Editor’s Note

Hello

This month I have spent my time with several small business owners who are targeting national as well as international markets.  These entrepreneurs have inspired me!  As I have delved into the nature of their business to uncover the successful strategies they have employed, I have learned so much about the people at the helm.  I find that all of them have certain things in common- they are passionate about their business, they work very hard, they employ good people, they treat everyone with respect, they take risks and they are prepared to invest in their business.

While I have been able to add value to these businesses through strategic sessions and marketing strategies, I have been afforded a glimpse into worlds outside the professional services sector.  I thought that I would share some of their stories with you because you might find that you have experienced similar trials in business and can relate to their experiences. And perhaps, like me, you will also be inspired by their success. This month, I feature the internationally acclaimed jewelry designer Samantha Wills.

On another note, for those of you who missed seeing my BRW columns, they are loaded on my website.

Until next time…
I wish you marketing success!

Rebecca Laskary
www.profilepublicrelations.com.au

In this issue

Samantha Wills – The Label.. The Personality.. The Look

Top 10 Business Tips

Your website: A Work in Progress

The award winning Samantha Wills label can be found in department stores & leading boutiques throughout Australia, Europe, USA and is rapidly expanding in other international markets.

Having established her own company at only 21 years of age proves Samantha has what it takes to succeed. The label was born in 2003 when, working as a retail assistant, and selling her jewellery designs at weekend markets, Samantha was offered a space on a friend's showroom wall at Mercedes Australia Fashion Week, which proved to be a re-sounding success. Debuting her first stand-alone show in 2006, Samantha handcrafted 15 couture outfits made of jewellery, each taking upwards of 18 hours each to create.  Adding to the impressive international stockist list is Australian department store giant MYER, who stock Samantha Wills Jewellery in their prestigious city stores.

It has been a whirlwind success with Samantha's jewellry being displayed from Australia Fashion Week to the world's top stylists and Hollywood stars in Los Angeles. Samantha's most recent success was the award for Best Jewellery & Fashion Product 2006 designed & manufactured in Australia. Samantha Wills jewellery is worn by some of the worlds most recognizable women - Nicky Hilton, Jamelia, Jennifer Hawkins, Nicole Ritchie & Delta Goodrem just to name a few...[more...]

http://www.samanthawills.com.au

1. Businesses suffer ups and downs. The trouble is, when they are going through a “down”, everyone senses the mood. Activity and enthusiasm suffer. Anyone can remain positive when things are good. To keep everyone positive when they’re not, focus on your people’s levels of activity and enthusiasm.
2. When overwhelmed with tasks to complete, Mr Procrastination often pays a visit. There are two schools of thought on how to commence. One is do the easy ones first to get your momentum going. The other is to do the hardest first, then the rest will seem easy. Whichever you choose, just doing something sends Mr Procrastination packing.
3. When starting out in business, you may be unsure how much to charge. Look to the market as a guide, but initially it’s better to be under priced than overpriced. You need all the sales you can make. As the business becomes established, you will not only know what you should charge, you can be more selective whom you work for...[more...]

A friend of mine had a job selling ad space for a local newspaper. He once sold a tiny ad to a delicatessen owner in a suburban shopping mall. The deli man put on extra staff the day the ad came out to cope with all the extra customers… who never showed.

It may have been because the ad was a dud. But it’s more likely that one tiny ad simply isn’t enough to build sales. The deli man didn’t know what all successful marketers know. As Jay Conrad Levinson so clearly explained in Guerrilla Marketing, “marketing is a process and not an event”.

Many business owners I talk have an “event” mindset when it comes to the web. They believe a website is a marketing silver bullet. They think all they have to do is get the site on the Web and the phone will start ringing and the orders pouring in. Unfortunately that rarely happens...[more...]

http://www.text-centric.com