Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

For the last couple of days things have been a little slow...dead quiet for some reason.

I have to connect that with the start of baseball season.

When this happens I start to panic...I doubt myself and worry.  It`s hard to concentrate when your mind takes you to this place.

What should I be doing?  How should I be spending my time?   How do I find out what the problem is?

When you say "couple of days" do you mean an actual 2-3 days or are you using that as a more general term? If you only mean 2-3 days, well, I would not panic.  Just like any business there are probably cycles to high traffic and low traffic. You of course would be the only one to know your specific cycle. Whenever I run into a slow sales time I try and first, reassure myself that once again we are in the slow time of our cycle and that not all of the sudden the company is on an unstoppable downward spiral into the depths of failure. Second, I try to utilize this time to revisit some things that are not able to be reviewed everyday during high times, such as our website and marketing plans
( just to make sure that there is nothing more we can add to them), and third, TAKE A much needed break! I know that it is very hard to do as entrepreneurs, but it will give you a chance to wind down and get ready for the high traffic to build up. I hope that this helps you. Just remember that a couple of slow sales days can be a much needed break to step back and view your company in a bigger picture and make sure that it is conitnuing to grow according to your Business Plan and more importantly your Life Plan!
Best Wishes!

Thanks Ken...it`s been about a week....but I`ve reviewed our sales throughout the year and it seems that every single month there is this lull in the middle of the month, right before an end of month flourish...

It is so hard to take a break...because I do nothing but think about what I need to be doing, the business is on my mind 24/7...the bills for one thing can make you crazy.

I agree that I should take a look at my Life Plan and try to relax a bit...

In the on-line pet business, April and May are the worst!  It`s Spring!. People are outside with their dogs. You may not see an upturn until August when it starts to get too hot outside. 

Kim, have you got a mailing list or some other loyalty/retention mechanism for keeping in touch with your customers?  If you hit a seasonal lull where people are not actively coming to your site, why not push content down to them?  Naturally you`ll send them teasers for whatever commerce you`ve got going, specials and so on, but you can always dig up some content that will be relevant to them.  Degrees says that everybody`s outside with their dogs -- maybe dig up some articles on the most dog friendly play parks?  Travelling with pets?  Funny "I tried to wash my cat" stories?  Pretty much any excuse to send people something without being blatantly spammy.  They may not check your web site every day but they probably check their email.  Link like crazy back to your site.





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Thanks guys, I really appreciate you taking the time.

Actually, we do very well in seaside towns, sales were pretty brisk in the spring and summer months last year....it is this mid-month lull that happens every month...it can really shake you.

The segment we are in, those folks are not really out with their dogs...they are pampered pups and their owners are always shopping and so are the fancy pet boutiques to whom we sell.

And yep, we`ve got mailers that go out...I am continually doing e-mail campaigns to leverage things that are going on with us, new products, awards, new designs and easier shopping ideas, et al.

We have continual print campaigns.

The weird thing is, if you type The Pet Set in your brower, today we come up as #1.
(btw- I send individualized notes, I don`t believe in mass e-mails.)

I have noticed that there are a lot of trade shows around the country going on...and that people are traveling and straightening out their inventoy.

Kim - what is the breakdown of your business - consumer versus wholesale?

I`m not sure if you are speaking of a slow down in online consumer sales or is your wholesale business off.

Thanks - R@

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Richard Arnold · Key Concept Writers · Business Communication: The "Key" To Success· Law of Attraction Blog · Life Ain`t Brain Surgery Blog

Lets think of the responsibilities of a sales person (which we all are to some extent).

I do not have the specific percentages for each, but successful salespeople are supposed to spend a given amount of time in the  following areas.

1. prospecting for new bussiness
2. working current business
3. following up with previous customers

These are only broad areas, it was in one class about 8 years ago where I learned the principle of making sure you are putting some of your time towards future business, 

That is my point.  Don`t waite for your business to cycle and come  back,  you should always be   spending time educating yourself  in areas which will make youself  more valuable to your business.  Spending time building your business, time building the relationships  that you have established over the years and the like.

I don`t want to place judgement, but it seems based on your question, that you are content with the amount of business you are receiving when you receive it,,,,,  because if you weren`t content, you would have a list of things to do to build your business.

You may have that list and didn`t mention it ( or I simply didn`t read that part) and your problem is that you worry  when sales are slow and that worry is a distraction to you that prevents you from getting the tasks  done that you need.

I`ll tell you what I learned a few years back and use myself because I hate when I  worry.

I`m going to break down the lesson down as simple as possible  mainly because I didn`t remember the exact numbers.

There are two broad factors when it comes to worry.

Those thing that you have control over ( about 98% of all worriable issues)

and those you don`t (about 2% )

for those issues you have control over,  Don`t worry about them and do something about them when you have the opportunity.

and for the rest in which you have no control over.  YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THEM SO DON`T WORRY ABOUT THEM.

I find with myself, that what works for me is to make the extra effort, all the time

• while making the extra effort  I`m not thinking about the worry
• the problem gets solved  by the extra effort
• and it has the tendency to solve future potential worries.

If you were making 1,000,000 a year would you worry about a slow week or two,  I don`t think so.  Thus during the slow times you should work towards the goal of making the amount of money you would need so you won`t worry.

 

Good Luck and I hope I helped.

 

Richard,

The business is breaks down 70/30 in favor of wholesale...

I was looking over the sales for the entire year...and it seems that the 2nd week of every month shows a slow period.

I agree with I&I, in that I should be working some of the biz building tactics a little harder (a lot harder)...and to his point sometimes the worrying gets in the way.  When you are an at home entrepreneur, some times it is very easy to sprial into confusion and fear.

But I do appreciate all of your help.

I am planning a post card mailing to existing customers this week.

Kim,

Thanks for the stat on the breakdown. I`m assuming the retail is mostly online sales and not sure how you are driving people to your site but this shoud be one area of your attention. Many ways to do this and I`m sure you are doing some things in this area. On your site, I can not see the back of any card by I assume your website address is imprinted on the back of each card. How about a frequent purchaser club for your regular consumer customers? Do you have one? Deals? People love deals. You don`t have to sell your products for less, just restructure the offering. I don`t see on your site anywhere I can easily recommend it to a friend. Reward people for being "PetSet" evangelists.

Knowing a little about the gift industry (I put you in that category), I see great potential for your wholesale business.

When you say you are planning a post card mailing to existing customers, is this mailing to both wholesalers and consumers? Hopefully, the mailing is not the same for both.

What type of deals are you offering the wholesalers? Promotions? New product sheets and introductions. Do you work any of the industry trade shows with your suppliers?

I have more questions but this enough for now.

Later - R@

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Richard Arnold · Key Concept Writers · Business Communication: The "Key" To Success· Law of Attraction Blog · Life Ain`t Brain Surgery Blog