How To Pick Up Perfect Toddler Girl Dresses?

If you have a little girl child then purchasing her beautiful toddler girl dresses may have become your favorite pastime. Have you remembered how much time and efforts it has taken to find cute baby girl clothes from the available varieties? At times you may be getting attracted towards all girl clothes and accessories on display but failing to decide on which one to choose from them. It is because a variety of toddler girl dresses including sweatshirts, tops, bottoms, sheepskin boots and swimwear are available in market. Some of the finest apparel stores are offering these baby girl clothes and accessories over internet. Most of them specialize in jeans, t-shirts, socks, shorts and other toddler girl dresses that can be customized to suit your needs. As a responsible parent, your focus should be on to buy quality and cute baby girl clothes at reasonable price. In this way, you can ensure comfort and safety for your girl child. In addition to this, you should check for tears, rips and other possible damages in the cloth. It may include defects ranging from broken buttons and straps to prunes. However, you need to ask the cloth store owner for more advice on how to choose the best toddler clothes

And his/her experience is going to help you in finding dresses matching to your requirements. Each and every time you go out shopping for slacks, caps, gloves, tops, shirts, skirts or other toddler clothing, stop a while to check for discount offers on these clothes.

 

Whether it is toddler's birthday or any special event in which she is going to participate, you would like her to appear cute and cuddly. And what other than toddler girl dresses can ensure her best look. Though walkers, strollers and several other baby gift items are available in market, cute baby girl clothes have their own charm and will help your girl child to show up. The girl child clothes come in variety of shapes, sizes and styles so as to fit your requirement best. While purchasing them you need to ensure that they come within your budget and give your little one the best possible look. The toddler girl dresses manufacturers are these days using quality materials to produce dresses in clear cut and clean looks. These dresses not only last long but also wash well. However, you need to follow the wash instructions given on the clothes before trying to do so. In this way, you can retain the look of cute baby girl clothes and keep it dirt and dust free which might cause harm to the skin of your child.

 

The toddler girl dresses should be beautifully designed and follow up the latest trend. They look good in every color starting from pink, red and while to other light shades. If you want your girl child to look all time best and give her an angel look then consider baby girl clothes in attractive color and designs. For toddler girls, some of the popular accessories like boots and caps can be purchased to enhance the look. While boots will prevent the delicate feet of your toddler from getting hurt, the caps will help to maintain the look throughout. You can also try out the tips from girl child clothing expert. If they seem to be viable solutions then go ahead.

Some Factors To Consider With Vehicle Tracking

For many businesses, choosing a GPS vehicle tracking system can be a difficult decision, as there are dozens of products on the market with a very broad range of features. This article is intended to help you establish which features your business really needs and what you should look for when researching your options for a fleet GPS system.

 

Vehicle tracking is currently one of the fastest growing markets for GPS technology, with businesses of all sizes taking advantage of the benefits that vehicle tracking can deliver, with the ultimate objective of saving the businesses money!

 

One of the common motivations for using tracking is that companies want to know how fast their drivers have been driving at any particular time of the day. Their objective is to prevent unnecessary fuel consumption, avoid speeding fines, reduce wear and tear on the vehicle and reduce the risk of accidents. Mileage reading is another parameter that can now be accessed remotely. Fuel and employee overtime can be closely monitored and verified by a GPS fleet management system. For example, prolonged idling not only uses unecessary fuel, but it also causes additional wear and tear. By effectively monitoring the data and reports produced by a vehicle tracking system, fuel costs can quite realistically be reduced by over 20 percent.

 

However, vehicle tracking can also add value and enable you to respond to changing circumstances. For example, if you know where all of your vehicles are, then you can keep customers informed if it appears that a scheduled visit may be running late. So, when evaluating systems and subsequently deciding on how to deploy them, it is worth stepping back and being clear about what information you would like to receive about each of your vehicles and how beneficial it would be to have real-time access, and even whether you might want to send an updated destination directly to the vehicle's satnav unit?

 

Firstly, it is important to decide whether you need to just capture the information for review a few days later, or is there any advantage in being able to instantly locate a vehicle at any time, so that you can make quick decisions in response to where your vehicles actually are.

 

In terms of the data update frequency, there are two broad categories of systems to choose from: "Real-time" or "Passive". Passive systems rely on you downloading the data from the tracker when the vehicle returns to base. Both have the capability to provide you with vehicle speed data, vehicle stops data, length of stop data and route taken data. For most businesses, it turns out that the benefit of real-time tracking far outweigh the effort required to extract the data from a passive device, so in practice almost all systems installed today are real-time systems.

 

In terms of other information that is available, the key options to consider include;

 

1) Monitoring vehicle diagnostics. Diagnostic information is beneficial as it allows you to get early warning of a vehicle problem enabling you to repair small problems before they become larger more expensive problems. Having a precise description of the problem ahead of time can streamline the repair process for technicians. Diagnostic monitoring also allows you to reduce vehicle downtime because the vehicle is better maintained.

 

2) Geofencing. A geofence is a defined distance away from the vehicle that the vehicle must travel before it activates an alarm. The alarm can be turning on a siren in the vehicle, sending an e-mail alert to the vehicle owner or sending a Short Message Service (SMS) which is a brief text message by cell phone. Fleets use this feature for different reasons. For example, when their drivers travel beyond the boundaries of their usual work area.

 

3) Exchanging information with a driver. Some GPS fleet tracking systems allow drivers to send and receive data by using an in vehicle display. For example, when a driver has completed a set of deliveries, he could send a message to verify the job was finished, or if there were issues, report back so action can be taken. It is also possible to send a new destination directly to the drivers satnav system so that his schedule can be updated directly.

 

4) Management reports. Different fleet tracking systems offer different reports. Some examples of the many reports you can set up and use:

 

* Alerts Report-active and pending diagnostic trouble code and scheduled maintenance alerts.

 

* After-Hours Report-allows a fleet manager to see if vehicles are being used after business hours.

 

* Excess Speed Report-speed violations for any or all vehicles in the fleet.

 

* Stop Detail Report-list the times and duration of stops made by a given vehicle in your fleet.

 

* Idle Time Report-shows how long a vehicle has spent idling while stationary during a certain time interval.

An 8 Step Process For Designing A Chart of Accounts

Many business owners and bookkeepers are confused by what accounts should be used in their chart of accounts. When there is unclarity about the design of the chart of accounts, one of three things usually happen:

 

* There are not enough accounts. When this happens, there isn't enough detail in the financial reports to get information about what is happening in the business.

 

* There are too many accounts. This leads to too much detail on the financial reports, so they are difficult to read and use for high level decision making. This can also cause bookkeeping errors as the bookkeeping staff can easily become confused about where to record transactions.

 

* The account names are confusing. This also can lead to confusion and inconsistency in recording transactions. In addition, accounting staff and business management may not be on the same page with how accounts are being used.

 

How do you design a chart of accounts to ensure you can get good, clear, and consistent reporting information? First, you must realize that you're in control of the chart of accounts and it's up to you to design it. You could just have one account on the profit and loss statement called "expense", but that wouldn't give you good information, would it? We have to find the balance between too little and too much detail. Here's an 8 step process to help you determine what should be on your chart of accounts.

 

1. If you're designing accounts for a new business, begin with a standard chart of accounts (QuickBooks has several to choose from for various industries) and then add to it as described below.

 

2. Add accounts for income that is specific to your business and occurs regularly. You can have just one revenue line, but chances are you earn revenue from more than one type of product or service. Use a more general account for anything that does not occur regularly.

 

3. Add cost of goods sold accounts that correspond with your revenue accounts. If you have web design revenue, you would also have web design cost of goods sold.

 

4. Add expense, asset, and liability accounts that are specific to your business and make sense to you.

 

Now you have a chart of accounts for your business, but we're not done. You need to review it again while asking the following questions:

 

5. Do I really need this account or is there a similar account where the information could be gathered? If so, would viewing those two accounts together be more helpful?

 

6. Is it obvious what types of transactions would belong in this account? If your account name doesn't make sense to you or the accounting staff, rename it to something that is logical to you.

 

7. Why will I need to see this information on my income statement or balance sheet? How will this information be used later? If you don't really need to see it separately, perhaps the data belongs in another account.

 

8. Is there another way to get this information if I use a more general account type? For example, could you track departments by class in QuickBooks and eliminate accounts for specific departments? If so, set up the other tracking mechanisms and utilize the generalized account.

 

Each time you think you may need to add an account to your chart of accounts, ask yourself these questions first. Selectively adding accounts will lead to better visibility into your operations. If you're unable to answer the above questions to guide your chart of accounts design, you should have an accounting consultant help you with the process. If you're not getting the information you need from your financial reports, a redesign of how you gather and view information may be in order.

Female Rhinoplasty - Give Your Face A Balanced Look

There are many celebrities that had been into limelight due to the nose jobs they got done which altered their faces dramatically, giving them a new look. Female Rhinoplasty is a very common surgery that takes around an hour or two to get done. This surgery has the capacity to shape a nose into perfect shape that enhances the balance of a person's face. If a person has gone through a nose injury in an accident, has a crooked nose or if the nose has been asymmetrical from birth, it can be now made perfect with this surgery.

 

The ideal age to get female rhinoplasty surgery done is when the girls are in their mid-teens since the nasal bone can be altered easily. As a woman matures, her nose bone matures and the shape stabilizes. The biggest benefit of female rhinoplasty surgery is that it improves the aesthetics of the entire face. Humans like to look at symmetrical faces.

 

An off-centered nose can cause a woman to look ugly, deformed or very plain looking. With female rhinoplasty surgery, women can get alterations done to the bridge of the nose, its tip or nostrils. Sometimes, female Rhinoplasty is also used to alter the entire face look. The size of the nose can also be manipulated to increase or decrease with this surgery. For those who have breathing problems, female rhinoplasty surgery opens the passages and allows a person to breathe easy.

 

It is important that all aspects of the female rhinoplasty surgery are discussed between the patient and the surgeon. The patient should inform the doctor about her expectations and find out if they are realistic and practical. When the doctor knows the expectations and has examined your medical history, he makes a 3D visual of the patient's face and starts a simulation of how the face would look after female rhinoplasty.

 

A patient is advised to avoid aspirin and other products that cause blood thinning, increase the intake of vitamin supplements, especially Vitamin C and E as well as iron supplements. The night before the female rhinoplasty surgery, the patient should stop eating until after the surgery.

 

The procedure of female rhinoplasty begins by anesthetizing the patient, making an incision on either side of the columella, exposing the cartilage and nose bone. This is then sculpted to the needed shape and skin is re-stitched. This completes the surgery and the patient is then moved to the resting area. Female rhinoplasty surgery normally lasts for one or two hours.

 

Although female Rhinoplasty is a common surgical procedure and mostly problem free, there are some risks involved like with all surgeries. Extreme danger like permanent nerve damage can be seen in very few cases if pre and post operative procedures have not been thoroughly followed during the female rhinoplasty surgery itself.

 

Normally, a person who has undergone female rhinoplasty can face numbness, swelling, nosebleeds or scarring which heals with passing of time. The ideal thing is to consult your doctor beforehand, know the side effects and be prepared. Make sure post-operative instructions are followed in the prescribed manner for female rhinoplasty surgery.

Why Is IPTV Becoming So Popular In Educational Establishments?

use of IPTV technology is becoming increasingly popular in various industries and one of those industries starting to really embrace its potential is education.

 

Television, video and audio signals can easily and efficiently be supplied across a network to any PC, laptop, TV, plasma screen, interactive whiteboard and projector in the University, school or college building. There are of course many other exciting ways of utilising this technology.

 

Below is a list of 10 more reasons why integrating this technology could work wonders for your educational establishment.

 

1. Teachers have the ability to project live TV from their classroom PCs, providing an excellent teaching aid.

 

2. Portable TV equipment or projectors can be connected directly to the system with the use of an IPTV receiver. Teachers have the ability to record TV programs to use at a later date.

 

3. Most colleges and schools already have networks covering a building and these existing networks can easily be turned into a complete IPTV solution with the use of an IPTV server.

 

4. Video and television can be supplied to all computers on the network very easily.

 

5. The quality of the resulting video signal is consistent and extremely high, regardless of the number of people using devices to view the same channel on.

 

6. Foreign-language TV channels and also local channels can be provided to support teaching.

 

7. This system can provide news, entertainment channels and information to students and staff areas.

 

8. Existing video material can be easily integrated into the school network system and with the use of recording, will allow shared use by teachers.

 

9. Video on demand or VOD is another great facility which allows teachers to record onto their own laptops or PCs for future playback on the shared VOD server.

 

10. Any films or videos can be stored in a virtual library ready for future use, on demand.

 

So there you have it, 10 of the many first-class facilities offered to colleges, schools and universities of all sizes by the integration of IPTV technology into the school's network. Costs are becoming increasingly competitive and the system setup more straightforward.

 

The professional companies supplying this technology will offer a complete package to include PC video clients, TV gateways encodes, VOD servers, receivers and management tools. Whilst prices seem to be becoming more competitive on a weekly basis, it will of course pay to take a look at the main players in this industry to check what offers they currently have. The first place to visit should of course be the relevant websites where you will be able to gain valuable information and contact details.

 

It just might be that now is exactly the right time your place of education to take the bull by the horns and embrace this great new technology

Boosting Success Potential with Poker Bonuses

With poker bonuses, you need not be too considered with the legitimacy of the bonus provided you are exploring bonuses offered by high quality online gaming venues. Such venues realize there is quite a bit of competition out there. This is why they will offer poker bonuses in order to draw in those that are seeking a place to try their luck with online poker. The way poker bonuses work is relatively simple. These bonuses help both the gamer and the entity offering the bonuses. For the player, a bonus is "free money" offered with an initial deposit and/or all subsequent deposits which are called reloads. Different gaming venues will offer different bonuses. However, the general process of how a poker bonus works will not change. Honestly, the concept is so simple and basic there is really nothing that needs to be effectively changed. Here is a common example of how it works: You may make an initial deposit of $250 and you will receive a matching bonus of $250. This gives you $500 to play with. You may withdraw your initial $250 or any remaining amount and any winnings you acquire at any time. There will be restrictions on the withdrawals of the bonus money. This is to prevent decidedly unserious players from making a deposit solely for the purpose of withdrawing the bonus. So, a minimum monetary amount of wagers (e.g. $150) or a specific number of hands (e.g. 5) or a combination of the two (e.g. 4 hands with a combined minimum amount of $100 in wagers) must be met prior to withdrawing the bonus money in addition to winnings and initial deposits. The obvious benefit all this leaves for the player is that the bonus money can be wagered without risk. Since it is "gift" money from the house, the player does not have his/her own capital at risk. Needless to say, this provides a huge benefit to the player seeking to sign on with a gaming venue. This does bring us to the next point... The house has much to gain from such programs. Through offering comprehensive bonuses to new players, many people may become enticed to come aboard. As previously mentioned, the competitive landscape online poker venues face is a tough one. That is why offering bonuses proves to be a highly successful strategy for so many. Quality, competitive bonus offers draw in players. With a large base of players, the poker site can stay in business. You can't offer a simpler or more accurate description of the business than that. This opens the door for acquiring many excellent benefits, bonuses, and winnings for those players motivated enough to seek them out.

Car Sales in Adelaide Vital Stats

The importance of used car sales Adelaide can be looked at from various points of view. The most obvious one is that it allows people who cannot afford the high initial costs of a new car to still own a car with all the up to date features. However, there is more to used car sales Adelaide than this. In economic terms, they contribute greatly to the growth of the economy at large. The survival of the used car Adelaide market is mainly determined by the liquidity in the market brought about by continuous sales of used cars Adelaide. Although new cars contribute to the market, their effect is not sustained like in the case of used cars in Adelaide. The used car market in Adelaide is buoyant when new cars sell well, forcing the price of used cars in Adelaide down. Once this traded car has been bought the rotation cycle ends. This can result is a surplus of used cars in Adelaide. This is car sales Adelaide of used cars fluctuate each month.

 

 Used cars in Adelaide also have a better resale value than new cars since they have already been depreciated. The reduction can be as much as 70% after 5 years, so buying a used car Adelaide has that is 5 years old will save you thousands.

 

 If you are looking for a reliable used car South Australia has, keep your eye on the used car sales Adelaide advertises on the Internet. This is where you will be able to compare all the makes and models that are of importance to you, quickly and conveniently. It is also worth taking a look AA Family Motors Used Car Dealer, as they always advertise the used car sales Adelaide has at their dealership, and specialise is Holden used cars Adelaide. Apart from used cars Adelaide, they have plenty of used utes Adelaide and also an awesome range of used 4x4 Adelaide has for sale.

 

The importance of used car sales Adelaide does not end with the contribution to the economy. It also has various advantages to individuals looking at paying cash for a quality used car Adelaide, or used car South Australia. For those looking at car loans will find that car loan lenders will be more willing to lend smaller amounts of money to customers; especially if the customer is not asset backed.

 

Finally, used car sales Adelaide provide a large business opportunity for many small businesses. With rising demands for used cars in Adelaide, allied businesses such as car detailers, and accessory installers and fitters, insurance companies, and car finance brokers thrive. The MTA are expecting over 1,000,000 new cars to be registered this year, which will mean plenty of used car sales Adelaide as people trade in their current car.

 

These days people sell either privately or through a used car dealer such as AA Family Motors. Your decision to buy from a private trader may be price, but be wary, what you may save upfront may soon disappear with mechanical problems you have to spend on because you do not have a used car warranty, and this can become very costly.

How to Become a Graphic Artist

Ever looked at a colorful marketing brochure or a website and thought of different ways you would design it if given a chance? Often find yourself marveling at the originality of an artwork on a book cover? Every time graphics roll on the evening news, do you wonder if there was a way to do it better? If your answer to the above questions is yes and you have an undying thirst for creativity, then you probably are a prime candidate for becoming a graphic artist.

Becoming a graphic designer involves as much hard work and commitment as it does flair and creativity. Your talent needs to be nurtured appropriately, and your creativity channelized in the right direction if you want to make a serious career out of graphic arts. And one way to do this is through sound training and a relevant education in the field. But before we get down on the nitty-gritty of how to become a graphic artist, let's take a closer look at what graphic artists do.

Simply put, graphic designers create visual communication of an idea or a message. They use a variety of materials such as images, sound, illustrations, animation, type, and color to create visual solutions. They work in industries ranging from films, television, and publishing to advertising, gaming and fashion.

Getting Education

So, how does one go about becoming a graphic designer? The first step is to find your way to a college or university that offers a graphic arts degree. There will be many people who will try to argue you out of enrolling for a college degree. Some believe that there is no point spending hard earned (or borrowed) dollars on something that you can teach yourself, while others will insist that a portfolio is all that matters to make it as a graphic designer.

Admittedly, portfolios creation and online tutorials are crucial part of your training. But equally important is a solid education that only a graphic design program can provide.

Not only is a college degree essential to build a strong foundation in the field, but it is also the minimum credential that employers nowadays ask for when conducting job interviews. A graphic arts degree is also necessary if you want to mature into more senior roles and aspire to lead a creative team of an organization at some point in your career.

The good thing is that you can choose between a basic two-year Associate's degree in Graphic Arts and a more advanced and in-depth Bachelor's degree in Graphic Arts, depending on your career and educational goals.

For folks who are making a mid-to late-career shift to graphic design or who find a college education completely out of their reach, there are a range of professional certificate programs and diplomas that they can complete.

Gaining Experience

But an education is just the starting point of your training to become a graphic designer. It's important to work on creating an impressive portfolio of work while your education continues as that's something your prospective employers could use to gauge the level of your talent and experience.

There are several ways of creating a portfolio. You can take up projects and assignments on a freelance or consultative basis. Remember, no task is too small when you're looking to get your hands dirty in the field, so lap up whatever comes your way. You can also get an internship with a graphic design firm and gain some first-hand experience of working in a professional environment. This experience will be extremely valuable when you start your first job as a graphic designer.

Since technology is constantly evolving and graphic designers depend on a variety of software applications to complete their day-to-day job, it is important you stay abreast of the changes in technology and constantly upgrade your skills through self-learning if you want to remain employable.

All You Need to Consider While Purchasing a Business or Enterprise Software

Purchasing software is a major issue as it is not only the cost of the purchase, but all considerations required making a good decision, there's the learning curve, the conversion process, and other costs that are hidden. Many of us have a tendency to compare what we think are apples and apples, when in reality they are not. There are many questions people should ask before making changes.

1. Why am I making this change? Is my software so bad that I cannot work with it any longer?

2. What sacrifices will I be making internally in order to change?

3. Is it an upgrade?

4. I hope I'm not making a lateral move; will the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience and cost of making this switch?

5. It's nice to be on the competitive edge of technology, but do I need everything that is offered?


6. Are my employees driving this decision? If so, my software must be pretty bad.

7. Is the support process from my proposed new company far superior to my old company?

8. What about follow up after sale, what does the contract actually say?

9. Do I have the proper equipment to support the new technology; are my licenses in place for related software?

10. Should I consider software as a service, as that may be my best bet?

Here are a number of things commonly heard in the marketplace, conferences, seminars, and feedback from clients.

1. I called my software supplier and asked to do of data conversion. I was told it would be 4 to 6 months before they even put me into queue. That's an exceptionally long time when I'm trying to get a new client. I will probably lose this one.


2. Even after getting into the queue, it turns out that the conversion cost is prohibitive. My client will never pay that exorbitant amount, what are the alternatives?

3. My client base is growing, yet my licensing fees remain the same. Isn't there some kind of sliding scale as my usage becomes greater?

4. My supplier nickel and dimes me to death. Every time I pick up the phone, it's 2 or 3 hours of billing. What is included in the support price for the new product? Is it the frying pan to the fire syndrome?

5. Oh No! Another upgrade, more money, more testing, and if I don't do it I will eventually be unsupported. I really wish my software supplier would seamlessly make those upgrades so I don't even see them. Someone told me that web based products can do that since there's no software on the client machine. This must really be a key selling point for software as a service as I wouldn't expect to be involved in any of the upgrades.

6. Upgrades? Do I need to take them? Of course you do, but try to see if your support contract and maintenance contract includes them. The advantage is you are never behind, there's no big gap between your system and the current system, or one less thing you need to worry about.

7. Will I be generating more work for my IT department, not if my vendor supports the product themselves? That's a good thing since I don't have an IT department any way.

8. Am I buying software or expertise? We really need a strong vendor that can serve as a consultant for both the hardware and software and anticipate our needs. Many of the banks are taking the position of assisting in financial matters, doing payroll, analysis, and other aspects that detract from my ability to perform the work required to run my own business. That seems to make sense and we should expand that to all facets of our business when applicable. Let the vendor be responsible and give me a good product to help me with my business that I don't have to be involved in. My Doctor doesn't consult with me before he operates, my lawyer doesn't discuss how he's going to handle these things and my vendor should do the same just get the job done.

It's a competitive market out there. There are tons of companies offering many types of programs, products and services. Take the extra time to research all options. In the long run, a better decision will be the result. It's worth the investment, get as much exposure, knowledge and advise available. Maximize your ROI by creating a profit center rather than an expense.

JDi Data Corporation has provided insurance claims software since 1992. JDi Data offers web based workers compensation software and also claims systems for insurance claims departments, third party administrators and risk managers to administer property, casualty and general liability claims. JDi Data has built a reputation in quality claims management software with special emphasis on specialty lines and complex litigation.

New Tricks To Boost Sales Performance

Years ago in Australia I worked as a consultant trainer for a great trouble-shooter to sort out the underperforming Australian end of a major consumer electronics marketing operation. I worked with them for three years, twice a year, traveling the country, 4 states, doing their sales training.

The first trip was easy, basic techniques stuff, and it is still being taught today. What should I do second, and third and fourth time around? The things I discovered will probably work for you today.

Trick 1: Get the customer to tell you what he wants from you.

I decided to ask a customer. I rang the best consumer goods retailer in Australia; this guy is a living legend.

"How many sales reps deal with you professionally?"

"None! I've never met one." was the blunt answer.

"Would you invest an hour telling a group of sales reps how they should do business with you?"

"Yes." was his immediate answer and I visited him to set it up.

In due course he arrived and was ushered into my training room. The trainees were impressed and slightly terrified about having to meet, and listen to the great man.

He spent an hour berating them about all the mistakes sales reps make and I'm sure the list has not changed. A small sample:

• Treating him like a consumer..
• Total product feature focus - we've got an x and a y and a z and its great.
• No understanding of the most basic question; "How does this guy make a buck out of selling my product?"
• No interest in my business.
• No idea how I set up a product range, and the position of his brand in my retail strategy.

He spent the second hour telling them how to sell to him. It was the easiest sales training session I ever "ran".

They were a sorry, bedraggled, miserable lot when he finished, so he gave them a consolation prize in the form of the biggest single order that office had ever received. Beer all round that afternoon? You bet.

The strategy was still working two years later. So if you are selling to retailers, try it. It's free, and customers can't resist the chance to tell sales reps what they are getting wrong.

You can do this yourself, and I suggest you should. It's a great way to build customer relationships. I bet you will get an increase in sales. You may need to adapt the approach to your business.

If you are a retailer, why not get a disgruntled customer to come in and tell your people what went wrong, and what the customer really wanted. You may need to give them a gift, but if you consider the extra sales you will make, that's cheap training.

In a hospitality business, you can get the customers on your side by giving them an opportunity to explain to your staff how they feel when they are confronted by a can't do system or attitude.

Trick 2: A day in the field is worth three behind the desk.

The easy way to find out what your sales people really need to learn is to spend a day in the field with them.

When I did it I would make sure that I was introduced as the new boy, new to the business and just learning to find my way around. I would say very little, only hello and goodbye. I would listen and watch and make my mental notes.

The hardest part was to resist taking over and making the sale myself.

When we left for the next call, I would ask the salesperson the "why" questions.

• When she said that, what was she really looking for? What did you say? Why? What happened next?
• Why did he say no?
• This kerb-side conference worked best when I teased out the things that could have been done differently or better.

A day in the field gave me renewed insight into the behaviour of sales people, their doubts, fears and blindness to opportunity and customers' buying signals. I had enough material to work on for two or three days of real training. And my credibility rose because it was all real, their world, and I could do it, not just teach it.

The bonus was that the discipline of listening showed me what the customers really wanted.

Trick 3 Self-image counts

If you work with a sales team for an extended period, you will see that a salesperson's self image is reflected in their personal presentation. As their personal presentation improve so will their results.

I mentored a talented salesman over a period of two years. At the start, he was really rough uncut diamond. Slightly scruffy, shoes not polished, jacket and slacks, tie not well tied and slightly out of date. His speech was sloppy, with excessive use of jargon, and poor question asking skills. He was too matey with some customers, and ill at ease with others. He looked as unprofessional as he behaved. But he could sell.

Gradually I saw his appearance change. He invested in a good suit with ties and shoes to match. He had regular haircuts. He changed his speech dropping the slang words. As the self-image he projected improved, his customers treated him with greater respect. They sought his opinion and responded to his suggestions. His sales improved. He worked hard to understand their business and made suggestions as to how they could range his product to achieve higher profits.

The last time I saw him he looked good, sounded great and was stepping up the sales management ladder really quickly. It was not about sales skills; he had those. It was all about self image and self confidence.

The moral of this story is that anything you can do to build a person's self confidence will pay off in sales.

Here's hoping you find these ideas useful, and can work out a way of putting them into practice in your business.