From the Editor – November 2007 eBiz Insider magazine. Download the complete issue as a PDF by clicking here.
If you’re still laughing about last month’s cover of eBiz Insider, you’re not alone. Many people around the office came up to me and said, “I know that’s you, but when did you have hair?” That wonderful cover was actually a Christmas card I had commissioned two years ago by Eric Yonge, a very talented illustrator. The smoking jacket however, has been returned!
Solid Cactus Boot Camp @ HQ
All e-commerce businesses should develop ways of attracting and retaining clients and customers. We learned that when we operated our own web sites and our attitude with our design company Solid Cactus is no different. We want to know our people and we want them to know us. Last month, more than 50 e-commerce store owners from around the country joined the Solid Cactus team here in Wilkes-Barre, PA for something we call “e-commerce Boot Camp.” These three-day events allow attendees to interact with other store owners, take part in educational seminars and explore the nightlife here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The exploration takes less time than in, say, New York, or Toledo, for that matter. (Hey, we’re not some “big city” and we kinda like it that way!)
The three days went by quickly and everyone had lots of opportunities to pick up valuable tips and tricks to boost their business. The majority of the seminars were put on by Solid Cactus staffers but we were privileged to have guest presenters from Yahoo! Small Business, Google, LivePerson and FedEx.
Google’s presentation was all about their foray into “offline” advertising with print, radio and television. Anyone interested in advertising on the radio, in newspapers, magazines or on television can do it right through their Google AdWords account. These new offerings clearly indicate that Google plans to dominate both the online and offline advertising market. From a marketing standpoint, these services are extremely exciting. From a Solid Cactus standpoint, we’re excited to be a partner in the Google AdCreation Marketplace where we offer creative and production services for radio, print and soon, television.
The Countdown is On
Our local newspaper just started printing the “X Number of Shopping Days Till Christmas” graphic on the front page. When I saw it, I shuddered. The holidays already? It’s hard to believe that the biggest shopping season of the year is about to begin.
If I can offer just one suggestion to help you during the holidays, it is: make sure you’re staffed properly. The biggest mistake people make every year is not having enough staff to handle customer service calls and order fulfillment. If you didn’t start beefing up your staff yet, start now. Hearing “I told you so” is no fun come January.
Thanks!
Finally, this month we celebrate Thanksgiving. The feast aside, I will be giving many thanks this year. Thanks to our 115+ employees who have made our company one of the “Best Places to Work in PA” for two years in a row. Thanks to our clients who have enabled us to grow as rapidly as we have and who trust us to be their partner in e-commerce success. And thanks to so many of you for embracing eBiz Insider and making it part of your monthly reading cycle.
Until next month, give your own thanks in your own way. And remember, falling asleep after dinner isn’t rude, it’s a compliment to the chef. That excuse always works for me!
