Other Marketing Topics

I am not the most organized person, but I pride myself on being able to clean. (When I finally get around to it!) Over the years I have found so many great cleaning tips to make life easier and I wanted to share them with you.

1)  Removing Blood from Furniture - Use hydrogen peroxide to remove blood from clothing or furniture. Rub gently.

2)  To keep ants out of the house, find where they are entering the house and sprinkle a “barrier” of cinnamon or any type of ground pepper to block their way. The spices are too hot for the ants to cross.

3)  Use paint brushes to dust cracks and hard to reach places in telephones, stereos, etc.

4)  Set aside a regular short period of time each week for the family to straighten up the house. It teaches good habits to the kids and gives the family a project to do together. Everyone will feel better when the job is done, and might just look forward to the day when they know things are going to be neat and organized.

5)  Cigarette burns in carpeting can be repaired by cutting the blackened fibers from the hole. Squeeze liquid glue into the hole and fill with fibers trimmed from carpet remnants.

6)  Place a shallow dish of baking soda behind the toilet to absorb bathroom odors.

7)  Freshen a Garbage Disposal: Sprinkle baking soda in it along with a few drops dish-washing liquid. Scrub with a brush (a new toilet brush works great), getting under the rubber gasket and all around the inside. Then turn on water and the disposal and flush thoroughly For a fresh citrus scent, throw in a few cut-up lemons or limes and run them through, too, using lots of water.

8)  Photos Stuck Together: With a hair dryer on low, slowly melt them apart.

9)  For roach problems combine equal parts boric acid (a powder sold in hardware stores and drugstores) and sugar, mix well. Sprinkle in crevices. Put the powder in jar lids; place lids behind the fridge and under sinks.

10)  Shower Doors: Spray Resolve Spot Remover for carpet and fabric on the shower and wipe with a clean dish sponge. Every bit of the soap scum will come off.

11)  Smelly Sneakers: Simply fill knee-high stockings with unused kitty litter, tie the ends and tuck them in your shoes overnight for a quick refresh. Add baby powder, too! Another refresher for smelly sneakers is to simply take a few teaspoons of baking soda and put in the center of a cotton cloth. Tie the cloth and rubber band the edges securely creating a baking soda sachet, put in the shoes overnight. These sachets can be used over and over in any kind of shoe.

12)  Sour Sponge: Soak the sponge in lemon juice and rinse it out. This will remove the odor for good but keep in mind that it is important to either dispose of, microwave, or run your sponge through your dishwasher regularly to keep bacteria from growing.

13)  Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby.

14)  Easy eyeglass protection … to prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

15)  Clean a toilet -Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action cleans vitreous china.

Just the other day my son Cole, who is seven years old, came up to me and told me he wanted to start his own business. I found it such an honor that he came to me about his goals, seeking advice and help. With his two new business ideas I told him he could create a Shop Spot for each to advertise online. His eyes and smile grew so large. It was the neatest thing to see him so proud and excited. The first idea he thought of on his own was making bracelets. He’s really into crafts, gardening, and mulching. So we talked a little while about the basics of learning a business and what he needed to do to start one. Then I gave him the idea to start his own mulching business in the spring. This child loves everything about mulch! He is such a hard worker, does a great job, and enjoys his work. He even moved around some of my plants in our landscaping once, claiming they looked much better in their new position in the landscape. He is thrilled to start his new businesses and plans to market to neighbors, family, and friends. We intend to create a flyer together and a Shop Spot ad for both of his new adventures.

My other son Carter wants to be just like Cole and has already told his preschool teachers all about his new business with his big brother. He told his teacher, "In the spring I will be setting up a jewelry stand outside my house...you know, just like a lemonade stand but its jewelry. You have to come over and see our jewelry." His teacher got such a kick out of the whole thing. I can’t tell you how special it is to see your children have such a drive and joy in learning new things. I never would have expected them to come to me so soon about their entrepreneurial spirit. It goes to say, you’re never too young, nor too old.

Do you remember that movie "You've Got Mail" with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks? I loved that "Little Shop Around the Corner." I think back on it now and wonder why they didn't re-open that Little Shop after Meg and Tom got together, for it's just not the same walking into a huge book store, cold and lost, searching for that little something from so many shelves. For what ever reason it might be for you. I prefer to shop at smaller shops around the corner or down cyber lane. They all bring something special and just for a few moments, I get to stop by, relax, and find something unique, something that will make me smile every time I look at it.

I often do think to myself, it was such a pleasure buying this, in that moment, and from that woman behind the counter. For "Little Shop Around the Corner," it was the pride and the joy of Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) following in her mom’s foot steps, helping support children's literacy, and the passion she had for knowing each book a child could take home and cherish. I step back and think that it must be like this for each shop owner, their pride in sharing a little piece of what they cherish. There is definitely something really special about each small business I run into everyday on Girl Shop Spot. I love to discover them all, for what they all offer us is truly unique.

For those of you who are looking for that "Little Shop Around the Corner," to warm a child’s heart and feed their imagination, there can't be a better choice than down cyber lane at The Lollipop Book Club. Please stop by, visit them today, and buy a gift of books for a child to cherish always.

Did you know that AstraZeneca, which manufactures breast cancer drugs Arimidex and Tamoxifen, founded the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the year 1985? The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.

In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies founded The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the Pink Ribbon as its symbol, though this was not the first the ribbon was used to symbolize breast cancer. In the fall of 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation had handed out Pink Ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors. (Wikipedia)

Early detection, access to mammograms for all women, enlightened treatment, and ultimately eradicating breast cancer are the aims of this organization and its campaign---with over 20 years commitment to these goals. This month GSS encourages everyone to support the cause to win the war on this devastating disease.

To find out more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month click here: http://www.nbcam.org

Summertime and the living is easy... or is it? Your kids are out of school for the summer. You want to enjoy time with them, BUT---how can you ever get in a day's work at home? The interruptions, the whining, the sibling bickering, are all normal. And they get bored, wanting you to drive them to activities. Plus, they just want "Mommy time." What's a mother to do?

If you have difficulty getting enough work accomplished during the summertime, here are 6 parent-coaching tips to consider.

1)  SET REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS: Unless you have a full-time nanny, you will not be able to put in the same hours as you do during the school year. Don't even think about it! So first...

2)  ESTABLISH A RANGE: Figure the minimum and maximum number of work hours you need to complete each week. Identify both necessary and special child-focused activities for the week. Plan your time to meet both family and work goals and...

3)  SCHEDULE: Make a tentative plan or schedule of how and when to complete those hours. But...

4)  BE FLEXIBLE: Relax and forgive yourself when the unexpected "time thief" arrives. Do not expect your day to be predictable when your kids are at home. Don't go there! Be sure to...

5)  MANAGE YOUR GUILT: You have chosen a home-based business. To succeed, you cannot spend100% of your time actively involved with your kids nor can your business success be the same when you are also an active parent. As a dedicated Mom and home-based business owner, guilt goes with the territory. Your guilt does not mean you are doing anything wrong. It can simply mean you have very high expectations for yourself. To ease your guilt, you can...

6)  FOCUS ON DIFFERENT PARENTING GOALS: Use your work time as a role model for your children on what good organization and hard work can accomplish. Help them learn an age appropriate level of independence.

For more parenting and relationship coaching tips, visit DrCoachLove.com.
Remember: We all have the same 24/7. What we do with our time becomes our priority. Make your time count.

The movie, "Sex and the City" has created a movement. A movement of women entitled to a night out with their gal pals since the series started. And, now even a crowd of teenagers have become avid fans of the show since airing on TBS. Now I know we've all gotten together from time to time, but hasn't it become much more common in the last few years. Isn't it much more common to tell your husband your running out with the girls and to call up your friends and tell them to meet you for a glass of wine at six. And, isn't it much more common to meet new friends online and join in on group discussions about where to go, the latest fashions, beauty trends, and to share funny or distrought child caring moments.

And, let's not forget the movement of supporting each other's small business success. Sarah Jessica Parker is not the only woman launching a business. There is an array of women launching small businesses for us to enjoy daily. Today, we are in a position where we are able to find and shop with one another and help create success for one another than ever before. And we get to share business insight and gain friendships along the way!

What a Movement it Is!

This new movement has brought about a new reason for girlfriends to get together. Of course there doesn't need to be a reason, but if there is, we'll be there. Today women love going out for a cocktail together and are finding more and more reasons why they should. With their hectic life styles, they are finding it even harder to find time for themselves. This is all the reason why it's so important to indulge with their girlfriends for a day out for lunch, shopping, and the spa or an evening sipping wine at a cocktail lounge. You're finding more at home parties too. There is a vast array of ideas we could all think about doing that would make the perfect girls' night out.

Even though Sex and the City came to us by storm, it is us who have actually created the idea. We are the women who make up the Girls' Day Out! We are the women entitled to it all...the fun, the shopping, the indulgence. Only through us and by us could this show and movie be a success! Not to mention the exceptionally great cast!

So, go ahead and pamper yourself and your friends...you deserve only the best!

The uproar between Yahoo! and Microsoft has brought me to this post in hopes that it will help you determine your site/business worth and the understanding of perspectives in evaluating such.

As it stands today, Yahoo! has turned down Microsoft's offer and Microsoft has chosen to withdrawal. While the offer may have seemed pretty close to what Yahoo! shareholders may have accepted to close the deal, it isn't what Jerry Yang has valued his company to be. The issue here is "to be" because that is the question every business owner should ask themselves when putting a value on their site/business. Jerry Yang from Yahoo! sees his company as worth much more in Microsoft's eyes, and what it is to become in his own. When speculating a company's worth, it's important to note the offerings and value the company is to bring in the future if certain criteria and developments are taken place.

Now obviously this is hard to determine, since two very intelligent businesses can't find an agreement; however, one can speculate that talks aren't over. It is only natural for Mr. Yang to negotiate on the appropriate value he feels his company holds to Microsoft. Mr. Yang also needs to remember a company is only worth what the buyer is willing to pay.

I need to get my hair re-colored, badly. I can't believe I still don't have it done. I'm quite vain about it actually. So why haven't I called for that appointment? Because it dawned on me that I don't want to go back to my current hair stylist.

I don't like that I have to make sure I call on the right day to set an appointment or I won't get a call back. I don't like feeling like I'm on display when I'm in such a vulnerable position (hair every which way, highlight foils that make me look like I'm receiving alien communications). I don't want my boyfriend to see me this way, so why would I want complete strangers to? I don't like the way my stylist's boyfriend or other visitors feel free to talk over me, or even comment on the progress. What is up with that?

Finally, two visits in a row I asked my stylist not to make my low lights so dark or the overall color so dark. She didn't take notes and sure enough, the next time I still ended up with darker color than I wanted.

How about you? Do you ask for highlights and end up with 1/2 inch of roots or color that's never consistant? How about a hair cut shorter than you asked for? Does it seem to you that stylists are trained in the art of torture? Holding the dryer in one spot for too long, brushing your hair like it wasn't attached, and poking you with the comb or scissors. Why is it that so many stylists insist on treating us this way? We're not mannequins, we're paying customers.

Here I sit, pondering how I will find another stylist that hopefully will work out better. I'm contemplating driving around and checking out the ambiance of each place first as well, to make sure I actually enjoy going on a regular basis. No, it's not the end of the world, but crikey, it's a pain.

So here is the marketing lesson within. We all need to be conscious about how we treat our customers. Do we offer an environment (brick and mortar or cyber) that is conducive to good business relations? Do we ask questions that allow our customers to be more comfortable, to be more open with what they need or want? Do we make it easy for the customer to do business with us? I for one am going to give this concept a lot more consideration.

And a note to all the wonderful hair stylists out there, please sign-up on GirlShopSpot.com so we can find you.

The Holiday Season brings many selling perks to small businesses that can cater to their customer needs. Not only can small businesses bring one-on-one customer interaction and great customer service, but the small business has the ability to receive direct feedback about their products and services. This data becomes invaluable for product and service development, planning and logistics for shipping, competitive and marketplace analysis, as well as relationship building and referrals. The article, Small Shops See Smallness as their Big Selling Point, in the New York Times, talks more about delivering big when your small.

When shopping, I'm looking for that unique and personal experience that smaller businesses can offer me. If you capitalize on that, giving your customers extras in experience and service, they will remember to come back.

The Girl Shop Spot Team would like to wish you a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

We are just as excited that Girl Shop Spot has begun and thought we'd fill you in on how it got started. He's a little bit on who I am and how GSS found us.

Talk about a shop-a-holic. I would buy, order, and schedule anything and everything from a dedicated small business owner if I could. I can't help but enjoy supporting the small business owner and seeing people become successful. I do get broke at times doing this, so I thought there must be another way to help, along with my shopping habits. I thought, if I could help these small business owners connect with one another to improve networking and sales, while providing a great way to market their business online to customers, we would all be in a better place.

I've always enjoyed supporting small businesses and helping friends and family of mine market their business online. With my husband Jim, developing software for corporations and me designing web sites and consulting entrepreneurs and small businesses on how to market their products and services online, I felt it my calling was to reach and support on a larger scale. In the mean time, we also wanted to improve how small businesses catered to woman are found on the Internet. There has been so many times where I've wanted to find contact information easily for a number of things, and I thought, I can't be the only one. There has to be millions of woman out there, like me, who can't find what they're looking for easily and quickly, whether their searching online or off.

GirlShopSpot.com's idea came to us very easily or should I should say, GSS found us. And, here we are a few weeks in and getting our name out there. We are just as excited to be here with our advertisers and are looking forward to seeing our online community experience great success!