BLACK FRIDAY or RED SATURDAY?

Always wondered how big box stores stay in business.  Volume of course.  But the discounts will only work if there is volume (Lots of it).    I’ve seen 30-50% discounts on many items.  Can’t see giving away so much, for crumbs.   Me as a shopper I’m diving to the deep ends first and work my way back.  Those that  attempt to boost sales by providing big discounts will wake up to a rude awaking if the volume is not there. 

Imagine 50,000 in sales discounted by

10% – 45,000 - acceptable

20%- 40,000 – tolerable

50% – 25,000 – ridculous

I rarely provide discounts in our business.  The pie is too thin to give anything away.  But what we do provide is the best product and service money can buy.  

Hope you have a sales frenzy, and not a turkey coma.

Making It Happen!!!

Maintaining a successful business requires out selling & out servicing your competitors,  and yes,  the online providers.  Let’s focus on online competition.  They are drawing sales with big marketing campaigns.  Many are enjoying the success of convenience ordering.   They are masters at selling, but what they lack is service.

Here is how I can attest to this.  My business provides Printing, Signs & Fedex shipping.  Being part of the shipping business has provided us an insight of whats coming in and going out.  We have close to thirty drop offs of packages that have to be returned on a daily basis.  We always ask the reason for the returns.

PAUSE!!!  Now we are talking about the best of the best online companies.  NO NAMES WILL BE PLACED

Here is a breakdown of some answers & these shipments are everyday.

Clothing companies:

Wrong size;  color, outfit, two of the same (billed for both);

Book Store:

Wrong book,  wrong CD’s, two many shipped & billed-customer pays for returning and fights for refund.

Video Game company

Return for service <—Everyday around 3 units close to 20  a week

Phone companies

Service sucked, units need of repair <—Everyday

Print company

Poor quality-wrong color-no service & over priced  & try contacting them to fix a problem.

They all have the best customer service when it comes to ordering.

Hello may I help you please.  And what credit card will you be using today?  But once there is an issue, that is when you realize what an inconvenience it was to try & save money by ordering online.

Enough of that.  You get where I’m going with this.  They are strong but we can be stronger.  Convenience ordering doesn’t make it wise or a good economical chose.

This is where I rise to the occasion.  I Make It Happen!  I out sell & service all my competitors!!!

What do you offer your clients to make things happen?

Juggling Our Genes!!!

Summer Heat is upon us!  Kids are out of school, some looking forward to camp, while others await for the family vacation.  But business must go on.  Between maintaining your operation, managing your employees and still having time for your family.

Delegating some of your daily tasks is important to open up more time for you.   We all do our best to hire quality employees, but it’s  hard to find a star these days.   Start to entrust within your company.   You always have time to teach an individual to handle some of this work.   We have to run our businesses & not have them run us!

How many genes do you juggle and try not to drop?  You owe to yourself to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

STOP JUGGLING YOUR GENES!!!

Tommy Melendez
Copy That, Inc.
3515 E. Tremont Ave
Bronx, New York 10465
718.892.1859

Mind your own Business!

Last year we started a marketing program called.  “Do Not Participate In This Recession” Well my campaign landed me a request from two City agencies, to help other merchants in their business.  I started by asking them, who heard about the big fire in a town yesterday.  How bout the lay off’s that were done by so so?  Almost all of them said that they heard or knew about it.  I told them all what is it your business!  Yes it’s a tragedy, but it’s not involving your business directly.  Stop watching and listening to the media & pay attention to your business.  You have an obligation to your family & your employees to mind your own business. Three of those merchants are now, good regular customer’s.

I see what’s happening out there,  but I continued to mind my own business!   I project confidence to my employee’s and especially my clients.  People feel better about dealing with a successful & confident business.    My sales are way UP!.  Local merchants tell me that I am the only one not complaining about business.  They stop by to ask what they can do to better their business.  I encourage them to go out there & get what ever crumbs are out there.  There is businesses waiting for your services.  You just have to work harder & smarter to get & keep their business.

Mind Your Own Business!

Tommy Melendez
Copy That, Inc.
3515 E. Tremont Ave
Bronx, New York 10465
718.892.1859

Evil Empires of Internet Printers!

I cannot tell you how well these internet print providers are doing, but I can tell you what they are not doing.  Servicing their clients. When the most important part of their program is…Hello how are you?  What credit card will you be using?  Once order is completed & shipped it’s OVER! These company’s hurt the local merchants with their low ball pricing.  Sure you can save money, but make sure your set-up is right.  They won’t call you in-advance to correct it.  Once it’s paid for all bets are OFF!

These Empire are hurting the Heart & Soul of REAL Personalization like your neighborhood companies.  Support them and help them keep their doors open!

Also want to mention, that most of these operations are located overseas!

Our company slogan says it all.

“Where the only thing you can’t copy is our service”.

If there is anything wrong with your order we will re-run the order no questions ask.  Providing this top notch service to our clients, has created a level of trust.  We strive to be our clients partners!

We’re a family oriented operation. My employee’s are trained to question clients as to what they are trying to achieve with their projects, not asking how will you pay. My employee’s are all incredible. The only involvement I have with them is to make sure they get personal with every client. This allows me to keep focused on our business.

Buy America Instead!

Tiger Woods Back How Bout You?

As Tiger Woods hit’s the greens for thi What are you doing in around your greens? Temperature is rising and it’s time to get your sales up! Have a goal in mind? Sales of course! But without an obligation from you or your sales staff, sales we be non-existent! Go out and set new appointments and close some orders.

Go and drive your sales further.

SPRING BREAK 2010 STARTS NOW!

Spring is upon us! Now is the time to gather your sales team and CSR’s to get your 2010 goals going! Clean up your area of work, add some new paint to the walls, raise your prices, dress up the area with some plants. Make walk-ins feel comfortable.

Set attainable goals for your teams and get them out there to maintain your business ahead of your competitor’s. While your competition is still waiting for business to just walk in and holding back on advertising, you should be out there knocking on doors, mailing out monthly post cards or newsletters to pick up business you normally wouldn’t have.

We do mailers every month and pick up at the very least two orders from new business and always pick up from old. Try not to provide discounts in these pieces. I’ve found that when a discount is provided, some only order when there is a price cut. The other issue is, they will more than liking ask for a discount before placing an order. Unless you feel that client will provide a substantial business throughout the year, I suggest you stick to doing mailers, explaining about your services and provide samples of your work.

“ask me how I can help”

Tommy Melendez
Copy That, Inc.
3515 E. Tremont Ave
Bronx, New York 10465
718.892.1859

MAKE THAT SALES CALL!

I sometimes take ideas for granted. But, recently I received my weekly Bill Farquharson sales call video. Bill had suggested to make those sales calls no matter what. So, I made one to a prospect, and never had the opportunity to make another call that day. The first call I made I landed a advertising agent. She was impressed with what I had to say. We received our first order.

Here is her response from vacation in Miami.

Thanks so much for your assistance with this project. My client called me after picking up his work. He has always been difficult to work with. But was compelled to call me on my cell to tell me how happy he was with his work!

Have a great weekend and stay warm. Always a pleasure speaking to you.
Ms. A. Caproni

The most important part of this project was “TRUST” Convincing her that she is with in good hands and not to worry about the order.

Third order is already in the works!

Make That Sales Call!

Value & Service to Success!

In these tough economic times. We have quietly become the sole printer in Throggs Neck North. Providing the best possible value and service to our customers, has proved to be the mechanics to our success! Our biggest competitor which had 3 other locations, has closed down due to selling on price! In any business, there is always someone who sells for less. So as a business owner be as personal as possible with your customers. Address all that enter your premises with a grand opening smile. In general people tend to be loyal when provided with a personal but confident business owner. Remember the theme song from “Cheers” there is a comfort zone which they all relate to. Go that extra mile for them and you will reap the benefits.

New Economy Beginning

Old spending habits have been curtailed by this recession.  The “New Normal Economy” is,  spend less,  save more.  If you’ve already “cut down,”  what’s next?  By no stretch of the imagination should you stop promoting your services or products.   In a down economy there are ways to tighten your budget.  Cutting down on advertising and promotional material can hurt your bottom line.  This is the best time to go a little further on promoting yourself.  Be corny, be cute, be something!  Anything to attract attention!