Category : Blog
Thank-you to everyone that came out to our January North Austin Influencers mixer. This month’s highlight, Stuart Wallace spoke to us about North Austin Creatives , an organization dedicated to strengthening the arts in North Austin. Awesome food and service Balkan Cafe & Grill !
Click on any of the pictures below to view the full set of photos from the event posted on the Facebook photo album.
Category : Blog
By: Larissa Davila – BCO Consulting Group
Growing up, I used to cringe when I walked into chain businesses and heard, “Welcome to our business!” and I would triple cringe when I walked out ninja-style and a teenager yelled from the cashier’s desk “Thank you for coming, have a great day!” I got annoyed by the jolliness in their voices and how they always saw me on the way out. It was total madness!
During my college years, I worked in retail. In this line of service, my training revealed the mystery that haunted me for years, employees don’t greet because they are strange jolly creatures. They greet because it is part of their Quality Control Metrics & Procedures manual (QCM&P). Greeting, makes customers feel noticed, appreciated and most importantly, it is the most effective loss prevention tactic available. When thieves know there is a “GREETER,” (Yes, there is a position in most chain stores that is in charge of greeting people) they won’t steal. Greeters help to reduce merchandise shrinkage. Figuring this mystery out and learning more quality control procedures amazed me. There is a whole science behind the size of your burger, the registration at the gym or spa and the separation between tables in a restaurant so that customers don’t bump into the neighbors behind them. These are Quality Control Metrics & Procedures and they rarely noticed when properly implemented. QCM&P’s are only missed when customers visit the competition and notice the lack of quality provided in comparison to their vendor of preference. In business terms, it is called the ONE BEST WAY. Business owners work on the ONE BEST WAY to make their customers happy every single time with the least amount of energy at the most effective cost. Once the ONE BEST WAY is found, a procedure is created and every employee in the business is trained to make sure it is always implemented. This technique makes customers miss the sales person at the shoe store, the cashier at the bank, the warm cup of tea at the spa and the fluffy slippers at the marvelous hotel from the last leisure trip. QCM&P are what make customers come back.
Big corporations implement QCM&P on almost every aspect of their business, should a Small Business Owner implement QCM&P’s? WELL, YEAH! A business is never too small or too large to provide quality service to its customers. There are too many options in our market and quality controls create an edge that most small business owners don’t even think about.
Quality Controls and Procedures are my passion. After I received my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I completed a certification in Vancouver, Canada as an internal auditor for the ISO. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide organization that charges thousands of dollars to businesses to assist them to develop and implement their own QCM&P and to audit them periodically to make sure that they stay on track.
Do you have to pay thousands of dollars to get certified through the ISO? As a small business owner, paying thousands of dollars to get certified through ISO, may be unreasonable but there are many alternatives. Small companies like mine, can provide with the guidelines and consulting services to generate QCM&P’s at an affordable and effective budget, or you can look online for generic tactics to create a QCM&P manual. There is a lot of information online to assist business owners to create a healthy one.
Once a procedure is created, does the business have to keep it for life? No, when a procedure is added to a QCM&P manual. A revision must be made after a period of time to make sure it is still the ONE BEST WAY. If the procedure no longer makes sense to the business, it can be updated or removed and the business continues improving.
Are there more benefits to creating a QCM&P manual? Yes, having a manual in place helps in more ways than one. A few examples are:
Because of these and many other benefits, don’t waste any more time and start working on it. It is a great investment and you will see immediate and long term benefits from it at every stage of your business.
Category : Blog
Originally from Monterrey Mexico, Diana Sanchez moved to Austin, Texas after being a pre-med student in Facultad de Medicina UANL to study in University of Texas. She later changed her focus to study marketing at Austin Community College. For Diana, it was important to stay in tune to her roots; Sanchez started Hispanosnet to promote awareness of local events to a Spanish speaking audience so that the Latino community could be an active part for the community. She continues her journey with Ellas production to launch unique international concert events to the Austin area and marketing services Texas-Mexico. For Diana Sanchez, her most important occupation is mother. She spends many hours at her daughter’s school, Austin Diocese, and is certified EIM (ethics and integrity in ministry) to volunteer at the school since 2012.
Born in Monterrey Nuevo Leon Mexico, UR Graduate in International Business. Melania Hernández arrived in 2013 to the city of Austin Texas in order to succeed as a Mexican woman in a different country. She started Melania Couture, a collection of handmade elegant styles for boys’ baptism outfits, girls’ christening outfits, and first communion apparel based locally in the Austin area.
Both ladies collaborated to cover entertainment and social life with two other co-hosts on a radio show on Radio Mujer (Women’s Radio in Spanish) for the show Vive Austin and Vive Austin Nocturno.
For businesses interested in marketing their product/services into the increasing Latina audience, Diana and Melania went on to use their expertise to create Expo Mujer with more than 50 businesses that contributed to the success of the event benefitting SafePlace, an organization that is dedicated to the ending of sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention and social change. Last year’s event was a day full of surprises with personal enrichment seminars; fashion shows, beauty products, and other themes woman would be interested in learning about. In conjunction with the expo, the ladies published Publicate Austin so that businesses may bring their product/services to the hands and eyes of the consumer achieving secure your investment.
Category : Blog
Alexis Adauto Ferguson made a name for herself early, becoming president of Austin Advertising Federation at 26, and has taken on leadership roles ever since. “I have a keen talent of being able to translate between creatives and clients – keeping the art alive while keeping the client’s objective front and center. Stickler for deadlines and love to “make it happen”. Have learned from the best of the best and continue to seek out opportunities that add to my knowledge base,” Alexis describes her journey. A 21 year advertising executive veteran by the age of 41, she left the fast-paced world of advertising to reinvent herself and define her true purpose.
Now, she helps other women (and men) chase the dream of entrepreneurship through her direct selling venture with Rodan + Fields. Alexis is an executive consultant with Rodan + Fields Dermatologists – a clinical skin care line from the doctors who created ProActiv Solution, the world’s most successful skin care line. What the doctors did for acne, they are now doing for anti-aging. She is a pioneer in the Texas market and excited that she has partnered with the two most trusted names in dermatology in the business that will be their legacy.
She also puts her passion to work as a board member of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas – Austin Chapter and a volunteer with Con Mi Madre . Both organizations align with her mission of empowering women of all ages to be their best selves. “Giving my free time to making a difference in the community by volunteering for organizations focused on helping Hispanic girls with higher education.”
Since adopting two amazing little boys, she feels like her best self when she’s spending time in her biggest leadership role yet – Mom.
Category : Blog
As an Austin lawyer, Mario Flores works tirelessly in helping Austin area businesses, individuals, and families with their legal concerns. Mario Flores, practices law with a personalized approach, so that his clients can be confident that even the most complicated legal matters will be handled in a timely and professional manner. Specializing in immigration law, estate planning and small business, Mario is a devoted advocate, working diligently to provide his clients with personalized legal services. Mario will vigorously defend his clients to ensure that their reputations and economic interests will be protected.
Estate planning is one of tents to ensure that there are no problems in a case where someone was unable to handle their own affairs. This includes creating a will, tax planning, contingencies for disability, and funeral arrangements. By discussing specific needs with an estate planning attorney, Mario’s clients can minimize the potential difficulties families may face while waiting for a will to pass through probate. This will also help prevent any family disputes that often arise during such a stressful and emotional time.
Often the most important decisions an entrepreneur makes for their small business are the first ones. Early stage business planning has a long-term effect on the development of companies. Mario Flores helps his clients with a number of important legal and business strategies to consider, including business formation, personal asset protection, and how to protect trade secrets.
Mario Flores is a member of the Texas Bar Association and licensed by the Western District of Texas. Mario Flores is also a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas.
Category : Blog
Passionate about her singing in a young age, Angel Austin often found she was remembered because of her voice by people she did not know. After Angel Austin started Austin Mobile Concierge with her husband almost three years ago, she has recently re-visited a desire to share her heart through music. With Life Music House Concerts, she is able to go to people’s homes, sing for them, and share stories about her life and experiences. These include difficult struggles with cardiac health. Through her concerts and healthy food posts via social media, Angel is sharing her journey to a stronger heart, to weight loss, and to total health. Her greatest hope is that by doing so, she will encourage people to make better decisions that result in increased longevity and improved quality of life. “I’ve been singing since I could talk. I used to sing and dance so much, when I was in Elementary School, my neighbors would call me over to their parties so I could sing and dance for them. I sang in the school choir and the choir at my church,” describes Austin.
She’s ecstatic about her first music release, “It’s a sound that is making resurgence in songs like Marc Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” with Bruno Mars. It has a catchy hook and a baseline that makes it impossible to stay still.” “Who Can Love Me Like That” is an inspirational song with an “Old School Funk” flavor reminiscent of the R&B music of the 80’s and 90’s.
“Initially, my goal with Life Music House Concerts was just to sing and share my heart and life experiences through song, but then I remembered the vision I had to help people full, healthy lives. I realized that through the music, I could gain access to the resources to make my vision a reality.” She was soon able to receive fiscal sponsorship through Fractured Atlas, a non-profit that supports artists by eliminating practical barriers to artistic expression, so as to foster a more agile and resilient cultural ecosystem. Angel Austin is now also developing programs and looking to form a team to start the nomination/selection process for program participants.
Angel Austin minored in Music with a concentration in Classical Voice (Opera). Austin continues, “It opened up a whole new world and my instructor said I had a “Cadillac” of a voice. I was asked to do local engagements, singing what was then a form of music that was brand new to me, but I loved it.” At our North Austin Influencers’ February mixer this year Angel Austin shared her journey of living a healthier lifestyle and mesmerized attendees as she sang in Italian a snippet from Lasciatemi Morire by Claudio Monteverdi.
