Spread the Word - Talk to People

In doing research and getting educated on starting a new business of my own, it always amazes me how much emphasis is put on technology.  I get it!  You can do some pretty amazing things and reach a whole lot of people really quickly with the resources we have to do business these days.

I always joke - because my first "job" was helping my Mom out with her real estate appraisal business.   We would swing by Long's Drug Store on the way to her office and pick up the prints of photos she took with her 35mm camera that took 3-5 days to get back.  My job was to glue the pictures onto her official report.  Yes, glue!  I went though a couple glue sticks a shift doing that!  Can you imagine glueing pictures to a professional report today?  So, agreed...technology has definitely helped us become more efficient.

However, I am a firm believer that there is no replacement for a face to face connection.  My husband is boss at this.  He has sold everything including cars, stocks and bonds, mortgages, school loans, and computers to name a few.  He would so much rather meet you for lunch or grab a cup of coffee than send emails back and forth for hours to have a conversation.  Because of this he is still friends with a lot of his clients from his business dealings over the years.  A lot of them attended our wedding!

So what can you do to get that face-to-face connection?

Attend Events

Networking groups, trade shows, conferences, award ceremonies, other companies open houses, educational seminars.  GO and take your business cards!

Plan Your Own Event

Open house, educational seminars, anniversary celebration or just invite clients out for lunch.  You'd be amazed how much more personable people can be when they are away from their office!  Especially your own employees!

Cheers!

Kristen

Oink - A Case Study

It's a bit funny that we chose this month as the month to discuss new business start ups.  My husband is getting ready to graduate and get his business degree from Eastern Oregon University.  I feel like our whole family is graduating, it has been a long busy road for all of us, but I am so proud that he did it!  For his senior project, he has been tasked with writing a business plan for a business of his choice.

Anyone who knows my husband, knows he is a killer cook.  He is one of those that can just start throwing things into a pot and turn it into a masterpiece.  I love it, but my waistline does not.  We have always toyed with the idea of turning that into a business of some sort.  He doesn't want to start a full blown restaurant because he doesn't want to turn something he loves into an everyday thing and get burned out.  So, he has decided to write a business plan to start a food truck with some of his most famous recipes.  But, the genius part is that we will only take the truck out on weekends, or to festivals or special events.  So, it will not be an everyday thing.

So, I thought, what a great way to share tips and tricks about starting a business is letting you guys follow along the journey of getting this started.  Every once in a while I'll share some updates....and pictures of his delicious creations.  Here is what we have so far.

Truck Name: Oink
Concept: We will have two staple menu items and then rotate others seasonally.  The gimmick will be pork all sorts of ways.  We will get a whole pig and feature different cuts throughout the season.
Main Menus Items: 
Rolled Pork Tacos - pulled pork in a spicy Coke sauce rolled in a tortilla and flashed fried.  Topped with sour cream and homemade guacamole, served with homemade spanish rice.
Ground Pork Burgers - with a strawberry jalapeno sauce and asian slaw.
Bacon Bark in a Bag - for dessert candied bacon bark with a hint of spice.

I am drooling a bit just typing that out.  Oh, and the designer in me instantly came up with the logo above.  I know, jumping the gun a bit but I couldn't help myself.

We have decided to test the concept and one of the main recipes at the Mississippi Street Fair.  We have a fantastic friend who owns Mac! Mac and Cheesery and is going to let us tag along and use her kitchen as a commissary to prep for the day.  We will sell the rolled pork tacos and bacon bark in a bag.   This will be a great place to test the product and get some feedback from people who are not our families.

Stay tuned!

-Kristen

Not Your Average Swag - A Guide to Giving Gifts

Week Two of Relationship Building Month here at Crafty and we are talking about following up.  So, we made some great connections with our tips last week, now what?

I can not even begin to tell you how many pens, post it notes, stress balls, desk calendars, etc I have had dropped off at the office or picked up from a trade show.  Most of which will never get used or my kids end up playing with until it's gets lost.  While this typical swag is easy and usually pretty inexpensive - what sort of impact does it actually have with the receivers?

Some of my favorite gifts I have ever received from partners are personalized and things of value to me.  For example, I still have and use the book I received from my rep at the Oregonian - a book of recipes collected from their Food Day section.  She knew that my husband and I enjoy food and even more so cooking at home.  It's branded AND I use it.

I not saying you need to publish a book or even break the bank to make it meaningful.  Below are some tips and tricks for putting together a gift that may leave a longer lasting impression.  My biggest tip - make the vessel for the gift the branded portion and fill it with your personalized items.

Branded Portion:  re-usable bag - it can be the shopping size or even try a lunch bag size.
Personalized Portion: Fill it with something you know they will personally enjoy.  This requires some deeper conversations and keeping notes.  Could be wine, their favorite candy, a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant or even items for a picnic they can enjoy with their significant other.

Branded: Desk or Wall Calendar
Personalized: Mark on there significant date; birthdays, anniversaries or my favorite was a calendar that had the due dates of when I needed to have ads turned in for their publication.  Guess what, that one is on my desk and I use it to track all my other deadlines.

Branded: A re-usable box, or cardboard with a label containing logo and contact information.
Personalized:  Deliver it to the whole office.  Summer time - fill it with all the fixings for an ice cream party.  Cones, bowls, sprinkles, chocolate chips, gummy bears, chocolate or caramel sauce.  Pick up a couple tubs of ice cream on your way.  Winter - fill it  with hot cocoa packets, marshmallows and whip cream.  Even throw in a couple mugs if you have them laying around.

Cheers!

-Kristen