So earlier in the year my manager cracks out the whip and says “WE NEED NEW LOGOS TO OFFER OUR CUSTOMERS!! GET DESIGNING!”. Okay, maybe my recollection of events is a bit hazy, but, that doesn’t mean we didn’t go into a design frenzy in our project codenamed Sharper™ Logo Revitalization-2010.  It took a few months as we juggled the project with our regular work but the results, in my opinion, were worth the extra workload.

We hit just about every market, trying to come up with new designs to reflect the growing business types that Sharper™ attracts – and in as many styles that we could come up with – everything from the fun and humorous to the professional and elegant.  With almost 600 Sharper™ logos, you are bound to find something that suits your needs and style.  These logos can be printed for FREE on just about any product Sharper™ carries.  I’m just glad I wasn’t part of the selection team!  There were so many great designs, how are you supposed to “X” any of them?

Here are just a few of the new designs that survived the cut…

One of the most exciting products Sharper has brought on, in my opinion, is lip balm. Why? Because they are made of all natural, high quality ingredients and are PETROLEUM-FREE. Our manufacturer is certified to manufacture USDA organic products and I think Sharper made a smart choice in choosing them. It means that you can be assured that you are getting a quality product.

So what kind of ingredients can be found in Sharper Lip Balm? Well, how about stuff that someone like me can actually pronounce AND make sense of what it is – organic palm oil, beeswax, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic hemp seed oil, vitamin E and rosemary. You can also order some lip balm with or without sunscreen ingredients (octinoxate, oxybenzone; or octocrylene and octisalate) AND there are 12 flavors to choose from – what’s not to love?

Personalizing your lip balm is as easy as 1-2-3-4, known as “Design Your Own Sharper Lip Balm™”.

1. Select your lip balm type (Tin or Tube)
2. Select Your Font (*not all fonts are appropriate for lip balm due to sizing)
3. Select Your FREE Sharper Logo
4. Select Your Colors: one free background color, then choose either 1-color personalization or; 2-color personalization (one for your personalization and one for the logo).

Or maybe you’re looking for something with a little more pizazz. We can customize a full-color design just for you (design fees may apply).

Sharper has also selected some popular designs ranging from Dental Postcards, Chiropractic Postcards and Massage Therapy Postcards and made them into lip balm to help you further co-ordinate your image (available in tubes only).

**Psst, there are some new Holiday designs coming down the line but you didn’t hear that from me

Whatever you choose, your patients or clients will remember you as the one who gave them fantastic feeling lips.

The evolution of social networking has made it faster and easier than ever to get in touch with everyone you know with a click of a button. But are we too quick to dismiss the power of a simple thank you card? I mean an actual card, not an e-card.

Not that there’s anything wrong with an e-card – I think they’re fun – but there’s something about holding something in your hand that seems to give it greater meaning. I personally feel more inclined to spend the time to actually read the message and appreciate everything about the card – from the design to the paper stock.

Thank you cards can go along way to calming “buyers remorse” and help you encourage more referrals. It shows you are giving personal attention to this individual and have taken time out of your day to let this person know that you are thinking of them.

When should you send Business Thank You Cards?

When you didn’t get the customer. So you’ve put in all this time and effort to get this person’s business and they’ve decided to go elsewhere. Now I’m telling you to send them a thank you card?!? It couldn’t hurt, could it? Thank them for their time and consideration and it’s a bonus if they tell you why they went elsewhere. If it has to do with the types of services offered then at least you can write “We’re sorry we could not provide you with the services you currently require but we hope you consider us for any other future needs.” At least this card will make you stand out from the rest and maybe they will think of you in the future.

When you did get the customer. You’ve worked your magic and you have a new patient or client. That’s it you’re done, right? Have you ever felt a little apprehensive when you’re about to experience something new? Take this opportunity to reduce this feeling in your patient or client and they won’t second guess their decision. There’s always that small window where people still look even after they have “made their decision”. This simple thank you card could be just the thing to have them stop looking elsewhere and help build a foundation for a long-term relationship.

When you want to recognize a loyal customer. Maybe you’ve had a client or patient come to you for years and you share quite a history together. So much so that they might as well be family. Let them know that you appreciate their loyalty and hope to continue the relationship for many more years to come.

When you get a referral. This is the opportune time say “thanks”. Getting a referral means you’re doing something right and your patient or client has recognized that by bringing in their friend. Not only has this person just marketed your business, they’ve just saved you time and money from having to market yourself. Who knows? The referral could come from that customer you didn’t get in the first point – you may not have had the services for that individual but that doesn’t mean you don’t have them for their friend.

Make your patients or clients feel special by sending a personalized thank you card and your bottom line might just thank you in return.

Check out the selection of dental, contemporary health or general business thank you cards on Sharper’s website.

Move for Health Day (May 10) is a global event where Member States of the World Health Organization are encouraged to promote physical activity and healthy living.

How did this come into being? Well, according to the WHO website, it was recommended by the World Health Assembly (2002) in its Resolution WHA55/23 to address noncommunicable disease and how it could be prevented or reduced. In a nutshell, it became a blend of promoting eating well and being active; henceforth, Move For Health Day was born. Sadly, it’s not considered an official day by the WHO and it’s left to the Member States to take action. So let me get the ball rolling and say… “Come on people, get up and MOVE!!”

For all you health care professionals out there, why not further contribute to the cause and remind your patients or clients of the benefits of active living; and what you offer should be integrated into that lifestyle.

There are a variety of dental recall cards, chiropractic cards, eye care postcards, and hearing postcards available through Sharper to help you get your patients or clients motivated and excited about their health.

Why “Move for Health”
(excerpt from the World Health Organization website)

• Each year at least 1.9 million people die as a result of physical inactivity.
• At least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity physical activity on 5 days per week reduces the risk of several common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
• Physical inactivity is an independent modifiable risk factor for common NCDs.
• More than 35 million people died of NCDs in 2005 – this represented 60% of all deaths worldwide.
• 80% of deaths from NCDs occur in low- and middle-income countries.
• Without action to address the causes, deaths from NCDs will increase by 17% between 2005 and 2015.

In today’s world, it’s all about how to make a dollar seem like ten. Who out there doesn’t scour the coupon books and flyers to see how much could be saved? Even if you don’t scour the pages, the moment you see the words FREE or SAVE, you look; admit it, you can’t help but look.

So what better way to get patients and clients to walk in your door, or ensure customer loyalty, than with gift certificates. Let them know you appreciate their business – actually, let me rephrase that – you appreciate the relationship you have or are about to build. Business is secondary, personalized attention in primary; that’s what makes people come back for more.

There are a variety of ways to layout the inside of your gift certificate:

• you can simply have the pre-printed kind;
• you can ask to have a blank expiry date line added;
• or you can go absolutely wild and crazy and create something one-of-a-kind.

Sharper gift certificates even come with slits to hold anything from massage therapy business cards, chiropractic business cards, to grooming appointment cards; or have you thought about a “Refer a Friend” card? Or maybe a buy or visit x-number of times get something free card; a coupon card, a calendar card, I could go on. The opportunity is there… so entice me.

Even if you don’t use the slits to actually hold anything, it doesn’t mean you have to leave an empty space. Ask us to print your logo, your name/address – whatever you want between the slits.

You may even find a matching product to go with your gift certificate; go ahead, click the images and see for yourself.

Maps… what an amazing tool. If you’re anything like me where North is South and East is West, you need someone to point you in the right direction.

If you’re planning on moving, wouldn’t it be nice to show people where you’re moving to? There’s a great selection of business moving announcement cards available with free messages to boot! If you don’t see a message quite to your liking, then why not write your own? Only you can be you and maybe you have that certain “style” you want to show through your message.

What about your custom business cards? I know how much you’ve been thinking, “I hate this big empty space on the back. I need to fill it with something.” Why not fill it with a map?

When you send us your map, you can either hand sketch it and fax/email it in, or many people supply a screenshot of an online map source (such as Google or MapQuest). All you need to do is keep it simple; highlight the streets that are important to you and need to have included. Landmarks are a great way to let people know that they’re in the right area. We can even print one of those directional compass things with your map; that way the navigator can tell the driver “Honey, the map says North’s behind us – turn around.”

So give it a try, maybe fewer people will get lost on the way to your office or clinic – okay, I’m sure the GPS told me to turn left…