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MOTHER NATURES GOODIES PET WEEK
What a Fantastic Pet Week we have had. So many great Pet Photos and Tips. Our 100% Organic Pet Shampoo, Flea and Tick Control and Healing Salve have proved to be very popular and we will be sharing reviews over the next week from our happy customers (and pets).
Now its time for you all to take part and have some Fun.
VOTE for your favourite Photo. Just like our Facebook Page and take part in the Voting by choosing your favourite photo number 1 to 12
NO 1 from Matt Phillips
No 2 from Nicola Thomas
No 3 from Kaylee Supple
No 5 from Wendy Toy
No 6 from Kay Hackett
.
No 7 from Sheila Lindsay
No 8 from Carole Poke
No 9 from Liz Shewan
No 10 from MissKatieTweet
No 11 from Louise O'Carroll
No 12 from Beth
No 13 from Mazz
(The Winner will receive a pet product from our range)
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HOW TO
ACCESS FREE LOCAL ADVERTISING … OR IS THEIR ANOTHER WAY USING REFERRALS
We asked on
our Facebook page, if anyone had a particular business question they might need
a bit of help with. The idea was to pool our collective thinking and form a
self help group of like minded people who share a common interest in
aromatherapy and related areas.
The
first case concerns a small massage business in the Midlands, which is
struggling to attract additional customers and faces the serious possibility of
closure. The proprietor sees advertising as the way forward in terms of
increasing her turnover. To date she spent about £120 in a local magazine
approximately one year ago. Her client base appears to be either friends or friends
of friends and many treatments are offered pro bono. She lacks the resources to
invest in paid advertising and is looking for free alternatives.
So here is
my take on it and hope it won’t cause any offence. Lets call her Carol.
From our
exchange of email, Carol sounds like a lovely lady who has a genuine passion in
massage therapy and an utter conviction and belief in the good it will do. But
this being allowed to overshadow the commercial needs of the business, in terms
of income generation. Helping others is always to be commended and I wish more
people were like Carol, but if the business fails, then ultimately fewer people
can be helped. So the fist point is to limit pro bono work and if possible
charge for everything. I am not saying charge money for everything, but enter
into some form of swap. You provide the massage in return for which they drop
leaflets or whatever, through letterboxes on their street. But if a free
massage is to be offered to a worthy candidate, then restrict it to certain times
that do not impact on your ability to make money and restrict the number to a
handful a week. Form a policy to say, ok, I will do three per week and always
on a Monday morning between nine and twelve, or whatever days and time work.
Make this a routine and don’t deviate.
The second
point is that if the clients are principally friends and connections, it will
be almost impossible to have a viable business, since it is enormously
difficult to charge friends a commercial rate, especially if these self same
people were the ones who helped you establish the business in the early days by
virtue of their patronage. So Carol does need new blood in her business , and
needs to formalise her charging structure by publishing a price list which
isn’t discounted.
So how does
Carol get new customers and will advertising in a free local mag help her?
As with all
things you have to start by defining the scope of the problem. How much
additional revenue does she need to create as a minimum. Lets say £200 a week.
What does she currently sell a treatment for. Lets say £25. So the problem can
be re defined as Carol needs to sell eight new treatments per week. Now lets assume that a client has one treatment per month. Then in four weeks,
Carol needs to find 32 new clients who will then return once per month. The
numbers are wrong but you see the principle.
Will local
advertising in a free paper bring in 32 new clients. Almost certainly not. But
what do we know about Carol that works. Her clients are friends or friends of
friends , so to start with , she should use her existing clients to generate
referrals. But often this is badly done. Carol asks her clients to mention it,
they feel pressured, she gives them a leaflet but they never seam to have it to
hand when needed and it’s a mess. Worse still, it’s a mess that’s difficult to
monitor and see measurable outcomes. So lets consider a technique called
leverage referrals.
You explain
the gravity of the problem to your client saying that it is essential you get
more new clients. Logically new leads they give you will be slightly more
remote ones, as Carol will have already had their closet friends from the
outset. Remember the more remote ones are your target market, as the closer
ones will always have a price issue in the background. You ask for three
names and mobile telephone numbers you can call to introduce your business. If
possible you ask when their birthday is. You ask if you can use your clients
name in the introduction. Finally you ask your client which she thinks would
possibly be the best one for you , and which the worst. Thus you have ranked
the referrals in order of probability.
Next is the
easy part. You simply call them, explain what you do and what you are hoping
they will do. You explain a one off offer for friends of your friend
whereby they get a free treatment with everything they book, if booked before a
certain date. That is your call to action. They need to book it now to benefit.
For example if they are booking a back massage, give them a free 15 minute head
massage. Never discount the price, as you will seldom manage to increase it
again and you reduce the perceived value of your service.. In promotions always
offer something with high perceived value but which has low cost to your
business. In this case its just a further 15 minutes your time. Then ask
them if they would like to make a booking now. Be prepared for them to say no,
as you have caught them cold. Take away any pressure by offering to call them
back after they have had a chance to think about it if they don’t say yes
immediately and offer to send them some information via email. Jot down their
email address.
Next set
them up as a contact in outlook, especially denoting their birthday and
make any notes, Schedule a call back in three or four days to follow up and
schedule a reminder to contact them two weeks before their birthday. Lastly
send them an email straight away thanking them for their time and how much you
are looking forward to catching up in a few days.
On the
appointed day, give them a quick call to see if they want to book. Expect a
high drop out rate. If they book, do the referral thing again with them when
they visit and ask them for three referrals. But if they don’t book, it isn’t a
wasted call. They may feel terrible for not having booked so it’s a great tie
to ask them for three referrals and the whole process starts again. Your lead bank
is topped up and as long as you dedicated thirty minutes a day, your bookings
will increase in no time. But lead generation must be continuous, organized,
disciplined and resourceful.
Send a
monthly email to all prospects who have not as yet booked a treatment. It
doesn’t have to be a sales one. It can be sharing a piece of local information
or anything they may be interested in hearing. The key is never to forget a
customer ( or prospective customer) and never let them forget you.
And if all
else fails………….two weeks before the prospects birthday, you should be alerted
by the outlook reminder you created. Send them an E Card in advance ( even
though they will get it early ) offering them a similar promotion to the one
above, as a birthday treat. Do exactly the same for existing customers as
it’s a great way of rewarding them for their patronage and makes you stand out
form the crowd.
On next
weeks Blog, I will provide an alternative idea for Carol on how to win new
clients using massage demonstrations. I will eventually get to the advertising
question, its just that I am not 100% convinced at this point it is the most
expedient solution for her, nor the quickest. I imagine Carol may not feel too
comfortable with this method but difficult times demand difficult measures.
Have any of
you tried this method ? Did it work for you? Do you think its too high
pressured? Let me have your views.
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100% Organic Equine Shampoo. Benefits: Healthy and lustrous mane, tail and coat Relieves itching and soothes irritated skin Repels insects, fleas and midges Antiseptic and antifungal Deep cleans and deodorises Protects the natural oils of the skin and coat Combat sweet itch, rain scald/mud fever, tack/saddle sores etc For general use: Use 100ml shampoo per 1 Litre of water. Can be used neat on stubborn areas. As with any shampoo, rinse well and discontinue of any irritation occurs.
Safe for humans, pets and the environment.
Active ingredients: Neem (melia zazdirachta), EBAAP, peppermint and lemongrass.
Free from synthetic chemicals: DEET, permethrin, parabens, SLS, artificial fragrances, sulphates, petroleum derivatives or detergents. What is Neem? Neem Oil: Organic and Cold Processed
Neem oil comes originally from India, extracted from the nuts of the Azadirachta Indic tree, often referred to by the locals as the village pharmacy. It has been used for over 4000 years in Auyervedic medicine where it is highly valued for its ability to treat topical skin conditions and for its anti-fungal, antibiotic and healing properties.
Our Neem oil is of the purest, cold pressed variety, approved for cosmetic use. It has a very strong smell that can be described as nutty and yeasty.
The oil can solidify in cool temperatures but easily liquifies at around 32 degrees. Simply warm in the hands, in hot water or in a warm place such as near a radiator.
Topical Skin Conditions
Neem oil is rich in fatty acids and glycerides as well as containing highly concentrated actively anti-microbial ingredients. It can be used to heal and prevent fungal and viral infections of the skin, and to treat dry, scaly and sensitive skin.
Keep up-to-date with Mother Nature's Goodies on Facebook or Twitter so that you don't miss one of our exciting blog posts, tutorials or New Product Launches.
100% Organic and biodegradable healing salve for animals. Safe for use on all animals and safe when licked! Also safe to
use on humans but most aren’t so fond of the smell!!!
Can be Used For eczema, wounds, sores, scratches and flea bites.
For horses can also be applied to areas affected by sweet
itch and ringworm to encourage healing, prevent infection and deter flies.
Anti-inflammatory, anti bacterial and antiseptic.
Active ingredients: Neem, Calendula and Almond oil. Lemon,
Tea Tree and Lavender essential oils.
Free from synthetic chemicals: DEET, permethrin, parabens,
SLS, artificial fragrances, sulphates, petroleum derivatives or detergents. What is Neem? Neem Oil: Organic and Cold Processed
Neem oil comes originally from India, extracted from the nuts of the Azadirachta Indic tree, often referred to by the locals as the village pharmacy. It has been used for over 4000 years in Auyervedic medicine where it is highly valued for its ability to treat topical skin conditions and for its anti-fungal, antibiotic and healing properties.
Our Neem oil is of the purest, cold pressed variety, approved for cosmetic use. It has a very strong smell that can be described as nutty and yeasty.
The oil can solidify in cool temperatures but easily liquifies at around 32 degrees. Simply warm in the hands, in hot water or in a warm place such as near a radiator.
Topical Skin Conditions
Neem oil is rich in fatty acids and glycerides as well as containing highly concentrated actively anti-microbial ingredients. It can be used to heal and prevent fungal and viral infections of the skin, and to treat dry, scaly and sensitive skin.
Keep up-to-date with Mother Nature's Goodies on Facebook or Twitter so that you don't miss one of our exciting blog posts, tutorials or New Product Launches.
100% Organic and biodegradable Pet Shampoo suitable for dogs, cats and
other small animals.
Safe for humans, pets and the environment.
Benefits:
Leaves coat healthy and shiny
Repels fleas and ticks
Relieves itching and soothes irritated skin
Antiseptic and antifungal
Deep cleans and deodorises
Protects the natural oils of the skin and coat
Use 1-2 teaspoons of product depending on the size of the animal. Can be
added to warm water or used neat on stubborn areas. As with any shampoo,
rinse well and discontinue if any irritation occurs.
Active ingredients: Neem (melia
azadirachta), EBAAP, peppermint and Lemongrass
Free from synthetic chemicals
DEET, permethrin, parabens, SLS, artificial fragrances, sulphates,
petroleum derivatives or detergents What is Neem? Neem Oil: Organic and Cold Processed
Neem oil comes originally from India, extracted from the nuts of the Azadirachta Indic tree, often referred to by the locals as the village pharmacy. It has been used for over 4000 years in Auyervedic medicine where it is highly valued for its ability to treat topical skin conditions and for its anti-fungal, antibiotic and healing properties.
Our Neem oil is of the purest, cold pressed variety, approved for cosmetic use. It has a very strong smell that can be described as nutty and yeasty.
The oil can solidify in cool temperatures but easily liquifies at around 32 degrees. Simply warm in the hands, in hot water or in a warm place such as near a radiator.
Topical Skin Conditions
Neem oil is rich in fatty acids and glycerides as well as containing highly concentrated actively anti-microbial ingredients. It can be used to heal and prevent fungal and viral infections of the skin, and to treat dry, scaly and sensitive skin.
In our previous installment, we covered what you should do when you’re walking your dog. In part two, we cover the things you shouldn’t The walk is one of the most important activities you can share with your dog. It’s a time for both of you to bond, and for you to practice calm, assertive leadership.
However, it can be very easy to slip into doing the wrong thing. Here are five tips on what not to do when you’re walking your dog.
Don’t...
Don’t panic. Whether you realize it or not, you communicate your current energy and state of mind to your dog right through the leash, and the quickest way to put your dog in a state of alert is to tense up suddenly.
If you’re nervous, then your dog will sense it and react accordingly, by becoming anxious or protective, depending on the dog. Either state of mind can lead to aggression. Additionally, if you become fearful, that strange dog approaching can sense and react to it as well.
The worst possible combination would be two fearful owners approaching with dogs in an excited, alert state. This is the kind of interaction that can and does lead to dog’s fighting.
Don’t let your dogs approach others without asking: This applies to strange dogs and strange people — you won’t necessarily know whether their dogs are aggressive, or whether they’re afraid of dogs. You may have the friendliest dogs in the world, but that stranger walking toward you doesn’t know that, and you don’t know them or their dogs, either. This is where communication is again a dog walker’s friend.
Just as you should alert other people to anything your dog might do as they pass, it doesn’t hurt to ask about other people’s dogs with a polite, “Are they friendly?” or similar question. If the other walker’s dog has an issue, they’ll tell you, and you can both act appropriately.
Generally, people will tell you through their reaction how they feel about dogs. If they shy away as they approach, make sure that you’re between them and your dogs, and keep your dogs from approaching them, even if it’s just for a friendly sniff. If a stranger approaches your dogs, it’s up to you to let them know whether it’s safe or advisable to do so. No one will be offended if you tell them, “My dog doesn’t like strangers.”
Don’t use a variable length lead: Retractable leads have a purpose, and it’s very specific. They were originally designed for certain types of tracking and recall training with dogs. If you don’t know what those are, then you have no reason to own or use a retractable lead. You should never use such a lead for just walking your dog.
There are three big issues with retractable leads, the first of which is safety. Since they can effectively allow your dog to run for twenty or more feet before the end of the line, they allow your dog to build up a lot of speed.
Remember “force equals mass times acceleration” from high school physics? Well, give even a small dog a twenty foot head start, and they can build up enough speed to pull you off your feet, break the lead, or yank the handle right out of your hand.
That last situation can be particularly disastrous, since the handle will then retract on the lead, and the sound and motion of that big hunk of plastic suddenly whizzing up from behind can make your dog think something is chasing it, inspiring it to run faster and farther.
There’s also that twenty feet of line between you and your dog, which can be nearly invisible under the right circumstances. Your dog can get tangled in it, or tangle you or another person in it. Even the website for a prominent manufacturer of retractable leads warns of multiple possible injuries, including cuts or burns from the line, falls, eye and facial injuries, and even broken bones or loss of fingers.
You wouldn’t let your dog run free in the middle of the street, but very long leads can allow exactly this to happen. Dogs on retractable leads can and have run into traffic and been killed by cars.
Beyond safety issues, retractable leads just teach your dog the wrong thing: That pulling on the lead will get them what they want — in this case, the freedom to run all over the place. When they stop pulling, the lead pulls back, so the desire to pull and run away is constantly reinforced.
Don’t escalate the situation: If you do have an encounter with another person or dog owner that starts to go bad, the worst thing to do is to escalate the situation. Getting into a shouting match will just excite the dogs while reducing your control over them.
If the problem was your fault, acknowledge it and apologize. If it was the other party’s fault and they don’t offer an apology, don’t demand one. The best approach is to calmly walk away.
Don’t space out: The time you spend walking your dog should be a bonding experience for both of you, and learning to be in the moment like your dog is a useful skill that you can apply to other areas of your life.
The walk is not the time for you to catch up on email or texts, or to phone a friend, and you really don’t need that MP3 player plugged into your ears, either. If you walk with a friend or family member, it’s all right to have a conversation, provided you can multi-task and perform all the dos at the same time.
However, you’re the Pack Leader on the walk, or should be, and you can’t do that if your attention is focused elsewhere. It only takes an instant of inattention to wind up in an awkward or unsafe situation. You owe it to your dog to be aware and fully in the moment.
Keep up-to-date with Mother Nature's Goodies on Facebook or Twitter so that you don't miss one of our exciting blog posts, tutorials or New Product Launches.
100% Organic and biodegradable insect Deterrent Spray suitable for dogs, cats and other small animals.
Safe for humans, pets and the environment.
Benefits:
Leaves coat healthy and shiny
Repels fleas and ticks and other unwanted insects
Antiseptic and antifungal
Deep cleans and deodorises
Protects the natural oils of the skin and coat Safe to use as often as you wish To use simply spray liberally and rub into fur. We recommend using weekly and after washes or becoming wet.
Active ingredients: Neem (melia azadirachta), EBAAP, peppermint and Lemongrass
Free from synthetic chemicals
DEET, permethrin, parabens, SLS, artificial fragrances, sulphates, petroleum derivatives or detergents What is Neem? Neem Oil: Organic and Cold Processed
Neem oil comes originally from India, extracted from the nuts of the Azadirachta Indic tree, often referred to by the locals as the village pharmacy. It has been used for over 4000 years in Auyervedic medicine where it is highly valued for its ability to treat topical skin conditions and for its anti-fungal, antibiotic and healing properties.
Our Neem oil is of the purest, cold pressed variety, approved for cosmetic use. It has a very strong smell that can be described as nutty and yeasty.
The oil can solidify in cool temperatures but easily liquifies at around 32 degrees. Simply warm in the hands, in hot water or in a warm place such as near a radiator.
Topical Skin Conditions
Neem oil is rich in fatty acids and glycerides as well as containing highly concentrated actively anti-microbial ingredients. It can be used to heal and prevent fungal and viral infections of the skin, and to treat dry, scaly and sensitive skin.
Whether you’ve mastered the walk like Cesar or still have issues with your dog, there are certain do’s and don’ts that we should all follow to make for a more pleasant, safer walking experience.
It goes without saying that you should always pick up after your dog and never go on a walk without an adequate supply of pick up bagson hand. But there are less obvious rules that, when followed, eliminate a lot of possible issues and problems with other people and dogs you may encounter along the way.
Do...
Know your dog: That is, you should know the sort of thing that might put your dog in an undesired state. Does she have issues with people in uniforms, like letter carriers or UPS drivers? Does she bark at or try to chase bicyclists or skateboarders? Does she go nuts on sight of a squirrel or other dog?
In an ideal world, of course, you will work with your dog to eventually eliminate those bad reactions, but in the meantime you can minimize them by calmly avoiding situations that could trigger your dog.
Note the key word “calmly.” If you become anxious about a person or animal approaching, your dog will sense this and possibly go into alert mode. You need to train yourself to spot the situation without reacting to it, and then change direction, move off of the sidewalk, or whatever else you need to do without making a big deal out of it.
This way, to your dog, you’re simply altering direction on the walk, nothing more nor less.
Be aware of what’s around you: Of course, in order to be prepared to avoid situations that might set your dog off, you need to be aware of them before your dog has noticed. Always walk with your head up and eyes forward, scanning the area.
Not only will this help you to spot any possible things to avoid, but this posture and alertness will help you to assume a calm assertive statenaturally. Your confidence will help your dog stay calm and submissive.
Don’t forget that there are probably cars driving around near you — because your dog won’t be paying attention to them. Being aware and staying alert is the best way that you can avoid either of you being struck by a car that suddenly pulls into or out of a driveway, or that doesn’t fully stop at an intersection.
On a related note, it’s always a good idea to train your dogs to stop and wait at the curb until you tell them it’s all right to go; you “tell” them that when you step into the street yourself.
Learn how to read other dog walkers: Not everyone out there is in full control of their dogs on the walk, and the walkers who aren’t in control are also the ones most likely to cause some sort of incident, whether it’s dogs barking at each other, jumping on or snapping at people, or getting loose.
It is an acquired skill, but with practice you can learn to tell whether an approaching walker is in control or not. Is their dog walking next to or just behind them, or is it lunging forward or pulling them off balance? Does their body language project confidence, or do they seem hunched inward and anxious or fearful?
How do they try to correct their dog? If they’re doing it very quietly or non-verbally, then they’re probably in control. If they’re shouting, “No!” at their dog constantly, then they aren’t in control but are very unstable energy approaching. If you can hear them coming before you can see them, then it’s probably best to cross the street or move up onto a lawn or driveway until they’ve passed.
Change course the right way: Having to avoid other dog walkers or pedestrians is not the ideal situation, but it can sometimes be necessary to avoid a confrontation. The important part is in how you do it.
As mentioned previously, the trick is to make it appear to be just a normal change in course on your walk. Do not abruptly stop and pull up on your dog’s leash, and do not yank your dog to try to change direction. If you’re going to cross the street, approach the curb normally, wait until it’s clear, and then calmly cross the street with your dog.
If you need to use sound or a verbal cue to redirect your dog, that’s fine. The important part is that you do so calmly and quietly. Remember: Dogs interpret loud human sounds as barking, and barking by one dog often induces excitement in another.
Redirect when necessary: If you absolutely cannot avoid the oncoming situation, then you need to redirect both your dog and the other party. Try to move off of the sidewalk as far as possible, using your body to turn your dog facing away, and allow your dog to lower her head; the grass may have enough interesting smells to keep her completely distracted.
At the same time, give a friendly warning to the other person. For example, if they’re walking a dog you can let them know your dog’s issue — “She can be a little leash-aggresive” or “He doesn’t like small dogs.”
If your dog might have an issue with a person, then something as simple as a friendly, “Hello!” can help mitigate any problems by letting your dog know that you aren’t threatened by that other person.
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PET WEEK
23 June - 29 June
Our Goal this week in Mother Nature's Goodies National Pet Week is to promote responsible pet ownership and celebrate the human-animal bond. How to be a Responsible pet owner: Select a pet that's suited to your home and lifestyle. The relationship is for life. Provide appropriate exercise and mental stimulation and socialize and train your pet.
Invest Time and Money. Make sure your pet receives preventive health care (vaccinations, parasite control, etc.), as well as care for any illnesses or injuries. Budget for potential emergencies.
Clean up after your pet and don't allow your pet to stray or become feral. Make sure your pet is properly identified with tags or microchips.
Have your pet spayed or neutered.
Prepare for an emergency or disaster, including assembling an evacuation kit and make alternate arrangements if you can no longer provide care for your pet.
7 things you can do to keep your pet healthy
Keep your pet at a healthy weight;
Exercise your pet;
Feed your pet a balanced, nutritious diet;
Have your veterinarian examine your pet at least once a year to make sure your pet is healthy and to help detect problems earlier;
Vaccinate your pet against potentially deadly diseases such as distemper, parvo, panleukopenia and rabies;
Keep your pet free of parasites (fleas, ticks, etc)
Spay/neuter your pet.
Our 100% Organic Animal Range will help keep you pet healthy and free of parasites from only £4.99 each.
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Beginners Guide to the Chakras
The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through. It is important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.
Here's our Beginners guide to the 7 Chakras:
1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.
Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.
Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.
2. Sacral Chakra - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences.
Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in.
Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives.
