Watch My Video Pitch Online
September 27, 2006
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This morning I woke up from a dream where I MISSED my opportunity to pitch in a national competition because I was in the bathroom…I was crying and very upset. (I won 2nd place at the national pitch competition in North Carolina at Wake Forest in 2005…) Then I heard my baby crying and woke up…what a weird dream! But, if it’s symbolic, I hope that I’m not missing any opportunities to pitch. So, just in case I am, and you want to SEE MY VIDEO PITCH, I will let you. I never was going to openly share it, but today I have a change of heart. I figure if someone wants to take my ideas and run with them then obviously it will be executed differently. I don’t disclose too many details anyhow.
Go to www.princessSweet.com; click on VIDEO PITCH and download. You will need QuickTime 7. By the way, my company has recently changed names to sweet & charming, so we are still in the process of creating the identity.
What Makes A Successful Home Party (Business)?
September 27, 2006
Pampered Chef. Tupperware. Creative Memories. Mary Kay. Stampin Up. Shade Clothing. Discovery Toys. All of these companies have successful home parties…what makes them work?? Tell me. I want to know! What do you love and hate about going to home parties? Have you ever been a host? Have you ever been a rep for a home-party business? Why did you sign up? What did you like about it?
Here’s 2 New Magic Wands for Making Life Better & Easier
September 26, 2006
I’m adding two resources to our Magic Wands (Tools & Resources Page)
One tip came from Start Up Princess Lorri Randle, www.copperrain.com. Lorri found our site today, thanks to a referral from Paul Allen and she commented that she likes to use www.yourvalet.net; for getting errands done, event planning, house cleaning, whatever! I’ve heard from other people that this is an excellent service for those in Utah County. I can’t wait to try it (and I’d like to interview the entrepreneur!)
Another one came from Start Up Princess Beth Graham, of Beth Graham Photography (my neighor!). She uses www.factsonfiction.org for understanding subject matter, ratings, and other useful information about children’s books.
Advice from Paul Allen’s Free Conference Call
September 26, 2006
Missed the call? Didn’t take notes? I heard most of the call, here are my notes from the questions they asked…for more, visit www.paulallen.net; you can read his post about finding a distribution channel today.
How to Market on a Budget (for local)?
Distributing materials on cars, signs on property, post URLs on brochures, signs. You can get legitimate permission and this can be a great way to get yourself started and people to know who you are.
Build, Buy, or Outsource?
Traditional thinking was to do everything in-house, your own marketing dept., product development, it is changing! There are so many tools, applications, methods, so it is better to focus on what you do well…and hire professionals outside of your company.
Book title: The Only Sustainable Edge, by John Hagel and John Seely; the philosophy is to outsource as much as you can, but do your research…but you must do your homework really well so that you are tied to people who are really good (for example, if you choose wrong webdevelopers then it can be a problem on the front or back end).
NetGain, also by John Hagel, is about how now consumers have all the power, consumers conversations with each other on line has more focus and power than the actual companies. User generated content… learn to ride the wave and not fight it
Where To Get Start Up Capital?
Infobases:
Paul and his friend had full-time jobs and they built the first products before they quit their full-time jobs, his partner was a sales guy and he got them orders before they quit jobs, etc. they used personal credit cards and then only paid themselves $18k a year
Second company, they had sold part of their first company and invested $400k into Ancestry.
It seems impossible, I hate the “fools†part of the phrase “get it from friends, family, and fools”…but, that is what a lot of people do and it is very hard to do, to borrow from them, implications with that…
How do you raise capital?
*Bootstrapping is the answer!
Seatability, a company that designs cool chairs, has a team of 6 that have put $194k into the company, they have been doing this for 18 mo, they will be likely to stay profitable
Funding Universe.com; Paul started it…it is very hard for entrepreneurs to meet Angels, this company puts them together through events and online services.
*Speed Pitching…through Funding Universe can be an excellent way to get funding by meeting 25-30 angel investors in one day
Regarding venture capital…only about 1000 a year raise from VC’s, 100x more likely to get from angel investors
Sales?
Not his expertise, but his partner was a great salesman…he was excellent at it.
We are all sales people, we have to sell our audiences, market, families, etc.
Finding good sales people, recruiting…she would talk to people in the parking lot of a telemarketing company (and offer a bounty if they could refer someone from the best sales reps to work for her).
College dorms and offer free pizza if people would come to a meeting…50-100 people, then she would add 10-20 new sales reps that way.
Listening and asking the right question is the key…There is a reason we have 1 mouth, 2 ears! 
Contact management? His favoite, Folio views is no longer sold, it allows him to google to his own mind…however, salesforce.com, salesteam.com are good programs.
Has Paul spread himself too thin? He has too many companies!? (He has 11!)
Despite what he does personally, he encourages entrepreneurs to focus, don’t try to do too much…the way to wealth is focus, if that is important to you…
Paul isn’t driven by wealth, he loves the world of innovation, ideas
He reads a lot from Wired, Popular Science, always thinking about the future. For example, when he was writing CD-Roms he knew that the internet would be popular, so he moved to the web.
He gets more satisfaction out of the beginning, gets bored when revenues start coming in…then he wants to be on to the next thing
The most important thing a start up company can do is to find a channel…Fraser Bullock (Sorenson Capital) says the only companies he will fund have solid management and an excellent distribution channel…you must have strategic partners, a well-thought out plan for selling product. Even if it is a kiosk, eBay, Craig’s List…this is the key to success!! If you don’t have distribution, then you won’t succeed.
Parenting Lecture Series in American Fork Starts Tonight!
September 26, 2006
Marla McDonald, graduate of Institute of Healing Arts is presenting an 8 week lecture series designed to teach parenting skills and increase love in the home.
Course Title: Family Dynamics: Caring for The Heart of The Family
Location: Quality Inn, 712 South Utah Valley Drive, American Fork
Time: 7-9pm
$10 a class
Tonight’s Lecture: Becoming What Love is in Your Home. Identify some of the the negative patterns and beliefs that hinder intimate relationships and learn how to overcome them.
Free Conference Call TODAY for Entrepreneurs by Paul Allen
September 26, 2006
Today at 1 pm MST Paul Allen will be doing another Conference Call University teleseminar on entrepreneurship and internet marketing. Normally listeners pay to join these conference calls where they answer questions submitted by attendees.
But today he is offering free registration. Please visit www.learnfrompaulallen.com to sign up. Space is limited, so sign up now.
Today’s Magic Wand:
I’ve already registered, have you?? What a great opportunity for moms to listen and learn while doing laundry or watching little ones…take advantage of Paul’s generosity and learn from one of our country’s most respected and successful entrepreneurs!
Start Up King Shawn Nelson, Founder of LoveSac Shares Retail Tips
September 25, 2006
Ever since I developed the concept for sweet & charming mentors and competition judges have told me, “you really need to meet Shawn Nelson, the Founder of LoveSac, he’s global, he’s wired for retail, he’s got it figured out…”, but I didn’t know how to arrange that meeting until recently (a friend of a friend introduced me by email). I was thrilled yesterday to not only meet Shawn, but his adorable and talented wife (a concert pianist!), Tiffany, who is also an entrepreneur in retail, owns her own shoe boutique at The Gateway in SLC called Pears (isn’t that clever for a shoe store? Get it? Pairs of shoes? We’ll be featuring her soon and she’s agreed to be a guest blogger).
We met for lunch at Thaifoon, one of my favorites at The Gateway and talked about retail and creating a brand. Shawn made some excellent recommendations to me personally for sweet & charming.
The following are excellent tips by Shawn Nelson that I’ve learned that can apply to anyone building a brand or retail concept:
1. Don’t compromise your brand, if the concept will work best in a store, don’t start in a kiosk, consider a temporary lease and/or a small space. Even 600 sq feet is better than a kiosk.
2. If you are considering franchising your concept, and the thought makes you sick…don’t do it. However, there are upsides of franchising because you can grow faster and the franchise owners have skin in the game so they are more willing to make it succeed, more than employees.
3. Own your trademark, ASAP. Shawn talked about when they were initially being approached to franchise LoveSac and they didn’t own the mark, another company had owned the name for 22 years and he didn’t know what to do because “LoveSac’s name is “special”, there IS NO OTHER NAME.” So, for good measure he had his attorney check it again two weeks later and suddenly it was abandoned!! And he quickly filed for it and they were able to franchise with the name. Amazing timing. This story and other great experiences about Shawn’s start up experiences are available on the Business Jive podcast . (You can also hear him singing NY State of Mind by Billy Joel and Tiffany playing an impressive Rachmaninoff piece.)
4. “Be your Brand.” Shawn does this SO well. He is a talented stage performer, he used to sing/play professionally six nights a week in China! While he calls himself a “hack” compared to Tiffany (concert pianist), he is super talented and continues to perform with his band. No wonder that he won The Rebel Billionaire show he has charisma and style, and is very likeable. What is amazing is that while he can “be the Brand”, he can also “be CEO” and understands the fundamentals of business really well and that is why his company is global and has the “sticky factor” talked about in The Tipping Point book.
5. Have a Heart. Shawn has one, a big one. He reaches out to others (including me) and has a charity that he supports (MS) as well as recognizes where he came from, the people that have been there from the beginning, and is humble. He even has a photo of his grandpa on his website! Even though he’s considered “rebel Shawn” by the media and uses that title in his company, that’s just part of the image, part of the huge brand. He’s smart, methodical, down to earth, and doesn’t take himself too seriously.
6.”Just do anything,” he said in a news article. “This typically comes last, but in my book it’s first…Be what you will be, not what you are…embrace economic pressure…and finally, you must be willing to boldly recognize what you are and what you’re not.” Shawn embodies this concept…he is a proactive, get it done guy. He’s built a dream castle by thousands of LoveSacs…and never, never gives up! Sheer determination, hard work, and faith.
Shawn has a blog at www.shawndnelson.com right now he is running a contest for a description for the best answer of “alternative furniture.” You can check it out. Maybe you’ll win a messenger bag, just like Shawn’s.
It was a great time, thanks, Shawn and Tiffany for sharing your day with me and teaching me so much.
Developing Relationships in Business
September 22, 2006
One of the best things about launching a business has been all of the wonderful people I have met along the way. Over the last two years I have continually prayed that people would come into my life who could help me move sweet & charming forward and have been constantly in awe of the talented, experienced professionals I have met at various events, conferences, competitions, and luncheons. Recently, my husband and I have discovered Corporate Alliance, a formal network of professionals in Utah County. Paul Allen recommended that I join Corporate Alliance because I want to build a management team and they produce many events for their members that help faciliate relationships (and once you are connected with leaders your world expands). I value and admire the structure of Corporate Alliance. In their free orientation/luncheon, they teach you their “Relationship Rules”, not a big secret that these rules work…they are based on excellent principles.
Relationship Rules:
Be Memorable
Remember
Become a Client
Thank Yous and Recognition of Events
Share your Influence
Share your knowledge and resources
Endorse others
Learn, Serve, Grow
Although I enjoy Corporate Alliance networking events and their amazing facilities (you can reserve any of their meeting rooms), I still see the need for building the Start Up Princess community and developing relationships with women entrepreneurs. We are finding that women entrepreneurs are online savvy, and love to meet via email and by commenting on websites, blogs, and attending events in casual settings where children are welcome and encouraged to participate. We are developing relationships with women all over the country and invite you to participate and get involved.
Email Me at Kelly at Princess Sweet.com to join our email group for local and national events and to be considered for an interview to be profiled on our site. We are also seeking Fairy Godmothers (guest bloggers) to write monthly articles on this site.
Today’s Magic Wand: Continue to build your network by developing relationships with those you know, respect, and trust. Become involved with Start Up Princess and get to know the women profiled on this site.
One of My Biggest Challenges: Sitting Down to Eat
September 21, 2006
Sounds funny, huh? But, it’s true. that is why I love my Magic Potion Spinach Smoothies (please don’t eat bagged spinach right now, but the recipe for that is 2 c spinach, 1 frozen banana, 6 frozen strawberries, 1 c rice milk–blenderize until smooth). It seems like I’m always cooking and feeding everyone in my family except myself or I’m busy running to and fro and not making sure I am properly fed. So, I have to work really hard at actually sitting down and enjoying my meals, giving gratitude to God that I have a healthy meal to eat, and slowly chewing my food so I digest my meal fully.
My good friend, Start Up Princess, Julie Hundley from Pittsburgh is an amazing chef and an Integrative Nutritional Counselor and she has taught me so many things about eating well and encourages her clients to chew slowly (as long as possible–up to 100 chews!) Interestingly enough the longer you chew your food, the better it tastes and the more satisified you will be.
The other thing that helps me is to keep lots of fresh veggies around so I can make my favorite veggie sandwiches, stirfrys, soups, etc. I find that the more fresh veggies I have around the more I will eat! Simple concept, I know, but if you don’t have them on the counter or in the fridge they can’t beckon you. And they do beckon!! The more you eat, the more you will crave them and then you’ll have even more energy for all you do.
Third, if you are really on the run and you just can’t slow down, then have some pre- sliced cucumber, carrots, celery, or other veggies precut in the fridge in a plastic bag that you can grab and throw in your bag and eat on the run. This has helped me out a lot.
Today’s Magic Wand: Stock your fridge with the veggies you love and when you eat them, give thanks, chew slowly, and enjoy every bite.
This is what I had for lunch today:
Veggie Avocado Sandwich
Whole Wheat Bread (2 slices) toasted
1 small avocado, mashed and spread on both slices of bread
2-3 slices of cucumber (sliced length-wise)
lettuce
tomato slices
alfalfa sprouts
Put 2 toothpicks through, 1 one each corner and slice diagonally
* I would LOVE to hear your tips for good health and recipes for healthy meals…if you comment below, I will try them out and feature them on the site in another post!
Women Entrepreneur Lecture Series At BYU This Fall
September 21, 2006
The Lecture series includes Start Up Princess, Erika Wilde! Public welcome
Details: Classes are 2-3:45pm, Room 284, Tanner Building
Oct 13
CHELSEA RIPPY SHADE CLOTHING, PROVO, UT
Oct 27
JEANETTE LYNTON, CLOSE TO MY HEART, PLEASANT GROVE, UT
Nov 10
ERIKA WILDE, STOPDIRT.COM, SPRINGVILLE, UT
Dec 1
AMY LEWIS, IPOP, SANDY, UT
Dec 8
BECKY LUNDSFORD FOR EVERY BODY, Orem, UT
