Betty Business

Dear Betty,

Both my son and daughter are at overnight camp. I try to write to them everyday, however I am running out of things to say. Do you have any novel ideas? I think I read you create some notes with adorable images. I hope this is true.

Dear Camp Mom,

As a matter of fact I do create camp notes! I can provide a message in a box along with a themed image. All I need to know is some of your children’s favorite hobbies. You may also send me what they are doing at camp. I sell them in packages of 10.  This will make it very easy to send them mail each day. In addition it is a fun piece of mail for them to receive!

Email me and I will send you a sample!

Dear Betty,
 
I work in a private medical practice and I have a boss who yells and demeans employees in front of their co-workers.  It is very uncomfortable and we never know when he is going to lash out.  It can happen at any time without warning and it is also done while patients are present.  Can you give me some advice on how to deal with this situation.
 
Kevn G.
 
Dear Kevin,
 
Your boss sounds like a person who cannot control his emotions.  I have no respect for a boss who exhibits such inappropriate behavior. The ideal situation would be if you and the other employees could discuss this with your boss.  However, if he is not receptive and is unwilling to do anything to change his behavior, you will either have to accept it or find other options.  This behavior is very demeaning to all of the employees and should not be tolerated.  If he will not change, I suggest that you beef up your resume and look for a new boss.  There are plenty of nice people out there who also happen to be bosses!

Dear Betty,
 
I am planning to open a nail salon and am going to have booth rentals instead of employees.  I wonder if you can tell me the best way to handle insurance for them?  Do they get their own individually or do I need to provide an umbrella policy?
I hope you can give me some suggestions.
Mary Beth D.
 
Dear Mary Beth,
Nail salon owners should have liability insurance.  Every nail tech should be covered by professional liability insurance.  In your case, I would suggest that you, as the owner of the salon, take care of all of the details and add the insurance costs to each nail tech’s rent.  That would be the most uncomplicated and straight forward way to handle it. 
 
Good Luck with you new salon,

Dear Betty,

I own  a retail store on a busy street. Due to the slowing economy and rising overhead costs, some of my retail neighbors are closing.  Sales are OKor me, we are lucky to get a lot of foot traffic,  I want to remain in business. How can I renegotiate my lease and stay in business?

Dear Negotiator,

No landlord wants to see their block empty! The first rule of negotiation is to be prepared. Know the current market rent.  The yearly cost is generated by multiplying the total square footage by the cost per square foot.  Divide it by 12 for a monthly amount.  For example, a 200 square foot location at $30 per square foot  would be $7,000 for the year or $583.33 per month. 

Other factors to consider:  Has your rent been paid on time? How long have you leased from him/her? How are your sales? Build a compelling case for yourself. Possibly build a longer lease with sliding scale for a moderate yearly increase. Would you be willing to move to a smaller location that is more economical?

If the owner is unwilling to negotiate, you might want to consider sub-leasing space to another successful retail business.  Having someone else in the store may be motivating during these difficult times and bring in a fresh, new customer base.

Please let me know how things work out.

Sincerely,

Dear Betty,

I am a wedding photographer with my own company. I have one employee and am the only means of support for my wife and three children. The trend has been changing and business is way down. In an effort to save money people are using digital cameras and/ or placing disposable cameras on each table. Although, this is a creative way to do things to save money, it doesn’t benefit my company. My wife is an excellent mother and we made the decision that she would stay at home. I would feel like a failure as a husband, father and businessman if my wife was forced to go to work. What should I do?

Dear Not a Perfect Picture:

This is far from picture perfect. Are you paying this employee benefits? Do you have any additional overhead expenses, such as bookkeeping services, employee benefits and advertising benefits? Maybe your wife could be able to assist with the bookkeeping, post on craigslist and/ or make some sales calls. This could increase revenues and also enable her to continue her role as a stay at home mother.  You may also consider expanding your services beyond the wedding market. Since disposable cameras seem to be here to stay, you may want to add them to your list of services. It is also advisable to create relationships with hotels and beauty salons for recommendations. Join a local chamber and post your services online.

Hope the picture is clearer.

Sincerely,

Dear Betty,

My position as a customer service coordinator has been eliminated after working with the same company for 16 years. I am at wits end. I regret being a loyal and dedicated employee for so long. I have sent out my resume and registered at numerous employment agencies. I am not having any luck whatsoever, these jobs are being outsourced out of the country and I am left with little hope. I spend at least four hours per day researching and networking. I am very discouraged and was hoping you have a suggestion.

Thanks,
Sally T.

Dear Sally T:

I would suggest enrolling in some adult education courses. Sally, do you have a hobby? If so, can this hobby be turned into a profit? Ms. Kim Lavine, author of Mommy Millionaire, turned her “kitchen table idea into a million dollars.” This book is a wonderful resource for any business. It is a step by step guide filled with great advice, real life lessons and good humor. Burt’s Bee is another example of a hobby turned into a profitable business. This may be a turning point and what seems like a negative may turn into a positive and profitable venture for you.

Keep me Posted!

Sincerely,

Dear Betty,

I have been at my present position for 6 months and have a problem. I sell accessories to upscale women’s retail shops.  I am paid a salary plus quarterly commission. I have not only met, but exceeded my numbers. First quarter was great; I made a 110% of my goal. I was paid my first bonus check along with a great big “thank you.” Two months into second quarter, after being on target again, I was told the bonus plan was discontinued for the East Coast sales reps. My base salary is lower than I would have accepted had it been a strictly salary position. I am riding around, unmotivated and a trunk full of accessories. I cannot afford my living expenses on my salary alone. Please advise me.

Dear Over-Accessorized:

I am impressed you did so well in a down economy! Kudos to you! It sounds like your bonus is a big part of your income.  The first rule of thumb in sales is bonuses cannot be relied on. Although, they cannot be relied on in sales, they are an important motivational factor. Do you have a contract or offer letter stating the conditions of your employment? If not, my recommendation would be to meet with your supervisor and ask for an increase in your base salary. If that is denied, pick up another accessory line to sell at the same time and work as an independent contractor for multiple companies.

All the Best!

Sincerely

Dear Betty,

I am a business owner with five great employees. This year I cannot afford to increase their salaries and offer our yearly two thousand dollar bonus. We did not have any increase in revenue; however my expenses have increased. I want to keep my current team strong and motivated. What is your suggestion?

Dear Salary-Worried Employer:

These are troublesome times and those of us employed are grateful. Just as a business owner’s expenses are increasing, employee’s expenses are increasing as well. Let’s think outside the box! What motivates your employees? Money is not always top on the list.  Yes, it ranks in the top 3, but everyone is motivated in different ways. For example, Bonnie would like to work a four day work week.  Beatrice would enjoy working a flexible schedule, spending more time with her kids and alleviating some daycare expenses. Bob would rather get one lump sum bonus, pay off a credit card and reduce his debt ratio. Bill might want an addition to the benefits package. These are just a few solutions to your situation. The first and most important step is to meet with your employees, explain the situation and allow them to offer their own solutions. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Sincerely,

Dear Betty,

Fridays are dress down days at my company. Jeans are ok, but I feel people abuse this privilege. We see customers and I still want to maintain a professional image and work environment. What is the best way to address this before it is out of control?

Dear Dress-Down Friday Catastrophe:

This is the perfect time of year to reiterate your dress policy. Spring is here and people tend to dress more casually. Send a companywide email explicitly explaining the dress policy. I once had to stand in 90 degree heat in an ice cream truck because someone did not follow the dress code guidelines. Management never stated how they wanted us to dress. I survived, but I ate entirely too many Klondike bars!  What I learned, the hot way, is that employees set the tone and it is important to be perceived as a professional company… After all, image is key, especially in sales. It is possible to dress both casually and professionally at the same time.

Sincerely,