From: WynnLindyB@aol.com Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 20:55:43 EST Subject: Help! To: balloondeco@balloonhq.com Hi Debbie, Just like any other time, you have to stop and look at yourself. It sounds like you are already doing this, as you say your stomach has gotten you down. This used to happen to us once in awhile when we were doing 6-8 weddings on Saturday. The time we did 13, we finally decided there was no real reason to do this to ourselves. I really think what happens is that our pride gets in our way. We "have to get more jobs" than everyone else. That's a bunch of bunk. When we once realize that we have to look out for our own selves first, it gets easier to turn customers to other companies. This accomplishes three things. First, you can establish better relations with some of the other balloon companies in your area. Second, helps your customers feel like they got a good deal from you. Thirdly, it saves your own life and mind. When you send customers to a company you feel you can trust to do a good job, you create a trust with them, both the customer and the other company. This usually will help to foster better relations between all involved. If a customer feels like they were treated honestly and fairly, they will many times come back to you, even if the other company did a good job and probably deserves to keep the customer. Think about it. If you are looking for a certain pair of shoes, and the saleperson sends you to a shop that carries them, how do you feel about the referral ?? See what I mean. If possible, you'll probably go back to the first place the next time. Find another company that you can refer to, if possible. If not, just be straight with the customer. Tell them that you wish you could help, but you are already extended past what you can probably get delivered as it is. They will understand. They may not be happy, but they are also getting awfully late to be expecting deliveries for Valentines day this year. If you are in the right mood, maybe you can take the order for next year instead...... Then, plan your every move !!! Write down a time line schedule, both for delivery and for construction. Write down your delivery routes. Write down recipes to every delivery if you have the time. Make it as easy for you and your employees as possible. Be sure that you have plenty of helium, ribbon, hi float, candies for your tie downs, cards and envelopes for messages, gas in the vans, etc. I know this is late for all this advise, but you still have Sunday. Oh yeah, inflate all your mylars on Sunday night where they will stay cooler that the offices they will be going into. Also, hi float your latex the day before, also. That way, everything will be ready for ACTION on Monday. Start as early as possible as you can on Monday morning. We used to start as early as 3:00 am. It's hard, but it will be rewarding. If something breaks down and you start running late, call the customer and get alternate delivery addresses. This saved us once. It also made some people very happpy to get something in the evening at home. One was a grandmother, all the grandkids were able to be there for the delivery. Anything to gain the trust of the customer and let them know you care. Then next year you will get orders earlier, allowing you to get extra help if you need it. I ramble something terrible, but your situation is common to all of us at one time or another. I wish we had had someone to give us some advice and listen to our worries and concerns, but that was not the way things used to be in the balloon business. Good Luck and make lot's of money. Let me know how it turns out for you. Wynn Wynn and Lindy Bell, CBAs The Final Touch Portland, Oregon 503 579 9499