or questions your credibility or judgment, is not interested in developing a long term relationship with your business. There is no opportunity for trust here. Your business is being viewed as a commodity and the customer is clearly showing they do not value your business or want to establish a long-term relationship.
#5: The customer asks for products or services you don't provide.
There are times when someone will approach your business for products and services you already provide and will also request additional products or services you don't already provide. They value your relationship and ask you if you would be willing to venture out into new opportunities. If this new opportunity is a stretch on your capital resources or your existing operational structure, or it is not congruent with the mission of your company, it is best to decline this business. Before you instantly accept a new challenge and opportunity make sure it will not stretch your resources and develop into more headaches than successes for your company.
#6: The customer's requests are too large for your operation.
If a company approaches you to provide something that stretches beyond your current capabilities to produce, consider the cost to expand your operations versus the profit potential. Take into account any new capital expenditures, additional employees, training expenses, material costs, and the opportunity costs of other business lost while you are meeting the needs of this new customer. Controlled growth for your company is more manageable and typically more profitable than a large increase in business within a short time frame if you are not currently set up to manage that quick growth.
#7: The customer does not share the same values as you. The right customer for you is someone who shares your values. It will be very apparent by the manner in which the customer treats you if you share common values. Don't lose sight of your company's mission and values even if it means turning down potential business. When you compromise your values to pick up new business it will not result in profitable business for your company in the long run.
© Source Communications 2007
Debbie Bermont is president of Source Communications, a marketing consulting firm. Debbie is a leading expert on helping businesses reduce their marketing costs and accelerating their sales growth. For more information go to www.outrageousbusinessgrowth.com or call (619) 291-6951.
Have a wonderful second day of summer!
Seven reasons to say no to new business
17 June, 2010
By Debbie Bermont
If your company is dependent on larger sales from fewer customers, then you could put yourself at financial risk by taking on the wrong customer. One of the most common mistakes business owners make is to accept money from anyone who is willing to pay for their product or service -- even if the customer is not the ideal fit for their business. Whether you're a startup or a large corporation, taking on a new customer who doesn't match your ideal customer profile can be a big mistake. Here are seven situations that indicate you should say no to new business. If you don't heed this advice on when you should turn down new business you will be in serious danger of having a database of customers that can take your business into bankruptcy.
#1: Your gut instinct says no.
This reason is at the top of the list. Your gut instinct or intuition is the most powerful weapon you own that is always correct & even if it isn't always a logical thought. You should never ignore a nagging feeling something isn't right. When you hear that little voice inside telling you to turn away the new business you should follow it or you could regret your decision later.
Here's a common scenario that raises the gut instinct red flag. You're sitting in a new business meeting and everything on the surface seems to be going well but you can't ignore a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. You can't put your finger on it but you know something just isn't right and you feel you're not seeing the whole truth. Then your head gets in the way. Your rational voice talks you out of those feelings and instead you dismiss your instincts as ridiculous so you take on the new customer. Ultimately that customer doesn't pay their bills or makes unreasonable demands which take away any profits you could make on the deal. You then realize you should have listened to your original gut instinct.
Sometimes there doesn't have to even be a logical explanation why you don't trust the situation. Just remember that if you get that inner message don't let financial greed talk you out of your first impression. Whether you're a business owner, a sales professional, or a corporate executive, your gut instinct is the best resource you have. Listen to it at all times.
#2: The customer does not appreciate the value of what you offer.
While some people make decisions based upon price, the most profitable business for your company will be from customers who appreciate the value of what you offer. Value could include your expertise, credibility, service, knowledge, reliability, and guarantee. Anybody who selects your company based on price alone views you as a commodity, not a valued service. A disloyal customer who is more concerned with price rather than value will switch very readily to any competitor who will undercut your price. Your chances are greatly diminished for repeat business from a customer who doesn't appreciate the value of your products or services.
#3: The customer expects you to invest time and resources into pursuing their business without any financial commitment on their end.
Anyone who is just shopping around and is looking for free advice is not going to be a good customer. You should determine how much time and energy you are willing to spend for free before you ask the prospect to make a commitment. Giving away products or services for free before the prospect makes any financial commitment diminishes the value of your company. It also raises the level of what they expect you to deliver beyond what you would normally offer for a specific price because they have already received something from you for free.
#4: The customer does not treat you in a courteous or professional manner.
Profitable business is based on strong relationships between you and your customer. This doesn't mean your customer has to be your best friend, but in essence your best customers will be those who respect and value your professionalism. Anybody who constantly questions your recommendations, nit-picks at your pricing, or questions your credibility or judgment, is not interested in developing a long term relationship with your business. There is no opportunity for trust here. Your business is being viewed as a commodity and the customer is clearly showing they do not value your business or want to establish a long-term relationship.
#5: The customer asks for products or services you don't provide.
There are times when someone will approach your business for products and services you already provide and will also request additional products or services you don't already provide. They value your relationship and ask you if you would be willing to venture out into new opportunities. If this new opportunity is a stretch on your capital resources or your existing operational structure, or it is not congruent with the mission of your company, it is best to decline this business. Before you instantly accept a new challenge and opportunity make sure it will not stretch your resources and develop into more headaches than successes for your company.
#6: The customer's requests are too large for your operation.
If a company approaches you to provide something that stretches beyond your current capabilities to produce, consider the cost to expand your operations versus the profit potential. Take into account any new capital expenditures, additional employees, training expenses, material costs, and the opportunity costs of other business lost while you are meeting the needs of this new customer. Controlled growth for your company is more manageable and typically more profitable than a large increase in business within a short time frame if you are not currently set up to manage that quick growth.
#7: The customer does not share the same values as you. The right customer for you is someone who shares your values. It will be very apparent by the manner in which the customer treats you if you share common values. Don't lose sight of your company's mission and values even if it means turning down potential business. When you compromise your values to pick up new business it will not result in profitable business for your company in the long run.
© Source Communications 2007
Debbie Bermont is president of Source Communications, a marketing consulting firm. Debbie is a leading expert on helping businesses reduce their marketing costs and accelerating their sales growth. For more information go to www.outrageousbusinessgrowth.com or call (619) 291-6951.
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