Okanagan Pizza had a successful Signature Taste testing pizza event. 30 Guests and dignities tried the new pizza lines and commented on the crust, content and overall quality of the new pizzas.

Okanagan Pizza is promoting healthy whole wheat pizzas, an Alfredo Chicken Pasta on Cheesy Garlic Pizza, Tandoori Beef Pizza, Butter chicken and their newest creation a Dessert Pizza.

Due to the success of the event, the Alfredo Chicken Pasta on Cheesy Garlic Pizza will be added to the menu items, and the Dessert Pizza will be available as a special order item for special occasions; such as birthdays, weddings and party occasions.

The surprise of the evening was the number of times we were asked about gluten- free pizzas. At the present time RK Agrawal is doing some research on the viability of a Signature Gluten free pizza.

 Marketing for today’s Savvy Consumer!

Communication- Marketing – Social Media

 Event: May 6^th 2010 

Venue: Sandman Hotel Kelowna – 2130 Harvey Ave. Hwy 97

Time:  2-2:30 Networking

2:30 – 4:00 Presentations

4:00  -5:00 Wine & Appetizers  – Mini Trade Show  – OBRG Members

Limited Seating Available – Book Your Ticket Today – $29.00

1-to-1 Marketing

An Introduction to Taking the Next Step in Communicating with your Clients – In a time where your competitors are working hard to get your clients, you need to make sure your message stands out! In this workshop you will learn how you can increase your sales and profits by utilizing 1-to-1 Marketing. You will learn about utilizing your client database to deliver personal marketing messages to them and how you can start building a client database if you are just starting out. You will also be introduced to the techniques used by the professionals to increase your ROI (Rate of Return) of your marketing efforts.

Presented by Alexandra Krieger – Owner of Print Three

Social Media – Is Your Business Ready? Are you marketing to the Right Audience? 

Twitter! Facebook! What’s right for you?

Have you noticed that you’ve begun to search more and more for local goods and services online? Lots of people are doing so. This has been a growing trend for the past couple years and has reached a point where local small businesses absolutely need to be online and understand social media.

You will be guided through a marketing and social media journey that will open new avenues for your business.

Presented by Donald Robichaud – President of FloodLight Consulting

RSVP – TODAY

Limited Seating Available – Book Your Ticket Today – $29.00

Marketing for today OBRG 2010 v.3 with price

For more information contact FloodLight :

Donald Robichaud
FloodLight Consulting – Build Your Business
250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com

http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Keep your customers satisfied to create lasting relationships.

The secret to making a successful sale is knowing what, why, how and when your audience wants to buy. Learn the processes and stages of both buyer and seller simultaneously to understand how to apply sales skills and behaviors that accurately match the buyer’s state and motivations. Understand how to use your expertise confidently to positively influence outcomes and meet both the buyer’s and your own requirements. A sale isn’t over until your client knows that the solution to their business problem is you and your product or service.

This course will help you:

• Accurately assess customer needs and establish needs awareness
• Present solutions based upon priority and big picture needs, not products or services
• Use the buyer’s motivations for increased focus and creating opportunities
• Communicate as a problem-solver and a trusted partner
• Develop professional, long-lasting business-to-business relationships

Who should Attend:

Anyone involved in the selling process.

Format:

• A highly-interactive 1-day workshop.

Tools Provided:

• A Comprehensive Learning Guide
• A pre- and post-workshop skills assessment
• Half hour with our sales professional one month after training

Detailed Synopsis: Selling Breakthroughs

The Selling Breakthroughs workshop. will give you the skills needed to transform selling products, services or ideas into selling “business solutions” are essential for salespeople at all levels.

The program will broaden your understanding and develop your selling skills to uncover the underlying business need, create a desire to act on solving the business problem or to take advantage of a business opportunity, make client centered sales presentations, gain commitment, and enhance the relationship by ensuring client satisfaction.

The program provides practical planning tools and processes, with case studies and practice sessions to learn and enhance your selling skills.

Unit 1 An Overview of the Selling – Buying Process:
In this overview unit we examine the process and stages that a buyer moves through in any buying situation. This enables us to appreciate the skills and behaviors required by the salesperson to support the buyer throughout the process.

Unit 2 Need: Establishing buyers’ needs and need awareness:
The foundation of any sale and worthwhile relationship requires a clear understanding of the buyer’s real needs – their situation, problems and opportunities. In this unit you will learn the importance of first impressions, and how to use appropriate selling and interpersonal behaviors to achieve strong and positive relationships. You will enhance your questioning skills to obtain appropriate facts and information, and to get confirmation, agreement and commitment.

Unit 3 Priority: Activating needs to priority:
This stage is the vital link between establishing needs and presenting a solution. We explore general and specific buying motives, and identify and establish the individual motivations and drives of our buyers. You will learn specific questioning skills that focus the buyer on their real situation, and help them clarify those needs that are priorities for them. You will become comfortable challenging the status quo.

Unit 4 Solution: Presenting a business case solution:
This Unit is designed to move you towards mastery of presenting a business case that meets the buyer’s specific product and service needs, demonstrates value, and is based on positive relationships. You will further enhance your questioning and listening skills. You will learn how to prepare generic and client specific product and service analyses, based on a complete understanding of features, advantages, benefits and end results. You will prepare a value-based solution, with a documented value added package, that effectively differentiates your solution. You will learn how to deal with various forms of resistance, including “price” issues, and positively sell on value and
relationship factors.

Unit 5 Implement: Closing and implementing:
Through an understanding of buying signals, stress and risk assessment, and closing techniques, you will learn how to support the buyer to implement their solution choice. Preparation of a checklist and plan will ensure both parties commit to and complete full implementation.

Unit 6 Relationship: Cementing the relationship and managing expectations:
This unit looks at our customers in terms of importance and worth to help us better allocate our time. Development of an expectation feedback system helps us monitor and evaluate results against expectations. Proactive follow-up will ensure an ongoing relationship based on trust and credibility.

Total cost – Selling Breakthroughs – $495.00

For more information and to see how FloodLight can help you Sell smarter, call:

Donald Robichaud
FloodLight Consulting – Build Your Business
250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

Healthy pizza in demand

Written by Diana Coutu
More and more Canadians are demanding healthier meal options for themselves and their families. Like it or not, Canadians are reading the nutritional labels on products before deciding whether or not to buy them. Women – who still do the majority of household shopping – are the most likely to read the nutritional information. By being proactive in asking your customers what they want in a healthy pizza, you’ll be well positioned to for a nutritional trend.

Food manufacturing companies have noticed and are even adding things like omega 3, DHA and extra iron to everything from yogurt to bread. Health Canada is demanding that restaurants reduce the amount of sodium in their dishes, although so far they’ve neglected to impose the same threats on all the “heat and serve” meal options at the grocery store and the recommended levels of salt are still in debate. There is a lot of discussion of banning trans fats, which New York City and British Columbia did last year. It makes a great deal of sense. A healthier population means fewer dollars spent on health care and an overall better quality of life.

The movement toward healthier meals was instigated by the consumer. Back in 2000, we began making a line of 100 per cent whole wheat pizza crusts and while it took time for them to catch on, today they represent 40 per cent of our sales. Paired with our low-fat mozzarella, a few vegetables and our lean grilled chicken breast they are not just healthy, they are also quite delicious. These days, Canadian consumers expect to find heart smart meal options on your menu – even for fast food. More and more chains are adding these options to their menus and are having positive feedback. There are many pizza places, chains and independents that offer whole wheat and/or multigrain pizza crusts to match the increasing demand.

Most places are reactive about this change in the marketplace. Several companies thought that it was simply a trend that would pass quickly and failed to accommodate what’s now an expectation. The companies that are constantly asking customers what they want, and exposing them to new options, are in a better position to be ahead of the curve and profit from this change in consumer tastes.

At Diana’s Gourmet Pizzeria, we have always polled our customers and created pizzas and menu items to cater to them. Our whole wheat crust began in very small batches, with free sample slices to gauge our customers’ reactions. About a year ago we started getting calls requesting gluten-free pizza. The number of calls increased every week, so we decided it would be wise to invest time in creating a recipe. We spent about six months developing a recipe and then incorporating it into our busy pizzeria that specializes in wheat pizzas. The day we launched our gluten-free pizza crust, we already had a list of customers who were eagerly anticipating it. Other than calling everyone on the list, it took very little effort to promote our new product.

Lately, we’ve been working with some folks at the Canadian International Grains Institute on perfecting a barley flour pizza crust. Barley is beneficial by providing both soluble and insoluble fibre, whereas whole wheat flour only has insoluble fibre. North American diets are severely lacking in fibre and our initial batches have had very positive tasting results from staff and customers alike. Just a little more tweaking to our recipe and we’ll likely add it to the menu as a taste of the month this year. Depending on the response, it may end up on our menu as a permanent heart healthy choice.

We’ve also been taste testing turkey bacon as another heart smart option. Many of our customers are baby boomers and have been told by their physicians to cut down on red meat. Initial customer reactions to sample slices with turkey bacon have been extremely positive, so positive that we brought it on for our featured taste of the month for December 2009. My prediction is that it’ll be a hit from the start and find its way onto our permanent menu.

Regardless of whether you thought healthy pizza was a fad or a fleeting trend, you have to be living under a rock not to notice the increased demand for healthier meals in 2009. This year will undoubtedly be more of the same, making it a great opportunity to asses how well your menu stacks up on the health front.

——————————————————————————–
Diana Coutu is a two-time Canadian Pizza Magazine chef of the year champion, internationally recognized gourmet pizzaiolo, co-owner of Diana’s Gourmet Pizzeria in Winnipeg, Man., and a board of director for the CRFA. In addition to creating award-winning recipes, Diana is also a consultant to other pizzeria owner/operators in menu development, creating systems to run a pizzeria on autopilot, along with marketing and positioning to help operators grow their businesses effectively and strategically. She is available for consulting on a limited basis; for more information, contact her at Diana@dianasgourmetpizzeria.ca.

250-765-5551
OK Pizza – Each Bite Customer Approved!!!
http://www.okpizza.ca/

We service the Okanagan region and deliver to Rutland, Ellison, UBC Okanagan, Quail Ridge, Airport, Winfield, Black Mountain, and Kelowna downtown, Glenmore, Dilworth, West Kelowna, Lake Country and the Mission.

It’s that time of the year and networking possibilities are everywhere.

Networking at an event is a great way of getting your name or service out in front of potential customers. In fact, in the past few years my clients have forged a number of relationships that have led to more sales and sustained growth for their business by attending events with friends and business associates, and working different parts of the room with a plan to meet their target market.

While there are a number of ways to “work a room” that offer varying degrees of success, here are some good, fundamental strategies to keep in mind. By applying these techniques, you’ll give yourself the best chance of establishing sustained relationships that lead to more sales!

1. Start with the end in mind – You want to create a positive first impression. Dress appropriately. Take plenty of business cards; this makes it easier for others to contact you. Decide that you want to make the most of the event. Be open, upbeat and enthusiastic. Choose an event that is closely matched with your target market. Wear your own personalized name badge or wear a badge with your personal tag line.

2. Arrive early and scout the room – Look over the room and pick three to four key areas where traffic will flow but also allow you to acknowledge people. At a recent event I chose two areas where people had to go by and get their refreshments. It allowed me to meet seven new business contacts and I renewed six old acquaintances in my target market. Out of this event three prospects have recently become clients.

3. Set a goal for the number of new people (Prospects) you want to meet who are in your target market – Consider how many people you would like to talk to and how many cards you would like to take away. Ideally at a two hour event a minimum of 5 to 10 new people in your target market should be your goal. Make sure your goal is a stretch, yet achievable, and don’t leave until you’ve met your goal. This can give you the impetus to move on in the conversation.
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4. Act like a host, not a guest – If you adopt the mindset of a host you are more likely to be proactive in greeting people, introducing yourself and asking people if they would like to meet others. You can create as strong an impression by being a conduit for people. Be open in posture and do not square your shoulders to your prospect, boxing people in. Keep an open stance which will allow others to join in your conversation and give more opportunities to meet people.

5. Breaking into groups – Avoid approaching two people who seem to be talking intensely. Instead approach groups of three or more. Stand close by and acknowledge what’s being said through your body language and facial expressions. Seize the right moment to make eye contact and say ‘hello’ or add something to the conversation. Even better, look for an acquaintance or business associate and stop by to speak with them when they are speaking with someone you do not know.

6. Make your introduction interesting (Elevator Pitch) – An effective introduction is brief and memorable; it needs to have sufficient impact to get the interest of the group. That’s why you need an Elevator Pitch – a short description of your business that enables prospective buyers to know who you work with and what value you bring to the relationship. An Elevator Pitch conveys your marketing message in a manner that literally attracts the right customer to you.

7. Listen and aim to give value – Listening is crucial when networking and it’s only too evident when someone is not paying attention to you. Find out about the person/people in the group, uncover ways you can be a useful resource to them. Show a genuine interest in the person – you’re more likely to find common ground as they open up. People want to spend time with people they like and trust.

8. Change your focus from ‘what’s in it for me?’ to ‘what can I offer you?’ – People quickly work out if someone is aiming to sell to them or is only interested in taking what they can get. Networking is about developing relationships with others, so meeting people at events is about starting the process, not ending it. If you give value by helping them in some way – by introducing them to a referral or offering some information – they’re more likely to spend time with you and respond to your follow-ups.

9. Breaking away professionally – You may feel uncomfortable or rude breaking away from a conversation, even though such events or cocktail parties are designed for people to circulate. If you’re enjoying the company, suggest that you both join another group. If you want to get away completely, or the conversation has run its course, say something like ‘it’s been great to meet you, I hope you enjoy the rest of the event’ or ‘let’s keep in touch’. Don’t over-complicate your exit, just make your voice tone sound final, and then move away. As you leave mention that you will follow up with them later in the week.

10. Follow up afterwards – Ask each person you meet for two cards – one to pass on and one to keep. It’s a powerful way of demonstrating you’d like to refer them to someone, or vice versa. Make a note on their business card of what you’ve promised to do for them, so you don’t forget. If they were open to your “Elevator Pitch” suggest that you will send them some further information. Once you have stepped away, note down a memorable feature of their image, or the conversation, to remind you of who they are. If you’re meeting lots of people, it’s easy to lose track. As soon as possible afterwards, drop them a line or give them a call and do what you said you would do. They’ll be delighted that you remembered them.

Agree how you’ll keep in touch going forward so that you can “Build Your Business”

Donald Robichaud is the President of FloodLight Consulting and can be reached at 250-768-9415

Readers will remember this big-hearted photog from earlier in the year when she released a coffee table book ‘Children of the Okanagan’ at Summerhill Winery; with the help of many generous families she raised $20,000 to benefit the Neo Natal ward at KGH.

Well, she and her camera are at it again with ‘Smiles for Haiti’, a special project to raise funds for the Red Cross. Liz is offering a photo session by donation and is including a free 8×10; the session is worth $210 but folks can donate whatever they want and all proceeds go to the Red Cross.

 Whether you’re looking for a family photo, need your business portraits updated or just want to let Liz weave some lens magic, this is a fantastic way to get involved in the relief effort and come away with a little something, too.

Visit her website www.okanaganphotographer.com for more info

As posted in Snap Okanagan

Radiator Flush- What’s in it for me?
Over time rust, scale and other harmful residues can build up throughout your engine’s cooling system.
Traditional methods of simply draining the radiator will not remove all of your old coolant or clean your system.
If used fluid and residue is left in your radiator, it will contaminate the new coolant and eventually can cause clogging and overheating that will decrease the life of your radiator, heater core, thermostat, water pump, and consequently, major engine components.
Overheating due to contaminated coolant is the 2nd biggest cause of vehicle breakdown according to the highway transportation board of North America.

What is happening under the hood?

• We add a flush additive to the old coolant, to loosen contaminants and clean the system
• Our advanced exchange techniques remove virtually 100% of old fatigued coolant in just 15 minutes.
• Removal of rust and corrosion in the system

• Breakdown and removal in hard water scale, phosphate sludge, and silica gel in the heater core

• When we add the new coolant, we also include a conditioning additive, to protect your cooling system from future wear

• We utilize a clean, safe and environmentally friendly chemical recycling process
When should the service be done?
It is recommended that this service be done every 2 to 4 years, or every 50,000-100,000 km to improve the overall efficiency of your cooling system.
With our Global Long Life Coolant, the recommended service intervals are every 4 years, or 100 000 km.

What are the benefits?
There are many valuable benefits your vehicle will receive from this service:

Clean anti-freeze will not only extend the life of all parts involved in the cooling system, but prevent heat damage to other critical parts of the engine as well.

With new coolant, your engine will run cooler, and more efficiently.

Our Global long life antifreeze will protect your engine for four years without replacement.

At Mobil 1 Lube Express we specialize in critical fluids for your car; Oil Changes, Engine, Transmission, Radiator, Power Steering, fuel system and so much more.

For an appointmant call:

Mobil 1 Lube Express
2305 Enterprise Way
Kelowna, BC V1X 7E1
Ph: 250-861-LUBE (5823)
http://mobil1lubeexpress.blogspot.com/

Would you like fries with your Order?

In this economy it’s important to add additional sales to your order without coming across as pushy. Every day sales teams are leaving out sales that customers would have willingly purchased with you.
In most organizations the salesman is so happy to make the initial sale that they actually forget or refuse to offer accessories items that will compliment the original purchase.

I learned a long time ago never assume that the person I was selling to was in the same monetary position as me. Sometimes we assume that because we are tight for money others are too, or we read about a recession and expect that everyone has tightened their purse strings. Not so!!

Every Product sold has an accessory item that will enhance the purchase. When buying a suit I am always offered or shown the appropriate shirt, ties, belts and socks that match the original sale. In the shoe business it’s the purse that matches the shoes or the polish that will help with the upkeep. In selling websites the up sell is the hosting package or the yearly SEO package that comes with the site or the newsletter attachment to market the products on the site.

When was the last time you bought just a hamburger? ” Would you like fries with your order? “, has become the staple of the fast-food industry.

Why up selling is so profitable?
The best part of up selling is that it’s practically effortless. Since it’s done after the customer has decided to go ahead with a major purchase, the hard part of the sales conversation has already been done. You’ve already established rapport, identified the customer’s needs, summarized, presented benefits, asked for the order and handled objections. Up selling is just presenting the information in a “by-the-way” fashion.

One of the most effective up selling techniques is getting the customer to use the product in your location. A hairdresser for example, might put hair gel in the customer’s hand and show them how to apply it themselves. By showing the client how to get the salon look at home, they create a value-added up sell.

At the retail level, it’s a good idea to group related and similar products then offer the add on at a package price. If someone is getting a haircut and you talk to them about shampoo and conditioners, it only makes sense to show them a package deal that groups hair products at a package price.

What to Offer?

Think about your business. What else can you offer customers or clients while they’re making their first transaction with you?

Can you offer:
• A discount on a related product or service?
• A volume discount if they buy more now?
• A special priced combination package including the initial product or service?
• Extended warranties or support packages
• Additional cables, batteries, cleaning products, etc……..
Your offer should include preferential special pricing. Most customers will accept the up selling offer when it’s a good value and the customer feels they are saving money.

The profit from the up selling portion often exceeds the profit on the initial product or service, because there are no additional expenses involved. The customer is already in the store and you have a captured audience.

Offer an incentive program to your sales team for up selling a specific line of accessories.

The Challenge

This week choose an accessory item in your business and offer it to every customer for the next month. You will add additional sales to your bottom line and increase your profit. Not everyone will buy, but if you don’t ask you’ll never make the sale.

If every day you service 10 clients and 3 buy a $25.00 dollar up sell accessory item, you will have an additional $75 dollars in the till. Now multiply $75 x 30 days in the month and you have now increased your totals sales for the month by $2250.00

Would you like fries with that order?

If you’re not making up selling offers to every new customer or client, start doing it now. It’s an easy way to boost your profits and Build Your Business.

Donald Robichaud
President
FloodLight Consulting – Build Your Business – 250-768-9415
http://www.floodlightconsulting.com/
http://donaldrobichaud.blogspot.com/

As most people are aware, the harmonized sales tax was introduced for British Columbia on July 23, 2009. Many people are wondering how the new tax, which will be effective on July 1, 2010, will impact the real estate industry including the purchase of new and used residential homes.

Once in place, the HST will apply where the GST currently applies. In addition to being payable on the purchase price of a new or substantially renovated home, HST will be payable on expenses such as real estate commissions, appraisal fees, and other services required in the course of a home purchase. As a result, all homebuyers, new and used, will likely pay more to purchase their house after July 1, 2010 then they would have if they had done so prior to July 1, 2010.

While the purchase of a used home will be exempt from HST, purchasers of new or substantially renovated homes after July 1, 2010 will be required to pay HST.

There will, however, be rebates in place so that purchasers of new homes under $400,000 will not be required to pay significantly more than they would prior to July 1, 2010. For purchases between $400,000 and $450,000, there will be a partial rebate to reduce the impact of the HST on the purchaser. Once the purchase price of a new home passes $450,000, the maximum rebate of 5% of the purchase price up to $20,000 will apply.

Are you wondering what will happen where a contract of purchase and sale is entered into prior to July 1, 2010 with the sale closing after July 1, 2010? Watch for a future Legal Alert article with respect to the transitional provisions once they become available.

If you have any questions about how the HST may impact your future home purchase, or any other real estate questions, please contact Una Gabie at gabie@pushormitchell.com or (250)869-1230.

Una’s practice includes residential and commercial real estate including purchases, sales and refinancing.

Well, there are a lot of exciting things going on with Elizabeth Soergel Photography – one of which is a new project called “SMILES FOR HAITI”.

As you all know the need in Haiti is still extremely high and will be for a long time to come. I was wondering what I could do and this idea came to me… My new studio will be opening on Feb 15th in the new INvue building on Springfield so why not do all sessions by donation for the first while. It’s a win win! I get to shoot in the studio (which is a lot of fun for me) and we can help a great cause.

Everyone who participates will receive a studio session as well as an 8×10 print of your choice and I am asking people to donate whatever they can. Every dollar counts. If anyone would like additional prints, they can be purchased with 10% off all sales going towards this great cause.

All funds will be donated through the Canadian Red Cross.

The value of the session and the 8×10 is $210 however I only ask people to donate whatever they can – $20, $50, $100, $200 – it’s completely up to you!!!

Call now to book your session – space is limited! 250.317.4395

Elizabeth Soergel Photography – Kelowna wedding & portrait photography serving Kelowna, Vernon, Lake Country, Winfield, Summerland, Peachland, Kamloops, Pentincton, Osoyoos, Oliver and more!