XpressMarketing

Should you take a vacation?

Well, here we are right at the end of 2005, and all I've had in terms of a vacation this year is 2 three day weekends and 1 four day weekend.  Not that I'm complaining (much), but as a small business owner, I wonder how others deal with the challenge of wearing all the hats every day, all year long.

I recently read in Entrepreneur Magazine how important it is to take time off to recharge.  Yes, but who will do the accounts receivable?  Who will make sure that all the papers and toners are in stock for the next job?  Who will answer the telephone and chat with Gary the mailman when he comes in?

I'm curious about what others are doing...any comments? 

And by the way, a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all!
Paula

Holiday Cheer

XpressMarketing is hosting a n openhouse on Thursday, December 15 from1 - 6pm.  Please feel free to stop by and share some holiday cheer!
Remember, the new address is 460 State Street, First floor.

XPRESSMARKETING has Moved!

Just in time to celebrate the holiday season, we have relocated our shop to 460 State Street.  We're on the first floor and our door is right off of the parking lot.

We're really happy with the space, all of the production equipment fits into one area - no more running back and forth between the front and the back of the shop!

LeeLoo is getting used to it, too.  (However, she barks quite a bit at all the foot traffic on State Street.) The rest of us are trying to empty boxes as we look for needed supplies.  But, we are up and running!

Visit, call or email and get 15% off your first project in our new location!  Just mention that you saw it on our blog.

Paula

How deep is your committment?

I was reading an entry in Small Business trends about off again, on again entrepreneurs.  These are the folks that go back and forth between corporate life and owning a businesses.  I guess I've never been able to jump back and forth - when I was an employee and needed a new job, I found one.  I never thought about starting a business.  Steve was always the opposite.  He always thought about being self employed while in a job.  But here we are, both at XpressMarketing, neither of us even thinking about ever going back to a 9 - 5.  It's good to feel this way, because it keeps you moving forward in your business!

Giving Back to the Community

Hello friends,

As you probably know, I've been looking for ways to give back to the community.  In fact, LeeLoo and I are going through training to become registered as a Therapy Dog (and handler) so we can visit nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities that need a little joy.

And now we've decided to help United Way, by acting as the focal point for small business pledges and contributions.  We're starting with you, our customer base.  You should have received a letter recently from the United way.  We're asking for a contribution of $50.  And, when you bring your pledge card and/or check in to XpressMarketing, we will give you a $15.00 credit as a thank you! 

Hope to see you all soon.

Take care,
Paula

Entrepreneurship on the rise

According to a recent study cited by EntrepreneurNewz, 47% of all adults in the U.S. have started a business.  This is no surprise to us at XpressMarketing.  Steve and I have always believed that small business was the backbone of the economy - it's just that, like Rodney Dangerfield said, "we don't get no respect"!

In Monroe County, small businesses under 49 employees make up over 23,000 businesses!  We are the ones buying products and services in Rochester while the larger companies have cut back.  As more and more people begin the journey to owning their own business there are more suppliers available to choose from.  And that's important, because we have to support each other.

Recently, we had one of our customers (HDL Services) do work at our house in preparation to sell.  We plan on using another customer (Jewels Cleaning Services) shine the place up.  By seeking out and buying from others working hard to make a success of their business, we contribute to the health of our economy.  That has to be good for all of us.

By the way, I said as much in the Democrat and Chronicle on April 10th.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050410/BUSINESS/504100329&SearchID=73205163867920

Take care,
Paula

We have a title!

OK, so maybe I'm a proud furmom, but Friday our loyal pooch LeeLoo passed her AKC Canine Good Citizen!  Thanks to all of you who come and visit, she is the most socialized pup ever!  The youngest dog in our trainers history to get this designation! 

What does this have to do with business, you may wonder? My thought is that varied experiences help us grow and become more accepting of strange and sometimes frightening occurrences. Much like being an entrepreneur, where strangers may become friends, business partners or competitors, this AKC class forces the dog to trust in the goodness of people.  Wouldn't it be great if we could take our own "good citizen" test before going into business?

Special New Year's promotion

As we welcome in 2005, we'd like to extend a special $25.00 promotion on any project we offer.  Simply print out this post and bring it into the shop!

We've printed thousands of business cards, hundreds and hundreds of brochures, newsletters, flyers and game pieces!  Surely, there is something you want!

This offer is good for the month of January.  Make sure you check often to see what other surprises may be here!

Paula

Thoughts on the year's end

What an terrific year it's been for us at XpressMarketing!  We have many new friends and customers with lots of different and exciting businesses. 

2005 promises to be even better.  For us small businesses, the challenge is in finding the place to be.  Some ideas to think about came from Entrepreneur Magazine this issue. 

For example, we, and many in our circle, are aging.  Financial Planning has a market of over 77 million baby boomers!  What can you do to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack in reaching this huge market?

And, we are fat.  Not just us, but our kids and our pets.  Can you help someone lose weight, or help heavier people live more comfortably?  A kids plus-size consignment shop?  A doggie gym class?  Is there a place for your services somewhere in there?

My favorite trend is the memory loss that is coming from multitasking.  It seems that with surfing the internet while in a meeting, talking cell phones as your driving or checking email on a PDA during your favorite television show is creating short circuiting in our memories.  If you have a solution to this one, please email me!  (However, you may have to remind me what I wrote.)

Meanwhile, as you plan your New Year's resolutions, think about how you can grab a small piece of the 2005 business market. It's gonna be big.

Happy New Year!

Thank you Sir, Thank you Ma'am

What is a blog, I wondered?  What can I possibly use "it" for?  Does it take a lot of time?  These questions and more were answered with humor and intelligence by Yvonne DiVita and Tom Collins at their BusinessBloggingBootcamp.

It seems that a blog can be pretty much anything you want it to be, from a diary to a dictionary.  For business, it seems to be a pretty neat way to keep your customers informed of ideas, events and information that will make their business lives a little easier.  Kind of like a newsletter, but not.

So, here at XpressMarketing, we're planning some exciting things for our blog.  Hope to see you there!

Paula