Turns out my site was vulnerable to one of those nasty trojan viruses and we had to pull it down and scrub it clean. My failure to update to a current version of wordpress (the platform for this site) was the cause. Live and learn. In the end it gave us the motivation to harden up the server and create some shields against all these toadies that like to wreak havoc online.

I’ll be posting some new content soon - several posts in the que - Or subscribe to the RSS feed and I’ll keep you informed as I create new posts. The orange button on top of this page will get you looped into the feed.

Oh… and the theme of this site has been completely revamped. We’ll be tweaking a few things to make it a whole lot better.

As Always,

Russell Webb

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This was an intricate project that required a lot of hours. We had a blast working on it too. Here are a couple of links to the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRSvCoMeCuk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3EVQvWSKSU

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Here’s a peek into the top three strategies that will get you in the door to some of the wealthiest homes.

1) Be the Expert on the type of product you are selling. You do this by learning all you can about your products, your competitors products and your market. You write articles, speak at functions, and share WHY your product has the exclusive edge. Give your prospects information that convinces them they are getting the best.

3) Do your research. Get a map of your targeted area. Example: Identify a neighborhood that meets your criteria. Pin a map on your wall and visualize a few sales resulting from your efforts. Acquire a reverse directory from your local phone company. You’ll find listings by street, instead of by phone number. Create a marketing campaign using personalized messages via postcard, letter or even FedEx (this will get their attention!) letters. Send a few unique mailers. Stick with it. You’re establishing your expertise and it will take some repeat exposures. Don’t be afraid to be unique in order to stand out from your competition. Keep pushing, but don’t pull!

3 ) Make a commitment to over-deliver on your services. Focus on quality. Mercedes and BMW have established their automobiles as top tier products because of their commitment to quality and outstanding service. Consider stretching your service beyond the normal boundaries. Do you think you might get a few extra referrals if you arrived at your clients property dressed for success, even though you’re installing a simple light fixture? You bet you would. What if you asked the client if you can remove your coat before getting started? This respect and courtesy is a simple example of over-delivering on your service.

As you expand your influence as an expert, you will find that you attract more referrals. From my experience, I see several advantages with dealing with this wealthy client base:

-It’s easier to close the deal
-Price isn’t a big issue
-You get paid in full
-They’re intelligent buyers
-Good quality referrals

Yes, there are many other creative strategies to get your foot in the door with this robust market segment. I’m simply sharing a brief introduction that includes the right mindset for dealing with these clients.

Let’s do a quick recap: You boost your credibility by becoming the expert in your field. By researching your target areas, you give yourself an opportunity to visualize successful outcomes. You can start small with by leasing a reverse directory and send out highly targeted niche mailers that get noticed. Lastly, try to stretch your service beyond the normal boundaries by over-delivering an excellent quality product.

by: Russell Webb

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This luxury market has grown since the early 90’s. For the last decade, the luxury category has grown anywhere from 20% - 32%. In the U.S. alone, luxury is a $400 billion market. Authorities estimate that it will grow at a rate of 15% a year and will become a $1 trillion market by 2010.

Tapping into this market isn’t difficult.
Yes - you need to be a professional stand-up operation.
Yes - you need to create a good quality product.
Yes - you need to present your products with confidence.
I’ve had a great time dealing with some of these wealthy clients, finding inspiration in their success, and learning HOW they did it. In fact, you will probably make some very important connections as you spin around in these higher finance orbits.

Just for the record, the floorcovering dealers that have diversified their service offerings are the ones who survive tough times like these. The smart ones establish alternative revenue streams. They invest in tools and equipment that will generate additional income. Starting a rug-binding business is one solution. Setting up a rug making workroom is another solution.

Our training programs are designed to accelerate these alternative business start-ups through the learning curve in 30-60 days. Once your rug-workroom foundation is built, then it’s time to start adding as many services as you think you can handle - here’s peek at some of the services that you can offer:

• wall to wall insetting
• corporate logo rugs
• fine art tapestries
• custom carpeted staircases
• custom area rugs
• fabric border rugs
• rug binding: cove base, rugs, etc…

I’ve covered most of these services in separate posts on this blog. I’ve written over 20 articles that are featured on my websites. I’ve created demonstration videos that teach you exactly how to make these amazing rugs. Check out our training programs and get started in an exciting and rewarding career. Call us today at 877-784-5646.

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• Animal print designs

• Floral prints & designs

• Geometric patterns & designs

While these design themes may be timeless, they all have something in common, yes… our unforgettable connection with nature. Each of these design themes are supported by plenty of accessories, fabric selections, and art & sculpture. This makes it a whole lot easier to find or even create rug designs that tie-in with the theme.

These themes are an essential starting point for rug buyers and aspiring rug makers. Yet there are other flavors to explore that may not be as ancient as these predecessors or are they?

Here’s a look at a few of our more popular decorative rug design requests:

• Nautical themes - shells, sealife, boating etc…

• Pet themes - dog breeds, cat breeds, birdlife

• Architectural & Cultural themes- Spanish, Persian, African etc…

• Sports themes - football, basketball, baseball, racing

All of these themes are connected to supersized markets with lots of interested buyers. These buyers are looking for a unique design that catches their eye, that’s affordable, and will make their home more attractive.

This article should spark some ideas and get you thinking about the potential of your business. As I have mentioned in earlier articles, as well as the Top 9 Revenue Streams in Carpet Sculpture, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of smaller niche markets that revolve around hobbies, interior design, industry, and nature.

Russell Webb (c)

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Sales is all about closing the deal, and in order to achieve that goal, a purchase price must be agreed upon. All salespeople, at one time or another, have had their price challenged. What do you do when that situation arises? As much as everyone in sales would like to consider themselves “great closers”, in reality, many are sissies when it comes to this important skill. They often boast about never discounting their product, but when they’re suddenly confronted on price, they fold faster than a cheap umbrella on a windy day.

Consider the following scenario you may have found yourself in: You’re on the verge of closing the biggest deal of your career. Doing so will put a nice, fat commission check in your hands and you’ll soon be receiving kudos from everyone in the company. Now comes the curve ball. You discover that the customer is looking to you for a price discount and, to top it off, you find out about an equally qualified competitor that is willing to undercut your price. While you are under the pressure of being in the middle of the hunt, you are left with only two options. You can hold the line and not cut the price to keep your profit potential in tact. Or, you can cut the price and be willing to take a lower margin for the sake of landing the big order. Which do you choose? Although the tendency for many is to give in to the price discount, by being prepared ahead of time as to why your product/service can fill their need, you can avoid caving in under the pressure of the moment.

In a situation like this, your self-assurance is critical. Be confident in what you say and, more importantly, ensure that the customer is certain of the benefits they will receive by working with you. The cheapest price might be what everybody is looking for, but what good is a low price if it doesn’t deliver on what it is supposed to? When the customer requests a price discount, respond by asking them about how they intend to use your product/service, and what they expect to gain from using it. Your goal should be to get them to express both the pain they will experience if what they’re about to buy doesn’t help them accomplish what they want it to and the need they have for your type of product/service. Then you can explain how your product/service can alleviate that pain and best fill that need.

How can you establish a high level of confidence in your price? One of the best ways is by having a full sales pipeline. This means that you have prospects and customers at each phase of your sales process so you don’t have to worry about closing every sale. Your assurance comes in knowing that you’re making the right decision by not discounting because you “have” to.

The worst thing any salesperson can do when a customer is looking for a price break is to give in. Unfortunately, because many cannot confidently communicate their price, they often cave in. To overcome this problem, salespeople need to understand, in real terms, the buyer’s perspective of how they can benefit from the product/service. For example, if I’m going to take a trip and my destination is 1,000 miles away, I have several options as to how I can get there. I could hitchhike, which would cost me virtually nothing, but wouldn’t guarantee when I’d arrive. I could drive my car, keeping my immediate costs to only the gasoline (assuming the car does not break down), but my travel time could take several days. Or, I could fly, which would probably have the highest immediate cost, but would, undoubtedly, be the fastest. Because your goal in selling should be to help ensure the success of your customers, you can see from this example that the cheapest approach is not reliable, nor would it save time. In addition, most people wouldn’t want to take several days to drive to and from the destination. Therefore, because of the time it will save, the best option is to fly, even though it’s probably the most expensive. Since time is of the essence in many industries, its value is worth the extra money. Keeping that in mind, cutting the price is clearly not the most beneficial or efficient.

Besides being unable to confidently communicate their price, another common reason salespeople give in when challenged is because they believe the misconception that by offering a discount on the initial order, they can make it up on the next one. However, the truth is that there is no way to ever regain the lost revenue. Once the customer has accepted a lower price, that amount becomes their new level of expectation. Any other price is seen as an increase. Think of it from the following perspective: Would you believe a promise from your boss that if he/she were to hold back your next raise for a year, it would be made up to you later? We often kid ourselves into believing that we can get the higher price out of the customer on the next order.

Finally, when a customer requests a discounted price, it is important to remember that giving one is an immediate reduction to your total profit. Depending on how drastic you are willing to go, you are ultimately the one taking the pay cut. Is that what you really want to do? Consider that decreasing your price may help you land the initial sale but, over time, it still does not make up for the revenue you lost on the initial sale.

Maintaining pricing integrity is a challenge. It starts by being self-assured and it extends not only to the service you deliver, but also to the expectations of the customer. Don’t entertain their requests for a discount. Be confident in both your price and the product/service you offer. Ensure that your sales pipeline is full by spending adequate time developing it at all phases of your sales process. Consider how your product/service can help ensure the future success of your customers. Don’t believe the lie that you can make up your initial price cut on the next order. Without confidence in your price, you can say good-bye to your profits. Price cutting is for sissies!

Mark Hunter, “The Sales Hunter”, is a sales expert who speaks to thousands each year on how to increase their sales profitability. For more information or to receive a free weekly sales tip via email, contact “The Sales Hunter” at http://www.TheSalesHunter.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Hunter

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It’s really not too complicated. Typically the rugs are made from a high quality commercial grade carpet. The logo is then transferred onto a template. This template is then used to create the logo in carpet. The logo colors are carefully selected and then inlaid into the field carpet. If necessary, colors can be matched through the Pantone color matching system.

This custom fabrication of logo rugs has only recently become affordable to the larger audience of consumers thanks mainly to advances in technology. There is still a fair amount of handcrafting involved and this is the real reason why these rugs are so attractive. Another benefit is the broad range of sizes available. Literally any size and shape can be accommodated.

Here are the top 5 tested applications that we have seen bring in the best results:

1) Corporate Lobby – This is the perfect opportunity to express the corporate logo with pride. Choosing quality over cheapness is the recommendation for this important space. This is where that valuable first impression rule applies…

2) Tradeshows – Logos can be large or small, depending on your booth size. Tradeshows are where all the action is, that’s why so many companies choose to impress with their booth design. The logo can either be inset directly into the field carpet, or it can be featured as a separate area rug – this rug can even be re-used at the company HQ.

3) Special Events – A whole host of special events feature this approach in branding. Often the logo rug will be at the entrance of an Award Ceremony like the Oscars, or a Grand Opening for a retail outlet. These are unique opportunities to reflect the corporate identity with a certain elegance and style.

4) Common areas - within the business headquarters like hallways, elevators, entrances and exits are all potential areas that are decorated frequently with logo rugs. Other venues like sporting stadiums, churches, military bases and retail environments benefit from these unique rug applications

5) Wall Hangings – The ultimate banner can be displayed on any wall for eye-level visual impact. The unique tapestry logo rug attracts visitors with its soft plush quality and always stays clean!

A note on rug maintenance: just as any carpet needs to be maintained, these rugs require frequent vacuuming and occasional professional steam or dry cleaning.

If you’re looking for that higher quality factor then it’s certainly worth a closer look. The applications are numerous as we have observed here, ranging from lobbies, tradeshows, special events, most indoor common areas as well as the ultimate banner tapestry.

By Russell Webb

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Top notch installation crew - Proud of their work

Step One: Design Concepts – The bigger the scale, the easier it is to capture details in a broadloom tapestry. The complexity factor will effect pricing. If there’s a tight budget, then reducing complexity is the easiest way to bring costs down. How many colors are involved? What materials will be used? Costs on large scale wall tapestries can range from several thousand to tens of thousands.

Step Two: Production Facts – Once a design is determined, it’s time for the production phase. This can take from several weeks to several months, depending on the size and scope of the project. All of the colors and design details are handcrafted and carefully inlaid into the main field piece. Hand-carving is another feature that can be integrated into a wall tapestry. The carving adds sharpness and definition to the overall design.

Installing another 6′ x 12′ Tapestry @ Chevron HQ

Step Three: Installing The Tapestry – There are a few options for installation. A large scale tapestry will likely require a special installation: including scaffold set-up. The install can be done in a day or two. The tapestry can actually be installed in panels, similar to a wallpaper installation. The Tapestry should be securely fixed to the wall for a safe and permanent installation; this can be done using special adhesives. Smaller tapestries can be hung from a decorative rod or hooked in place.

The above example was mounted in one piece with ease.

As you can see; designing, producing, and installing a large scale tapestry doesn’t have to be a mystery. Broadloom tapestries can be a stunning addition to any corporate environment, clubhouse, or residence that has the space for it.

By Russell Webb

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Step One – Learn the Basics: What’s the best approach to learning how to make a rug? Do some research, identify the different techniques used for rug making. You’ll find basic teaching guides for latch-hook rug making kits that that will tickle Granny Smith’s fancy. If the antiquated latch hook rug-making techniques make you *yawn*, then keep your eyes open for more comprehensive custom rug fabrication programs that are designed for more serious hobbyists and entrepreneurs.

Step Two – Invest in Your Education: Identify an investment level that you’re comfortable with. Some hobbies require a larger investment than others. If you want a very low budget entry point, then Latch Hook rug-making with grandma is definitely the way to go – expect a measly investment of 50-100 dollars. On the other hand, a more specialized custom rug training program will cost 1,000 – 10,000 dollars, tools and equipment included.

Step Three – Create Your Studio: Create a space for your new studio - workroom. A garage-sized studio with a 4 x 8 table is fine for a hobbyist. The table top should line up with your hips, not too high or too low. I like to add some splashes of color in my work-space. I make cool and colorful samples and hang them on the walls. It’s fun to let those creative juices flow. Make your studio a fun place to come too and practice your hobby.

Step Four – Have fun with your rug designs: Fill up your home with your new creations. Give them away to your friends and family. Identify themes to play with; what are your interests? There are countless attractive themes like - animal print rugs, abstract designs, company logos or heck, even a Star Wars Yoda Rug! Replicating a design into a rug is easy once you learn the tricks.

Step Five – Brace Yourself: Prepare for the WOW! comments coming from friends and family when they see what you’re doing. The questions will come: ‘Where did you get this rug? You made this? Wow what talent you have… You’re so talented… this is amazing, I had no idea you could make a rug like this…”. I am not making this stuff up, it will happen.

Decorative rug making is one of those fun and creative hobbies that has the potential to uplift your spirits because it really is so rewarding. You’re actually producing a beautiful product from start to finish. Yes, of course, it does take some practice, but the steps are manageable and relatively easy to learn. Give it about 30 days of practice and you’ll be well on your way to a enjoying a fun hobby.

By Russell Webb

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This is one of the many benefits that you will be offering to your clients. That is, having the ability to integrate a design into any unique shape. Think about it, how cool would it be to make a rug that features a unique shape that most people have never seen before? These shapes can range from the more common shapes like oval, round, and octagonal to the more uncommon free-form or organic shapes. It can be as simple as this example of a Palm leaf breaking out of the standard rectangular shape (center version).

Or as elaborate as a unique geometrical-like shape that you rarely see in a rug design. Something like this design below.

There are countless methods of HOW this can be integrated into a rug. Ideas can come from basic geometric shapes, and those can even be expanded to hybrid combinations of geometric shapes. The above design is a simple combination of circles and squares. In the future we’ll probably even see some fractal shapes emerging in rug designs. Fractals are complex, yet fascinating to observe. Why not in a rug design?

Nature is a fantastic source for ideas on this topic. Broad leaves, flowers and even bamboo-like borders can break out of the confines of a typical ‘boxed-in’ rug design. This can be applied as a subtle effect or a more dramatic effect as we see in both examples above.

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