Monday, June 29, 2009

SQUEAKY WHEELS


I was talking to one of my sharpening friends today. He was asking me about some of Wolff's Modified Shears. I asked a few questions, answered a few, and then asked, "Why so curious about the modified shears?" He told me it was for a customer he's been after for a few years now that's finally letting him look at doing some sharpening for them and selling shears to them.

Hear that? Years! Just goes to show. Don't give up. Keep asking. Keep going back. Thanks to my friend for sticking with it. And thanks for proving that an old saying my Grandfather taught me is still true. The squeaky wheel get the grease. Now go squeak! :D

Image: orinrobertjohn

Thursday, June 25, 2009

SOCIAL MEDIA, TWITTER, AND LUNCH



One of my favorite groups I'm involved in is the Greenville Chapter of Social Media Club. Everyone in this group is so forward thinking, tech savvy, and willing to share what they know about marketing and communicating online through this new medium. Above is a video highlighting some of my friends in this group. It'll tell you how they use Social Media in their businesses, and perhaps you may see some potential in using this new way to stay in touch with your customers too.

Just remember, more than a money maker, Social Media is a relationship builder. It's a way to communicate with existing customers, and through their networks; find new customers to build relationships with as well.

Here are a few of the links I promissed in the video:

Social Media Club - http://socialmediaclub.pbworks.com/LocalTeams

Jay - @sellphone & his website

Kamran - @kamranpopkin & @swagclub & his blog

Trey - @treypennington & his landing page

Another great friend is Doug Cone, owner of Nullvariable Web Design. His Twitter handle is @nullvariable and is someone I strongly suggest you follow as well. I recorded a video segment about him, but I had to cut it because of time. I'll tell you more about him in the future.

INTERVIEW WITH BRENNAN THE SCISSORS SHARPENER

Thanks if you subscribed to my YouTube channel. If you haven't yet, click here to find out how.

One of my favorite vehicles to convert into a mobile sharpening unit is the Sprinter Van. It's high top, solid design, and fuel efficiency make it an excellent choice for a sharpener.

One of the nicest set ups I've seen in one of the sprinters is my friend Brennan's. I had the opportunity to interview Brennan at the Huff Show. When you watch the video you'll see he's an innovative guy. Click below and enjoy:

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

I hope you've been enjoying the videos I've been posting on Jim Sharp. I plan to continue using this medium as a way to communicate with you while on the road, but I need you help. I need you to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It's easy! All you have to do is visit my channel's web page. Here's a link:

http://www.youtube.com/JimSharpBlog

Then you click on the Subscribe button located on the upper left hand side of the page.


If you don't have a YouTube account, they will ask you to sign up. It's easy and free to do so.

Please take a little time to do this for me. I won't be posting all of the videos I upload to my JimSharpBlog channel on this blog, so signing up will help you keep up-to-date, and it will help me with my rankings on YouTube (which would be a great help to me). This will also allow you to make comments on my videos in the comment section on YouTube.

So please take a few moments when you have a little extra time and subscribe. Thanks for all your help and for reading my blog. I'll talk to you soon.

Monday, June 22, 2009

INTERVIEW WITH CRAIG THE SCISSORS SHARPENER



While at the Huff Show I had the chance to interview a few of the sharpeners. Here is the first of a number of these interviews I'll be sharing with you over the next few days.

If you have any questions concerning scissors sharpening, clipper blade sharpening, or clipper repair; feel free to call me. I hope you enjoy today's video.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A QUICK VIEW OF THE HUFF SHOW



I had a few extra minutes so I decided to put together this quick video of some of the goings-on at the Huff Show. Enjoy!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I'M BACK FROM THE HUFF SHOW



I'm back from the Huff Show and had a GREAT time! Thanks to all the sharpeners that attended and made the show such a success.

While there, I did a number of video interviews with some of the sharpeners and one with Bob Huffman at the Huff's Wholesale headquarters. I also took a number of pictures of mobile sharpening units I'll be using in some articles in On The Edge over the next few months.

I left one manufacture out in the video above that I need to mention. Wahl also provided a clipper for the attendees to repair and keep. Thanks to both them and Oster and Andis for providing this equipment for the hands-on training.

I'll see you all next week. I'm going to go enjoy some time with my nephew. See ya soon.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

ON THE ROAD AGAIN


On the road again! I just can't wait to get on the road again! ---- For more of this foolishness, click here. :)

I guess I'll be singing that song in my head all day as I travel to the Huff Show. It looks like it's going to be a blast this weekend. Lots to learn and lots share! I'm looking forward to it.

I may, or may not, be posting to Jim Sharp. I'm never sure if I'll be able to find a place to hook up to the internet when I'm in Knox City; and my Laptop Battery just gave up the ghost as well. I have a new one, but I need to get it fully charged. I do have my new Flip Video Camera though, so I'm hoping to interview a number of sharpeners while I'm there.

I also wanted to point out that my last post was a little off target, but Amy Wood is a friend of mine and really uses Social Media to its fullest extent. I needed a place to post both her videos after I uploaded them to YouTube, so I posted them here since the info will help you if you decide to pursue Social Media as a communication tool or a marketing tool. Remember, if you want to follow me through this medium, one of the best ways to do so is on Twitter. My Twitter handle is: www.twitter.com/jimsharp. The other day, someone asked me to describe what Twitter is in one short sentence. I said, "It's like CB for the 21st century."

I'll talk to you soon.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

POWERFUL WAYS TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA

Sites like Twitter and Facebook are becoming powerful tools to help you promote yourself and your business. In fact Amy Wood of WSPA, one of our local news anchors, proves this every day as she reaches out to people in her viewing area through these Social Media platforms.

Today, I had the privilege of attending and filming the presentation she did for Social Media Club Spartanburg. Amy is an outstanding example of how one person can make a difference by reaching out to a select group of people through these new mediums in a way that promotes involvement and fosters loyalty for both her, and her station.

The following videos are loaded tips and pointers that will help you better understand how to use Social Media to promote yourself and your business, and how to do this even when your time is in short supply. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Amy Wood on Social Media Part 1


Amy Wood on Social Media Part 2


If you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can find me at @jimsharp

If you're not following Amy, here are some links that will help you hook up with her:
Follow Amy on Twitter
Follow Amy on Facebook
Amy's Blog

Thanks for a great presentation today Amy!

Friday, June 5, 2009

INTERACTION SELLS & TWITTER


Over this past week I haven't been very busy on Jim Sharp, but I have been busy elsewhere online. I two place actually. One place is on my other blog, Interaction Sells, and the other is Twitter. Let me tell you a little about both.

Interaction Sells
I started this blog a while back and then let it laps a year ago. I was just too busy focusing only on growing the sharpening side of Wolff Industries back then to really focus on Interaction Sells, so I dropped it. But now my mission has once again changed, starting in mid-June, David wants me to focus on Wolff's customers that work with hard-to-cut materials and help grow that side of of the business. Since this means I'll be back on the road selling again, I thought it might be good to at least attempt to brush the dust off Interaction Sells and chronicle some of what I learn as I market Wolff and it's products to this group. I hope you'll come along for the ride.

By the way, this does not mean I will no longer by posting to Jim Sharp, but I may point you back and forth between the two blogs some.

Twitter
If you don't spend a lot of time online, you may not know about the Microblogging site known as Twitter. But it's becoming a powerful force in the online world for marketing one's self and/or a business. I've been on Twitter for some time now and there are a few sharpeners that follow me. I'd like to invite you to consider joining Twitter (it's free) and follow me there for three reasons.

1. When I'm on the road, Twitter will be an easy way to get in touch with me. One of the most powerful things about Twitter is it will work on your sell phone. I check Twitter multiple times each day whether I'm at my desk on my computer, or on the road with my Blackberry. So if you need some help the quickest way to let me know is to send me a note on Twitter.

2. I use Twitter as a sounding board to share interesting things I find online that help me in my business, interest me, or that I think my followers may be interested in.

3. It really is a new way to connect with people; and I'm willing to bet a number of your customers use Twitter too. Sign up with Twitter to set yourself apart from the other sharpeners in your area, and then use Twitter to help stay in touch more with your customers that are online.

One other reason is other sharpeners may start using Twitter more in the future. If they do, Twitter will become a great way for the sharpening community to connect, trade ideas, and help each other.

If you have any questions about Twitter, just give me a call at 800-888-3832 and I'll explain all the ins-and-outs.

You can connect with me on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/jimsharp

Monday, June 1, 2009

THE 2009 HUFF SHOW


Over the next few days I'll be getting ready for the Huff Show. I love this show! It's without a doubt one of my favorite shows of the year! Here are a few details:

The dates are June 12th and 13th in Edina, MO; a town just 10 miles west of the Huff's shop in Knox City. The focus of this show will be on clipper blade sharpening and clipper repair.

The price to attend is just $275.00 per person. This price includes 6 meals, and for those of us that have been to the Huff Show in the past, we know the food is half the fun. Also, Oster has agreed to give a shear from their Convex 2 line to each of the attendees as a gift and Andis has agreed to give a clipper to everyone that attends too. These two items, when sold, will allow you recoup much of the cost to attend.

The Huffman's will also be hosting their famous auction on Friday night! If you have something to sell or you're thinking of buying some more equipment, this is the place to be.

To sign up, please call 660-434-5535. I hope to see many of you there. Talk to you soon.