MAKE AN IMPRESSION

It's the little things that really make a great impression. For instance, I have had the pleasure of being surprised by a couple of my friends I know from working with them through Wolff, or many of my online projects. The surprises came from Kamran Popkin, of Promotional Authority, and Louisa Stephan, of Worthwhile. What did they do? They gave me a little of their time, they thought about me, they did a little something extra, these actions were expressed in the form of a book and a hand-written note (See the picture above).


Kamran PopKin
I have known Kamran for a long time. When I filled out a recommendation for him on his LinkedIn Page, I said...

“Kamran is the quintessential example of what a sales professional should be. Innovative, creative, able to solve problems, on time, always learning and always willing to extend his hand to help. One of the things that most impresses me about Kamran is, when ever I find a new book on sales or marketing, Kamran has either read it or is in the process of reading it. He is always looking for ways to grow so he can better serve his customers. Helping his clients isn't just a job to him, it's a lifestyle.”

...and I meant every word of it. He knows I like Gitomer books, and he also knows that "Trust" is something I try to encourage all of my sharpening students to build with their clients as they grow their businesses. This small gift is great because it's also a gift to you, since I'm sure I'll be pulling all kinds of nuggets of wisdom from this book to share with you. All he did was make a quick stop to pick up a book and jot a quick note on the back of his card, but boy did he make an impression and I'd like to say a BIG public thank you.

Louisa Stephan
I'm just getting to know Louisa. We have been friends for some time now on Facebook and Twitter. We met on these sites through our organizations and only recently met in person at a local business event. We exchanged our pleasure in getting to meet each other through Direct Messages on Twitter, but she took it one step further and wrote me a nice note. She comes across online as a kind and dedicated person every time I see her comment on something, or pass information along to our group. This note is just one more thing that shows how truly wonderful she is, and that the Worthwhile Company is blessed to have her.

The Point
The point in all of this is not to tell you I have two great friends (but I do), it's to tell you that you can be this kind of friend to your customers too. Do you, from time-to-time, write a thank you note to those that use your service, or if they buy a shear? Do you drop by with a simple, inexpensive gift that really means something to your customer? I know many of you do, those that are not, consider trying it. This really was just two simple things my friends did, but they made a lasting memory that I guarantee you I'll be telling others about for months.

A quick note:
Kamran sells some of the best promotional products I've ever seen. If you'd like to get in touch with him, his e-mail is kamran@PromotionalAuthority.com.

To find out more about Louisa and Worthwhile Company, visit their website at www.worthwhile.com.

ROTARY BLADE SHARPENING

Sorry for the short post, but I've been buried today. I added a number of Rotary Blade Sharpening Videos to the Wolff YouTube Channel. Here is a link:

http://www.youtube.com/wolffind

WOLFF INDUSTRIES ONLINE

It has been a busy week for Wolff online. Here are a few examples:

The new Wolff Twice as Sharp® Website

Most of you know about this one already and I thank you for all your help and suggestions when it went online. Here is the site address:

http://www.twiceassharp.com/

Be sure to stop by the link section and see who has joined the Link Sharing Program. If you'd like to join, click here to find out more.


The Wolff Facebook Page

I announced this the other day, but I've started adding pictures, videos, and links to the Page. So keep an eye on it and become a fan if you're on Facebook. Here's a link:

Wolff Industries on Facebook




The Wolff YouTube Channel

I've been loading Wolff videos onto the Wolff YouTube Channel over the past couple of days. Over time you will find more and more being added, so be sure to stop by the link below and favorite the page or subscribe to the Wolff Industries Channel. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/wolffind

WOLFF'S FACEBOOK PAGE

Are you on Facebook? If you are, Wolff now has a Facebook Page too. I've been working on adding pictures, they'll be updates about future shows added, and links back here to Jim Sharp and other sites of interest. When you have a few moments, swing by, take a look, and if you're a member of Facebook; become a fan. Here's a link:

Wolff Facebook Page

If you don't have a Facebook Page, consider opening one. I'll be talking more about Facebook and how you can use it as a sharpener to promote yourself and your business.

REPAIR A SHEAR

Back in July of 2007 I wrote a post titled, Repairing a Wrecked Shear on the Hira-To®. A number of people have asked me about it, so I though it wouldn't hurt to write a quick post today pointing back to it. Here is the link that will take you back to that post:

Repairing a Wrecked Shear on the Hira-To®

Let me know what you think.

WHO CAN SHARPEN MY SHEARS?

On occasion I have a customer call and ask, "How can I find someone in my area that can sharpen my industrial or sewing shears.?" I always tell them, "Ask your local Dog Groomers." Grooming shears are sharpened the same as an industrial shear or sewing shear and they typically get their blades or shears sharpened ever 6 to 8 weeks, so they weed out bad sharpeners fast. If they like a sharpener, you can bank on them being good at what they do.

With that said, you'd be surprised how many times I get a call from different industries asking how to find a sharpener. The industrial segment of the sharpening business is often overlooked. Don't overlook it! If you need some help thinking of places to go that have shears that need sharpening, send me an e-mail at Jim@wolffind.com. I have a list of places you can go to sharpen shears and will gladly send it to you be e-mail.

Image: judybaxter

A VISIT FROM DAVID VOGEL

Those of us that were at the Wolff Show back in 2005 in Richmond, VA will remember David Vogel and the excellent presentation he did on shear manufacturing. He is here with us today working on a variety of projects as we move forward into 2009.

Here David Wolff, David Vogel, and Garnard Hill are mulling over how they are going to modify our project shears for the different cutting applications they do.





Testing went on for a number of hours as Garnard and David tried different levels of set and angles to get the best cut out of the shears.





The ureka moment came when they found the right combination of set, angle, level of face grind, and edge radius to get the job done.





Here are a couple of pictures a I though everyone would enjoy. David Vogel is face grinding an industrial shear free-hand. Can you tell he's been at this a long time?









David will now go back to the plant to make the necessary molds and dies to create the blades we need to improve our 6000 series shears. Awesome job today Dave and Garnard!

SOME LINKS ARE UP

This will be the last post about the new Twice as Sharp® Website this week. I just wanted to point you to the link page to view the first few sharpener links. Here is the link:

http://twiceassharp.com/tas_links.php#

Just scroll down to view.

If you'd like to get a link on the Twice as Sharp® Site, click here to find out more.

2 QUESTIONS ABOUT TWICE AS SHARP® SITE

Okay...now that a few hundred have looked at the new Wolff twiceassharp.com website, I'd like to ask two quick questions...

1. Do you think the site comes across as clean and easy to navigate?

2. Do you think I should add the text, "Click on the button below to find out more about our ____ sharpener?" in the pop up box that shows when you scroll over the buttons at the bottom of the three pictures; or is the arrow in the box explanation enough?


Please e-mail me at Jim@wolffind.com with your answers.

I just got in today, so I will be going through e-mails from all of you that expressed interest in linking to twiceassharp.com. If you don't know about our Linking Program, click here. Stay tuned!

TWICE AS SHARP® LINK SHARING

Wolff will be offering a link sharing program on the new www.twiceassharp.com website. What's link sharing? It's simple. You've seen a links page on different websites before. Twiceassharp.com has one, as do most sites. On our site, you'll find a number of links to companies that distribute the Twice as Sharp® and a few other sites, like my Jim Sharp Blog. You'll also notice that there is a link back to twiceassharp.com in the side bar on Jim Sharp. This is link sharing. The sites link to each other.

What Wolff would like to do is give you the opportunity to link to twiceassharp.com, and in return, we'll provide a link back to your website. Now there are three catches though! First, you must own a Wolff Twice as Sharp®. Second, you have to have a website to provide a link to twiceassharp.com before we'll link to you. Third, the link must remain on your site. If the link is removed, you're link will fall off the Twice as Sharp® site as well.

How will Wolff benefit if I do this?

The benefit to Wolff is your link to us. All of the outgoing links to the twiceassharp.com site will help us with rankings in the search engines.

What is your benefit if you do this?

You will also benefit from our link back to your site in regards to ranking, but more importantly, it will provide a link to your site for people that are looking for someone to sharpen their shears.


All companies will be listed by state or provience on a first-come/ first-serve basis. The list will be on the links page under our distributor section. What I mean by first-come/ first-serve is the first one in a state or provience to link to us will be on top of their state or provinces's section, the next one will go under the first, and so on.

If you are interested in participating in link sharing with twiceassharp.com, please send me an e-mail at Jim@wolffind.com. Remember though, it is not the first person that e-mails me that gets the top spot, it's the first one to link to twiceassharp.com. So link to us a soon as you can, and as soon as you do, let me know by e-mail and I'll go view your site.

Image: markop

TWICE AS SHARP® WEBSITE

Finally! I'm done! I've been working on the new Wolff Twice as Sharp® Scissors Sharpening System Website with my designer for a few months now and it is finally live. The front page is pictured above and I'm providing a link below. Please go and take a look at the site and let me know what you think. Here's the link:

http://twiceassharp.com/

I'll be writing more about this over the next few days, so stay tuned.

PROLINE SHEARS

I just finished editing a number of the ProLine Shears on the Wolff Website. These shears are made in China with Japanese forgings. Hardened stainless from 56 to 58 rockwell and fully convexed and hollow ground. They are an excellent shear for the price point! Take a look at the links below:

ProLine Beauty Shears

ProLine Grooming Shears

HAPPY 2009!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Image: rodneymulholland