If you think your processes and how you run your company is going to work for all of your customers - think again.

If you're a company that only has an online presence and doesn't interface with your customers, skip this article. I'm not saying you're doing anything wrong, just saying that I'm going to go a different route for a second and it won't be of value to you.

So you have your website, your ordering process, the process by which you assemble and ship and hopefully, you even have a follow up process to make sure everyone is happy. But, what if that doesn't work for your customers? Maybe your customer doesn't want to order off the website. Maybe your customer likes what you have but its not exactly what they want? What if your customer is using their iPod?

Studying and thinking about how your customers want to work doesn't mean you have to throw out your processes or accommodate every customer type there is but I am suggesting you think about how your customers in different age ranges, different occupations and different styles - maybe want to work. Just a thought.

...and yes, I'm teasing :) The full article is in the magazine. It's worth reading.

Debbie Q.
and just to prove I'm not mean, there is a free article on the website that you might find thought provoking.

1st Year Anniversary Lessons Learned

Our First Anniversary is April 2nd and here are the top 5 things we've learned in kind of a blunt way but we're smiling :)

1. That everyone needs help in some way. Whether or not they want to admit it publicly, they're calling us regularly and we are enjoying helping as much as we can. We're learning from you too.

2. That there are SO many wonderful professionals out there that are more than willing to set the word "competition" aside for the better good of the industry. Focusing in on the national potentials vs. worrying about competing feels so much better.

3. That launching a magazine has been the most amazing experience, ever. The collaboration, willingness to come together and contribute has benefited hundreds of people and as one member said, "revived the industry".

4. That there are a lot of suppliers out there that we all didn't know about and some suppliers that don't know about us, either. Facilitating two way conversations and introductions is working.

5. That the heck we were put through by a few people when we first launched last year, was healthy. It made us become a better organization. And now, as we sit here with a year under our belt, we can sit back and say - WE MADE IT! We are very humbled by those of you who called and apologized for passing judgment. Thank you.

An enticing tea vendor - Market Spice Tea

It's a cool Sunday morning and as I reviewing the product samples that have been sent to me for endorsement, I picked up some teas from Market Spice Tea of Redmond Washington. I tried the huckleberry tea first - brought me right back to being a kid and camping at Big Basin in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We used to pick huckleberries as kids. It has a smooth taste and was an absolute delight. I also tried their raspberry tea and I have to tell you that the aroma is lovely.

From organic teas to a variety of other products such as honey, cookies, hot toddy mixes - even scented candles, Market Spice has a variety of lovely products you should consider for your gift basket designs. They've been around since 1911 and quite honestly, know their business.

Contact Herb Lederman, ledermanassociates@comcast.net (925) 376-7129