Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thanksgiving Thoughts :   
When you are in business you have a tendency to feel alone....after all you are the one who is responsible for... well everything. Even if you have employees...you are still the one that as President Harry Truman stated, "The buck stops here." And that is at it should be. 

The BONUS is the friends you make along the way. Fellow business owners who share with you, associates who help and customers who are loyal.

Today I am thankful for all those who have been my friends, associates, business partners and clients. Thank you for being there and thank you for still being there after all these years.


 Special Thanks to the Following: 
Joanne Quinn Smith of Positively Pittsburgh Live
Jill Kummer of Blacktie Pittsburgh, 
Donna Baxter ofThe Soul Pitt
Allen Levine of Pittsburgh Sportsline 
Ola Jackson of OWN
Diane Daniels of DID Associates
Ruth Byrd Smith, Director of Allegheny County M/W/DBE Department

Thank you for everything you do to help small business.  Happy Thanksgiving.





Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Empressofbiz, Biz Tips Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Marketing & Promoting & Fundraising during the Holiday Season

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Live & Recorded Episodes :Marketin , Promoting and  Fundraising during the Holiday Season
JoAnn R. Forrester, The Empress of Biz and Susan Newman of Suzie Brandtastic talk about Marketing  During the Holiday Business with Products to Sell, Promote and Raise Funds for your favorite charity or non-profit.  

Sunday, November 24, 2013

EmpessofBiz, Biz tips Pricing with confidence...not fear

Join me in a special  webinar presentation of Pricing with Confidence ....not Fear on Tuesday November 26, 2013 on  the Suzy Brandtastic show.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=448561418582090&set=oa.240673406092122&type=1&theater

One hour webinar on Pricing...how to avoid the the 4 F Trap , FEAR, FICTION, FANTASY &  FEELINGS  that lead to FAILURE.



Empress of Biz ReviewAnn Hampton Callaway, PNCPops, Streisand Songbook An Entertainment Delight

Ann Hampton Callaway, PNCPops, Streisand Songbook An Entertainment Delight

I had a wonderful opportunity to go to the Pittsburgh Symphony PNC Pops Series...and as you can see by the review had a great time.  When she comes back to the "burgh" make sure you go and see her.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Business of Rock and Roll and Philanthropy

EMPRESS OF BIZ! Listen! Learn! Prosper! - Live &; Recorded Episodes:
Business of Rock and Roll and Philanthropy  Sunday 10 Am
 
Text:  Lou Lombardi is the leader of Strangelove Rock N Roll Band and the founder of Loudini's Rock N Roll Extravaganza which he created to create a new type of entertainment to fill clubs and venues and a "done for you" promotion for the venue or club owner.
 
Loudini's Rock N Roll Circus is an multimedia entertainment extravaganza complete with traditional rock n roll and some very untraditional variety performers.  LRNRC is performing in clubs and venues around the tri-state area currently with a goal of filling clubs and also raising money for worthy local charities.  The premier engagement in the metropolitan Pittsburgh Area will be held at the HardRock Cafe in Station Square.  Loudini's Rock N Roll Circus Black Friday Extravaganza on November 28, 2013 will benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. 

  Hear how you can get discounted tickets and help the Food Bank at a critical time of  year when many area residents are in need. 
 

Monday, November 11, 2013

EmpressofBiz, Biz Tips Happy Veterans Day...Hire a Vet..it is good for business.

Best wishes for those who have served in the U. S. Armed Forces.  Below is a picture taken in the late summer of 1941 of my Dad, Mother and his 3 brothers.  Dad bottom left, Uncle Joe, the Youngest bottom right, Grandma in the middle, Uncle Puffy upper left and Uncle Ralph upper right
  This was several months before Pearl Harbor.  The country was recovering from the Great Depression and was looking forward to better times.  No one wanted to go to war...but they did when the call came.  All four served in the Armed Forces.  My Dad was a marine, my Uncle Puffy was a paratrooper, Uncle Ralph Army MP, and Uncle Joe Army.  Two of them were involved in D-Day in Normandy.  They did what had to be done and then came home and built our country.  There all gone now...but I remember them always in my heart.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Empressofbiz, Biz Tips Sunday Morning Reflection: Doing the RIGHT thing is Good for All!



  1. Sunday Morning Reflection: Being in business offers us the opportunity to build a secure future for families, employees and community. Listening to the news and hearing the needs of our world and our community I feel compelled to say something. While others are jockeying for position and power.... WE as business owners can make a difference. So lets do it. Why? Because it is the right thing to do...and the smart thing to do for your business. Below are some tips for you to help and take care of business at the same time. Let's do something good together.

    1. Pick an organization that is important to you. Contact the organization you have chosen and find out their guidelines and what they need.
    2. Make sure you have info about the group, so your customers & employees can learn about who you are supporting.
    3. Select  an item in your store or services that you have a good profit margin and build a special around that item. For instance..buy a coffee for $1.99 and a quarter goes to the charity.
    4. Keep a running total for people to see.
    5. Use social media to promote your drive.
    6. Tweet your total everyday.
    7. Send out Press release to local newspapers, media and bloggers etc.  Give them a call ask for their support.
    8. Besides your customers, get your employees, friends and vendors involved. People like to be part of something good and helpful
    9. How about a contest? The one who brings in the most money gets a paid day off.
    10. Most of all when you concentrate on doing good...and it will come back to you. .
    Much luck with your campaign..make something good happen today.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Empress of biz, Biz Tips! Baby Boomers are Doing it Again...Leading the Way into a New Economy!

Baby Boomers are doing it again…leading the way.

JoAnn R. Forrester, Empress of Biz.

If you are a baby boomer and getting ready to retire and think you have more dreams to accomplish, and one of them is starting your own business, you are not alone!

    Contrary to popularly held assumptions, it turns out that over the past decade or so, the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity belongs to the 55-64 age group: reported the Kauffman Foundation, which promotes entrepreneurship. The 20-34 age bracket, meanwhile, which is usually identified with swashbuckling and risk-taking youth (think Facebook and Google), has the lowest.

The outlook is great for us Baby Boomers.  We are 78 million strong and we have money to spend. And we do!  At the rate of 3.5 trillion dollars a year.  So as we leap into the next phase of our lives, especially if it is entrepreneurship, I have some advice to share from my own experiences.

  One of the things you will need  is a completely different attitude about your new job. If you have been an employee all your life, especially with major corporations, there are many things you may be unprepared for.   You are responsible for everything.  You wear multiple hats.  One minute you’re the boss, then salesperson, bookkeeper, production worker and then at the end of the day, janitor.    Forty hour week? Nope.. Always a paycheck?  No. Enough said. Always someone to take your place if you want a break or are sick.  NO!  Customer’s to please? Always!    Hard decisions to make?  Yep. It’s you.  Money? It  is yours. Not someone else’s.    

Another big hurdle you have to face  is your  family.   Your life will change and the people around you are not always going to understand.  They may not be prepared for the sacrifice, money and time, you will be making. Be prepared for them to be helpful or resentful.    

It is important for you to do a great deal of planning, thinking and talking to eliminate friction BEFORE you start your business.  Make sure you have that “financial talk” before you start.  Whether you borrow from the bank or use your own money you are taking a financial risk, which may not be tolerated by all.

I suggest you find a small business to work in, volunteer your time and experience what life is about in the business fast lane before you jump.   Talk to other business owners and ask the hard questions that you want answered. The great thing it is yours and this new venture may be the best of all...just get ready for the ride of your life.   Good luck fellow boomer! May your business dreams be an economic boom for us all.

Published in the Pittsburgh Business Times  November 8, 2013
JoAnn R.  Forreste, aka Empress of Biz