Best In Show - Part Two

Hi Janie here again with another guest blog - thanks SIO for letting me revisit you. Business advice from someone who knows. 35 years of helping and running businesses means I've seen most mistakes and learnt so much.

Tips 6-10

They say first impressions count and they do, but also the last memory can be the one that sticks.

How many times have you been served in a shop or at a fair by someone who made you feel you were a burden to them, waited an internity while being ignored or listening to staffs idle gossip, or left feeling as though they were rushing you out?

Simple rules go a long way when serving a customer, be it business to business or business to consumer.


6. Unless a vital emergency never chat to a colleague while leaving a customer waiting.

7. If you use a queue system ensure it is plain and the ticket machine is placed in the most logical situation. Understand that sometime folks will not get the system, encourage them to get in line but do not make them feel embarrassed.

8. What view does your client get when coming into your shop? is it welcoming? is the entrance obvious? the direction they should take and where do they queue? A few polite notices go a very long way to making consumers feel happy.

9. When out in your normal daily life evaluate buying situations which make you feel uncomfortable, unwanted or under valued. What was it that made you feel that way, capture the thought and keep it, ensure your business does not replicate that issue.

10. Always ensure you say thank you and good bye even if you're already on to the next customer, the last impression is as important as the first.

Common sense is all it takes, when did you last look at your business through your clients eyes, it might be worth doing. 

SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time
© babimu - Fotolia.com

SIO Tips no. 40

To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling!




SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Best in Show - Part One

Hi Janie here again with another guest blog - thanks SIO for letting me revisit you. Business advice from someone who knows.  35 years of helping and running businesses means I've seen most mistakes and learnt so much.

Tips 1 -  5

They say first impressions count and they do, but also the last memory can be the one that sticks.

How many times have you been served in a shop or at a fair by someone who made you feel you were a burden to them,  waited an eternity while being ignored or listening to staffs idle gossip, or left feeling as though they were rushing you out?

Simple rules go a long way when serving a customer, be it business to business or business to consumer.


1. If busy make eye contact with the waiting client within 30 seconds or less. Note the order of the waiting clients to ensure you serve in turn.

2. Listen to what your are being asked, do not assume.

3. Manage expectations, if you do not know when something is back in stock be honest, offer to take a phone number and call them on arrival of the stock or suggest a realistic alternative. Never suggest something totally different, it insults the person.

4. Smile, it is free and makes people feel welcome and valued.

5. Manners, try saying please and thank you!

Common sense is all it takes, when did you last look at your business through your clients eyes, it might be worth doing. 

SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time
© babimu - Fotolia.com

SIO Tips no. 39

Candle Wax removal - Many table cloths or carpets have been subject to a spill of candle wax but what do you do.

1. Work out what the fabric that has the wax on is, important as you're going to use heat and sometimes that might not be possible or you can only use a very low heat.
2. Scrape off as much as you can with a blunt knife, taking care not to damage the fabric.
3. Now using blotting paper (preferably) but failing that thicker unpatterned kitchen paper lay this on the area and then use a warm/hot iron on the paper.  This melts the wax and the wax will soak into the paper.  Change the paper often and do not leave the heat on for any time. Take your time, too much heat may damage the fabric below.

This should remove most of the wax from the clothes or carpet. However if the item is of valuable or on a high profile spot, then a specialist cleaner should be found.

Spring now you see it, now you don't.

Spring; has it sprung or not? The weather might have the birds confused and the snowdrops unsure whether to open or not but the lambs are arriving regardless. A tough year for farmers in the UK with damp unusable fields and huge feed bills.
Little lambs do not fare well in the cold rain, they are tough but rain is an enemy so many will have to stay in doors or close to the farm where space allows. 
Also this year there is a terrible disease hitting unborn lambs, and many will sadly be still born. Those out will have to try to keep warm, mum often making a soft warm bed as youngsters climb up and sit on her. 
The higher the farm land the later the lambs, those in the mountains often waiting til April to lamb and better weather. 
So, when you see a field of new born lambs be grateful, as this year it's not going to be a sight as common as normal.