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Communication is essential for any workplace. It creates a balance between work and fun. With effective communication there is far less tension in the workplace and also creates an environment that facilitates being more than co-workers, but friends. Here are some tips for effective communication that will increase productivity or positivity in the workplace.

 

Listening is the best form of communication

When having a conversation listening is the best way to make sure you are giving the appropriate response. By listening you will be able to critically think and be able to really learn about the person. Everyone has had a conversation where a person was not effectively listening and it makes you think that your conversation is worthless to that person. That can cause tension in the workplace because it can make the person feel unimportant. Listening is also extremely important when you are in higher-level management. You have to listen to the concerns of your employees because if those are not addressed this can cause massive issues. Listening to any worker that is facing a problem is mandatory, you want to provide a safe working environment, no matter where they sit in the company.

 

There are more than verbal communication

It is stated that 93 percent of communication is done non-verbally. Think about your day-to-day how many times that you have assessed someone by the way they are dressing or just seeing how they are sitting. This is very visible when looking at job interviews. When you are the employer that is on the verge of hiring someone and you bring someone in for an interview, you are looking at what the person is wearing how they are sitting. For example, when someone is wearing a suit to an interview you assume that they are professional. Another example is when you see that a person is leaning forward and they do not have their arms crossed it shows that they are engaged and actively listening to what you are saying. When a person doesn't have their arms crossed it shows that they are an open person and that they are confident. It is things like that, that we overlook in our day-to-day life.

 

Communication is the most crucial thing when it comes to the office. When you are having problems with a certain issue or even a timeline. Talking about it is always better than leaving it to the last minute and then having a real issue. Communication can solve a multitude of problems, but a lot of people avoid it because they are afraid of conflict. Most people overthink situations and when they are approached directly and in a polite manner it is the solution to almost all problems.

As our world changes because of the Corona Virus, it is essential to fill in some of the voids that have been left by the lack of human interaction, working in a new environment, and the added stress of uncertainty. I find it as a college student that I am always trying to find ways to elevate the stress that is put on me from tests to assignments and I find that it is quite similar to some of the things that employees are going through as we are all adapting to this situation. Here are some tips that I found to make myself feel more relaxed and comfortable.

 

Working out

This has been said time and time again, but working out is a great stress reliever and can help you sharpen your mind and body at the same time. I find that if I am having a stressful day or am stuck on an assignment I can go to the gym and clear my head and come back to it with a brand new outlook. Working out also releases hormones that make you feel happier and relaxed. I use it as a time where I can focus on myself and find it relaxing. If you don’t feel comfortable going to a gym, there are many options that you can do from the comfort of your home. Yoga is a great example of this as it is a good workout that is focusing on your body and mind and can be done anywhere. Going for a walk is also a great way to stay active and get some fresh air, this can help you stop thinking about work for a little bit because you are not confined to the walls of your “new office.”

 

Time Management

I find that when a deadline is nearing that is when I am feeling the most stressed, that is why if possible getting these things done in an organized way makes all the difference. Cramming all of your work into a small amount of time can make you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. If you plan out your days, and schedule a few breaks, you will feel that you will get things done better and more efficiently.

 

Social Interaction

This can still be done safely, it is always a good thing to keep in touch with friends and family, and talking to them can do wonders. Most of them are just a phone call away and they are always happy to hear from you and what you have on your mind. Also with this day and age, you and your significant other can find a new hobby that you would have never thought of. One of the examples that I have done is fishing. When it was warmer out after my day of work I would go out to a pond or lake with my family and just go fishing, this is a great activity that helps you get out into nature and help you not think about work.

 

I hope that this can help you or others as we go through this virus. Just remember that you are not the only one going through this and communication can always solve your problems, if you are getting stressed talking about the concern you have can help you tremendously. People are more understanding than you think and asking for extra time or just a day off has never hurt anyone.

When entering a market it is important to have a great understanding of your customer base and making sure that your product is the best that it can be. It may be hard because you are fighting other products that have been on the market for much longer than yours. That is where marketing becomes key. In this day and age where most of the products are only differentiated by the brand value, it is key that you can be the best for your customers. The value proposition is how you are going to differentiate yourself among the hundreds of other products. Here are some things that you can do to ensure that your product can beat your competitors.

 

Product

It is crucial that you bring something different to the table or provide the consumer something that will drive them to your brand over others. For example, you can package yours in a fashion where the user can gather an experience from it. Another way is to have an overall superior product where the product really does speak for itself. It can beat out the others because the quality is better than the rest. The main purpose for all of this is because having loyal customers will lead to success. Loyal customers are easier and cheaper to retain and may recommend the product to others which will create a buzz around your product. 

 

Marketing

If you have the best product in the market it will all go to waste if it never gets in front of the consumer. You need to create advertisements that will drive people to try your product for the first time rather than them getting the item that they have always gotten. You need to make your product seem desirable and how it will solve a problem that they might be facing. This is where getting to know your consumers becomes key. You need to know their pain points, this has been a tactic that has been used for years, you need to find a problem that they may be facing that you can solve. For example, back in the 90s when women wanted to drink, they didn’t want to drink beer, so this is when wine started to get big. A big push by a company called Arbor Mist created a product that was targeted towards females so that they would be able to drink with the men and didn’t have to drink beer. This solved the pain point and became a huge success by selling more than 450 thousand cases in their first year. They found a pain point and exploited it to make a booming business that made millions of dollars.

 

Focusing on value propositions will drive customers to your product and will increase your conversion rate and will give your marketing team leverage over some of the other products on the market. This is something that every single person needs to think about when creating a product or marketing strategy. The one thing that you need to remember is that you have to keep your promise. You can not claim specific things and then not be able to uphold your promise. The value proposition has to be truthful and if it is will pay off ten-fold. 

When talking about the tools of the trade everyone in the industry knows some software or systems that they could not live without. There are two business practices that you should focus on, Management and Marketing. These practices need to be revamped and updated regularly. Here are some tips that you can implement to make sure those practices listed above will help you grow your company or save you money.

 

Management Tools

Management is the foundation that makes your company successful, this is the structure that will make sure your business stays afloat. With good management, you will make sure that you will be profitable and have leaders that will usher you to succeed. Here are some tips that you can use to make sure your management can be the best it can be.

 

Communication

Communication is the starting point of every project. It is essential for your company to stay connected and updated, think about all of the projects that are occurring at the same time, but no one was communicating what they are doing. The bigger the team the harder this gets some applications that I have had success using is Slack and Asana.

Slack is an instant messaging application that can be used to make sure everyone in your company is staying on the same page. This program has a great user interface that makes it easy for you and your coworkers to communicate. The other one that I have mentioned is Asana.

Asana is an application is used to organize tasks and make sure that your deadlines are met. This is a great application that management can use to make sure that others stay on a schedule and have a quantified list of tasks that reminds them what they need to do in a specified timeline.

 

Marketing Tools

Though whenever times are time marketing expense is the first to go, marketing is one of the most important aspects of a company. If you think about it logically, you can have the best product or service in the market, but if the people don’t know about you then it doesn’t matter. Marketing is what informs your customers that you actually exist and when done correctly will drive customers to your company and will generate revenue. Here is a specific example that can help generate some traffic.

 

 Email Marketing

  • Though everyone always says that email marketing is dead, based on 2018 data it is far from it. Email marketing is still ranked the most effective marketing channel. This means that this form of marketing beat out SEO and Social Media marketing. I believe that this is because email is still used more than any other platform and it is easier to target your audience directly. It is stated in 2017 that more than 85 percent of adults on the internet use email, this beats out search engines and social media. So when creating an email marketing campaign here are some things that you should consider.

 

  • Manners
    It is crucial to remember that you are a guest in their inbox and manners are what can make the difference from them reading your email rather than them instantly deleting it. It is easier to create a campaign if you put yourself in the shoes of the people you are targeting.

 

  • Great Content

When looking to create an email campaign you want to make sure you make an impression. The best way to do this is to have a great call to action and make sure that your information is relevant.  Also when planning this campaign make sure that you have created follow-up emails that you can send out at least once a week to make sure your customers are reminded of your services.

 

Now that you have gotten some tips and tools, implementation is the hardest part. All of these things will help your bottom line.  Make sure you use some of these tips and implement them to make sure those practices listed above will help you grow your company or save you money.

3 Ways to Improve Your Packaging

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Packaging is the first segway for your customer to experience your product, it needs to relay the same message your product is trying to convey to tell a story that will add to the user experience. The design of your packaging has a few tasks, to provide transportation, but to also affect the customer’s perception of your product. For example, a glass perfume bottle with a thicker bottom gives off the perception that the fragrance is more expensive than one without a thick glass bottom. Here are some tips for you to make sure your packaging stands out.

 

Using Green Packaging

With the world becoming more conscious with the amount of waste that they are generating, companies should also be taking that into consideration. Green packaging is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and to improve your brand image. It is stated in a recent study that 78% of customers between the ages of 18 to 72 felt more positive about a product whose packaging was made up of recycled materials. Some of the things that you could use are biodegradable bubble wrap, Plant-based biomaterials or Starch-Based Biomaterials. When using green packaging the best thing to think of is the three R’s, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. If you can reduce the amount of materials you are using by using tougher and thinner materials you will save in shipping costs and the job will get done just the same

 

Keep Things Simple

 When thinking of packaging there is always too much but that is for you to decide, if you can’t there is nothing wrong with going simple. Simple will make sure that your packages will be packed correctly and the packers will not be overwhelmed with the amount of options that would be needed to fulfill the order. Keeping it simple will also have increased quality because it increases the chance that the package will be packed properly and consistently, this will lead to a more satisfied customer.

 

Know your Target Demographic

During package design it is extremely important to make sure that you know who your  product is intended to go to. Your packaging needs to match the brand identity so that you will sell the ideal amount that said product. You need to make up different personas that may come in contact with your packaging and differentiate the scenarios so that it is ideal for everyone that you are targeting. Taking your own expertise into account as well, we have all had packaging that gives off an experience that gives you a sense of satisfaction, such as when buying a luxury good they will offer extra packaging like the Louis Vuitton that they wrap around their iconic orange box or when you have bought a product and the packaging was hard to open. Making sure that your packaging is going to appeal to a your target market will make sure that your packaging will be perfect for your purchasing demographic, which in turn will result in more sales.

Is it time that you move out of your house and choosing a fulfillment center? When choosing a fulfillment center there should be many things that come to mind, like where are the bulk of my orders coming from and how much is the transportation costs, what is the accuracy rate of this company? Another thing that is crucial to look at is the square footage of their location, can they handle your order, and do they have the history to do it effectively and efficiently. Here is more insight that could be helpful when you are choosing a fulfillment location

 

Location

Location is crucial because, in the long run, this will save you money and maybe even get your product to the customer faster. Choosing a company that has multiple locations in optimal parts of the United States is important, Complemar has locations that are strategically placed across the United States to make sure that your packages get to where they need to go in the shortest amount of time possible. A centralized location can be helpful because studies say that if a customer waits more than 7 days for a package they expect the shipping to be free.

 

Cost

 This is something that you need to look at with your product in mind because your retail costs need to offset the cost of the fulfillment, shipping, and manufacturing. So keeping this in mind you need to make sure that you are not moving to fast, it is sometimes smart to slow down and keep doing things on your own until you are at a volume where it is physically impossible to keep up with the demand of your product. If you do eventually need a fulfillment center, don’t be scared to ask about what rates they charge for, receiving, warehousing, pick and packing, and shipping. These are all costs that are going to be different per company, so shopping around is a good option, but beware that some companies seem too good to be true. You may need to pay more so your service is better or that you will have a better product manager that is very responsive.

 

Growing to the point of needing a fulfillment service is extremely exciting, but make sure you take all the necessary steps to ensure that you are going to sign with the right company that wants to see you succeed. Make sure they have a proven track record and during the meeting make sure you ask all the necessary questions so you are surprised later by fees that you may have not known about.

With the start of the new year, some trends have been surfacing. Most of it has to do with the COVID-19 virus and how the people are currently coping with this global pandemic. The effects of this are very prevalent and in the course of the last few months, the retail landscape has completely changed. We want you to be ready for some of the effects it might have on your business, so here are some trends that you may want to keep an eye on in the coming months.

 

Buying Habits

With the pandemic, the shift from brick and mortar to online shopping is a drastic change that has many companies rushing to keep up with the demand that is now occurring. Most people are now looking online first and not going to their local stores to see some of the odds and ends that they need. This has forced the eCommerce sector to go into overdrive to keep up with the global demand. This is a good and a bad thing. It is a good thing because if you have a reliable system in place it is easy to deal with a new influx of new users, but it is also driving entrepreneurs and large companies into the landscape. The competition is steadily growing as many people see this as a big opportunity to make some quick cash. The solution to this is to make sure customer retention and happiness are at an all-time high. Making sure your customer is happy should be your number one priority as the marketplace is being flooded by big corporations and hopeful business owners.

 

Social Media

Social media has been around for multiple years and it may not seem like the most optimal thing if you are an eCommerce company, but with younger generations getting into owning businesses it is the time to stop the inevitable and join! It’s quick, fun, and most importantly free! By doing this future customers can get an inside look at your company and see some of the fantastic things that you do to make sure you are pleasing the customer at every turn.

 

Mobile Optimization

Your website is the face of your business, with almost every customer doing some research before reaching out it is important to make sure that your website is accessible from any device, you never know when your next client will be looking into expanding their business and if they find your website clunky and unusable from their phone they are just going to go to the next site.

 

eCommerce is a booming industry that is growing at an incredible rate. With the pandemic occurring worldwide wide those numbers are only going to be increasing drastically, this is the perfect opportunity for you to expand your business and make sure you have the size and capacity to deal with the demand. We hope that some of these tips are helpful to you and will make sure you are ready to take on 2021 in stride!

2020 Recap

Tuesday, 05 January 2021

This year has been one like no other for us at Complemar.  In the past, when employees asked if they could work from home, we would wring our hands carefully weighing all the pros and cons, and then develop a strict set of rules by which to operate.   When the Pandemic hit this year, we simply asked all our office employees to work from home, without thought of rules.  Keeping all our associates safe became our primary objective; especially those who were working in our facilities doing the receiving, picking, packing, and shipping of our customers’ orders.  We physically divided associates into small teams with separate lunch and restroom facilities limiting their exposure to the rest of us in the company as much as possible.  Anyone who could work from home, including me, started doing so immediately. Our offices are mostly empty.

 

Surprise, surprise, no one skipped a beat.  Everything is getting done, maybe even better and more efficiently and employee morale is up. Thanks to our great IT team, our technology is working well. Most meetings are now conducted virtually, and we ask our team members to turn on their cameras to help us stay socially connected.

 

Office employees now working from home have seen increased efficiencies and we are much better with on-time attendance for meetings. Live meetings have been put on hold until this is over.  Instead, we are sending out regular video updates to keep everyone informed. When we were notified of COVID positive cases at our OKC and Sparks facilities, there were no other associates who tested positive.  We believe this lack of transmission was the result of careful adherence to the CDC guidelines (Watch your distance, Wear a mask and Wash your hands) and to temperature taking and rigorous cleaning protocols.

 

Fortunately, many of our existing customers are growing and new customers are signing up for our fulfillment services in response to the growth of their e-commerce businesses. Thankfully we have been able to expand our hours of operation to accommodate this increased demand. 

Nothing compares to the COVID-19 pandemic since the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 that killed 675,000 Americans. We could learn from history; it came in waves just like we are experiencing now. People were asked to wash their hands, socially distance, and wear their masks.  There was resistance to following those simple rules and the result was 50 Million deaths over 2 years.

I know how very tired everyone is with the stringent rules we are being asked to follow, but the recent news of vaccines should give us all hope that the end is in sight. The steps that were taken early on to keep us safe have paid off on multiple fronts.  Most importantly, our employees and their family are healthy.  Additionally, our company has been able to receive, pick, pack, and ship our customers’ products throughout this pandemic and that keeps our company healthy.  Finally, shipping our customers’ products on time and accurately has resulted in the survival and health of their businesses.  There is much to be thankful for, our heroic health care workers, our brilliant scientists, our loyal essential workers all doing double duty to help the world get back to the “New Normal”.  We are all in this together. Stay safe.

During these trying times getting your package may be the least of your worries, but order fulfillment has taken a hit. This is not like every holiday season, being this may be the worst that we have seen. With more packages being shipped out this year than previous because of the travel restrictions and the overall conscious decision to stay safe your order may be delayed weeks because of the overflowing number of packages that the shipping companies are dealing with. That example is a prime example of when crisis management can be used. A crisis management plan is one of the most useful plans that your company can come up with. Here are some tips that you can use to overcome problems in the future.

 

  1. Expect The Unexpected

Most companies believe that the problem needs to be solved after the problem has occurred. Only 10 percent of major disruptions are truly unexpected. However, with the COVID-19 virus, we all knew that there were going to be delays, so planning is crucial to every case. The best way to go about this is once a quarter brings in a team that can come up with likely scenarios that may occur in the future. This is where you can hypothesis with the industry professionals that you have working for your company to make a small book of things that may occur and solutions that can be used to solve them. This book can be used as an outline since the exact problem may not happen, but similar situations might arise.

 

  1. Be Proactive

Being proactive comes when the crisis occurs and when trying to prevent major disruptions in day to day operations. Planning for events that might happen is very important so the crisis can be dealt with swiftly. When going in with a plan, any problem can be solved quickly and efficiently. If you think about it in a none business way, every time you get on a plane everyone has to watch the safety video where if anything does go wrong there is a plan to make sure that you can get off the plane. This is the same thing that your company should do, prepare for scenarios, and train a specialized team to deal with the problems if they ever do occur. Another important piece is when making a statement to only say what you are prepared to say. Don't say anything that you can not back-up or prove.

 

When dealing with crises it is important to move quickly and be transparent with your audience. Cover-ups only tarnish your name, being truthful will make sure that you are not digging yourself into a deeper pit. No one has ever been in trouble for being too prepared, but people get in trouble for not being prepared, so have a contingency plan and keep your company going the best it can go.

3 Tips to Improve Customer Retention

Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Every business person knows that retaining a customer is always better than going out and getting a new one. It is stated that retaining customers will increase profits by 25 to 95 percent, so that is why we need to keep our customers coming back and satisfied. It is also far more expensive to go out and gain new customers over retaining existing ones. Here are some tips that you could use to make sure you always have your customers coming back for more.

      1. Make sure your customers are happy

When selling a product or a service the customer is the most important thing that you need to worry about. Taking care of the customer is crucial in having return customers who are loyal to your business. Another thing that is crucial in ensuring customer satisfaction is good customer service. If a customer is having problems with a product or service they will need to be able to communicate their concerns and frustrations. Making sure their problems are solved promptly is as important as the solution itself, so make sure that you are answering on time.

      2. Communication is key

When dealing with clients, it is important to communicate what you are capable of doing, along with communicating any concerns that you may have. Another key element to this is keeping up with your customers, check in on them and see if they are satisfied and if they want to do more business in the future. It’s also best not to burn bridges when trying to get customers, you never know if they are going to become future customers. One last thing that will make sure customer retention will increase is to always be transparent, if you are having difficulties with an order they are more likely to be willing to work with you if you do not spring these problems on them after the fact and when it is affecting their business.

      3. Show customers appreciation

If you show the customer that they are not just a number to you and a valued asset or partner they will be more likely to stay loyal to your company. Even the little things like sending them a hand-written card thanking them for their business can mean the world. Keeping things fresh and making them feel appreciated will make them feel like they are apart of something bigger. A cheap and effective way is sending out an email blast that thanks them every quarter or year, it is a small gesture that can make an impact. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the need to stay genuine. Doing all of these acts won’t matter if you don’t truly care. Be happy to support each other and celebrate success.

Customer retention is sometimes overlooked when getting new clients, at the end of the day we need to remember that loyal customers, in the long run, will grant you a successful and more profitable business.

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Complemar Locations

Rochester, NY (Headquarters)
Harrisburg, PA
Oklahoma City, OK
Reno, NV
Buffalo, NY (Complemar Print)

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