In a blog last week I brought up how I might have missed my calling as a financial adviser. I was giddy from lowering my American Express Credit Card fees and was now on a roll. A savings roll.

For years our company has used the same telephone provider for our business telephone system. We have it under an extended warranty for our two systems that we pay for every year, religiously. It's a service we won't do without, fortunately, since we went down a few weeks ago and were fully covered saving a whopping $1299.

I had already saved a bundle, but was itching to save more. When it was time to renew our extended warranty, I decided that during these tough economic times, I could do better. I asked to speak to the National Sales Manager and explained that I had 2 phone systems with them, have been a loyal customer for many many years and wanted to know in a nutshell, what was the best they could do for me. Like in The Godfather, I wanted them to make me an offer I couldn't refuse.

Apparently, I asked the right question. She dropped our price by $200, $100 for each system. Which just goes to show you, if you want something...all you have to do is ask. The worst they can say is "No". Which reminds me...

Hey honey, can I have a new pair of diamond earrings?

Posted by Leslie Linevsky at 2:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

I'm angry. One phone call has put me in total bitch mode, so prepare yourselves accordingly.

We just had a cancellation from a shoe company that has been with us for many, many years. This company claims to be cutting back on their advertising budget and complained that their ROI (Return on Investment) was not high enough to stay with the program.

Members of the jury, under oath I hereby swear that this particular company's ROI is 3 times their initial investment (which by the by is unheard of in the direct mail industry). Any other business professional in their right mind would agree, a positive ROI is something to be celebrated and should be held onto for dear life, like a life preserver in an ocean of economic demise.

Are these folks crazy?! What on Earth are these marketing people thinking? All of their costs and expenses have been covered, with an enormous profit to show for it! What are they losing, except their minds?! I could understand their frustrations if they were receiving poor customer service, or if we weren't delivering what we promised. But no your Honor, we have gone above and beyond the call of duty, giving this merchant the leads, customers and profit through hard work and constant determination. How do we get thanked for it? We get chucked into the trash bin with yesterday's newspaper.

Perhaps the marketing professional in charge of this hasty decision is a newbie. Perhaps they're an aged, disgruntled employee who has lost their 401K and wants to stick it to the company. Whoever they are, they are not thinking of the lifetime value of a customer and how that relationship needs to be cultivated and nurtured by continuing to send emails, catalogs and following up to ensure that they continue to come back again and again.

Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. Sometimes you don't get that money back, but it is still money well spent on building brand awareness, getting your name out there and building a lifelong relationship with a customer. We gave you your money back people, and then some! What more do you want? Do you want us to hand deliver your profit in crisp, clean bills in person?

I just don't understand the level of ignorance. It just doesn't make sense. Especially in today's harsh economic times, it is proven that you will lose market share if you pull back on advertising and promotions in order to save money. During the Great Depression, companies that stayed on course were the ones who survived and ultimately ended up capturing more market share. The companies who cut back were the ones who went up in smoke.

I've pled my case. The defense rests.

Posted by Leslie Linevsky at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At the beginning of the New Year I blogged about our company's goals for 2009 and our search for the perfect PR Firm. Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to report that the ballots are in. And the winner is…Pierson Grant.

Let me preface this by saying it was a very tough decision. Plenty of time spent in meetings, even more on reviewing proposals, yes, even some negotiating, but why did I select one PR Company over all the others?

Here are the questions I asked myself and the guidelines I followed to help me make my educated choice:

1. Will our company be working directly with the founder(s), or with a 2 year inexperienced account “executive”? I use the term lightly, they’re barely out of diapers in my book.

11. Give specific deadlines to the PR agency for completed plan (don’t start paying the first month's retainer and then be expected to wait 2 months for the final plan, before they do anything).

After completing steps 1 – 11, Go with your GUT INSTINCT. Especially if you’re a woman, 99% of the time you’ll be right.

Sorry men… it’s just a wiring thing you don’t have.

Posted by Leslie Linevsky at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Are you tired of paying outrageously high credit card transaction fees? Of course you are. Who loves overpaying for anything, especially when the economic climate is continuing to deteriorate by the hour? These days, I'll even haggle over the price of a Big Mac.

Well dear bloggers, instead of sitting back and signing off another outrageous check, I decided to do something about it. I figured a 20 minute hold was worth saving thousands of dollars PER year, so this morning I waited patiently until I was finally connected to an American Express Merchant Services representative (after being transferred 3 times). I learned that if I modify the payment schedule, I could effectively save .21 percent of each fee. Instead of being paid every 3 days, I will be paid/funded every 30 days.

Now you might ask “Why would I do this?”

I'll tell you. Two simple reasons:

#1. I am making miniscule amounts of interest on my checking account balance (the rates these days are so low, it’s beyond ridiculous...it's ridiculous to the 10th power).

#2. I carefully calculated my interest LOST on getting money into my bank versus the amount of annual savings, and it calculated that I would end up making more money year end by lowering my transaction fees.

So if you own your own business or work in a financial advisory capacity, I highly advise you to look into this … it will save your company money most definitely.

In another life, I could've been a financial advisor.

Consider this a freebie.

Posted by Leslie Linevsky at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of my employees came in to work in his pajamas yesterday. In all fairness, he was working on a Sunday, but I couldn't help but giggle at the sight of his Jumpin Jammerz pajamas with feet.

Don't we all just wish we could go to work every day in our pajamas? We'd enjoy the comfort, the warmth, the ease of trap-door behinds during bathroom breaks... The thought may seem luxurious at first, but I for one enjoy getting dressed up for work in the morning. It prepares me for my day and helps me gear up for all of the mental tasks I have to face. Besides, would my employees or clients really take me seriously if I showed up in a robe and bunny slippers or a schmata to work?

If we all wore our pajamas to work there is no doubt that our total work volume would decrease...we'd be spending too much time napping and cuddling our teddies.

Posted by Leslie Linevsky at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)