Archive for October, 2008

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I don’t have the footage from last weeks Myrtle Beach story yet, that should be next time, but here are some hits.?

Please take a look at these great people that have taken the time to promote Grill Charms: ?

http://hermashaw.blogspot.com/2008/10/october-is-breast-cancer-awareness.html

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http://www.momdot.com/feature-boutique-grill-charms-oct-31st/

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On a personal note, my sister’s wedding was FANTASTIC!? My husband married my sister and fiancé on a catamaran in the middle of the

Charleston
Harbor.? It was stunning!? Just to clarify, my husband is no man of the cloth or anything like that; here in the wonderful state of SC, any Notary Public can marry you.? The reception followed at a gorgeous waterfront facility and our little ones boogied on down until well past their bed time.? It was such a great weekend.?

My business topic today is going to be the issue of “samples”.? Now this is my first rodeo, so I’m learning as I go and I have had some expensive lessons.? This holiday gifting season I am learning about “reviews” and “samples”.?? In the beginning, any time anyone wanted a sample to do a review, I didn’t bat an eyelash, packed up the box and shipped it off happily, just thankful that someone would want to see my little product.? Now…. Many many many many samples later, I’m looking at my books and looking at the sales that the reviews have brought in and am thinking hmmmmm….? maybe that strategy of no batting and ship ship ship isn’t so smart.? Now that the holidays are approaching there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of gift guides and blogs reviewing holiday gifts that just about every day (sometimes twice a day) I get asked for a sample.? I am still just as ecstatic that people are interested in Grill Charms, love the product and want to review it, but my bank account is telling me that I need to have some sort of criteria to my sample giving.? I wish it wasn’t so, and that I had enough product to give away as much as I could to every person that wanted to say something nice about my product, but that’s just not realistic.? Right now, my “strategy” is more of work in progress.? I don’t know EXACTLY how I will decide where the samples go, but it is clear that I need some sort of budget.? A great resource is www.alexa.com.? It’s a website that basically ranks the internet traffic a particular site generates.? I now actually people that request samples for their website stats and circulation for papers and magazines before sending samples (if I don’t know them.)? Just FYI, if you have a product, be prepared to send out A LOT more samples then you think.? The proof will soon be in the pudding as the holiday gifting season begins in 29 more days.

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Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com

Here is the link to the news interview from Augusta GA http://www.nbcaugusta.com/news/entertainment/30965039.html

http://www.bizchicksrule.com/bcr-leading-ladies-breast-cancer-survivor-creates-grilling-accessory-that-raises-awareness-and-money/http://itsaglamthing.com/?

http://cbs13.com/video/?id=40652@kovr.dayport.com?

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=thegifttherapist

So you want to hear about more craziness?? Well… the owner of the store in
Augusta calls and she just loves Grill Charms™.? We talk and she really wants to have them in the store ASAP, but even more importantly, Saturday (now this is last week, Wed. that she calls).? So that Saturday (3 days later) is her father’s birthday.? Her and her siblings are giving her father a new grill. She really wants to include with the gift some Grill Charms™.? ?She then informs me that her brother, who is driving up on Friday for the big birthday party owns a business in
Charleston.? Come to find out, his company is located less then a ? of a mile from where my littlest one goes to school!? So once again, I get to personally hand deliver Grill Charms to my newest customer… (well, my newest customer’s brother that is).? This world gets smaller and smaller every day.? ?

Yesterday was a great day.? I did a news program up in
Myrtle Beach.? I was able to drop my 5 years off at school at 8:00, but to
Myrtle Beach by 10:00, film the shoot, grab something to eat and still be home in time to pick her up from school at 3:00.? (I should have that link to that story next time).? Thankfully the hubby was able to do drop off and pick up for the littlest one as her hours are different.? She’s only in school 3 hours.?

I’m cutting this blog a little short today because my littlest sister is getting married Saturday and I am trying to wrap up as much work as I can so I can focus on “all things wedding” by Friday.? Have a good night!?

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com

Hits

http://cookingequipment.about.com/od/reviewsrecommendations/tp/PinkKitchenware.htm

http://bbq.about.com/b/2008/10/02/grill-charms-breast-cancer-collection.htm

http://freebirthdaytreatsblog.com/businesses-helping-raise-funds-for-breast-cancer-research/

Here is the segment from last week in AZ: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1772133208/bclid1493251589/bctid1844715253?

Today was an interesting and tiring day, but a good one.? Those weeks of sending out press releases and pitches for the launch on the Pink Collection are paying off.? I had an interview on a morning news show in Augusta GA.? That is a 3 hour drive for me. (I did not say anything before now, as with media and press, it’s not a done deal until you see it in print or you see it on the air)? This was live, so I know it happened.? I do have 2 more “scheduled” appearances on two more shows, but I’ll tell you about them when they happen.? One is a local Charleston news program at 5:00 and another is in
Myrtle Beach for a morning show.? So this morning I left a full detailed instruction manual for my husband for the day as I needed to be out the door and on the road by 6:30AM.? It went something like this:“7:15 be out the door to take Maddy to school, make sure she has her backpack and orange folder (Morgan will probably still be sleeping, so wake her up as you are about to walk out the door.? She can go in her PJ’s, but make sure she pee’s before you put her in her car seat or you’ll be sorry)?

9:30 leave to take Mo to school, be there for drop off by 9:45, with a packed lunch (crustables, a banana and rice cake)?

12:55-1:00 pick up Mo (do not be late)?

***at some point make sure their dance bags are in the car because once you get Maddy from school, you do not come back home***?

3:00 be in carpool line to pick up
Madison.? In the car, put leotards on girls (they are in the their dance bag) and drive to dance/gymnastics? They usually take a little nap on the way (they need it)?

4:00 drop off girls w/ their dance bags?

5:30, pick up girls from ballet/gymnastics, drive through Wendy’s for dinner, they can eat in the car on the way home, chicken nuggets, mandarin oranges, white milk.?

I’ll be home by the time you get home.”?

I actually got back earlier then I had thought so I told my husband I could do a swap with the girls in a shopping center parking lot and take over.? I had them in the car, with their leotards on at 3:17 and we were on our way.? It is now 4:20 and here I sit, in Just Fresh (because they have free WiFi) drinking a smoothie, trying to get caught up for the day.? Again I ask you…. Do other my male CEO counterparts have this kind of schedule?? I wouldn’t change it FOR THE WORLD! But I would be curious to know how much more profitable a company could be if “working for the company” was all that had to be done from 8:00-5:00.?

At the studio, while I was in the green room waiting for my turn to go on, I was talking with another guest, and we were sharing stories of why were there etc…? Once I told this gal about my product she gave me the name and wrote out directions to a kitchen store in the area.? After I left the studio, I marched my little butt right over to the store and made a little cold call.? It helps to warm up a cold call by walking in and saying… “Okay… I’ve got a crazy little story for you… I was just at the NBC studio filming the morning show….”? That kind of gets their attention for a moment.? Whether my cold calls are on the phone or in person, I try to find an opener that is somewhat unusual and intriguing to grab their attention.? Normally, the sooner people figure out you are trying to sell them something, the sooner their minds quit paying attention, so I try to get them interested in me and my story before I go into the “sales pitch” thing.? There were three girls working in the store and by the end, all three seemed to be totally on board.? The owner was not there at the time, but that’s okay, I have them on my side, and as soon as I’m done blogging, I’m going to send the owner a follow up email with all my wholesale information (I left my card, and brochure) and then I will follow that up with a phone call Thursday and hopefully, I’ll be in a new store in Augusta GA.? Now… had I been SMART, before I left, I would have mapped things out ahead of time, and planned on several sales calls in the area.? DUH!!!!? Totally junior mistake!? I could just kick myself!? Well that’s about all for now.? I’ve got about an hour to get some work done before dance is over.? Next week I’ll post the link to the show I did this morning.? The producer said it would be on their website in the next day or so.? ?

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com

The Pink Collection is officially on the market!? I must say, I have had some wonder people help.? The Pink Collection is off to a great start!? See the below ?

http://hermashaw.blogspot.com/2008/08/grill-charm-review.html

http://www.simplefinds.com/

http://www.thegifttherapist.com/top20.html

http://www.gaebler.com/Charmed-Life-Products-Founder-Leslie-Haywood.htm

http://www.ohanamamablog.com/2008/10/grill-charms-pink-collection.html

http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/20476.html

I was also accepted to be on a wonderful website called UpTown Liz.? Ramona is the owner and her work is dedicated to helping wonderful causes such as cancer.? It is a privilege to be a part of her operation.? Please check out all the wonderful products including Grill Charmsâ„¢?http://www.uptownliz.com/CategoryProducts.aspx?CatId=d01d3c82-18dd-4459-b1ec-97cc66596bac

Here is a funny story for you.? Last week I was actually on vacation out in Scottsdale AZ with the family.? I had planned this vacation last year, not really thinking (obviously) of the fact that the launch of The Pink Collection would take place during that time.? The beauty of today’s technology filled world is that it really doesn’t matter where I am, I can run the company from just about anywhere.?

While out there I met up with fellow Mompreneur? Julie Northrop owner of www.freebirthdaytreats.com ?A while back I had answered a PR query from www.sheknows.com wanting products that benefit Breast Cancer.? I answered it and forgot all about it.? Wednesday around 4:00 I get and email from a producer who is the internet TV partner to sheknows at www.chikii.com saying they want to feature Grill Charmsâ„¢ The Pink Collection on their show and she asked if I could overnight a sample as they were taping in the morning.? She gave me the address where to send the sample to and it was
SCOTTSDALE AZ!!!? Now you KNOW I always have product on hand because you just NEVER KNOW (and this is proof… Now I’ll REALLY never leave home without them) so I called the producer and said “I’ll do you one even better… I’ll personally hand deliver Grill Charms™ to your studio!”.? So off Julie and I went! (She and I had a coffee date at the exact same time that they needed the charms).? I just LOVE IT when a plan comes together!!? That segment is supposed to air Thursday.? I’ll keep you posted.? I know I have said it before and I’ll say it again… never leave home without samples, brochures and business cards.? You just never know what could happen!

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charmsâ„¢? www.grillcharms.com