1 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:05,010 Hi there. 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:06,090 It's Sue. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,700 And thanks for joining me for tips and talk day. 4 00:00:09,330 --> 00:00:13,290 These are bite-sized topics that I pull from community questions and 5 00:00:13,290 --> 00:00:16,830 things that I'm observing in the world of handmade small business. 6 00:00:17,310 --> 00:00:18,900 If you'd like to submit a topic, 7 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,710 DME over on Instagram at gift biz unwrapped, 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:24,870 before we get into the show today, 9 00:00:25,170 --> 00:00:27,570 I want to make sure that you know about the newest 10 00:00:27,570 --> 00:00:29,250 thing happening over here. 11 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,710 It's called the gift biz bash a zoom party that turns 12 00:00:34,710 --> 00:00:36,300 into a podcast episode. 13 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:37,680 Several weeks later, 14 00:00:38,220 --> 00:00:41,580 the party consists of a short training with Q and a 15 00:00:41,610 --> 00:00:43,230 from yours truly. 16 00:00:43,620 --> 00:00:46,590 And then an opportunity for you to give a shout out 17 00:00:46,590 --> 00:00:47,700 about your business. 18 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,150 You can tell us about a promotion you currently have going 19 00:00:51,150 --> 00:00:55,140 on or share a collaboration that you're considering so that you 20 00:00:55,140 --> 00:00:58,260 can find a perfect partner for the event. 21 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,130 A little bit of learning and visibility for your business. 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:03,660 What could be better? 23 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:07,530 There is a catch though spots are limited to keep the 24 00:01:07,530 --> 00:01:10,110 party to about 45 minutes or so. 25 00:01:10,770 --> 00:01:13,710 That means you should grab your spot right away. 26 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,520 It's totally free to make sure you're included. 27 00:01:17,580 --> 00:01:19,050 Why not do that right now? 28 00:01:19,410 --> 00:01:20,550 Pause this episode, 29 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:22,650 go to gift biz, 30 00:01:22,740 --> 00:01:28,560 unwrapped.com forward slash bash to sign up and then come back 31 00:01:28,620 --> 00:01:29,880 and listen to the show. 32 00:01:30,270 --> 00:01:31,740 I'll see you at the bash. 33 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:34,920 As I'm recording this, 34 00:01:35,010 --> 00:01:40,290 there is the most wonderful event happening right outside my window. 35 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:41,880 It's spring, 36 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,260 construction time, 37 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,640 all around the Robins in the Midwest are out and about 38 00:01:47,670 --> 00:01:50,550 building new nests to lay their eggs. 39 00:01:51,390 --> 00:01:53,550 We have a front and center view to a set of 40 00:01:53,550 --> 00:01:56,700 Robbins who take up residency most years, 41 00:01:57,180 --> 00:02:01,650 clearly visible from our kitchen window and just right above our 42 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,300 outdoor patio table. 43 00:02:03,810 --> 00:02:09,210 One of the downspouts curves ever so slightly at the junction 44 00:02:09,210 --> 00:02:12,420 where the downspout meets the wood siding of our house. 45 00:02:12,930 --> 00:02:17,820 A familiar pair at this very moment are busy at work, 46 00:02:17,850 --> 00:02:23,370 fixing up and making everything perfect for their new little babies 47 00:02:23,370 --> 00:02:24,360 of the season. 48 00:02:25,260 --> 00:02:27,540 My heart jumped a little bit yesterday. 49 00:02:27,570 --> 00:02:31,830 When I looked out my upstairs window and saw a red 50 00:02:31,830 --> 00:02:33,270 breasted Robin, 51 00:02:33,510 --> 00:02:36,000 which is the daddy looking in at me. 52 00:02:36,810 --> 00:02:37,950 Could it be, 53 00:02:38,250 --> 00:02:40,590 are they moving back again this year? 54 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,390 I never take this gift for granted being able to observe 55 00:02:45,420 --> 00:02:46,380 from a distance, 56 00:02:46,380 --> 00:02:48,090 the miracles in nature, 57 00:02:48,750 --> 00:02:50,850 I could swear to you that he was saying, 58 00:02:51,060 --> 00:02:53,340 hi, we're back. 59 00:02:53,730 --> 00:02:54,450 And you see, 60 00:02:54,870 --> 00:02:59,530 I wasn't sure if they would be besides being missing last 61 00:02:59,530 --> 00:03:03,550 spring, the winter winds and snow did a number on their 62 00:03:03,550 --> 00:03:04,510 old nest. 63 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,970 It was pretty much demolished, 64 00:03:07,450 --> 00:03:08,290 nothing left, 65 00:03:08,290 --> 00:03:13,000 but a mess of sticks all flattened down with no resemblance 66 00:03:13,030 --> 00:03:15,220 of a nest shape at all. 67 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,670 Most of the siding of the nest was blown away too. 68 00:03:19,570 --> 00:03:24,010 Would they ever come back and rebuild almost from scratch or 69 00:03:24,010 --> 00:03:27,640 would they decide now's the time to permanently relocate? 70 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,720 Meaning we'd lose our ability to observe at such a close 71 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,960 level. I was sad to think we'd miss out on this 72 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:35,980 special viewing. 73 00:03:36,670 --> 00:03:37,930 Once I saw the Robyn, 74 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,660 I ran down to the kitchen and sure enough, 75 00:03:40,990 --> 00:03:43,090 the nest was being built again. 76 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,320 I guess the location hasn't lost its value. 77 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,850 And this time they're using the Matta down remnants from the 78 00:03:51,850 --> 00:03:54,670 previous nest as a foundation, 79 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,330 I actually think it's going to make for a more stable, 80 00:03:58,330 --> 00:04:01,780 insulated and soft platform for this new home. 81 00:04:02,830 --> 00:04:05,500 I can't put into words how special it is to watch 82 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:06,430 the progress, 83 00:04:06,910 --> 00:04:08,230 to see the mother Robin, 84 00:04:08,260 --> 00:04:11,680 sit on her eggs when the time comes and the father 85 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:14,740 bring the worms to the newly hatched babies. 86 00:04:15,220 --> 00:04:18,100 It's a huge topic in our house and puts things in 87 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:22,090 perspective, given all that's happening around the world these days. 88 00:04:23,260 --> 00:04:23,800 All right, 89 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:26,110 besides just sharing this as a feel, 90 00:04:26,110 --> 00:04:27,100 good story, 91 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:29,080 I want to relate it to business. 92 00:04:29,290 --> 00:04:33,280 It is tips and talk day after all the rabbits got 93 00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:36,580 me thinking about seasons in our business and how easy it 94 00:04:36,580 --> 00:04:40,000 would be to just do the same thing over and over 95 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:44,140 again. Especially if you've been in business for several years now. 96 00:04:44,890 --> 00:04:49,900 I mean the same holidays roll around similar colors and products 97 00:04:49,930 --> 00:04:52,750 are traditional and popular in different seasons. 98 00:04:53,260 --> 00:04:56,620 And we'll probably do various promotions for different holidays. 99 00:04:56,620 --> 00:04:57,400 Of course. 100 00:04:58,300 --> 00:05:03,550 Here's my question for you because you've done this before perhaps 101 00:05:03,610 --> 00:05:04,930 many times, 102 00:05:05,740 --> 00:05:07,930 are you continuing with the same old, 103 00:05:07,930 --> 00:05:08,560 same old, 104 00:05:09,310 --> 00:05:11,620 and is this the best you can? 105 00:05:11,620 --> 00:05:15,400 Do you see here's the deal repeating what you've done in 106 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,720 the past may or may not be the most lucrative or 107 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,630 beneficial thing for growing your sales? 108 00:05:23,110 --> 00:05:23,830 I'll be it. 109 00:05:23,830 --> 00:05:25,450 It's the easiest plan. 110 00:05:26,470 --> 00:05:27,280 Is it possible? 111 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:31,060 Your customers are growing tired of seeing the same messaging and 112 00:05:31,060 --> 00:05:37,000 offers. Did your plan even work last year or is it 113 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:41,860 tired, old or a copy of what everyone else is doing 114 00:05:42,940 --> 00:05:44,500 with each new season, 115 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,990 new opportunities present themselves. 116 00:05:47,470 --> 00:05:51,130 And I'm suggesting that instead of going into the default mode 117 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:52,960 of activity from the past, 118 00:05:53,470 --> 00:05:55,480 do what my Robbins are doing. 119 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,610 They recommitted the nest location, 120 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,870 took what was still usable from a past year and did 121 00:06:02,870 --> 00:06:07,580 some remodeling to make an even better and more secure nest. 122 00:06:08,390 --> 00:06:10,670 Okay. Major side note here, 123 00:06:11,030 --> 00:06:15,590 this new version of the nest has much higher sides than 124 00:06:15,590 --> 00:06:17,720 any Robin's nest I've ever seen. 125 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:21,620 I'm thinking they kept building up and up because it's been 126 00:06:21,620 --> 00:06:23,570 an extremely cold spring. 127 00:06:24,050 --> 00:06:26,960 So this way the eggs and the mom will have more 128 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,850 protection. That's my theory. 129 00:06:28,850 --> 00:06:30,500 Anyway, you know what? 130 00:06:30,530 --> 00:06:34,460 I'll put up some photos in my Instagram stories at gift 131 00:06:34,460 --> 00:06:35,240 biz on wrapped. 132 00:06:35,450 --> 00:06:38,660 So you can see it and watch along with our little 133 00:06:38,690 --> 00:06:40,010 Robin journey. 134 00:06:42,050 --> 00:06:42,740 Oh, okay. 135 00:06:42,740 --> 00:06:44,360 Getting back on topic here. 136 00:06:44,810 --> 00:06:47,210 How does the Robin theory apply to you? 137 00:06:48,290 --> 00:06:50,960 Well, as each season rolls around again, 138 00:06:51,410 --> 00:06:54,290 think back about the promotions that you did from the prior 139 00:06:54,290 --> 00:06:56,510 year. What worked well, 140 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:58,370 what still relevant, 141 00:06:59,060 --> 00:07:02,450 what could be improved or, 142 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,160 and I know this is dramatic, 143 00:07:05,060 --> 00:07:08,330 but should the promotion even be repeated at all? 144 00:07:09,620 --> 00:07:13,100 Consider my coaching client who has switched her focus from direct 145 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:18,320 to consumer purchases to a corporate initiative while she still has 146 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,830 a few father's day gifts as solutions for her new corporate 147 00:07:21,830 --> 00:07:25,940 accounts. She's not putting in the time and effort for father's 148 00:07:25,940 --> 00:07:29,720 day like she did last year because her business has shifted 149 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,850 towards a new target customer. 150 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,750 Doing what she did last year would be counterproductive. 151 00:07:35,810 --> 00:07:36,920 And quite honestly, 152 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:42,110 confusing changes like this will happen as your business grows and 153 00:07:42,110 --> 00:07:45,440 develops the transition into another season. 154 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:49,460 Or you could even say just doing this by calendar quarter 155 00:07:49,940 --> 00:07:52,850 is a perfect time to refresh and revise. 156 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,290 So you stay in alignment with your current focus or strategy. 157 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,980 If you're interested in hearing in more detail, 158 00:08:00,980 --> 00:08:02,990 how to analyze your promotions, 159 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,700 jump over to episode number 1 37 of this podcast, 160 00:08:07,700 --> 00:08:10,310 where I give you a step-by-step system. 161 00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:15,860 So your promotions keep getting better and better each and every 162 00:08:16,850 --> 00:08:19,370 year. That is it for me today. 163 00:08:19,370 --> 00:08:21,800 I'm going back to some Robin watching. 164 00:08:23,970 --> 00:08:24,930 That's a wrap. 165 00:08:25,290 --> 00:08:27,150 I'm a get to the point kind of girl. 166 00:08:27,300 --> 00:08:30,090 And this is what you can expect from these quick midweek 167 00:08:30,090 --> 00:08:35,160 sessions. Now it's your turn go out and fulfill that dream 168 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:35,940 of yours. 169 00:08:36,210 --> 00:08:38,400 Share your handmade products with us. 170 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:39,600 We want them, 171 00:08:39,780 --> 00:08:42,690 and they bring us both so much happiness.