Why Customer Care for Your Home Biz?

Lauren

Mommy's Helper - Mom's Market Ezine
Issue #126
Wednesday, April 19th, 2006

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Editor's Rambling:
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Note from Anita

You're never too old to learn something new, right? Well, that's what I thought too so I decided it was time to learn how to make some of our ebook covers myself. Check out my handy-dandy work at: http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/tools.html. Now before all you graphic designers out there look - remember, I'm a newbie! (LOL) I'm still working on that "3-D" effect, but I'll get there. So, is there something out there that you've been dying to learn? Go do it! You'll be so happy that you did Wink

Oh and before I forget ... Our Online Party Class has already started but we still have a couple of spots left. Secure your spot now! http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/online-parties.html. And if Online Parties isn't your thing ... be sure to check out our other up and coming classes at http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/classes.html.

Till next week...

~Anita DeFrank
Mommy's Helper

Note from Kara

It just can't be Wednesday again already! I keep checking the calendar, but it seems to be true. Seems like this week just completely flew by in a second. Half of last week was spent getting ready for a craft show over the weekend, and we're getting ready for another for this Saturday. Some may say I'm "working too hard" by attenting craft shows or selling my own product for not enough profit (because apparently a few hundred isn't enough for one day), but honestly I don't see that any of it as work in the first place. It's my chance to get out of the house for awhile. My chance to meet REAL people and not just email addresses. My chance to talk one on one with vendors and customers - to LEARN about their personal and business needs (try to find THAT online!). My chance to experience the show and not just ask others about it. So am I working too hard? Heck no! Not only is it FUN, but I'm learning information that can't be found in a survey or article. While the internet is a WONDERFUL tool, it's a BIG world out there - make sure you are experiencing it. Wink

Now aside from the craft show, I have been doing some additional learning online. (Don't get me wrong - I love the internet. Although there's a REAL world out there too!) Last week I mentioned learning web design, which I dove right into. I had quite the "I can't do it" additude with graphics for a long time, but after some playing on PaintShop I realised that maybe I actually can. Not to say it's easy, but still I can be taught after all! Since I'm working on a new site, I'm looking for the perfect logo. Doing it myself of course, I continue to play around with designs and studying other's. I'm still no graphic artist and have MUCH respect for those that do graphic design, but I think I'm getting there. The next step of this project will be learning PHP scripts from scratch - something I'm really looking forward to.

See you next week!

~Kara Kelso~
Mom's Market

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Article
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Why Customer Care for Your Home Biz?

I recently contacted the insurance company to send me a change of beneficiary form for a life insurance policy. There have been some changes to my household, which need to be made immediately in the event that something should happen to me. 4 weeks and 3 phone calls without so much as an acknowledgement from the company.

Recently, my printers decided to simply quit printing. When I called the manufacturer, the technician stayed on the phone with me for over 3 hours trying to get the printers to work. They followed up with me every single day for 4 days. In the end, it wasn't the printers at all, but somewhere in my operating system, certain updates had deleted important drivers for both printers.

It is amazing to me how opposite my experiences were with both these companies. The insurance company must be doing so well that they feel they do not need my business as evidenced by the fact that they can't send a simple standard form in the mail. The other company realizes the importance of every single customer and how that affects their bottom line. Not only do I find the quality of their product exceptional, but now they have given me all the more reason to remain a customer for the future.

Much of "big business" has long abandoned customer care. Just walk into any "super store". Everything is 'mega this and mega that". When was the last time you walked into a department store to find sales personnel actually there to help you rather than just to checkout your merchandise?

Years ago, you could go to the butcher who knew exactly what cut of meat you preferred and the day you would be in to his store. The dry cleaner would have your clothes ready as soon as you walked in, the baker knew all your kids names. The business owners became your friends and they genuinely cared about you, their "bread & butter" customer. You became their customer for life. You had no reason to go anywhere else because it became a matter of trust and loyalty.

Today there is a home business boom! However, home & other small businesses simply do not have the same financial resources as large companies for advertising. This presents an incredible opportunity to provide a level of customer care that was represented by those businesses of long ago. The time and effort used to establish the business / customer relationship is valuable. It is well known that it costs far less money to keep existing customers than it is to attract new ones all the time.

What happens when someone walks into your store or lands on your website? What is their customer experience? Who is the first person they see? Will they be welcomed like a good friend or will they be turned off by indifference? What do you do after they become your customer? We are all taught to have a business & marketing plan, but does your business have a well-prepared customer care plan?

The opportunity for small businesses to fill in the gap is incredible! Don't let it pass your business by.

Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who exchanged her suits, hose and heels to work from home ?in her jammies.? She specializes in helping baby boomers make the transition to a home- based business. Her ?Baby Boomers Home Business Guide? is available at http://www.CommuteInYourJammies.com

Article Source: http://wahm-articles.com

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Childcare
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Sneaky Education

As a parent, you sometimes have to be sneaky. On occasion, it is simply in your child?s best interest to ?sneak? something good into him. It might be the veggies you sneak into his dinner by chopping them extra small or the crushed up medicine you sneak into his yogurt when he isn?t willing to swallow it. I personally like to ?sneak? a little bit of education into our playtime.

I have a five year old, a three year old, and an eight month old and I love to play with my three boys. We play cards and board games; we wrestle and tickle; we color and paint; we make crafts and cook; we sing, dance, and read books. Although our playing seems only like play-time to them, I actually use it as an opportunity to teach.

My big boys love to help me cook, so I let them help and I turn it into a learning activity. We do simple things like count scoops of flour or talk about the colors of ingredients. A few days ago we made soft pretzels and they helped roll out the pieces of dough. Instead of twisting the long ropes into the traditional pretzel shape, I had them make letters and numbers. They had a great time playing with the dough, they practiced the alphabet and counting, and they had a healthy snack. Pretty sneaky.

I read books to the boys every night, but sometimes I have them make up their own stories instead. When we first started story telling, I was the only one creating the stories. But after listening to several of my made-up adventures they began wanting to share their own tales. Their first few attempts were not much more than simplified versions of the ones I had shared, but over time they began reciting their own great stories. The length of their stories and the amount of detail improves with each session. They are able to create characters, plot, and action and both boys have developed great imaginations. Very sneaky.

When I play with my baby, I count his toes out loud or name his body parts as I tickle them. I sing songs and clap his hands to the rhythm. He simply likes the attention and interaction, but over time, these will be the things he learns. All sneaky.

Even when just curled up on the couch watching cartoons together, I incorporate some learning. I ask them questions about what is happening or have them predict what will happen next. We sing the theme songs of their favorite shows to improve memory and answer out loud when the characters ask questions about colors or counting. We talk about the characters and I ask them which ones are their favorites and why. We discuss what?s real and what isn?t and we laugh together when something is funny. All of this makes the cartoon an interactive experience and helps their critical thinking skills. Sneaky once again.

There are so many ways to help children learn and grow through play. The opportunities are endless for adding little lessons of learning into a child?s daily life and when you are sneaky enough to have the lesson enveloped in an activity your child enjoys, he might not even realize it is good for him. Sneaky!

Julie Eiben is the wife of a United States Marine and a stay-at-home mommy of three small boys. She is an aspiring chef and avid do-it-yourselfer. She works her home-based business around her busy family schedule which allows her to be home with her wonderful, energetic boys. http://www.fourpointmom.com

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Coffee Break
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Diet Success!

?Lisa Barker

I lost another pound!!!

Hey, that might not be a big deal to some people, but when you're battling the buldge, it's movement in the right direction. Take THAT, buldge!

So, I'm motivated. Every new pound lost gets me that closer to wearing the nice clothes hanging in my closet.

Ever notice that? When we are overweight we pick the drabbiest clothes possible, and save all those nice things for 'later' as if 'someday' we'll DESERVE to wear those clothes.

Hey, don't they make attractive clothing for BIGGER people? SURE they do! But maybe like me, others just don't want to hand over the money for something flattering to wear when they are overweight because...it just might commit us to STAYING overweight.

Don't we live in perpetual optimism? Oh, I can't buy THAT because I'm GOING to lose a lot of weight anytime now!

Or, maybe, you're thinking: I am not buying that outfit because I am NOT gaining anymore weight. As if buying an outfit when we are heavier just opens up the floodgates to gaining even MORE weight.

Well, isn't that true?

When our bodies are not cooperating with our spirits, don't we feel like a bigger pair of pants is just begging our butts to grow into them?

Ergo, I have hit the sweatpants stage. I'm starting to wear them everywhere because I refuse to buy even bigger jeans or skirts. But I can't wear my sweats to Church! Yikes!

And that's when overweight people start getting crafty...right? You start decorating those big Tees and sweatpants with whatnots from the craft store...as if a glittery T-shirt makes up for the money we refused to spend on something elegant at our new high weight.

Okay, let's stop beating ourselves up! Let's just start dressing nicely no matter what weight we are. Maybe by feeling good we'll be more motivated to take better care of ourselves, eat right and exercise.

HMMMMMM.

Ex-er-cise. I've heard that word before. Can't quite remember what it means just yet...BUT I'M WORKING ON IT!!

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Jelly Mom? is written by Lisa Barker, author of "Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent!" and syndicated through Martin-Ola Press/Parent To Parent. To publish Jelly Mom, buy the book or leave comments, please visit http://www.jellymom.com.

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Recipes
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AMISH OATMEAL COOKIES

3 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. lard
1 1/2 c. raisins
2 1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. molasses (dark)
3 eggs, beaten
1 c. peanuts
1 c. sour milk
2 tbsp. soda
2 tbsp. baking powder
6 c. flour
1 tsp. each of nutmeg, cinnamon and salt

Grind raisins and peanuts. Sift together flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt. Cut in lard, add sugar, oatmeal, raisins and peanuts and mix well again. Dissolve soda in sour milk and add molasses and beaten eggs. Chill one hour. Using your hand, roll the dough into balls the size of a walnut and press slightly flat. Beat two eggs and paint the top of the cookie with egg. Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown.

Do you have a favorite recipe to share?
Post them at Mommy's Helper Community (www.MommysHelperOnline.com/phpBB2)!
Note: Recipes must be quick, easy, healthy, and original. Nothing from a cookbook or a box please.

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