Etsy Shop Review - Dell Cove Spices

In my recent posting Re-post: What's Your Purple Goldfish?, I invited your comments for how you make your customers feel special.  And in return, I offered to feature one random and lucky reader with an Etsy shop review.  It is my pleasure to announce the winner: Dell Cove Spices!

And in full candor, I want to reveal that I featured this awesome shop earlier this year.  Today's review is a reposting of that article.  However, since my blogging skills have advanced in the past eight months, I'm able to share a cleaner blog and photos of their amazing products.  I hope you enjoy today's posting and try their flavorful products if you haven't already.

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Happy Wednesday!

One of the things I would like to do in this space is to give thanks to those who have helped me along the way. Just a few months ago, I was invited to join a team on Etsy, the Promotional Frenzy Team. While I will extend a public thanks to our fearless team leader at a later date, I would like to use this opportunity to thank my mentor, Patricia of  Dell Cove Spices .

Gourmet popcorns and seasonings

First, and most important, the shop. If you are a food connoisseur (or even not!), you simply have to try the products Dell Cove Spices offers. So far, I have tried popcorn flavorings Italian Parmesan and White Cheddar, the latter which is the closest to POPCORN NIRVANA I have every found! I was also sent a sample of their Barbeque Rub, which made my Barbeque Chicken Pizza come simply alive! 

And gifts galore! I ordered their cocktail sugars for coworkers and have heard glorious praises for their products!

Second, Patricia is just a jewel. David, I’ve not met you yet, but I can’t wait for the day we convo or email! As a mentor on the team, Patricia has provided not just words of wisdom, but real life centering to make me think about how I’m running my business. So often, we get absorbed in our art that we forget about the business aspect. Even the most educated among us can forget that if we’re not making money, we just have an expensive hobby. Patricia provides that does of realism with a good dose of friendship.

Dell Cove Spices is a company ready to burst at the seams. Terrific products with terrific people behind them. If you’ve not tried their products yet, please do. If you have, please continue to support them.

Thanks so much for all you bring to our team!

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UPDATE:

Since this article was originally posted, Patricia and Dave have brought many new products to market, my favorite of which are their sugar cubes.

Blood Orange sugar cubes

These unique treats are made from antique molds and are packaged in a high quality truffle box, tied with their signature purple bow.  All products arrive to you with at least one recipe. Please check out Dell Cove Spices today!

Fall Decor: Decorating with Candles

As we head into fall (hard to believe, isn't it?), now is a good time to begin thinking about transitioning our homes into autumn decor.  Today's post is inspired by a few photos I've found for decorating your interior with candles.  Enjoy!

Floater candles with twigs
For an easy and elegant display, bring in some twigs, add colored water (optional) and add floater candles. 

Autumn leaf votive holder
Use two glass candle holders or cups, one slightly smaller than the other. Line the larger glass with leaves, insert the smaller glass, pressing the leaves between the two glasses.

Candles and Corks
For the wine lover, line a larger glass or vase with corks, and insert a smaller glass or votive holder to illuminate your exquisite taste. 

Harvest Nuts
Line the bottom of various hurricane vases with walnuts, pecans, chestnuts, or your favorites, place a pillar candle in the center, and cluster together.

Rustic Candlelight
Place antique graters or tins on a wood platter with dried flowers or potpourri and add a simple votive or two for a rustic, country touch.

For more ideas, check my Pinterest board.  

Enjoy!

Re-post: What's Your Purple Goldfish?

Today I've decided to re-post my most popular posting this year: What's Your Purple Goldfish? After all, it's all about the customers and how we are able to make them feel special.  Please take some time to re-read the post, and write your favorite experiences at the end.  Are you a business? Please post how you make your customers feel special.  Are you a customer? (hint, we all are) Please post your favorite customer experience.  As my special gift to you, I'll feature one lucky author of a comment in an upcoming post.

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This week I had the opportunity to travel to a conference and listen to featured speaker Stan Phelps.  Mr. Phelps recently published a book, What's Your Purple Goldfish? I'm not going to give away the secret of what a purple goldfish is, but I will share with you the gist of his message.

The subtitle of the book is How to Win Customers & Influence Word of Mouth.  Mr. Phelps began on a journey to find 1,001 examples of marketing lagniappe.  What's lagniappe? Pronounced lan-yap, it's a Creole term for "a little something extra." This book is the result of his findings of examples of companies who deliver excellent customer services by giving "a little something extra" to their customers.

I haven't completed the book yet, so I'm relying upon my memory of his presentation to give you my favorite examples of marketing lagniappe:

1. Bigelow Tea - A recent customer ordered a box of Bigelow Vanilla Chai Tea, and the first item that fell out was a packet of Constant Comment.  The customer feared he had received the wrong order.  Instead, it turned out to be a complimentary sample, and the customer was delighted to have a fun new item to try.
2. Plaza Cleaners - This Portland, Oregon company posts a sign on their door, "If you are unemployed an need an outfit clean for an interview, we will clean it for free."  They're paying it forward; maybe, just maybe, the local economy will improve a bit if that person gets the job.
3. Nurse Next Door - We all make mistakes, as much as we strive for business and personal perfection.  If this home health service provider makes a mistake, they deliver a fresh baked apple "humble pie" as an apology for the poor customer service. 
4. Southwest Airlines - Ok, we've all seen this one, but who doesn't love the "bags fly free" marketing message? 
5. Nordstrom - This company is famous for its excellent customer service, but I found this story exceptionally interesting.  One customer's feet were two different sizes: a 9 and a 9.5.  The salesman at the store split two pairs of shoes for one order. 

Now, the book is more than short stories about the little somethings extra companies do. It really is a study into marketing behavior and how develop the customer experience.  There are some fantastic, basic rules that will make sense more than your college textbook.

Do you offer a little something extra to your customers? It's not always easy, especially if you're a small business, like me.  I have two.  The first is the Bigelow Tea example. This lagniappe was born out of economy, not marketing strategy.  I send a "Krazee Kandel" with every order.  Some are tea lights, some are votives, all made from leftover amounts of wax I cannot use in the future. It's supply I have, can't do anything with, yet is a relevant gift as a means to say "thank you."  Always packaged neatly with my signature froggie thank you tags.

My second was recently introduced.  Knowing happy customers are the best word of mouth, I decided to start a referral program.  To my repeat customers, I include a referral card for them to give a friend or colleague to recommend my product.  If that friend makes a purchase, she/he receive 15% off their entire order, and my customer receives the same discount from her next order.  The discounts are truly minimal given the increased sales brought my way.

So today I ask you, what is your marketing lagniappe?  Post it here.  Maybe a reader will be inspired to follow your example, maybe a new to you customer will see if and bring you new business!

P.S. All those who post their examples, will be entered into a drawing.  If I draw your name, I'll feature your shop in an upcoming post!