Good corporate citizenry... just a little (rant) advise.

We all get it.

Being a good corporate citizen (doesn't that sound grown up?) can be very satisfying.
It is a "feel good" moment when you realise your company can afford to help others.

We work hard to make sure we partner with  events that offer some  marketing value, if possible... because we have to make money in order to help others.

I also work hard to explain the benefits of supporting whatever event or charity I am :(pick one) selling tickets for, asking for donations in kind or asking for donations in cash.

It can be a problem picking & choosing where to give, what to give &  how often to give.

This economic crisis has created a "hamster wheel" of problems with the charitable sector .... industry supplies sponsorship....  they have no choice but to go smarter, harder & farther afield looking for support. All of us need to do what we can to support charities ... enough said about the merits of giving... everyone gets that.

So, Tracey....get to the bloody point.....

A word of advise: if you are already our customer ...

1) If you are our customer...no promises, but we always do what we can. We love you & appreciate your business. Remember , we have a large customer base....we can help everyone to some degree....but not the same company repeatedly several times per year.

2) No donation is a given for the next year unless we have made a prior commitment. Some years we are flush...some years, not so much.

A word of advise: If you are looking for a donation or a repeat donation &  have NO working relationship with us  ....(read carefully, twice).

1) Prepare some kind of written request (every year).  Show your commitment. Show us that you are fiscally accountable ... please don't come and ask us for money with no organisation (that can be identified as legit) behind you..... holding your hand out just isn't good enough.

2) If you think just walking in the door of a business &  asking for a donation is OK...well, that is
cold calling.... don't do it. Putting people on the spot can end badly for you.
 Act professionally (can't believe I have to spell that one out).... if you must drop in, leave a package or biz card.... then do the follow up. We really feel like chasing you to make a donation.
Our time is valuable, please respect that. 

3) We don't work to supply prizes for your brother-in-laws stag.
Go away....we don't even know you, you have never used our company, you don't know any of our staff, you aren't even related to any of our customers or suppliers. What are you thinking?

4) So ....you decided your child needs money to take a school trip to learn french in France  & for some reason, think we would want to contribute.  Why exactly,  would we want to do that?
You are looking for a hand out....not a sponsorship.

5) You didn't send a thank-you note for the donation we made last year.... oh yeah, I keep records of that.
Big mistake on your part. We were gracious enough to give you a donation, a thank-you note would be in order ... you are a dink.

6) Do not ask for a donation when you come to pick up your completed order.
 Way to make your supplier feel awkward. Did you just think that up on the drive over?

7) Do not ask for a donation and then ask us to call you. Do a follow up phone call you lazy b*tch.

8) Do not ask for a donation & then when it is granted, no one bothers to pick it up. Nice.

9) Corporations....please do not come asking for a donation  when  you give all your regular business to someone else. Do you have brain damage?

10)  My staff & I work hard for our money, please respect that. It is still our money until we commit some of it to you. Don't make us feel taken for granted.

Oh yeah... you might be one of those people that think all people that own their own business are rich.
Sorry, I forgot that about you.

Having said all that .... NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK ...do help the community... ask the right way & ......well, you might just get what you need!
............................................................................................................................................................

And while I have your attention....this is the latest fundraiser I am working on.
Wanna buy tickets?....LOL!
Cheers!
Trace

http://www.waterloo-buskers.com/festival-of-fools

screenprintqueen: Dear Customer Service Rep ...you suck!

screenprintqueen: Dear Customer Service Rep ...you suck!: I bought a TV & TV stand this week.... one from a Department Store, the other from a Big Box store. Dear Customer Service Person: (in pe...

Dear Customer Service Rep ...you suck!

I bought a TV & TV stand this week.... one from a Department Store, the other from a Big Box store.


Dear Customer Service Person: (in person)
I am truly sorry you hate your job. I am sorry you feel a need to pretend you are busy. I am sorry you were raised by wolves & don't know to look up when I walk in or say hello when I am standing directly in front of  you.
I am thinking:
I would rather poke myself in the eye than deal with you.
Your behaviour is shameful . Do your employer a good turn & quit this job.
Go find a job that will make you happy & that will make you feel like being a company asset.

Dear Service Rep (on the phone),
I know your company wants to sell me warranties...THEN you could do something for me. I am sorry I just bought this product in the last few days & you feel no accountability to help me with my questions concerning it. You recommended I call the actual store I bought from...so, I did....they have NEVER bothered to call me back.
I am thinking:
Are you freaking kidding me? You can't help me with a question concerning a new purchase? How can you take my payment in full & feel no necessity to help? Your head office blew me off, the actual store of the purchase couldn't take the time to call me back.

My money was not well spent with you.

Dear Manufacturers Service Rep (on phone)
I am sorry you are frustrated by me. I am trying to explain my problem as carefully as I can. I am also sorry I don't know as much about your product, as you do, . If I did, I would most likely not need to put us both through this painful phone session.I am not an unintelligent person, yet you make me feel like I am unintelligent.And when I ask you to transfer me to someone with more experience in the area I am asking about, you say you can't transfer me ...... I will need to call back.
I am thinking:
I have purchased your product & because I can't get any help from the vendor, I am asking for your help ... you assh*le!
Are you not supposed to be the expert that knows about your companies products?  Your best suggestion is to keep calling back until I get someone who understands my problem. You are a total dick.

WTF kind of help is that! ?

Dear Customer Service Rep (on live chat on-line)
I am sorry you cannot call me from your location ....your cautious but remote typing feels impersonal....although your responses are carefully  prepared & obviously from a list of possible answers..... that enable you to do nothing for me.
At least your typing sounds polite.
I am thinking: If you can't advise or help me....who can?

End Result:

I fixed my own problems with help from staff & friends
.... without any help from the businesses that should have understood they have some accountability in the matter.

I feel good because the problems are fixed.

I feel bad because I spent hard earned money on household products with companies who really don't give a flying f*ck  about me, their reputation, their product or my continued patronage.

So...


Dear Department & Big Box stores & Manufacturer Service Reps:

 I'll bet when your company first opened, customer service was truly important to you
......but now you politely tell us to get lost... trivialise our problems & questions ... make us solve your products  problems, ourselves.... pass us off to another department to ditch us.... ask us to buy warranties on products newly purchased., in order to get any service... you put us on hold ....  sometimes you put us on forget ... or treat us rudely in person.

Shame on you.


Wanna know what product manufacturer & Department Store I will never shop again?

Dear Blog Reader:
thank-you for holding, your questions are important to us! The next available customer service representative will be right with you....

screenprintqueen: Ordering T-shirts for "Dummies". A quick guide to...

screenprintqueen: Ordering T-shirts for "Dummies". A quick guide to...: "I want to have t-shirts printed ... but I don't know how to get started" ... we hear that all the time, no worries, you aren't alone. T...

Ordering T-shirts for "Dummies". A quick guide to getting started.

"I want to have t-shirts printed ... but I don't know how to get started"
... we hear that all the time, no worries, you aren't alone.

Textile screen printing is a very mysterious process to some. (wow, that almost sounds sexy, doesn't it?)

Yesterday, I had a customer, that could not understand our medium in any way, shape or form including  how to get started .... so, for those of you that think screen printing  feels too complicated to pursue....or too confusing to order......( or you don't know what the hell it is or if it is even what you want)...

I WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK GUIDE TO GETTING STARTED

1) Start looking for  local screen printers. Someone you can visit to see the quality of their work & put a face to your new biz relationship ...please, do not e-mail screen printers a country or continent away, asking for a quote.....driving your shipping & duty costs nuts among other things & where you are far too detached to know if they are the kind of business you want to deal with.

2) You CAN  manage your screen printing needs at a distance ONLY IF you love (oh yes, you can love your screen printer) & TRUST your screen printer, and KNOW your screen printer & know you have enough experience ordering using  Internet communication.

2) Ask friends & business acquaintances for referrals. Ok.... ask TRUSTED friends & acquaintances... LOL.

3) Avoid impostor textile screen printers.

Would you go to any other printer or any other business set up in their garage?
I wouldn't go to any professional business set up in a garage....so what is it with people thinking screen printing in a garage is fine.
You know what? ...those people just think that it will be cheaper...that's all.

Great... you will get what you pay for....with no guarantees on quality or service.... & inadvertently hurt the environment.

TO THOSE PRINTERS WHO SCREEN PRINT IN GARAGES:
Sure,  set up in a garage....IF you aren't good enough or experienced enough to make a real business of screen printing & don't care about using unethical chemicals (& putting them down the sink) to clean & prepare screens.... way to destroy the environment, assholes!

We are all judged by the worst of our industries....this, in my estimation, is the worst of our industry.

4) Don't be embarrassed to call a screen printer and ask questions or what you think, might be stupid questions.
There are no stupid questions. Really there aren't.
Why should you know anything about screen printing?
Your screen printer, if they have good customer service, will answer your questions & help you to understand our process. They will hold your hand through the process, if you like.
Ask for a tour of their shop. Ask to see samples of their printing. Ask for references.
Good customer service should never make you feel stupid.

(Many thanks to some of our competitors - constantly pissing off customers with rude or unclear customer service....I will send you flowers one of these days).

5)  I don't have artwork! Can't draw a straight line? No worries. A good screen printer will have an artist at your disposal.
It IS fun to see your own artwork in print, so think about it.

6) Do not break copyright law or trademark law.
People own artwork & rights to images, you have no right to rip them off.
Do not ask your screen printer to print registered logos....like "Harley Davidson", "Gucci" or "Batman".
Don't be a dick.
Any screen printer that violates trademarks & copyrights... you got it .... total dicks.

7) Having even a rough idea of what you might need, will help expedite you order. Having a bit of an idea of  the quantity of garments you need, how many artworks you want to print per shirt & how many colours in each artwork... would be super helpful in order for your screen printer to be able to quote you accurately.

8) Screen printing is not instant. Give your printer lead time to do your artwork & work through details.
Call around to find out screen printers schedules.
Rush orders are common....but get a commitment from your screen printer for your due date.....then make sure to follow up & be as available as possible to help the rush process.
Picking the right printer is the best way to avoid being  "over promised & under delivered".

9) I only need one shirt! Direct screen printing can be expensive if you just need one or a very few shirts.....ask about sublimation (in old school language: transfers).... if your screen printer doesn't do them, I am sure they can advise you of where you can get it done.

10) Have fun! Working hand in hand with your printer should be enjoyable. We want you to be happy & (dare I say it?) satisfied.

I know this is a bare bones kind of "getting started" ... so .... what questions can I answer for you???

I am happy to field any questions you have ... for any job you have ... or problems you may have had with any screen printer, anywhere.
Just ask.

Cheers!
Trace

"You are trying to trick us into working harder"

That was a comment by an employee who had just been introduced to a company incentive....LOL.
This happened many years ago , off-shore, to an old pal of mine ...but it still makes me laugh.

I guess they were right!

Working harder, working smarter, working more efficiently, working to make your company better, faster or environmental.....tomato, tomaaaahto!

Shouldn't you be rewarded for your efforts?
Some people would say that working for pay is enough.....what do you think?
To not consider incentives....wow, boring and short sighted! They really do work.

Company incentives are rewards for a job well done or beating your own productivity from the year before or beating out everyone else in some way. They can be designed for every situation or business scenario. Incentives can be designed to reward sales teams, individuals or whole companies. They can be expensive or inexpensive. They can create fun & interest .. and laughs.

For years I tried to get my staff to buy into medical plans, insurance plans...dental, prescriptions, whatever blah blah blah benefits.... mature thinking don't you think?

The only way Traces Staff would take benefits was if the company paid for them in full.
Traces wasn't going to pay in full if ... 1) there was no commitment by the employees at all
                                                        2) it generated no good will or excitement.

Then it came to me in a flash....stop trying to give them what (I thought) they needed
.... and give them what they want!!!!!  

So simple.

I was trying to get my employees to be more environmental, create less waste, conserve energy... being a good corporate citizen means you respect the environmental laws & embrace conservation.

Reducing waste. Sticking their hands in the garbage to retrieve dropped scissors, use less tape, re-use, reduce, you know the drill.... stuff adults should do.... but don't always do.

I need Staff to keep their eye on the ball... focus & be results oriented.
(I did get some biz coaching about 15 years ago ... Bob taught me all these big words...LOL. Best thing I ever did for my biz .... another blog, another time)
So...
When the Canadian government changed the laws, some years back.....you could give employees $500 in gifts (no cash) ...tax free. 
I pondered ....what do people really want? What would I want? What do I want? How can we take advantage of this tax reprieve?

I wanted to give, to make this fun but also, I needed  to get results.

I knew what I wanted Traces Staff to do....I just didn't know how to get them to really buy into environmental thinking....not just lip service but real & constant environmental efforts.
I needed them to work smart & efficiently all the time.

What do people really want?

Well.... I guessed that most people would like a little adventure (at least that is what I would like ...LOL) ...& Traces Trip Incentive was born.

Much excitement was generated by this idea... Traces Staff were very invested in making these trips happen...and they still are to this day.

Traces Trip Incentive rewards the whole staff...it is designed to be a team building & team strengthening.
Everybody goes or nobody goes. Including me! Way fun to organize! Don't you love having something to look forward to?

At the same time, I implemented environmental initiatives.... reduce, re-use, re-cycle....save money & help the environment. Implementing the Trip Incentive in tandem with new conservation efforts got us the results we wanted! Yeah for me!

By turning down the heat EVERY night alone , we saved at least 5% on hydro in  year. And that is only one of a dozen cost saving ways conservation works. Staff dug in and worked hard...they also "culled the herd" &"rail-roaded"  poor performers out of Traces. (I didn't see that one coming at all).

My Dad Murray, an old school entrepreneur,  used to say "sometimes you can save money easier than make money" ... I think he was right!

I map out our specific reachable goals early in the year ... and use a virtual thermometer to show my co-workers progress month by month. 2011 marks our 9th year....and believe you me...very difficult to reach with the economic down-turn.

Traces staff had to work very hard to reach their goals these past couple years.

Reachable goals are important...I think that unreachable goals really don't fool anyone ... they are a transparent grab for the impossible & obviously unobtainable, which makes for a crappy incentive.

I also offer profit sharing, but in all honesty, it costs me more, but has less excitement attached to it.
I think Staff are excited for the first 10 minutes & then realize they have to do the adult thing, buy new snow tires or pay off a student loan, buy Holiday gifts.....or some very reasonable, grown-up thing.

So...yes my staff work hard for their Trip Incentive & yes, I trick them into working harder!... in fact I almost consider it a neutral thing...they work hard enough to pay for their own trip....good enough for me!

                                                           Traces Staff in Madrid 2009

Traces Staff Trip Incentives:  Halifax 2003, Dominican Republic 2004, San Francisco 2005, Miami Cruise : Keys & Cozumel 2006, Albufeira Portugal 2007, New Orleans 2008, Benalmedina Spain 2009, Cruise: St Maarten, St. Lucia & St. Kitts 2010... waiting for Jamaica 2011. Can't wait!

We even have Fiesta Day....just a day to celebrate going on our trip.... dink the dog & have fun playing games. Staff love to compete with each other for prizes. Traces Staff call Fiesta Day "the funnest day of the year!" Just another small incentive to create teamwork, good vibes and good times!

I would be happy to address your comments or thoughts .... bring it on!
Cheers!
Trace

I pooped today! & the best (& worst) of rude t-shirts.

Dear Math, I am not your therapist. Solve your own problems.

I'm not drunk, I'm awesome!

When I fart, you will be the second to know.

Get me drunk & enjoy the show.

I pooped today!

Paddle faster, I hear banjos.

T-shirt slogans, sure have changed.
Rude & controversial ones have always been around, but now with the Internet...they have become a much larger mass market.  I have attached  links for a few that will amaze and repel you.

Some will make you laugh, some will make you sick......plain witty is in there but in smaller quantities.

Having said that...
I have always believed that T-shirt printers should not be critics....we print them, we don't wear them.
Artists traditionally don't like censorship. I am one of those.

Freedom of speech and all that.
We have printed some real train wrecks (dirty, suggestive, weird) ...but luckily, nothing too morally offensive (intolerant, bigoted or sexist etc.).

T-shirts, well, they can get your message out.... LOL

Whatever your message.

Some of the above slogans are tame compared to what you will see on the sites listed below.

Brace yourself.

Believe it or not, "t-shirt hell.com" (once the rudest printed t-shirt site) has calmed down a bit, after the owner was threatened a zillion times and possibly poisoned!...really! Look it up on wikipedia under "t-shirt hell". The guy that owns that company is into really really shameless self marketing (....as opposed to my own shameless self marketing). So we don't know that the poisoning wasn't a publicity stunt.

 But I digress....

If you visit the sites you will laugh, you will groan & you will be grossed out or disgusted.

Really, I kid you not....these sites can offend anyone!

If they don't offend you in some small way.... call me on it.
I suspect there are worse sites....I just didn't feel a need to pursue them.

Brace yourself...

http://www.tshirthell.com/hell.shtml

http://www.roadkilltshirts.com/?gclid=CKG61L3CkqkCFRG4Kgodu1DXoQ

http://www.snorgtees.com/

And guess what???!       I pooped today!

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers!
Trace