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Hello, and welcome to my blog! I'd like to thank all of those who have supported my efforts in making this website. If you want to truly support me, then please follow my blog. Let me know you were here:D I make it a point to respond to all messages asap! Thanks again for your continuing support:)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Choosing that perfect outfit for your loved one...

Hi there! I hope all is well with my readers*smiles*. I wanted to touch on the subject of selecting that perfect outfit. Due to a number of recent holidays passing, I thought I would try to make it easier for you to select the perfect gift for your loved ones. I'll be talking about sizing, color, and thoughtfulness. The three basics you'll need in order to choose the best gifts when the time comes. I'll probably be making videos eventually on the same topic, and a number of others, too. I have so many ideas going around in my head right now, I can barely contain myself...

For now, though, I'm going to explain fashion basics, and what you'll need to make your shopping trip successful. The number one rule in shopping for someone is that you need to know the person's size. Don't try to guess on this, because you'd be amazed at how often you could be wrong. And especially if you choose an item that is two sizes too big for a female??! You know what could happen! At the very least, she'll be upset. At the very worst, you could end up in the emergency room. So let's not allow that to happen, alright?

So many times, I've ran into this scenario...
"So, what size does she wear?" I ask with anticipation. And then, I get a blank stare, a lot of fidgeting, and another blank stare. WHAT? Are you joking? Listen, I can't help you find anything if you don't know what size she wears. It's just not possible. And you can't go by looking at me, and saying, "Well, she's a little smaller/shorter/larger than you." Oh, thanks.

That's not going to work this time. I need to know what size she wears. You need to know a few basic pieces of information before you even come in. Now, although guessing has proved to be the most common method of choosing size, it is certainly the least effective. Guessing results in an over 50% chance of her returning the item/items you bought for her. Now, if you rush through the process, guessing her size at the same time, you increase the chances by another 30%. Yes, you could end up with an 80% chance of a return if you don't prepare before you come to meet with me. The good news is that there's a very simple solution to this dilemma...

1) Sizing 101 This is your chance to prove how great you can be at this, so rise up to the challenge! Let's say she's on the treadmill right now. It's your perfect opportunity to get up, and go into her closet with a pen and paper. Write down the sizes of her shirts, trousers, dresses, and shoe size and width. Also, you should take notes on her particular style. Is she a more classic dresser, or does she have more trendy taste? Is she a simple dresser, or does she prefer a look that is more elaborate? You can keep asking questions, and taking notes until you feel confident that you've prepared enough to make your shopping trip successful. Once you've completed your list, set is aside in a safe place. You'll be bringing that in with you when you meet with your fashion consultant...

2) Color 101 What is her season? Her seasonal color palette, that is...now, there's a lot of useful information about this online. I particularly like organicfamilycare.com. Just go the the seasonal color palette link at the top of the home page. They use a lot of celebrity photos as examples of the best colors for a person. No man or woman can wear every single color out there. There are just some colors that a person simply cannot wear. For instance, I love lime green, but I can't wear it because it makes me look like I'm sick. I'm serious. It's not good on me at all, although I love lime green. And I secretly envy anyone who can wear it well. Each person fits into a particular category or two. That would be their primary and secondary color palette. I liken it to how you have a main browser, and a default browser on your computer. If you can't use one, the you fall back on the other. It's the same way with color palettes. I will also be providing information and photos as examples of each color palette, and secondary color palettes for each of them. 

For now, though, I want you to think back to a time when you saw your loved one wearing a color that just made them look great! Maybe it was a navy colored dress that made her look gorgeous, and that will tell you a lot about her color palette, and where she fits on the color spectrum. Navy is actually a part of the Winter color palette, and now we know she fits into the Winter category. We now have a great starting point. Maybe she looks great in terracotta. Terracotta is a part of the Autumn color palette, a great starting point as well. If you're not sure about what her best colors are, you can just ask her. Then use the link on organicfamilycare.com to help you determine what season she is...

3) Take your time. What do I mean by "take your time?" Well, of course, you need to allow yourself one to two hours to make your trip successful. I know that sounds like a lot, but when you're up here, it really goes by quickly. So allow yourself proper time to do this right. But you also need to really take the time to be "thoughtful." Remember when I said you need to take notes? Your list should contain a lot of information that will prove helpful in selecting the perfect pieces to compliment her current wardrobe, and also will provide me with a starting point from which to begin. It is enormously helpful, not only to me, but makes us into a team. It puts us on the same page, and makes the process go a whole lot more smoothly. So, let's get started!

Because you wrote down the sizes of her clothes and shoes, it made the whole process a lot faster, and more effective. We selected a lot of items in less than an hour! A lot faster than we initially thought it would be. We selected a navy dress, along with two layering pieces, a set of earrings and necklace in contrasting, complimentary colors, and a nice pair of neutral colored shoes. Aren't you glad you wrote everything down? The great thing is that we also have gift wrap on site, and it costs the same as if you had done it yourself. And it'll save you valuable time, so by the time you leave, everything will be done. You won't have to worry about anything else, except making your final presentation to her. All the while, you'll have the security of knowing you did your very best. Chances are that she's going to love the items you picked for her, and won't end up returning any of them. See what a little bit of planning can do?

Until next time, take care...CC  





Thursday, May 19, 2011

Taking inspiration from other bloggers...

Yes, I must confess I've been reading other blogs lately. One thing that sticks out in my mind is that I see all different types of business philosophies, and all different types of selling. Some are on a small scale, and others are larger, corporate deals. However, the basic premise is the same...it's all selling. I'm interested in learning from other bloggers about their type of sales, and their business style. I've learned a lot about how to make my blog better that way, too!

Mine's still getting off the ground, and I heard it can take a while before anyone really comments. I may never get  the feedback I'm craving, but the truth is that I expect a lot! So, that just goes without saying. If you know anything about me at all, you know this. So why do I continue to write?

Blogging is a way to practice my writing, and to become stronger in language. Yes, it's true, that English is my first language. Right now, it's my only one. I know a lot of Spanish vocabulary, but not enough to hold a fluid conversation. I only know enough to get by. Another truth is that, even in English, we are always learning. Even people with college degrees sometimes make grammatical errors, or spell words wrong. When you're writing a blog, you're presenting yourself as an expert. That means you had better be masterful in describing your unique set of skills, and your use of words has a great deal to do with how your message will be received.

You can never proofread your blog too many times! There are so many possible mistakes that could present themselves when you look at it with fresh eyes. You should even have a friend take a look at it, and a friend who has an incredible grasp of English. It's amazing what you might discover! You thought it was perfect, but then you find out there's no such thing as perfection...

Sometimes, I'll read other business blogs to keep me motivated! Yes, I  keep track of how many times they post, and it helps me make adjustments. I'll ask myself, "Am I posting enough?" There was a time when I would slack off when it came to writing blog posts, and would maybe write one once a month. That's really not enough to see any great feedback, or to get your name out there. You need to post at least once a week to see any significant results. And travelling to other sites enables you to create more traffic to your website, because you're able to leave back links behind that will lead others back to your blog. It's great! I've gained traffic this way as well.

One thing I've learned, if nothing else, is that I really believe in what I'm doing. Otherwise, I would have given it up a while ago. But I still keep writing! I'll continue to do so, and take inspiration from wherever I can. I hope you will, too!

Thanks for stopping by...CC




Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Oh, the joy of writing blog posts!

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I wrote, and I just wanted to thank those loyal readers out there for your support. It means a lot to me to look at my stats, and then I realize I have new readers from all around the world. Just wanted to let you know how important you are to me, and in helping me to continue to write. Sometimes, it gets to the point where I think no one is reading my blog, and then I'll have a new person stop by. For however long you stay, it doesn't really matter. This blog is meant to be shared with you, for however long you choose to look at it.

There have been many entries so far, so I just wanted to let you know that I've written some pretty good stuff! If you take a look at some of my older posts, you should check out a couple of entries...
1) There is no magic formula, the entry of which I am most proud. There are two parts to it, so make sure to read both of them, alright:)?
2) How listening affects your sales cycle. Another attempt at explaining the value of listening, and of forming a rapport with your clients. This is also a friendly reminder to all salespeople, to put the relationships with your clients first. That's the mainstay of repeat business...

I hope you have a good time reading my posts, and thank you again for your continued readership! Please feel free to leave a comment for me, and I'll make sure to respond. Thanks for stopping by...CC