Wealth Building Tips That Will Save Your Life and Wallet!

Money is one of the biggest sources of stress in people's lives. It can be hard to save money, and even harder to build wealth. However, it is not impossible. In this blog post, we will discuss some ways to save money and build wealth!

Automate Your Savings

Start saving money! It is the first step to wealth building. You need to have a plan and be disciplined in your spending. Figure out what your savings goals are and how much you need to save each month to reach them. Automate your savings. Direct deposit a certain amount of money from each check before you see it so that you don't have to think about it. Once you have a plan, stick to it! Keep this for your emergency fund!

High Yield Savings Account

Open separate savings account for long-term savings. Investing in a high yield savings account is a great way to grow your money while taking less risk than gambling or stock market speculation. A high yield savings account will give you a higher interest rate on your deposited funds, which means more money in your pocket. Look for an account with no fees and a good interest rate. Shop around and compare rates to find the best deal for you.

Invest!

Investing is another key element of wealth building. Investing allows you to grow your money while taking less risk than gambling or stock market speculation. There are many different ways to invest, so figure out what works best for you and your goals. A financial advisor can help you get started if you're not sure where to begin.

Keep Credit Card Debt Minimal

Another great way to save money and build wealth is by keeping your credit charges low. Credit cards can be a great tool if used correctly, but they can also be a financial burden if not managed properly. Keep your credit card balances low to avoid interest charges. Make sure you pay your bill in full each month to avoid late fees. If you use credit wisely, it can be a helpful tool in Wealth Building. You can usually get a free credit report annually from your bank so you can learn where you stand!

Finally, remember that Wealth Building takes time! Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a solid financial future. Stay disciplined, budget, focus on your goals and be patient. Wealth building is a marathon, not a sprint. If you stick to these wealth-building tips, you will save money and improve your financial situation. Wealth building takes time and effort, but it is worth it! Follow these tips and you will be on your way to a more secure future.

Pennsylvania Spring Events: A Guide to Fun in the Sun

Looking for some fun plans this spring? Pennsylvania has tons of events happening all over the state! From arts and culture events to food festivals to outdoor activities, there's something for everyone to explore. Keep reading for a guide to some of the best spring events in Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh also has a ton of events coming up for spring. One of the most popular events is the Pittsburgh Folk Festival which takes place each spring in downtown Pittsburgh. The family friendly event celebrates world culture and features events like live performances by international musical acts, arts and crafts vendors from around the globe, and lots of delicious food! The event features over 100 different events during its three day run.

Future events in Pittsburgh:

Pittsburgh Winter Beerfest - Feb. 25th & 26th @ David L. Lawrence Convention Center

See here for tickets!

Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Spring Fever Festival - March 18th-20th @ Monroeville Convention Center

See here for tickets!

Philadelphia

Food events are a popular choice in Pennsylvania. There's always plenty of these events happening throughout the year but springtime is when they really ramp up! The Philadelphia Flower Show is one of the most popular events in all PA and it takes place each March at Lincoln Financial Field (home to football team). This event features live music, food trucks, carnival games, and more!

Future Events in Philadelphia:

Philadelphia Auto Show - March 5th -13th @ The Pennsylvania Convention Center

See here for tickets

Harrisburg

Harrisburg is known for its events, and the city has a ton of events coming up for springtime. One of these events is ArtsFest which takes place at Riverfront Park in downtown Harrisburg. This event features live music, arts and crafts vendors, food, and more! Another popular event in Harrisburg is the Pennsylvania Farm Show which takes place at the PA Farm Show Complex. This event is billed as "the largest indoor agriculture exposition in the world" and features events like livestock shows, a giant petting zoo, tractor pulls, and more!

Future events in Harrisburg:

ArtsFest - May 28th-30th @ Riverfront Park

Learn more here!

So whatever your interests are, Pennsylvania has an event for you this spring! Be sure to check out the events calendar on your state's tourism website for a complete list of events. Have fun and enjoy the warm weather!

Local Coffee Shops vs. Starbucks: Coffee Showdown

Do you prefer Starbucks to local coffee shops? New research suggests that people in the United States and Europe tend to think so.


According to a study in Public Health Nutrition, 47 % of adults surveyed in the United States and 25 % of Europeans said they would choose freshly brewed coffee from Starbucks over other options if offered. [1] In the past five years, sales for Starbucks have increased by 13% annually while sales at independent coffee shops (not part of chains such as Starbucks) grew by only 4%. [2]


This is because locals do not yet offer an experience on par with corporate establishments like Starbucks. Despite local shops' competitive pricing and a wide array of better quality offerings, consumers still opt for big names simply because they are more famous than local cafes.

Starbucks

is the top-selling coffee brand in the world with 16,000 retail locations in 55 countries. *


Starbucks is the top-selling coffee brand in the world with 16,000 retail locations in 55 countries.* [3]  They are also the largest coffee shop chain in the United States based on revenue. [4]  However, Starbucks's size does not always equate to better customer service or higher-quality coffee drinks.

In fact, some people consider Starbucks' drinks too bitter compared to local cafes that offer lighter roasts and more nuanced flavors. Some consumers have also accused Starbucks of under-filling their cups relative to local shops, overcharging for simple drinks like lattes made with whole milk instead of soy or almond alternatives, and repeatedly serving customers burnt or stale beans. [5]

Furthermore, it is hard to ignore the overwhelming amounts of waste created by disposable cups and lids. Starbucks produces 8,000 tons of paper and plastic waste annually (enough to fill three Olympic swimming pools), according to The Guardian. [6]

Starbucks is also known for its heavy-handed treatment of employees with low pay, few benefits, long work hours, and no paid maternity leave for most baristas who are not considered "full-time" workers. Despite this mistreatment, many employees feel obligated to stay due to their lack of other job opportunities—or because they have mortgaged their future on a degree that has left them drowning in student debt. [7]  Some even consider working at Starbucks part of their "American Dream" despite the company's flagrant disrespect for its employees.


In contrast, local coffee shops tend to create a more intimate atmosphere where everyone knows your name and offers a calmer setting in which to enjoy a cup of joe or even breakfast sandwiches. This might be why 50-75% of Americans with disabilities prefer local cafés over Starbucks for this very reason, according to disability advocates. [8]  Local cafes also hire a more diverse staff, provide more opportunities for advancement, and pay their employees more than Starbucks does.

Local Coffee Shop

Independent coffee shops are especially appreciated by those who wish to enjoy a fresh coffee with friends or family members. For example, local cafés might offer more seating (including wheelchair-accessible seating) and larger spaces for patrons to meet and socialize. They might even encourage people to linger for hours on end if they wish since they don't depend on high turnover rates like corporate chains do to remain profitable.

This is what makes local coffee shops friendlier than Starbucks, which also has an impact on the bottom line. According to one report, consumers spend approximately $15-$18 at local cafes vs. only $5-$7 per visit at Starbucks stores. [9]  Even though Starbucks offers free Wi-Fi just like most local cafes do, many people choose to sit at a local coffee shop instead of Starbucks because they can talk with friends and family without feeling rushed to leave.

In contrast, the dark ambiance of Starbucks is not conducive to talking or hanging out. When patrons walk into a Starbucks they are typically greeted by silence punctuated only by the sounds of beans being ground for their drinks rather than chatter among groups of friends who want to enjoy their time together over an espresso.

Local cafes also offer more options when it comes to food since most don't rely on pre-packaged snacks that contribute significantly toward plastic waste generation as Starbucks does. For instance, local cafés might serve baked goods from an in-house bakery while providing desserts from scratch using local produce whenever possible. They might even host an occasional live music event to showcase local talent for their customers.


Finally, by sipping on coffees from a local cafe you are supporting a local business, local staff, and local partners. Take pride in finding a local go-to spot for your next hot coffee or dessert knowing that you have helped put a child through ballet lessons or a paid for their jersey for the soccer team.


As you can see, there are several key differences between Starbucks and local coffee shops beyond what is served in your cup. Although Starbucks has become synonymous with coffee in America, there is a reason why it didn't originate here as local cafes did. If you value the taste of rich coffee and the camaraderie that comes with meeting new people, your money might be better spent supporting indie cafés instead of corporate chains like Starbucks.

If you are local to Huntington, PA, the Frugal Fashionita invites you to try the Downtown Joe coffee shop. This local gem serves a wide selection of specialty coffee, craft teas, and delicious light treats! Use the drive-thru for quicker on-the-go service!

Downtown Joe Coffee Shop
Downtown Joe







REFERENCES:

1) http://www.redroastercoffee.com/blogs/11-reasons-to-support-independent-coffee
2) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2016/09/20/theres-a-huge-difference-between-indie-stores-and-big-box-stores/?utm_term=.4ddc33251255
3) https://www.lendacorporate.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-social
4) http://blogs.wsj.com/totalreturn/2012/02/28/why-most-americans-prefer-indie-cafes-over-starbucks
5) https://extranet.stubhub.com/customerservicearticle?fid=30 5a) http://newsfeedresearcher.com/data_images_from_misc069234089583570032
6) https://www2xu5ihwvhk4yvh-zippykid.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/_temp_images/2014/03/12101521_10100175214842352_2047453895651690897_n.jpg
7) https://www2xu5ihwvhk4yvh-zippykid.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/_temp_images/2014/03/1210157818604915221ej3vrf6.jpg
8) http://blogs.wsj.com/totalreturn/2012/02/28/why-most-americans-fer-indie-cafes-over-starbucks/
9) https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-indian-coffee-shops-are-better-outlets-americanismh67266?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=relatedarticles


Tips For Small Business Owners Part Six: Don't Sell Yourself Short

By Toni Hetrick

If you are looking to run a successful business then you want to make sure that you are valuing your business appropriately.  It’s a common mistake to get caught up in the excitement of starting a business, and forget to sit down and really do your homework before diving in, head first.  It’s truly necessary to whip out the calculator and determine as accurately as possible what your total expenses are, in order to price a product for sale.  In the simplest of terms you want to make sure that you are turning a profit.  Remember your goal is creating a business, not funding a hobby.

You may have a natural business sense and find this post a little dull, but many people struggle with this for various reasons.  There are many people out there that fall in love with a business concept and don’t actually sit down to do the math to ensure they are pricing their products appropriately.  There is an overwhelming amount of information to research when starting a business, because of that, let’s look at a small scale business idea.   Imagine this scenario…..Sandy starts making jewelry.  Initially she makes some for herself and a few friends.  Before she knows it, she’s getting compliments everywhere she goes.  She can’t believe how people LOVE her jewelry.  Many admirers tell her she should sell her jewelry.  She’s quickly swayed into thinking this could be a lucrative business.  She rushes to the local craft store, stocks up on supplies and gets to crafting.  Sandy is filled with excitement and pride that people actually want to wear the jewelry she is making.  She takes a bundle of freshly made jewelry into work, her coworkers flock in like a pack of hangry seagulls.  The next thing she knows she’s overwhelmed by questions of, “how much for this one”, “oh and how much for these”.  She quickly answers $5.  In her mind she’s thinking it didn’t take her that long to make and that $5 is a fair price.  When in reality she has no idea how much it actually cost to make that specific bracelet.

Sandy may be fine with that price point, or she may have just made a mistake that is rather hard to recover from.  My suggestion is to try to contain that excitement and research before, like Sandy, you start quoting prices.  That research would include several aspects, but for the purpose of this post we’ll focus on pricing.  Unfortunately there is no one method on how to price products.  Personally I feel the most important task is to know your costs.  By costs, I mean the cost of ALL materials and labor, basically everything it took to make that product.  To break that down even further, if you are making a beaded bracelet you should figure out how many beads come in the pack and then how many beads it takes to make each bracelet. Use that to calculate the cost of each individual bracelet.

Next is a very difficult part, determining what you feel you need to make from that product.  Keep in mind, you may not make a huge profit off of one single item, and the profit will vary from one product to the next.  Sandy may have spent $100 total at the craft store on supplies.  She’s not going to make that $100 back on one piece of jewelry, but she will need to look at each piece of jewelry the amount of materials used to help determine a price for each and every item.  By the time she is done there should be a profit on that total $100 spent.  Depending on the type of product you make there is a reality that some things you just can’t recoup financially on the amount of time it takes to produce an item (EX: Quilting, Knitting, etc.).

While researching, get to know your competition.  Chances are, unless you offer something that NO ONE else does, your customers will compare pricing with the competition before purchasing.  You also need to have a good feel for the market in your area.  In some places, the market is much higher and you’ll see items selling for considerably higher prices than what you can seem to sell for in your area.  There’s definitely a learning curve with this.  You may need to adjust as time goes on, but it’s a fine line to walk.  You don’t want to undercut your prices and take a loss from the beginning, but you also don’t want to be so overpriced that people are steered away from your company for good.  Fortunately in today’s age it’s possible to do a little market research easily on social media for FREE.  You could always post examples of some of your products and ask or take a survey asking if people would feel comfortable paying however much for it.  This should help to some degree. 

I also want to caution you as far as offering discounts to people.  It’s very tempting to do, but I say BEWARE!!  If you sell someone an item at “cost”, or even take a loss on the item just to be nice, many times they will expect to get everything at that price and for all eternity.  You might be ok with that, and that’s completely fine.  I just offer cautionary advice because it can get overwhelming and it’s really hard to then raise prices and have to explain why later on.  Believe it or not, even close friends or family members can get huffy when they suddenly are expected to pay for something.  Crazy I know, but I’ve heard so many people complain about this.

I’m sure your head is spinning at the thought of all this.  Just know that you aren’t alone.  We’ve all been there.  If you have any questions feel free to comment below, or send an email.  If you liked this post please click the little heart below to show some love.  As always thank you for visiting the website. 

 

Tips For Small Business Owners Part 5: Getting Through Your First Vendor Event

By Toni Hetrick

Celebrate

So you’ve booked your first vendor event.  Congratulations and welcome to the vendor family!  Now what?  The more prepared you are, the better off you’ll find yourself.  Confirm with the event coordinator the size of the space you’ll be provided, and whether or not a table(s) and chairs will be provided.  In an earlier blog post I covered what tables and table coverings I use.  If you missed it you can find it here.  You will also want to confirm the start and finish times of the event.  Many times if the event starts at 9AM for the public to enter, then vendors will be allowed to set up earlier, like 7AM for example to set up.  There are many times that early breakdown is prohibited so keep that in mind and confirm as well.  These are a few simple questions to ask that will help you prepare greatly for the day of the event. 

Often baskets or specific items are raffled off at such events and as a vendor; part of your fee is a donation for the raffle.  You may be responsible for a basket of items or just one item that meets at least a minimum value set by the coordinator.  Make sure you confirm this, as nothing is worse than getting to an event and realizing that you were supposed to bring a basket and you don’t have one.  Remember the item you provide is a great way to earn a new customer.  You’ll want to put something together that highlights your company and what you have to offer.

Is this event themed?  If so you may want to target the merchandise you have available at this event to go along with the theme.  If there is no particular theme, perhaps there is a holiday approaching that you could gear a few items towards to help gain some sales.  At times it’s nice to offer a sale, package deal or coupon for the day of the event as well. 

Email Marketing

If you’re working on building a mailing list, this is an opportunity to grow that list.  There are multiple tactics that can be used to obtain client email addresses, but one that I find to be very successful is doing a giveaway at a vendor event.  Have your own personal giveaway in addition to whatever the event coordinator has planned.  This giveaway would be held specifically at your booth, and the items would be just from your company.  It doesn’t have to be anything significantly large, but something to draw attention, people love winning something.  In order to enter to win, part of the information people must provide is their email address.  I make sure to either explain or have it posted on the giveaway that they will be joining our mailing list. 

How will you take payment for the items you sell that day?  If you don’t already have a method of accepting credit/debit cards, I strongly suggest getting an account set up.  I used PayPal for years; however I recently switched to Square.  I was happy with PayPal, however my website host (SquareSpace) partnered with Square, and it was in my interest to make the transition to Square.  Naturally, there will be people who pay in cash, so make sure that you have money there to make change.  Bring plenty of ones.  The time you only have a few ones, you’ll have people paying you with bigger bills all day long and you definitely don’t want to lose a sale just because you couldn’t make change. 

Pack some snacks!  It’s possible that this is going to be a very long day.  Between loading your vehicle, driving to the event, setting up, lasting through the entire event, packing up and driving back home, you will more than likely be exhausted by the time the day is over.  Some events are large enough to have food and drinks, while others will not.  You want to make sure you have some snacks packed to keep you energized throughout the day.

As you can see there is a great deal that goes into presenting your business to the public at vendor events.  These are just a few of the things you will need to think about before your first event.  I hope to provide additional tips in future blog posts.  Until then, I hope you found this post helpful.  As always, thank you for visiting the website.  If you enjoyed this post be sure to click the little heart icon below, to show some love. 

 

Tips For Small Business Owners Part Four: How To Handle Creeping Competitors

By Toni Hetrick

I’ve spent considerable time deciding whether or not to write this post.   This topic arises frequently in different social media groups that I belong to, and from what I see, the stances vary.  Initially, when I see someone’s post they describe the way in which they’ve been approached and then ask for advice on how to answer/handle such situations.  I’ll take this opportunity to voice my opinion for what it’s worth, and offer you the reader, the opportunity to open conversation on the topic in the comments below. 

First I’ll provide an example so that you know for sure what I’m speaking of.  Imagine that you are a crafter.  Your specialty is anything vinyl (t-shirts, signs, decals, etc).  When you decided to begin your business, you spent a significant amount of time researching all the avenues of the business.  You have money invested in equipment and merchandise and have learned from your own successes and failures.  Yes, you viewed hundreds of hours of youtube tutorials, but you performed those searches on your own, you didn’t simply ask someone, “hey how do you do this?”  Now imagine you are approached by someone and they blatantly tell you they want to start a business doing the same exact things you do, and they want to know your secrets.  Let’s say you are set up at an event, and that person picks up item after item asking, “Where did you get your blanks; where do you purchase your vinyl; where did you find this image?”  At what point is this person no longer simply curious of your trade?  At what point do you seal up like a vault?  What do you say to someone in this situation?

Here are my thoughts.  I am all for helping people out.  I would eventually like to do tutorials on different items that I feel I’m very confident in creating, to provide assistance to people at the beginner level.  HOWEVER….. I have worked so very hard to get where I am, that I also find myself feeling defensive at a certain point.  Just like in the example above, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on supplies and equipment in addition to hundreds of hours of research.   I’m not going to just hand over all my information.  To the people who feel it’s acceptable to approach a stranger or even an acquaintance and tell them that you basically want to copy what they do, have a little respect. 

I also understand that the crafting world has experienced a bit of an explosion over the last few years.  Especially with the popularity of tools such as the circuit and silhouette, so many people have begun making their own items and in turn starting their own businesses.  I salute you all and LOVE shopping from small businesses.  Because of this surge in crafting, each and every one of us has to keep up to date on what’s popular and adjust accordingly.  There will always be competition and I’m fine with this.  But if you are trying to compete with another business, please stand out on your own.  Take the initiative to do some research on your own.  Perhaps the techniques that I use to make something, work great for me, but not for you.  Again everyone is different, but I want my company to stand out and be as unique as possible.

Now for what I consider one of the most difficult tasks, how do you respond to such questions?  Personally, I try to stay cordial with everyone.  I don’t want to argue with someone if I don’t have to.  Frankly, who needs extra stress in their life?  Insert the famous, “Ain’t nobody got time for that” quote.  I prefer for people to only associate good interactions with my business.  For me, I would keep my response minimal and perhaps a bit cheeky?  If someone asks where I get my merchandise or blanks, I may say something like, “I purchase from several companies.  If you do a little digging you can find decent companies to buy from in bulk.”  I feel that was short, somewhat informative and yet I didn’t provide info on where I actually get my merchandise.  As far as the techniques used to make something, again vague responses would be my method.  “As far as technique, it really varies on what I’m making and how I want it to look.”  Hopefully, the spy catches your drift and realizes they aren’t going to get much info from you.  I suppose if that person persisted in attempting to interrogate I would just have to politely yet sternly let them know how hard I’ve worked that I can’t share that information, they’ll have to do the research on their own. I mean Colonel Sanders recipe is still a secret after all these years, right?

I understand this post may not have been incredibly insightful, however I’m hoping it helps provide confidence to like minded individuals that you aren’t alone.  The next time you find yourself in this situation, perhaps you’ll remember this post and feel more comfortable with the interaction.  As always, thank you for visiting the website.  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.  If you liked this post please click on the heart to show some love. 

Tips For Small Business Owners Part Three: How to Handle Disgruntled Customers

By Toni Hetrick

Have you ever met a person that says they absolutely LOVE working in customer service?  I’d be willing to bet it’s rare. Especially in this day and age where customers have several methods of contacting you regarding a service or product sold.  For me, it’s rare that I see a customer in person. Texts; emails; Facebook messaging; Instagram messaging; commenting on Facebook posts and website inquiries are all ways that I am regularly contacted by customers.  For whatever reason, many people take on a whole new level of confidence when they aren’t speaking to you in person, and therefore can be extra difficult. Don’t get me wrong, some people are extra difficult in person too, but removing an in-person experience creates many “telephone tough guys” (yes that’s a Lethal Weapon reference ;) ).  I also feel that removing direct communication from a transaction can open up room for misunderstandings.  

You can’t please everyone.  Let us make that clear from the start.  You can, however, do your very best to have amazing customer service, which to many people is a very important factor.  Personally, I will be a return customer and will make referrals to a company that I’ve had good experiences with. Especially if there was a problem somewhere along the way and they did their best to fix it.  With that being said, prepare yourself for the times where you try your best, but just can’t seem to come to a reasonable solution with your customer. It’s bound to happen at some point, so be prepared.  

When it comes to this topic, the first thing that enters my mind is doing everything that you can to avoid reaching the point where you have an upset customer.  For me, I try to communicate clearly with customers to lessen any confusion. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I feel it’s safest to explain things in a manner where even a small child could understand.  We all communicate, listen and interpret things differently so it’s probably best to simplify things to a crystal clear point.  

Let’s dissect “communicate” a little further so that you have a good idea of what I’m referencing.  With my business, I take orders for several custom made items. When taking an order, I have a conversation with that customer to see what they are wanting.  During this conversation I ask many questions, attempting to get the best image of what that customer wants as an end result. I then summarize that order and have them confirm in a few different ways.  If at all possible, I create a mockup to give them an idea of what their item will look like. This gives the customer the opportunity to approve a proof. This is the ideal situation. It’s not possible for all orders, but I try my absolute best to create this situation.  

With custom made items, I require payment upfront (heads up, there will be a blog post about this in the future).  I add their order to my website and send them the link to review their order and make payment. I ask the customer to review the proof carefully, check the spelling and the design, as once the proof is approved, that is the design that will be used to make their custom item.  By the time the customer has paid for their order, they have had the opportunity to review the description of their order multiple times. In the event that this person claims their order is wrong once it’s complete, you can show them all of the opportunities they had to review the order before it was custom made. 

At this stage, you also have the opportunity to insert some of your company’s policies such as return policies, turnaround times, shipping methods, etc.  Not only does this provide some additional comfort to new customers that you are a more grounded, legit business, but it may clear up questions that they may have instead of them having to ask you.  If you don’t have such policies in place, this may be a good time to sit and develop some. The few minutes that it takes to create a policy may save you some headaches in the future. Take some time, do a little research and develop simple clear policies.

Since implementing such things to my business, I have had far fewer issues than I had in the past.  You will still come across people that simply don’t read or pay much attention to detail and then later come back to say that their order is wrong.  My initial tactic in such situations is being as nice as possible to them from the very start. Apologize that they are unhappy with their order and then take the time to review the documentation to support the way their order was placed.  If you were the one to make the mistake, then, by all means, own up to that mistake and make it right. Yes, you may lose money by replacing the product, but it was your mistake and if you want a return customer, good reviews and word of mouth referrals, you want to make sure you do the right thing.  If the mistake was theirs then try breaking that to them nicely. Show them the order details, mockup and whatever else they had the opportunity to review before placing the order. Perhaps, express sympathies for the error but that your policy states……. You could then offer them a discount to place another order with the correct information.  If I were the customer, I would be upset with myself for making the mistake and would be happy to get a discount even though the error was not on behalf of the business. Again this may not satisfy everyone, but I have found that it works a very large percentage of the time.  

To summarize, cover your butt!  Provide detailed product descriptions.  Take good pictures, from multiple angles if possible.  Create mockups as much as possible. Keep your customer informed.  All of these things will help you run a successful business with happy customers.  Happy customers equal return customers. I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you did, please click the heart button below to show some love.  Please refer your friends and family to this blog if you feel they may enjoy it. As always, thank you for visiting the website.

Tips For Small Business Owners Part Two: Greeting & Communication

By Toni Hetrick

In the last blog post, I covered some helpful tips to make you look like a pro at vendor events.  I hope you enjoyed it. If you missed that post, you can find it here.  While writing that particular post, I felt like I could go on for a while with one specific topic.  I then decided to make a separate post for that topic alone, to provide more detail as I feel it’s been a prevalent part of my business growth.  What I’d like to discuss further is greeting and communicating with your potential customers.

This is a small setup for my Frugal Fashionista, however this was our first time attending Wine Down Weekend in Huntingon, PA. Next year will be much bigger.

This is a small setup for my Frugal Fashionista, however this was our first time attending Wine Down Weekend in Huntingon, PA. Next year will be much bigger.

In the event that you are new to my page, I’d like to give you a little background on myself.   I am Toni Hetrick, aka The Frugal Fashionista. I have had my own business for close to 14 years.  I do not have a brick and mortar storefront. The majority of my years in business, my sales have been, from what I refer to as “vendor events”.  These are small local events, most often held at churches, community centers, fairgrounds, convention centers, etc. I wish I would have kept count over the years as to how many I’ve attended but unfortunately, I didn’t. 

I would, however, consider myself a seasoned veteran of such events. I have attended SO many, and have taken away a great deal of knowledge and observations. Over the years my business has grown to now include a website, social media accounts, and a blog, all while continuing to attend vendor events.  Not that this is a detailed background, but I feel a little better sharing that with you so that I have less chances of someone saying, “who does this lady think she is???”, and “how does she know???”. 

Huntingdon County Fair
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Now onto the topic at hand…..  I have found that simply greeting an approaching customer and finishing with a smile makes a world of difference.  For the longest time, I didn’t want to jump on a customer as soon as they approached my area, fearing that I would make them uncomfortable and they wouldn’t want to stop at my booth.  I’m sure many of you have encountered a very pushy salesperson at one point or another. You might as well spray some sort of repellent on me with those tactics. Nope, nope, nope! Instead, I found that there are people who are comfortable asking questions and then there are people who aren’t.  You just need to create a friendly environment where people know they won’t be attacked.

 I experimented at one event where it seemed to be a common thread that people were just milling around.  Not really shopping. I decided to try to talk to every person that passed my table in a non-aggressive way.  I would say, “Hello, how are you today”. From this, people would look up, make eye contact and usually respond with, “Fine and you?”  My response was usually, “I’m great. Let me know if you have any questions”. I’m pretty sure the conversation could not be any more simplistic.  This approach made a significant difference. I greeted them, but also allowed them to not be bothered and pressured into purchasing something. I could not believe the number of people that then stopped, looked at my merchandise and continued to carry on a conversation.  

I felt as though I had discovered magical powers.  In just a few seconds’ time, I was able to make a person feel comfortable and relaxed enough to stick around for a while.  Even if they don’t purchase anything you now have the opportunity to introduce yourself, your company and everything that you offer.  This is huge! Marketing is expensive, so why not do as much as you can with words and in-person interaction for FREE?? I believe that this impression lasts longer than a Facebook Ad that you scroll past, wondering how in the world that got into your feed.  A greeting costs nothing. You have nothing to lose but perhaps an awkward moment once in a while when someone doesn’t respond to your greeting. Perhaps give this 10-second tactic a try at your next event and let me know what you experience. As always thank you for visiting the blog.  Comment below if you would be interested in more blog posting such as this one, with helpful tips for a new business.

Tips For Small Business Owners Part One: How To Look Like A Pro At Vendor Events

By Toni Hetrick

Do you set up at local events?  There’s definitely a potential for some great sales, marketing and business growth IF you present yourself correctly.  A professional display is KEY! For most events, you will be confined to a small space.   Many times a 6 or 8ft table is all that you will have. At most you may have a 10x10 space, so summon your inner OCD and find ways to organize/maximize the area that you have.

Let us start with the basics…..

Invest in some quality folding tables.  Most often I use two 6ft tables and one 5ft table.  You can find folding tables at many stores, but if you are an Amazon shopper you can find them here. These may seem expensive at first, but they can take a beating and you’ll use them over and over again.  If I had to guess, I’d estimate that I purchased mine 10 years ago and they are still in perfect working condition. Another plus is that they can always be used for non-business related things too.  Ex: Family Picnics, group gatherings, etc. I have used my tables for so many purposes and since they fold they store rather easily.  

**VERY IMPORTANT TIP FOR BEGINNERS**

Tables most often are not provided.  Make sure you confirm this when booking.  There’s nothing worse than getting to an event and discovering you don’t have something as vital as a table.  Be prepared!

Invest in professional looking table cloths.  There are multiple options out there, such as these.  You can always have them made, or if you sew to make your own.  Whatever you decide to keep in mind you will want to hide the items stored under your table.  It’s also a plus to have something that is easily washable. For years, I went to the cheap/convenient route and purchased disposable ones from Dollar Tree.  Don’t get me wrong, they get the job done, however they are wrinkly from the start and rip very easily. Sometimes convenience takes over and you just go with that option.  Looking back at the money that I spent on those cheap table covers, I could have bought a nice table cloth 5x’s over.

Depending on what you sell, your setup may vary greatly from other businesses.  I carry an array of items, 90% of which is cash & carry. Because of this, the more I have on hand, the more I have available to sell on-site that day.  My tables are usually filled to the max but are organized kind of by categories if you will. An organized table helps attract customer’s eyes. Most people don’t want to have to root through a pile of stuff to see what you have.  Remember this is a reflection of your business. You don’t want people to feel like they are at a yard sale. Also don’t expect that your setup will be exactly the same each and every time. You’ll have to adapt.  Below is a video from a recent holiday event. As you can see I don’t have my fancy tablecloths at this set-up as the tables were provided and they were BIG tables. I adjusted and used my holiday ones.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that people seem intimidated to ask questions, especially about prices.  They will just walk right by if they can’t see prices. Having said that, make sure all your merchandise is priced and that those prices are easily visible.  If you’re selling a product that some may not know exactly what it is just from glancing at it, consider signage that explains what the product is used for. This is a task that you can accomplish easily, quickly and without breaking the bank.  I always have index cards and sharpies with me and will make extra little signs. Ex: Cutting Boards $25. When I implemented this, I could not believe the immediate difference in sales and customer interaction. I noticed customers looking at an item, seemingly interested but then walking away.  I started to verbally tell people what the price of the item was and found that people just naturally assumed that the item was expensive. My sales were increasing by this step, so I decided to take it further and make sure that EVERYTHING had a price tag that was facing outward and/or a sign with the price as well.

Say hello to everyone who enters or approaches your area.  I don’t care for pushy salespersons. Everyone has their own tactics, but I feel simple, polite conversation works wonders for keeping a person in your booth long enough to shop.  This also leaves an impression on your customers. I have found that a simple, “Hello, how are you today?” is more than enough to get a conversation started. You’d more than likely be a return customer to someone who is a delight, right?  I’ve paid a great deal of attention to people as they approach my booth. Most have their eyes down as they approach you. They are glancing down at the table, and I think are avoiding eye contact because they don’t want someone trying to sell them something in an aggressive way.  


Hand out business cards!!!!  This is a HUGE opportunity for you to make a connection.  I make sure that with every sale, a business card goes into their bag.  Anyone with whom I have a conversation with, I ask if I can give them a business card.  I’ve never been told no. With companies like Vistaprint, you can purchase business cards at very inexpensive prices.  Have those marketing materials ready! This is an opportunity to let customers and potential customers know everything and anything you offer.  If your business is anything like mine, I offer such a vast array of services/products that there’s no way for me to showcase all of that on just a 6ft table. 

I hope that these tips helped to some degree. If you have any questions please feel free to comment below. If you liked this post please click on the little heart to show some love. As always, thank you for visiting the website.

Personal reflection: It's OK if you aren't perfect.

Exhaustion.  Complete and total exhaustion.  That’s what I feel presently.  It’s difficult to wear so many hats constantly.  There are times where I simply don’t get everything done that I had intended, and I’ve learned to accept that’s OK.  It’s been hard to accept that at times, but it really is OK.  Even when I’m at maximum production, sometimes life happens and knocks you back a step or two.  When I’m feeling defeated, I must remind myself that I’m making great progress and have come pretty far from where I started. There are only so many hours in each day, and I feel that I have found a way to multi-task as much as possible to take advantage for every one of those hours.  To be clear, when I say multi-tasking, I have gone so far as to listen to podcasts or YouTube channels while I’m preparing dinner, working on orders, even taking a shower.  My hands might be busy, but I can still listen.  As a small business owner, taking on several roles, the materials I have found from podcasts and YouTube channels have been incredibly helpful.  I’ll take the risk of sounding quite old, but it really is amazing how much information is available online for FREE.

 

Some of you might be questioning, why let yourself get to the point of exhaustion??  Take a break!  Let it go! (Insert familiar song, singing, twirling and imaging snowflakes falling around you……. Ok brain, back to the topic at hand).  I do allow myself to take an evening off and from time to time, sometimes even a full Saturday or Sunday, but I have a goal that I want so badly.  Probably more than I have wanted anything, ever.  That goal is to have a successful business that will allow me to break free from “The Man”.  No, I don’t mean my husband, I would like for him to stick around.  I mean the 9-5 job where it seems no matter how much effort you put in, it’s the same sh*t, different day.

 

Because of the drive I’ve had over the last 18 months, my company is growing at what I consider a rapid pace.  I went from pretty much only making sales when I was set up at a local event, to daily sales.  I’m selling items as quickly as I can produce them and have now implemented pre-order sales with a current 3-5-week turnaround time.  Even though I’m attempting, words simply cannot express how happy this progress makes me.  Again, I’m not making millions, but I’m growing and learning so much at the same time.  I have money in my business account and can sit and look at a budget, make considerations on where my next investment should be made and finally run through ROI.  Yes, me a small business owner, is using terminology like ROI.  Some will roll their eyes at that comment, but I feel there are other entrepreneurs out there that will appreciate what I’m saying. 

I’m not a business major.  I don’t hold any IT certifications and yet I’ve been able to develop a website; cultivate a social media presence on multiple platforms; dive head first into becoming a blogger; push my creative abilities to the max, among many other areas that are required to carry my tiny little business.  It’s exhausting at times to work 14 to 16 hour days consistently, all while suffering from insomnia, but every order that goes out the door warms my heart and fills me with a great deal of excitement.  It’s true that you get what you put into something and I’m hoping that continues hold true.  I would love nothing more than for Frugal Fashionista to be my full-time job and perhaps even help other small business owners get on their feet and into a place of stability.  If you are an entrepreneur and would like to chat, feel free to email me and I’d be happy to share some of my failures and successes.  I’ll end my rant now, I guess I needed a release, and I’m finding that blogging may be a great outlet for that.  Until later, be safe and strive forward, you are awesome!