Archive for May, 2007

I started blogging for our business by writing about our start-up journey. We went through a lot of turmoil to get a website and e-commerce store launched, so I started blogging about it. However, it wasn’t long until I decided that I would keep my “startup” diary on a seperate blog. It is still a journey that I want to document, and I most definitely have plans to make money off of it, but our business blog wasn’t the appropriate place for me to rant about the trials and tribulations of starting a new company.

I made this decision because I want our ecommerce site, our business website, which is such a large part of our brand – to be nothing less than 100% professional.

This doesn’t mean that I won’t blog about experiences of running the business on our babyfabulous blog; especially since I’m a mom of two young kids and have plenty of experiences worth sharing. But I do not blog about problems I’m having with our business, whether it’s sourcing issues or time constraints.

I’m lucky, because for our baby products business, I can blog about all sorts of things “mommy-ish” and get away with it; new parents and parents of toddlers are a large portion of our customers. I’m sure you’d be surprised by how much there is to blog about for your business if you let yourself expand beyond the topics of your products.

Here are some ideas to get you started blogging:

• New products or services
• Events you are sponsoring or attending
• Industry news or links to articles your customers will appreciate
• Surveys
• Features of your customers or partners (I’m just about to post our first ’boutique’ feature – the boutique is escastic, I get a fresh blog post, I’m promoting one of our distributors, and I get a ton of keywords on baby gifts for my website – win, win, win).
• Post contests
• Share images
• Post your press releases

If you have an informative blog, you’ll keep your readers coming back!

I hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day.? I sure did!? We grilled out (shocker!) Tuna steaks.? I’ve talked to a handful of people who took the time to email me and said they were thinking about me as they too were grilling out for Mother’s Day and really needed some Grill Charms™!? Ahhhhh…. Sweet sweet Validation… we all need it!? This leads me to my topic for today… validation, criticism and our little (sometimes big) inanimate babies (aka our inventions).?

A fellow inventor-mom emailed the other day to vent.? She recently had something very exciting happen to her and her new invention and was elated.? About a week later after the dust had settled from this exciting thing, she was left a little blue.? She was finding that some people (no mompreneurs? mind you) had nothing nice to say about her invention.? She read on other boards and on comments from the website hosting this exciting thing that many people (surprisingly quite a bit of people) got online to do nothing but talk “smack” about the honored recipients of this exciting thing.? ?

What people don’t understand (or maybe they do and just don’t care) is that an invention is like your baby.? You conceive it, you create it, you birth it (sometimes by way of China… but it’s birthed nonetheless) and you love it unconditionally.? So when someone has something not so nice to say or tries to knock it down a notch or two, it’s a pretty big blow to the chest.? We all want people to love our babies as much as we do, but alas, nobody will.? That is just a fact of life we are prepared for but meanness for meanness’s sake is unnecessary and uncalled for under any circumstance.? Nobody’s baby is perfect, and as mommies we are often blinded by our love for our babies so much so that we can’t see its faults.? Sometimes our overpowering adoration for our babies make us overlook a potentially fatal flaw that could collapse our baby’s very existence.? For this reason it is crucial that “invent-moms” receive the opinions and criticisms of others but in giving comments and suggestions we must be cognizant of tone and motivation.

Next time there is the urge to pooh-pooh someone’s baby; we must take a good look at the force behind the message.? If we are motivated by nothing but the green-eyed monster that lives in us all, just shush!? Those comments will do nothing to better this world in which we all live and will probably ruin a fellow human beings day.? There are enough people and outside forces that make our lives challenging enough without contributing to the problem by projecting our own insecurities, jealousies and ill-will onto our fellow mom.? Before we speak (or type) we must ask “are these comments sincere, polite and constructive?”?? If the answer is yes, then comment away!? It might be the life preserver that someone’s baby needed.

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com

It’s a Hallmark conspiracy some say!

It’s always Mother’s Day others chime in!? (Yeah…it’s always Mother’s Day to wear the many hats we do, multi-task and ROCK at it!!!)

It’s a day to celebrate all moms in the way in which they wish to be celebrated.

On a more?pensive note (with some true lessons tied in so hang with me here! ) – our mom just passed on to the Lord?only 6?weeks ago so this?is our first Mother’s?Day without her.? I just?had a good cry addressing a new baby card to my first cousin in Virginia?for whom Mom had purchased a card just days before?passing.? (Will I always find it so difficult to?say the word ‘die?’)? I explained to him that it took me that?long to get the card out and actually write a little note of love from our mom to him and his wife and new baby boy.

Here’s?the lesson for all of us moms who over achieve sometimes way too much at our own expense, might once in a while play the superwoman role followed quickly by the martyr role or sometimes just never ask for what they really want on a day like tomorrow – Mother’s Day.

I finally (at the tender age of 47 and three children into this game of Life!) have found my personal answer to this day being truly mine.? I have tried leaving it up to the husband (bless him for trying) and the teen boys for doing their own shopping (love that gift card to Cracker Barrel where the pounds pour onto my hips the moment I park my car in front of their?restaurant!).? Each year I say at the end of Mother’s Day (usually to myself and after doing the dishes or finishing up that last load of weekend laundry!), “This was not quite the way I envisioned my day.”

I have planned this year’s Mother’s Day events?all myself.? I booked the hotel room at a local Spa & Resort (here in Tampa, Florida we have an abundance from which to choose thankfully!).? I made spa treatment reservations for both myself and hubbie with gift cards we had been given back in 2005 (true sign of people not taking the time to relax!!!).? I made it so that the children all knew exactly what scent of candle I desired, which SPA CD I longed to hear playing at sunset nightly and which new summer PJs were on sale at JCPenney’s this week!

I even planned so that when we return home Sunday (still Mother’s day) they will cook out on the grill as a team, set the table and do the dishes later as I slip out to a ‘chick-flick’ all by myself in the afternoon.? I have left nothing to chance.? I have learned that if you want something a certain way, and if it means that much to you to not be disappointed by other results, then set yourself up for success.

Don’t we all do this all the time for our own businesses, our own family plans, our children’s classroom activities, our husband’s work-related events and so on?? Then why should how we handle Mother’s Day?(I don’t care WHO came up with the holiday and idea)?any differently?? Perhaps we have felt self-indulgent in the past even suggesting what we might want as a gift or where we might like to go eat.

No more baby!!!!? This day is our day – in fact, next year I might make it into a long weekend event provided this ‘hotel, spa, movie, cookout’ idea goes smashingly swell!

Happy Educating and Happy Mother’s Day to all my amigas!

Boca Beth?

I’ll admit it. I’m addicted to the computer.

Earlier today, we were rushing (as usual – none of us are morning people!) to get our daughter off to school, and I went in to the office to check the weather. Usually hubby does it, and today we both remembered why. Several minutes later, as I was starting to check email, he was still in our kiddo’s room, a short sleeve t-shirt in one hand and a long sleeve one in the other, calling to me to see what I had found. Ooops! I hadn’t even gotten to the weather site yet.

I don’t think it’s possible for me to watch a TV show and not look up an actor or actress in IMDB. If there’s a book I see at the store that looks interesting, I run home and check Amazon reviews first. My daughter needs to know what animals are in a rainforest for homework and can’t remember? I help her hop online to check. We practically live on Wikipedia.

And then there’s online shopping. I buy all kinds of house related things – from office chairs to decorations to rugs – on the web. And if I’m considering hiring out for a service, like someone to build a fence or deck, I turn to their web sites first before making any decision.

I can’t even go out of the house without a computer. If I don’t have my laptop with me, I have my PDA phone which has full time internet access. Tonight we took our daughter to gymnastics, and some guy there had a tatoo that struck hubby as familiar. What’d I do? Googled it. Right then and there, with my phone.

Yep, I’m pretty addicted.

I wonder what business owners did before computers became commonplace? How could you start a business without having a web site or being able to research? Does it help us or do we rely so much on our technology that we’ve become soft? I think about that a lot. We take our computers for granted. And yet if something happened to computers globally, I’d personally be completely out of business.

One thing’s for sure. I’m not going to be checking the weather before school anymore!

I just don’t want to post articles.? Let’s get to know each other.? Tell me about your VA business.? What questions do you have??

?Thanks!

Hi

I think one of the ways I?can help the most is to share some of my articles with you.? But also, please do ask questions too.

Home Based Business Success – Start Yours Today

?

So many today want to start their own business and fortunately businesses are constantly looking for our assistance.? One home based business I recommend is starting a word processing or virtual assisting business.? It can make a great work-at-home career and the potential just keeps getting better and better.? You will now find many famous authors, actors, businesses, and even political candidates beaming about how a virtual assistant is a must have for business success. In fact, in many books now, some are citing that having a virtual assistant is one of your most important keys to success.? ?Getting started is easy.? Fortunately, it’s not expensive either.? First of all you need a complete plan of action set out in advance.? This ensures that you don’t leave any vital steps unaddressed and will have a solid plan of action to succeed.? You don’t need anything technical, just how you plan to operate your business including advertising methods, pricing, business hours, equipment and supplies needed, goals, etc.? ?You want to clearly define your business.? There are so many different areas you can go into as a home based word processor or virtual assistant so you need to decide with your skills and your experience what is the best for you.? For example, do you want to do strictly word processing or do you want to do marketing too.? How about transcription?? I highly recommend considering that.? Most businesses today do dictate their work and now virtual assistants can transcribe dictation from anywhere in the world.? You’d be amazed how easy it is to learn too.? If you’d like additional information on digital transcription, please e-mail me at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com? I have a whole chapter I’d be glad to share with you on it as well as a free booklet on obtaining clients.?Now, that you have your business plan you need to decide on the name of your business.? One thing you need to make sure of is that you can legally have that name.? Often I’ve seen word processors start their business and just grab a name and call it their own.? That doesn’t work well when someone else has already chosen that name, registered it, perhaps trademarked it, and has been using it for years.? First check and make sure that no one already has it, then test it out.? Is it easy to pronounce when you answer the phone? Does it sell you well?? Does it limit you?? Five years from now will you still feel proud of that name? Try it out on friends and ask their honest feedback.? Also, go to the various boards and mention it too.? For such an important decision it’s worth the effort.? ?To operate a business you are required by law to have the appropriate licenses.? This is your permit to do business locally. It’s a simple procedure that doesn’t require a considerable amount of time.? Contact your city and county officials under occupational licenses for complete details or go online.? Most VAs start out initially as a sole proprietorship and then might change later into either an LLC or S Corporation.?Now it’s time to set up your bookkeeping. You will want to keep track of all your income and expenses.? Save all receipts and pay all your expenses out of your business checking account.? A software program such as Quickbooks is ideal for our type of business.? Not only does it allow you to keep accurate records, but it also enables you to track exactly where the most money is coming from.? This enables you to target your marketing efforts more in that area.?Now you must decide how much to charge.? Don’t undercharge your services.? The Virtual Assisting Industry is a very proud bunch and we want our clients and others to know that when you hire us, you are getting a professional and one capable of making your business better.?? Clients will pay well for making their business succeed.? Determine what is being charged in your area, but also take into account what you are bringing to the table.? When you offer specialty services such as web design or say expert proofing or publicity, you can charge more.?It is also important to have an impressive marketing piece. Your brochures, letterhead, flyers, business cards, etc., should look sensational.? I personally love VistaPrints at VistaPrints.com.? I can afford to get matching business cards, mailing labels, magnets, and even postcards cheap.? This makes me look more professional as I have everything the same layout and because it’s so reasonable, I even have different styles for different clients.?Now you need to get those clients. The key to successful marketing is to tell clients what benefits they will receive by answering their main question, “What’s in it for me?”? Keep in mind, you’re not selling your services, you’re selling the benefits of your services.? What can you offer them that would make their business run more successfully?? An example of this would be accurate dependable service done on an “as needed” basis.?? ?One of the most important things is to get a professional website. ?This will enable you not only to get clients through your SEO efforts, but also to show your clients your services and everything about your business.? Look around at other word processing or virtual assisting websites and get some tips.? Don’t copy-just get ideas.? You can see mine at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, http://www.virtualassistantstartups.com and http://www.VA-TheSeries.com.?Also, get listed on the various directories and with the various VA forums such as www. vanetworking.com??Now that you’ve got the clients, you need to keep them.? The best way to do this is to always provide them with more than they ask for.? Go the extra mile on all assignments.? Let them know that you value their business and are eager to help them succeed.? ?

Wasn’t that easy?? If you’d like additional information on starting a business, e-mail me or stop by my website at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com.?

**?

Diana Ennen, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com

?So here we are again… just you and me keyboard… How are things going with you? Yeah, I’m tired of getting pounded too, but that’s the nature of the biz baby!!! On with the blog! The good news is that the other day was JUST bad news and NOT REALLY bad news. YEAH! I’m coming to terms with my numbers and know that it’s just one of those “things”. Onward and upward!

I got an email from a fellow mompreneur asking me to clarify a certain aspect of my blog and I was so thankful for the suggestion. I’ll get to the topic in need of clarification in a minute, but on that same note, if anyone has suggestions or would like more information or would like me to address a certain topic regarding this invention process… I do take requests. (I’m not saying I’ll know, but I will give it to ya straight as much as I do know)

Okay, on to the “request”. I talked the other day about my thorough primary market research. What is that and how did I do it? In your business plan, you need to do 2 types of market research to make sure there is a market for your product, what that market is, and does your product fill a need in that market. There are two very important types of research that you need to do. You have your primary market research and your secondary market research. Primary market research is the research that YOU do on your product and your market. You can do this by interviews, surveys, focus groups etc… Secondary market research is the research you gather from other sources such as using the internet, farmer’s almanac, library etc…

The reason why in my last post I could make a statement like

“The market will not let me charge $40.00 for my product. I know that from doing very thorough primary market research with my prototypes. The market has told me what it can bare..”

?is because of my extensive primary market research. A local machinist machined 41 Grill Charmâ„¢ prototypes. I had different head sizes, different stem lengths, different stem textures, you name it!!! I put together a packet of questions, gave my friends and family 3 different Grill Charmsâ„¢, asked them to grill 3 of the most popular grilled foods in America (I knew what those 3 were because of my secondary market research), then asked them to answer the questions in the packet. Here are some sample questions about the performance of the charms in different foods:

Bone in Chicken Breast

Unless otherwise specified please rank the answers to the questions or statements on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the most advantageous, best, or most true and 1 being the worst, most difficult or most incorrect

Charm3/C:

Ease of insertion into the food

Ease of extraction from the food

Damage to the food was minimal

Stem length was perfect for this food

Comments, suggestions and most importantly criticisms and improvements:

Then at the end of testing all 3 foods with all three of the Charms given to them, I asked them to answer some general questions such as:

Would you buy a set of Grill Charmsâ„¢ for yourself? If yes, how many collections? If yes, which collection/s? Would you buy a set of Grill Charmsâ„¢ as a gift? If yes, for whom? If yes, how many collections? If yes, which collection/s? Would you change the order of the release of the collections? If so, please advise which order you would launch Grill Charms â„¢ How much would you expect to pay for a set of Grill Charms â„¢? Was the grill charm easy to clean? If you had a set of Grill Charms â„¢ would you be more inclined to purchase more sauces, rubs and marinades?

So now you know a little more about market research and why I know that nobody will pay $40.00 for a set of 6!

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com

Yes, it’s that time!? The time when?you say each weekend to your teenage sons, “Don’t you think you’re going to sleep the summer away.? You better get a game plan mister.”? or to your 7-year-old daughter after she comes home from a full day at school, “If you’re bored now, just think how it’s going to be all summer.? Maybe that camp sounds better now, does it?”

Oh, wait!? That’s not you saying those things……that was ME just yesterday and today respectively!

I was a classroom teacher.? I know what it’s like to count down the days secretly (because little Susie swears she is going to come visit you each day during Summer because she knows where your house is and she is attached to you!).? I know what it’s like also as a mom of three children in the traditional school setting breathing a sigh of relief each August when school is just about to start.

I swore I would never, ever, NEVER be like that.? I vowed to cherish every moment, every precious “Mom, he’s teasing me again!” moment.? Ha!? Who was I kidding?!?!?

Alright amigas, amigos, friends…………it’s time to get organized, time to rally in the troops so to speak and defend our sanity that we so desperately need to run our businesses.? The challenge is almost upon us – here in Tampa, Florida we have only 12 and one half days left until the children charge out of those school buildings with the energy and passion we have for our inventions, our services, our business babies!

I provide you with the five step program (no time for twelve steps at this point!) to get yourself armed for a Sensational Summer (okay………could we settle for Sane Summer?!?!?!?!)!

1. Based on the age range of your child(ren) sit down with each one individually and have them list 5 things they would like to do or accomplish this Summer.? You also list 5 things you would like them to accomplish this Summer.? (Of course if you have preschoolers this will need your facilitating big time, but it CAN work!)? Giving ownership to your child of what the Summer will bring gives them a feeling of involvement and promotes unity.
2. Interview local middle school or high school girls or boys (depending upon your needs) who are looking for some extra money and bring them in on a part time basis.? These students typically don’t want or can’t get a ‘regular’ job and watching your child(ren) might be just the ticket for them as well as a fairly inexpensive way for you to continue to run your business from home and stay focused, positive and full of love for those little darlings!? We did this last Summer, and it worked fantastic!? Our kindergarten daughter had a built in playmate that would do whatever she said (Megan caught on quickly that this young lady was being paid so she knew she had the upper hand when it came to deciding between Chutes & Ladders or Monopoly!!!!).
3. Order crafts ahead of time from Oriental Trading Company………….I know, I know, some of their stuff is so cheaply made it breaks as you carry the box in from your front porch!? But if you shop wisely (and with your child, giving them ownership once again in what’s ahead for summer) you can create this cool “Craft Corner” somewhere in your home where your child and the sitter know where to go so you don’t get bugged each time they move from one activity to the next.
4. Set up a menu on the weekend for the lunches that will be made that coming week.? During the interview process I make it very clear that I will not be cooking for the helper and my child on the days that she or he is there.? I try to find out their comfort level with cooking macaroni and cheese, heating pizza rolls, putting together a sandwich and even knowing the components of a decent salad (my daughter is still a salad freak – wonder when that will end?? Probably the day she lets me put a dress back in her closet!).? Meal time does not need to be ‘mom stops all she is doing and fixes lunch in shifts based on the age of all the children’ time.? Children need to learn to respect your work space and time.
5. Remember to schedule play for you and your children each week – put it on your calendar.? Okay, you know that workout we never seem to get in each morning?? It’s because we don’t have it on our calendar.? Or that manicure you said two weeks ago you needed?? That’s not on there either!? We need to schedule those things we know are important to us and make them happen.? And during the Summer, playing with your kids should be one of the things you do each week.? I don’t care if it’s as simple as playing a game of Life (love that game!) or going for an ice cream towards the end of the work day or hopping in the pool between lunch and your next conference call.? They need it.? You need it.? And ask any empty-nester.? They will all tell you (demand) that you schedule play time with your kids.

Homeschoolers, parents of little ones not yet in a traditional school setting – you all march to a little bit of a different rhythm than those of us tied into the School Calendar.? Summer is Winter is Spring is Fall……………….I kind of miss those days of “Who cares what day of the week it is – they all can run the same with our schedule.”

Give your children fond memories of Summer – even as you grow your business!? No one will ever leave this world wishing they had worked more during Summer and spent less time with their loved ones.? No one.

Happy Educating!? ?Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

May 5, 2007Happy Cinco de Mayo!? In my inbox are 2 emails from Mr. New sourcing agent and I’m scared to open them… So there they sit all in bold taunting me because I’m to chicken to open them.? In 1 of them I know he is answering my request for a meeting on Monday May 21.? He is about an hour and ? away from me, but I have friends in the same town, so I’ll make a little vacation out of the day.? Mr. Original Agent I have met with a few times and even had dinner with, so I feel like I know him better.? (Nothing like breaking bread over a bottle of wine to really get to know a potential vendor!)? All my dealings with Mr. New Agent have been over the phone and via email, so this was my attempt to reach out.? Hopefully he says he’s free.? The other email… not sure.? Okay, let’s find out…? I’ll be right back!?

If you like the feeling of being nauseated 4 out of 7 days a week, then by all means become an inventor!!! Just kidding, BUT you certainly have to have gut made of steel to take all the ups and downs thrown your way, that’s for sure!? Bad news, he can’t meet on the 21^st, good news he is free (as am I) on the 17^th.? That was email #1.? Email #2 is where the nausea sets in.? He got his quotes from the factories and there is 1 thing I am unclear about which will either make it bad news (price does include packaging and transportation) or REALLY bad news (price is only for the 6 charms excluding packaging and transportation).? Bottom line… the cost to manufacture is way too high to sustain a business.? Havening said that though, in my original plan, I did factor in that I MIGHT have to sell my first 500 units at a break even or even a loss just to create the demand that will drive up volume and lower costs.? ?

Right now I am looking at my “start-up cost analysis” and I estimated my initial production run of 500 units to cost me several dollars more to manufacture then my wholesale price to my retailers, so I did figure the first run to be at a loss.? (Boy oh boy am I glad I was realistic with my numbers!!)? So, lesson so far:? you might have to suck it up and sell your product for less then it costs to make in the beginning.? The market will not let me charge $40.00 for my product.? I know that from doing very thorough primary market research with my prototypes.? The market has told me what it can bare; now I’ve just got to get my volume up so I can lower costs.? As time goes on, I don’t see consumers willing to spend more for my product, so my job is to bring my costs down.? (Also… still waiting on Mr. Original Sourcing Agent)? Can’t wait to see happens next week!!?

I’m so glad the kiddies are giving mommy a good long nap today… mommy needs it

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com

Soooooooo….it’s Cinco de Mayo!??First of all, do?you realize that Cinco de Mayo is simply translated to mean the 5th of May?!?!?!

Now that we’ve?got the basics covered I had to give you something cool and?wonderful and FREE!!!!? (Now I have your attention!)? You know that saying,?”Why reinvent the wheel?”? Well, what I want to share with you today is my Cinco de Mayo version of me not reinventing the wheel!

There is really not a lot of true understanding of this Cinco de Mayo celebration other than the local Mexican Restaurants are all setting up tents for big fiestas/parties (while I am sure the local police?force is setting up DUI checkpoints)!?

So, without?further ado, I bring you a cool Cinco de Mayo report?chocked?full of song ideas,?craft fun, cooking fun and more from my new amigas at Parenting Zoo.com!

Happy Educating!???Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth?