Winner of 1500 fan giveaway.......

Congratulations ................  "Cherry Munster".   You have 48 hour to contact me to claim your prize and select which colour necklace and keyring you would like.

Thankyou to everyone for entering and your  continued support.  Its people like you that make every day wonderful.

Such a missed opportunity.........

Have you ever seen something happen right in front of you and thought  "my god - what a missed opportunity".  It happened to me on the weekend.............and what a missed opportunity it was for a very small business that could have really helped them.

I went to a cupcake decorating class on Saturday (and that is so not me for those that know me) but I was to go with a group of girls which would have been fun, if the date that we had all selected I had a commitment come up that I could not change ( I was judging so they could not move a whole show for me).  So on the 11th hour before my voucher expired, I decided to go to the cupcake class on my own and see what all the fuss was about.

The class was purchased through living social. Thats a web site where businesses offer specials in order to get people in the door.  The logic you would think is once they are in the door, you would tell them about you, about up and coming classes and look at it as a way of marketing with 15 eager people there that have paid to listen and learn from you.  Well yo would think ......wouldn't you?

I arrived exactly 2 mins late as I had gone through McDonald drive through for a coffee - which turned out to be hot milk and they had forgotten to add the coffee.  But - I was only 2 min late.  I walked in, and everyone was around a table with the teacher who was already 10 min into how to decorate the cupcakes.  I guess that was strike one where you start early when you know you have more people coming.

The teacher sat at her desk, went through the spiel, handed out some Fodant and set everyone off on their merry way.  People were struggling from the get go, but not once did the teacher come around the class and ask if anyone needed help.  We did get a summons to go back to the table 40 min into it so she could show us the next "section".  She sat down again, gave a demonstration ( very unenthusiastically BTW) then sent us again on our Merry way.  This time, the teacher ( who I must also point out was the owner) then went out the back and had lunch.  yep - she left 15 women struggling - to have lunch because she has a class in the morning and another in the afternoon.

By then I was struggling madly with an impression mat, a candle roller and some rather uncooperative fondant.  I decided that hey - I had pad my $49 to be there ( like the other 14 ladies) and I needed help tackling the uncooperative substance.   I called her over and asked for help.  Well yo would have thought I had asked for her first born.  She looked at me very strangely and told me I had rolled to hard.  This was on the instruction for her earlier that you need to "roll quiet hard to make the imprint".  No "here, let me show you what I mean or anything" - just "you rolled to hard" and then she walked off and stood at the back of the room staring at everyone.

What an absolutely wasted opportunity the whole exercise was.  She never said her business name, she showed absolutely no interest in anyone there and offered no help and it was like you were very lucky to have her time - all 15 min of it.  There was no " if you like this I run classes on blah blah blah", no "wow - thats really great for your first attempt" - just no customer relations what so ever.  And to top it off, she never closed the class to thank everyone for coming - or even bothered to stand near the door to say bye.  4 people walked out without saying a word - I was just dumbstruck.

I have over heard her telling her assistant that she made over $700 for the 2 hours and she has 3 classes that day so had cleared $2100.  But with the missed opportunity she could have doubled that and built up a customer base.

For me, I left , went to the new shopping center and had a brilliant time with a man who's name I never got ( more on that in a later Blog) shaking my head.

Funny ending to the story - I got home, told Camera Dude what had happened and there at the computer waiting for me was and email.  It said " Hi Natalie - we are ABC cupcakes (real name not used) really enjoyed your company today and look forward to seeing you at some of our classes in the future.  We would really love your feedback on how the class went and how we can improve it.  I chose to delete the email because lets be honest, they had no interest what so ever in my business, so I was not going to help point the glaring error in theirs.

Today I learnt - never never let an opportunity pass you by or if you do - get out of business now.  How was your weekend?

FYI - they were delicious :-)

Natalie

First ticket in 25 years........ DU-OH!

So there I was, driving along minding my own business after getting some groceries and hear the police car and siren behind me.  I, being the excellent driver with the perfect track record ( i.e not one speeding ticket, car crash or infringement) ever since I started driving 25 years ago, pulled over immediately to let the police car get to the baddie they obviously were called out to "take down"

Imagine how I felt when they pulled over right behind me and then start consulting each other.......hmmmm....... surely I cant be the "Baddie"?  right ? I am a goodie!   I was wondering what the heck was going on, then the female office approaches the car....scoping the windows to see what was in the car ( checking for mummy drugs and guns to keep the kids under control), then tells me I went through a red light.

Huh?  a red light?  I didnt see that ( obviously).  Then when she told me where it was it was actually a red arrow and is notorious for people going through it as the building right behind it is the same color as the light so it blends and you just dont see it.

Then the back door of the police wagon opens and a man not in uniform gets out.  By now I am thinking OMG - its the camera crew from Police Force or something - ground - open up and swallow me - quick.  But luckily it turned out to be a trainee who had the lucky job of breath testing me.  He asked me if I have had any alcohol today and I felt like saying I could have done with some after the kids were fighting all morning - but opted against it.

The female officer took my license, and after a long time in the car (I was hoping it was to confer with the other policeman in the car about how brilliant my driving record was and how rare it is to see such a gleaming citizen) she came back and told me that she has no option but to issue me a ticket.  Bugger.

She had no idea how much it will be, but did tell me to write a letter about it as I may get off.  But as she saw it with her own eyes, she has to by law book me.  Her parting words were " Its just a darn shame we were directly behind you and I hope I have not ruined your day".  What else could I answer except "yes, you ruined my day, but if I did it, then I am responsible for it"

Mind you, that wont stop me arguing to the end degree to get off and keep my perfect record that I am very proud of - oh and will pay more attention on the road for sure and checking the rear view mirror.

My hat off to our law enforcement men and women.  The natural reaction is to argue with them because you are angry - but the reality is, you are angry at yourself and really shouldn't take it out on them or anyone else.  The only person I have to blame is myself - and the Olympic for keeping me up so I cant concentrate for the day.

Today I have learnt - to keep your mind on the job at all times.  expensive lesson for the day but one I will take on board.


Natalie

Photo comp for August 2012

I know - just finish one then the next ones starts.  I still want to stick partially with my original theme for July ( that got changed) and the photo comps are open to anyone with any type of camera.  Be it DSLR, Phone or Point and shoot.  So give it a go and you could walk away with a nice piece of jewelry to show for it.

So The August theme is "Green and Gold".  Obviously we are all enjoying the olympic even if its silver instead of gold, so the photo MUST have at least a bit of green and a bit of gold.

So - the August Camera Competition

Green and Gold

entries close on Tuesday 5pm Thursday 30th August and the winner will be judged by Camera Dude who's decision is final.

How to enter......

1) email the photo you want to enter to sales@camerachick.com.au.  Only images emailed to me by the date the comp closes will be accepted .  DO NOT post them on the time line cos timeline wont let me save them.  Photos send to timeline will not be counted.

2) only 1 entry per person - so you need to decide which one - not me :-)

3) be creative - camera dude is not a photographer and lets face it - he is a dude - so think what will make him - as a normal person - love your shot.

happy snapping


Natalie

Camera Chick

And the winner for our July photo comp is.....

Well its the first time I have ever had Camera Dude come out to me to say "you do it - I cant decide".  So being the honest person that I am, I told him there was no way in the world that I would judge it as the pressure is way to much and I know who has entered what and the story behind each one.

I cant thank all of you enough for entering as its takes a lot of courage and guts to send photos in, but  I think they were all seriously so good that we will do this category again in the future for sure ( so thats a hint)

After an agonizing situation as he said, what makes a phone photo a winner.  So my answer was the one that grabs you as a "wow".

Anyway, he came down to 2 and because there was not much in it, we have decided to - for the first time - award a second place prize who can pick one of our new Key rings.

So - congratulations to our first place winner and the photo going into the end of the year draw which is

Kristy Beck

I think we can all agree this is a beautiful image and to be taken on a phone is quiet remarkable



and our second place winner is.........

Tanya Goodwin

The judge loved the colors in this image.  Now here I have to confess that Tanya is a friend of mine, who is not a photographer (dont think she even owns a camera - but LOVES her Iphone) and surprised me with a photo.  Camera Dude at no time had any knowledge that it was Tanya's photo ( and you will see by the image in the photo album that her name is not entered) and why I never tell him who has taken what.  Its also why I wont be a party to any judging ( and also why Tanya will not go into the major draw at the end of the year - cos now he knows thats not fair).

Just putting that out there as to how we run it here at Camera Chick as we think every image should have an equal chance..

So Tanya can pick a key ring of her choice - and I do like the colours in this image.

so 

Kristy & Tanya can email me at sales@camerachick.com.au with their postal address and colour choice and we will get them under way.

Until next time.....( which will be tomorrow)

Happy snapping

Natalie