How do I juggle family and business?

I am blessed with 4 stunning boys, 5, 4, 2 years and 10 weeks!  I have an amazing wife, a business that is successful in its field, I am involved in local politics as a Borough Councillor and unsurprisingly I have little time to think!  Thinking is a key skill and a core need of any business.  There are times we are too busy to think or strategise and we think everything is ok but inevitably something comes up and bites us in the bum because we have not seen it coming or planned for the eventuality.

Now of course we cannot plan for every eventuality, but we can take time to think through situations and strategy.  This is the part I struggle with.  Not because I lack creativity or skill, simply I lack the time to put into practice that which I preach.  Most of the creative thinking I have had in the last 10 weeks has come to me when I am feeding the little one somewhere around 3 am.  It is crazy how much I do think at that time, why?  Simply because I have time!  For 1 hour each and every night, somewhere between 2 and 3am my son wakes up wanting a bottle and I have time with myself…well with Louie as well, but he is very good and tries not to interrupt my thought process!! So am I really too busy being busy to realise what I should be doing, or just too pig headed to do something about it.  Truthfully I am not sure, when I find out I am sure I will blog about it!

I think the overwhelming message is that I need to find some time each day for myself, to think about whatever it is that needs to be thought about or just to allow thoughts the time to come to me…..you should try it, I know I am and you never know it may actually work!!!

Best

Simon

AntiBac Pen

So for the new financial year we have the latest, smartest, healthiest, antibacterial pen available on the market.  Ok, lets be clear it is the only anti-bac pen that is certified to British Standards.  Why does this matter I hear you cry?  It matters because I am constantly being asked what is new, innovative, funky in our market place.  This product is all 3 and more, it really does some good....  I know, I know, it is unlike me to become animated over a pen....but cmon this is really clever!

If you want to see it, try it, use it or even order it let me know on the number below.  As always comments and feedback are greatly appreciated.

 

Merchandise Mania - Distributor of the Year 2010

Promota Distributor
of the Year 2010

Merchandise Mania are proud to be an award winning company. We’ve been repeatedly recognised amongst numerous industry bodies as their Distributor of the Year and as we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we’re delighted to announce that we have received yet another prestigious accolade.

Promota is the trade association to the promotional merchandise industry. They’re responsible for ensuring that the people you choose to work with follow a respected set of guidelines and offer best business practice. Voted for by manufacturers and importers from throughout the UK, Merchandise Mania have once again been awarded Distributor of the Year for London and Eastern 2010.

It’s an award of which we’re immensely proud, and we’d like to thank all of you for help making it possible.

Contact us with your requirements or to arrange a no obligation meeting with one of our representatives.

Merchandise Mania Ltd - Merchandise House - 6 Elstree Way - Borehamwood - Herts - WD6 1RN
Tel: 0845 202 2388 - Fax: 0845 202 2389

Jennifer Showing the Takeaway Mug

It is great to hear such enthusiasm from Jennifer over a mug, in fact lets be clear from anyone it is great to hear enthusiasm!  I have to say though in its defence, it is the only mug for me.  I love it and use it many times per day to keep my tea piping hot! Try it you might like it!!

We have loads of them in our showroom for you to see.  Remember also that for the whole of March we have 'a flipping great deal'.  That is to say for spending £2500.00 or over we will give you a Flip Cam absolutely free just to say thanks!  The Flip Cam is one of my favourite gadgets and those of you who know me will understand why.  A quality piece of kit.  So what are you waiting for????


simon@merchandisemania.co.uk

Social Networking - Am I a Fan?

So yesterday I was with my Academy of chief Executives group ACE 2 at the Holiday Inn in Elstree. Our Morning speaker was a chap called Mike Nevin whose company, Alliance Best Practice does what it says on the tin. Looks at the best ways of bringing a team together to deliver a project in the most cost effective way whilst probably increasing the available skills by working with all types of Partners to make it happen! Very Interesting I thought! Fortunately the talk was not about this, but about the phenomenon of Online Networking. Interestingly about 95% of the room yesterday had some kind of profile on LinkedIn, about 95% of them used the free model and did not have a complete profile including myself. However having listened intently to Mike for a few hours I can see major benefits in putting myself and my company out there and using online business networking to increase exposure and perhaps help to further support our clients. I used to belong ot a group called BNI or Business Network International and there motto was 'Givers Gain'. That is, 'that I I give you business, you will want to give me business.' There is a lot to be said for this especially in a tougher economic climate than most of us are used to. It is important to note that selling on price alone is a recipe for disaster so being able to 'add value' to the proposition is what it is all about at Merchandise Mania. It seems like after yesterday one of the ways in which we can add value is by networking efficiently with our customers and prospects.

I know my next job is ensuring my profile on LinkedIn is complete!!!!

Doom and Gloom or the Green Shoots of Recovery???

It is increasingly obvious to me that whilst we are incredibly capable of talking ourselves into situations we do not seem to be capable of talking our way out of the same situation. Clearly I am talking about the 'Recession' oh no I said it out loud....the 'Recession'........I said it again. I think it is a sorry state of affairs that even when we are clearly still in a downturn that the press seem incapable of giving us the lift and positive headlines that will help restore the confidence that they ripped from us.

That said, is this the fault of the press? No, of course not. I do feel that they have a responsibility to balance the arguments rather than heavily stack it one way or another.

On a really positive note, we at Merchandise Mania have been able to help our clients budget go further. Even more positively is the fact that activity is well up in the months of July and August so far, this coupled with positive news from the banks and the $$$ weakening to Sterling will definitely help.

Lets hope so anyway.


Simon

How can I motivate, when all around the news is glum?

Focus, Focus, Focus!!!!

Just because Honda are stopping production for 4 months or this one is shedding this many jobs or that one is closing its factory, does not mean that there is not also good news mixed in with the bad. Why only today Subway announced it was opening a further 600 stores in the UK & Eire creating 7000 jobs. There are still many opportunities in times of recession and even more importantly we have to motivate our teams to go after those opportunities and grasp both hands around them when we find them.

Motivation should not be hard in a climate such as the UK today, but surprisingly it is very difficult. You would think people were thankful to still be in a job and that they would work even harder to ensure that it stayed that way. Human nature does not work like that and unfortunately the bad news is impossible to avoid and no matter who you are, I believe, it has to have a detrimental effect on morale.

I guess as a business leader it is my role to inspire my team to achieve, to invigorate where energy wanes and to coach where the need arises. Is it enough? Most of the time, yes it is but in these strange times I am not sure. I think more is needed and that is the motivation.

One way businesses can motivate is cash. Cash bonuses are real, tangible and effective some of the time.

Another is product bonuses. This could be points with prizes, length of service awards, employee of the month etc. It is generally felt that these type of prizes have an increased perceived value compared to the relative cash bonuses. Only when a cash bonus becomes substantial does the cash seem more!

Is now a good time to introduce a motivation programme? Absolutely! Why? It is widely felt that it is harder to motivate in a difficult climate than when things are good. Motivation can increase sales and of that there can be no doubt. So many Sales People tell me they are self motivated and driven individuals, they probably are most of the time but even the best need a nudge in the right direction from time to time.

So there is no better time to look at a programme for your employees to help and maintain motivation, we at Merchandise Mania can clearly help with that. This is the shameless plug part!!!!!

Until next time……..