And… we have a winner… from our 44 entries before 11:59pm on Monday… our randomly selected winner is… #15…

Jennifer of Esq. Events in Boston!  CONGRATULATIONS!

For the rest of you who entered, Wedding Workbook Pro would like to extend you a 30-day free trial and then 50% off their next 3 months.  Nice!

More info will be emailed for you to access your subscription.

Thanks to everyone who entered!  We’re excited to see your businesses blossom.

We are taking the Bloggers Day of Silence to reflect on the needs of the people in Japan.

If you can, give a little… For Japan With Love thru Shelterbox.

I am speechless for Japan.

And… so… I ask you also… be speechless with me.  This Friday, join me and bloggers nationwide for a Bloggers Day of Silence. If you have a blog, simply don’t post on Friday.  Take the time to keep the people of Japan in your thoughts.

Here’s the important part… rather than blogging… or reading a blog on Friday, give to Shelterbox.org.  ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Each large green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

Take it a step further by telling others about For Japan, With Love and Shelterbox.  (Not on Friday, naturally.)

Spend the time you would in writing a blog post, or reading a blog post, to give to Shelterbox.

Thank you to the ladies over at Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged for organizing this.

Image courtesy of Boston.com

This week we are discussing the dreaded lull in sales that seems to happen out of nowhere, when least expected.  Yesterday, we talked about tracking inquiries and sales to identify trends in the timing of our season.  Today, let’s get MOVING!

When things slow down a little, it’s natural to turn inward and start organizing, filing, sorting.  We want to take advantage of the quiet time to get things in order.  This is all well and good, but it’s WRONG.

When sales are slow… it’s time to get off your butt and promote, network, SELL!

ALWAYS BE PROMOTING!

I’m re-posting this from a few months ago… it’s super-applicable to this week’s topic.

10 WAYS to PROMOTE your BUSINESS NOW:

• Email 10 vendors to arrange a coffee date (new contacts and old ones)
• Send 10 thank you notes to people you admire
• Arrange a venue/site visit (get to know the catering manager at a venue)
• Call a fellow colleague and ask them how they are promoting their business – brainstorm together
• Follow up on clients who’ve inquired and not yet replied to you (I do this every 3-5 days until I hear back from that person)
• Organize a networking event
• Join a networking group; attend a group meeting
• Volunteer at an event
• Attend a networking event
• Create a fun “mailer” – something catchy and fun for people to learn more about you and your business

When the email and phonecalls from inquiries have slowed down, it’s time for you to speed up!  People refer the last person they met with (often – not always) because the person is fresh on their minds.

Get out there… do the hustle!

You can now find our social media links in the upper left corner and our resources in a new column to the right.

ENJOY!

Soooo… this week, and for the next 2 weeks I am inviting stationers (new and old) to join us in the PAPER CARNIVAL.  (Psssttt… if you are not a stationer but just someone who love paper, you’re welcome to join us too!)

What is the Paper Carnival?

The Paper Carnival is a collective of stationers who’ve banded together to have a festival of goodies… to sell paper, supplies, and so on.  These are generally our extras… things we bought and never used, things that were canceled from orders, things that we managed to only use 50 of a quantity of 250.

Why am I inviting you to this?

Well… when I was new… I really ***wished*** there was somewhere that I could go buy small quantities of items.  Maybe I wanted to try out a type of paper and see how I could actually design with it.  Maybe I really admired a stationery designer and wanted to get my hands on her paper.  Maybe I couldn’t fulfill the minimums required of some vendors.

In a nutshell… this is an opportunity for new stationers to test out different products at really great deals.  And, as Cathe from Feterie says, “we stationers don’t skimp on quality and we’re sharing surplus supplies with you!”

What’s for sale?

Serious Awesomeness – that’s what!

My etsy supply shop (mmm… paper) has mostly Indian and Japanese papers (my fave!)  Check out these lovelies:

And… how’s about these gorgeous cardstock papers from Peggy Tsai, owner of Olio Style!  They can be found on her etsy site, Paper Craft Goodies.  Make sure to visit Peggy’s Olio Style blog on Tuesday for more papery goodness.

Who is involved in PAPER CARNIVAL?  I WANT MORE!

Wanna follow us on the Paper Carnival?  Join us Carnies on Facebook and Twitter… and stay tuned for our next stop!

Creative Commons License

You know that feeling of exhilaration that you feel as you are on an airplane on your way to a relaxing vacation?   It’s that feeling of excitement, exhaustion, euphoria, relaxation… all bound together. Why is that?  Yes, you are going on a very much-needed vacation.  It’s a feeling that is based not only on the fact that you are taking time off, but also a feeling of completion.

Chances are that you have spent the last several days getting everything in order.  You have crossed your t’s, dotted your i’s, signed the last check, sent out proposals and contracts, sent the last email, cleaned your desk, put up your out-of-office email response, and shut down your voicemail.  All of the loose ends have been contained.  And, gosh darnit… doesn’t it feel AMAZING?!

This is a concept that David Allen talks about in his book, “Getting Things Done”.  The idea is that in order to truly live at peace, you should be containing all your loose ends (he calls them “open loops”) every day.  I recommend you read the book to get the skinny on how to do this.  His easy tools and tips require about a day to set up.  It’s easy as pie.  And, it can revolutionize your work flow.

Yesterday, we talked about doing a monthly review of your business.  This made me think of David Allen’s concept.  Wouldn’t it be great to have that “on vacation” feeling every weekend?  (I’d love to have it every day, but I’ll settle for the weekends.)  Now… I know that MANY/MOST of you work on weekends… (darn those people for marrying on a Saturday!)… I’m going to be realistic and say this isn’t possible EVERY weekend.  BUT, you need to define your boundaries and make sure that you are creating pockets of time off in your schedule or you will burn out – and fast.  If you work on Saturday, take Monday off.  If you have 3 weddings in 3 weekends in a row, make sure the 4^th one is off.

So, here is my challenge for today… pick a weekend (or a day) to have that “on vacation” feeling… it could be this weekend, or the following.  On the day before your “weekend”, spend two hours doing the following:

• Quickly, spend 15-20 minutes cleaning your desk.  Remove all papers and files.  Put everything “out of place” into a pile onto the floor.  Wipe and clean your desk.
• Repeat for any other countertops or shelves that collect your “random stuff”. Put everything “out of place” into a pile onto the floor.
• Make 3 file folders (or boxes) labeled:
  • Now
  • Projects
  • Filing
    Note: These are temporary so don’t over-think this process.
• Start a to-do list with 2 categories:
  • Now
  • Projects
    Leave this list blank until we get to the next step.
• Let’s go through the “out of place” pile on the floor.  Grab the pile and do the following:
  • One by one, grab each item, spend 2 seconds and decide:
    • Is this something I need to take care of now before the weekend?  (Limit yourself to very few of these – max 5.)
    • Do I need this to complete a project?  (These are projects to be worked on next week.)
    • Do I need to file this for future reference?  (This is an item that is not actionable, but you might need for reference in the future.)
  • As you are working through each item, file them in their folder.  Add the “now” items to your to-do list (remember, you should only have a maximum of 5).  Add the “projects” to the list.
  • Take your 3 file folders and find a place for them.  With the exception of the “now” file, you will be revisiting the “projects” and “filing” folders after your weekend.
• Open your email account.  Similar to the “out of place” file, go through your email inbox like this.  (If you have 988 emails spanning back to 2004, then do this with the most recent emails that can still be actionable.   The rest of your 900 emails deserve another blog article.)  Decide:
  • Now items: address immediately  (don’t dilly-dally, just do)
  • Project items: add to your to-do list
  • Filing: File away in archive folders in your email account
• If you have any phonecalls you need to make, make them.
• Review the “Now” list and “Now” folder.  What are those 5 things you HAVE to do before you can enjoy your weekend?  Do them.
• Do your “things” start to feel a little more under control?  Does your desk look nice?  Is your email a little more managed?  Time for the BRAIN DRAIN! Grab your to-do list and sit at your clean desk.  Go through the following categories of your life and grab any “loose items” from your head:
  • Personal: your, your family, your friend’s needs
  • Clients: any open items to be resolved next week
  • Business: any goals and plans you need to work on next week
  • Other: anything racing through your mind that you need to do

You should feel much more euphoric now… and ready for that “on vacation feeling”… enjoy the weekend!

Want this is in a handy-dandy download?  Print it out and put it on your calendar for Friday!  Download here: Sage Wedding Pros On Vacation Feeling. Find other downloads by clicking here.

Michael Rosenberg Photography

I’m sharing this information for Photographers in Seattle…

Michael Rosenberg is having a seminar on Monday
regarding Pricing and Selling for Profit

Pricing and Selling for Profit
Monday, June 29th, 2009
9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Only 5 spaces left!

Here is some more info from Michael…

The profession of wedding and portrait photography is in crisis. Things are changing rapidly. We are responding to market pressures by dropping prices without understanding the imperative relationship between what it costs us to be in business and a price list that will sustain us.We have to price our work for profit and we have to be able to sell our work at those prices.

The one day workshop we have created is designed to help you increase your bottom line, plain and simple. We will discuss pricing for profit and how to create a realistic and profitable price list. We will discuss how to present your price structures without pressure and without apologies. We will cover pre-qualifying your clients, preparing them to buy from you and the use of scripts to manage objections.

We will be covering the sales session through in-depth discussions and demonstrations as well as the use of projection to increase both the size of the images you sell as well as the size of the orders your clients will purchase. In addition we will talk about the importance of branding in today’s market. We also will explore your resistance to asking your clients for what you are worth.

This workshop is for any professional portrait or wedding photographer who wants to increase their profits, increase their bottom line and tackle the art and science of pricing and selling.

This workshop is open to the first ten people who sign up. The cost of the workshop is $250 and includes lunch. In addition, I will be available for 30 days following the workshop for brief phone consults or by email to assist you in implementing what you have learned. The workshop fee is due at the time of registration and is non-refundable.

To register please call my studio at 206-224-9828 or email me at Michael@michaelrosenberg.com .

I am really excited and looking forward to sharing with you the experience and knowledge I have acquired over the years and have found to work successfully.

I look forward to seeing you and collaborating on getting successful.

via Michael Rosenberg | Pricing and Selling for Profit, Seattle, WA.

I came into the wedding industry from the fashion industry.  I worked for a company that imported and distributed apparel from France.  We sold to huge department stores and tiny boutiques. My job as West Coast Sales Manager was more of a game in mediation and dispute resolution between competing stores.  The bad energy between people was poisonous to their businesses and it was poisonous to the industry.

So, naturally, I began my business thinking that anyone who also was an invitation designer was EVIL.  Boy, oh boy, was I wrong.  I moved my teeny little business (at the time) from LA to Seattle in 2005.  Seattle people are very friendly and warm and inviting.  Businesses blossom by word of mouth.

When I did my first Seattle Wedding Show in 2006 I was in uber-disbelief that my competitors actually came up to my booth to introduce themselves to me. “Wait.  What?  Huh?  Did that just happen?” is what I thought to myself.  And, slowly the ice began to melt.

Over time, I’ve learned more about my competitors.  I’ve also learned more about my business.  I’ve learned about my niche.  I’ve learned about their niches.  And, I’ve learned that we all add value to this industry.  We all have a different place in this market.  There are very few people that do it just like I do it.  And, there are very few people that do it just as my competitor does it.  I’ve also learned that these businesses are amazing and unique and different and beautiful. By better knowing my business and their businesses I can better inform the customer.  I can better teach the customer about stationery. They have been a great resource for me to refer someone who is not a match for our style of product, thus making me a “go to” for stationery knowledge.

So, this is something that you should know…
Get to know your competitors. Knowing them and their businesses will help you carve out your niche.  It’ll help you add value to the wedding industry and your industry segment.  It will help you differentiate yourself.  And, having a unique niche in your market is what will give your business value without taking away from someone else.

And, with that… go hug your competitor… I dare you!

My Competitor: The very talented Brown Sugar Design Studio

Please join us for a Meetup:

June 16 – 5 to 8pm (ish)
Barbrix
2442 Hyperion Avenue (Silverlake)
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Here is the link to RSVP:
RSVP for Los Angeles Meetup

If you don’t want to register through the meetup site, you can also email SageWeddingPros-at-gmail.com .