During a recent game I was watching there was a commercial for a furniture store that advertises all the time.  There marketing angle is selling complete rooms for very attractive prices.  Good commercials with a good message, although it could use some direct response components to track which message and offer are really driving the traffic to the store.

The most recent ad was very compelling.  It starts out by showing a 60″ Mitsubishi LCD HDTV television and then behind it was a complete living room set including couch, loveseat, three tables and two lamps.  A price of $1,999 flashes on the screen and then the guy on the commercial asks “Which one would you choose to have in your house?”

I thought it was interesting that he was using the angle of comparing buying a TV versus an entire living room set and then he dropped the bomb…

“No need to choose you can get all of this for $1,999 thanks to Andy’s (I think that was the name of the TV store) and Jordan’s teaming up to provide you with an amazing deal.”  I am paraphrasing with the offer but I think you get the idea.

How many of you view your “competition” as true competition, as opposed to looking at them as potential partners to add some amazing value to your products or services.

Take a minute to think about this.  You never know when you might be able to come up with your next big promotion.

Until next time, stay profitable…

I just got back in town from a much needed long-weekend in Boston.  In case you don’t know I am a passionate member of The Red Sox Nation!  Every year I travel to Boston to take in a few Red Sox games.

The city is amazing.  Great site seeing, outstanding restaurants, shopping on Newbury Street and first class accomodations.  I always stay in the Back Bay at The Lenox Hotel.  The attention to detail here is a lesson to take with you and do an in depth look into your own business.  Let me share…

Sweatin’ The Small Stuff

1.  The first thing you notice is how welcoming the doormen are to help you with your luggage and ask how your flight was.  They are in uniform and treat you with respect and warmth.

2.  As soon as you walk in the door you are welcomed by an amazingly fresh aroma that will relieve any stress you may have had from dealing with the airport or traffic on your way into the Back Bay.  After a little inquiring I found out the smell is infused into the air flow system and was custom made to the exact specs of Lenox ownership.  Impressive!

3.  The check in process was quick, efficient and enjoyable as the desk attendents make sure you know you are about to have an experience like no other while staying at The Lenox Hotel.

4.  The hotel manager on duty made us aware that he and his staff were around to make sure we call on them for any of our needs from getting tickets to the Red Sox, dinner reservations or driving accomodations.  He even took the time to get us into the elevator and press the button to get us to our floor.

5.  The maid service was great.  They were ready to tidy up the room early in the morning but were happy to wait until we left for breakfast to clean the room, which they did very well and very fast.

6.  In the early evening there was a turn down service in which they left 2 delicious chocolate Lindt Balls for a little naughty late night snack.  If you haven’t had a Lindt Ball before you are missing out (You can get them locally at Target).  In fact, one of the “naughty” things about staying at The Lenox Hotel is it has a retail shop that is only filled with Lindt chocolate!  (This was trouble.  I think the shop attenedents knew us by name).

7.  Every day as we entered and exited the hotel we were greeted and wished a good day and asked if there was anything that could be done to enhance our stay.  It si nice to be appreciated.

8.  The entire hotel was very clean and cozy making it enjoyable to walk in and out of at any point in time during the day.

9.  Checking out was fast and efficient and a doorman was there to help with the luggage and get us into a cab as we headed to the airport.

Create The Experience…

Every year I go to Boston and stay at The Lenox Hotel I am reminded of how important it is to make my clients feel welcomed and appreciated.  Just like every year, I took a few ideas away that I plan on using to implement into my mortgage business.

Moral of the story, take time to “WOW” your clients before, during and after doing business with them.  That is how you create true ambassadors of your business,  just like I am of The Lenox Hotel.

Until next post…stay positive and profitable!

We are month 2 into the 2nd quarter of 2009.  With all of the rain we received here in the Greater Milwaukee area it was an excellent opportunity to spend a bit more time at the computer to work on projects.

If for some reason you haven’t made any progress and feel like your stuck in the mud, take a moment to get the momentum started.

First, pick a simple task that you know you can complete in a very short period of time.  Getting something done gets your internal engines fired up and ready to go so you can move onto additonal larger tasks.

Second, have the list of things you want to accomplish with you at all times.  Treat it like the “cocktail napkin” that you just scribbled on while having a martini that has the “answer” to your next big business breakthrough.  Take it out and review constantly to see what the next step is to achieving your desired outsome.

Third, reward yourself when you accomplish a task, no matter how big or how small.  Go get a coffee from the local coffee shop, treat yourself to a great steak dinner or share the news with friends/colleagues.  Do what you have to do to keep the momentum going.

The old saying in the title of this post is symbolic of what you have to do ini your business.  You have to make it “rain” (doing task that will result in accomplishing a goal) in order to enjoy the reward of the “flowers” (the success you will see once you accomplish the task you set out to do).

So, get out there and make it “rain” (just don’t make it “rain” like PacMan Jones or you may wind up in trouble with the law) so you can enjoy the beauty of the “flowers” that will bloom from your efforts.

Make it a profitable day!

Kevin