Hello 2010...almost

This time of year I start thinking about the new year. And I'm glad to be turniing the page on 2009. I think everyone has just about had enough of this year. I am planning on making some serious changes in the new year. From billing to how I communicate with clients, friend and such.

Been playing around with Mail Chimp and I think it's the right direction. I'm sending out an email with a survey form to validate the names on my list. I don't want people getting emails from me if they don't want them, but it is a great way of staying in touch and showing my most recent work.

Discounts in a tough economy?

Everywhere you look it seems businesses are offering discounts. That is a good way to stimulate sales and get attention. But what does that say about where we have been? Have all our price points been artificially high or is it a way to get more aggressive with marketing. I think in a lot of cases the most effective approach is to re-market existing products.

Let's take Subway as an example. I think this is brilliant. The five-dollar foot long has really always been there. You can get a 6" sandwich for 3.99 and for about another 2 bucks you could always make it a 12" sandwich. There's your $5 foot long. What is does is get you in the store and from there you will make additional purchases. Pretty clever if you ask me.

Take what you have and wrap it in a new package and drive business to your place.

San Clemente Art Walk 2009

Bestest buddy in the whole world Tom Meadows got this thing rolling. He contacted Mark Harman, my brother Dave and I and put us in contact with Bob Hesse of Distinctive Coast Properties to show our work. We went up last night and hung all of our paintings in the office.

Mark Harman was focused and knew exactly how and what he was going to hang. Dave and I were rescued by Lorraine and Tom Meadows who came in and just seemed to have a vision of what we could do. With Lorraine's talented eye, she got all our things in good groupings and everything came together beautifully. Thanks Tom and Lorraine! You guys are the best.

The San Clemente Art Walk is on the last Thursday of the month for July 30, August 27 and September 24 from 5:30-9:00pm. Hope you can come by and see us. Our work is on display at Distinctive Coast Properties, 110 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672.

Overwhelmed but going to blog

I'm going through and finding that I have so many passwords that its overwhelming. So what I have decided to do is just play songs. My brother Dave said that when you're down, the best thing you can do is to listen to music. And dang it if he's not right!