I SEE LOCAL SERVICE CLUBS LOSING MEMBERSHIP.

I see local service clubs losing membership. Here in Ladner BC, the average Service Club membership is older now because young people aren't joining. Older members are tiring off and burning out. The clubs are reducing in size and naturally reducing the amount of good they will be able to do, and they do a lot of things for the community which would fall into the hands of the municipality paid for by our taxes.

People are so busy now trying to make ends meet. Mom & Dad both working. Who's got time to spare? Kid's volunteer for work experience and then don't have time to volunteer just to be of help.
The Community needs good young people to volunteer, as a matter of fact the community needs everyone and anyone to volunteer. A good place to get involved is a local service club, and there are many. They all do good work, have great comaraderie and for the selfish part of your selfless act (YOU WILL GET NOTICED).
I heard it again the other day about 'It takes a community to raise a child'. I've written before using this same idea that 'it takes a community to raise a successful business'. But what happens if the community doesn't care. Everybody's on their own and the whole process slows right down.
I say it again and write it again.... It takes a community to raise a successful business. People working in concert. Staff, Suppliers, Customers, IT, Couriers, Banking, Family, People on the street, everybody.
My business is aimed at helping people who are helping themselves. People who are doing things to get noticed. Doing things for their community. It's okay to be a little selfish and do things for the particular community that can help your business in the long run. For instance, if you volunteer for your Chamber of Commerce and become involved in events and functions, you will be noticed. Just like if you volunteer and work with your church, your hospital thrift shop, your local food bank or business association. YOU WILL BE NOTICED.
Not everyone you talk to wants nor needs your services but chances are they know someone that does. That's the referral you want. If you're a good volunteer somewhere, someone remembers that and mentions it to a friend who needs your services. How much better does it get.
If you want to get noticed amongst the crowd of competitors, suppliers and customers, try advertising through promotional products directed to the target. If you want to promote your product, company or event, try advertising through promotional products directed to that target.
If you want to reward your faithful, loyal, hardworking, innovative employees, try rewards through promotional products directed to that target. If you want to be remembered and stand out at a Trade Show event, try promotional products directed to that target.

Do they teach about volunteering at Entreprenuerial School?

rod-fairways@hotmail.com rod@winningfairways.com rod.winning@gmail.com
Rod Winning is the president of Winning Fairways Inc. Promotional Products for Success Rod has a background in business. info@winningfairways.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rod_Winning

CUSTOMER OR CLIENT? When and How Did Your Customer Become Your Client?

From Webster's concise edition.

Customer: a person who buys from a shop or business, esp. regularly.

Client: a person who employs another professionally; a customer.

Clientele: clients or customers.



In my company, we are constantly contacting prospects to sell promotional products. Hopefully, some of those prospects will become customers. From the definition above, those customers will or should become clients when we get to know each other and build the trust to become their promotional products expert or professional.

How many times have people said, 'okay, here's what I want, you go ahead and design or make or do it, "you're the professional" '.

Well you are the pro at what you do, if you have a drycleaning shop or a flower shop, you are the pro, people come in and trust you to do the job correctly so they will look good when they get the finished product. If you perform well, they will probably come back.

All we really want is for people (customers) to come to our store, be it virtual or brick/mortar and trust us to do our job. We are the professionals of our industry.

When that happens we have clients rather than customers.

Now we have to treat our Clients as Clients.

• Make it easy for them to deal with you.
• Remember their name, business and some details. (read their credit card if need be)
• Build relationships with small talk.
• Be friendly, helpful and fair.
• Offer new product ideas and share upcoming changes to your business.
• Ask for their advice in areas you think may be helpful to you.
• Train your staff to do the same as you do.
• Show client/customer appreciation.

You can't rest on you laurels just because you have some faithful/loyal clients. You must try to convert all you customers to become clients. Let them all see your professionalism and friendliness.

As it is anywhere, there will always be people that just come for the Bargain, Price, Location or Availability. They are just customers but treat them well and always consider them as possible clients.

Build your Clientele database and use it to contact them for special events or special information. Your clients will appreciate the effort and it will keep you close to them.

Whatever your product or service, constant networking within your own clientele list will expand that database through word of mouth.

Promotional Products are one way of keeping in touch with people when they are away from your shop. It may be a key tab, pen or a shopping tote bag.

My name is Rod Winning,

My company is Winning FairWays Inc. Promotional Products for Success

rod-fairways@hotmail.com www.winningfairways.com

SO WHAT MAKES US THE BEST PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY? Nothing! It's People Doing Business With People

How do I find the best promotional products supplier in Canada?

If you're looking for the best promotional products company around, or the best in Canada, you'll have a hard time determining the winner.

Yes there are some very large companies selling across the country. Some of them have branch offices in major cities so you can deal with them locally. But any way you look at it you end up dealing with a sales person.

There are thousands of PP companies and they all offer virtually the same products from the large number of promotional products manufacturers from all over the world. You probably see the same catalogs from the different companies that call on you.


You may want to ask yourself a better question.

How can I find the sales person who will get the product, service, price and delivery that I need to complete my task of purchasing promotional products for our event?

After all , it all comes down to people doing business with people.

You are better off to find the person you can relate to and trust, most often through word of mouth (networking) or some other method of meeting with and talking to a PP representative who gets what you are looking for. Someone with whom you can relate to and feel confident.

Selection, Price, Quality and Delivery are all the important factors to be considered but trust is right up there. You must have the confidence that your order is being looked after and that the actual delivery and promises will be met.

Through my career in Steel Service Centre sales and 10 years as a Trophies & Awards company, my philosophy has been " I make it easy for you to do business with us".

Call Winning FairWays Inc. www.winningfairways.com rod-fairways@hotmail.com rod.winning@gmail.com

Seven Ways To Focus On Your Business - Promotional Products are a tool

If you focus on your business, it will cause your customers to focus on your business too.
Promotional products are a tool to help this 'focus' process.

Here are 7 ways to Focus on Your Business

• Write down your goal and vision.
• Keep your eyes on the prize.
• Develop many ways of moving towards your goals.
• Use all the tools available.
• Don't spread yourself too thin.
• Keep some 'slush' time for emergencies.
• Plan time-outs for yourself.

When you look back at the goals and vision you wrote, make notations regarding the achievements you've made and the path you are on. Adjust the goals as required. Add some new products or services. Eliminate the problem customer, products or services.

There are some cliches or thumb rules which always seem to be true, like
80% of your business will come from 20% of your customers.
80% of your sales will be done by 20% of your employees.
80/20 - I can't remember who's law that is but I know it works.
It's definitely not Murphy's Law which is 'if anything can go wrong, it will".

It's prudent to remember these laws, and just get on with business.

Things happen but the prize goes to person that rolls with the punches, survives and comes back smelling like roses.

You hear of this person often. Most people will say they are lucky, but they are most likely smart, intuitive and flexible.

Make the most out of any situation.

You have it in you to do what you want. Make the plan, work the plan, prepare for the worst, hope for the best and take whatever comes, in your stride.

My friend Greg Nichols at www.effectivemarketing101.com says 'It's not important to get it perfect just get it going'

Promotional products are a tool in the grand scheme of things. Use them wisely.


Call me, Rod Winning rod-fairways@hotmail.com www.winningfairways.com

Fast, Cheap or Good, pick two for pricing

The Next Great Idea - Cheap, Different or useful (choose 2 ?)
This reminds me of the person that asks for high quality, cheap price and fast delivery. We always had to say Pick the two that are most important. The price is affected by each one of the components.

My customers are always looking for that next great idea.

They generally want something they haven't bought or used before so they can give their customers or prospects something different.

Some people want something useful as well.

The other thing they need is a cheap price.

Let me see, Different, Useful, Cheap.It's hard to get it all.

When I had the Trophy & Engraving business we offered a choice of 2 of the following.
-High Quality
-Dependable Delivery
-Cheap Price

It's hard to pick the 2 that you want.

Let's see-Different-Useful-Cheap Same thing, hard to pick the right 2 items isn't it.

While I'm telling you this, I better let you know now that there are products that fall into this category but once the customer has bought them, they are no longer different.

Let's go with being not different.. Maybe we show some continuity with the customer / prospect / staff / etc.

Maybe we could use the same item but change the logo / text / colour / etc.

Maybe the result would be an appreciation for the continuity of
items from that supplier.

Get known for that item. Start a collection.Have a contest for the complete collection. Whatever comes to mind. How many ways can you get your prospect to look at the cheap, different and useful item you gave them?

Call me for ideas Rod Winning rod.winning@gmail.comor info@winningfairways.com

Timing, Timing, Timing (not location, l, l.)

Timing, Timing, Timing (not location, location, location)
10 steps to achieving max performance –through recognition, a key to promotional products 101

1. Timing, Timing, Timing. (Not Location, Location, Location)
Nowadays, you just don't know where the person your talking to on the phone or computer is located. Could be next door, same town or somewhere else in the world.

2. Quality (not cheap, does the trick)

3. Appropriateness (choose the award to match the event)

4. First Impression, Last Impression

5. Corporate Image Your image is important where every you are located. Most images now are projected through the phone or over the internet.

6. Achievability of contests or programs

7. Image building. Communicate/advertise the program, the winners

8. Reciprocation works and creates obligation

9. Consistency exudes reliability

10. Focus on your- Business- Product- Customers- Suppliers- Employees. Focus on each one, one at a time. Remember these items as Promotional Products 101 hopefully takes us through all the reasons and results of well executed promotional products programs.

Call Rod Winning rod.winning@gmail.com
or info@winningfairways.com