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If
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Dear
Friends and Colleagues,
We just returned from the
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Festival (Jazz Fest). It was my 7th Jazz Fest in the
last 9 years. Liz's 6th. AND the baby's first!
We all had a great time, and we celebrated John's 1st
Birthday there! I can't believe how quickly the time
has gone by. Honestly, its passed in a sleepless haze...
but its been the greatest year of my life. I don't know
what else to say.
Actually, I do want to thank all
of you. So many of you have had such kind words to say
about the baby, as well as sage advice about raising him.
I truly appreciate each and every one of you who have taken the
time to share those things. I've always felt very lucky to
be working with all of you... and never more so than over the
last year.
Enjoy this month's
newsletter, and, as always, if I can ever be of service, please
don't hesitate to get in touch!
Warmest
regards,
John
Sanpietro
Certified
Professional Development Coach
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In
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Do You Want A Blog?
Is The One You Already
Have Generating Enough Business For You?
If Not... Read On! |
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There's no question
about it. Blogging has become a key
part of the business of stamping and
scrapbooking.
If you've been
thinking about starting a blog, or if you have a
blog, but you're not getting the results you
want, I encourage you to sign for one or
both of the upcoming
2008 Blogger's Boot Camps.
| In addition to
learning the latest blogging
techniques, design and marketing
strategies, and sales/profit/
recruiting-generating ideas, you'll
also hear from two guest speakers,
who just happen to be two of the most
talented stamping bloggers around -
Erika Martin (www.stampinmama.com)
and Andrea Walford (www.andreawalford.com)! |
I'm proud to say
these Boot Camp are one of the main reasons so
many stamping business owners are using blogs to
enhance their business AND their profitability.
If that sounds like
something you want to do, or learn more
about...
FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Bad Idea of the Month
Charging Less When
People Are Already Paying More |
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Over the last month or two, I've been perplexed by a
phenomenon that makes no sense to me at all.
Stamping business owners who
copy things their peers are doing successfully, BUT
charge dramatically less for the product or service.
Now, the copying is fine.
That's just business and an indicator of healthy
competition.
However, why on earth would you
take something that people have proven they're willing
to pay a premium for and charge less?
I'm not talking about a dollar or
two less, either. That wouldn't be bad.
One recent example I've seen is a
service that was selling for $25 being sold by other
stamping business owners for $6.
What are you thinking!?
If the market is willing to pay
one price, why would you charge 5X LESS???
There's nothing to be gained from that. You would
have to sell five times as much just to make the same
amount. It make NO sense.
Stamping business owners are
generally insecure about their pricing, and, as a rule,
undercharge for their products and services, but this
takes it to a whole new level.
You're undercutting yourself and
your peers, AND you're creating a situation where you
all end up having to work too hard for the money you
make.
If you're going to copy others,
fine. But copy their prices, too. Trust
that if customers were willing to pay your competition a
certain amount, they'd be willing to pay you the same
amount, as well.
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Come See John
LIVE In Ottawa... |
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 "John
is the BEST business speaker in our profession!"
- Glenda Travelstead
There are a handful of
spaces left for my live presentation at the
5th Annual Stampin' Girls Convention, May 30th and
31st.
I'll be
presenting my Five Steps To A Home-Based Stamping
Business, as well as my Marketing & Recruiting
Workshop.
In addition to
my presentations, they'll be techniques
presentations, make-and-takes, swaps and more!
For more information,
or to register, visit
http://stampingjo.com/convention/index.htm
We're now booking
presentations for the second half of 2008 and 2009!
If
you would like more information about booking John for an appearance in
front of your group, send
us an e-mail, or select
here for more information.
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Sample
of the Month |
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Submitted
by:
Diane Callahan-Caro
Stamp Sets:
Always Blooming With
Love, Posy
C/S:
Orchid Opulence,
Soft Sky, Whisper
White
Inks &
Markers:
Orchid Opulence,
Sage Shadow, Soft
Sky
Accessories:
White Eyelets,
Rhinestone, Hemp
Twine, Crimper,
Ticket Corner Punch,
1/16" Hole Punch
Congratulations
to Diane, who wins a $10 SIMB Gift Certificate! As
part of our efforts to continually improve, I'm happy to
announce the NEW & IMPROVED SAMPLES SECTION.
Utilizing blog technology, the new samples section
features a search function which allows you to look up
samples by a particular stamp set or theme. You
can also click on each sample for an even larger
version. In total, WE
NOW HAVE OVER 500 SAMPLES and are adding more and more
every day. Use
this link to view the new
Samples Section. We
are now looking for
Father's Day
samples!
If
you would like to submit a sample to be considered for
Sample of the Month and the Samples Section, just send
me a scan via e-mail, or mail your sample to: John
Sanpietro, Stamping Is My Business!, 36 Fir Street, Jay,
NY 12941. Please
include your name, e-mail address, phone number and all
materials used to make your sample.
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Book of the Month
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 It's OK to Be the Boss - The Step-by-Step Guide to
Becoming the Manager Your Employees Need
by
Bruce Tulgan
Let's face it... your downline needs to be managed.
They need to be told what to do. They need to be
held accountable. And, for the most part, you're
the person who has to do it.
Unfortunately, most upline are very
uncomfortable in that role. They're afraid of
coming off as too pushy and, as a result, don't get the
kind of performance out of their downline they need.
This book provides several helpful
tips on how to step up and into the role of downline
manager - which is essentially what an upline has to be.
If this is a role you struggle
with, I recommend taking a look at this book. You
may find it quite helpful.
Select here for more information from Amazon.com.
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Stamping
Business Q&A
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My Area Is In A
Recession, And My Business Is Suffering.
What Can I Do? |
Plenty!
There's no question that we're
going through some tough economic times, and we probably
will continue to do so for the next several months, at
least.
However, don't confuse a recession
with a depression! It's not that people don't have
money. It's just that they're going to be more
picky about where and how they spend it.
You need to make sure that your
stamping business provides something for your customers
that they don't want to give up. Ask yourself,
what is the real benefit I my customers get from coming
to my events? Odds are, it's something intangible.
Something more emotional than intellectual.
Try to put your finger on exactly
what that intangible is, then market the heck out of it.
Remember, if your customers need
you and/or what you provide, they won't leave you.
Make sure they know what that thing
is...and how much they need it!
(If
there's a question you'd like answered, or a topic you'd
like me to cover, feel free
to
send
me an e-mail)
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Testimonials... |
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(When we first started
Coaching,
my) goal was to
break into the top 10 teams. (Now,) my team is number 3 this year and
holding strong. WOOHOOO! I have tripled since we coached...!
-
TS, Florida
Thank you for continuing to influence the
stamping and direct sales industry in such a positive way.
Everywhere I look, or everything I read from (my company) about building
our stamping business has your mark on it! Even though you rarely
get the credit you deserve from them, please know that they are many of
us out there who know exactly where that credit belongs!
- SO, Indiana
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Quick
Links...
Order
the Electronic Version of "Stamping Is My Business!"
Order
the Printed Version of "Stamping Is My
Business!"
Order
one of the SIMB Training CDs
Join the Stamping Business
Coaching Group
Find out how to book John to speak live to YOUR group
Learn
more about the SIMB Referral Program Sign
up for 1-on-1 Coaching
Sign
up for an @StampingIsMyBusiness.com e-mail address
Order
the "Stamping Is My Business!" Tote Bag Stamping
Is My Business! Homepage
E-mail
Me
Past Newsletters
April, 2008
March, 2008
February,
2008
January, 2008
December, 2007
November, 2007 October,
2007
September,
2007
July,
2007
June,
2007
May,
2007
April,
2007
March,
2007 NEWSLETTER
ARCHIVE
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Companies I Use
People
always ask me what companies I use to run my home-based
business. The links below are all companies I work with
and recommend:
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