The "Practical Buddy System"

Often when we as trainers go to different cities to teach, one of the first questions asked is, “How many more times will you be coming here? Please don’t train anymore people in this area." (After me, of course) (tee hee) Well, if that is the way you feel it is time to change your paradigm. More is better. There is power in numbers. The reason we travel and bring classes to pockets of the country that do not have a lot of decorating, redesign and staging professionals is because we know and understand the power and strength of numbers. "Wait, aren't all of the other decorating professionals in my area my competition?" Our answer is, "No, not necessarily." Let’s look at this a different way.

Can you alone, educate everyone in, say a town, like Memphis, Atlanta, or Houston, about the power of staging or the joy of a one-day room make over? Even if you live in a small town, you alone can’t reach everyone.

Can you alone, pay what it would take to advertise enough in a area to bring up public awareness of

your products and services?

Can you alone, service all the clients and fix all the ugly homes that need a makeover, real estate staging or color consultation in your area?

Here, let me help with that answer. It is NO.

But with a "Practical Decorating Buddy" you can divide and conquer. With a “Practical Decorating Buddy” you can do more with less effort, time, and money.

Here are a couple of examples of how having a"Decorating Buddy" can work for you, not against you.

Co-op advertises. You and your buddy share the cost of an ad in a local paper

Take turns fielding the calls and share the leads. Working with a buddy will allow you to run a bigger ad or a color ad, that is too pricey for you alone."Decorating Buddies" make it possible. Advertising alone consistency is difficult Advertising with a buddy allows for longer staying power and more powerful ads.

Here are more reason to use the "Practical Buddy System."

Booth at a local trade show. Cost of the booth is more than you have in your budget. Also, you are a one man show and the booth has to be manned from 9 until 9. Wow, when would you go to the bathroom?

However with a "Practical Decorating Buddy" it would cost you less and you have help.

2. You get a call for a really big job and I mean really big. Alone you might have to turn it down. But with the ability to call in your "Practical Decorating Buddies" you can take the job and it can be a win - win for everyone.

Let's look at it broken down one more way. You want to open a pizza shop but no one in your town has ever heard of pizza. The town knows nothing about pizza. You now have to spend all of your money, time and energy, marketing and educating the public. In reality, all you want to do is make great pizza. But if there are other pizza joints out there that are doing the same thing, then the public already knows what it is and why they want it. All you have to do make a great pizza and give outrageous customer service and get rich. Simple right?

So look for a "Decorating Buddy" in your area. Welcome the competition, go to lunch, share how you can help one another to get rich. Get to know your buddy and how you can work together.

Let me hear from you on how you were able to divide and conquer with your very own "Practical Decorating Buddy or Buddies". There are more than enough ugly homes for everyone.

Remember, a potential client needs to see your ad at least 7 times before they are motivated to contact you. Sharing the expenses helps you to deliver the message more often.