Friday, October 10, 2008

Coupon clipping

by Cinda Baxter on October 10, 2008

in Economy, Retail, Shopping List

A lot of special offers and dealer benefits land in my email box. Rather than horde, I’ll periodically post them here for your use.*

The grand plan was to save them up for a simple end-of-the-week list. Imagine my surprise this morning when, upon reading the fine print, I found that four of them-—four-—were only valid for 48 hours. A gnat’s lifespan is longer than that. Sheesh.

The “Don’t blink or you’ll miss it” approach is a sign of nervous vendors who don’t want to give anything away. Well, get over it. We’re all going to have give something away if we want to make it to January. Retailers aren’t going to jump at impulse purchases while counting the change under their desk to make payroll. You’ve got to give them time to process the idea, then fit it into their budget.

That said, only two offers extended beyond the 48-hour window:

Marsupial Press
Tel: 425.251.8558
Fax: 425.251.8998
marsupialpapers.com/holiday.htm
Offer: Through Oct. 31st, buy any holiday product or custom holiday invite and receive 15% off the total. Must fax in a copy of the email (contact me and I’ll forward it to you). As long as you’re at it, give ‘em a poke about the typo (“i before e,” except in a promo?).

The online Epson Store
Last “stock up on supplies” special of the year-—10% off ink and paper. Use code 8ZTCASE to get the deal. True, it’s not big, but every penny counts, especially if you’re a stationer heavy into in-house printing. Their ink carts have a pretty long life span, unlike HP carts. To go straight to the ink carts page, click here. Offer ends 10/15/08.

If there are other vendors out there who’d like me to spread the word, drop me a line with the offer included. I’ll do my best to help you out.

*Obviously, many of these are limited to current dealers. If you don’t carry the lines, take a look anyway. Might be a good time to add fresh product to your lineup.

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Just how safe ARE you?

by Cinda Baxter on October 10, 2008

in Business, Economy, Independent Retailers

Given this morning’s plummet on Wall Street-—the entire week’s plummet, for that matter-—retailers are wondering just how well their back sides are covered. Sole proprietor…LLC…Sub-S…ee-eye-ee-eye-oh…. What was a simple tax question a few years ago is now a matter of legal protection, should the worst come to pass.

Nina Kauffman, a New York attorney specializing in small business matters, recognizes the urgency behind owners having a firm handle on their legal position. To explain the various options and implications, she’s presenting a free teleseminar next week:

“Are You Exposing Yourself? How Choosing the Right Business Form Provides Protections and Peace of Mind”
Date: Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008
Time: 8:00 E / 7:00 C / 6:00 M / 5:00 P
Topics include (but are not be limited to):

  • The different kinds of business entities that will protect your assets
  • How to weigh and balance the options to choose what’s right for you
  • The drawbacks to handling business formation online
  • How to find advisors who can guide you to your goals

I’ve spent time with Nina and can assure you she’s (a) real, and (b) grounded, and (c) invested in your success. Personally, I can’t imagine a better time to get a grip on your legal situation and the implications of not being properly organized…and can’t imagine a better person to help you do that.

Space is limited, so don’t delay. Follow the link and get registered. Now.

See you on the teleseminar…..

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