Will Groupon survive?

Groupon has been in the news lately for two things besides their "daily deals."

1) Groupon is launching a mobile credit card reader that connects effortlessly to most smartphones. Almost anyone can accept credit cards from anywhere at anytime. The company "Square" led in this technology. Now, apparently, others are following.

2) Groupon has settled a class action lawsuit regarding expired Groupons.

So, in my opinion, Groupon is smart to start to get away from the "daily deals." The "daily deals" revenues must be decreasing because I rarely hear people talking about them anymore.

For service based businesses, offering "daily deals" did not benefit the business unless they counted on a significant amount of people allowing their groupon deals to expire. So that would be money for the business without having to provide any service.

Many of my clientele who were purchasing Groupon deals heavily are now very selective about what deals that they buy. They look at location of the business and how unique of an experience that they will be buying in to.

Customer spending habits continue to change. Groupon is smart to look at other business models to increase revenues. I believe that they will survive, but they may not remain known for their speciality of offering "daily deals."

Trayvon Martin Case: Similar to the Job Market

When it comes to "justice" and "arrests" and "restraining orders" and "communicating threats" - it is about "who you know!"

When it comes to the "job market" - it is about "who you know!"

Examples: 1) The Trayvon Martin case: An unarmed, lightweight young man is attacked during the night and fighting for his life required national organized rallies to bring a "White man whose father is a retired judicial officer" to even be arrested for murder. Zimmerman's father has judicial connections.

2) I had tenants threatening my life (i.e. Communicating threats) by voicemail and by text messages - and the court system tells me that someone else could have been using the tenant's phone. They would not be able to prove it was actually her communicating the threats. However, another associate of mine shared with me that they received a guilty sentence for communicating threats surrounding a "domestic" issue. My associate had more education than my former tenant, but apparently, I was not connected enough in the community to get my charges to stick.

3) I also have seen an associate of mine with "police connections" get restraining orders on their own mother-in-law.

So trust and believe that the court system can be massaged for you or against you.

As far as the job market, employers are now only posting half of their job vacanies.

Less postings mean less potential EEOC charges, and employers have the legal right to fill the unposted job positions with anyone they want - regardless of the person's qualifications.

So I suggest, that young people get an education in order to learn how to communicate and network. Their life and success could depend on it!

Social Media: Is Facebook a Keeper?

Apparently, Facebook went public as far as the stock market is concerned according to the recent news reports. Apparently, it was valued to be worth more than "UPS" (United Parcel Service). That is strange to me. I would think a physical delivery service would be more valuable than a social media network.

Facebook is about branding. I believe that Facebook is going to remain trendy for much longer than "myspace" did.

I like Facebook better than Twitter as far as fan page appeal. Twitter seems like too much pressure to always post on a daily or even an hourly basis. Besides Kim Kardashian, who else does anyone need to keep up with 24/7? Smile.

Linkedin is a favorite for business minded and professional people. Even though some people treat their Linkedin account like "Twitter," I do not agree with that usage of Linkedin for daily messages.

Depending on the nature of your business or purpose, one has to choose the right social media.

If you are job searching, then you need to focus on LinkedIn. If you want a community bulletin board for a homeowner association or a facility where you need team communication, then Facebook fan pages are a good choice.

I like Facebook. I never opened up a mySpace account. I always felt the loading time for mySpace was ridiculous. I did not have patience for it.

Facebook and Linkedin are quick for searching. Maybe it is the advancement of computer speeds that have benefited Facebook and Linkedin. So it could be "good timing" on the release of these social media giants.

I do find it hard to attach value to a free service. I also ask myself would I pay Facebook to keep my account open? Would I pay Linkedin to keep my account open?

I definitely would let Linkedin sink before I would let Facebook sink. Facebook is fun and upbeat. It is a stress free, "let loose" website.

Linkedin is a more serious, professional platform that is more for "show" than any real action. Linkedin is a "politically correct" platform.

Facebook is an "after five" social central. You really get to learn people.

I would probably pay to remain active on Facebook if I had to. I think Facebook is just as important now as a web domain or maybe even more important.

Maybe I should buy into Facebook when it sinks to about $20 a share!

Rainforest Productions: "Think Like a Man" movie

Okay, I saw this movie twice!!!! (mainly because I went the first weekend that it was out and could not hear all the punchlines because everyone was laughing. So I had to see it weeks later again with a smaller crowd.) Then my sister let me borrow her book from which the movie was based. People tried to tell me that the book was just "common sense," but I found it enlightening about how men think. Especially, when they are sport fishing! Wink!

From a financial standpoint, this movie had a $12 million dollar budget and has grossed over $85 million dollars to date. Hello?! That is seven times the investment. So Rainforest Productions does it again! Will Packer and Rob Hardy started out with the movie Trois, and they continue to show that they are masters of marketing. And the film was good too! Smile.

Congratulations Steve Harvey, Rainforest Productions, Screen Gems, and the cast! Awesome job! You are inspiring me to write a best selling book to turn into a screen play! Stay tuned!

Savoir Faire Health and Beauty Expo Charlotte 2012

There were "hits" and "misses" with the Savoir Faire Health and Beauty Expo Charlotte - May 2012. So let's talk about the misses first. Vendors who use "social media" never saw a webpage for the expo event to even point their fans too. So as vendors our hands were tied. I was sent a pdf file that I could not upload to a "social media" website because of the format of the file. I was sent 10 tickets to hand out, but the tickets looked "cheap" even with the "ten dollar value" written on them. The event programs were distributed the same week of the event in selected Charlotte locations, but the program had a lot of issues. The graphic quality of the program was overall poor quality. Many vendors did not see a final proof of their ad. The program had no definite timeframes nor a lineup for the fashion show components. It actually reminded me of a "Souvenir booklet" that was put together by a sorority or a fraternity for their "Cotillion" or "Debutante" event except the sorority/fraternity booklets do have a "line-up."

The owner was very interested in promoting her magazine which we as vendors don't mind helping out, but we each know our fan base, and we know better how to promote to our fan base. Unfortunately, we were not given anything of high graphic quality to help her promote the event. Many vendors were uncertain if the event would hold due to the limited marketing.

Now, let's talk more about the "hits." The fashions were absolutely fabulous, but most of the fashion show presentations were done after the crowds and vendors had begun leaving. The MC did not have a fashion show lineup so he "closed" out the event or the fashion show multiple times. Everyone kept thinking the event was "over" but then another 15 minutes later more fashions would start. It was 7 pm and more fashions were headed down the runway.

The models looked great and actually worked the runway quite nicely. I got a feeling that they were going to be offered more runway jobs. This was good exposure and good practice for the models without having an extremely big crowd at one time.

I also want to add that there were other "bigger name" events going on all over Charlotte. Alvin Ailey dancers were touring in uptown. The New Edition concert was at Bojangles Coliseum. D.L Hughley and Pauly Shore were headlining at the Comedy Zone located in the NC Music Factory. CMC was hosting a free Health and Wellness event at their University Hospital. There was a warehouse sale in Huntersville that people of traveling to. Should I say more?

The networking amongst the vendors were great! Many vendors made quality contacts even if they did not sell as much merchandise as they desired.

There were a lot of free 10 minute massages. Many people received multiple sessions during the slow periods.

Fashions came from Impressions Bridal and Formal Wear out of Concord as well as 7 Complete Fashions Boutique out of Charlotte.

Runway Models included Elaine Apparicio, Joshua Hartung, Amelia Livingston, and Alisa Smith.

The fashions ranged from evening wear to dressy casual to lingerie.

Vendors did get to present to the crowds in their own way.

Paul Mitchell School even completed a presentation.

On a separate note, If you are hosting an event that you want coverage on, then please let us know!

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Ink

I had a little fun with my eye color. I used the Maybelline Color Tattoo colors "Too Cool" as a base along with "Bad to the Bronze." I used other regular powder eyeshadows on top of it and blended.

These cream eyeshadow go on well. I saw the "orange" color that are in a lot of the advertisements but it did not look that intense to me in the store. I did not open it, but at $7.29 a unit, I was not going to purchase the "Fierce and Tangy" color.
I still need to experiment with them some more. I bought the purple color as well. I will try it soon!

 May 28, 2012 update: I like this intense eye color cream. I believe that they are trying to gain market share from the "Eye Kandy" glitter eye color kits. I like the "Eye Kandy" brand of eye color, but it is too much work to apply. These new cream eye colors are so much easier and give a similar "pop" to your eye color! I will try to write an article on the Eye Kandy brand soon!

October 2012:  I am still loving this Maybelline Eye Color.  Pictured  above is "Tenacious Teal."  A little goes a long way with full intensity of color.

How to Protect Your Child from Sexual Predators?

Knowledge is power. First of all, it is important to know that sexual predators can be at your child's daycare, your child's school, your church, your doctor's office, your next door neighbor. A sexual predator can be a "baby-sitter", "coach", "teacher", "priest", "minister", "relative", "politician", "doctor", "therapist" , "police officer" "principal", and any other "trusted" profession. Anyone that you come in contact with could be a sexual predator regardless of age or gender.

So if you understand this, then you understand that you have to continually make your child aware that they have "private areas" and that their "private areas" should not be touched by anyone inappropriately. At what age? As soon as they are old enough to talk and comprehend what you are teaching them, then they should be instructed to let you know if something happens to confuse them or make them feel funny or if they pulled down their pants for anything other than "going to the potty." Also, make your child aware of "staring" or "facial expressions" and "behaviors" constantly going on around them. Even as adults, you must be aware of suspicious activity in case of assault or robbery. Your child must learn the same instincts.

You can not watch your child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the rest of their life. You may not want them to "grow" up too quickly because you are a little embarrassed about how young that you were exposed to sexuality.

According to my poll that I have taken over the years, by age 8, your child would have already been exposed to some sort of sexual conversation from other children at school or daycare or church or somewhere. So your child can be ahead of the curve or behind. If they are ahead of the curve, then make sure that they are not trying to take advantage of those who are behind. You know your child's personality. Sexual predators are children at some point as well.

I think the most important thing is to teach "privacy" and "no touching" as soon as you can. By age 2 definitely. On a separate note, I think the "sexuality talks" should come as your child has questions. It may be be uncomfortable for you, but keep it basic. As they enter into a healthy relationship or marriage, then they will find their own creativity.

As they begin dating or potentially sexually active, the talk about sexually transmitted disease should come up as well as "cold sores."

I know that this seems like a "heavy load" for your "baby." However, sexual predators look for the weak to prey on.

Hi Chew Fruit Chews

The Hi-Chew Fruit Chews remind you of a gourmet "Starburst." Most people can not eat just one. Locally, they can be purchased from a "World Market" store. I have started selling the Strawberry flavor in my salon as well. The Green Apple and the Grape flavors are awesome too! I believe that they are Japanese based and very addictive. So if you are wanting a new candy option . . . Hi-Chew is it!

A Closer Look at the Dangers of Cell phone Use

Here is the scenario: I placed my "flip" mobile phone (my secondary phone :-) on my counter temporarily near the handheld blowdryer cord. During a hair service, my client and I both heard the safety button trip on the blowdryer plug which completely stopped us in our tracks because we were not using any electrical tools at the time. Yes, it was a "what the heck?" moment. Then about seven seconds later the mobile phone began ringing. Apparently, the signal transmitting to the cell phone generated enough electromagnetic waves to trip the blow dryer right before receiving the phone call.

This was quite scary for me; a wake up call that our electronic technologies may be more harmful to our health than we think. Of course, the warnings about electromagnetic fields causing cancer has always been around . . . I am now inclined to be more safe than sorry.

The Healthcare Industry is becoming Unstable!

The sick will be with you always . . . but who said that they could pay?

The current trajectory of future healthcare costs are becoming unsustainable. Less people have health insurance. More people are underinsured. The majority of the sick are having to be subsidized.

This is a wake up call. If you are seeking a career in healthcare to make money, then you might as well look at another career. The hospitals are making their employees work harder for the same pay because they are receiving less reimbursement funds per patients. In addition, you may put in 300% effort in one week and 99% effort the next week, only to realize that no one remembers your 300% week. There will always be one more patient that needs attention. You must maintain your own work/life balance. Your manager is looking at the bottom line number only.

Prescription drug costs have no choice but to decrease if people can not afford them. All medical costs have to be reduced. Unemployment rates have to go down.

Whatever goes up; must come down . . . Pharmaceutical sales included. Mark my words.

The public clinics will see an increase in patients. The clinics are typically subsidized by the government through grant monies.

The USA is becoming more socialized than capitalized. The Internet is forcing many businesses to charge the same price for the same items; otherwise, people will just search for the cheapest price and secure the item there.

Smartphones and "instant" access to information has become a double edged sword. Soon, you will asking "where's the competition?"