Going Green can Save Money!

These day all businesses are trying to stretch every dollar, but did you know that going green can save you money? Many people associate higher price tags when think about about going green, but there are many small ways to be more earth friendly and reduce your costs!



Turn it off
Create a kill-the-vampire campaign in your location. Encourage employees to turn off lights, computers, and office equipment (anything that sucks energy) when they leave for the day. Install power timers that automatically cut the power to things like copiers and printers at a certain time of the day. Turn down the thermostat during non business hours.

Save the Gas
Many of your healthcare businesses offer home delivery or home services. These big vehicles use a lot of gas. Maximize your fuel by using eco-driving tips. Drive smoothly at a low RPM in the highest possible gear. Anticipate traffic to avoid continually breaking and revving. Keep tires properly inflated for maximum MPGs.

Eco Replacements
Eventually equipment fails and needs replacement. Invest in more energy efficient options such as energy star rated appliances or hybrid delivery vans. The initial investment might be more but these replacements will pay for themselves quicker with the energy savings you will gain.

Recyclable Packaging
Use recycled paper shopping bags and set up a bag recycling area in your store. Tout your green efforts with an in store green policy. Share in company newsletters and at local industry events.

Small savings add up quickly! What is your business doing to be more green? Please share your tips below!

Setting Goals and Sticking To Them!

Soon the holiday decorations will be put away and the new year will be upon us. Many of us will start diving into our resolutions with a passionate cry that this year I will stick with my goals! Wait didn’t we say that last year….and the year before that… and the year before that. You get my point. Sticking to new goals is a challenge. Here are some ways to set appropriate goals and successfully accomplish them!


Define the Goals
- Create a clear definition of what your goal is.
- Be clear on the “why” of the goal which is your motivation.
- If you have more than one goal, group them into categories
- Tackling too many goals is a recipe for failure. Stick to a few key goals.

The Road Map
- A critial step is defining the how-to with monthly, daily, weekly steps.
- Put each step on a calendar to keep it top of mind and direct a clear path.

Celebrate the Wins
- Encouragement along the way keeps you engaged to accomplish your goals.
- Changing isn’t all or nothing. Celebrate victories with small rewards.

Evaluation – Practice not Perfection
- Put check-ins on the calendar to review progress
- Reviewing will drive more meaning to the goal and redirect efforts if needed.
- Each quarter ask questions such as - is the goal still relevant, how would you grade your progress, can you do other things to improve?

Example Goals
- Business Goal:
Define - grow retail sales by 5%
Motivation - a more profitable business
Map - create monthly retail sales promotion with help of sales team
Evaluation - monthly review of sales results,what worked what didn't
Celebration - quarterly catered lunch, bonus at year end if achieve goal

- Health Goal:
Define - Reach my goal weight of 150 lbs
Motivation - a healthier me to be active and live longer
Map - sign up and calendar an exercise class and attend 3 days a week
Evaluation - monthly weigh in and review of efforts
Celebration - quarterly get new shoes, year end a full spa day

Remember that life is about the journey. You will learn, you will fall, and you will grow– with focused intention, a plan, and self awareness you can stick with those goals and make them happen!

Supply Item Evaluation - Can you save $$$?

'Tis the season for budget stretching to meet end of the year goals and planning for your next year's expenses. This is prime time to evaluate all budget items - particularly supply products that can get lost under the radar due to their smaller expense lines. These can be items such as office supplies, disposables, accreditation materials, or other packaging products. Smaller costs can add up to big savings growing your bottom line!

Tips to Evaluate Supply Items

* Audit your purchase behavior - Are you buying anything intermittently in smaller quantities?

* Bulk buys - Consider bulk buying these items for volume based discount. Keep in mind storage needs.

* Consolidate Vendors - Could one vendor supply various items? There is potential to save on total order discounts and shipping costs.

* If you don't ask, you won't get it! - Ask your suppliers for any discount offers if you increase your order. If storage is an issue ask if they could they do blanket shipments at certain time intervals. The worse that could happen is they say no, but most suppliers appreciate your business and will try to work with you to make it a win-win.

* Participate in a Buying Group or Purchasing Organization Membership - These groups negotiate supplier contracts on your behalf so that you receive the best prices. Join the game, or if you are already member, take advantage of the benefits of membership with savings.

These are some quick ideas to get you started. Once you dive in you will be amazed at the stones you might uncover to drive additional savings. Have other tips to share? Please comment below. Happy Savings!

Maximize Seasonal Retail Sales

Do you hear those sleigh bells ringing? It should be the jingle of your cash register ringing up those holiday sales. Now is the time to create your holiday plan to make the most of your seasonal sales!


Gift Cards
The #1 retail gift of the season - gift cards. They are easy to buy, easy to give, and they let the recipient pick the gift they would like. Use store signage to make customers aware of your gift cards. Create a retail display by your check out areas. Make it a no-brainer by including the gift card packaging.

Ready-To-Go Gifts
Making gift giving easy will drive more sales. Create gift sets in a variety of price points to fit any budget. You can packaging them in cello bags, vinyl bags, or even holiday shoppers tied with a bow. Use signage to call out “Holiday Gift Center” to plant the seed that you offer the perfect gift. All customers have to do is walk the gift to the front counter and pop it under the tree.

Stocking Stuffers
Good things can come in small packages. In your gift center, add smaller items such as travel size products, first aid kits, holiday designed band-aids, holiday music, or local vendors candy. Offer in a variety of price points to increase sales potential. These little items can add high margin to your business and be that perfect little gift.

Gifts that Keeping Giving
This season many clients have limited holiday gift budgets and are looking for value. There are many products your business may offer that can giving through out the year by providing wellness or better patient care. Add this as a section to retail center focusing with some targeted products like a 3 month supply of compression hose, walker or cane special offers, masconomy product such as buy 3 bras get one free - the possibilities are endless for these items used every day.

Share these tips with your staff and check in weekly on progress and inventory status. You don’t want to miss out on a sales opportunity by running out of gift cards or popular retail items. Don't delay, prepare for a profitable holiday season today!

Cause Related Marketing – Show You Care

Are your marketing efforts not driving desired results? Is your healthcare business looking to gain new patients or customers? I have the answer to liven up your business and build brand image – Cause Related Marketing!

Cause related marketing is where you tie promotion efforts to a charity or cause. Causes could range from a special charity Breast Cancer Research, Heart Health Awareness, or activities such as a fundraiser or community event. Cause-related marketing can be a powerful tool for you connect with customers and your community. Your participation will generate goodwill, improve your visibility, increase customer loyalty, enhance your brand image, provide positive media attention, and increase your business! Customers would rather do business with a company that stands for something beyond profits.

Tips for Successful Cause-Related Marketing Campaigns:

Align with your business
Choose a cause that makes sense for your business. Many in the medical industry are choosing to support breast cancer research, heart health awareness, various races for the cures to diseases, COPD, and fitness and wellness programs. Your cause should be something meaningful your business type in order to resonate with your clients and community.

Passion = Success
Pick an event, cause, or charity you are passionate about. You need to be revved up about your cause. Your energy will inspire your internal team and customers. It also enhances the credibility of your efforts because you and your efforts are coming from the heart - sincerity counts!

The How To
Create your own campaign. Offer promotional items (such as awareness bands) as a gift with purchase or present as a token of appreciate for a customer's donation to your cause. Partner with local charities or unite with various national organizations. Many groups offer free marketing materials and kits to get you started. Hold special events or education classes and give away awareness related goodie bags full of educational info and how your business is championing the cause.

Still don’t know where to begin? Let us help. Check out our wide variety of our pink ribbon (breast cancer awareness) and red dress (heart health awareness) items. Click here to see our latest products - ideal for October Breast Cancer Awareness month. Have other successful cause marketing tips? Please share below!

How to Grow Retail Sales

If you are home healthcare provider, you can't go a day without reading an article about adding retail to your offering. Many HMEs and DMEs are diving into retail, investing in new products, and are re-organizing their store fronts. But where the rubber meets the road is the ability of your staff to sell. Most of your employees know your services, patients, and products inside and out, but don't necessarily possess stellar retail sales skills. Here are some quick tips to enhance your staff's selling performance!

How To: Take one afternoon to meet with your team or order dinner in and hold a sales training session. This allows your staff to be away from the day-to-day issues and focus. Keep it fun and light hearted. The number one fear of staff is not being able to answer a question accurately. Have the team create a variety of possible customer scenarios and roll play the dialogue that could occur. Doing this together helps brainstorm a variety of ideas. One person can be the note taker. After you have done this exercise, have the note taker read back key topics of concern and how best to handle them.

Next Steps: Have another team member create a "Retail Sales Cheat Sheet" from the sales session notes. This will highlight the key areas of concerns and with tips on how the staff member can overcome them when speaking to the customer. Pass this out to all sales staff and keep it posted in back rooms. Another great idea is to have bi-weekly product meetings with your team. This is a venue to educate on product features, introduce new items, reinforce current promotions, update your cheat sheet, or have a quick brainstorm on how to move certain inventory.

Reinforcement: They say what gets measured gets done. Keep tabs on your retail sales by staff member. Set goals, provide encouragement and sales tools, and celebrate success - no matter how small. A cup a coffee or a lunch out for sales improvement can do wonders. Bigger incentives like a bonus or a team party for quarterly or yearly goals are also great motivators.

Retail is an excellent way to increase your profits. It can be fun and easy with a bit a focus and a positive attitude. Please share below how your business is profitably adding retail. Happy Selling!

5 Tips for Successful Promotions

Promotions are a tool to grow your business. Many of us want to do promotions, but we can get stuck in the creative stage and bogged down in the details. Here are some quick hitting tips to help your business offer successful promotions.

1. Anything can be a Promotion
2. Have a Plan
3. Provide a Reason for Customers to be Interested
4. Promote your Promotion
5. Track Results

Its true - anything can be a promotion from a buy one get one free special or event celebrating national ice cream month. Work with your team to have a plan to set details. Determine your promotion or offer, set the dates of the offer, assign team members to work on the various to-dos, and talk it up in business location with signage, postcards, and email blasts. You need to give your customers a reason to be interested. Ask yourself what is the call to action - why would you response to this. Then roll out the plan.

One often forgotten detail is tracking results. How many people participated in your free ice cream cone day or how many more braces or compression hose did you sell? You need to know what works and what didn't for future promotion planning. Hold a team meeting after each promo and gather the feedback. Anyone can have a brainstorm that will drive more sales next time.

What is your more successful promotion? Share your comments below and happy promoting!