Wanna fun and easy way to raise $$ for your school??

I'm sure many off you attended your child's Back to School night as I did,and got the same report from your PTA, "It's gonna be a tough year and we really need help raising money to keep programs going. sigh." Whether your kids are in preschool or grade school, everybody's hurtin'. We have been hosting some great fundraising events at the cafe lately, and it occurred to me that this could be the perfect way to help out our local neighborhood schools and have some fun while we are at at. Here's the gameplan:

1. 
   You, or your fundraising representative from your school, contact our party coordinator to select an evening for your event. (510-459-3811)
   We will work together to pick a night and time where members of your school or daycare join us for dinner and playtime at SadieDey's.


2. 
   Announce your "Meet and Greet Fundraiser Night" to the parents and administrators of your school.


3. 
   Try to get as many parents and families as you can to join us for dinner and playtime on your designated night, and Sadiedey's pays you a percentage of proceeds that very night!

Your school not only gets a fun "Meet and Greet" event but you get to hand over a check to your school that you earned by enjoying a fun night out.

Be the Hostess and the Hero!

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

tangobaby: Give Cheeks a Chance TONIGHT

tangobaby: Give Cheeks a Chance TONIGHT

Hello Bad Sales People. I have some tips for you.

I was so shocked by how badly this saleswoman missed the mark with me this week that I've decided to give some tips to those people who would like to find success in selling me advertising (or anything else for that matter)

1. Research my business. At least read my website and have some idea what kind of business we are.
   
2. Spell my name correctly.
3. Ask for me-not the manager and not Sadie (my daughter)If you ask for the manager I will pretend that she has left for the day.
4. Spell or pronounce the name of my cafe with reasonable accuracy. If it's confusing, ask me how to pronounce it and maybe where the name came from. If you want my business I think this is a reasonable show of respect.
   
5. Praise my efforts. That's right. If you want me to believe in you- start with believing in me. Tell me what a wonderful place I have created and what a wonderful addition it would make to your publication.
6. Make an appointment! Or at least have the intelligence not to walk into or call a cafe for kids at lunchtime and think you will get anything but disdain if you ask for my full attentions while I am juggling staff, kids lattes, food and complete chaos.
7. If you come in unannounced, ask if this is a good time for me and If I would be able to speak now or schedule an appointment. If you just start talking without any consideration as to whether or not now is a good time-It won't be.
8. Walk in the door and say hello. Don't just stand with your glossy kit at the front gate and make me come to you.
9. Better yet-Order something. Whenever I try to make a connection with another business I buy something for goodness sakes. Sadie and I spent 100.00 on Piedmont ave. once while asking folks to pass out our fliers. We bought gifts, lunch, small toys, trinkets etc... If I want their patronage I will patronize them as well. I didn't spend over 5.00 in any one place but a gesture is a gesture.
10. Don't tell me that you've never heard of me before this week. Even if it's true this is not a way to convince me that your ad would have made all the difference. There is no silver bullet in PR and Marketing. If there was one book or magazine that magically reached all the customers that you would ever need we wouldn't have to look at ugly billboards and have all our shows interrupted all the time :)
    
11. DON"t tell me where I currently advertise. I know that already and showing me that you did your homework is creepy. Keep it to yourself.
12. If I decline, please don't say, and this is verbatim from my last peddler "Oh, so you don't want any new customers???" Passive aggression is not a sales tactic that generally works with me or anyone else for that matter.
13. Do have your facts, demographics, trends, and testimonials in order. Why would I pay you to advertise to less people than I currently have on my own mailing list. Perhaps I should sell you some advertising.
14. DO smile and be personable. I'm a mom and a businesswoman and if you don't completely piss me off first, I WILL listen to you and try to help you with your business just as many helped me with mine.
15. Do follow up. Send me a thank you for my time, an unsolicited tip, a twitter referral for goodness sakes. Just because I say no now, does not me that I always will. When I am ready for that ad, I'm calling the person who stuck with it and proved to me that they knew how to market themselves. That's who I will pay to market my business.

Hey, it's up to you. If you want to wander over, insult me, and do the minimal amount of effort in the hopes that I will turn over my hard earned $$ to you because I think your marketing is brilliant in spite of your lackluster presentation just ask yourself "How's that workin' for ya?"

I know I've let the bitch out with this post but if you can get through my sarcasm and disdain for the number of salespeople who made me nuts this week, I hope I have provided some useful tips from the viewpoint of a small business owner.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!