ArtBizVoice: Accessibility

Dear Mr. Trump,

This morning I found a site for artists in business. It suggested that I enlarge my business by becoming involved with an interior designer or a corporate art consultant.  I would love to do that. I’m just wondering how that might be possible.  I really am not going to be able to pack up my massive portfolio and hop on public transportation and travel to where they are. First while I am independent, I am limited in my independence due to mobility.

Seriously, if the store is too big or the parking is too far away I have to do without. Walking is a problem for me.  I have to juggle a cane and carry things. Accessibility is not just a level doorway. It is also the distance the disabled must walk from where their ride is parked.

I have heard business owners say. “ Oh we are so lucky we don’t have to have handicapped accessible entrances to our building because its grandfathered.”  They lost my business because I couldn’t navigate the stairs.

 I was thinking about this the other day. If more building designers and business managers knew the practical limitations of their elderly and disabled clients perhaps they could adapt their buildings to be more accessible. And they might not lose that business. 

I know that some businesses are trying to cut startup costs and renovations the best they can. I wonder what the figures are, the numbers of people that cant access the building and the amount of money that the business looses, because of it.  I am guessing its somewhere between 10% and 15%.  That percent could make or break a small business. And for a larger business it could means millions in business that they are not realizing. Its not about what the law allows, its about what allows those who are potential clients to participate in your business.

With an aging population and even more people becoming disabled at an earlier age due to injuries on the job and just wear and tear on their bodies,  I can see how this is a big drain on the economy if they cannot contribute to the economy.

When a business does not address accessibility, it disengages a portion of its potential client base.
New and creative solutions need to be found to not only allow the disabled to participate as clients but also to participate as employees.

I’ve lots of new projects coming up this month. It’s becoming very exciting.
Blessings of the Day to you.
~L

ArtBizNews: Epiphany of Qualified Hires

Dear Mr. Trump,

Last week I heard about the casinos that were opening in Maryland. They were holding classes for people to become dealers. It was a two week class to train potential hires. I found it fascinating. A prerequisite for even having an interview was to take the class.

I filed the information away in the back of my mind and Friday it hit me. Every time I advertise for some one to partner with me to market my work on line they usually cant seem to figure out the process.The problem I was having trying to get people to work for me was that it was so foreign and complicated to them that they couldn’t do the job. They were over whelmed.

My mistake was to expect that because someone was on line that I should expect them to know how to do the marketing I wanted them too only having to give them simple instructions. Just like a person might be able to gamble doesn’t mean they know the nuances of being a dealer or the legal ins and outs, just because a person shops on www.zazzle.com does not mean they know how to help share and market  products you have available.
Something I thought should be so simple is actually quite daunting to the average shopper. Its especially daunting to the middle age woman who has to have her children show her how to do even the simplest email.

So now I have figured out that I need to but together some sort of training video or videos to show potential partners how to do what I need done.

Its a big part of the solution to marketing on the Internet. Teach before you hire. That way you not only give people the opportunity to partner with you but you also give them knowledge and skills that they can use other places. It builds good will.

I think that is already a philosophy Learn one, do one teach one.
Here is the upside, If I am not mistaken, once they know how to do it then I can partner with the best of the best to make our business even better.

I can barely believe that its almost the end of January and my grass is still green. We woke up to ice this morning. I hope your weather is better today.

~L