Last doll we had was a GI Joe. He was cool. Till we put a firecracker under his helmet and lit the fuse. Then he was ugly.
How did we know we were onto something big?
Nowadays Uglydolls are hot, selling at national chainstores and specialty retailers for $20 apiece. Theyre at Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, and Barneys of New York. Theyve been featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Theres a cute story behind Uglydolls (of course). Company founders Sun-Min Kim and David Horvath were dating. Sun-Min had to go back to Korea. Every time Horvath mailed her a letter (letter? Did this guy not have e-mail?) he drew the same funny-looking creature at the bottom. Sun-Min sewed it into a doll and sent it to him. Horvath told her to make more, he took them to the Giant Robot store in L.A. and they sold out in one day.
Six years later, there are now over 25 Uglydolls. Theres fat Big Toe, pathetic Wedgehead, and Wage, the homely supermarket checkout girl. (Hmm she sounds familiar.)
So whats the appeal? Teenage girls like them because theyre cute things to take to sleepovers and dont look too girly,’ says one Tulsa retailer who carries Uglydolls. Boys love them because they can carry a woobie thing without being made fun of. (Woobie? Remind us not to visit Tulsa.)
So maybe the days of the Beanie Baby are over. Right now, everyone wants an Uglydoll. Even Paris Hilton has one.
See? When youre successful, you can still get the hot chick, even if youre ugly.
Its a lot easier to laugh at yourself after the fact. After youve screwed up, made a gross error or just flopped. Mistakes happen and I keep making them. But Id rather pull my pants down, so to speak, and expose myself than pretend it hasnt happened or hold my head down in some sort of misplaced shame. I use misplaced because if youve tried something new, if youve ventured beyond your narrow comfort zone, then shame shouldnt even be part of the equation. Youve already won.
Its still hard though.
What do I mean, exactly? I gave a tele-class last month, and one listener was kind enough to point out a distracting speech pattern of mine I used you know a LOT. I made a note on the office white board, and improved the next session. Pretty simple stuff.
But I just listened to the podcast I taped for All Business last week, and it was horrible. Really, really awful. Its always somewhat uncomfortable to listen to yourself, but this was extreme. There are so many ums its unbelievable. Im embarrassed by it. But I want you to listen to it. Its a great example of something that needs to be corrected, and I want to share it with you. Id never spoke in that sort of environment before, one on one in a radio station, and it really affected me.
This is far from the first time speaking has tripped me up. In an earlier post I described my experience presenting in front of Coca Cola. It was my first time, I was unprepared, and the result was disastrous. Id wowed them at an intimate dinner setting, but in front of an auditorium full of people, I bombed. Some time later, after my first television experience, a friend informed me that I needed to get help before I appeared again I was that off.
These two experienced were learning ones. Youre going to trip up, youre going to mess up, and youre going to make mistakes. You probably havent heard this enough its okay. I want to stress this truth above all else. That its just life to screw up. You simply cant prepare for every experience. Take from them, and move on. And then maybe a little later, laugh at yourself. Hell I keep creating opportunities for me to
You can listen to the podcast HERE.
Here are a few things that might help you the first time in a radio studio from Chris Bjorklund, Podcast Editor, AllBusiness.com
1) Get there early so you can chat with the engineer and host. Talking to them can be a good way to calm your nerves and establish a personal connection.
2) Do not drink a lot of caffeine because that has a dehydrating effect. Do not drink cold water because it hardens vocal cords. Room temperature or warm water is best. Stay hydrated.
3) Wear something comfortable so you can breathe fully through the belly and into your back. Check your breathing from time to time when the host is talking. You would be surprised at how many people hold their breath.
We are a local marketing and sales agency that help small/medium sized businesses and Start up. Established for over 10 years, our clients vary in size and cover a wide variety of business sectors. we see ourselves as active members of the local community helping local businesses by providing a variety of field marketing, btl marketing , door to door marketing, brand promotion, social media marketing, telemarketing, web and printed based marketing materials.
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Opening a Business Checking Account
Opening a Business Checking Account 0 6,161 views
Opening a business checking account is as easy as one-two-three. All you need to know is the proper steps and some tips to have more advantage in the business checking account that you have opened.
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So you want to open a business checking account? Well, it is just easy and simple if you know the correct steps to follow.Opening a business checking account can truly make your business cash flow to run smoothly and every expense can be conveniently accounted for. In fact, financial experts agree with each other that the money of any business owner should be divided into several accounts through banks diversifying their assets. Certain general advantages will be competitive rates that they can enjoy and also great relationships that they can develop with banks that can help you anytime whenever you might need them. Aside from that, you can have more assistance in monitoring your assets better. Here are steps on how to open a checking account for your business: Before you go to bank, you must first try to find out your needs and interests that will become reasons why you have to open an account. For example, is it for better management of your operations? Is it to give better access to your financial managers about your account info? Whatever they are, you have to identify them first. Now, you have to decide on the bank that you will choose. In order to choose the right bank for you, you have to search and visit all the banks online and try to compare their features, rates, and other financial products. Look for advantages that are useful to you then you have to narrow them to two or three best banks. Make sure that they have capabilities to be online. Now, you can choose the best from the banks that you have retained. Inquire of the bank that you have chosen and collect all the information that you need to know in opening such account. You have to know all the requirements and the process on how you can create the account immediately. To give you a hint, most banks usually require the following: the EIN number of your business; your previous year business tax form; your social security number as the business owner; any previous bank statements. Get the banks website and visit the site on the Internet. Register as a new member with your business checking account. Enter the information required and follow the remaining steps until you register. Now, you may order the financial products that they have and other products for your business advantage. Find their customer service hotline or email. Try to contact them at least after two days after you have opened you business checking account. Verify if your account has been opened properly and ask if there are any certain issues or problems about opening it. If everything worked well, then you have successfully opened your business checking account.
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We are a local marketing and sales agency that help small/medium sized businesses and Start up. Established for over 10 years, our clients vary in size and cover a wide variety of business sectors. we see ourselves as active members of the local community helping local businesses by providing a variety of field marketing, btl marketing , door to door marketing, brand promotion, social media marketing, telemarketing, web and printed based marketing materials.
SHOP NO 10, Shoppers Point, SV Rd, NEXT TO HOTEL, MOTI MAHAL, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400047
Secrets of Starting a Facialist Business
Secrets of Starting a Facialist Business 1 11,211 views
Are you curious about starting a facialist business but you dont know where to start? You dont have to be confused anymore, because by stumbling across this article, you have found a good business startup guide to help you start your own facialist business.
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With everyones obsession with their own beauty these days, starting a facialist business gives you the opportunity of earning money while helping others feel satisfied about their features. Fortunately, you can establish a facialist business of your own without much difficulty.
Here are the things that you need to prepare in order to start your own facialist business:
Space to set up your salon Facialist businesses uses specialized equipment, and are intended to service more than one customer at once while still having enough space for others to wait comfortably in line. Hence, you need a wide space to set up your equipment and other fixtures needed to operate a facialist business. The area could be at least 500 square feet to at most 2,000 square feet.
Aside from this, you need to engage in extensive interior designing and improvements on the salon space itself. Most leases allow the lessee to make improvements to the space as long as the lease is in effect.
Specialized equipment Facialists are considered specialists, so they are able to use equipment and tools designed especially for facial cosmetology. These include cosmetic preparatory materials, tonic, lotion, power, oil, clay, cream or appliance, as well as equipment for chemical peels and microdermabrasion. These equipments are readily available from beauty salon equipment suppliers. To lessen your capital expenditures, make sure to shop around for the best deals before buying the equipment.
Other than that, you would need to prepare other sanitary equipment like a washtub, in which the facialist washes his hands before and after the cosmetic procedure. You would also need to equip your salon with utilities like a cash register for payments.
Personnel In choosing your personnel, make sure that the facialists hold a duly authorized license to practice their craft. This is to make sure that the person has been educated, tested and proven to be competent in the craft. Having an unlicensed facialist in your crew could prove dangerous for your business reputation.
Accomplishment of fees There are some fees that you have to take care of in starting a facialist business. These include professional and business license fees, which you are obliged to complete before you can start operating. You might also want to secure insurance for your business, or pay merchant account fees so that you can accept payments from customers using credit cards.
How Much Does a Startup Facialist Business Cost?
Start-up expense for a facialist business can range from US$10,000 to US$100,000.
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1 Daksh Management said on May 12, 2011Offering consultancy services to set up Women only Fitness Centre cum Beauty Salon. This is franchised business model. Proposed venture goes long way encouraging women entrepreneurship. Venture is profitable; soon after its inception you can cross INR 10 million turnover. It adds to your social status too. We can take up complete responsibility right from company creation, complying with legal formalities, liaison with franchisors, preparation of project report, preparation of architectural layout with construction cost estimate, early sanction of term loan & cash credit, project start up till inauguration of your centre. We also work for conducting market survey and establishing your potential customers well before inauguration. Persons owning 4000-5000 square feet area in centralized & posh locality with investment capacity of INR 7.5 million approx should contact us for detailed action plan and work flow. If you desire to obtain bank finance then you should have minimum investment capacity for conducting preliminary market survey. For details email at: dakshmanagement@gmail.com (All the above fields are required.)
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We are a local marketing and sales agency that help small/medium sized businesses and Start up. Established for over 10 years, our clients vary in size and cover a wide variety of business sectors. we see ourselves as active members of the local community helping local businesses by providing a variety of field marketing, btl marketing , door to door marketing, brand promotion, social media marketing, telemarketing, web and printed based marketing materials.
SHOP NO 10, Shoppers Point, SV Rd, NEXT TO HOTEL, MOTI MAHAL, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400047
How to Start Asphalt Pavement Repair & Maintenance Business
How to Start Asphalt Pavement Repair & Maintenance Business 3 s11,795 views
If you are interested in starting an asphalt pavement repair and maintenance business, youve come to the right place. You can start with a business plan and from there you can already address the different areas of the business.
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There are many things to consider like climate, your knowledge about the business, etc.Asphalt Pavement Repair & Maintenance Business Plan The asphalt business is a serious one and you should gather enough knowledge if you want to succeed. Any kind of business will benefit greatly from the development of a business plan. Try to create a comprehensive business plan because it will serve as your roadmap and can also be used for seeking funding from potential lenders. Firstly, you will need to look into the market. This kind of business requires a large capital and so you need to study all the aspects of the business closely. You can check out the Yellow Pages to determine the existing competition. Are there potential customers in your area like business owners or perhaps homeowners who will need asphalt services? A business will only succeed if it is able to meet a need. The detailed plan will guide you all the way. Submit the plan to potential lenders so that you can get money that will be used for startup. If you are not sure about creating your own plan, you can always seek the help of experts. There are many websites online offering free and paid services for developing a business plan. Getting the License and Advertising States usually have different procedures for securing a business license. You should never operate a business without a license because you are not only compromising yourself but also your employees and customers. Inquire at the concerned local agency or office so that you can already comply with the requirements of the business license or permits. Aside from that, you should also be knowledgeable about the business itself. Learn everything you can about asphalt and other materials that are used for pavement repair and maintenance. Youll never know what your clients will ask you and being prepared can allow you to answer the questions with ease. When you come out as an expert, you can attract more customers. Finding a supplier is also very important. Always conduct business with a reputable supplier to ensure that all the materials and supplies are of high quality so as not to compromise your services quality. Try negotiating the price because you can avail of discounts in bulk purchases and as a regular client. Advertise your business through flyers, newspaper ads, radio ads, the Yellow Pages, home shows, local fairs, trade shows, and many others. If you are located in the northern part, you need to know that this kind of business is seasonal. During winter, you wont be able to do business. These are the things that you should know.
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3 sPedro said on December 2, 2013What kind of business license do i need for repair and asphalt maintenance ?Ashfaq Bhatti said on October 9, 2014We are located in Pakistan, Lahore cityMaria said on July 28, 2015what kind of license do need to do asphalt maintenance (All the above fields are required.)
How to Start Asphalt Pavement Repair & Maintenance Business
Feet On Street Door To Door Marketing Face to Face Marketing Street Marketing Field Marketing Direct To Retailer Sales Strategic Field Marketing Marketing Strategy Trade Marketing Marketing Team Sales & merchandising Shopper & Retail Marketing Direct sales Sales promotion Trade sales promotions Promotions team Leaflet distribution Telemarketing
Market Research Field Research Advertising Market Research Compensation Survey Tele Research Test Marketing Brand Market Research Market Feedback Survey Data Collection Customer Satisfaction Studies Industrial Market Research Mystery Shopping Retail Audit Customer Acquisition
We are a local marketing and sales agency that help small/medium sized businesses and Start up. Established for over 10 years, our clients vary in size and cover a wide variety of business sectors. we see ourselves as active members of the local community helping local businesses by providing a variety of field marketing, btl marketing , door to door marketing, brand promotion, social media marketing, telemarketing, web and printed based marketing materials.
SHOP NO 10, Shoppers Point, SV Rd, NEXT TO HOTEL, MOTI MAHAL, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400047
How to Start a Lemonade Business
How to Start a Lemonade Business 0 7,488 views
Summer is one of the greatest seasons when you can earn lots of profit from lemonade.
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Yes, what you just heard id right! Did you know that lemonade has a great demand during this season because people need something which can effectively quench their thirst?Aside from the fact that this is delicious, this can also make you healthy because this is loaded with several nutrition and vitamins. The best way on how you can sell your lemonade is to have a lemonade stand and the rest will just follow. This kind of business is not just designed for adults but for kiddos as well. Since this only requires simple and easy operation, your kids will surely enjoy selling lemonade juice to a certain location. This will prepare them to be good entrepreneurs in the future because they will be able to learn the basics of marketing, money-making and advertising. Since it is vacation time, they will have lots of time to enjoy while working with their friends. Effective Tips on Starting a Lemonade Business With just small capital, you can already have the chance to start in this kind of business. The stand is also cheap so everything will just be very easy to start. The number one requirement to ensure the success in this kind of business is to be able to practice great customer service. Since customer service is an art and a form of virtue as well, your child will learn on how to communicate politely and professionally by practicing this every day. As a guardian, you must guide them on how to be amiable in talking with different kinds of people. The creativity of your child will also be practiced in the lemonade business because it requires marketing and promotion for people to know what kind of business they have. Attracting the attention of people from all walks of life must be the primary consideration of everyone since this business centers on selling a product. You must also supervise the children on the stand signs which they have created because they must be bright and clear for everyone to see them easily. Another way to attract several customers is with the help of balloons. By tying them on the stands, people will get attracted to purchase lemonade. Having add-on sales can also be very helpful in earning more profit. If there is a drink, why dont you add foods such as chocolate chip cookies that are freshly baked. Since these type of cookies are so hard to resist, these can pave the way for the kids to earn more. Location is also a major factor to generate more profit. You should locate the lemonade stand in a place where there is a high percentage of traffic so that people can easily see and buy some lemonade juice and other add-on sales.
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The internet can be a useful arena where products and services from businesspersons can sell easily.
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Due to the vast population of people found in the internet, there can be many prospected clients to target.Business entails guts. This is for a business to succeed and prosper. However, this is not enough for it to stay long in the market. A businessperson needs some good and healthy marketing strategy. It is very important to figure out how you can outsmart the competitors at the same time attract the attention of the clients. This is actually very easy. Through the internet, one can reach his desired goal. That is to promote and sell ones business online and thus get the revenue that one deserves. How to Vend a Business Using the Internet? In order to be successful in the internet business selling, one has to invest time. This is vital so that you will not be rushing things from being posted in the net. It is better to deliberate first on the scheme, design and the face of the website or advertisement that you will be posting. Think about the process on how you wanted your products sold or the process of negotiation through the internet. With time as an investment, you will never go wrong. Research is also very important. Try to look for websites that offers prices that are fair as well as reasonable. From that range of prices, you can also pattern there your own product listing. This is a wise thing to do so that you will not be having skyscraper high prices and thus lose customers. In a business competition, it is normal to be in comparison. This is just a form of a check and balance so that people can be served with the products and services properly and fairly. Now, you also have to put a listing on what are your business sales. Through this way, you can convey to the consumers what are the products and services that your business offers. Information dissemination is of prime importance. It is vital to allow the consumers see the overview of your business yet without actually revealing the entire interior of your business. Another thing that you have to consider is geographic area that has the most number of sales of goods. You can peep on the statistics last year and with the highest ones, you can try to invest time posting your blogs or advertisements into those geography related site. Lastly, there is a need for you to determine the seriousness of the client in buying. Be vigilant and cautious about this matter.
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