How do I make the business thrive?

I like a sense of order and one of the difficult things about starting and running a business is the lack of order. Especially in marketing.

You can order many things in your life - morning routines, your desk, menu planning. But it's almost impossible to bring order to the idea of getting your business marketed and successful. A marketing plan is really a fluid thing - you build the plan and then it has to be constantly adjusted. Why? Because all of your customers are not alike!

Realtors - they need more attention than any other group. You have to be sure to communicate with them on a regular basis, but not too much. Don't want to look like a stalker!! Then you have to determine the best way to communicate - in person, phone call, notes, e-mail, etc. It can almost be overwhelming. But you keep trying.

Sellers - What is hard here is finding them. You can visit open houses and you can leave cards and notes on homes for sale, but that does not guarantee you will hear from them. Again, you have to find that way to market to them without overkill.

Folks looking for a change (redecorate)- The hardest group to market to, they almost have to come to you. That is where the website comes in handy. And lucky for me, I have a great website designer who is in the midst of re-vamping my site. It looks great now, but I know it will be better after the redesign!

So this is my struggle - I want to make the business thrive, but I have learned there is no easy way to make it happen.

But I am determined...and am willing to work as hard as needed. I just wish there was a way to make it orderly.

Sometimes you need your best friend

My darling husband has recently become a non-smoker and there are good days and bad days associated with that. More good days than bad, but sometimes it's a good idea to take a break from each other.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Around lunchtime, I picked up the phone and called my bestest to see what she was up to. She immediately sensed that I needed some girl time and offered to meet me for dinner at a great local place nearby - well, actually in the middle - because we live about 40 minutes apart.

It was a lovely evening. We sat at the bar, talked and drank a few cocktails. We had salad and then shared Little Neck Clams steamed in Wine with Chorizo and Lightly Battered Calamari with a sweet/tart sauce. We talked about our men, our families and her recent loss. We discussed home decorating, my business and getting together for dinner next week.

Girlfriends are such an important part of our lives. They enable us to love unconditionally, have an outlet, share secrets, go shopping and provide us a shoulder to cry upon. They provide that extra opinion (not always agreeing with you!) and let you know when you are being a "dough-head".

I am so glad to have many wonderful women in my life and I will always do my best to be there for them. I hope to not let them down,

Because sometimes you really need your best friend.

Random Thoughts - July Edition (Plus the Winner!)

Thoughts rattling around in my head....

1) For those who live in the Delaware Valley - isn't is a bummer that they are tearing down the original Spectrum? Man, I had some great times at concerts there! At least I think I did...lol.

2) The marketing continues in earnest - this month I have an ad in the new "Your Home Magazine" that will run for a year, plus I am working with a friend/web designer to redesign my business site.

3) I completed two courses this summer and hope to take a few more in the fall. I am thinking it may be cool to teach a class - you know Community Ed?

4) I am slowly getting used to my son driving. But it is still nerve racking.

5) Speaking of my son, he got stitches this weekend. First injury ever and I wasn't there to fuss over him.

6) We went to the new casino in Bethlehem this past weekend. It's really nice for just slots - Emeril's restaurant and all. We would go back again and maybe eat next time.

7) Looking forward to seeing my granddaughters next week, they are getting so big and I wish they lived closer. It's fun to be a grammie!

8) I wish I could lose weight easier. But then again I am not the best at staying away from things that I really like to eat, but shouldn't. (Dark Chocolate, wine anyone?)

That's it for now - what on your mind?

Oh Yeah, the contest winner?

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:6
Timestamp: 2009-07-22 11:59:28 UTC

Carolyn said...
Hi there! Great giveaway!Just stopping by from SITS.
July 5, 2009

I'll be reaching out to the winner - thanks all!

Yard Sale Saturday...and a Bonus!

This week I wanted to show you my best yard sale find EVER! Plus as a bonus I wanted to share a Stagers/Decorators best friend.

First up, one in a set of four Winnie the Pooh framed pictures, frames are in perfect condition and they will look perfect in the home I am staging with a baby's room. All four for just $12. Great buy.


Next up, is my best yard sale find ever! This new, never used Oak Glider Rocker with matching ottoman (again perfect for that Baby room) with the plastic still on the ottoman. Let's just say that I got this amazing item for under $50 - way under. I almost felt guilty for the prices they quoted. Sometimes you are just lucky, an earlier yard sale had one also and they wanted $150!

Now for the bonus. My favorite place to go shopping for many furniture and accessories is the CORT Furniture Outlet. Do you have one near you? While you have to check condition, this is rented furniture that is no longer in rotation. You can find sofas for $100, chairs for half that and accesories (like this print) for half that again. Just great pricing and selection. Check this place out!
Anyone else have a good day at the sales? Hope so!

What’s The Difference – Decorator v. Home Stager?

I am often asked what the difference is between being and Interior Decorator and a Home Stager. While you’ll need a good eye for space, color and esthetics in both roles, there are differences.

An Interior Decorator takes you and your families needs and desires into the room plan.

A Home Stager removes you, the current homeowner, from the room plan.

An Interior Decorator wants you, the current homemaker to feel at home.

A Home Stager is working with you to make the next family feel home!

An Interior Decorator uses your personal collections to enhance your home.

A Home Stager removes or minimizes your personal collections so that the buyer can picture themselves in the home.

As a certified Home Stager, I work with many families to help them “remove” themselves from the home and to break the emotional attachment to it. While that may sound like we do some therapy, it’s only for your home. We see the potential for the next family and we want to help you, the home seller, make your home as appealing to everyone – as it was for you when you first bought it.

I love both aspects of what I get to do, helping people create the perfect room for them, helping them to get the vision to reality as an Interior Decorator. But, I also love helping people move on to the next part of their lives by getting their homes ready for the next family – and let’s face it - increasing the sale price!

Yard Sale Saturday

Today was just a few local yard sales, but it seemed like all of them were emptying the house!

And I was the lucky recipient!! First off, this absolutely in perfect shape floor lamp, glass shade, iron base and a great bargain.

Can’t you just see this in a lovely reading nook? Behind a set of chairs just made for sitting quietly and reading. I sure can.

This is a pair of picture frames – silver with inset beading – currently housing a set of watercolor sketches, but made for almost any lovely picture.

Just a great day of yard sales. I so look forward to finding the right home for these pieces.

So, any luck with your sales – let me know!

So much to do...

This will be short.

I feel like I have so much to do, yet so much of my time right now is to help my darling husband cope with the effects of quitting smoking after 40 plus years.

I know he is suffering. I need to be supportive. I WILL be supportive.

But can I just whine for a moment? I have a proposal to finish, meetings to write speeches for, a house to organize, laundry to do, grocery shopping - have I mentioned that yet?

OK, off to tackle something on my to do list.

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway (scroll down).

S.P. S. Send me your support - I need it with this non-smoking thing.

Cafe 2825 – Everyone needs a favorite place

This is Joe and his lovely wife Jan at our favorite Atlantic City restaurant – Cafe 2825.

This is not in a casino.

This is not on the boardwalk or in a hotel.

Cafe 2825 is a local place manned by the same family for many, many years.  It is no bigger than your living room, yet it never feels crowded or loud.  (well, maybe that’s because we are loud, but who knows!)  There is only about 20 tables in the entire place.  But it is all about the food here.

And the food is incredible!  Below is the Ricotta Cheesecake – made from his Mom’s original recipe.  Look at those berries – Wow!  Everything is homemade and made to order.  Stuffed Calamari, an amazing stuffed Artichoke, Sunday gravy with amazing Meatballs.  The portions are good, but not oversized and the prices are shore prices – not low, but not casino high!

I know that there are probable really good places to eat in the casino’s – we have even tried a few and had a good meal.  But I would much rather eat at a local place that remembers me when I walk in the door.

And that’s what Cafe 2825 does.

Try it if you ever visit Atlantic City.  Tell them the Napoleon family sent you.

Hey, It's a Giveaway!

Why? Just cos' it's July, that's why!


As always, it will include one cute item and something to help with your decorating.


The cute item? A "Rate that Wine" pad complete with built in coaster so you can hold a great wine tasting party this summer. This pad is from those great folks at www.knockknock.biz.





The decorating item? A set of two Lenox vases. I picked them up at an auction and I think they are just lovely for any style home.







So what do you have to do to win?




1) Leave me some comment love - 1 entry
2) Follow me (or tell me you already do) - 1 entry
3) Subscribe to my newsletter (or tell me you already do) - 1 entry
4) Twitter about my giveaway - 1 entry

Easy-Peasy - right?

Giveaway is open until 10:00 pm DST, July 10th. Giveaway is open to US participants only (shipping costs, you know)

Happy July!