August 2010

08/04/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Steps – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Greenwood Public Library, 310 S Meridian St. Greenwood, IN 46143. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

08/11/10: Eliminating Losing Financial Strategies-Wealth and Wisdom Institute, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St., Indpls, IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

08/12/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Steps – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Martinsville Chamber of Commerce, 109 E. Morgan St, Martinsville, IN 46151. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

08/17/10: Careers in Franchise Ownership, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, FranNet of Mid-America, 8520 Allison Pointe Blvd, Ste. 220, Indpls., IN 46250. Free Registration is required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

08/18/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th Street, Indpls., IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

08/25/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Step – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 9:00am – 12:00pm, Boone County Chamber of Commerce, 221 N. Lebanon St, Lebanon, IN 46052. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

What is the quickest way to add profit to your business? See Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of free e-book. Click HERE to access.

September 2010

09/06/10: How to Do Business with the Federal and State Government, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St., Indpls., IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

09/14/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Steps – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership, 5250 E. US 36, Ste. 1000-5, Avon IN 46123. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

09/15/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St Greenwood, IN. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

09/21/10: Careers in Franchise Ownership, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, FranNet of Mid-America, 8520 Allison Pointe Blvd, Ste. 220, Indpls., IN 46250. Free Registration is required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

09/21/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Steps – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 12:30pm – 3:30pm, Fishers Chamber of Commerce 11601 Municipal Dr, Fishers, IN 46038 $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

09/22/10: Building a Brand for Your Small Business and How to Effectively Market Your Business, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Boone County Chamber of Commerce 221 N. Lebanon St, Lebanon, IN 46052. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

09/22/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Steps – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St Indpls., IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

09/23/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Martinsville Chamber of Commerce, 109 E. Morgan St Martinsville, IN 46151. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/06/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Boone County Chamber of Commerce, 221 N. Lebanon St, Lebanon, IN 46052. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

October 2010

10/06/10: Eliminating Losing Financial Strategies – Wealth and Wisdom Institute, 9:00am – 11:00am, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St, Indpls. IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/12/10: How to Use Social Media – Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter to Grow Your Small Business, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St, Indpls., IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/12/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Steps – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Greenfield Banking Company, 1920 N. State St, Greenfield, IN 46140. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/19/10: Careers in Franchise Ownership, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, FranNet of Mid-America, 8520 Allison Pointe Blvd, Ste. 220, Indpls., IN 46250. Free Registration is required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/19/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 12:30pm – 3:30pm, Fishers Chamber of Commerce, 11601 Municipal Dr, Fishers, IN 46038. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/20/10: How to Use Social Media – Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter to Grow Your Small Business, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Boone County Chamber of Commerce, 221 N Lebanon St, Lebanon, IN 46052. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/21/10: Financing Your Business for Start Ups and Existing Businesses, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Martinsville Chamber of Commerce, 109 E. Morgan St, Martinsville, IN 46151. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

10/26/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St, Indpls, IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

November 2010

11/09/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Greenfield Banking Company, 1920 N. State St, Greenfield, IN 46140. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

11/10/10: Financing Your Business for Start Ups and Existing Businesses, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Boone County Chamber of Commerce, 221 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon, IN 46052. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

11/10/10: Business Feasibility and Basic Start Up Steps – Can I make money doing this and how do I start? 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St, Indpls., IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

11/20/10: Eliminating Losing Financial Strategies – Wealth and Wisdom Institute, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St, Indpls. IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

11/11/10: Small Business Tax Workshop, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Ivy Tech Community College, Lawrence Campus, 9301 E. 59th St. Indpls, IN 46216. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

11/12/10: Write a Business Plan and Finance Your Business, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership, 5250 E. US 36, Ste. 1000-5 Avon, IN 46123. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

11/16/10: Financing Your Business for Start Ups and Existing Businesses, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership, 5250 E. US 36, Ste. 1000-5 Avon, IN 46123. $30 Registration and payment required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

11/16/10: Careers in Franchise Ownership, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, FranNet of Mid-America, 8520 Allison Pointe Blvd, Ste. 220, Indpls., IN 46250. Free Registration is required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

December 2010

12/14/10: Careers in Franchise Ownership, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, FranNet of Mid-America, 8520 Allison Pointe Blvd, Ste. 220, Indpls., IN 46250. Free Registration is required before class. Call (317) 233-7232 to register.

Marsha Mastin
Executive Assistant
Central Indiana SBDC
9301 E. 59th Street
Suite 147
Indianapolis, IN 46216
Phone: (317) 233-7232
Fax: (317) 917-7101

Take vitamins and supplements, for instance. You can get just about anything off a shelf at any drug store or retailer or you can go to a health store. I shop at a health store located near my workplace and the reason I do is that their staff can tell me exactly how the products can address my personal needs and which to purchase among the thousands of products available.

They save me time and money in the long run. Even though I might buy more (the goal for their business), I don’t waste money on products that don’t work. I also can run in, ask a couple of questions, and get out in a fraction of the time it would take me in a retail store to read bottles and compare. The people are friendly, educated about the products and take anything back, no problem.

Ok, how about hair and beauty services and products. I have been in the professional beauty industry for almost thirty years. I’ve worked out in the field training salons as well as behind the chair. I have been in salons in small towns and large cities, those that are expensive and those that aren’t. I’ve also serviced thousands of customers who have shared their experiences.

What’s the difference? Why would anyone pay three to four times as much or more for someone to cut hair off? Why would they pay $15-$20 or more for a bottle of shampoo or conditioner? Well, of course, the haircut should be better as well as the product. But it’s the overall service experience that sets salons and stylists apart. The stylist that takes the time to do a professional consultation and make personalized recommendations to meet the individual needs of the customer will already be providing customer service heads above the rest.

The consultation reveals the needs, wants and challenges of the customer. It’s the ability of the stylist to educate the customer on what services or products will meet their needs and resolve their problems that sets them apart.

And not just the recommendation, but the educating of the customer about how and why these services or products work and will benefit them. It’s important to teach the customer how to properly use products and style their hair at home in order for them to replicate the style.

It’s also important to educate the customer on scheduling and maintaining a regular appointment. I can’t tell you how many customers have told me that this has been one of the biggest services to them (in fact I email them ahead of time to remind them of their appointment). They don’t wake up one morning and realize they need a haircut and then take a week to get around to calling and one or two more weeks to get in. By then, they look terrible and are fighting their hair daily. It’s amazing that most of my clients never had anyone educate them on the benefit of a regularly scheduled appointment.

Customer service goes far beyond a clean establishment, smiling faces and a good product or service. Training your staff to be knowledgeable about the products and services you offer is key to educating the customer and positioning your business as a resource that has real value that can’t be had anywhere else.

Cheryl Cornell
Stylist/Color Specialist
Wavelengths Hair Design
862 S. St. Rd 135
Greenwood, IN 46142
317-752-1343