If you’ve been reading the latest and greatest in business books and sales trends, you’ve read that you always need to be marketing.  Every opportunity to make an additional sale, promote your brand, and create a loyal customer must not be allowed to slip by.  And even more than that, we must constantly be researching and tracking metrics that identify who are customer is.  So that we can continue marketing them.

Sounds good, huh?

Well, not so much!  Having been on the receiving end of far too many of these marketing campaigns this holiday season, I have a new theory.  What I really want from the businesses I patronize is that they respect my time, let me make my purchase(s), and stop making MY experience all about THEM!  I’m tired of emails urging me to make additional purchases, follow up phone calls asking me for a brief interview about my experience, and I’m tired of companies that put barriers in my way when I want to make a purchase.

My most recent experience, and probably the straw that broke the camel’s back, was a few day’s ago at the import store, Pier 1 Imports.  I’m not a regular at this store, but I do pop in now and again when I have a selective purchase to make, and that’s what brought in this time.

I wanted to buy a plate.  I didn’t want a set of dishes, matching stemware, or placemats.  I knew specifically what I wanted, I went into the store, shrugged off assistance from the staff, picked up the plate and, with cash in hand, went to the counter to make a purchase.  I received the obligatory sales follow up, “Did you find everything you wanted?” and replied, “Yes, I just want to buy this plate” and indicated that it would be a cash purchase.

The sales clerk asked for my phone number.  I wondered why I needed to provide a personal detail like my phone number to pay cash for a plate, and said so.  She politely replied that it was for their records.  Records?  I don’t want my phone number part of your records!  Still, she’s just doing her job, and it’s the holiday season and we should be of good cheer, so I rattled off my business number, and extended the $10 bill to complete the purchase.

Your email?  Huh?!  The only reason that I can imagine someone would want my email address is to email me something.  Something like sales flyers, urging me to buy more stuff.  And all this focus on maybe getting me to buy something in the future was getting in the way of making a purchase right now.   And I wasn’t giving out my email.

So I told the nice young clerk that I just wanted to buy the plate.  She said she had to ask, keeping her fingers poised on the computer to enter the information.  I said no, that I didn’t want to give out any more personal information, and again said, I just want to buy this plate.  Finally sensing that I was serious, she said that she was required to ask the information at every purchase, but that I didn’t have to provide it to buy something.  Well thank you very much for removing that roadblock so that I could spend money with you!

Now I understand that this isn’t the clerk’s fault.  She’s merely carrying out a policy set at some corporate level.  A policy likely set by someone who is in charge of tracking metrics, planning marketing campaigns, and keeping the brand in the customer’s eye – but who has never had a person standing in front of them who just wants to buy a plate and get out of the story quickly.

There’s a moral to this story.

And it’s not that Pier 1 needs to worry about me as a customer (I only shop there occasionally), that they’ll lose a sale (I only made a small, negligible purchase), or that there will be some major reprisal (there won’t). There is no reason for the store to pay me one iota of attention.

The important message from this experience is for me to learn a lesson.  And to implement that lesson as I grow my blogging and online travel business.  Looking for selling opportunities is great.  And tracking metrics is certainly helpful.  And building a brand that you can be proud of is a touch, but rewarding, job.

But sometimes you just need to stop making the transaction about marketing, sales, or metrics.  Make it about the customer.  Give the customer what they want.  Get our of your own way and let the customer make a purchase on their own terms.

Photo credit: SXC

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My Christmas shopping has been done for awhile now.  Between picking up gifts while traveling to the joys of online shopping, I’ve managed to avoid the lines and crankiness that often infests malls and shops during this time of year.  While I haven’t missed out the shopping frenzy of the holiday season, I have missed out on a lot of other things.  Here’s what I’ve realized:

• I like watching the kids line up to see Santa, their smiles and excitement making them restless as they wait for their turn on the big guy’s lap.
• I like seeing all the holiday decorations and lights.  Thi8s is the time of year to enjoy them – and NOT before Thanksgiving.
• I enjoy listening to the Christmas carolers and holiday music piped throughout the mall or store.  It makes me feel festive and occasionally I even hum or sing along.  Another week or two and I’ll be sick of it, but I miss not hearing the week of Christmas.
• I miss the holiday cheer, running into friends out doing their shopping, too.  The hugs and kisses exchanged during the holiday season, the well wishes, the infectious enthusiasm of the season.  I can look past any grumpiness to find this silver lining.
• I miss the holiday clothes and accessories.  Those silly holiday sweaters, the Christmas tree pins, and even the Santa hats.  I find myself wearing lots of red and green this time of year, too.

Just because I have my shopping done doesn’t mean I have to miss out on all the fun, though.  Crazy as it might seem, I’m heading out to the mall this week.  I’m going to enjoy the best of the holiday season, ignoring the rest, as I countdown to Christmas!

Photo credit:  SXC

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Paris is home to one of the most famous streets in the world, the Avenue des Champs des Elysees.

No trip would be complete, without talking time to at least stroll down the Avenue.  Better yet, take time to stop off for a cafe au lait and watch the world go by.   Better still, a little shopping spree!

Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris, France

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Have you ever paid attention to the Sky Mall magazine in the airplane seat pocket?  Sometimes it’s a stand alone magazine, and sometimes in an insert in the in-flight magazine.

I am fascinated by all the fun stuff that you can find in that magazine!

Some of it, while fascinating, I wouldn’t have a clue what to do with it.  But other things I think I might actually use.

Here are a few things that caught my eye recently:

The The Slanket’>The Slanket allows you to keep your hands free while still being all curled up and warm in a blanket.  I could have used this over this past week, as I’ve snuggled up on the couch, but have still wanted to read or work on my laptop.  It comes in five colors. 

1000 Places to See Map’>1000 Places to See Map  allows you to keep track of where you’ve been and plan where you’re going next.  It coordinates with the book 1,000 Places to See in the USA and Canada, and would be a lot of fun for planning family trips.

The Scooba Robotic Floor Washer’>Scooba Robotic Floor Washer would come in really handy right now, and my kitchen floors are looking a little sad.  This little gem will autonomously prepare, wash and scrub tile, linoleum, or sealed hardwood floors.  What’s not to like about that?!

If you’re like me and enjoy spending time pouring over the Sky Mall catalog, you’ll appreciate this special offer:

You can save 10% off on any Sky Mall order that you place between now and March 31st, 2009.  Maybe you’ll try one of my favorites items here, or select something that you’ve had your eye on for awhile. 

All you have to do is enter the promotion code LSQ19 when you check out. 

The discount does not apply to shipping and handling or sales tax, and cannot be combined with any other promotion, discount or offer.  Gift cards and Bose products are excluded.  Offer expires March 31st, 2009.

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As a fan of airline memorabilia, I liked these magnets from the former Pan Am Airlines.  I believe this was the emblem from the “original” Pam Am, rather than one of its later reincarnations.

I found them at the Museum of Flight gift shop in Seattle, as well as online through Pan Am One.

Magnets come in a box of five and retail for $8.

Photo credit:  Pan Am One

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I love popcorn, chips, Frito’s, crunchy Cheetos, and all sorts of salty, unhealthy snacks.  I know that they aren’t good for me (duh!), but the healthier alternatives just taste like cardboard.  Or worse!

I was reading an article about a healthy “new” snack that has me willing to try again.

Pop Chips are made of potatoes, organic white corn, and whole grain brown rice.  Heat is apply to POP it, and it becomes a chip.  There’s no frying involved, so no unhealthy oil.  The popped chip is seasoned, and it’s tasty as is or with dips or spreads

Here are your flavor selections:

• Popped potato chips:  original, barbecue, salt & pepper, sea salt & vinegar, and parmesan garlic.
• Popped corn chips:  sea salt, cheddar, and salsa.
• Popped rice chips:  wasabi.

Looks like sufficient flavors for me to find something that I like.  Probably several somethings, in fact!

The company website has a store locator to help you find a place to purchase Pop Chips, but basically you can locate them at Safeway, Von’s, Whole Foods and Ralph’s, among others.  I’ll be looking for them next time I’m at the market.

Pop Chips embraces the motto “Snacking is Good and Should be Encouraged.”  You’ve gotta like anyone who thinks like that!

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Elie Tahari is one of my favorite designers.  There are a couple reasons for that:  his clothing fits my body well, his styles fit my lifestyle, and — this is really important — the fashion fits my budget.

As I was browsing for summer clothes idea, I came across this Briar (also called khaki) dress with eyelet trim.  It has a caftan neckline, with beading and a tie detail. 

I’m not a big eyelet fan, because while it always looks light and summery, it usually looks a little too “little girl-ish” on me.  This dress, however, really caught my eye.  It may be a little short for me to wear as a dress, but it would be a dynamite swimsuit or beach cover up.  It’s made of linen, so the wrinkle factor makes me a little nervous, and at $329 it’s not an inexpensive options.  Still. . . it has me thinking.

The Devon Eyelet Dress comes in sizes X-Small (2-4), Medium (8-10), Large (10-12) and X-Large (14), and is available online, through Elie Tahari stores, or upscale department stores (check locations here).

Photo credit:  Elie Tahari

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Isn’t it fun to shop when you feel like your efforts are going to a good cause?

That’s how I feel about Spoon Fed Art, the creative outlet for Los Angeles designer Karin Collins.  As part of her treatment for an eating disorder, she began making one-of-a-kind pendants out of spoons.  After receiving numerous compliment on her designs, she turn therapy into a business and Spoon Fed Art was born.

I purchased the Purple Rose of Cairo (in photo) a couple years ago, and have had my eye on a couple of her new designs.  You’ll need to check back frequently, as items appear and are sold out quickly.  I regret that I didn’t see Iced Petals before it was sold out. 

I appreciate the opportunity to find a unique piece for myself, but I really love that I can support a small businesswoman and a good cause.  Spoon Fed Art is a member of the NEDA, the National Eating Disorder Association.

Shop — support a good cause — get personalized items.  Life is good!

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There are some stores that no matter how often I stop into, there is always something new that I have to buy.  Or, an old favorite that I simply must stock up on.

Lush is one of those stores.

I first discovered Lush on a layover and, at the time, there was only one store that was convenient for me to go to.  I’d pick up a layover just to stock up on product, buy gifts, and feed my fix for a few months until I could get back again.

I love the displays of their delicious smelling hand-made bath products.  Besides being al natural, with no animal testing, they all smell pretty damn fantastic!

Lush now has stores in more places than you can shake a stick at (check the website for countries and location), and many products can be purchased online.  Perishable products usually cannot be shipped, however.

While they offer a variety of products (skin care, hair products, deodorants, etc.), the bath products are still my favorites.  And I love the soap that is just cut for you right off the block.

My personal recommendations:  Karma bath bombs (orange and spices), creamy candy bubble bar (vanilla and lots of sugar), rock star soap (smells a little bit like bubble gum), and almond butter buttercream (almond and citrus).

Lush makes life a little easier most days.

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I’ve never been a huge Louis Vuitton fan.  It’s not that I didn’t like them, it’s that everyone around seemed to have one.  Or rather, a couple of friends had them and everywhere else I turned people had a knock off LV.  (Yes, I can tell the difference!)

It was never high on my wish list as far as a handbag.

Until I went to Paris last fall.

And there, while strolling along the Champs d’Elysees, I fell in love.  With Louis.  And we entered into a committed relationship limited only be the depth of my bankbook.  I took this Monogram Mini Lin Canvas Speedy (in photo) home with me.

Here are the vitals:

• Monogram Mini Lin canvas; supple, light, and resistant
• 58% cotton, 24% linen, 18% polyamide
• Grained calf leather trim
• Light colored stitching
• Shiny brass metal hardware
• Top zip closure with padlock
• Comfortable, rolled leather handles
• Tonal textile lining with interior patch pocket
• 11.8″ x 8.3″ x 6.7″

This is definitely not a one-night stand!

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