Posted by Beverly on
December 4, 2008
What are you Giving Away this Holiday?
The dark is coming to light within Boomer Diva Nation this holiday season. The women who make up this wonderful online community of baby boomer women have started the first annual D.A.R.K. campaign. D.A.R.K. stands for Doing Acts of Random Kindness. We thought it would be a great idea to extend kind gestures beyond our online community by reaching out to others in our own individual cities and towns.
So far, the DARK Campaign has included donations to daycare providers and a homeless ministry as well as providing free business services to customers. Member Heidi Richards spent an entire day calling all of her customers, clients and friends just to say hello and thank them for their business. Member Pam Archer purchased items for a complete stranger in a Dollar Store, calling it a “blessed experience!”
We are not doing the random acts of kindness for publicity sake. We are, instead, giving back because we know the blessing is always in the giving.
So what are you giving away this holiday season?
“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Ettiene De Grellet
Posted by Beverly on
May 17, 2008
Meet Featured Diva Pam Archer
What is the name of your business and a description of what you do?
Pamela’s Event Design.
We are a full-service wedding and event planning business. This includes, but is not limited to, designing the look of an event, providing linens, exquisite floral design, props, lighting, and draping. Everything we do is customized for the
client, so no two events are alike.
How much has your business direction changed in the past five years and why?
I don’t think the direction has changed so much, as I am realizing the vision for my company. After years of laying a foundation and building a reputation for
high-end design, our clientele has changed dramatically. We are now in a position to be more selective about the clients we accept.
What advice do you have for women who are trying to grow their businesses?
You must have a business plan, but it must change and grow with changes in your industry or profession. If you are still doing business the way you
were two years ago, you have been passed by your competition. Stay abreast of market trends, through industry publications, networking, reading blogs, and following social media.
Track your business by always inquiring how your customer/client found you. This will help you to designate your advertising dollars more
wisely. Don’t try to be all things to all people. Find your niche and demographic, and market to them.
Use social media, but beware that it doesn’t consume so much of your time that you don’t have time to grow your business. My business nearly shut
down a few years ago, because I was trying too hard to connect. Pick two or three and limit your time spent on them. Schedule it on your calendar. You don’t have to connect every day, so don’t let anyone tell you that you do.
Focus on customer care! Stay in contact via hand written notes on birthdays, anniversaries, births, deaths, any important life event. You’ll be surprised at how rare it is for people to receive those, and how much they appreciate them, and they will call you the next time they need your services. Send
thank you notes to those who send you business, and keep your eyes and ears open for them to return the favor.
What do you know now that you wished you knew 10 years ago as it relates to business?
I wish I had known the importance of having a business plan and a personal mission statement. If you don’t know where you are going and don’t have a map of how to get there, you will run off in the ditch!
Learning to say “no” is hard for me, but necessary. I’m still learning, but I think I am a little wiser than I was 10 years ago. It is a learning process to have your own business, but if you are passionate and focused, you can be successful.
Where can we connect with you? Website(s)? Blog(s) email address
Website: www.pamelaseventdesign.com
Blog: http://idoweddings.wordpress.com
E-mail: afcpam@mindspring.com or pam@pamelaseventdesign.com
