If you run a small business you should be a member of the local chamber of commerce. Most cities which 50,000 people in them have 5000 small businesses. Yet these same cities only have 500-1000 people in their chambers of commerce. There are many reasons for this. Some say it is a huge expense, which is somewhat short sided because you will get a good return on your chamber membership business through additional steady and loyal customers. Others negative comments might be, they never do anything for me. This to is an incorrect perspective in that you only get out what you put in or as JFK said, Ask not what your country can do for you. If you are a member of the chamber of commerce then you have an advantage over the 80 to 90 percent of the businesses who are not. If you participate you have another 80% advantage over other members who do not participate.It is important to attend chamber of commerce meetings. Since most of the people at these meetings will already know you, they will typically engage you in conversation and this will prevent you from meeting new people. You should be careful to mingle and go out of your way to meet new people at mixers. It really helps to have more than one uniformed employee at a chamber of commerce meeting or mixer.Another great idea is for you to go in and offer free certificates to your business. You can offer to do this for your fellow business person who cannot attend and ask them to do this for you on the meetings you have scheduling conflicts with. If you cannot make a meeting you can arrange to reciprocate at a later meeting. This works killer. It makes both of you look great and it permeates teamwork. It is what separates you from the competition. What competition? Huh, they are not even members of the local chamber of commerce. Think about it.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Lifestyles – Creating Your Best Fit
We all want an incredible life and a large part of that is identifying and creating a lifestyle that suits us – finding our “best fit”. When embarking on this quest, we start out gung ho, excited about the possibilities for what we want our lives to look and feel like. We create a plan and begin taking action toward the creation of that lifestyle. Everything comes together smoothly and before we know it, we are more fully experiencing life.Does this sound like fiction or reality to you? True lifestyle change IS possible when you focus on creating or finding one that fits you instead of trying to fit yourself into one that you think you “should”. In September of 2007 I joined a gym – something I vowed I would never do since I thought it was not a “good fit” for me. Well much to my surprise, a gym environment was now a perfect fit for the new lifestyle I had created when I became a business owner. You see, it offers me just the right environment of energy and activity that I was needing since I work from home. It became my home away from home – that place to go for much more than exercise. For me, the gym is a perfect fit because it gives me strength, vitality, variety, energy, connections with others and it fit my schedule perfectly! It was easy to incorporate it into my lifestyle, and it has become such an integral part of it that I would not think of missing a day. This is a true lifestyle change – a true “best fit”What are some of your “best fit” lifestyle changes?On the other hand, reality is that sometimes life creeps in and gets in the way of our great plans, disrupting the momentum we have built. Occasionally this happens without us even realizing it until one day we wake up and ask “what happened to my plans?” “How did I get so far off track?” “What happened to the new healthy habits I was engaging in?” Then suddenly you are back to your old comfortable habits that no longer benefit you. To stay with the health example, my lifestyle change with food has not been as easy or effortless as my exercise routine. Sure I started out with a “bang” by joining The Balance Program – an online program of diet and lifestyle assessment, e-coaching sessions with my own dietitian, and an online workbook – a great fit for me since it allowed me to go at my own pace, learn about my body, nutrition, and what kinds of changes are right for me personally. I loved it – yet slowly life got in the way (well rather ice cream, cake, cookies, parties etc got in front of me) and my thoughts went to “well, since I am going to the gym, I could surely eat more of this or that” Then, before I knew it, the scale began creeping up again and I felt that I had lost my way.When have you gotten off track from your goals and plans?What I failed to remember though, is that I have made some lasting lifestyle changes with food (protein at each meal to feel fuller, more fruit, whole grains, healthier snacking) and I also have learned what takes me off track (that buffet or party with a variety of selections that compel me try one of everything). When we get off track, away from our “best fit” lifestyle, it can be easy to get back. What’s the solution? Awareness to know when you have steered away from your intended path, understanding of your preferred lifestyle to know if this practice is a “best fit”, and most importantly, support in either coming back to your path or forging a new one. The Balance Program is a “best fit” for me since it has all of these solutions built in. You have a relationship with you own personal Registered Dietitian through regular e-coaching sessions, she reminds you of the lasting lifestyle changes you have made, helps you see where you veered off your path and shows you how to find your way back.What is your “best fit”, the personal lifestyle you want to create?
The Facts of Financing
Your mother always warned, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” and those words of wisdom can be applied when financing a business. There are a number of methods that can aid buyers in financing a business. Buyers must recognize their available resources such as the seller, lenders, and investors.As a child, we’re encouraged to “dream big” and told that nothing can stop us, but ourselves. As entrepreneurial adults, this idea of dreaming big is often a part of your everyday routine, but it is inevitable that at some point you’ll come crashing down from those heights into reality. The realization that financing your particular endeavor can instantly dampen even the most impassioned enterprising individual can get you down. To put it bluntly, “Don’t let it”.Having a reality check on the difficulty of securing financing for a business can be the first step towards making your dream an actuality. There are numerous types of financing available, some more unorthodox or obscure. If you take the time and effort to research all avenues for funding you will be rewarded.There are two main types of financing: debt financing and equity financing. It is important to you and the success of your business that you familiarize yourself with the types of financing in order to choose, seek, and finally, obtain the right form for your needs.Debt financing involves borrowing money that will be repaid over a certain allotted time with a set interest rate tacked on. The time of such financing can be short term or long-term. In most cases, short term financing would include repayment within one year, while long-term financing would entail repayment in a time period that exceeds one year.An advantage of this type of financing is the fact that the lender will not gain ownership in your business. You remain in control and your only obligation to them is to make regular and timely payments. In the case of small startups, a personal guarantee is often needed to facilitate the closing of the financing deal.Equity financing, unlike debt financing, will involve giving the financing entity a share in the business. Some business owners dislike the idea of losing any amount of control. On a positive note, this type of financing does not incur debt. This kind of freedom from debt can give a greater sense of security in starting a new business. In addition, some entrepreneurs find great value in their equity financing partners, and see their presence as an asset.The type of financing you will choose is based largely on the needs of your business and the kind of collateral, or available assets you have to offer. A substantial amount of debt financing can lead to poor credit and a shortage of funds in the future due to an inability to apply for more financing. A business that becomes overextended, offers little collateral, and is steeped in debt is not an appealing option for many investors.As previously mentioned, there are other more unorthodox methods of obtaining funds that can certainly prove to be beneficial to your business. Some options can be found in your own circle of friends and family. One benefit of this type of financing is obtaining the money and a silent partner who will most likely not interfere with your business. It can also eliminate some of the red tape involved with more traditional forms of financing. This does not mean you can simply use a verbal agreement or “shake on it” to signify and bind the transaction. This is still a strategic business move and you must treat it as such which means proper documentation, clear terms, and mutual understanding of those terms.Relationships can be ruined over inept efforts with this type of financing, so value your business and the other person by treating it with professionalism, attention to detail, and respect. Don’t become the black sheep at the next family reunion over some misunderstanding or your falling behind on payments.A few other options that are largely unknown to those who haven’t done research include unsecured loans and micro-loans. Resources such as TheSnapLoan.com or Prosper.com offer loans based on cash flow, credit score, and debt-to-income ratio. Government grants are also a largely untapped resource that is made available to entrepreneurs. Simply researching the website Grants.gov can be extremely helpful in your search for funds.Venture capital is another route that many entrepreneurs look to due to the amount of funding that can be procured. A venture capitalist will likely offer larger sums of money that can be of great assistance to your business, but they will also gain a certain portion of control and ownership. This type of funding however is usually scarce due to the assumption that many startups will inevitably fail. You will need to find someone willing to take the risk and who sees potential in your vision.This type of person could also be found in a more palatable option known as the Angel investor. The Angel investor typically has a high net worth and like the venture capitalist, must believe in the product and the person behind the product. Their loan often converts to stock, preferred stock, or convertible bonds.Les Brown, an author and entrepreneur, says, “Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars”. This is an extremely appropriate sentiment as it encourages you to keep dreaming big and ultimately those dreams combined with perseverance and research will take you closer to where you want to be.The following is a chart that demonstrates the normal financing options available to businesses in different stages of the business life cycle.For more on these topics visit Dyer Consulting Group
What is Pack Shot Photography?
Retail and commerce companies in Yorkshire use pack shot photography extensively to promote their products and services, both online and in printed literature. The term has become synonymous with commercial photography for advertisers.A pack shot, or packshot, is a still or animated photographed image, usually including labeling and packaging, which is used to advertise a product. Pack shot photography is a lucrative way to increase revenue for both the merchandiser and the commercial photographer. Done with flair, it will promote a product’s reputation, stimulate sales and trigger recognition of the item both on and off the shelf. It also gives the customer important details about the product, especially if 360 degree pack shot photography is used.Pack shot photography requires a high degree of trust between the photographer and their client. In the past, forged and leaked packshots have led to damaged reputations and court cases. Of all the forms of commercial photography there are, packshots probably require the highest level of security and confidentiality.Types of packshot photographyA packshot can be as simple as a photograph of the product on a white background, or as elaborate as a short, stop-motion animated movie. Commercial photography is almost entirely digital these days, which has opened up realms of possibilities, with a wealth of professional software available to photographers.For example, let’s look at the centre of Leeds. Packshot photography can be seen wherever you look, advertising foodstuffs, cleaning products, mobile phones, jewellery, toys, motor vehicles and more.Packshot photography isn’t limited to brochures, posters and magazines. As well as company websites, packshot images can be seen on t-shirts, ties, and sides of buses. Once the packshot has been digitally rendered, it can be used on anything that will take a printed or projected image.Packshot photography for websitesWebsite packshots are always taken on a white background. They are purchased as “packs” of 20 or more images, in 2 or more sizes. Once complete, the pack is delivered to the customer in either file format or via their content management system. Some commercial photography companies offer a full media service, while others just supply the shots, leaving the customer to do the post-production work themselves.360° packshots are a form of online commercial photography allowing the customer to view the item from all angles – as they would in a store. Used on objects of all sizes, it can incorporate zooming techniques and other innovations. Another option is stop motion animation photography, which is widely used on products with moving parts, such as kitchen gadgets and motor cars.High resolution pack shot photography Commercial photography is still most often associated with printed media. Professional photographers today can offer digitally enhanced, high resolution packshots for catalogues, brochures and promotional leaflets, as well as for newspapers and magazines.Packshot photography for print publications usually involves a clipping path. Produced using professional digital software, the photographer will shoot onto a plain white or coloured backdrop and then “snip” round the image, allowing it to be used on an infinite number of backgrounds. The same image can therefore be used on both the company’s print literature and its website.