Connect the Branding Dots - [read]
Give your business the dress and body language that will tip off your future customers so they can believe in you. Harness their highly evolved, at-a-glance sense to build instant credibility. Credibility equals credit, and that can put lots of money in your wallet. - entrepreneur.com

Make All Customer Touch Points Reflect What They Love (About You) - [read]
According to the recent report, U.S. consumers are steadily moving online. Why? Well, a heap of them (94% of the study's respondents) are comparing prices. And a solid number are looking for coupons (67%), while many are simply enjoying the virtual shopping experience (93%). So, how might traditional retailers catch this wave? - marketingprofs.com

Out of the Box: Mobile Spa Services Making a Splash in Hotels - [read]
Massage therapists, estheticians, makeup artists, mani and pedi service providers – listen up! Wouldn’t it be more fun to be working than standing around waiting for clients to come back to the spa and salon? Contact a hotel in your area and provide them with a menu of mobile services that you can provide to their clients in-hotel. Team up with other service providers to create a more robust product and service offering, and work with a hotel to provide services one or two days a week based on client demand. And even though these clients may just be passing through, don’t forget a bounceback offer or referral reward promotion for your salon or spa. If they travel frequently they can still become valuable repeat customers, and they will tell friends, colleagues and coworkers in the area they are visiting about their experience with you. - usatoday.com

Out of the Box: Get in on Wedding Services at a Hotel Near You - [read]
Weddings by The Ritz-Carlton will launch in June with a distribution of 90,000. The custom-published glossy (directory), carrying a 50/50 mix of editorial and high-end advertisements, will be placed in Ritz-Carlton rooms and given to brides and grooms who inquire about having their nuptials at the hotel. - dmnews.com

It's Not Rocket Science: The 'Mystery' of Success Revealed - [read]
My first piece of advice on success today for anyone willing to listen is simply to turn off all the news networks that are sensationalizing everything negative in our economy on a minute to minute basis. Each and every one of us has an obligation to protect our attitude. Ask Tiger Woods or any other professional athlete for that matter about visualization. If you visualize failure, in effect, you can create your own failure. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. By the same token, the “Law of Attraction” also works. If you visualize success you increase your chances of creating success. You will view things differently, recognize opportunities much quicker and actually generate creative ideas to act upon. Those actions then drive your success. - ceostrategist.com

Turn Marketing Into a Game - [read]
You can set targets and goals without an ultimate or at least short term destination in mind. If you are going to start tracking what matters you have to, well, know what matters. By that I mean you need to have some picture of where you want your business to go in the next year, three years, five years. You must be able to see, quite clearly, what it’s like to run your business in the future. Before you can set action steps and tactics, you must have the vision and the strategy that will make it real nailed. - openforum.com

7 Steps to the Perfect Marketing Plan - [read]
Follow these seven simple steps to build the perfect marketing plan: Narrow your market focus. Position your business. Create education-based marketing materials. Never cold call. Earn media attention. Expect referrals. Live by a calendar. - entrepreneur.com

Miss the Boat, or Sink It? - [read]
In tough times, many companies hunker down, cut spending, and wait for good times to return. They make fewer acquisitions, even though prices are cheaper. They cut advertising budgets. And often they invest less in research and development. They do all this to preserve what they have. But there’s a trade-off: numerous studies have shown that companies that keep spending on acquisition, advertising, and R. & D. during recessions do significantly better than those which make big cuts.
- newyorker.com

Anne Hathaway, Leonardo DiCaprio, InStyle and Flare, today’s consumer is on a first name basis with a long list of celebrities and magazines - and so is AG Hair Cosmetics.

AG has been involved in many high profile celebrity- and media-studded events and AG products are winning "best of" awards in Elle Magazine and others.

Be the salon that consumers turn to for AG. At your convenience, your Salon Services consultant can take you through a customized introductory plan that features the top AG products people everywhere are raving about. Please contact us directly at 800-251-4247 to take advantage of this offer.

EDUCATION FOCUS: DAVINES
An Evening with International Artists Kirsten Demant & Brian Suhr
plus a rare class offering on the day after:
Hands-On Cut and Color with Kirsten Demant and Brian Suhr

Join Salon Services as we take a journey with Davines International Educators Kirsten Demant and Brain Suhr. In more than 10 years with Davines they have developed a no boundaries approach to hair and a loyal cult following that is constantly blown away by their engaging techniques.

Watch and be inspired as they interpret the Davines lifestyle through hair fashion that is street-inspired, glamorous, fashion-forward—and most importantly—wearable. This event will be fun, educational and inspirational. Remember that spaces are very limited, so book your spot today!

[Click here] to learn more about the April 19th event and watch a video of Kirsten and Brian in action.

Sunday, April 19 from 6 - 8 PM
An Evening with Kirsten Demant and Brian Suhr
Herban Feast | 3200 1st Avenue South, Seattle
Career Investment, $99
Call 800-251-4247 ext. 226 to purchase your ticket.
Save your cash - use your rewards dollars!

Monday, April 20 from 10 AM - 5 PM
Salon Services & Supplies | 740 SW 34th Street, Renton
Career Investment, $500
Hands-On Cut and Color Class
On the day after the show, join Brian and Kirsten at Salon Services corporate educational facility for a full day packed with hands-on work and demos. Learn new styles, techniques, and practice looks on models. This is a rare opportunity to learn directly from two international artists. Class size is limited to 20 and is sure to fill quickly!
Call 800-251-4247 Ext. 226 to purchase your ticket.
Save your cash - use your rewards dollars!

View the new Davines Imprint Collection on YouTube [click here]

To register, please call 425-251-8840 Ext. 226 or email [click here]
Space is limited, reserve your seat today.