Feature Articles: Business Sense

Putting Relationships at the Heart of Your Sales Strategy

By Caletha Crawford

Having just returned from a round of paper craft-related trade shows where I was a buyer for once, I must say, vendors of the world, we need to talk. Ah, there they are, the four most dreaded words in the dating dictionary. Drop that phrase on a spouse or a loved one today and watch them cringe in response. Maybe it’s too soon in our Giggle Guide relationship for such a heavy conversation, but given that we’re on the brink of another show season, the time has to be now for some straight talk aimed at vendors.

Business Sense

5 Ways to Revitalize Your Brand

By Insights Discovered

Staying fresh and relevant is a constant challenge for any business. A struggling economy doesn’t help much. How do you maintain your growth momentum or possibly kick-start a business experiencing a plateau? The answer is to look at your brand (your business) with fresh eyes. When doing so, you will discover new opportunities to pursue and uncover options you may have never thought you had. Of course, there are countless ways to revitalize a brand, but here are 5 universal strategies that most, if not all, in the children’s business can employ.

Business Sense

Spreading the Gospel of Your Brand through Brand Advocates

By Caletha Crawford

If you ever watched an Afterschool Special when you were a kid, you were no doubt brainwashed into believing that allowing your friends to talk you into anything could only lead to disaster. Every installment of this television staple was basically a sermon about how following the crowd would surely end with you living on skid row or being extracted from a car by the Jaws of Life. And all because you didn’t obey your mother’s warning against the evils of outside influences. But, despite what you’ve heard, all peer pressure isn’t bad — especially if you’ve got a product to sell.

Business Sense

So, You Want to be a Social Butterfly!

By Insights Discovered

I often hear business owners say, “I would love to take advantage of social media, but I just don’t know where to start!” Most people understand that social media is a force to be reckoned with and that it is influencing the way consumers make decisions concerning what they buy and where. However, getting why social media is useful and knowing how to take advantage of it are quite different. With traditional media, some might dip their toes in the water with an ad or two. However, social media demands a head first dive right in.

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Business Sense

Using Storytelling to Differentiate Your Brand

By Caletha Crawford

“Tell me a story.” How many times have you heard that from your kids? Yes, clamoring for a tale is an excellent way to stall lights out, but there’s more to it than that. Everyone enjoys a good yarn, whether they’re telling it or hearing it for the first time. Being a storyteller puts you at the center of attention. If the tale is captivating, your audience will be in thrall as they wait for each word. The power of narrative to draw listeners in is equally powerful in business.

Business Sense

Defining Your Destiny – Keys to Growing Your Business

By Insights Discovered

Businesses are started with intentions of being successful. Growth is a key to realizing that goal. There’s a familiar old saying –– “If you’re not growing you’re dying” –– and it is so true. However, in today’s challenging economic times, growth is easier said than done. Even so, there are a number of businesses experiencing success. What sets these companies apart? Are they lucky? Are they overflowing with resources? Not necessarily: Companies that do well are those with a strong sense of what they are setting out to achieve. These companies are pressing forward because they desire to grow and have committed to make that happen.

Business Sense

Giving Your Business a Reality Check

By Caletha Crawford

I have a confession to make. My name is Caletha Crawford, and I’m a TV addict. And while my slavish devotion to my DVR means I’ve seen every episode of “Mad Men,” “ABC World News” and “Charlie Rose,” I can’t pretend that mine is a highbrow problem. No, I’ve been known to wallow in the crack of programing known as reality television. These days I can’t get enough of programs like “Shark Tank,” “America’s Next Great Restaurant” and “All on the Line,” which place entrepreneurs on the hot seat. These shows actually push two buttons with me — the aforementioned TV thing and my love of small business.

Business Sense

Crossing the Chasm from Small Business to National Brand

By Insights Discovered

When interviewing business owners, it’s rare that I meet someone who doesn’t want to grow their business into a national brand. To those who aspire for this status, growth is key. A company can grow one of two ways: by getting new people to buy its products or getting current customers to buy more. Ideally, a company will attempt to achieve both of these objectives. Choosing to grow by extending your customer base is always a viable strategy regardless of what you sell. If you seek national brand status for your business it is achievable. Deciding which path to take as you seek to obtain this objective will depend on your preferences and available resources.

Business Sense

Managing Emotions with Business

By Insights Discovered

It’s a life-changing event when one decides to become an entrepreneur. Starting a business can be extremely exciting, but it can also be taxing on your time, finances and emotions. Depending upon your background and prior experiences, the learning curve might feel more like a mountain. Most start-up founders will lean on friends and family to not only offer emotional support for the stresses that come with starting a business; many will also rely on these same people for operational support. Here are some tips for managing both expectations and emotions for yourself and those that surround and support you in your business venture.