Archive for May, 2010

4th Annual Readers Choice Contest Canada’s Mom Entrepreneur Award Presented by SavvyMom.ca and sponsored by PayPal

The winning mom entrepreneur will receive a $20,000+ Prize Package!

PayPal Canada has teamed up with SavvyMom.ca, the trusted voice for moms across Canada, to recognize and reward the country’s top mom entrepreneur with a $20,000+ prize package of cash and business services designed to help take her business to the next level.

Mom entrepreneurs can sign up at www.momentrepreneuraward.com for a chance to win the grand prize. Last year’s contest attracted over 50,000 votes for over 400 mom entrepreneurs.

“We see SavvyMom as champions of the small business entrepreneur,” said Nicky Mezo, Head of Marketing for PayPal Canada. “Moms who start their own business face too many hurdles as it is to also worry about the administrative headaches of credit card transactions. PayPal enables any small business owner to quickly become an online business, while instilling credibility and trust in their brand among consumers.”

SavvyMom developed the contest to garner support for mom entrepreneurs across the country and drive online traffic to its newsletter and web properties. “Moms today are fortunate that they are able to turn on a computer to seek advice, shop and buy from other mothers who have bravely started their own businesses,” said Sarah Morgenstern, Co-Founder of SavvyMom Media Inc. “It’s never been easier to start a business than it is today, thanks to companies like PayPal. They’re not only a good partner for us, but for every mom who is looking to buy or sell online.

“As a tip for this year’s nominees, we encourage you to tap into the power of your networks via Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. It’s a great opportunity to market your business and win a prize that can propel your business forward. The extra PR exposure the award offers is well worth the effort.”

In addition to a cash prize of $5,000 from PayPal, the winning mom entrepreneur will receive:

· A full-year business mentorship with Shirley Broback, winner of the 2009 SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and founder of Vancouver Island Baby Fair

· A workplace productivity assessment and program courtesy of Clear Concept Inc., valued at $3,000

· A consultation and 90-day Action Plan courtesy of Limelite PR, valued at $5,000

· A search engine optimization (SEO) assessment courtesy of Eighty8 Online, valued at $2,500

· A three-step brand make-over courtesy of EntrepreNursery Inc., valued at $5,000

· A social media design and marketing program courtesy of Virtual Business Solutions On Demand, valued at $1,500

This year’s winner will also receive a commemorative crystal keepsake, custom-designed by award-winning crystal artist, Mark Raynes Roberts of Raynes & Co., specialists in designing and creating specially commissioned presentation art pieces in crystal, gold and silver.

Learn more about the award program here.

SavvyMom Media

SavvyMom Media is the publisher of the influential online publications for Canadian moms, SavvyMom Today and EatSavvy, and consumer-generated mom review site, ShareSavvy.ca. The trusted voice for moms across Canada, SavvyMom speaks to the broad range of topics that moms need to address, finding practical solutions to their everyday dilemmas.

PayPal

PayPal is the faster, safer way to pay and get paid online. The service allows members to send money without sharing financial information, with the flexibility to pay using their account balances, bank accounts, credit cards or promotional financing. With more than 81-million active accounts in 190 markets and 24 currencies around the world, PayPal enables global ecommerce. PayPal is an eBay company and is made up of three leading online payment services: the PayPal global payment service, the Payflow Gateway and Bill Me Later. The company’s open payment platform, PayPal X, allows developers to build innovative payment applications on multiple platforms and devices. More information about the company can be found here.

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Started, Lifestyle on May 31st, 2010

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Ways your business can make more money

By Small Business Expert, Roger Pierce, BizLaunch

The marketing plan for your new small business is the most important part of your business plan. After all, without customers, you won’t have much of a business to run. Unfortunately, many small business owners just focus on acquiring new customers and ignore strategies to get more business from existing ones.

It’s a well-known marketing fact that strategies designed to reach existing customers are far less expensive than strategies to attract new customers. Why? You’re preaching to the converted. Existing customers are already familiar with your business through prior experience and, hopefully, trust your products or services. New or ‘non’ customers have no such experience with you and, therefore, more energy and money is required to attract them.

In marketing, there are only four ways to build your business sales:

1.Get more customers. A startup business needs to focus on getting new customers. The most expensive strategy of the four presented here, you really have no choice if you’ve just launched your venture. Invest some of your dollars in well-targeted advertisements, brochures, direct mail, a website and sales calls. Consider offering a discount, free sample or money-back guarantee to encourage prospects to try you out. Once you’ve got some customers, you can implement the following three strategies.

2. Help your customers buy more. Considered a ‘volume’ strategy, it’s always easier to encourage customers to spend a little more at the time of purchase. Use suggestive selling to offer an additional product or service to complement their purchase for just a little more money. Stereo stores sell warranties. Convenience stores display chocolate bars and gum near the cash register. Fast food restaurants ask you to “supersize it” for a few cents more.

3. Help your customers buy more often. ‘Frequency’ strategies keep customers coming back to buy from your business again and again. Find or create reasons for your customers to return week after week or month after month. For example, Mr. Lube reminds you to change your automobile oil and filter every 5,000 kilometers by placing a simple sticker on your windshield.

4. Keep your existing customers happy. It’s far more expensive to chase new customers than it is to keep your existing ones happy. So, overwhelm your customers with attention and value-added services. Let your customers know how much you appreciate their business, again and again. “Loyalty” programs can include some kind of tangible gift, discount offer, rewards card, special event, free service, or a simple note to say “thank you for your business.”

Roger PierceROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve success. Co-founder of Canada’s largest small business training company, BizLaunch.ca, he’s launched eleven small businesses of his own and personally experienced what he calls “the good, the bad and the ugly” sides of entrepreneurship.

BizLaunch advises thousands of Canadian startups through its popular how-to seminars and webinars delivered with partners such as STAPLES.

Posted by Lynnette in Small Business Tax Tips on May 28th, 2010

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An interview with Sarah Morgenstern, Founder and Executive Editor of SavvyMom Today

By Donna Marrin

You and Minnow Hamilton founded SavvyMom Today, a Canadian online parenting publication. Tell me all about it.

Sarah Morgenstern and Minnow Hamilton

Sarah Morgenstern and Minnow Hamilton

SavvyMom is an online magazine for Canadian moms, focused on providing practical solutions for moms’ everyday dilemmas. We actually don’t consider ourself so much a parenting publication as we do a lifestyle publication – we help moms with everything on their to-do lists, from gift giving to getting dinner on the table to making fun plans for their families. Within SavvyMom Media, our parent company, we have a few other properties as well: EatSavvy, which is a newsletter full of easy dinner ideas for families; ShopSavvy, which is a collection of exclusive shopping deals for our subscribers; and ShareSavvy, which is a user-generated content site where our moms can share their thoughts on what is great in their neighbourhood.

What were you doing before you decided to launch SavvyMom Today? And what inspired you to go for it?

I was working as a management consultant, basically the professional advice-giving field, and personally, was always the ‘go-to’ person for advice on what to buy and where to go within my circle of friends. The vision that Minnow and I had for SavvyMom allowed me to continue in those advisory roles that provided me with a great sense of satisfaction. My background is in packaged goods marketing but after becoming a mom myself, I realized there was a huge gap between what moms really want from marketers and publishers and what they were actually getting, so with Sarah, I set out to develop something that would speak to today’s mom. 

What was your biggest learning curve in terms of marketing your business?

The challenge with publishing is that you need to both market to advertisers to get ad sales and also to potential subscribers to build up your readership. These simultaneous sales efforts can be very time-consuming and our biggest learning curve was basically just experimenting with trial and error to identify the best way to find readers. We now know that online is the only way to go for us, but we were distracted along the way with events, radio and other strategies.

Describe a day in the life…

Well, as founders of the business, we still have our hands in the main areas of sales, subscriber marketing, product development and, of course, the editorial side of things, so it’s a constant juggle from one to the next. From just the two of us initially, we now have a team of about 10 people, so our days are now filled more with checking in with our teams and trouble-shooting for them, as we also try to plan the next stage of the business. On any given day, we could be out on a sales pitch with one of our sales reps, meeting with our web designer to approve new additions to the site, or attending a launch event for a new product as part of our editorial research. 

How do you balance business and family life?

We’re both blessed with very busy, active families with tons of sports after school and other things on the go, so a lot of the balance comes from having a master to-do list and calendar for work and home to make sure nothing is forgotten. And we’re not shy about asking for help from our husbands or friends when we need a carpool or a night off, and blocking off time on our work calendar for important things such as track meets and family dinners. But we’re still staying up too late a lot of nights!

What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered?

From a product point of view, the move to social media has been something that we had not planned on when we started the business, so we’ve had to work hard to incorporate those initiatives into our core business. More internally, we also never envisioned our team growing as large as it has become, so the time and effort required on HR matters such as performance reviews, organization design and just generally making sure our team members are happy and productive is something we need to prioritize, in addition to our day-to-day work. 

What do you love most about running your own business?

Being able to make a decision and implement it without red tape or a decision hierarchy.

Do you have a source of inspiration?

We were inspired by the US advisory email newsletter Daily Candy and we still love that publication as much today as we did five years ago. Work-wise, I think we’re both inspired by our fathers, who were leaders in their fields and also able to balance work and family life exceptionally well.

If you could give one piece of advice to others thinking about starting a business, what would it be?

When you’re putting together your first budget, plan for your expenses to be three times what you think they will be and your revenue to be about half. Then see if your business model makes sense. We got this advice ourselves when we were getting started and, of course, thought it did not apply to us, but we were wrong and now we share this advice with anyone who will listen.

SavvyMom Today provides all the solutions that moms in Canada are looking for.

Sarah Morgenstern, Executive Editor, is a SavvyMom to three children under the age of five-and-a-half: Tess (5), Adam (3.5) and Laine (2). After a decade as a strategic management consultant, she is channeling her consultative skills into the online publishing world. Widely considered an authoritative source of all things mom, kid and home-related by a large circle of friends, Sarah’s true maven style is perfect for her lead role in shaping the “trusted advisor” SavvyMom has evolved into for thousands of moms across Canada. Minnow Hamilton, Managing Editor, is a SavvyMom to two sons, Ryan (8) and Michael (7). With a background in marketing, parenting and dedicated consuming, Minnow provides savvymom.ca with the insight and humour that SavvyMom readers appreciate every week. To learn more, visit www.savvymom.ca

Posted by Lynnette in Small Business Spotlight on May 27th, 2010

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Eight Free Marketing Ideas for Savvy Mompreneurs

By Jan Marie Dore

Promoting your small business can be expensive at times. However, there are strategies available to smart entrepreneurial moms that cost little or no money—just an investment of some time. These strategies can deliver results that are immensely satisfying for your marketing efforts. Prospect and client response will indicate which of the following free or low-cost ideas is the right choice for your business:

1. Make customer service a priority

Providing exceptional customer service will keep your clients coming back, along with their word-of-mouth referrals. When you meet potential clients, follow up by phone or email. Adhere to a policy of response to all inquiries within 24 hours. Touching base by phone and putting the customer’s needs first makes your service personal.

2. Add value

Giving away value that serves your customers is a great way to cement your relationships. Create loyal fans by over-delivering on value and meeting the key needs of your prospects and clients. This doesn’t mean giving away more of your time or products. Think creatively about what customers will really like to get from you, over and above your time or your product.

3. Expand your database

Create a targeted list of people who would be interested in hearing from you. This objective should be first on your list to make it easier for you to promote your expertise and expand the reach of your business. Treat every encounter as an opportunity to expand your network.

4. Keep in touch

Designing a ‘keep-in-touch’ strategy is crucial to your business growth. On average, it takes at least seven to nine contacts before people are ready to do business with you. You should keep in touch with email on a regular basis, using items such as ‘tips’ lists, articles, checklists or coupons, to keep your services and products top of mind.

5. Ask for testimonials

Clients are happy to say nice things about you if you ask. Place their comments in a prominent place in all your promotional materials (with their permission, of course); at your website, in your brochure or ezine. Ask clients to be as specific as possible and to write about real results they achieved or a valuable difference you made to them, rather than just general, vague comments.

6. Write and submit articles

If you like to write, article writing is a very effective promotional tool for service-based entrepreneurs. Send articles filled with valuable tips to trade publications, online article directories and specific online sites that your target market would read, with links back to your website.

7. Write testimonials and comments for others

Writing testimonials for people you do business with, or for authors whose books you have read, may get you noticed if they put your comment on their website, ezine or blog. Posting to other people’s blogs or in forums and discussion lists related to your target market also works well. Adding a link to your posts will drive traffic to your website.

8. Send a press release

Sending a press release makes good business sense. Create a list of media contacts that you can use repeatedly. Write your press release and connect it to a current event in the news or a holiday season to attract more attention. Send it directly to the specific editor in your area of specialty. Don’t make it too sales-oriented or promotional—that would be an ad, not a press release.

Choose any of these ideas, then take action to expand upon your current marketing objectives and promote your expertise for free.

janmariedore_thumb.jpgJan Marie Dore is the Founder of Femalepreneurs.com, an online learning center for women worldwide who want to create a more profitable business and live a great life. Jan is a small-business authority whose passion is inspiring women to achieve new levels of success and fulfillment through her coaching programs, teleseminars, workshops and retreats. She has made it her mission to teach women simple, effective marketing strategies that will attract more customers and grow substantial profits with much less effort.

Posted by Lynnette in Growing Your Biz, Marketing on May 26th, 2010

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Identity Theft Hurts: Part 2

By Donna Marrin

Prevention is your best revenge

1. At Home

Lock personal information in a secure place at all times so nobody entering your home, invited or not, can gain access to it.

  • Purchase a personal shredder and shred all documents before you trash them: charge receipts, insurance forms, cheques, bank statements, expired charge cards, etc.
  • Keep a current photocopy (also in a locked, secure place) of every piece of information that you carry with you: your driver’s license, social security card, etc., for immediate referral if your purse or wallet is stolen.

2. Your Mail

It’s a fact of life that our mailboxes sit in isolation for most of each day; therefore, a locking mailbox is your wisest security measure. The more difficult it is to access, the less chance your mail will be targeted.

  • Remove mail as promptly as possible from your mailbox.
  • Be familiar with your billing cycles and follow up immediately if you notice any missing bills. Thieves will use stolen information to submit a “change of address” while paying the minimum charge on a bill, later requesting a new card with a new address. Before long, the thief is using your credit card without your knowledge.
  • Report immediately discrepancies on monthly statements.
  • Thieves have no access to your outgoing mail as long as you drop it directly into designated Canada Post collection boxes.
  • Before you go on vacation, call Canada Post to arrange a vacation hold.

3. Out and About

  • Never supply your Social Insurance Number unless it’s absolutely necessary. Ask if you can use a different form of ID instead.
  • When going out, plan to carry only the identification and credit or debit card that you know you will need to use and secure any extra cards in your locked area at home.
  • Never sign the back of a credit card. Instead, print “Photo ID Required” in the signature area.

4. Security Measures

  • When you create a password, don’t use obvious, locatable information: maiden name, birth dates, consecutive numbers, or parts of your SIN or phone number. And never keep written records of passwords.
  • Never divulge personal information over the phone, Internet or by mail, unless you’re certain you’re dealing with a legitimate organization and you were first to initiate contact. Exercise extreme caution when responding to sales promotions. Identity thieves will create phony promotional offers designed to glean personal information. They pose as bank representatives, lottery administrators, Internet service providers and other official-sounding business personnel. They will do whatever it takes to persuade you to reveal your personal information to them. Do you handle financial transactions over the Internet? If so, ask about their privacy/security policies: Is your personal information shared with other agencies? How secure is their server? How do they store personal information? If you are wary of their policies, discontinue your business with them.
  • Question security policies in your workplace, doctor’s office or any other organizations using your personal information, and know exactly who has access to it. Find out if your information will be shared with mailing list companies, marketing and survey companies or anyone else. Request that your information be kept confidential. Keep your purse or wallet locked in a secure place at work, and do the same with any administrative forms displaying your personal information.

5. Cheques

  • When you reorder cheques, pick them up at the bank instead of having them sent to your mailbox.
  • Have only your first initial and last name printed on your cheques. Not knowing how you sign your cheques will make it a lot more difficult for a thief to forge your full name, since banks keep your signature on file for comparison. It’s also a good idea to have your business address and phone number printed on cheques instead of your home information. Without access to your home address and phone number, a thief who steals your cheques will have difficulty infiltrating other accounts.
  • Never print your SIN or driver’s license numbers on your cheques. You can supply this information later, if absolutely necessary.
  • When paying your credit card account by cheque, do not write your entire account number on the “For” line. Many people view your cheque as it works its way through the payment process. If you supply only the last four digits of your account number, the credit card company can still identify your account.
    Be extremely protective of your personal information. Ask questions, no matter who requests access. Demand to know why they need your information, what they plan to do with it, how long they intend to keep it, who they plan to share it with and how you can feel confident with their security measures. Identity theft is a debilitating crime, and these simple precautions can save you months, if not years, of grief and damage to your financial status.

Fighting Back

If your credit cards or cheques have disappeared, acting fast is the best form of damage control. Identity thieves work against the clock and will abandon efforts the moment they sense detection. Your diligence is key.

  1. Contact your bank and/or credit card company the instant you notice that your cheques and/or credit cards are missing.
  2. File a police report immediately. You should also visit PhoneBusters, Canada’s anti-fraud call centre, to learn more about protecting yourself against fraud.
  3. Call in a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting the following Canadian credit bureaus: Equifax Canada and Trans Union Canada. To read more, visit Public Safety Canada.

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. Visit her at www.markhamvillagewriters.com.

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Organized, Technology on May 25th, 2010

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Victoria Day – What’s Open, What’s Closed

By Rachel Swiednicki

clip_image002STAPLES stores in Canada will be closed on Victoria Day only in the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. STAPLES stores in other provinces will remain open.

Other institutions and services closed on Victoria Day include banks, government services, libraries and schools. Beer and liquor stores will also be closed in Ontario. As a tourist attraction, the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto will remain open with limited hours. GO Transit and the TTC will both run on holiday schedules.

Is it a good idea for a small business to shut its doors on a statutory holiday? Some entrepreneurs are divided on this; while it’s an opportunity to make more money, more is usually spent. Some small business owners offer employees a chance to work the holiday, compensating them either with time off at a later date or overtime earnings. For some, the holiday is a good time to be in the office since it’s unusually quiet and you can achieve lots of work. For others, a mental health day to “recharge batteries” is far more important.

For more information on public holidays in Canada visit here.

Rachel

 

Rachel Swiednicki is a professional communicator, with ten years of experience in the communications industry. Eight of those years were spent as a journalist before moving into a career in public relations/corporate communications.

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on May 24th, 2010

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STAPLES BizTIPs 4business: Build an online community—Grow your business

By Small Business Expert, Roger Pierce, BizLaunch

Online communities are becoming increasingly popular with large companies eager to connect with customers. Your new small business can start one too. Your online community might include prospects, customers, employees, suppliers and colleagues.

When you build a sizeable community, marketing and selling is much easier because you can simply introduce your products or services. Your online community will also provide feedback on your business, connect you to others and become a source of market research.

Here’s how you can build your own community:

Discover where your customers are. With the bountiful number of social media platforms out there, it is often hard to decide which medium is best for your business. Research, explore and ask your customers where they are in order to find out the best place to start building your community.

Use online applications. The most popular online community development tool is Facebook.com. You may also work with Meetup.com, LinkedIn.com and Twitter.com. Call your group something relevant to what you do, such as “Toronto Wine Lovers’ Group” or “BizLaunch Small Business Community.” A clear, common interest is important.

Communicate regularly with your group. The Internet is a dynamic, live environment, so you can’t just create a group and walk away. Someone within your business must be responsible for cultivating your community by posting fresh comments and materials regularly and communicating with group members daily.

Connect your community to your world. Invite your group members to free seminars, networking nights, or other events hosted by your business. Post a link to your blog and website. Upload photos. Share some advice and offer to answer questions. Your online community will be more inclined to return if you are interactive with them and give them something of value.

Roger Pierce

ROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve success. Co-founder of Canada’s largest small business training company, BizLaunch.ca, he’s launched eleven small businesses of his own and personally experienced what he calls “the good, the bad and the ugly” sides of entrepreneurship.

BizLaunch advises thousands of Canadian startups through its popular how-to seminars and webinars delivered with partners such as STAPLES.

Posted by Lynnette in STAPLES BizTIPs on May 21st, 2010

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An interview with Sally Hogshead, Speaker, Author and Brand Innovation Consultant

By Donna Marrin

Sally Hogshead

Sally Hogshead

My company, Fascinate, helps companies become more fascinating. For instance, we help brands develop messages that fascinate consumers. We teach leaders how to persuade employees. We show marketers how to create more influential messages.

How did you start out?

I began as a copywriter in advertising and rose to a creative director. When I was 27, I opened my first advertising agency. I’ve always loved writing—passionately, wildly love it. I love when a brand needs to figure out who it is, what it stands for, why people should care. Nothing gets me more revved up than developing thoughts that leave the world an ever-so-slightly more interesting place than before those thoughts were thought.

Was there a time when you reached a ‘fork in the road’ where you chose the path that took you to where you are today? 

In 2003, during a pregnancy, doctors ordered me to quit my job and stay in bed until the baby was born. Let me tell you, bed rest is less fun than it sounds. I went from being at the top of my field to being unemployed, unable to even walk out the front door. It humbled me. It crushed me. To get through that time, I propped my laptop on my growing belly and began to write. Months passed. The pregnancy progressed well, and so did I. The baby grew big enough to jiggle my laptop when she kicked. Two things came out of this process. One was my first book, named RADICAL CAREERING. It was published in 2005, and you can download it free at. The other thing that came out of this process? My amazing and hilarious daughter, Azalea. (Oh, and for the record: delivering a baby requires less pain medication than birthing a book.)

Did you have any doubts, and if so, how did you overcome them?

I have doubts every single day! How do I overcome them? Big goals, strong caffeine, and a sharp kick in the ass.

In advertising, how much emphasis do you put on following instincts over going with the formula?

Formulas are intellectual, rational and predictable. Ads that follow formulas are easy to create and easy for a committee to approve, because they don’t require any original thought. The problem? Formulas lead to ads that are forgotten— or worse, ignored. Luckily, formulas can be tweaked. By understanding universal human behaviors, you can create messages that captivate consumers. In my book, FASCINATE, I explain how people and companies can influence behavior by applying the seven fascination triggers, which include mystique, lust, power, and trust.

What has your biggest learning curve been in terms of marketing your business?

Paperwork. (Fortunately, I have excellent delegation skills.)

Describe a day in the life…

Coffee at 6 am. Wake up at 6:15. Craziness ensues for the next twelve hours, during which time I’ll probably write a blog post, respond to emails, plan a speech, connect with my team on our latest project, have a call with my agent, reheat something in the fridge and scrounge for cookies or something sugary. Then dinnertime, after which my brain hits “off” whether I want it to or not. Around 11 pm, I make coffee to get me up the next morning.

You’re also a mom—how do you balance business and family?

I don’t have this one figured out yet. Every day is a work in progress. I find that it’s hard to be great at anything when you’re 50/50. I pick times to unplug, then I focus totally and blissfully on my kids.

Do you have a favorite business tool or resource?

Yes: social media, especially Twitter. (My Twitter username is @SallyHogshead, by the way, if you’d like to connect.) By following a wide range of authors and marketers and journalists and pop culture junkies, I can peek inside their minds, and learn how they think and work.

What is the one piece of advice you would like to give to others thinking about starting a business?

Aspire to be the dumbest person in the room.

By that I mean, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you—people who can challenge you and inspire you and push you to the next level. Working with smart people is the mack daddy. The be-all and end-all. It’s the single most important criteria for evaluating your current or potential job.

What is the key to your success?

Sheer refusal of mediocrity.

What inspires you?

My kids. Daily.

sally_hogshead_logo ABOUT SALLY HOGSHEAD Growing up with the last name Hogshead would give anyone an unconventional point of view. Today, Sally is a speaker, author, and nationally-acclaimed marketing expert.
During her second year in advertising, Sally won more awards than any other writer in the U.S., and was called “the most successful junior copywriter of all time.” She went on to guide world-class brands such as Aflac, Target, Godiva, and Coca-Cola. She’s frequently interviewed by media such as the New York Times and NBC’s Today Show, and the Globe and Mail described her as “The marketing mistress of captivation.”
Sally’s new book is titled, FASCINATE: YOUR 7 TRIGGERS TO PERSUASION AND CAPTIVATION. Curious to know how you persuade others? Find out in Sally’s “F Score” personality test, based on research of over 1,000 people, available for free here. Sally’s website is http://www.SallyHogshead.com, and she can be reached at Fascinate@SallyHogshead.com.

Posted by Lynnette in Small Business Spotlight on May 20th, 2010

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Selecting the perfect chair

By Ian Rant, True Innovations Inc.

In today’s world, many of us have fast paced, technology charged lifestyles, spending hours interacting with our computers. Whether its long work hours at the office, home-based office spaces or casual home workstations tucked away in the kitchen/den, a universal question emerges: Where will you sit? Most likely—in what is classified as an “office chair.”

The first and most obvious step in selecting the right chair for you is to determine your average maximum time spent seated. This will help you determine the class of chair you require. Each class is equipped with varying ergonomic features to provide unique support levels for specific areas of your body that become fatigued while seated. In some cases, these additional ergonomic features are adjustable to offer a more precise fit for what you may require at that moment.

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Classes of chairs can be broken down as follows: Heavy Use/Task Chair – typically used by receptionists, secretaries, computer programmers, etc. It is moderate in overall size, but rich with adjustable features. These features may include an articulating headrest, adjustable lumbar, height/width adjustable arms, synchro-tilt multi-paddle seat plate and pneumatic height adjustments. Moderate Use/Manager’s Chair – typically used by the middle manager; a user who is up and down many times during the day, balancing working at their computer and spending time in meetings. These chairs are usually mid-back in height, with minimal ergonomic extras for extended use. The overall design has more style than the Heavy Use/Task Chair, reflecting in the elevated position. Executive Chair – This class is similar in mechanical features as the Manager’s Chair, but differs greatly in size and overall style and comfort. This chair is usually high-back, larger and more comfortable than the other two classes, but not suitable for long periods of use. It is designed for the user who sits back, and spends more time on the phone than using the computer on their desk. This chair denotes style and status, but usually comes at a higher price.

 

True is a world class innovator and manufacturer of office furnishings. As an organization we focus on developing unique trend setting product designs that bring amazing design concepts with solutions for nearly any price point. Our business is one where we are vertically integrated, allowing us to have complete control of all phases of product development, manufacturing, distribution, and customer service. Our world class manufacturing plants are second to none, and ensure a quality product is delivered to our consumers worldwide. You can find our products at Staples under several brand names including Serta®, and True Innovations™. Our culture is one where we are never satisfied and are always pushing to improve our products. We believe we have the most talented people in the business and our employees are dedicated to making the company the best in the world.

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Organized, Lifestyle on May 19th, 2010

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Identity Theft Hurts: Part 1

By Donna Marrin

Imagine this: A stranger finds a way to steal your personal information, be it your social insurance number, driver’s license number, credit card and bank account numbers, your mother’s maiden name. Then he uses this information to obtain lines of credit and credit cards from banks and retailers, siphon money from your existing accounts, apply for loans, open accounts with utility companies, rent lodging, file bankruptcy, obtain a job. He uses your name to wreak havoc. It takes you months, even years, to get your life, and your credit rating, back to normal. This isn’t a nightmare—it’s an alarming trend that’s happening right now to people like you.

Let’s look at some facts:

• According to law enforcement officials, identity theft is today’s fastest growing crime
• Criminals will use a victim’s identity to commit a wide range of crimes—from traffic violations to felonies
• Armed with only the victim’s social insurance number, birth date and an address and phone number, a criminal can use this information, combined with a forged driver’s license displaying their own picture, to begin a crime spree in your name.

What spells ‘opportunity’ to a criminal?

  1. Recent Death
    A criminal will do groundwork to locate addresses of any recently deceased by browsing obituary columns in the newspaper, monitoring selected residences and grabbing any mail that accumulates. It may take a few days or as long as a month to collect what they need before they can steal an identity. They look for bank statements, credit card receipts, tax bills, utility bills, and they will pick through garbage if necessary. They depend on the deceased’s loved ones being so distraught that they neglect to notify the post office about cancellation of mail delivery.
  2. High-Tech Tools
    Probably the easiest way to steal an identity is by using a computer recording device (spyware) that transfers information from the victim’s computer to the thief’s. Spyware records all your computer activity: passwords, banking information, credit card numbers, private emails, chat-line conversations. All of your information is funneled directly into a free and untraceable email account, whereupon an automated process scans to extract your most high-security information. You won’t know what hit you until it’s too late. Thieves often also send out emails disguised to appear to be from legitimate businesses requesting personal data.
  3. Easy-To-Access Mailboxes
    What’s an identity thief’s handiest tool? Your mailbox. Any mailbox that offers easy access is fair game. Typically, they seek out bills detailing your personal information. They are not averse to rummaging through your garbage either, in search of personal information. They will go so far as to submit a change of address notice to the post office, having your mail rerouted to a new post office box. They will send in those “pre-approved credit card offers” that they’ve picked from your trash, to credit card companies, with a “new address” substituted. Of course, the new card—with your name on it—is then sent directly to the thief.
  4. “Lost” ID
    Forgery of social insurance cards, driver’s licenses and birth certificates is big business. The only equipment needed is a computer, a good printer, and the right software—easy to find on the Web if you know what to look for. An electronic device called a “skimmer” can be connected to the credit card reader at restaurants or any cash station; it reads the magnetic strip on your card then transmits your personal information to another location, where it is re-encoded and used to create a fraudulent credit card.
  5. Out on the Town with Your Guard Down
    Worst case scenario: a waiter or salesperson retains a record of your card number, expiry date and security code on the back of your card, waits a few weeks, then uses your information to go on an online shopping spree. It has happened. Trying to determine exactly where and when your card numbers were stolen are next to impossible.
    And how careful are you with your password while using an ATM machine? A device similar to the skimmer can be installed to read your card’s data and if the thief happens to be close enough to look over your shoulder as you input your PIN, it won’t be long before you discover that your bank account has been siphoned.

Tune in next week for Part 2 of Identity Theft Hurts: Prevention is your Best Revenge.

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Organized on May 18th, 2010

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