Marketing Struggles

Being a small business owner is no easy task. You have to market, advertise, gain and retain customers, pay staff, and eventually make a profit. I have learned much about the struggles of small business throughout my own personal aspirations to become my own boss.
Marketing is one of the most difficult areas to master. With limited financial resources, one has to be very inventive and creative when attempting to market a new start-up. One of the struggles that plaques us as entrepreneurs is being effective in our marketing and advertising efforts. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and now have Instagram have become markets for start-ups to make their presence known. Although Dani's is my first full-fledged business, I know it will not be my last, as I have several other projects and business ventures. I have an unquenchable thirst to be the boss, as cliche as that may sound.
What I have found to be most effective is being approachable, being available, and dependable. If a business is ever to succeed, the owner/operator has to deliver on their promises and be consistent. Entrepreneurs should know that it takes sometimes years to build a reputation and have that reputation be enough to sustain the influx of customers. I am focusing my efforts on rebuilding that which was lost and neglected and continuing to study and learn the complexities of marketing and advertising. Who knows-maybe I will be able to educate and assist others in this respect in the future? Challenges in business will always exist. We must "pull up our boot straps" and continue if we aspire to be business owners actually in business.

Heading to the Holidays

Today is the 8th of October and I am trying to wrap my mind around the fact that the year of 2013 will soon be ending. The next holiday some of us will celebrate is Halloween, then Turkey Day or Thanksgiving, which inevitably will be bombarded by the ever popular Christmas, at which point, we will be partying (or worshipping) into the year 2014. Families will be overwhelmed with food and gift shopping, traveling, and decorating. After the holiday season, it will be time to place everything back into storage. "A place for everything and everything in its place" as Benjamin Franklin famously stated. What is a woman to do? Now there is an option, that although will cost some money, can save time and energy expended--a personal concierge. A personal concierge is a "jack-of-all-trades" of sorts that is more than willing to assist their clients with those tasks that overwhelm. It does not make you less than because you can not handle everything on your own and you will save precious time delegating time-stealing activities to the concierge. You become the "coordinator" as Fred Sanford once said, "You coordinate." Also, the concierge may not be as expensive as you thought. So, when your list is lengthy and the days and tasks seem to be too much of a burden, pick up the phone. Help may be just a phone call away.

Peace & Blessings,
Andre'a

Difficulty of Operating A Business

I have had my own business for two years in February. It has not been without adversity. Profit is non-existent. So, why do I continue to blog about this company? Why do I strive the way I do? I do what I do because is it inherently my nature to be of help to others. I am currently not accepting clients but I will do freelance work if I feel the need to. My long term goal continues to be to eventually operate my company(s) full-time and be my own boss. I have learned so much over the past two years. Dani's is my brain child. It is my first full-fledge, governmentally recognized business and I will not let it go. With that being said, let us continue to pursue our dreams. We dream purposefully.

Peace and Blessings,
Andréa

Why Friends Does Not a Client Make (Sometimes)

Hello everyone! It has been eons since my last post (well, not literally) but, nevertheless, quite some time. I have missed you all that have read my past posts. I promise I am going to do better. Many things have changed but not my passion for fashion or for simplifying life.
I want to focus on how complicated planning events for family and friends can be. I planned a wedding for a friend back in May and as a result, she and I are on vacation from each other. Initially, the bride-to-be did not have ideas as to what she wanted. But, as time wore on and other people began to give opinions, she became more and more demanding. To make a long drama short, the wedding party was two hours late to the event, she never paid the balance owed, and I lost money and time, as well as a friend because of it. So here are a few tips for you if you are planning on hosting an event for family or friends:

1. Set expectations early- let your client know that you are a professional and you will be treated and paid as such.
2. Make the plan, get it approved, and stick to it. Last minute changes are an unnecessary burden and can cause difficulties.
3. Make sure the client has a budget and set prices accordingly. I will never again allow a client to pay me the balance after the event . The balance should be settled before said event. Have client sign contract and explain it in detail.
4. Lastly, try not to work with family and friends if possible. Offer to assist and give direction but, try not to be the Planner or Event Coordinator. Feelings tend to get caught up and things could end bad if they do not go as planned.

Consider what I have shared and apply it if you agree. Take care of yourselves until the next entry!

Peace and Blessings!
Andre'a

Holiday Frenzy

Well, it is here, the time we've all been waiting for--holiday season. Thanksgiving is just around the corner with Christmas soon to follow. Here a few tips to help you come out on top of the holiday frenzy.

• LIST, LIST,LIST- Never go shopping for food or gifts without a list.If you do, you will end up buying food you already have and purchasing way too expensive gifts.
• Bargain Shop-Shop a few stores before buying gifts. Nothing stings worse than discovering that you bought an item for $20 more than you had to.
• Store perks- If the store offers gift wrapping, let them. If there are buy one, get one free or mark downs, take advantage. You will not regret it.
• Schedule yourself- I know you are busy, but you need to set your schedule. Etch out time for decorating, cooking, and especially down time to recoup your rest.

The most important thing about the holiday season is family. Enjoy those precious moments because they are fleeting! Have a great and blessed holiday!

MIA-Missing in Action

It has been a while since my last post, but Dani's Concierge has been under construction of sorts. We are now branching out and offering a few products such as fragrance oils and accessories. As we all know, the economical state of our country and world is one of downturn and uncertainty. In order to survive in today's climate, we have had to make adjustments. But,one thing will not change-that is our dedication to providing great service to our clients. Our clients are our most important asset and we will always do our best to ensure that they are taken care of. We are continuing on the journey of discovering who we are as a brand. So, grab onto the reins and ride the storm with us and be a witness to a time of growth unlike one we have ever seen before.

Balancing Act

Hi everyone! It is so difficult to stay on top of all of our responsibilities. However, it is necessary that we consistently take care of the things that we must. I myself have a large family (six children!)and with that comes much responsibility. It is like walking a tight rope many times attempting to take care of everyone and everything without going insane. But, I have gotten use to the chaos. Here are a few tips to get over the "I can't take all of this" feeling:
1. Make lists. I know that sounds old fashioned, but I have found that seeing things in black and white often brings clarity.
2. Program appointments into your cellphone and set reminders. It will alert you to upcoming responsibilities and help you stay on track.
3. Schedule time for yourself. Go get a mani/pedi, hang with your friends, go to the movies--do whatever makes you happy at least once a week.
4.Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising. If you are well and healthy, you can better deal with stress. Also, I have found exercise is a great way to alleviate stress. Once those endorphins start releasing, I feel GREAT!
Follow these quick tips to relieve some of the pressure . Stress is a normal occurrence in life, however, you are not to live each waking moment on high alert for the next stressful event. Take a deep breath and enjoy life because, you only get one!