A Growing Business

The struggle between career and family has been plaguing people for decades. The entrepreneurial generation is setting a new pace for family priorities while at the same time fulfilling their career dreams. In some strange way, one's career becomes a major piece of their identity and when the choice is made to give it up for family, a small piece of oneself feels lost. The Internet allows a means to start and grow a business, reaching millions of people and making it possible to raise a family, while maintaining that career identity.

Jean Pederson and Barbara Lundberg are two of the growing entrepreneurs -- literally growing - who have decided to remove the corporate handcuffs and start their own business. They know that family is more important than the corporate glamour and have re-prioritized their lives to place raising a family first while achieving the dream of business ownership. "Some people think we are crazy to jump into this right now," says Pederson. "And we are, but the rewards outshine the struggles. We both are very driven to succeed and do all we can do to achieve the best in our family life and in our careers. We have been planning this business for a very long time and have strategic partnerships in place to make it work."

Lundberg and Pederson have built their business on the grassroots theory of marketing. Treat people well and they will keep coming back. Let other people know you appreciate and care about them as human beings, not merely as customers. A bit simplified, but this key rule is often forgotten in the busy corporate world.

Offer a variety of sales and marketing tools that allow businesses of any size to keep in contact with their valuable clients and add the special touch necessary to stand out against the competition. The key line of products and services include high quality greeting cards that assist individuals and companies prospect for business, build relationships and keep in contact with current clients.

Business greeting card use:

Top sales professionals recommend keeping your name and company name in front of your customers and prospects every month. Use a personal, hand written greeting card to pass along a thank you message, to send an article related to the recipient's business or personal interests, or just to say hello. After every sales meeting and business lunch follow up with a personal note on a greeting card. You will make a lasting impression.

To maximize your marketing, set a come-up reminder and call your clients, associates or prospects within 5 days after sending a greeting card. They will remember who you are and will be more likely to hear your message or sales request.

Greeting cards require only 3 minutes to write, address, stamp and send -- make it a habit to send 3-5 greeting cards a day -- they are an efficient, and cost effective way to keep in contact with your clients and prospects.

The cost of retaining a customer is about 1/16 that of acquiring one. Once you have a customer, build loyalty by developing relationships with greeting cards.

People do business based on how much they trust you and that is related to how well they know you. Cardworks' cards help bring out an individual's and a company's personality, help build trust, and as a result build stronger business relationships. Many sales professionals, entrepreneurs and large corporate executives keep supplies of greeting cards. It is convenient to have a supply in the office and to carry a supply of cards and stamps with you at all times, so after a business meeting, luncheon, or other business interaction, it is convenient to write a quick note, and send it off in the mail.

-Barbara Lundberg

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