Networking has been around for ages--and knowing someone to get a job, a lead, a referral is one of the best ways to build any business, relationship, etc. But in a slow economy, where payrolls have to be met, inventories paid for/adjusted and rents have to be paid--is networking all it's cracked up to be? I recently had the pleasure of attending a non-chamber of commerce, service organization luncheon whose sole purpose is business networking and providing each other referrals. While many networking groups are based on "profession" focused representation--this organization in the local chapter had forty members, each representing automotive repair, home improvement, chiropractic, etc. Based on members providing other members with "referrals" of people they know (average person knows 250 outside of the organization) with whom they might want a specific service or product represented--each weekly luncheon spends a good hour going around the room ...

Two recent Wall Street Journal articles caught my attention as they discussed what's going on in the economy and how consumers are responding. First, with the new jobs added this month of 192,000 and unemployment steadying at 6.7%--and the Fed still doing the 0% dance for at least another year--how does a small business hope to survive and prosper? Combine that with a second article discussing the "wages" issue (stagnant, etc) and a third article discussing consumer "staples" (toothpaste, detergent, feminine hygiene products, etc) offering unheard of discounts--six bottles of detergent for 30% less, or something like that--and we're talking a nickel and dime economy. A business owner friend of mine who sells higher end home furnishings told me recently of a customer who shopped their store--then Home Depot and Nebraska Furniture Mart and my friend was $200 more than the competition for the same product. His business is family-owned and have been in...

"Winters Warmth" Verlin Studio's popular woven blanket I thought by now this would have been put in the cedar chest--since Spring is officially here. But with old man winter still ravaging the country with snow, winds, rain...the perfect snuggling blanket is still apropos. At 60x90 inches--it makes for a very comfortable snuggling blanket or throw blanket just to take the "chill" off at night. Woven blankets are so much nicer than standard weave blankets--as the hand-woven feature retain durability and style. What makes this blanket so nice is its customized monogram option--and features four popular Verlin Studio prints (Burning Sunrise, Winters Song, Winters Road and Pastorale Stream). Truly--these original Verlin Studio prints make this a one of a kind blanket that no one else carries. Verlin Studio's prints and products are exclusive from their website and linked Etsy purchasing platform at: www.verlinstudios.com.  I get emails and comme...

Midnight At The Oasis, Verlin Studio's 2014 Recently, a friend of mine told me a story that emphasized how important it is to make a connection with someone in whatever our personal and business life is. He had purchased one of my favorite prints that I took in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The print is called Midnight At The Oasis--depicting a walkway along the Caribbean beach around midnight with a full moon beaming down and glistening on the water. After he had purchase the $40 print--he had it mounted on a blue/silver mat that he said made the picture POP. As he told me the story--I reflected back to the night this was taken--a beautiful full moon along the shoreline tide. I remember thinking when I took it how rare it would be to get a full moon, much less glistening on the ocean with enough light to not make it too grainy. This night--I made sure I took a minimum of 20 pictures to enough enough to work with in the editing process. My friend had frame the picture in his ...

It was one of those moments when things kind of presented itself. My friend and i had attended the Lee's Summit Bloom & Boom Fourth of July Celebration several years ago at Powell Gardens in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Every summer, they host a Butterfly Festival where butterflies seems are everywhere! But on this July 4th date--we were wandering around the lily pond area seeking a place to sit and picnic and enjoy the pomp and circumstance of a fourth of July celebration. As we were crossing the lily pond bridge--I began to notice a butterfly hovering around my face--almost like an annoying fly. That's when my attention (and camera) suddenly focused on this menace that gracefully landed a couple of feet in front of me on a purple flower. I zoomed in a bit and snapped a series of maybe four or five shots.  Having "captured" them--we were on our way across the pond bridge when i thought--oh, get a few more pics of this neat-looking pond. Not everyday ...

Course This isn't your Daddy's Bible Verse anymore! You're walking down the street. You see this cool kind of guy wearing a leather jacket, leather beret (looks kind of like an artistic Marlon Brando/Elvis kind of guy). As you pass by--you notice on his pink long-sleeved Polo t-shirt--a black and white, dark grey picture of a "cemetery".  You do a double-take--and notice a statement at the bottom of the photo, "He Restores My Soul". Jump back! Whoooaaa dude! (Is sort of your expression). That was my first impression when I saw VerlinStudios owner, John Verlin last week as we sat down for coffee--to discuss his latest "creation". David: John, VerlinStudios recently began selling a t-shirt iron-on transfer that's a bit--I don't want to say "controversial" but is definitely different--as far as a t-shirt design. I mean--it's a picture of a cemetery--with the words at the bottom, ...

VerlinStudios bonus gift offer The hardest part of running a web-based business is not only "generating" traffic to your site(s)--but "conversation" rates into sales. And it take an "ah-hah" genius idea! I first learned about this out of the box thinking back in 1984, when I first met with jewelry retailer, Richard Goldman. Rich looked like Rod Serling (in my mind) and had a very cool, casual way about him. His family had been in the jewelry business for decades--and he had opened his own smaller shop when I first met him to advertise on our classical radio station. He would voice his own radio ads--and he like most local retailers had a rhythm about his delivery that built his brand quite quickly with our audience. They'd ask for him when they came in--and that name/voice recognition was huge. His credibility was a huge asset as was being associated with "their" classical radio station. All of this played into...