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Health & Safety – Avoid Swine Flu

April 28, 2009 By 48 Comments

Safety First and planning ahead helps. Raised in California, it was always encouraged that you have an Earthquake Kit, water or at the minimum a First Aid Kit. With the recent news of the Swine Flu making in to the States I want to share with you some links.

  • CDC – Center for Disease Control
  • OSHA – Occupational Safety Health Agency
  • 3M – Safety Products

The Swine Flu is a nastier flu. To avoid being infected practice good hygiene. Wash your hands, do not touch your face after touching any surface outside your home. You can carry sanitary wipes or Purell for your hands. It’s a good time to sit with your kids or class and remind them the importance of washing their hands before touching their food or face. Remind them to Sneeze away from people and carry tissue in their pockets.

For all business owners, if you hold weekly (OSHA Meetings) Tailgate Meetings use some of the material found at the OSHA.gov site or your State OSHA site in regards to “Preparedness to an Influenza Pandemic”. If you do not hold Tailgate meetings posting an Announcement as a reminder in your Employee lounge of ”Common Courtesy” would be a good idea.

BTW – OSHA and CDC offer outlines on what essentails should be in your Frist Aid Kits.

 

 



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My Kids Are Happier

April 24, 2009 By 12 Comments

I am trying to get some sleep by 2am. With so much to do, I do not have enough hours in the day. I am now living on 4 hours of sleep a day. I enjoy it! Really, I do. I realize that I have to do “Time Management” or else, I will tumble down.

Anyhow, I was checking the headlines on CNN and one hit home. I told you that I am now Homeschooling my two kids. One is in 7th grade and one in 1st. The age difference alone keeps me on my toes.

The reason I took both out of school is due to the lack of action to concerns I had about my kids being bullied. In fact I just finished writing to Superintendent of the Schools (I am not done complaining). The faculty at the schools need to understand how fragile our children are. What are they thinking? I did the unthinkable to one Principal. I got her on tape.   :)

Earlier this year my son was being bullied by two boys and one girl. Each one bullied him in separate occasions and for various reasons. The boys taunted him, called him names and would follow him around school. One went as far as to punch him. Yes, I was outraged. Are you kidding me. I took pictures of  my son, had him seen by his pediatrician and while at the doctors office I was both on the phone and email with the Principal.

To make this  short, nothing was done. The kids (boys) calmed down for a while; those boys did tease him and called him a SNITCH. He was Okay with this…….. The girl now takes over; she follows him; she asks him for his Myspace account and cell number. My son handed them to her. She then began to text him things that no kid that age should know about. OH-MY-Gosh! I could not believe it, then she left him horrible comments on his MYSPACE account. My son used to have a BLOG. He took it down because she was commenting there too.

When I took this to the Principal she assured my she would take care of it. I asked for a follow up and a conference with the girl’s parents. “Sorry, we cannot allow it”; her response.

This was extremely stressful for my son; he was not happy and I did not feel it was safe for him there. I decided to transfer him to a Private school but gave him a break and sent him to my Fathers for some bonding time. He had a great time.

While my son was away, my daughter was being bullied. She started coming home with bruising. I asked all the questions and took images. I talked to the teacher and to the Principal.  They assured me they would talk to the children involved and IF deemed necessary they would contact the parents.  Two weeks later another incident occurred.  This time the Principal had the never to suggest my daughter was only looking for attention. WHAT?

What child her age would cause bruising to themselves; for attention? I do not think so. NOTHING was done. I asked the Principal for a meeting to discuss this further. I went prepared (I love my cell phone because of this) I had my cell on Record Voice, there was no indication that it was recording. I placed it in the center of the table and proceeded. :)

I did not have to use the recording; I know that it cannot be held in court. However, I have it on tape…………..

Finally, I decided to homeschool my kids.  The public schools in our neighborhood are the best in the City (academically speaking). No more private school or public. I have hired tutors to guide us, registered in additional social activities for them. My son and daughter are happy. My daughter no longer complains of stomach pain or breaks out in hives. My kids Doctor agreed that my daughter was so stresssed that symptoms had manifested physically.

This year being 10 years from the Columbine tragedy and just now reading this Moms’ nightmare all remind me of how blessed I truly am. My children are healthy and happy. I know that many Parents cannot afford to stay home with their kids and it is especially hard (but not impossible) when you are a single parent caring and providing for your kids and running a business.

Jaheem Herrera dead at the age 11 due to the pressures of being bullied. No child (or adult) should have to ever feel desperate. His Mom said that Jaheem did not want her to complain to the school anymore. As nothing had been done in the past. She had complained about the bullies EIGHT times. You can read the entire article HERE

Listen to your kids, ask questions, check those online accounts. Ask them; ARE YOU HAPPY? I am always surprised with my kids response. Each time they offer me a different answer and I get to know them better. For all Parents homeschooling I welcome suggestions.

Have you had to deal with your kids being bullied or being the bullier? How did you deal with it? Share your thoughts with us…

Here is the Video from CNN with Anderson Cooper



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Bloggers Must Know Laws & Regulations Stay Informed

April 22, 2009 By 4 Comments

ABC News reported the FTC is considering Raising the Bar for Online Product Reviews by Parents and featured Colleen Padilla from ClassyMommy. It should read Mom Bloggers, as the entire article focusus on The Mommy Bloggers out there posting product reviews. You can find the entire article here. 

Also, FoxNews interviwed Colleen Padilla from ClassyMommy to get her point of view. You can watch the interview below.

ABC News:

“A regulatory review process is underway to determine whetherreviews by bloggers like Padilla may be in violation of good business practices, said Richard Cleland, a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission. 

“The proposed revisions signal that the commission will apply existing principles of advertising law to new forms of media, like blogs,” Cleland said, adding that a decision on the proposal is expected sometime this summer.

“These types of communications that appear to be just one mom to another mom are pretty effective,” he said. “Consumer endorsements and testimonials have always been viewed as extremely effective types of marketing.

“But the concern is about those instances when [testimonials] are delivered and it is not made obvious that it’s an advertisement for a company.” ……………………

“Cleland said the punishment a blogger might face could be comparable to that for those who are found to be engaging in false advertising, which ranges from cease-and-desist orders to reimbursement to consumers who believe they bought the product under false pretenses……………………………………..

Basically they are looking for full disclosure of the reviews. They are not against bloggers making money off the reviews; they are simply asking that you disclose to the readers that you are being paid for the review. I was considering doing a review of Paper Shredders as I have gone through so many. My review(s) would be from my own pocket.

It all comes down to running your blog as a business, reporting income received from reviews in your taxes and most importantly not misleading the public. Many start blogs as a place to express opinions or feelings; somewhere along the way you gain readers and you morph into a Professional blogger in your community and/or when companies are contacting you for reviews; that is a good sing that you should look into the legalities of turning your blog into a real business.  Check the FTC regularly for any news Regulations that can have an impact in your “Blogging Business”. Ultimately, if the law is passed you might get sued. It is best now to take a look at the steps you can take to be in compliance.

You can view the interview here:



Filed Under: blogging, Laws, My View, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Time to Move

April 21, 2009 By 5 Comments

The last two months have been very busy, all in a good way. As you know, I sell online and store all my goods in my garage. I purchased inventory from business in liquidation and placed a large order with a reputable company. I have informed you that my sales have increased and I am doing well selling on other sites. (I will give you a long list soon) BTW – I am almost ready to give you the name of my new online store, where I will offer a large line of product and use as a guide to help you understand the steps I take to find targeted traffic.

That brings me to my move. I just signed the lease for a 2,500 sqft. Office / Warehouse Space with a dock. This is just the beginning. I have to make some changes, as you might know, I am know homeschooling both my kids. Oh yeah, my hands are full. :)

I have no plans to open to the public, as I must have the flexibility to work around my kids activities. I do have someone to package and an assistant. I know that within a short time I will need to bring in another team member. For now, I must continue to carefully plan this. Also, I want this blog to start generating enough income to allow me to carry additional product. There is nothing wrong with financing; I simply want the freedom to carry my own inventory.

Okay, that is all for now, I will give you more details soon.  :)

How is your online business coming along? Are you sales picking up? Is your blo generating enough money for you to re-invest in yourself or another business?


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Tori Spelling Thanks Bloggers……

April 19, 2009 By 5 Comments

That’s right Tori Spelling Thanks bloggers in her acceptance speech. I am a fan of Tori Spelling, sadly, this thank you would not apply to me. I am not sure if  Perez Hilton is lover or hater….. If you have not heard, she has a new book out Mommywood. By the way, show biz blogs are a great way to start blogging and make money online. I have several Celeb Blogs and they make me money. Hollywood keeps me working  :)




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Dr. Phil Show – “We Steal and Sell It on eBay”

April 18, 2009 By 4 Comments

“We steal and sell it on eBay”…. Laura and Matthew Eaton admit to. You’ve got to be kidding me. What were they thinking and what was the producer of the Dr. Phil Show thinking? Of course these humans would be caught.

This week I posted a question from a reader asking me about a quick way to make money online. That reminded me of the outrageous actions of these people.

If you are not aware of what occurred here is what you can find it at the Dr. Phil site:

“My wife and I are professional shoplifters,” says Allen.

“Every month, we make about $10,000, about $100,000 a year,” adds his spouse, Laura. She says they’ve amassed nearly $1 million in stolen goods over the past seven years.

“Why do you do this?” Dr. Phil asks the couple. “Why this instead of getting a job like the rest of us?”

“I think when I first started out, it was just something that was little. I had a job. I needed a little extra money, so I would do a job or something that was on a very, very small scale,” Allen replies.”……………………………..

Of course eBay since has shut down their account. Get this, they only had ONE neutral. Again, no short cuts. If you have watched the video, you its hard to understand why they would go on National TV to shamelessly admit to their actions? You can find the details about the show at Dr. Phil.

With hard work and patience you can have your own online success story. No quick or shortcuts to success.




Filed Under: eBay, My View, Selling online Tagged With: , , , ,

Alexa Has a New Look

April 1, 2009 By 6 Comments

If you have not visit Alexa lately, then you will be in for a pleasant surprise. Check out their new look. Its a lot more appealing and user friendly.I must say, its about time. The information loads just as fast and you can review a lot more information at a glance.

A great tool to use if you are using FireFox browser is Sparky check stats instantly as you browse.

What do you think of their new look? Do you find their new layout easier to use? Or do you miss the old one?




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Sales on eCrater Increase

March 31, 2009 By 10 Comments

This is my update for my sales for the month of March on eCrater. I am pleased that my sales and inquiries on eCrater have increased from February of this year and from last year. This is excellent news, as I know that many of you only feel that eBay can drive to you qualified traffic.

eCrater does a gret job of submitting your item to Google’s (Froogle) Search Enginge. Therefore, sending you a good amount traffic. In order to help increase traffic to my eCrater store I have a blog where I promote specials and offer tips on selected items. I also submitted to several Free Online Classifieds such as backpage, OLX , Kijiji and Craigslist.

I currently have 2 active stores on eCrater and both are doing great, they are doing a lot better than my store over at Bonanzle. That is a project that I will be looking into. This March has been a very busy month, business is doing a lot better but with having been sick it did affect my other blogs not related to my stores. April is a promosing Month for Sales, blogging income and Organization.

I am working on a third store to open on eCrater which will have a blog and a webstore with an Amazon store as well. The online store will be a Yahoo Store, that will facility a lot of the SEO for me. As I plan to create it myself.

If you are not selling on eCrater, I do recommend that you check them out.  :)


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I am calling in sick

February 20, 2009 By 9 Comments

Life is wonderful and even better when you only have to look in the mirror and call in sick. Well, its’ not that easy but it can be.

I have been fighting a cold for the last week, just when I thought I had defeated it, my daughter brings it home and she is down for several days. As it usually is with kids, as she started to get better; my son comes down with it and I finally my body gives-in to the flu.

I have here a few moments of clarity and wanted to let you know that I will be responding to all my email and returning phone calls in the next few days.

One of the many wonderful things about working online is that you can take those days off to recover or stay home with your kids. You run the show and decide whether to delegate the or not.

Top of my things to do:

Respond to Emails

My review of ePier

New postings

Revolution Money Review

I do have a pickle with FedEx.

I like to use FedEx for ground shipments. Recently my Account Manager at FedEx was replaced…. So, my rates have increased dramatically. Luckily I caught this right away and now I must follow up.

I want to remind you to check those invoices and do not let any charges slip. They can add up. I have been there and know of my sellers that have let the fees pile up. Some of them have lost their account all together for non-payment. Keep track of the calls you make to the carriers and save those emails. When a representative promises to credit your account, you want the name and extension or better an email confirming the promise in the event you are charged in the next invoice.

Reminder: It does not hurt to ask your carrier for a discount.

Hope you are all happy and healthy

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Great Time to Start Your Own Business

February 14, 2009 By 6 Comments

Many are wondering how to find work, where to apply or how to earn extra income. Due to the current Economy many cannot imagine to spend any of their savings for inventory.

If you have some money to invest, then I highly encourage you to do so. At this time many of the vendors I deal with have contacted me offering huge discounts. The discounts offered are incredible and hard to resist. They are not only offering additional discounts on their discontinued items but as well as NEW releases.

I might not be able to push as much merchandise now, but I can afford to hold on to it. I know that the investment will pay off in no time. I know my market and know what the consumers is looking for. I myself search for the same bargains I am offering.

This is the time to visit your competition small and large. Visit your local retailers and get a book or two on marketing. Soon…you might be able to write a book yourself.

Now is the time to put on those creative caps on and get to work. If you have one hour a day to blog or search the competition then do so.

I make a living selling online and helping others start their own online business. I know it can feel overwhelming to start and at times frustrating when you have no idea how to integrate a shopping cart or create a simple template and the difference between Dreamweaver and Front Page.

Or perhaps, you filed for bankruptcy and cannot imagine how to start back up again. I am here to tell you that you can and you should. It is from the mistakes that we make we gain tremendous knowledge.

A professor once told me “A smart person learns from their mistakes; and a wise one learns from others” ……

It is those experiences that makes us strong and wise.

I know for a fact that I have a lot to learn; but I also have a lot to share.

I know that I can sell $25.00 a week or $100,000.00 a week. There is no limit, only the limits I place on myself. Right now is not the right time for me to sell more than $10,000.00 a month. I am working from home and I have many things I have to take care of before I commit to selling more. This has nothing to do with the current economy. It is all based on what I can personally handle. I have one employee and am using my garage for storage and I am learning and having fun blogging.

No Money

This is what I am doing and I encourage you to do. Create a Blog today for your store. Even if you are on eBay. Create a blog inside the community and a blog for your website.

Add it to your website or let it stand alone for now. Blog about your industry. Let everyone know that you are there. If you are into Fashion do not be afraid to send them to your competitors or the Designer Name Brands to find deals. Promote any items you have left over or have a Giveaway. Talk about the latest Trends. Offer trade secrets, advice and encourage your readers to Subscribe.

Doing so you will have accomplished:

A presence online

Search engines will know you exist and send you traffic

Build a data base – Priceless

Networking

Join Social Networking Sites

Window Shopping

I love walking the Promenade with my kids and Window Shop. Great way to find deals and practice control with my kids.

Recently, I have seen an increase in emails from potential buyers asking questions from sizing to availability of the item(s) two months from now. Of course I respond to all their questions and add them to my mailing list. They are “Window Shopping” online. I definitely have seen an increase in questions of my inventory for the next two months. Sure selling the items now would be great….but if they think of my online store two months from now and make the purchase even BETTER! Means I have done something right (create a customer data base; even if it’s on a sheet of paper).

Do not be discouraged…. It is a great time to start your online business. Make a plan of action and decide what would be best for you at this time.

A quote from “Batman Begins” …lol… When Bruce falls in the well; his Father picks him up…… He offers him words of wisdom…. “We fall to Learn to Get Back Up”………

Hope you get the idea  :)

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