Teacher to Store Front

Meet Mark Walters. At one time he was a vocational-tech teacher guiding his students through the ins and outs of woodworking. Today, he is the owner of a thriving business where he still gets to participate in his favorite activity - Woodshop.

As the owner of Mark’s Machinery and More on Towson Avenue, Mark identifies his biggest competitor as the Internet. “It’s crazy,” he begins, “people can go online and buy my product without having to pay sales tax. That can mean big savings on some products.”

Unfortunately, this is a dilemma that plagues every brick and mortar store. The question then becomes, “what can I offer that can’t be bought online?” For Mark, the answer is almost a no-brainer. Along with top quality products such as Festool, he offers a hands-on service that gets his customer into the store: Wood Shop!

Hands-on woodworking classes offer a community opportunity to learn a new skill, while giving Mark an opportunity to demonstrate the tools to make the skill easier. He even has a space in the store where fellow-woodworkers can show-off their artisan skills. Learn more at marksmachinery.net or stop in at 2210 Towson Ave. Ft. Smith, AR.

BBQ and Sports at Ralph's Pink Flamingo

Eight years ago, Ralph Taylor opened the doors of Pink Flamingo BBQ. He and his partner/son Jeff have built an incredible business serving finger-licking barbecue. And, according to Entertainment Fort Smith’s Reader Awards, it’s the BEST in town (for 8 years in a row)! The menu includes all the favorites: pulled pork, brisket, chicken, sausage and ribs with all the fixin's.

Pink Flamingo is a favorite eatery to gather with friends while, each Monday noon, ESPN Arkansas (95.3) broadcasts the UAFS Coaches Show from Ralph’s Pink Flamingo. For Lions fans what can be better than barbecue and a sportscast to catch up on the latest news and shake hands with the coaches?

This is where you go as family - friendly service, good food and kids are welcome! This is where you enjoy “Grand Champion Style Bar-B-Que! Located at 2801 Old Greenwood Rd. 

Like them on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pinkflamingobbq/

A smile from Biddy Craig

Up in the morning, get the kids out the door for school, in the shower and off to work. Weekday mornings are hectic. But, as you swing through McDonalds on Kelley Hwy, your day is going to get better!

This is Biddy Craig. He smiles when he greets you, repeats your order before handing it through the drive thru window and sends you on your way feeling good - even makes you somehow look forward to the work that is waiting. Biddy makes you feel like he got up that morning with you on his mind and has been looking forward to seeing you all morning. And, his smile beams as he tells you, "Have a blessed day." And you can't help but smile back, return the good wishes...and look forward to your next McCafe.

Thank you Biddy for all those coffees, sweet teas and egg McMuffins. But most of all, thank you for making the mornings brighter and happier for so many customers. You are a shining star!

Putting risks to work for you

      Running a small business teaches the owner many things. One of them is knowing that everything you do carries a risk. Not all risks turn out well, but some do.

     If your mother had not given birth to you, you would not be reading this. Likewise, if you had not taken the risk of failing, you would not be in business.

     Life is full of risks. A tree limb can fall on you, but you still walk under trees. An oncoming vehicle can swerve in front of you, but you still drive.

     In business you are continually taking risks. You bring in new products or you offer new services. You make adjustments to customer service. You begin a promotional campaign on social media. 

     In every case, you risk failure. But small risks can help you inch toward your goal. And small risks help you prepare for the bigger, more important risks ahead.

     To grow a small business into a larger operation takes a dream, a plan, and follow-up. Taking risks along the way is part of the game. Of course, if you've built your small business to the size that you're comfortable with, and you don't want to grow bigger, that's one thing. But, if your dream is still not realized, then taking risks can get you there. Do the planning, step lively, and look back only to learn from it.

     Building bakeries -- Mary tried baking all sorts of goodies in her bakery until she settled on the mix of products that brought in retail customers and wholesale clients. She let the business "settle in" for a few years before deciding that the time was ripe to expand. She took a big loan, expanded her facilities and equipment, hired additional people, and purchased a van. When this expansion "settled in" Mary headed toward offering her first franchise. By taking risks along the way, she was following her long term plan--and the biggest risk of her life. 

     Once you get a risky step in the rear view mirror, it's time to consider the road ahead. That fear of failure can serve you well. Just don't let it prevent your tackling the next risk. After all, your mother didn't hesitate.

Teaching your way to success

     You are expert at what you do. And the general public is hungry for information. Put the two together, and you have a valuable way to promote your business.

     Hold a teaching session at your place, or offer to teach your subject at organizational meetings, senior centers, and elsewhere. Put your thinking cap on, and you'll come up with more than you want to do.

     Wellness -- An expert in Reiki holds regular classes in both beginner and advanced sessions. This is in addition to offering Reiki sessions privately to clients. These classes result in extending the interest in Reiki in the area, and it brings more referrals and clients.

     Social media -- A computer expert does animation, cartooning, web design, and the intricacies of social media. She decides to hold classes at her place, showing people how to use social media. Many business people attend the sessions, and they learn ways to promote using social media. This has brought new clients for the other services offered.

     Farming -- A dairy farmer turns his milk production into yogurt and specialty cheeses. Twice each year he offers extended classes in yogurt and cheese making. These are popular and are always filled. This hands-on teaching activity extends his marketing reach throughout the area--and brings in extra income. 

     Pottery -- A potter holds classes in her studio. She schedules both one time and on-going classes for both beginners and advanced students. These are priced accordingly, but the classes usually fill up, and she maintains a waiting list. The full schedule goes on all year. This promotes the sale of the potter's works.

     Teaching others can extend your marketing reach and bring you more clients. Attendees will pass the word around. And you use social media to do your advertising.

Goodbye to voicemail

     Statistics show that the days of voicemail are numbered. Recently published numbers reveal that more then three quarters of people do not leave messages when they are sent to voicemail. They simply hang up.
     So why do so many small businesses still depend on voicemail? The answer is simple. Voicemail is convenient for the business--not the caller. And that is bad for business.

     More and more customers are turning away from voicemail, favoring text messages and emails instead. Consumers know what's convenient for them--even if businesses are slow to catch on.

     The situation has led to the rise of speech-to-text providers. They turn voice messages into text messages and send them on. Big businesses can afford this extra service, but small businesses are likely to consider it a needless expense.

     All this confirms what has long been suspected. And it comes from experience. A deliberate decision was taken by the Business Owners Institute of New Jersey not to have voicemail. The organization received a continuing stream of phone calls from owners of small businesses seeking help with management and growth problems. Every phone call was answered before the third ring--by a live person. Callers responded positively to the set-up.

     Prompting a client or customer to go to voicemail simply delays--and sometimes kills--a relationship. Owners of small businesses need to realize that telephones are for the convenience of the customer--not the business owner. Phones should be answered promptly by a live person. If the caller is trying to sell you something, you can simply hang u.

     But if a caller is trying to place an order, arrange a purchase, or needs information, the caller deserves to speak with someone. Flipping the caller to voicemail and getting a hang up can mean you lose a customer. All of us know that you never want to miss a call from a fresh referral.

     Today, savvy business owners are turning their smart phone into their business phone. You have it with you all the time, and you answer it when it interrupts you. At the very least, have calls from your business phone automatically and seamlessly transferred to your smart phone.

Easy ways to get more referrals

     Every business owner knows the value of referrals. When people are referred to you, they arrive pretty much open to your products/services.

     Referrals are a natural part of human interaction. We talk with each other, and we want to share with each other our thoughts, feelings, ideas, and much more--like a new restaurant in town or a plumber we know. 

     Social media like Facebook and Twitter provide a mechanism for these interactions. But there are some other ways you can promote referrals for your business. 

     Nutritionist -- Mary has lots of training and experience in nutrition. To connect with new clients, she regularly gives informational talks and sessions at wellness centers, senior centers, organizational meetings and other venues. She answers lots of questions, makes future appointments, and hands out literature. All this results in people subsequently talking about her in the community. Referrals come in. These activities speed up a naturally-occurring process, and they are in addition to her Twitter and Facebook postings.

     Electrician -- Ralph is an electrician working alone, carrying his tools and equipment with him in his van. He targets homeowners and small businesses, handling their electrical problems and needs. Every time he finishes a job, Ralph meets with the customer, explaining the work and answering any questions before presenting his bill. Then, he hands the customer a half-dozen business cards asking that they pass them on to friends, neighbors, and other business owners. It is a simple process, but it has worked for Ralph. People receiving his business card call him to fix their problems. 

     Interior design -- Eric takes a more aggressive approach to getting referrals. He is an interior designer handling residential and commercial clients. When he finishes an assignment, he asks for referrals and frequently receives a couple on the spot. Then, in about three months, he calls the client again, asks if there's anything else he might do for them, and, again, asks for referrals. Not only does this provide client follow-up, but it results in more referrals. He also maintains relationships with several real estate professionals who pass on to him referrals of new people moving into the area. 

     There's more to life today than Twitter and Facebook. Some older methods still work very well.