Scott D Jones - Staffing Consultant - Toledo, Ohio

Once again millions of shoppers will be waiting in endless lines and storming the cash registers with their latest and greatest "toys" for the holiday season.  Over 172 million made their way out in 2008 on BLACK FRIDAY.  What it is about $200 off a flat screen tv makes a person ravenous still baffles me.  Although it is hard to not get caught up in all of the glitz and glamour of waking up at 2AM to catch the greatest deal. 

I will be partaking in the festivities but I on the other hand have no great agenda or long shopping list to scour every store from Best Buy to Walmart.  Most likely I will pick up a couple of cheap DVDs and maybe a few Christmas presents along the way.  The best thing about BLACK FRIDAY is to sit back and relax and watch the show begin.  It is the only day of the year two soccer moms could come to blows over who is going to get the last Wii that Walmart has in stock.  Another interesting fact is that someone was actually trampled to death last year at a Walmart when they opened the doors.

Did you know that the average shopper last year spent $372.57 and total spending was up to $41 billion.  That is really a jump start hopefully this year we will see the same success with increasing numbers.  My prediction this year for BLACK FRIDAY is that a lot of people will gravitate towards online deals that retailers are offering.  I think this will have huge success in the group of people that do not want to stand in line or wait out in the cold.  However it could hurt sales with not having impulse buyers in your store.  A lot of sales going on that day generally happen because people tend to pick up things they may not have bought otherwise, because it was a good deal.

As for retailers it marks the kickoff of their last month to get in the "Black" to actually make a profit in this tough economy.  I found a website www.blackfriday2009.com that has all the ads in one spot.  They also offer advice on how to get the items and the best strategy for all you shoppers out there.  It is official we are now in the Christmas season.   Although it is very exciting it will be gone just as fast as it came so take some time to enjoy it.

Best of luck to all of those who are partaking in the BLACK FRIDAY sales and I am looking forward to relaxing and watching football all day this Thursday (GO COLTS!). 

The video of the week is a particularly interesting interview on the Conan O'Brien Show.  Conan is interveiwing Louis CK a comedian when he starts to talk about how everyone does not appreciate the technology we have.  This video somewhat humbled me because I am definetely that guy that gets upset or frustrated when something takes longer than expected.  We are in the "I want it now" era in which we depend on technology to be the fastest and slow down or take away any frustrations.  I do not necessarily perceive this to be a bad thing like they are saying in the interview.  Many innovations are being crafted or have been crafted by the "I want it now" group.  Where would you be if you did not have your cell phone with all the applications that allow you access to an unlimited wealth of knowledge at all times.  This group has changed how people are living and also how companies operate on a day to day basis.  As technology expands and we are getting more accustomed to it I believe we shoud learn as much as we can before we are passed by it.  On that same note sometimes we have to stop to smell the roses.  We have to appreciate the technology we have in our time and embrace it and look to it to help mold our society into the tomorrow we are all moving towards.  Overall I think this video is quite funny and somewhat true but they speak in a negative connotation when it should be a positive outlook of where our world is headed. 

This video of the week does not directly relate to business but when I first saw it I was so shocked that I had to say something.  It is a soccer match between the New Mexico Lobos and BYU.  In it there is a little bit more than rough play.  Now I am no soccer specialist or analyst but with playing indoor the past couple years I have a new respect for the game.  There are times when you get heated and in the passion of going after the ball you knock some people around.  This video however just goes to show you when unsportsmanship starts to come in to play and becomes down right dirty.  Throughout the entire game this type of play was conducted by number 15 on the Lobos team.  I have not ever seen anything like this on a soccer field it looks like something I have seen out on the ice when I played hockey years ago.

Even though this video is not directly related to business I think sometimes we can also lose sight and play a little dirty in the business world.  Let this be a reminder to you that even though you think that no one is watching that someone is.  She was not ejected from the game or carded or suspended but with negative actions come consequences.  Number 15 has lost a lot of credibility I am sure with her team and with many others will never look at her the same after that game.  This video was the most shared news article on ESPN and I am sure that is not the only major publication that this was received.  So always make sure you are playing fairly and by the rules or else you could be put in the negative spotlight just as 15 has been.

Today I am talking about someone I have known for about 6 months now.  He is an entrepreneur starting a web development company called BounceHost.  His name is Zach Ferres he recently presented about Social Media in your Business.  http://www.slideshare.net/zcferres/social-media-in-your-business Here is a link to the SlideShare presentation on Social Media.  Be sure to check out his site as he also has a blog similar to this one speaking about Social Media and important news in the business world.

It is that time of the week again in which I share with you my favorite youtube video of the week.  This week I have a video that explains relationship selling in a very easy to understand format.  They talk about selling soap and it is a very creative video with simple yet good information that many people over complicate.  Please comment on your best practices on selling your "soap".

This week I have decided to focus on leads.  Now that we have noticed some movement in clients purchasing habits what do we do?  So many companies have been stagnant for so long I am seeing to many opportunities missed.  How can we use this recession to our advantage and grow our business?

First thing to do is give some of your old clients a call.  Every company has reorganized in some way or another (Hired, Fired, Laid Off, etc) take that as your opportunity to speak with someone new.  If you had a employee (gatekeeper) that has been difficult in the past maybe they have moved on?  Their predecessor may not be as bad and they may be open to hearing what you have to say.  Some companies have even went as far as laying off the gatekeeper to help reduce cost.  This gives you the opportunity to reach out to old clients or potential clients that you may not have had contact with before.

Second do your homework!  Many companies in different sectors are receiving grants and government assistance which opens spending on products or services that they may be in dire need of.  Focus on how you can provide exactly what they need and how you will make it the best expereince possible for them. 

Customer service is extremely important!  Not only has the client cut their staff but most likely so has your competitor.  This means that your potential client may not be getting the attention they need right now.  Provide that attention and a great product and there will be no reason for them not to switch.  Utilize new Social Media practices in your customer service approach.  Post blogs that show how you had solved a clients problem quickly and that they were very satisfied with the result.  This is key because that potential client wants the warm fuzzies that your current client received.  

Do you have a way to show that you can save a client money?  Your client would like to be able to show their boss how they saved money in this tough time make sure you point this out!
 
Overall many people are saying that we are starting to emerge from this recession.  This is your time to build your clientele and take whatever marketshare you can from the competition before this recession is nothing but a memory. 

-Creator of Destinies