Holiday Shopping

Holiday Shopping

This May Affect Your Holiday Shopping

Stores that informed the Security Exchange of plans to close and/or limit their operations between October 2008 and January 2009:

  • Circuit City stores; number not yet determined
  • Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide are to be closed
  • Holding Company for Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherine's closing 150 stores
  • Eddie Bauer to close 27 stores by year end, and more to close after January
  • Cache closing all stores
  • Talbot's closing all stores
  • J. Jill closing all stores
  • GAP closing 85 stores
  • Footlocker closing 140 stores. More to close after January
  • Wickes Furniture closing all stores
  • Levitz closing all stores
  • Bombay closing remaining stores
  • Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 more after January
  • Whitehall closing all stores
  • Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
  • Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January
  • Home Depot closing 15 stores
  • Macys to close 9 stores after January
  • Linens and Things closing all stores
  • Movie Galley closing all stores
  • Pacific Sunware closing all stores
  • Pep Boys closing 33 stores
  • Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
  • JC Penny closing a number of stores after January
  • Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores
  • Wilson Leather closing down all stores
  • Sharper Image closing down all stores
  • KB Toys closing 356 stores
  • Lowe's to close down some stores
  • Dillard's to close some stores
  • Starbuck's closing multiple stores; number not yet determined
Our Greatest Fear

Our Greatest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"

Actually, who are you NOT to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.

-----Marianne Williamson

Business Basics by Terry Christensen

Business Basics by Terry Christensen

Small Business Strategies in Economic Uncertainty
Have you felt like hiding under the covers lately? Hiding under the covers is no way to handle the onslaught of negative news about the economy. That's the last thing you should do! Be brave. Be bold. Be kind. Always be thinking of your ability to serve instead of your ability to survive.

Now is the time to serve your current customer base. There are several factors to consider when improving your business in troubled times. Here are a few ideas that may help keep you fiscally fit:

  1. Support your customer's business by becoming their customer. When possible, purchase products and services from your existing clients. This will help build more trust and develop loyalty in your relationship.
  2. Don't stick your head in the sand. Get out of your office and go visit those customers. A recession is no time to hide. Let them know you're alive! Figure out a way to be extraordinary. Have some fun. Customers find it difficult to say no during a face-to-face meeting, especially if they are having some fun along the way. It is much easier to say no to an email or phone conversation and it is much more difficult to create an extraordinary experience for your client.
  3. Bring something of value to them. You will have their undivided attention if you bring a lead to your client. The bigger the potential sale for them the better! At the very least, bring a tasty treat for the office. Donuts are usually a hit. This can also be a benefit in gaining new business. It can turn that "feisty gatekeeper" into a "sweetheart" in a matter of seconds!
  4. Put their needs ahead of your own. Listening is a lost art in our society. While your client is chewing on that hot Krispy Kreme donut, be prepared to ask 3 or 4 good open-ended questions. Sit back and listen after each question is asked. It's amazing what you can learn from someone when you keep your mouth shut!
  5. Constant communication is king! Send birthday, thank you, and holiday cards. Call them. Email them. Being in constant contact with your customers let's them know that you are thinking of them and that you care. Open communication is imperative to the success of every business. This includes opportunities to network at social and business gatherings which affords you another way of getting eyeball to eyeball with your clients. Your online presence is also an essential element for customer communication.
  6. Hold onto customers as if your life depended on it. The price of generating new business is by some estimates 10 times as expensive as maintaining existing clients who do repeat business with you. If a customer is having trouble affording your product or service, try working with them to make it affordable. This will help build customer loyalty, and will pay off in the end.

These are just a few of the things to help focus on what's truly important in your business. Relationships are king. Do everything in your power to take care of your existing customers. Be as service minded as you can be. Make it fun. Be extraordinary and the rewards will be exceptional!