Shopping can be a lot of fun when you are just out browsing for something new, but if you have one or two things that you have to find, it can be downright frustrating. Finding what you need at a price that you can afford to pay or are willing to pay is sometimes a challenge. This blog is all about shopping for hard to find items. You will learn tips and find some resources that can assist you in finding what it is that you are looking for. Hopefully, the tips here will help take the frustration out of your shopping experience.
Building a successful business is a dream come true for many Americans. For some it is a way to add additional income to the household budget, while for others it is a way to become their own boss or escape an unfulfilling career. However, many of those who wish to become business owners never move forward in pursuit of their dream because they think they lack the experience or financial capacity needed to pursue their chosen business venture. This is especially true in businesses such as event planning, where a certain amount of experience and basic equipment and supplies are needed to plan large celebrations such as weddings and social events for both private and business clients. If you are yearning for a career as an event planner, but feel you cannot compete with more established competitors, the following tips will help you gain valuable experience and learn how to find low-cost alternatives to purchasing the equipment and supplies you will need.
Gaining Valuable Business Insight For Free
Nothing turns a business dream into a successful reality easier that getting valuable advice from others who have already created successful small businesses. Many of these retired business people take part in free mentoring programs to help new business owners benefit from their experiences. On a local level, mentors can often be found through business groups and civic organizations. On a national level, agencies such as the Small Business Administration also offer a mentoring program to help new business owners with many issues relating to starting and growing a business venture. In addition to looking for a mentor who can give you advice about event planning, your business will also benefit from working with a mentor in areas like accounting, business taxation, records management and basic business practices.
Trading Time for Experience
Another way to gain valuable business experience that you can use in your own event planning business is to spend time volunteering to help an established, successful event planner in a nearby community, outside the area where you will be working. Because you will not be in direct competition with them, an established event planner will be more likely to consider your request to work with them for free, in return for learning from their experience. If your relationship with them is good, you may even be able to refer clients to each other later or work together on large projects after you get your business up and running.
Establishing Professional Business Communications at No Cost
Communications is important for any business, and even more so for a business like event planning. While it is possible to give out your home or mobile phone number and personal contact information if you wish, a more professional option is to create a separate business phone number, web page and email address using free services.
Services like these use apps or computer software capable of transferring incoming calls automatically to your home or mobile phone. This allows you to maintain separate contact information for your business and eliminates the need to expose your private phone number when marketing your business. Email and Internet faxing options are also available as free programs and apps.
Use What You Have and Rent the Rest
Keeping costs low during your business startup is a good way to help increase your chances of success. To help you accomplish this feat, opt to use items that you may already have access to whenever possible. Tools and necessary equipment that you do not already own are often available at very reasonable rates from a commercial equipment rental company, instead of purchasing them with your limited operating capital.
As a new event planner, look around your home for items that you can use in your business, such as vacuums, cleaning supplies, tableware, cookware and decorations. To secure a source for items like tables, chairs, wedding arches, candelabra and other necessary equipment and supplies, look for a high-quality commercial rental equipment company in your area. Take time to meet with their staff, view their inventory and let them know what type of equipment your business requires. In addition, take time to learn about their rental and return policies so that you will be ready to move forward with renting what you need when you book your very first client.
Share20 November 2015
