All the Belz & Whistles!

I know that many of you can relate when I say that one of my favorite things about being in this business is the creative talent I am constantly surrounded by. My customers, my sales force, and the artists I work with all offer this amazing creative energy that makes me love the greeting card business a little more every day.

I mention this because Lisi Belz McCarthy, the talent behind Belz & Whistles, just completed some fabulous new paintings. Yes, in addition to being in the business of creating amazing greeting cards for Collage, she’s a painter and a super-Mom!

Lisi founded Belz & Whistles when one of her homemade holiday cards garnished so much attention that she knew she had stumbled upon something really special. And with a cool maiden name like Belz, a greeting card line named Belz & Whistles seemed like serendipity.

Lisi’s art has the elements of a collage and is created using acrylics with mixed media, papers, sometimes pencil an occasional sprinkling of glitter and whatever else feels right. I love the depth and tone of her art, it has these amazing layers, colors, and textures that make her work seem so rich. When I first looked at her Pink Petals painting I had this flash of recognition in comparing her work to that other flowers painting by that famous artist known for texture and color…you know the one. Way to set the bar, Lisi!

When I asked her what we could look forward to in 2009 she mentioned that she is working on some new greeting cards, some more paintings, and she’s entertaining the idea of putting some designs on kids’ clothing—how cool is that?!

I can’t wait to see what Lisi has in store for us this year; her Belz & Whistles greeting card line continues to amaze and she is a veritable fountain of creativity.

Laugh Out Loud!

I wanted to post a follow-up on my last blog to talk about another fabulous humor card line we sell at Collage Greetings.

If you haven’t already, you must immediately check out F.S. Press.

F.S. Press offers greeting cards in the form of vintage black & white photos with scathingly witty commentary. Her cards have been flying off the shelves. They’re the type of cards where each one is funnier than the last. You inevitably end up with a stack of cards, try to choose among them, and then end up buying ‘em all because you know everyone will love them. Carla Cain is the genius behind F.S. Press and her card line has been nominated for the prestigious Louie Award (the Oscar of the greeting card industry). It’s easy to see why. Even though I practically know her cards by memory, I can always count on her to give me a good belly-laugh in the middle of an otherwise crazy day.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

I know that everyone says laughter is the best medicine, but I have to tell you, some of the cards Collage Greetings is debuting will totally leave you in stitches.

We’re so excited about our latest card line, Greetings from Uranus, and the amazing talent they’re bringing to the humorous card segment. And the timing couldn’t be better. Despite the slow economy, humorous cards are flying off the shelves with people looking for a reason so share some laughter and fun.

I’m the first to admit that I’m a sucker for any genre of greeting card, but humorous cards hold a special place in my heart. The best and funniest cards inevitably get passed around at parties; and people coming into my store will stand around for an hour or more poring over funny cards to find the right one…or two…or six.

At Collage, we’re lucky to work with some amazing talent to offer a fantastic selection of humorous cards. I’ll blog about some of our other talent in upcoming blogs, but I wanted to use this week to welcome Greetings from Uranus to the Collage family! You can check out their cards here.

What genres of greeting cards do you love? What do you love about ‘em?

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Business

If you’re anything like me your New Year’s resolution probably reads something like this: get in shape, grow my business, and take a VACATION. And if you’re anything like 99% of Americans, you will probably make it about two weeks before falling off the wagon and right back into old habits.

I agree with the experts who say that the problem with New Year’s resolutions is that we take the step of articulating WHAT we want to accomplish but fail to address HOW we intend to accomplish it. It’s like the saying goes “if you’re not planning to succeed you’re planning to fail.” And it makes perfect sense, really. I mean when you were starting your business you forced yourself to put a plan into action to make it a reality, right?

So this year, I am taking a little longer than usual to put together my resolutions. I’m creating first quarter goals, for myself and my business, and mapping out how I can accomplish them. Then I’m going to make time to evaluate what works, what doesn’t, and why, so that I can develop second quarter goals based on what I learn. I know some things will take more than one quarter, but by taking stock on a regular basis I’ll be more prepared for whatever comes my way. With respect to business, I think this will make me more prepared to take calculated risks rather than drifting along trying to ride out the stormy economy. I’m bracing myself for the work that lies ahead and getting back to the basics by building a plan that will make this year even better than the last. Enough about me, what are your resolutions this year?

How are you planning on making this year better than ‘08?

Making 2009 Magnificent

I know that many small business retailers are feeling like this holiday season amounted to a big lump of coal in their stocking. But I’m trying to take heart by reminding myself that a little coal and a lot of pressure are how diamonds are formed.

As we head into the New Year now might be a good time to take stock of how your business is doing. Try to take a big picture view of where your business has succeeded and what things you can work on improving. The economic downturn contributed to issues that were beyond our control, so focus on your “circle of influence”. Capitalize on your company’s successes and identify areas where you can make changes to improve your business model. That could include your inventory, merchandising, customer service, or any number of areas. Although it requires a lot of time and energy to look inward and make those changes, exerting the right amount of pressure can create the right environment for turning your business into a gem.

Thank Your Employees – With a Heartfelt Card.

I hope you’re all surviving the holiday rush with a minimum of stress, and managing to have a little fun the process. I know that shopping budgets are tight and time is short, but I wanted to send out a reminder to spread a little holiday cheer among the people you probably spend most of your time with each week—you know, your employees.

If you haven’t already done so, take a couple of hours to say thanks to the people that keep your business running day in and day out. A short, well-written greeting card is a great way to express appreciation and inject a little humor into the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  Unlike an email, which is sure to read and deleted, a greeting card gives you a way to show employees that you’re thinking about them and the contributions they’ve made to your company’s success.  Collage Greetings has a great selection of holiday greeting cards, ranging from artistic and sentimental, to wickedly hilarious! Whatever your message says, make sure it’s from the heart.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Thank a Soldier – Send a Card

I want to take this week to get away from the holiday madness and economic doom-and-gloom to talk about something that isn’t getting as much media coverage these days. Our troops overseas. I was going through my artists’ card decks this week and some of Kristin Nelson’s Americana-inspired cards made me think of our troops. Her cards gave me that thrill of reminding me how lucky we are to live in America. We live in a country where we have the freedom to take risks by starting our own businesses. And even if we fail, we always have the opportunity to try again. I think a lot of credit for our freedom goes to the people who protect our borders and work to promote peace around the world.

No matter what your thoughts are about U.S troops fighting wars abroad, there are a lot of men and women who won’t be home for the holidays this year. Unfortunately, their story seems to have gotten lost amid all of the other things going on right now. So, I’d like to encourage everyone to take a minute to put a greeting card in the mail for a member of our troops. One site that offers the names and addresses of U.S. soldiers is anysoldier.com. We have to act soon, but it’s not to late get a card, a “thank you”, or anything else into the hands of a soldier for the holidays. Thanks for letting me get on my soapbox this week, I’m hoping our soldiers have a chance to get a small sliver of the enormous thanks they deserve.

Black (and Blue) Friday?

Ok, hopefully everyone survived Thanksgiving and Black Friday with a minimum of hair-pulling and scratches.  I’m wondering if they should rename it “Black and Blue Friday” to acknowledge the madness that overcomes people during the biggest shopping day of the year.

Surviving the craziness reminds me of something else I’m thankful for: manners.  I’m not one to fight over a parking space or elbow my neighbor out of the way for a video game or television. And I’m proud to say that my kids are comfortable with the words “please” and “thank you”; they don’t shove past people in public, or make a scene when they don’t get everything they want.  Nope, they’re not perfect, but I definitely feel a huge sense of pride when a stranger compliments my child’s manners.

Since it’s the gift-giving season, another thing that falls under the category of “manners” is thank you cards.  I write them, and my kids write them any time we receive a gift; although I sometimes have to remind them that yes, bath towels and underwear count as gifts. I’ll go ahead and mention that Collage Greetings has some fabulous thank you cards for both adults and kids.  One of the things I love about our Good Buddy Notes is the kid-friendly touch they add to their thank you cards. Rather than looking like “old people” stationery, Good Buddy cards have that playfulness that kids really seem to have fun and identify with. So even though my kids still view thank you cards as a chore, at least they have a creative way to embrace their inner “Miss Manners” while personalizing the art of saying thank you.

Saying Thanks For Greeting Cards!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Let me start this post by saying how thankful I am for all of my readers, sales reps, retailers, and our incredible artists.  You all keep me inspired to keep soldiering on every day!

With the gift-giving season looming, I thought this might be a good chance to touch on the lost art of letter writing.  The holidays are always a great chance to brush up on our rusty writing skills as we’re polishing off our greeting card/holiday card lists.  A brief, heartfelt note can mean the world to the recipient.  I have a box where I keep all of my extra special greeting cards–they never fail to bring a smile to my face.

As many of you know, Collage Greetings stocks some jaw-dropping artwork that doubles as greeting cards.  For the holidays, our cards range from inspiring to hilarious and offer a little something for everyone. Check out our holiday cards here: Collage Greeting Holiday Cards.

Another thing I think is pretty cool-personalized postage stamps.  The U.S. Postal Service has partnered with several companies that allow you to customize your postage stamps with a photo or other message.  A pretty neat way to make-over the postage stamp, eh?

Ready to Rethink and Refocus your Retail Store?

It’s tough to disillusion even the most confident of retailers:  Not only has the structure of the business world changed with today’s global market but the sagging economy is being blamed for causing traffic counts and sales receipts to free fall.  Sam Geist, president of Ontario-based Geist & Associates Inc., entrepreneur, marketing specialist and author of “Execute…or Be Executed,” helps pinpoint sources and solutions to their retailing dilemmas.

Q.  What changes in the business world are impacting a retailer’s ability to succeed?

A. When you look at the broader picture, you see that we’re now living in an altered business world. In the past, whether you were a big or small company, you ran the company, made product, sold product, tried to get customers and maintained margins.  Technology really changed everything.  Suddenly the world became a global marketplace.  Small business could masquerade as big business.  There are no borders.  You have competitors that you never knew existed.  Yet with all this structural change, smaller retailers are still trying to live in yesterday’s business model.

Q.  Your first career was in retailing.  If you could turn the clock back, what would you do differently today?

A. First, I’d look outside my business because research has shown that 90% of what we learn is found outside our business environment.  It’s an owner’s responsibility to be externally savvy.  Small retailers grab one idea, massage it, execute it, and that will drive their business forward.  But most retailers don’t do that. Second, I would learn about demographics because 70 cents of every dollar is related to consumer spending.  We need to understand who our customers really are, what their needs and wants are. Third, I would look at the people side of my business and let [my employees] do more.  People are better and capable of more than we give them credit for.  It’s scary but true:  In North America, one in five workers is actively disengaged.  They’ve resigned but forgot to tell you.  The cost to businesses is $375 billion a year.  I would use the statistic that 18 minutes of more productive work a day will give the economy a boost of [more than] $450 billion per year.

Q.  How can store owners handle today’s down economy?

A. It’s going to be tough to succeed, but it’s doable.  People are still spending although they’re being more cautious.  Look at your inventory, cash, margins, people and resources.  Find ways to maximize your potential in each of these areas.  Take charge of your business.  Stay on top of your basics.  They’re the bedrock of your business.  Don’t let complacency or mediocrity creep in.  Be alert, be the best you can be.  Don’t look backward:  Rethink and refocus.

Q.  What “tools” can retailers use to rethink and refocus?

A. Rethink and refocus by asking yourself tough questions.  Ask the toughest question in business today:  Why should someone do business with me?  [Don’t settle for easy answers such as] quality, service and value, because they’re entry-level tools.  An American Society for Quality study found that 68% of customers are lost because of [retailer] indifference, while 14% are dissatisfied with the product; 9% move away.  The overriding issue is the indifference of your people in the store. Store owners have to move themselves and their companies from “thinking” to “doing.”  We can’t blame a down economy for all our problems.  We need to accept some of the responsibility.  We spend too much time on strategy (the thinking) and not enough time on execution (the doing).  When I ask audiences to rate themselves on execution, I find the average (out of 10 points) often is about 6.2.  A 6.2 rating-or even a 7.2 rating-won’t cut it today. You can have a great business plan, but if you don’t execute it, it’s only a dream.  Execution trumps strategy.  Historically, 80% of [a business owner’s or management team’s] time was spent on strategy, and only 20% on execution.  Finally that’s changing so 50% of time is spent on strategy and 50% on execution.

Q.  Please discuss the issue of business owners who over-promise and under-deliver to customers.

A. “Customer Think 2005,” a Web-based study, asked customers why they didn’t return [to a store] and also asked companies why they thought they lost customers:  72% of customers said they left because of the customer service (i.e., the store over-promised and under-delivered).  When the question was asked of companies, only 21% felt customer attrition was due to over-promising and under-delivering.  That’s a 52% disconnect. Retailers have to live up to their customers’ high expectations.  Customers are looking for a positive experience when they shop.  They’re busy, and they’re time poor. Time is the currency of this decade.  If I go into a store but can’t find someone to assist me, I’ll shop on the Internet.  It saves me time, and simplifies the process.  When I go into a store, I don’t expect to see the same product on display forever.  Show me something different, and I’ll buy it.

Differentiation is key.  If the marketplace goes left, go right.

Thanks again Joyce Washnik for letting us reprint from GIFTBEAT, Copyright 2008.

Please visit the GIFTBEAT website: www.giftbeat.com to read more and subscribe (we highly recommend it!) or call toll free: 800-358-7177.

The Glass Half Full: An Upside To A Down Economy

Call me an optimist, folks, but I’m trying to find an upside to the economic challenges many of us are facing. And believe me, some days it’s hard to find an upside to the mess the economy is in. But, I’ve also been reminded that the slow times are a great opportunity to attend to those details that get away from us when business is booming.

For example:

Inventory: Take a close look at how your products have sold over the past year.  Which things are selling better than others? How long are your products sitting on shelves tying up space and the money you put into them? Are you ordering too much all at once? Take some time to figure out how to make your inventory move faster by looking at the numbers-this will help limit your overhead and keep customers coming in to check out your new offerings.

Customers: Spend more time with your core customer group to get a feel for what they’re looking for and how the economy is affecting their spending.  It could generate some great ideas about how to keep customers coming in.  While you’re at it, take a look at your customer service training.  Don’t train on customer service?  Now is a great time to start. Your employees are the ambassadors for your business and everything they do, from answering phones to ringing up customers to stocking shelves, says something about your business.  Make sure they’re sending the right message.

While it may seem like some of this is just “busywork”, doing these things can directly help your business increase sales.  Re-visiting your inventory and improving customer service can go a long way in helping you weather the storm.  And, once the economy rebounds, you’ll have the tools in place to make an even bigger impact on your bottom line.

The Silver Lining

One of our amazing greeting card artists, Wendy Shaft, shared some exciting news from her home base of Williamston, Michigan that I thought was worth passing on to you all.

Despite all of the gloom-and-doom predictions about the current economy, small business owners in her town are digging in their heels and opening up new businesses.  Last month, the Williamston Chamber of Commerce hosted ribbon-cutting ceremonies for six new businesses in one day! A huge accomplishment for a town with a population of around 10,000 residents.

In fact, CBS National News is sending Katie Couric and her news crew to cover Williamston and its fearless business owners! I’m so glad that the media is taking time to “shine a light” on how small businesses are charging ahead despite a tough economy.

And, I’m sure that Williamston is just one example of towns across the country where small business owners are preserving right now. It’s a great reminder that small businesses are the cornerstone of the U.S economy and help keep Main Street on the map…no matter what’s happening on Wall Street.

Check out all of Wendy’s cards that are available from Collage Greetings: www.collagegreetings.com

Voting with your WALLET!

A recent editorial in a local paper reminded me how important it is to encourage people to vote with their dollars by shopping at local stores. Otherwise, many small businesses won’t be around once the economy starts to bounce back.

Challenge yourself to constantly find new ways to win over the shoppers in your community.

If you’re a small business owner, it’s important to give your customers a reason to vote with their dollars when they shop at your store. Providing great products and outstanding customer service are two ways to sway the vote and keep people coming back. But they’re only a beginning.

As consumers, we should all be aware of how our choices ripple through the local economy. And, shopping locally gives you an opportunity to discover some great little treasures that can’t be found on the shelves of a mega mart or superstore.

As we head into the holiday season during this tough economy, try to find ways to balance your big-box shopping with supporting local business.

Remember, how you vote matters.

Now grab your wallet and get out there and vote!

Give ‘Em Something MORE to Talk About

Set your business apart from all the others.

For this week’s blog I want to share with you a great example of how to set yourself apart from all the other businesses you might compete with.  I recently fell in love with a local restaurant (The Mustard Seed) when I discovered that they present their bill in a “Thank You” card.  A “Thank You” card! I can’t think of the last time I was excited about getting a bill for anything—but getting a “Thank You” card for having breakfast there made the experience feel really special.

Sure, the service and food were very good, but that small gesture is what has gotten me raving about the restaurant.  I have become their unofficial spokesman, their biggest cheerleader, and a regular patron.  I mean, how often do you get a thank you card for doing everyday things like pumping gas, buying groceries, or dining out? I’ve taken friends and associates who are now raving to their friends and clients about the restaurant…it’s the magic of word-of-mouth marketing in action.

So what are you doing to turn your client base into your cheering section? Finding that special twist to your business can help you generate the type of buzz that most marketers and businesses only dream about.

Feel free to share things you’ve done to give your business that special touch – we’d love to hear your ideas.

P.S. If you’re ever in Redmond, Oregon, check out The Mustard Seed to experience it for yourself.

Brainstorming Ideas To Help Your Holiday Retail Sales.

Rather than focusing on the dismal reports coming out about flat or slumping retail sales, I’ve been brainstorming for ideas on how to get a teensy bit of an edge during the fast-approaching holiday season.

Here are just a couple of ideas that come to mind:

Bundled stocking stuffers- Make it easy for your customers to pick up their stocking goodies in one swoop by creating fun, affordable stocking stuffers. Create pre-packaged “his and hers” stocking stuffers or themed stuffers (i.e. bookworms, gardeners, etc.) that customers can buy without having to agonize over individual gifts. Plus, it’s a great way to sell some slow-moving inventory while showcasing the variety of products you stock.

Gift-wrapping- Check with local organizations to find community groups willing to rally their volunteers to come to your store and gift-wrap your customers’ purchases. Their donation-based gift-wrapping service can offer a huge convenience to your customers, generate goodwill for your store, and save you the labor costs of staffing a gift-wrapping counter. Consider providing the gift-wrap materials the volunteers will use…it could be a valuable advertising opportunity for you.
P.S. Try sending a press release to let the local media know that you’re partnering with an organization to offer this service. It’s a great way to encourage shoppers to stop in and support the organization.

These are just a couple of ideas that might help some retailers’ holiday sales. Keep checking back because I’ll be posting more on this topic over the next several weeks.

What ideas are you dreaming up to showcase your business this holiday season?

Give ‘em something to talk about!

As a savvy business owner you probably already know that client referrals and word of mouth marketing are the best forms of advertising for any business.  Even better, word of mouth marketing can be a clever and inexpensive way to build your client base.  Plus, it gives you the chance to get creative and have fun while getting more customers in the door!

So what are you doing to get people buzzing about your business?

Are you known for your crazy, elaborate in-store displays and off the beaten path items? Top notch customer service?  How about gorgeous gift-wrapping that gets people oohing and aahing before a gift is even opened?  Or maybe you’re offering the kids a free balloon, sticker, or temporary tattoo when they come in–that way everyone leaves happy.

A good way to start drumming up ideas is by talking to your core group of customers. Find out what brought them in and what keeps ‘em coming back.  Then, use their input to dream up ways to do it even better.

Rather than simply thanking a customer and sending them on their way, we should all be thinking up ideas that give our customers something to talk about!

We’d love to hear about the successes you’ve had with your store or business, drop us a line.

A Fine Balancing Act

Jennifer Doheny never ceases to amaze me.

In addition to being the incredible talent behind Urban Bird Designs greeting card line, she continues to push the artistic envelope in her other artwork as well.  Her newest art, involving gorgeously painted paper curtains, are a stunning reminder of how art can blur the lines between form and function.

Her curtains have the effect of transforming a simple window into a frame for her art, while the filtered sunlight illuminates the piece. Sigh. I could probably spend the better part of a day watching how the sunlight changes the look and feel of the curtains throughout the day.  Instead of using plain old curtains or blinds, she has turned something as mundane as window coverings into an artistic expression.  Pretty genius, I think. www.jenniferdoheny.com

Now I may be biased, but I think that greeting cards and other personalized gifts can have the same effect.  There is something so loving and lavish about giving someone a beautifully-made, well-chosen greeting card. Sure, the standard, drugstore variety greeting card might contain the same heartfelt message, but I’ll venture to say that a great card has the potential to elevate the act of gift-giving into an art form for both the sender and the recipient.

Like her curtains, Jennifer’s unique, and exquisitely detailed Urban Bird cards are a perfect example of balancing form and function.

I mention this because whether you’re managing a business, a household, or both, finding that balance of form and function is such a great way to spread a little joy for yourself, your customers, and the people around you.

I’m sure I’ll have more to say on the matter in coming blogs, but in the meantime, what are you doing to ensure that your customers and loved ones know how valued they are?

I’d love to hear your comments and ideas!

P.S. Be sure to check out the wonderful new line Collage Greetings is proudly distributing. Click on Studio Expressio at our website: www.collagegreetings.com

“Flat is the new up”

Stores and reps – take note!

If you haven’t heard of the very valuable gift industry newsletter called GIFTBEAT – you’re missing out.

Joyce Washnik started GIFTBEAT 16 years ago. It quickly became, and remains, one of the most important resources for information on the ever-changing gift industry.

From the hottest news to products worth watching, GIFTBEAT keeps you tuned in to which products are jumping off store shelves and which ones end up on the discount table. You get information that can help make your business more profitable.

GIFTBEAT accepts no advertising, so there are no outside influences on the information you rely on each month. You get information you can trust, completely free of vendor bias.

Joyce wrote a great article in the August issue that she has graciously allowed Collage to share with everyone:

Half Full – Or Half Empty?

It’s survival mode in Michigan, as a retailer there took the unusual step of holding a “Help Our Store” sale in June. Struggling with lack of cash flow and needing to jump-start his business, he mailed a postcard to 10,000 customers, asking them to come out and support the store. The response was enthusiastic – sales were up 30% for the week. His only regret was that he didn’t run the promotion longer.

Does he think others should try the same tactic? “In a small town, I think you can pull it off,” he says. “If you have a close relationship with your customers, I think you should be able to say, “Hey, I’m having trouble – come out and support us.’” Customers come in and said they were there to support his business. Many thanked him for reminding them to shop local, telling him, “We don’t want you to go away. We want you to stay in town.”

These are challenging times in the gift industry. In Atlanta, a show where reps and vendors are used to seeing sales increases, the phrase ‘Flat is the new up” quickly made its way through the market. Initially begun with a comical edge to it, the underlying message was crystal clear: With the show attendance down at least double digits, if you’re even with last year, you should consider yourself lucky.

Even with her average sale down about $20. an Alabama retailer is one of those who always looks at the glass as half full: “We refuse to give in to what the media says – we’re having a great year! We are keeping things new and fresh, changing things around and seeing great results from it. Keeping things in the same places and let shelves sit empty or even half empty and customers will quickly find new and exciting places to shop! The last thing you want to do is lose customers.”

Is your glass half full or half empty? The answer will likely determine what kind of year your business has.

Thanks again Joyce for letting us reprint GIFTBEAT’s Publisher’s Corner, Copyright 2008.

Please visit the GIFTBEAT website: www.giftbeat.com to read more and subscribe (we highly recommend it!) or call toll free: 800-358-7177.

Try this: Look at the economic downturn as an opportunity.

No, I’m not crazy…

… I’m feeling the economic squeeze at Collage Greetings just like everyone else. Let’s just put all our cards on the table shall we? Consumer spending drives 70% of the US economy. Consumer confidence is currently at a 28 year low. Those are the facts and this type of lousy economy is what ’separates the men from the boys’. So let’s pull together and deal with it. No more whining. I asked my small business peers to offer some real tips for survival, I’ll present those tips in the coming weeks.

Tip number one: Stay on their radar. Pay close attention to your existing customers.

Successful businesses, especially small businesses, will take advantage of an economic downturn to look at their current customers and re-evaluate how those relationships can be expanded. It’s always easier and more profitable to sell something to an existing customer than to find a new one.

Reach out to your customers, cost-effectively.

Our company has begun to use the email marketing company, Constant Contact. Our advice is to offer your customers exclusive email promotions and promise not to abuse their email addresses in order to collect their on-line contact information. Constant Contact offers (we feel) a cheap, easy to use, email marketing/newsletter service which is a great way to reach your current customer base to let them know all about your new products and specials. For a small additional fee you can use Constant Contact’s on-line survey option. This site has been referred to us many times by sales reps, stores and business peers who swear it’s a great service. www.constantcontact.com

Don’t forget snail mail.

At Collage Greetings we use direct mail and on-line marketing in addition to print advertising to reach our customers. Our best measurable response rates come from direct mail (often advertising our website) and on-line marketing. I use a well designed first class mailing piece when I want to make a special impact and a brief email blast for monthly promotions. I firmly believe the two methods should be used together in any marketing plan, no matter how small your customer list may be. Keep in mind that bulk mailing is also a good option when you use a reputable, local mailing service.

We love to brainstorm fun, first class mailings for our reps and favorite customers. We often use clear envelopes, specialty papers and unique first class stamps.

Whatever you do, don’t disappear.

Use the internet and US mail (bulk or first class) campaigns to become more in tune with your customers evolving needs, lifestyles and values. Let me note here that we are currently in a full-on recession, let’s be honest. Thankfully, the economy is cyclical, when it turns around you’ll be ahead of your competitors who cut back on marketing during this recession.

Our First Post: Why do a blog at all?

Because we’re all in this together folks.

Collage Greetings is a greeting card and gift distribution company. By definition, my company is a small business, we have less than 15 employees. Our customers are wholesale buyers for independent gift stores, bookstores, boutiques, museums, galleries and other unique venues such as garden centers and upscale car washes – a high percentage of these customers are small businesses. Our products are sold to those wonderful merchants primarily through our sales reps all across the U.S. Our reps are predominantly self-employed men and women working as independent reps, not employees of a rep group. Finally, the product lines we distribute are also small businesses, fine artisans with strong entrepreneurial spirits. You see where I’m going with this…

These are difficult times for everyone, but it’s much tougher for small businesses.

So, this blog will serve as a forum. I feel strongly that our customers, our reps and the artists whose lines we distribute are our partners in business. Through communication and the exchange of information we’ll weather the storm and we’ll keep our sense of humor and dignity. When the economy turns around, and it will turn around, we hope this blog will continue to be a round table for everyone involved.

Your comments, ideas, feedback and stories of successful and not-so-successful business maneuvers are warmly welcomed from this day forward. If you have not visited our new website: www.collagegreetings.com – please visit the site today. You are cordially invited to be a part of our industry family.