Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

We had an interesting proposal come through, with a potential for a lot of money. The client would be a marketing executive in a large corporation, wanting our signal flags to help with a promotion. Along the way, they needed to see a sample of one of the flags.

When we put the final package together, I was thinking about my years as a temp, working as an office admin and general manager.

Every single thing that goes out of your home, office or business area is a reflection of your business. Too many small business owners have never had the chance to sit in on a Board meeting, executive planning session, committee meetings, or other meetings with 20 people sitting at a huge conference table.

I got to thinking that our package, including the envelope, labels, letters, flags, and everything else we ordinarily send to customers, would easily be something passed around the conference table. I could see in my mind the VP of this, VP of that, Executive something---all talking about this campaign coming up, tossing our sample package around, asking questions, making evaluations, coming to decisions.

Think about that: Do you know how to write a proper business letter? Are you aware of how envelopes should look, what sort of labels and what type they should be? What about your communication language and writing in business context?

There isn`t a single thing that you send to someone that couldn`t suddenly end up on a $15,000 marble conference table, being discussed by people earning well into the 6-figure salary range. Just because you`re a small company, that doesn`t at all mean that the destination of your product is someone`s home, dining room, or basement.

How can we maybe set up some sort of reality check, to see how well we`re showing in comparison to the "big" companies and large corporations?

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Well...yes, as a matter of fact...it IS written in stone!

http://www.jarsa.net

Hi Jim,
I think too, it might be worthwhile for small startups with limited experience of corporate offices to look into hiring a temp for 1 week.

I`m starting to see that working for a well-run temp company, specializing in production workers for corporations provides a huge amount of administrative experience. Temps are available for only a few days, even 1 day, depending on budget.

The reason for the temp would be more interview and eduction to the small business owner, not to actually have someone doing everything. In other words, the temp comes in and the startup owner simply asks to be shown how to put together various things. Cover letters, mailing packages, labels, invoices, customer service forms, and so forth.

It isn`t only the business cards and flyers that are going out the door. It`s all of the letters, forms, queries, responses, and everyday office management paperwork that ends up on someone`s desk.

We`ve sometimes gotten samples and even actual items from small businesses, where they arrive with no packing slip, a handwritten label, crammed into an envelope that wasn`t the right size, and so on. It "looks" so bad that we have a hard time believing this is a professional business person.

Amazon has gone a long way toward "demanding" as part of your being part of their organization, that you meet certain standards of mailing. But what about all the inside paper, and what if you don`t know how to meet those standards.

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Well...yes, as a matter of fact...it IS written in stone!

http://www.jarsa.net

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Colleen M. Johnson, CMJ Office
http://www.cmjoffice.com
http://www.cmjoffice.com/blog

Yup, a VA would be an excellent choice for people who aren`t familiar with the proper use of office tools. That`s the main point of this topic---that office supplies aren`t just cool toys to buy. :-)

When you walk into a nice restaurant, you have a lot of options as to how you want to dress, what you`d like to order, how you`ll handle the dining experience, and even how you`ll pay for the meal. It isn`t a "rule," in the sense that you`re not allowed to order a hamburger in a more high-end restaurant, but it makes you look a bit "less."

One of the things I grew up with that`s been diminishing year after year is just that: appearances. There`s a word in French, "gauche." It means to be lacking in social manners, skills, and contextual knowledge. "It`s just not done," would be the reason why you don`t order beer from a bottle at a nice restaurant.

Same here: Many small businesses don`t realize that there`s a "look and feel" to properly done office production. Letters, envelopes, formatting, language, images, and so on, all have a general sort of standard. They`re not rules, in that you won`t be able to mail something with a handwritten label, but it`s "just not done" if you want to appear professional.

What about if you`re using an office space provider like Regus? Can this be done effectively?

For that kind of situation, using a virtual office space, a Virtual Assistant would be even a better solution! We have several community members who are VAs, and easy enough to find. 

Thanks Craig, I came across a Virtual office provided by davinci. After several trial`s I thought it was a great way  not just being cost effective but easier and less stressful.

Thanks
Monica.