StreSS, HmneS nd Yu VICKIE L. BUNZEY Stuc n u t Kim Hughes MAY 201 1 CONNECT AND GROW WITH WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY nikki Fa on De gner of N ka Formal a oor ®
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StreSS,HmneSnd YuVICKIE L. BUNZEY
Stuc n utKim Hughes
MAY 2011
CONNECT AND GROW WITH WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY
nikki Faon Degnerof Nka Formal
aoor
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Dear Readers,
I always get excited this time of every month,
because every time I see a new issue of WomenWith Know How completed, it gives as much
pleasure as the rst one we published!
It really is a feeling I can’t describe. I feel like the
magazine is like having a new baby every month!
I am especially excited this month to have Niki
Kapoor as our cover story. She really is an
amazing woman and the more I get to know her,
the more inspired I get! Speaking of having ababy every month, this month is Mother’s Day
and I wish all mothers the best mother’s day!
Those of us that are daughters, make sure to
make your mom feel loved. Nothing gives more
pleasure than when I hear the words I love you
from my daughters!
In closing I feel this poem says it best:
From tHe publiSHer Mimi Zelman
“ Those o us thatare daughters, make
sure to make yourmom eel loved.
More Tan A Moter
When God set the world in place,
when He hung the stars up in space,
when He made the land and the sea,
then He made you and me.He sat back and saw all that was good;
He saw things to be as they should.
Just one more blessing He had in store;
He created a mother, but whatever for?
He knew a mother would have a special place
to shine His reection on her child’s face.
A mother will walk the extra mile
just to see her children smile.
She’ll work her ngers to the bone
to make a house into a home.
A mother is there to teach and guide,
a mother will stay right by your side.
She’ll be there through your pain and strife;she’ll stay constant in your life.
A mother will lend a helping hand
until you have the strength to stand.
She’ll pick you up when you are down;
when you need a friend she’ll stick around.
A mother is one who listens well,
will keep her word; will never tell.
A mother never pokes or pries
but stands quietly by your side,
giving you the strength you need,
encouraging you to succeed.
A mother is one who can be strong
when you need someone to lean on.You’re more than a mother to me;
a reection of Him in your face I see,
a love that knows no boundaries.
I’m glad that you chose to be
all this and more to me.
You share a love that knows no end,
you’re more than my mother,
and you are my friend.
”
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34
buSneSS
How to Succeed as
a Small Business Owner
26
pFeSSnl
SptlgHt
Dickie Choate
contentS
FeATures
16
cve Sy
Nikki Kapoor
36
Fd
New Twists on Fresh
Summer Favorites
DepArTMeNTs
yuEEpEEu 22Kim Hughes
FcE28April Oliver
MkE 6Karen L. Dortschy
yucEE 10
Robyn Crigger
WEESS 12 Vickie L. Bunzey
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Servingcharlotteandcharleston
publisher/presiDeNT
Mimi L. [email protected]
DesiN AND pAe prDuTiN
SPARK [email protected]
vie presiDeNT F MArKeTiN
Wendy Whitehurst
NTribuTiN WriTers Mary Elizabeth Murphy
Marcie Williams- BrowningRobyn Crigger
Kim Hughesof 704events.com
hArlesTN
Contact Mimi Zelman
For more advertising information callMimi at 704-491-1207 or email her at:
Copyright ©2010
Cover photography: Dustin Shores
®
Whether you’re heading to your company’sboard meeting or your daughter’s soccer
practice, you’ll be stylin’ when you show the
world that you are a Woman With Know-how.
We’ve handpicked a select group of items
all in rich black, to showase the gorgeous
fuchsia pink and silver metallic embroidered
message that tells everyone you are truly
a woman to be reckoned with.
You know your stuff,now show the world!
Visit OurOnline Store
www.womenwithknowhow.com
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“Consistency is Key toBuilding Brand Awareness”
marketing Karen L. Dortschy, Partner, Sandbox Solutions
h’ a o qz! Wat
a t stack
“n” (woman
mytoogca cat) ncod
n and wat t coo? Wat
dcton do t Nk woo
mo – ft to gt, o gt toft? Wat coo Tagt’ tagt?
(Anw ow).
Chances are you answered all three
correctly. Why? Because Starbucks,
Nike and Target are the ultimate
role models for brand consistency
– resulting in their companies
and products being easilyrecognizable and identiable.
You probably hear the words
“brand” and “branding”
often these days, as they
are buzz words thrown
around by almost everyone.
So what really is the denition of
a “brand”? In simplistic terms a brand
is a proposition – a message such
as “we deliver quality sportswear”.
There may also be sub-messages
and values which associate with that
message, but they all revolve around
the same idea. How this messageis communicated is often termed
“branding”, and one of the most
important aspects of communicating
a brand visually and subconsciously is
consistency.
The core message of all successful
brands never really changes. Let’s
consider Apple computers. Sincetheir brand’s conception, their brand
proposition was to supply state-of-
the-art, high-quality, great looking
and high-performing computers. This
message has never changed, although
the way they have communicated
this over the years has, as they have
MO R E I N FO
Karen l. Dor tch y
Sandbox Solu tions
w w w.in Yoursandbo x.com
mara@in yoursandbox.com
704.201.3354
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kept up with modern design standards.
This has led to consumer recognition,
and then trust and loyalty from their
customers.
Think about other successful brandssuch as Nike, Intel, Disney and
McDonalds. Whatever you look at,
whether it’s a hangtag on a shirt, an
Internet ad, a store sign or product
packaging, you’ll see that each piece
is consistent in look, font, attitude and
message. From logo usage to package
design to website to store signage,
they’re consistent.
Consistency -- whatever the medium,
whatever the message, is the hallmark
of building a strong brand. But why
bother with brand consistency?
Brand consistency has one massive
advantage – recognition. With
recognition comes familiarity. With
familiarity comes trust and condence.Also, if done correctly, consistency
brings clarity and purpose which
customers buy into. They become loyal.
As people we don’t really like “new’
– and it’s been widely reported that
before a consumer purchases a
product or service, she needs to be
exposed to a brand 17 times. Seventeen
times! It’s essential that when a
potential customer comes across your
“brand message”, she knows right awaywhich brand is communicating to them.
This can only be done by consistency.
Otherwise, she can mistake your brand
with a competing brand, which means
your business potentially loses that
customer and may even help your
competitor gain her!
However, Marketing alone does notbuild a brand. Many communications
contribute to a brand and a brand
image-- including the product or service
Kim Fewell1230 Charlottetowne Ave.
Charlotte
Call me today to see how much
you could save with Allstate’s
home & auto discounts.
(980) 875-9385
Discount and insurance offered only with select companies and subject to availability and
qualifications. Discount amount may be lower. Allstate Indemnity - Private Passenger Auto, Allstate
Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company: Northbrook, IL © 2009
Allstate Insurance Company
Marketing alone doesnot build a brand.
Many communications
contribute to a brandand a brand image.
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itself, people-to-people interactions
and all forms of communications,
including bills that are sent to
customers, checks that are sent to
suppliers, etc.
Even the way the copy on a companyemail is written should be considered
in the light of the brand messaging.
Standards include deciding if everyone
should write “e-mail” or “Email” or
“E-mail” or something else. Everything
should be consistent. If they’re not,
it causes customers to lose trust in
the brand.
Brand consistency often takes many
years to master before it really starts
working for you. This means you
need to think long term – and hit the
ground running with brand consistency.
Leading brands got there because they
have had many years of consistency
behind them and they have had long-
term, clear goals for consistency intheir brand, with the right people in
place to “guard” the brand.
So if you are just starting a business,
or haven’t had years to build brand
consistency, what can you do?
Start with the basics – email addresses
(all initial caps, or all lower case or
upper/lower), email signatures, fonts
for emails and other communications.Don’t use Arial for one medium,
Verdana for another and Comic Sans
for yet another.
The type and quality of paper used for
everyone’s business cards, stationery
and brochures. Your invoices and
statements. Your vehicle magnet signs
and your tradeshow booth signs. Yourvoicemail message and how everyone
should answer the phone.
Create brand standards for all of these,
that everyone in your organization
needs to follow. Designate yourself or
another leader in your organization that
is detail-focused, as the guardian of the
brand. Be diligent in ensuring everyonemaintains consistency – every day,
every communication. Then, you’ll be
on your way to becoming the next Nike,
Starbucks or Apple!
For more tips and recommendations
for branding or rebranding your
business, contact Sandbox Solutions
for a free copy of the newestSandbox Solutions Sand Paper (our
version of the White Paper), entitled
“Company Rebranding - Operational
Implementation”, or for more
information.
A n s w e r s t o P o p Q u i z : 1 . C i r c l e , g r e e n 2 . L e f t t o r i g h t 3 . R e d
Be diligent in ensuring everyone maintains consistency – every day,
every communication.
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Your career Robyn Crigger, CEO Compass Career Management
Wo an’t ad a t
gmng aot t oo
conomy, xn of a
knd kyocktng, and tat many
a t nmoyd fo mo tan
a ya? T a t many wo a
mat jo ac canddat woa ng fd any moymnt,
ng t xc of ng “o
qad”, wn cay t t
ag tat t aon. f co,
many moy know tat t
mat, xncd moy
wod xct a g aay
tan a yong, nxncd
on. +snc motmoy a t tyng
to k t cot down,
ty a ctng t
xncd jo
canddat.
As a business owner, I can
understand the dilemma for most
employers (especially small businesses)
as far as needing to keep costs down
in order to keep the business healthy.
However, there are many unemployed
people, who are really trying to get
hired. There are some challenges that
complicate matters. For instance thereare some unemployed people, who are
receiving unemployment checks, but can
only nd work that pays enough to lose
their unemployment benets but doesn’t
pay enough to cover their living expenses.
Obviously, our government’s pockets
are empty, and printing more money
isn’t the answer. So what can any of usdo? Some options could be:
The necessity to get more than one job.
A possibility if child care isn’t an issue.
Moving in with relatives or friends and
sharing/splitting expenses.
With gas so expensive, use public
As Economy Drags On, WhatAre The Umemployed To Do?
M O R E I N F
O
i p a r t n e r i n c. – o m a
a r e e r M a n ag e m e n t s o
l t o n
w w w. c o m a c a
r e e r.co m
( 7 04 ) 84 9 -25 0
0
rc r igge r @co m
p a s sc a ree r.co
m
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transportation or carpool when at
all possible.
Review your spending habits and cut
out luxuries (Example: one TV storyshowed a family struggling, and yet the
mother was still buying “bottled water”
and chips, etc.)
The cutting of coupons for the grocery
store has been proven to save a LOT
of money!
There is one option that someunemployed people have chosen to
become “Self-Employed”. It is NOT
easy!!! But if you carefully choose
a line of business in which you are
experienced and could effectively
promote to potential clients, this
COULD be something to seriously
consider.
However, I will be the rst to tell you
that you MUST be organized and
learn all that is involved in being self-
employed. It is very hard work, and
you would either need to be able to
prove to a bank that you could be
successful in order to get a loan to
start the business. OR you would need
to have ample funds set aside to startyour business AND enough money to
live off of for six months to a year AT
LEAST! Many new businesses don’t
earn enough money to pay themselves
for 1-3 years.
In the meantime we all need to let our
legislative representatives know how
we feel about our economy and relay
what we expect of them. As “our”
representatives they need to know your
perspectives and needs. As for what to
do as an unemployed person, don’t sit
behind a computer, but instead get out
and talk to as many people as you can.Relay how you can help an employer!
Keep an open mind.
I will be the frst to tell you that you MUST be organized and learn all that
is involved in being sel-employed.
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“i am o td ot.”
How many times do you say, thinkor feel that if you have to deal with
one more thing you are going to
explode. Unfortunately, too many of
us experience this feeling every day.
Stress is so common place that we
may not even notice how much stress
we feel. It may be a relationship that
has a little bump or maybe a big bump
in it, a job we don’t like or even if wedo like it are overloaded with work, too
many things to do and too little time
for all the things you need to take care
of, too little sleep because you are too
busy. What can you add to the list?
ody ooy da
wt t, t at wat
xn?We can become tense.
Our blood pressure
can rise. Our breathing
increases. Our body
naturally goes into a
“ght-or-ight” stress
response. When this happens
a chain reaction happens. The stress
hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, arereleased. Cortisol is a hormone critical
in managing fat storage and energy
in your body. Cortisol is known to
increase appetite and may encourage
cravings for sugary or fatty foods.
So now with all that cortisol running
around our body we naturally reach for
our comfort foods. Most comfort foodscome in the form of high carbohydrate
foods, the bad carbs….sweets, mufns,
pastries, doughnuts, cookies, pizza,
mashed potatoes, breads, french fries,
chips. These foods cause a surge of
insulin in our blood stream. When
our body can’t absorb or process the
excess of insulin, we store it as fat.
Now we have two problems….stressand weight gain.
W a not don yt.
We now have adrenaline, cortisol and
insulin out of balance. When we reach
for fattening comfort foods during
stressful times in a sub-conscious
Stress, Hormones and You
MO R E I N FO
vickie l. bunze y
Certi fed Holistic Health Coach
w w w.simple WoleFoodNu tri tion.com
vickie@ yourbalancedhealthst yle.com
w w w. Yourbalancedheal t t yle.com
704.995.1951
wellneSS Vickie L. Bunzey, Certifed Holistic Health Coach
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self-medicating state our body releases
serotonin. Serotonin makes us feel
good or better. It is no surprise that
when we are under stress we may not
make the smartest food choices. Whenwe eat sugary or fatty foods, we tend
to eat more and crave more. Because
we have an increase of cortisol, we also
become less sensitive to the hormone
leptin. Leptin tells our brain that we are
full and to stop eating. We have created
a roller coaster that is hard to get off.
Research is showing that this hormoneimbalance can lead to weight gain,
trouble losing weight, insulin resistance,
high cholesterol levels, high blood
pressure, thyroid problems, metabolic
burnout and inammation to name a
few. It is scary what stress can do to
our body. But you can turn the tables
on stress and you can put steps in
place to cope with your stress.
Nxt tm yo f td and
nd yof adng fo t
fgato o nack macn,
to and acknowdg t t.
Sit down and breathe. Think…are you
really hungry? Or are you dealing with
a situation or emotion? If you do this
repeatedly, you can create a new habit
for dealing with stress. Start now toretrain yourself in how you handle
your stress.
• eat ga ma o tat yo
don’t gt ngy and f a do
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14
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n yo ood ga. This will keep
you from unmindful eating.
• eat aty nack and ma
oton. Remember that food isfuel for your body. When you eat
healthy you equip your body to
handle stress better.
• Manag yo t wt
atnat to food. Regular exercise
can help prevent stress, manage
emotions and help you maintain a
healthy weight. Try new things like yoga,Tai chi or something you’ve wanted to
try. Don’t limit yourself.
• yof a ak. Whatever is
causing your stress, just step away
for a while. Find something more
pleasant to do to distract yourself.
• Tnk ot. Come up with a
plan to resolve the situation that iscausing the stress.
• rax. Whatever works for you….
do it. Breathe. Meditate. Visualize.
Listen to music. Take a hot bath.
• Do omtng fn. Get yourself out
and enjoy your life.
You can retrain yourself. Health is
about balance. Strive to balance your
nutrition, exercise, sleep and emotion
and spirituality. You will love how your
body responds.
All Local, All The Time.
Local Business Profiles
Local Coupons
Event Email Blasts
Website Banner Ads
Event Postings
Rsvp Management
Event Tracking
Direct Response
Have you seenThe new...
Meet The new owner:
complete online advertising options
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XxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxy.
16
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nikki
aoorW
at do yo gt wn yo comn aty,
an, n ay and a g at?
Simply two words: Niki Kapoor I had the privilege of
meeting Niki last fall and it became readily apparent
She is indeed a Woman With Know-How. Niki is generous
and gracious with her time and talent and she possesses an
internal beauty that truly denes her.
She radiates compassion, style, fortitude and a wiliness to
dream, BIG.
What follows is my conversation with Niki that tells her
story.
Faon Degnerof Nka Formal
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Tell u about Nka:
Nika is a design house for prom,
pageant, wedding and social occasion
dresses. I design product that is cutting
edge and fashion forward. At Nika,we believe in pride of ownership. Our
dresses are made with high quality
fabric and hand-crafted bead work.
The inspiration for Nika comes from
appreciating the grace, elegance and
essence of women. Our motivation is
not to follow trends but to set them.
Wat are ome nteretng
tattc about Nka?
Nika is now an international brand. Weare in 14 countries. Our growth rate this
year, ngers crossed, is already 40%.
how dd you get tarted
n te faon ndutry?
I have been in the fashion industry
working as a designer and managing
operations since I was 18 years old. I
ofcially got started in this particularindustry (Social Occasion/ Evening)
with Mauri Simone right after college.
Mauri Simone was a Start-up. It was a
great learning experience in terms of
dening my look as a designer as well
as gaining business prowess. Since
the beginning, I worked not only as a
designer, but have also been involved
in running the business side of things.
Most designers don’t get that chance.
I feel very fortunate that life gave meopportunities that allowed me to grow in
both these areas.
What is unusual or unique about
your business, in comparison to your
competitors or similar businesses?
We offer a product that cross sells very
well. It is very diverse and versatile in
use. I can sell one dress for at least 3occasions and for age groups ranging
from 15 to 50. My style 4015 can sell
for Prom, Pageant, Contemporary and
Wedding and (in colors) for a young
mother of bride. This concept makes
it more protable for my stores to
carry my brand. Their ROI is higher for
my product.
Additionally, we have a very unique
look. It is truly different from my
competitors. As a result we stand out.
While everyone is going in one direction
with their designs, I go the other. I do
my own thing. So the look is always
fresh. Nika is a very innovative brand
and known for it. Honesty, respect
and sincerity are the cornerstones ofour customer service. Nika is not just
about turning a prot. Prot comes
with success. It is about the whole
experience the customers have with
Nika and the effect we have on the
industry.
“Nika is a very innovative brand andknown or it. Honesty, respect andsincerity are the cornerstones o our
customer service.
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i tere a cutomer exerence
you are mot roud of?
I am proud of all of our customer
experiences. We work very hard to take
care of our customers’ every day.Once we had a store that forgot to place
a special order for a dress. When they
realized it they called us to order
it just a few days before the wear date.
We did not have the dress in stock
at that time. Instead of leaving our
customer hanging, we called the other
stores we had shipped the same dress
to and bought it back. We do this sortof thing all the time. However, I am
most proud of the fact that our stores
love our line and feel proud to carry it.
This is most fullling to me. Every time I
talk to them, they share how much they
love my dresses. Most of my customers
showcase my dresses in their window
display. Sometimes they buy a dress just
for the display to draw trafc. It is thebest compliment a designer can get.
pleae are your nvolvement and
commtment wt nonrot work?
I am very involved in non-prot work. It
is part of the reason I do what I do. I am
starting an orphanage in India for at-risk
Children. Our goal is to help as many
children as we can. But our focus will bechildren who are at risk of being sold for
child-prostitution or servitude.
Animal Rescue is another cause very
dear to me. I am very actively involved
in helping shelter animals nd rescues. I
am also involved with Kukri Foundation,
a non-prot my brother started. Kukri
helps impoverished children in rural India
with school uniforms and books etc.
Their goal is to help these children getan education and break the cycle of
poverty. I am also a mentor for teens.
I feel a positive self-image is crucial for
teenagers. They are ghting so much
outside inuences and pressures. Helping
them get self-empowered so they can
be true to themselves is very important.
People don’t realize it but by becoming a
mentor you can make such a difference ina child’s life. I love working with children
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and I feel it is my calling to help them
create healthy and purposeful lives. I am
a huge fan of self-empowerment and I
encourage it early on.
Wo are ome of your
mot notable clent?
Nika has a growing celebrity following.
We have dressed Brooke Burke, Carrie
Ann Inaba, and Karina Smirnoff from
DWTS. We also work with Vanna White
for Wheel of Fortune. She and her team
are lovely to work with, by the way. We
also dress Mya and Nikkole (both areGrammy nominated recording artists)
for red carpet events and concerts. Just
to name a few.
Wat would you mot lke our
reader to know about your
journey n bune?
I love being a designer. But I
also love the business aspectof my work. It has helped me
grow so much. These are the
things that have helped me in
my journey. I hope they will help you in
yours:
• Be true to who you are and do what
you love. Even if you make a few
mistakes it is not the end of theworld. It is like anything new you
learn. You are terrible at it initially.
But you get better as you practice.
Trust yourself and be wiling to take
some risks.
• Have a “can do” attitude. In the end
it is all in your attitude and where
you put your attention. I have alwaysbelieved I can do anything I want. My
parents instilled a “can do” mind-
set in me. I don’t think of obstacles.
I think of the best ways to get from
point A to B.
• Follow your intuition. My best advisor
is my intuition. In business I feel it is a
crucial tool to have along with reasonand logic. I have noticed that as I
trust my intuition more I have learnt
to trust myself more as well.
• Surround yourself with people wiser
than you and turn to them for advice
whenever you feel stuck. But in the
end do what feels right to you.
Watch for great things to come Niki’s
way! To see her fashions visit her
website at www.nikaformals.com
To contact Niki email her at info@
nikaformals.com or 1-800–783-6549.
M O R E I N F
O
N k a F o r m a l
w w w. n k a f o r m
a l .co m
( 8 0 0 ) 7 8 3 -6
54 9
i n fo @ n i k a fo r m a l s.co m
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Young entrepreneur Kim Hughes
Stuck in a Rut
it an to t t of .
W a cggng’ aong; dongwat w a ‘od’ to do,
damng o dam, wokng on
ng t f tat w a wokd
on oot off fo, and tn t
an. W’ nd-dd. W jt
an mack da nto a t.
Now, I can be real and tell you that I
have hit more ruts in my personal andprofessional life than I care to admit.
Truthfully, once a month I hit a rough
patch of some sort. Sometimes it’s a
struggle to pay bills, sometimes it’s a
situation where I haphazardly carry other
people’s emotions, which brings me down
to the 7th layer of hell, and sometimes, I
just don’t have an explanation.
What I dene a rut as is being unstable;
A place where we are restless and
perturbed with our work (or personal)
lives and our groove and rhythm come
to a screeching halt. Trying to dig
ourselves out is sometimes like trying to
dig an underground canal to China.
Typically when my rut occurs, I tend to
lean on and garner inspiration from mypositive ‘army’ – My band of allies and
mentors that always nd a way to lift
my spirits and help to realize my value,
which I become temporarily blind to.
In my last experience, even my ‘army’
wasn’t enough. For 2 weeks, I wallowed
in my rut without a soul knowing. Ok,
I am not that ignorant; I am sure a lot
of people knew but to crawl out of mytunnel of self-pity, I needed to conquer
this one entirely on my own.
I typically nd solace in quotes and
inspirational stories and what broke me
free of the chains of my own mind was a
renowned philosopher who created the
most basic, yet powerful quote I believe
has ever been muttered… MahatmaGandhi.
“Be the change you want to see in the
world.”
What is so great about this quote is that it
can be taken a myriad of different ways; it
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can challenge you to create a movement
that will open the world to a higher
standard and state of living, it may awaken
the masses from a mechanically induced
coma or, in my case, it can propel youto make miniscule ‘tweaks’ to your daily
regimen that can get you back on track
and in the game.
I took the word ‘CHANGE’ and I started
to brainstorm and mind-map. Dening
what change meant to me and how
I felt mulling over the word ‘change’.
A slew of powerful and stimulatingwords jumped out at me but none as
compelling as ‘update’.
UPDATE – What a basic, run-of-the-
mill word but it spoke to me! I was at
a point in my professional life where I
just needed to update my practices. I
have been in the game for 6 years and
I’m not dumb but what worked for me inthe past clearly wasn’t going to catapult
me to my future. All I needed to do
was to update to a new standard in my
business.
I began creating survey’s for my current
and past clients to gain insight on their
experiences with me and my company,
I signed up for Jeffrey Gitomer’s Ace ofSales program, I began disassociating
from organizations and obligations
that were not conducive to my time or
energy, and I conjured up a new way
to reach out to my potential clients.
I even did something as modest as
restructuring my Smartphone’s email
signature. I took simple baby steps
which completely refurbished my
mental state.
Consider me broken free of my rut andtrucking down Positive Highway 12 at
full force again.
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It doesn’t take something big to make
a forceful impact in our lives. Time and
time again, I have found the littlest action
or thought often makes the biggest
difference. Ever hear the phrases ‘it hit
me like a ton of bricks’ or ‘one day it just happened’? Well, that is your little
change occurring before your eyes BUT
the momentum behind that change isn’t
so little. You were taking the steps all
along but it was that tiny puzzle piece that
made each step fuse together to createsomething magical.
Think of it this way… The computer or
device that you are reading this article on;
when you bought it, it was fully functioning,
right? You were able to execute all the
tasks you needed to and it performed like a
champ. Over time, things probably stopped
running as smoothly as it did when it wasbrand new and periodically, your computer
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“Are you in a rut? Are you satisfed
with where your lie
is heading? Are yousystems at go?
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requests that you make updates to the
system and existing software. Though the
timing can be annoying, it is necessary to
make these updates to your programs and
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full-speed in the fast lane where you
deserve to be!
So I ask you; are you in a rut? Are you
satised with where your life is heading?
Are you systems at go?
If no, it is your time to make an
update because you just may be that
stereotypical dog chasing your own tail.
Business is done completely differently
now in comparison to 15 years ago and
as fast as our society is moving, ourbusiness practices may be in need of
serious revamping a couple of years from
now. Making a change sometimes feels
intimidating and can feel like at feat that is
relative to sprinting up Mount Kilimanjaro
but it doesn’t have to be like that. If you
make a conscious effort to continually
make bite-sized life updates, even the
most insurmountable task will seem like apiece of cake.
Overture introduces you and your colleagues to
potential clients using our acclaimed multimedia
presentation. Many businesses, especially those
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and print collateral.
The prospect has to meet you. Establishing personal
chemistry is the key to cultivating a relationship, then
earning a client’s business.
Business Development Opportunity With Every Email.
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proFeSSional SpotligHt Mimi Zelman
How i yo sar i hississ? After Design School, I
pursued commercial work and was
employed with an ofce furniture
dealership. They were bought out and a
changing commission structure helped
me decided to do something on my own.
How lo Ha yo
bsiss? 17 yrs on my own and 21in the industry.
ha is yor akro-
wha wr yo oi for
his siss? I was working as
an Executive Assistant for a high end
Home Builder. Then a Retail Store
Designer and next a Commercial Real
Estate Developer. Each experiencerepeatedly involved me in scenarios
pertaining to design. It was a natural
progression to pursue a degree in the
eld of Interior Design.
ho is yor yia i?
Thankfully, there is no typical client...
that’s the great thing about the
Dickie Choateof Upscale Urban Design
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M O R E I N F
O
u c a l e u r b a n D e g n, t h e
“ s t o r e W t h o t D o o r . ”
w w w. u c a l e u
r b a n D e g n.co m
( 7 04 ) 564 - 74 7
9
P. O. Bo x 6 72 7
2
C h a r lo t te, N C
2 8226
business, its diversity. I meet the most
interesting people who sometimes
have really unique needs. For instance,
presently I am partnering with another
Designer in furnishing an airplanehanger. Never done that before, so
it’s a special experience. As of late,
it has been a younger more urban
client. Charlotte has changed so much
over the past 20 years and clients
are demanding a more sophisticated,
broader spectrum of art and
furnishings.
ha is sa or iq
ao yor siss, i
oariso o yor
oiors or siiar
sisss? 6 yrs. ago, quite by
accident, I began making custom
furniture. I had a specic need and the
standard manufacturer wouldn’t modify.
I found this wonderful woodworkingshop near Lenoir. About the same
time, I found a custom upholstery
shop near Hickory. Both artisans have
been in the industry over 25 yrs. and
can build most anything faster, more
beautifully and more affordably than
major manufacturers. It has given me
complete freedom to design the look
and specic dimensions I need foreach project, simultaneously giving
the client superior quality and
affordability. Because a lot of stores
are out of business now and because
we can provide all products from oor
to ceiling, our slogan is, the “Store
Without Doors”.
ha ai o yo ha
for wo i rars o
orai? Before starting a
project, spend plenty of time in shelter
magazines discerning what you loveand identifying your style. Tear pictures
from magazines; take pictures of homes
or ofces you admire. It makes it much
easier for your Design Professional to
quickly plan your project if you are clear
on looks you love.
ha ki of ora
wo yo i o a wo js sari o hr siss?
Take advantage of all the great programs
we have in Charlotte for Entrepreneurs.
CPCC offers free business counseling
as does the Small Business Technology
Center. If you are concentrating on
Commercial Design, subscribe to the
Business Journal to become familiar
with what is going on in thebusiness community. If
Residential Design is your
focus, join one of the local
design societies to stay
abreast of products and
services available to that
discipline.
Take advantage o all the great programs we have in Charlotte or
Entrepreneurs. CPCC oers free business counseling as does theSmall Business Technology Center.
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28
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Finance April Oliver, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
’s sri a as. th irs
ar sii a h s
of arq s h air. s
yo rfor sh srii
rias as ara a as
ai, why o ak so
i o sr yor as?
iw hs iora isow so yo a rax a joy
h i saso kowi ha
yor aia hos is i orr.
Yor . There’s a good chance
that your cash ow needs will vary
during the summer months.
Not only does summer travel
come into play, but you mayalso need additional funds
for child care while the
kids are away from school.
This review may also reveal
opportunities to trim expenses
and increase savings goals.
Yor ri sai. Did you know
that you are entitled to one free credit
report annually from each of the three
major credit bureaus? Spring is a good
time to request yours from Equifax
(equifax.com), Experian (experian.com)
and TransUnion (transunion.com). You
can also get copies at no cost fromannualcreditreport.com. By reviewing
the reports carefully you can nd
anything from old accounts that should
be closed to outright identity theft.
Yor aia rors. Spring is
an excellent time to sort through old
statements, pay stubs, bills and other
records that you no longer need. Besure to keep up to six years of records
to support your tax deductions, since
that’s how long the IRS has to audit you.
Yor roio s. While de-
cluttering and ling paperwork, take
Spring Means Time orFinancial House Cleaning
MO R E I N FO
Amerpre Fnanca serce, inc
.
April M. Oli ver
april.m.oli ver@amp f.com
w w w.amerpread vor.com/
april.m.oli ver
704.540.7171
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time to review life, homeowner, auto
and disability policies to make sure
you are still satised with your level of
coverage. If you’ve experienced any
life changing events like divorce orthe birth of a child, your needs have
changed and it’s time for an insurance
and beneciary review.
Yor sa a. Estate planning
is not just for the wealthy. While tax
reduction and gifting strategies come
into play for those with considerable
assets, everyone needs the most basicestate plan. If you haven’t already
done so, make sure you have an up-
to-date will, health care directive and
basic powers-of-attorney.
Yor s.Even though fall is
traditionally open enrollment time, spring
is a good time to make sure the benets
you’ve elected are being maximized. Ifyou are covered by a health savings plan,
make sure you are using the investment
component to your advantage.
Yor is a sais
as. There’s no better time for an
annual review to help make sure you
are on track to reach your nancial
goals. The process can help keep
tabs on your net worth, cash ow and
portfolio value. It’s also a good way todetermine if your portfolio has strayed
from your intended asset allocation
and rebalance if necessary.
Most importantly, don’t let your
nancial house cleaning overwhelm
you. Tackle items one at a time and
consult your nancial advisor for help
along the way.
Spring is an excellenttime to sort throughold statements, pay
stubs, bills and otherrecords that you nolonger need.
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growi YorSa bsiss30
®
Family Features
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For anyone with a small business or whoworks for themselves, getting the word
out to new customers is critical. But if you
don’t have marketing experience, how do you
know what needs to be done and where to begin?
To help small business owners get the word
out and reach more potential customers, Bill
Klock, GSM Sales Training and Recruiting for
Yellowbook, has some sage advice.
us mor tha mho
“Word of mouth is traditionally an effective source
of new customer leads,” said Klock. “But while
referral sources are effective, they are not trying
to sell a product – they are simply sharing useful
information among their peers. It’s important to
actively market your business in a variety of ways,
particularly now when consumers are looking inmany different places for direction on where to go
for local goods and services.”
The most successful marketing plans consist
of a diversied portfolio that includes a mix
of print, direct mail, online and search engine
optimization/marketing (SEO/SEM) components.
“With so many affordable options available, nearly
every business should havean online presence.”
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This multi-pronged approach helps businesses
get better overall market penetration.
Recent studies have found that nearly half of all
U.S. small businesses don’t have a website. “Withso many affordable options available, nearly every
business should have an online presence,” said
Klock. “Also, if you don’t know anything about
search engine optimization, make sure your
website creator or consultant does.” SEO/SEM
can help improve your search engine ranking so
your company’s website is more likely to be found
by your target audience.
According to Klock, by combining internet and
search optimization methods with direct mail and
print in a marketing program, local business are
more likely to reach existing customers and new
prospects across multiple touch points.
Fi ti Yor marki pa
According to the U.S. Small Business
Administration, a successful marketing planshould include market research, location,
the targeted customer group, competition,
positioning, the product or service being sold,
pricing, advertising and promotion. Refer to it
often and update it every three to six months.
Keep track of what has worked and what hasn’t.
Get customer feedback, as well.
“Smaller businessescan probably aim to revisittheir plans in the six-month
range because they haveewer moving parts.”
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“Smaller businesses can probably aim to revisit
their plans in the six-month range because they
have fewer moving parts,” said Klock. “This
exercise can also help businesses uncover
seasonal trends and evaluate their performanceto help inform key management decisions.”
g profssioa H
“The success of your business is too important
to not position it well,” said Klock. “Professional
media consultants can often help a business
focus its efforts in ways that a family member or a
part-time staffer cannot. Marketing experts have
the skills to map out a customized strategy, aremore up to date on the latest market trends and
have a knowledgeable, experienced staff with a
proven track record on the sidelines to provide
valuable support whenever it’s needed.”
One popular outsourcing option isYellowbook’s 360-degree portfolio of
marketing tools, which offers a variety of
options for small business owners. Yellowbook
consultants can develop an affordable,
effective plan for a business so an owner
can focus squarely on business execution.
Business owners interested in a free no-obligation
consultation can call 1-800-YB-YELLOW
(1-800-929-3556), or submit a request onlineat www.yellowbook360.com.
Smart BusinessIsn’t Child’s Play
Contact us at 704.201.3354
InYourSandbox.com
WE CAN HELP YOU...
Fill your buckets with new business
Reduce your printing expenses
Develop an effective social media strategy
Improve your marketing presence
S O L U T I O N S
sandb x SM
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michelle Binks has always had an
entrepreneurial spirit. A move to a new
city provided her a chance to start
her own consulting business, building from the
experience she received from her employment inlarge human resource departments.
“Starting my company was not a tough decision, it was
learning how to maintain and grow my company to
where I wanted it to be that I needed help with,” said
Binks, president and owner of HR Consulting Solutions.
Family Features
How toSas a
SmallBusinessOwner
34
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Binks was not alone in needing help. The Small
Business Administration says 50 percent of all
small businesses fail within the rst ve years.
But, according to a Dun and Bradstreet study, 90
percent of successful businesses say they sought
out expert help.
Binks found that help through the Business
Accelerator Program, a free program provided by
American Family Insurance that uses nationally
recognized small business experts to help small
business owners succeed.
“What’s great about the Business Accelerator Program
is the specicity it provides for individual companies,”
said Binks. “When starting my business, I didn’t realizethe huge importance of sales and marketing, but
the Business Accelerator experts worked with me
personally and covered these areas in a way that I
could apply to my business and make a difference to
my bottom line.”
She is just one small business owner who
has seen the positive growth in their business
because of the program.
“Entrepreneurs face new challenges every day,”
said Bob Wright, Wright Business Institute founder
and Business Accelerator career coach. “Overdue
payments, materials that don’t arrive on time,
employees who don’t show up for work, and
more. It’s easy to feel daunted and become
paralyzed. Often, just taking one small step
in the right direction will get things movingto really take off. The Business Accelerator
program is a great step that will provide
business owners the tools to make those
little changes that can immediately make a
difference in their business.”
The Business Accelerator program experts
offer these tips to help small business owners make
those changes to better their business:
Target your Audence - It’s tempting to try a little bit
of every type of advertising that’s offered to you. But
with limited budgets, entrepreneurs end up with a tiny
presence in each. Instead, select a few mediums thatreally reach your target audience and that you can
afford to establish a presence in by using frequency
and larger visuals.
set oal - What is your higher purpose for being a
small business owner? What matters most to you?
Write down your answers and keep them close at
hand. Share them with your business partners, allies
and friends. Remind yourself of them when you pick upthe phone, when you face rejection, when you squeeze
in another sales call on the way to pick up the kids.
sell hoe Frt - Many sales professionals make
the mistake of getting caught up in trying to sell
the features and dimensions of their product rst
– rather than engaging with the customer around
their hopes and dreams, about what they hope to
accomplish. It’s important to understand the biggerpicture in positioning yourself with a client and in
the marketplace.
To nd out more about the Business Accelerator
program, visit www.amfambusinessaccelerator.com.
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FaorFsio
36
New Twists on FreshSummer Favorites
Family Features
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F reshen up summer
entertaining with some new
flavor combinations that put a
twist on traditional favorites and add the
perfect touch when hosting an evening
of dessert and drinks with friends.
In these dessert recipes, familiar
peaches, berries, honeydew and
pineapple get an unexpected little
kick with a dash of hot sauce for
a delightfully sweet and spicy
flavor fusion.
If you’re looking for the ideal drink pairing for these delicious desserts,
fruit and chocolate are always
a winning combination. Godiva
Chocolate Infused Vodka, a perfect
combination of rich chocolate and
smooth vodka, is the essential
ingredient to create delightful
cocktails to serve at any special
occasion. New York-basedmixologist Elayne Duke has
created four drinks that are sure to
become entertaining favorites.
“Godiva’s new Chocolate Infused
Vodkas add rich chocolate notes to
any cocktail and mix well with a wide
variety of flavors,” said Duke. “They’re
also smooth and delicious on theirown, and can even be enjoyed over
ice for an easy aperitif that’s simply
chocolate perfection in a glass.”
scy iand d pnaMakes 4 servings
1 large ripe pineapple1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon original Tabasco brand pepper sauce
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat grill to high.
• REMOVE skin from pineapple; core and cut into1/2-inch-thick slices.
• COMBINE lime juice and Tabasco sauce in smallbowl. Combine sugar and cinnamon in shallow bowl.
Brush both sides of pineapple with Tabasco mixture;dip into cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat well.
• GRILL pineapple slices 8 to 10 minutes, turning onceuntil golden on both sides.
Serving suggestions: Serve as a dessert with vanilla ice
cream or whipped cream.
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oda Mdngt MatnYield: 1 drink; drink contains 1.5 fluid ounces of alcohol1 1/2 ounces Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka
Strawberry wedge for garnish
• POUR Chocolate Infused Vodka into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
• SHAKE WELL and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a strawberry wedge.
oda ocoat pomganat TwtYield: 1 drink; drink contains 1.5 fluid ounces of alcohol1 1/2 ounces Godiva Chocolate or Chocolate Raspberry
Infused Vodka
3/4 ounces pomegranate juice
• COMBINE Chocolate or Chocolate Raspberry Infused vodka and pomegranate juice in a cocktail shaker filled
with ice.
• SHAKE WELL and strain into a martini glass.
awa T fo Yo paty• To help guests keep track of their drinks, buy or make some fun wine glass charms for
stemmed glasses.
• To add a touch of style to your party, serve your drinks in an array of eclectic glassware.
Serving glasses in a variety of shapes and sizes will provide the unique touch you might
be missing.
• Don’t stop there: try serving your desserts in some fun cocktail glasses as well. Serve thePiquant Peach Melba in a margarita glass, or the Honeydew Granita in a martini glass.
• To encourage your guests to drink responsibly, prominently display a pitcher of water with
an assortment of colored tumblers to ensure a glass of refreshing water is never out of reach.
Always have plenty of delicious snacks.
For more fresh flavor ideas, visit www.drinkgodiva.com.
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oda oco razz Ta
Yield: 1 drink; drink contains 1.5 fluid ounces of alcohol1 1/2 ounces Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Infused Vodka3 ounces iced tea
3 to 4 lemon wedges for garnish
• COMBINE Chocolate Raspberry Infused Vodka and iced teain a cocktail shaker with ice.
• SHAKE WELL and strain into a highball glass over ice. Garnish with lemon wedges.
oda ocoat à ’angYield: 1 drink; drink contains 2 fluid ounces of alcohol3/4 ounces Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka
3/4 ounces Godiva Chocolate Liqueur1/4 ounces Grand Marnier
Orange twist for garnish• COMBINE Chocolate Infused Vodka, Chocolate Liqueur, and Grand Marnier in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
• SHAKE WELL and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with an orange twist.
honydw antaMakes 5 cups3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
4 cups honeydew melon chunks
1 tablespoon Tabasco brand green jalapeño pepper sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
• COMBINE sugar and water in a small saucepanover medium-low heat; cook until sugar isdissolved. Cool to room temperature.
• PURÉE melon chunks until smooth in a food
processor or blender. Stir in Tabasco sauce, lime juice, lime peel and sugar mixture. Pour mixture
into a shallow pan. Freeze 4 to 5 hours, stirringoccasionally, until mixture is frozen, granular and
slightly slushy.
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As a young teenager, Fabi Preslar wasintroduced to Yvonne – a vibrant,outspoken French woman who would become her lie-long mentor.On Heaven’s Couch describes the journey that they took together andthe emotional and Spiritual strengthPreslar attributes to her lessons learned.She explains how Yvonne’s strongdose o reality coupled with toughlove and heartelt lessons helped herto transition rom a shy introvert to asuccessul businesswoman, empoweringpublic speaker and mentor.
Filled with bold lessons and poignantquotes, On Heaven’s Couch encouragesreaders to love lie, appreciate its littleheavens and, in Yvonne’s words, “Begood to yoursel.”
my journey with a masterful mentorHeaven’son Couch
SPARK Publications Presents
Ater thirteen years o helping others sel-publish their stories, SPARK Publicationspresident Fabi Preslar has switched gears,picked up her pen, and written her frstbook. Fabi decided to write On Heaven’s
has helped her connect not only with otheremale entrepreneurs, but with her clients, as well. “I knew writing a book was hard…butnot this hard! However, with the help o my SPARK Team and the same resources that
To purchase, go to: www.SPARKpublications.com/ohcbook
Orders will begin shipping ater February 17th.