Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
September 21, 2011 at 9:12 am
Ladies, you might finally have the perfect rationale to explain away your shoe shopping problem. And gentlemen, ditto on your penchant for porn. It’s not your fault, your genes made you do it. And what does this mean for business owners? Read on…
In his latest book, Dr Gad Saad, professor of marketing at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business, argues that consumer behaviour is largely governed by evolutionary forces. And that we’re designed to consume. For example, evolution has fixed it so we crave high-fat, salty burgers from McDonald’s. This is not because of slick advertising or low pricing. Rather, it’s because we’re genetically programmed to load up on calories to protect ourselves from starvation during times of scarcity.
Similarly, we’re not likely to see Danny DeVito replace Fabio on the covers of romance novels. Why? Because women are the primary consumers of such books and a rugged, uber-masculine, high-status male plays into female evolutionary fantasies of the ideal mate. (Don’t feel too bad for Danny, though, because what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in wallet-power– another strong attractant for the fairer sex).
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Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
September 13, 2011 at 10:45 am
Dorothy Kryworuchko has been a friend for years. We share a love of the planet and of furry creatures. So when she decided she wanted to finally launch her own brand around the furniture she’d been reclaiming and refurbishing for more than a decade, she called me.
One of the first things we needed to do was sit down and decide exactly what sort of brand she wanted to create. I teamed up with the indomitable Adriana Palanca, a copywriter and English-to-French translator with more than a decade of experience and we asked (among others) the following key questions: Read More »
Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
September 6, 2011 at 3:49 pm
As many of you know, I have a pretty heavy business book habit. I recently found a wonderful way to share the joy: I’ll be doing a monthly business book review for the Montreal Gazette. Here’s the first book in the series.
Why would anybody want to spend $40 on a mop (and up to $60 on mop accessories) when you can get one for $5 at the dollar store? This was Vanessa Simpkins’s challenge. She literally sold mops – the high-end microfibre kind – for a direct-marketing firm. Thing is, she made commissions of up to $900 a day doing it. She says the secret to her success was a process she calls “authentic selling.” And it all started with her discovering the Law of Attraction.
Are you groaning? Yeah, me too…
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Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
August 22, 2011 at 12:02 pm
A recent customer service experience made me ponder how many small businesses shoot themselves in the foot by taking things personally.
Many of you have written and tweeted mentioning the long silence on this blog. My apologies. Lots has been going on chez LMM. Firstly, I’m pregnant! And about three weeks ago, we moved into our new condo. It’s been a difficult first trimester, but I’m feeling more like myself (if a little more zaftig) every day. Thanks for all your congratulations.
Now, back to business.
When my husband and I moved into our condo, we noticed that the dishwasher (that came with the place) wasn’t working very well. I shan’t get into the details of how disgusting it is to have someone else’s accumulated gunk coat your dishes, but suffice to say we were a little frustrated.
We tried every cleaning technique we could find online. Vinegar, soap, hot rinses, unscrewing stuff and cleaning in crannies. Yeah, my husband did it all. But the dishwasher remained temperamental. So we decided to call for professional help. And here’s where we ran into what I’m beginning to realize is a pretty common small business problem…. Read More »
Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
August 17, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Used my Epson printer and some cardstock from Omer Deserres to customize this card.
When is the last time you sent a hand-written note of thanks? You might be surprised at how much these little touches affect your business (and personal) relationships!
Call me old-fashioned, but I do so love a hand-written note. It carries a different weight from an email or text message. It’s special. And so few people take the time to make the effort these days.
Which is why I make it a point to be the exception.
Nothing says, “You’ve made an impression on me” like a hand-written card or note. I use them to say thank you. Or “I loved meeting you”. Or even “hey, how’s it going?”. And 99% of the time, I’ll get a phone or email response from the recipient thanking me for making their day. Isn’t this the sort of impression you’d like to make on your clients?
I confess I spend a pretty penny on fancy stationery (and often buy handmade letter paper while traveling abroad). But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some tips on making the people you do business with remember you (and how to make sure your card doesn’t just end up in the recycling bin)…
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Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
June 14, 2011 at 11:26 am
For me, choosing a printer for my home office was a really big deal. And based on all the conflicting advice I was given, I get the feeling lots of you struggle with these sorts of decisions too.
When I first launched LittleMissMultimedia last year, I was on a shoestring. There was so much to learn and I didn’t want to go into debt. So I made a careful list of priorities (ergonomic desk, good chair, training, Smartphone with data plan, etc). A printer, though useful, was definitely on the “B” side of my wishlist. There’s an office supply store with professional printing services two blocks from my place. I figured I’d make do.
But as business blossomed, I found myself making ever more frequent trips to the corner store. Printing contracts, invoices, consult notes, social media flyers for clients, etc. And it wasn’t as cheap as I’d expected it to be either! Those $.10 copies add up!
I figured it was time to take the plunge and invest in a decent multi-function printer/copier/scanner/fax machine. Problem was, which one?
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Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
June 3, 2011 at 10:30 am
My favourite find this week from a consumer’s point of view is also an excellent Quebec small business success story. Meet the world’s only sound-and-massage therapy bed, invented right here in our province!
I recently had the pleasure of trying what has got to be Quebec’s hardest working bed! It’s an oddly shaped device that combines carefully programmed sounds, vibrations and music to create deep relaxation. It’s the brainchild of Quebec-based G-Lab, and I believe that at this time the only working prototype resides at Spa Ovarium.
Skeptical? Yeah. Me too. I also wondered if this was a little too new agey for me.
But after trying Spa Ovarium’s epsom salt floatation baths and loving them (a truly out of body experience), I figured I’d give the bed a shot. Full disclosure: Ovarium is one of my clients and I was invited to a neuromassage bed session gratis. But since my integrity is pretty much my brand, rest assured that this fact won’t affect my honesty within this post.
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Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
June 1, 2011 at 10:43 am
It’s been a little quiet here on the blog, and I apologize. But I’ve been up to all sorts of adventures. And lots of writing! If you’re looking for an excellent read along themes of family, adoption, identity and motherhood, I’d recommend “Secret Daughter”. Especially now that I’ve interviewed author, Shilpi Somaya Gowda, and heard the story behind the story!
When Shilpi Somaya Gowda started writing five years ago, she had a very simple goal: To produce a novel. Just to see if she could.
“The furthest I allowed myself to dream was that maybe one day someone would publish it,” the diminutive investment banker-turned-bestselling author said during a recent visit to Montreal. “Maybe it would be in the bookstore for two weeks and sell four copies.”
It sold a few more than that. Gowda’s publisher, HarperCollins, reports that it sold 300,000 copies in the first 12 months alone, a number that continues to climb as women all over North America recommend the title to their book clubs.
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Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
May 19, 2011 at 10:39 am
Whether you’re a work-from-home entrepreneur or one who’s in charge of managing a team, setting your own schedule can be a real challenge. Here are some tips for getting things done.
Here’s yet another “bitch” we didn’t have time to tackle at Pitch ‘n’ Bitch:
I need help with structuring time as an entrepreneur when I have no clear schedule. Is there a key to productivity or tools to stay organized and efficient?
*squirming uncomfortably in seat*
Man, this is something that I definitely struggle with! Setting priorities and creating a schedule is tough in and of itself. But it’s even tougher when you work from home and your friends and family have trouble understanding that you’re not just kicking back with a martini!
As Iris King said, “I’m self-employed, not UN-employed!”
I won’t say I’ve figured things out completely, but in the months I’ve worked as an entrepreneur, I’ve certainly gained some insight as well as a few useful systems that will vastly reduce “productivity stress”.
Read on… Read More »
Posted by Geeta Nadkarni on
May 18, 2011 at 3:24 pm
What’s a busy entrepreneur to do when it comes to ever expanding social media channels and limited resources? Almost all of us can relate to this particular problem!
A couple of weeks ago, at Pitch ‘n’ Bitch, an anonymous Montreal entrepreneur wrote, ” I am overwhelmed by social media. So many platforms, etc. What is required? What works? What doesn’t? How to walk the line between being there/selling/actually participating?”
*rolling up sleeves*
You are SO not alone, anonymous entrepreneur. 100% of my clients struggle with these questions. Don’t worry, help is at hand…
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