Business help | Small business coaching | business help | small business coaching | business advice | executive coaching | business mentor | business coach | business coaches | business coaching | executive coach | executive coaches

Australians Among Winners Announced for the 2011 Business Excellence Awards

The 2011 Business Excellence announced winners in 16 separate categories in a gala awards ceremony held at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami.

The winners received the gold Business Excellence Awards statuette, surrounded by more than 150 attendees, including ActionCOACH Business Coaches and business owners from around the world.

The list includes Australian Pressure Testing Services, a Western Australia-based company owned by Paul Newboundan, and New South Wales-based In 2 Motion, owned by Jason Pilgrim.

2011 Business Excellence Award Winners

Best Overall Company (Under 10)
Stice Drywall (Edmonton, Alberta) – Owner, Vern Stice

Best Overall Company (Under 50)
Beaver Trees and Landscaping (Christchruch, New Zealand) – Owner, Bryce Robb

Best Overall Company (Under 500)
Scott Fischer Enterprises (Ft. Myers, Florida) – Owner, J. Scott Fischer

Fastest Growing Company (Under 10)
Opp Family Chiropractic (St. Francis, Minnesota) – Owners, Dr. Brian and Dr. Cindy Opp

Fastest Growing Company (Under 50)
Chase Roofing and Contracting (Cooper City, Florida) – Owner, Tamara Chase

Fastest Growing Company (Under 500)
Australian Pressure Testing Services (Henderson, Western Australia) – Owner, Paul Newbound

Entrepreneur of the Year
Michael J. Caputi, Epoxytec (West Park, Florida)

Best Service Based Results
ACF Consulting (Trinity, Florida) – Owner, Adam Ford

Best Manufacturer/Wholesaler
MIC Foods (Miami, Florida) – Owner, Alfredo Lardizabal

Best Retailer
Columbus Car Audio and Accessories (Columbus, Ohio) – Owner, Todd Hays

Most Community Impact
In 2 Motion (North Richmond, New South Wales, Australia) – Owner, Jason Pilgrim

Best Turnaround Company
Luxury for the Home (Houston, Texas) – Owner, Leslie Hassler

Most Innovative Company
Nova Data Testing (Yulee, Florida) – Owner, John Taylor

Best Customer Service Results
Gonzalez and Goetz (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) – Owners, David Goetz and Lisa Gonzalez-Goetz
Best Start-Up
Source88 (St. Petersburg, Florida) – Owner, Lindsey Jarrell

Young Entrepreneur (35 and younger)
Neitra Blair, owner of Organizing Lifestyles (Houston, Texas)

The Business Excellence Awards are sponsored by ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business coaching firm. For more information on the awards, visit bef2011.com .

Business Awards: Entries for the 2011 ActionCOACH My Business Awards are Now Open

Enter your company today in the 2011 ActionCOACH My Business Awards

Entries are now open for the 2011 ActionCOACH My Business Awards, and you can get everything you need to know about the awards competition here …

ActionCOACH My Business Awards information

The 2011 ActionCOACH My Business Awards recognise business success in a number of categories, and is also a must-attend event for owners and entrepreneurs.

Just go here …

ActionCOACH My Business Awards

… and enter your company today!

Business Awards: “Best Start-up” Category Announced for 2011 Business Excellence Awards

The 2011 Business Excellence Awards announced entries are now open for the “Best Start-up” category for this year’s event, which will take place at the conclusion of the 2011 Business Excellence Forum, hosted at Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami from August 19-20, 2011.

Business awards at the 2011 Business Excellence Awards include honours for "Best Start-up"

 The Business Excellence Awards honor the “best of the best” results in small and medium sized businesses from around the world, and is an excellent way to showcase exceptional results for business owners, entrepreneurs, their teams and their companies.

To enter companies into the “Best Start-up” category, click here …

befawards.com

 … to request a download for entry into the awards.

 The “Best Start-up” category is recognizes outstanding results for startup companies that have begun operations since January, 1, 2010.

 Winning companies will receive a 2011 Business Excellence trophy for the category, as well as local and national publicity for the company’s business accomplishments.

 The 2011 Business Excellence Forum and the 2011 Business Excellence Awards are sponsored by ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business coaching firm. The events are part of the company’s on-going commitment to innovation, business excellence and business re-education for owners and teams who operate and work in small-and-medium sized businesses.

Deadline for entries is June 30, 2011.

For more information about the 2011 Business Excellence Awards, click here:

befawards.com 

ActionCOACH is the world’s number one business coaching and executive coaching firm, with more than 1,000 offices in 32 countries.

Business Mentor Australia: How to Boost your Average $$$ Sale (Part 3) …

We’ve been reviewing some strategies ActionCOACH uses to increase the Average $$ Sale in any business, and we’ll continue to look at some key strategies to make this happen as easily and effectively as possible …

Below are some more ways to increase the value of each sale in your business:

Use a Questionnaire …
Dig as deep as you can.  Make sure you ask enough questions to leave no stone unturned.  The more questions you ask the more chance you have of finding another need or want that you can fill.

Also, if you’re unsure of any additional products or services that you could sell, a simple questionnaire can be effective.  Use it to ask your customers what else they would like you to sell.  Don’t limit yourself too much.  Ask the customers to get a little creative … who knows, there could be a whole new opportunity just waiting to be suggested.

Hints and Tips …
1. Make your questionnaire simple but effective as a sales tool.
2. Offer customers an incentive to participate, or just explain how what you’re doing will help them.
3. Fill it out on the spot with you acting as a sounding board, don’t be afraid to ask more questions to dig deeper.
4. Ask for their suggestions, and act as quickly as possible.

Allow Payment Terms or Financing …
This allows your customers to spend more by giving them the chance to pay it off over a period of time.  You’ll find this is particularly beneficial if you’re up selling them to a product that’s beyond their original budget.

Hints and Tips …
1. Ensure they are credit worthy.
2. Use it as a real selling tool to close the deal.
3. Ask “How much can you afford a month?” and then work out a payment plan to suit them – this makes it very hard to say NO.

Carry Exclusive Lines …
By stocking items that can’t be purchased elsewhere you can charge higher than normal prices.  The advantage is that your customers can’t shop around and get cheaper quotes.  This is a great way to avoid ‘C’ and ‘D’ grade customers asking you for a discount.

Hints and Tips …
1. If people won’t pay your price, let them go … other customers will.
2. Exclusivity is worth a lot, so don’t be afraid to lift your prices.
3. Use the uniqueness of your product as a selling tool – people love to have something others don’t.

Rearrange Store Layout and Merchandising …
Make sure your products are on shelving that’s clearly marked with Bin Labels.  Not only will that assist your customers when purchasing, but it will also help you when re-ordering stock.

Stock should be presented clearly with no broken packaging.  Fast moving items should be placed on or just above eye level with slow moving items placed just below eye level.  End aisle displays should tell a story with add on sale items clearly visible.

Make sure your most expensive items, or items with the highest margin are in your highest traffic areas.

Hints and Tips …
1. Top selling items should be displayed at eye level.
2. Slower moving items just below eye level.
3. Make sure all products are clearly marked and cleanly displayed.
4. End aisles should be harnessed with ‘specials’ and impulse products.

More to come …

Business Mentor Australia: How to Boost your Average $$$ Sale (Part 2) …

In our previous ActionCOACH post, we talked about the importance of upping your Average $$ Sale, and in the next several posts, we’ll offer specific strategies to make this happen in YOUR business.

Here’s some additional suggestions:

Up Sell …
This can be done when you have a basic and deluxe version of a particular product.  It works by selling your customer a more expensive version of the product they’re looking at, based on its benefits.  When up selling it’s important to explain how the more expensive model will better suit their long term needs.

Hints and Tips …
1. Clearly spell out the BENEFITS of the more expensive option.
2. Put the price into perspective – “Sure it might be a little more now, but in the long run…”
3. Keep your options open…don’t oversell the dearer product as someone may be on a very tight budget.

Cross or Add On Sell …
A technique that is successfully used by many large companies (see McDonald’s above).  Can be very effective when selling products or services that are used in conjunction with others.  A good example of this would be selling your customers a watering system when they buy a quantity of lawn seed.  Or try buying a suit without the sales assistant offering you to try a vast array of ties.  You can also cross sell associated products or services on a commission basis with another company.

Hints and Tips …
1. Always offer more than the customer is initially looking for.
2. Offer a package deal if they buy something else as well.
3. Don’t over pressure people, after all you want them to come back.

Down Sell …
Show them the highest priced item first and then the one just a little more expensive than they’d planned seems extremely cheap. This can be really effective when your customer can’t afford a more expensive item.  Rather than attempting to only sell them a higher priced item, and as a result losing the sale altogether, you simply sell them a similar product that fits just above their budget.

Hints and Tips …
1. Wait until you are absolutely sure they can’t afford the premium product, you just might sell the most expensive item each time.
2. Try and make it sound as though there is little difference between the two products anyway.
3. If you haven’t got a cheaper version, try and sell them something else.

Use a Checklist …
Similar to Add On Selling, you simply run through a checklist with your client whenever they purchase a particular type of product.  This list should be prepared in advance and used with as many different products as possible.  For example if a customer buys a tin of paint, run through the list to see if they need brushes, thinners, drop sheets, stirrers, etc.

Hints and Tips …
1. Make sure every team member has the list.
2. Check to make sure it’s being used with every customer.
3. Have a reward system in place that acknowledges team members who make additional sales off the list.
4. Test and measure – and if it ain’t working, change the questions.

More simple yet effective strategies in upcoming posts!

Business Mentor Australia: How to Boost your Average $$$ Sale

Here are some great ActionCOACH tips to boost your Average Dollar (or Value) Sale …

The good news is … this is all less of a mystery to most business owners, but precious little is usually done to increase it.

Some customers might spend $500 while others $23.50 – the average $ sale is just that:

The AVERAGE $ spend from everyone who does business with you! 

All you need to do is divide what’s in the till with the number of transactions you’ve made.

Just like McDonald’s staff always asks, “Would you like fries with that?”

You need to look for ways of increasing your average $ sale. 

Even though most people say NO to the fries, think of the millions of extra dollars they make a day from those that say YES. 

Now think of how a similar strategy could unlock another goldmine for you.

The key is remembering that it only takes slight improvements to make a drastic difference to your profitability. 

These customers are already doing business with you and any little extra you can add on is all cream.

There are subtle and not so subtle ways of doing it.  Here’s the complete repertoire for you to choose from…

Increase Your Prices …
The most obvious way to increase your average dollar sale is to put up your prices. 

This method should be approached with some caution, although most often you will have more fears about a price rise than any of your customers. 

If you intend to increase your prices substantially it’s best to gradually phase the new prices in over a period of time.

Hints and Tips …
1. Just do it … add 10% across the board today.
2. For big rises, phase them in slowly.
3. When you get the 5 to 10% of people who object, shift their focus to the quality of your product and the benefits it offers.
4. Check what the competition are charging.
5. Be prepared to offer a little extra service and follow-up.

More strategies to come!

Business Help Australia: Simon Harris Wins GrowthCLUB Award at ActionCOACH Asia Pacific Conference

ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business coaching firm, presented Simon Harris with its 2011 GrowthCLUB Award at its Asia Pacific Conference Awards ceremony, which took place at the Luxurious Five-Star Sofitel, Broadbeach in Queensland, Australia.

GrowthCLUB is a unique business help program designed specifically by ActionCOACH for small to medium sized business owners.

Each GrowthCLUB event is designed to help business owners maximize their potential by creating a 90 day action plan to achieve better results in the areas of time, team and money.

To learn more about how GrowthCLUB can help you in your own business, call or contact an ActionCOACH Business Coach in your area today.

Business Help Australia: BCS Firm Wins ActionCLUB Award at ActionCOACH Asia Pacific Conference

ActionCOACH presented the BCS firm of Ben Fewtrell and David Carlin of New South Wales, Australia the 2011 ActionCLUB Award at its Asia Pacific Conference Awards ceremony, which took place at the Luxurious Five-Star Sofitel, Broadbeach in Queensland, Australia.

ActionCLUB is a 14 week program for business owners to learn and implement a number of ActionCOACH strategies and programs, specifically designed for owners who prefer to learn in a workshop setting, as well as those owners of start-ups and micro businesses.

The workshop is comprised of seven evening sessions, and covers everything from setting goals and building better teams to producing more effective marketing and generating more sales.

Running an ActionCLUB program requires a lot of attention to detail in addition to the ability to connect with many different types of business owners. These are both areas in which the BCS firm excels.

ActionCLUB is an excellent way to begin and continue business help with ActionCOACH “business re-education” programs, seminars and workshops.

See how ActionCOACH can help you and your business today.

Business Help Australia: Vic Ciuffetelli Wins Master Licensee of the Year Award at ActionCOACH 2011 Asia Pacific Conference

ActionCOACH, the world’s leading business and executive coaching firm, named Australian Master Licensee Vic Ciuffetelli its Master Licensee of the Year at this year’s Asia Pacific Conference.

ActionCOACH Founder and Chairman Brad Sugars presented the award to Mr. Ciuffetelli during its Awards Ceremony, which honors the “best of best” within the company’s system.

The Master Licensee of the Year award considers the overall success of an ActionCOACH business and its clients on a number of business help benchmarks and metrics, including the company’s growth rates of revenue, profit and number of clients.

Master Licensees within the ActionCOACH system are responsible for developing business and providing support to the franchisees within their territory.

The award is the highest honor for Master Licensees within the ActionCOACH system. 

ActionCOACH is the leading business coaching company in the world, which guarantees its business help systems to grow any business in any category.

Discover how ActionCOACH can help give you an effective “business re-education” that will forever help you and your business today.

Business Help Australia: Christine Beard named ActionCOACH Associate Coach of the Year

New South Wales ActionCOACH Business Coach Christine Beard was recently honored for her outstanding 2010 results at the ActionCOACH 2011 Asia Pacific Conference Awards ceremony, which took place at the Luxurious Five-Star Sofitel, Broadbeach in Queensland, Australia.

As an Associate Coach, Beard has helped a number of clients not only survive but thrive during difficult economic conditions in her region.

Despite the accolades for her outstanding 2010, Beard knows there is a lot more work to do in 2011 and she’s certainly up for the challenge.

“Winning this award once was great and unexpected,” she said. “I’m very proud of the work I’ve done with my clients to help them in their businesses.”

As the world’s number one business coaching and executive coaching firm with more than 1,000 offices in 32 countries, ActionCOACH has the proven and guaranteed systems to be your business help “go to” resource for any type of business challenge or need.

Discover how ActionCOACH can help you by contacting an ActionCOACH Business Coach near you today.