The Frozen Yogurt Wars

It feels like the 1980’s all over again. I can remember the battlefield players like it was yesterday. Started by Hood, and later players like Dannon and TCBY came along.

Here we are 20+ years later and it is back. While it is still frozen yogurt, the game has changed a little. Now you walk into quaint little “yogurt parlors” and select from dozens of gourmet flavors like red velvet cake, pistachio, and cheesecake. The craziness comes when you get to the toppings bar. Yes, you will see the standard items like nuts, fruits and candies. But you may be surprised to find Fruity Pebbles, Captain Crunch or Acai Berries. Yes, it has gone extreme.

Many shops even explain the “health benefits” of the various flavors and toppings. The majority are buying their supplies from local farmers and vendors.

Yes, these boutiques are here, but are they here to stay.

After a few hours of research on the internet I have found over 20+ franchise chains (about 5 of them are pretty large) and thousands of independent shops. They all run the same – fill your dish with frozen “Semi-healthy” goodness and add all the toppings you want. Get to the end of the line and you will pay between 35-50 cents per ounce of this truly custom sinful treat.

From a business model, the franchises are all about the same. A couple hundred thousand to buy a franchise, pay between 2.5-5% of your sales in fees, and buy your marketing and other materials from the franchisor. While an independent one loses a bit because they are not identified with a larger brand, they save so a ton of start of costs that the can use to build a true community focused business.

The franchise problem is that in order for the franchise to work, they have to get enough franchises established to make the brand as solid as Subway or Wendy’s. That means their focus is on growing the number of franchisees and not so much on the brand, product or service. That requires a lot of time and money and is often the downfall. They cannot get enough franchises established quickly enough to make it work.

In the end there will probablybe  only three major players. There is always a #1 and a #2. Without them a model does not work. Crest and Colgate; McDonald’s and Burger King; Bud and Miller. You get the picture. Many times there is a #3 like Wendy’s, 7-up, or even a regional player like Menard’s or Meijer’s.

Sadly there will be a ton of losers when the dust settles from this battle, as there will only be a couple of brands that survive, and I am sure several small independents will also survive. If I was to bet, what you see now will not be what you see in three years. You will have less than 5 major players on the national scope. There is also a good chance that this trend will turn out to be a fad and become just like the yogurt wars of the 80’s.

Do you need help surviving on your battlefield? Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Is the lockout really over?

Right now most of the sporting world is excited. The NFL lockout is over, and there will be a season this year. The fans are excited. Fantasy Football is back on track, wives will lose their husbands on Sunday’s and the NFL merchandise sales will start-up again.  I think Indianapolis is the most excited. After spending Millions and Millions of dollars to build a new stadium, make huge downtown improvements – they had the most to lose if there was no season this year.

But there is a bigger question that needs to be asked. When you look at the economic numbers for the United States it appears there is still some sort of lock out. Banks are not lending to small businesses, consumers are not spending, companies are laying off – and we won’t get into the US National Debt Limit.

What are you doing at your business to break the economic lockout?

Let me share with you a recent experience.

We decided to upgrade our camper. I love our Rockwood Roo Hybrid, but my 12-year-old son was not supposed to be 6’1″ and 205 pounds. So we needed to upgrade to preserve the peace when camping. We went to a nearby RV dealer and looked at a model we really wanted. We had done our research, priced it out, and were ready to buy. In the end it came down to $2,000 difference between the price quote from a dealer 4 hours  away (round trip) and this one.  The “Local” guy kept telling us he was only$2,000 more than the other guy, and he then insinuated that the other dealer would give is bad service. Over and over we kept hearing – but folks, its only $2,000 difference.  I really hated that he spoke that way about another dealer, and I was tired of being told that we were cheap. I was willing to drive 4 hours round trip to save $2,000. Shoot that’s $500 an hour. Now I was finally making lawyers rates!

We made the right choice. When a small issue came up on our camper, the dealer came and got the camper, fixed and drove it back to us. Now that is service!

Why do I share this story? Because the actions we took are the same actions every consumer is doing. Ask yourself – how are you making your business work?

• Are you treating your customers like they are the only customer in the world?
• Are you sensitive to pricing like they are? Everyone is facing financial challenges.
• Are you trash talking the competitors?

Want to break the lockout going on im your business? Then step outside the box, set the standard higher, and take care of your customers.

Do you need help ending the lockout at your business? Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Bunker Hill

June 17, 1775 – British Colonists living in the commonwealth of Massachusetts had enough. The citizen of Boston were weary of the Occupation of British Troops.  Not only where the soldiers everywhere, but the citizens were forced to give them shelter and food under the “Quartering Act.”

1,200 citizen soldiers, including members of the Eells family, dug in on the hills of Charlestown shipyards (Old Ironsides is still in that yard today)  in the areas of Breed’s and Bunker Hill.

It was a hellish day for everyone. It took the British three full assaults to take the hill, and that was only after the Colonists retreated due to lack of ammunition. 

Even though in the end the British won, it was really a loss for them on several levels. Loosing over 1/3 of their troops, and heavy losses of their officers while the Colonists lost very few made their win even more painful.

Even “Gentleman” John Burgoyne (British General at the later Battles of Bennington and Saratoga) was shocked at how well the citizen soldiers acted.  A bunch of rag, tag farmers thrashed the best army in the world yet again.

There are lessons that should not be forgotten.

If you have the drive and the passion to be victorious – you will be.  You have to believe in the cause. It also helps if others are willing to stand with you.

Be strong in the face of adversity. Even when the odds are against you, out numbered, out trained, out gunned – do not waver. Some things are worth fighting for.

There is one “tale” of history that is incorrectly associated with this event. The expression “don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” did not originate at Bunker Hill. It was in fact a very common expression in British military circles (remember the Colonists were actually trained in British Military Tactics. The earliest similar quote came from the Battle of Dettingen on June 27, 1743, where Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw warned his Regiment, the Royal Scots Fusiliers, not to fire until they could “see the white’s of their e’en.” (Anderson, William (1863). The Scottish Nation: Or, The Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours, and Biographical History of the People of Scotland, volume 2.)

While we take time to remember those who stood up against amazing odds for Liberty, we should remember to stand up for those things important to us.  Your business, your family, your job search – even if the odds are against you, you can still command a presence that will change the outcome of your personal/professional battles.

Have faith, stand strong, trust your family and close friends. You will be a winner.

Ready to make your Bunker Hill stand? Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Father’s Day Gift

This week Google, Yahoo and Bing are showing that one of the most searched phrases is “Father’s Day Gift.”

Not surprising because Dad is much harder to shop for than Mom. To this day I could probably draw my Mom a picture and hang it on her refrigerator and she would think it is perfect.

What do you get Dad?  Tools? BBQ items? Camping or hunting gear?

Let me ask you this.  What if you could help Dad reach a point in his life when his home was not his biggest asset?  We have all been told our homes are our biggest assets, but why do we limit ourselves there?

How would you help Dad reach all his dreams and have his home become just one of his many “Large” assets? Would you buy a lottery ticket? Would you win America’s Got Talent or the “X-Factor“?

I have a suggestions that is affordable and has a greater return than those other ideas. This could change not only Dad’s net worth, but also set him down the path to achieve all his dreams.

Ok, I hear you – get to it already.

Buy him this book (and not just because I am a contributing Author – I do not make a single penny on it) – Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0.  It is not just for unemployed people. Many people are under-employed or just are not plain happy at their job any more.

The problem is the Job Search/Hunt has changed since Dad last looked for his job. The rules have changed, the expectations are different, and no one is helping anyone learn how it has changed.

Until now.

David Perry (a successful recruiter) reveals all the secrets that recruiters and Human Resources are using to hire people today. He shows you how to find the person who will actually decide on who gets hired, and how to connect with them.  You will learn not only a methodical system but some of the coolest (and proven successful) methods to stand out in a crowd of applicants.  Secrets include a Coffee Cup Caper, the Las Vegas Post Card and so many others.

So instead of another necktie, a craftsman screwdriver, or a Hallmark Card – get Dad something powerful – the tools to achieve all his goals.

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0

You can gain access to the first two chapters of the book for FREE  – HERE! Just fill out the brief form that says “Make Your Job Search Come Alive!”

Happy Father’s Day Dad.

Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Social Media for Weiners

It is all over the news. Please forgive the pun but US Representative Weiner was a real “Weiner” for thinking it was safe to show off “Weiner” via Social Media.

He must not have read David Perry’s newest book – Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0 though. Let’s face it. He has truly mastered the art of “Being Found” that David preaches, but not in the way David teaches. David’s methods are for Winners!

What I do not understand is how he can forget the basic rules.

1> The Internet is not private. Anything you put on the internet will be archived in a matter of mi-seconds with Google’s efficiency. Delete your information, not to worry. Google still has it to share with everyone. If a congressman’s information can be found, how easy is it for an employer, recruiter, HR staff, business you are trying to land a contract with, your spouse, child, etc – to find all the bad stuff you have been up to.

2> Do no harm. Not that I am a person who believes in Karma, but let’s be honest. Your actions on the internet will be magnified by a million times. Do good and good will happen. Do bad, well – watch out.

3> Some things are meant to be private. Keep them private.

4> The handwritten note. It only goes to one person. If they chose to share it with someone, well, you know who leaked the information in it. Plus, it is just way more classy.  I always take time to read a hand written note sent to me.  (now you know how to get my attention).

5> Anything you share on the web, will be shared with others. If it is digital, it will show up in someones smart phone, Facebook or twitter.

6> Speaking of #5 – a smart person will learn from this. In just a few short days the world learned about a weiner other than Oscar Mayer.

Everyone – all together now (You know the tune)

“Oh I wish I was a Social Media Weiner
That is what I truly wish to be
cause if i were a Social Media weiner
everyone would be in love
oh everyone would be in love
everyone would be in love with me…”

While he screwed up, there is marketing genius here – talk about going viral. Learn how to use it in your business or job search.

7> In this “informational economy” it is always best to own up. Even if it is a mistake. It is always easier to address it head on and honestly. You can break up the viral tidal wave before it destroys everything.

8> Social Media does a wonderful job giving your brand power. What will Representative Weiner be known for now? His deception? His use of Social Media? I am pretty sure he has provided David Letterman, Jay Leno and others months of material for their jokes. Just today alone my email had nearly 100 jokes and cartoons relating to him – I am pretty sure that is not the brand image he was wanting for himself.

When it comes to Social Media – be smart. Think 3 times before you post. Will it benefit you now, in 6-months, in 5-years? Will it hurt you at some point?

David Perry is right. It is critical to be found if you want to be successful. But make sure what they find is what you want them to know about you. Maybe the Congressman should have invested the $20 to buy and read David’s book. Now that his congressional career is in trouble, he may need it for his next job.

I have a new saying that hangs on my wall…  “Be a Winner not a Weiner!”

Do you need your brand to go viral without being a Weiner?  Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

The New Great Depression

The news media is confused. By now you have heard them report that we are in soft economic recovery, to only be shocked by bad economic data. I am sure you have seen some of it – Housing Starts are down, only 36,000 new jobs last month, Double Dip Recession, etc. It really can get into your head.

In fact, the New Great Depression is not about the economy, it is about the people and businesses. It has become hard on everyone. 1 out of 5 Americans is looking for work and finding nothing despite the promises of elected officials. They might as well promise us a chicken in every pot while they are at it.

We have all become fatigued. The bad news, the tougher economy – it is wearing on us all. It affects our moods, our families, our outlooks. Recent news reports revealed that Americans are taking less vacation time.

If we are not careful, we will slip into a Great Depression in our lives.

Once depression sets in, it becomes hard to remove.

This is another case of prevention being the best method.

America was founded by men and women that had a vision. They worked hard toward that vision even when things did not go as planned. It was not enough to have that amazing outlook; they combined it with a laser like focus, hard work, failures and risking everything.

People who have that same mindset will be the victors over this New Great Depression. They will take control of their lives, their families, their job searches, their businesses. They will not wait for the news media to tell them when things get better.

Instead they will choose to make the news. They will be innovative, adaptable, and “Guerrilla” like in how they take action.

We are almost half way through 2011. How have you done so far on the goals you created during our 7 week journey through real resolutions for the New Year? Now is a great time to review them and assess how effective you have been.

You have a choice before you. And you have the tools and abilities to skip the New Great Depression.

The future is in your hands!

.

Do you need help adapting to the current conditions so you can win? Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Want A Job? Live This Book!

Exploiting “Digital Recruiting” to land a job

How job hunters can exploit the employers’ recent move to digital searches, to create a ‘force multiplier’ and get noticed!

By almost any measure, this is the worst job environment since the Great Depression.  Yet in the past year, 50-million jobs were filled in the United States  –  almost all without a job posting!

There has been a sudden change in how employers recruit their staff.  It has taken the world’s most experienced “guerilla job marketer” to leap on this trend and exploit it for your advantage!

Job hunters today need to know about David Perry’s “Guerrilla Marketing for Job-Hunters 3.0.“  The book is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to use the newest digital tools, social media and networking sites, to perform an all-out job hunting assault on a targeted list of ideal employers.

David Perry’s new book recognizes that there has been a change in the way employers hunt for candidates.  Today, employers can’t deal with the avalanche of resumes they would get if they posted the jobs.  So they are relying on a brand new digital armory to find the handful of “most qualified” recruits that they want to interview. This move makes things easier for job hunters!  Any candidate with the right digital skills has more power and more opportunity to find and land a job than they have ever had before.

 Real Solutions To Get Hired Faster

“Finally, a book that provides real help for job seekers,” says contributing author Wayne Eells, Business Accelerator and creator of the 5-Star Backcast Methodology. “Too many books, seminars, and career advisors continue teaching the same methods used 20 years ago.  Yet none of these tools, tips, and techniques are really getting anyone hired.”  He further explains that the proof is in the results. “Everyone is doing the same things, and no one is getting hired. If you want a job in this new informational economy, you have to be found. Can Hiring Managers, Recruiters and HR staff find you?”

Anyone reading this book will have a jump on all those who are still limited to traditional search techniques.  Job-hunters are advised on little-known search-engine optimization tricks used by those looking for employees. The new book tells how to use different social media at the same time, so job hunters can leverage online resources like ZoomInfo, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and take advantage of “the secret lives of top corporate recruiters”.  At the same time, job hunters are coached on how to use the new tools to build online profiles that present their value to searchers.  Case stories are used to illustrate how to interview, and how to demonstrate this ability during the interview.

Drive to Own The “Means of Employment”

Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0 is riding a great historical trend: the compelling need everyone feels for control of their fate.  People are taking control of their lives, and this means ownership of the means of employment.  We are in a renaissance of self-direction. Taking control of your employment is especially important in today’s demographic because so many people are looking for new kinds of work  -  work that has meaning for them.  Our population is getting older  –  for the first time, there will be more people over 65 than under 5  — and older people are more reflective: they want to know they are doing something meaningful.

In a digital age, you master the digital stage.

As the first multi-media book for job hunters, Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0 has:

• “Quick Response” Tag technology from Microsoft to deliver exclusive content
• Digital tools to perform precession job searches and online placements of candidate values
• Hot links for fast access to online tools
• Tweets and other social media tools

About the “Guerilla” Series of Books

The “Guerilla” series has sold more than 22-million books in the past decade, providing effective advice to business owners and job seekers.  The series was launched with Guerilla Marketing, a technique maximizing innovation and creativity.

 

Do you want to get hired faster?  Does your job search need to go “Guerrilla?” Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. They are part of the “Guerrilla Job Search International, Inc.” family.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Weather to determine the winner?

We are well into May and in Indianapolis that means lots of racing.  It also means lots of rain.  Without fail, you can predict several days will be rained out at the track.

This makes it difficult for those race teams that pour millions of dollars into trying to win the oldest automobile race in the US.   If you did not know, this year is the 100^th anniversary.

This weekend begins the first round of qualifying. We will know who will sit on the pole for this historic race.  Because the last few days have been rained out, that means there will only be 1-1/2 days of practice; today and tomorrow.  Right now no one knows who will get the pole.

There is several more days of qualifying and practice yet to go, but the teams are really handicapped without getting in much practice and time to set the cars up.

Remember, this happens every year.

So, who will get the coveted pole position?

It will go to the team that is the most adaptable, and has the driver that will take the risks. If you want to win, you have to go for it. It is not the time to make timid decisions and actions.  Working around racing for several years – you learn to live a powerful expression each week. Come to race and win or go home.

This applies to running your business or searching for a job. When the economy is booming and there are no hiccups it is easy to make money. When businesses are busy they are starving for employees. When things slow down, it becomes really hard. Everything changes.  You no longer have 5 days to practice before qualifying; you may only have time for a few laps.

As a business owner or manager can your business adapt quickly? Are you dedicated to making the decisions to which will get you into the race? Are you focused and dedicated to set that car right on the edge of control? Do you trust your crew?

If you are seeking a new job are you ready to run fast and hard for the job? The timid drivers do not turn laps fast enough. Do you trust your machine (in this case your resume, cover letter, career portfolio, etc) to charge into the corners? Is fear running through your veins or is there the heart and mind of a champion?

This Saturday 41 drivers will use 72 cars to try to secure their place in the 100^th Anniversary race of the Indianapolis 500. Only one of them will become the driver/team that starts the race from the first position.  And just like every year, how the teams/drivers adapt to the adversity of the weather sets the tone.

Do you need help adapting to the current conditions so you can win? Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Yogi The “Customer Service” Bear

After taking a vacation break it can be hard to get caught up and back into the swing of things. Especially after you take such a great break like I just did with the family.

Following my own advice about setting the right goals for the year to make time for my family and myself, we decided to pack up, and pull the Camper into the Great Smokey Mountains.

We had an amazing time getting lost in the woods on all the trails, followed with some food and shopping in Gatlinburg. Thank goodness for Digital Cameras. We would have spent the equivalent of the national deficit on film.

While staying at a campground where the back side of our camper was “touching” the national park, we were able to experience the most amazing customer service.

Located in Cosby, TN, there is a Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park RV Camp Resort.  Dave Landry (a retired sheriff from Los Angeles) and his family own and operate the facility. Not only is it clean and the staff friendly – they have great activities for the kids. A couple of nights a week they had karaoke, a Chocolate Fest, and so much more my kids did not want to leave to go anyplace else. Every day Dave and his family would ask each camper if there was anything they needed, anything they could do to make our stay better.

One of the nights we were there, there was a bad storm that blew through. A couple of inches of rain fell in a few short hours. During that night our camper had a small leak, nothing a little caulk could not fix. When we were in the camp/store office the next morning, Dave was asking everyone if they were ok (Dave and team went and closed folks awnings that were left open so no one would get damage). all the places we have taken the camper and never have I seen the staff go around and make sure their awnings and other items were secured for the coming storm.

I mentioned we had a tiny leak, and he right away offered some caulk.  I did not even think to ask them.

I could go on and on giving you examples of why Dave Landry and his family made our stay so amazing.  Our stay was so enjoyable with them and visiting the mountains that we did not want to leave.

If you want to learn about Customer Service, a visit to the Smokey’s and their camp resort (they also have cabins for rent) should be in order. Also being in the woods, and on a creek with the cleanest, cool water is a great bonus.

Thank you Yogi for forgetting about our Picnic Baskets and giving us the Best Customer Service and Experience!

We had so much fun, that the “Yoohoo Bandit” may return soon.

Does your business need help with creating the ultimate customer service program? Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.

Sell Vacuums To Achieve Success

I have seen it a million times. People that have amazing skills job fold under pressure. They are not able to deliver the sale. It does not matter if it is the big multi-million dollar presentation or the up-sale of an apple pie at McDonald’s. They just do not understand how it works anymore.

Your customers are more savvy than ever. The internet allows them to shop for features and prices. Add smart phones into the mix, and you really have to work hard. No longer do shoppers even have to do a web search while in the store. There are now Apps that scan the bar codes and do it all for them in seconds.

The only way to win the sales pitch is to know your product and “not sell” it to them. You need to have a conversation with them about features, price, how it fits into their lifestyle and more.  Does the story you tell make sense?

If you want to success, you better be able to make a living selling vacuums.

I recently had the privilege to read a preview of David Perry’s new book, Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0: How to Stand Out from the Crowd and Tap Into the Hidden Job Market using Social Media and 999 other Tactics Today. What a book. There is so much information in it that was not in the previous 2 editions.

In one of the chapters he tells us that the 3-R’s have changed since we all went to school. No longer are they Reading, ‘Riting and “Rithmatic. He stresses that if you want to get an A+ and land your job you better focus Research, Relevancy, and Resiliency.  We can all learn how to improve our selling abilities by listening to him.

Without stealing his thunder, he is spot on. Unless you research the product or service from top to bottom you will never understand it. In doing your Research you must find a way to ensure that it is a Relevant solution to the needs your customers have. You must also be Resilient. You have to learn how to handle all the no’s in life.

Those three R’s are the very tools that a good vacuum salesperson needs when going door to door.  The ones who have mastered those skills get paid well. Those who have not… well, you know.

Do you remember the show Taxi? It was one of my favorites. In one particular episode called “One The Job – Part 1”  the gang meets at Mario’s to discuss what they have been doing since the Sunshine Taxi Company went bankrupt.

Reverend Jim Ignatowski took up a new job selling vacuums door to door.  I want you to watch his use of David Perry’s 3-R’s here – http://bit.ly/fjOgLW

Will you fold under the pressure?

Or can you sell vacuums and master selling your products and services?

Does your business need help with Research, Relevancy, and Resiliency? Contact the Business Accelerators at Eells Consulting. Their 5-Star Backcast Method(tm) will help you achieve long-term, predictable growth.

© 2011; Wayne Eells, Jr.