Could-do-better Shop Entry

Tags

black tiles, business, create a good entry, entry, feng shui, jakarta, roseline deleu, shop, steps, tiles, tiling, white pebbles

Pursuing my walk in this Jakarta very Chic and State of the Art Commercial Furniture and Decoration Center (see previous post), I choose to show you an entry that is not welcoming at all  😦

I went to this Center several times and sadly never saw any clients in this particular show room that offers beautifully designed and made furniture.

In fact, the entry to the shop sees 3 large shiny sets of black tiles surrounded by white pebbles. The combination itself is a good idea – the little white pebbles are quantities and are looking good around the black tiles (symbolizing the element of water that we need in an entry). The biggest problem is that the tiles are not placed in a Feng Shui friendly way. They are scattered and showing no stability towards the showroom entry itself.

If the Chi doesn’t feel welcome, nor will the clients.

What could the tiler have done? Instead than using large tiles, he may have chosen to curve the path and use tiny mosaïques tiles f.ex. black with maybe a touch of gold or silver and he could have possibly have a better effect.

A challenge would remain for this entry though, because the tiles that have been placed in the Commercial Center itself are slanted and (those on the left of this photo) and create a guillotine effect.

A good Feng Shui encourages curves, circles and avoids sharp angles and poison arrows in an entry.

Feng Shui is the Art of Placement and can be applied everywhere!

Roseline Deleu
International Feng Shui Master & Author
www.fengshuisteps.com.au

Ultimate Feng Shui Business Card

Tags

attract clients, be professional, business, business cards, consultations, feng shui, give the right message, look good, marketing tool, roseline deleu, wallet

Let’s look into some Feng Shui suggestions to design a good and effective business card. Indeed, it is the most compact marketing tool you will ever carry in your wallet and often the most powerful one too.

Make it easy for people to contact you.
Therefore, ensure that your business card is easy to read.

I know for sure that many people who met me remember vaguely my name – Roseline Deleu is not the easiest name to remember nor to spell correctly. Hence why I designed my business card so that people will easily link it with me.

Business cards are still very fashionable and a good way for people to remember how to contact you. Your card says everything about what they need to know and you present yourself and your business in the way most want to be seen.

A well thought-out and designed business card allows you to specialise in and attract the sort of business you want.
For example: for those who start in life or are running a small solicitor’s practice, with the goal of becoming a local leader in conveyancing, you can promote that fact with a simple tagline such as “specialising in conveyancing”.

Always carry plenty of cards and make sure that they are in perfect condition – invest in  a card box or holder from your favourite stationery shop.

THE DOs AND DON’Ts of BUSINESS CARDS

DO:   🙂
– Include all relevant contact details, such as names, job titles, address, phone numbers, mobile phone, fax, email and website.
– Have a look at the business cards of other companies and individuals in your industry for ideas and reference.
– Communicate well with your designer. Give him/her lots of options and information regarding your vision. There is no use portraying your company as ‘cutting-edge & funky’’, when the reality is ‘traditional & conservative’.
– Match the style of the card to the essence of your company – whether it’s quirky, conservative, traditional, dynamic, artistic or leading-edge.
– Choose a distinctive font without going over the top, people need to be able to read the type.
– Ensure the type is large enough to read, as many people who need glasses don’t necessarily wear them all the time!
-Include your logo or trademark, or a distinctive design element.

DON’T:   😦
– Don’t forget your name is the most important unit of copy on the card, ensure that it is not dwarfed by other elements.
– Don’t make your card too fussy or busy.
– Don’t use too many colours, remember the image you want to project
– Don’t use fonts with serifs, they are not particularly suitable and should not be used in upper case.

NOTE and REMEMBER :
– glossy varnish, a slogan or embossed paper can make an ordinary business card look outstanding.
– use stock of 250-300 gsm strong paper will look good, feel sturdy and stand the test of time.

And at the end of all these suggestions, if you still doubt, contact me by email with your project.   🙂

Feng Shui Yours,

Roseline Deleu
International Feng Shui Master
www.fengshuisteps.com.au

Building Shapes influence Trade

Tags

attract clients, business, coffee shop, consultation, create a cocoon, feng shui, feng sui, increase turnover, re-vamp business, roseline deleu

Which building to choose and start a successful business? That’s a good question to which everyone would like an easy answer – but it is a bit more complicated than this! Among many possibilities, I’ll explain you one example here below showing  a couple of coffee shops about 100 meters apart. I wasn’t there for Feng Shui consultations but thought of taking photos for teaching purposes.

Those 2 businesses both are located in a spot where they are well seen, that’s the first essential point: BE SEEN!
Let’s see which one people will be choosing?

1. In this round building
Inside this building, many mirrors separate sections of about 4 tables where people are comfortably sitting and reading their newspapers while enjoying their coffees and other of the menu options. Mirrors multiply quantities of who is actually sitting there. We then always have the impression that it is a busy place while still very quiet too. The message that this environment gives is that is is popular and… people like that!

To add to this thoughtful interior decor, the shape of this building is very interesting because round. This shape will attract people as they will feel the welcome of embracing ‘arms’ or a ‘cocoon’ idea that this shape subliminally creates. The lovely look of combination of glass and wood makes this place look warm and is thus attractive to people who want to spend some time in there.

2. In a modern rectangular and too linear building
The ground floor hosts a famous brand coffee shop. Nevertheless its fame, its decor – like in each of these franchised coffee shops – is very cold, linear, dark, impersonal, in other words: cold. The sensation created in this place is fast pace, colours are grey, back and brown. Clients are local admin workers who don’t make time to sit and enjoy but rather pick up a cuppa and go. I took this photo at lunch time and only 3 tables were occupied in the 30 available.

Too many empty tables in an already very open space in a building at the corner of two busy streets doesn’t seem to make this place conducive to stay and relax.
With the purchase of 20+ fresh green plants creating a few more personal spaces, this coffee shop would increase its turnover tremendously. Instead of rushing for a take-away coffee, clients would like to sit and taste the patisserie too. Marketing is much more than a brand name, it is about creating a place where people feel good about themselves. It would be interesting in this case to see if the franchise would accept the idea of implementing plants.

Conclusion: we can’t change the shape of buildings – on the other hand, investing in a Feng Shui consultation with a reputable consultant is really worthwhile! Many people call me to re-vamp their business and have increased their turnovers after following my suggestions.

Roseline Deleu
International Feng Shui Master
www.fengshuisteps.com.au

Feng Shui in Solomon Islands – it is only the beginning!

Tags

business, common sense, entry, feng shui, feng shui and culture, feng shui entry, focal point, foyer, Honiara, office, placement, reception, roseline deleu, Solomon ISlands

When a developing country needs a new breath of fresh ideas and enthusiast energy in respect with their culture and traditions – how about starting with a few Easy Feng Shui Steps!?

In synergy with what is available locally, including cultural ideas/designs, common sense, taste and enthusiasm – my first easy Feng Shui steps created a total different welcome reception area for this local company in Honiara (Solomon Islands).

My recommendations were culturally appropriate, respectful, clear and simple – they can be found on one of my recent posts ‘The Focal Point’.

General Manager and staff were interested to some suggestions. They choose new fabric for the seats in their waiting area, purchased a few sqm of new flooring and then… really got into the swirl of changes! Every week a few new transformations are happening: from staff bringing fresh flowers from their garden to new ideas for their work and workplace.

Before & after photo speak for themselves 🙂

Before

After : Plans and publications are now on display on the opposite wall of the seats – people get up and read them!

Today, staff continue implementing changes every week. And every little change, each time, brings awareness to the placement of desks, seats, posters, logos and more! A better placement is changing the energy flow – staff and company are blossoming!

A welcome area is contagious. Visitors comment and are interested to know what’s happened and what’s happening. Honiarans are keen to learn how they can make their homes and business more welcoming too.

I’m so happy and privileged to be here 🙂

Roseline Deleu
International Feng Shui Master, Author, Business, Homes & Life Style Designer
www.fengshuisteps.com.au

 

 

 

Focal Point – your Marketing Tool!

Tags

business, business card, business designer, feng shui, home designer, homes and business in Honiara, Honiara, increase turnover, interior design, life style, roseline deleu, SBM, sense of bilonging, Solomon ISlands, strategic plan, team building, uniform

What message comes across when you meet someone for the first time? The way people look, how they are dressed, their body language and smile – all reveals a little about who they are or might be.

“You never get a second chance to give a first impression!” can be true on many levels, in your daily life and also from a business perspective. Understanding and applying the “Focal Point” concept can be a life changing experience and in a business this becomes a very powerful marketing tool.

How can you applying this Focal Point strategy in a few easy steps and look good, feel good and give a positive and professional message? Following this concept will help attract new clients and increase business in subtle ways.

The entrance to your business is like the a friendly smile on your face. It is the way that you welcome your clients and staff. Today, your first step is to stand outside of your business entry door and look at it with ‘new eyes’ like you would be a person that comes for a first visit. Then ask yourself following questions:

ENTRY
1) Can people find the location easily?
2) Is the business name prominent, is its logo clear and neatly displayed?
3) Is the entrance and door clean and welcoming?
All the answers you will get are personal and each one of you could now consider adjusting signage and logo as well as making your entry as welcoming as possible.

RECEPTION
1) What do people see when they open the door and enter the reception area?
2) What do visitors notice when they sit in the waiting area?

When people sit and wait, this means they have time to read and look around!
Firstly, be professional and never let your clients wait too long!
Also, take advantage of the time they sit and wait : and grasp that opportunity to let them know about your business, your services, your new and existing products.
For example:
– Prepare a portfolio with your products, newspaper articles, clients feed-backs… and leave it on the coffee table in the waiting area for visitors to read.
– Display a pin board with your business best sellers, latest news and a brief message encouraging people to ask questions to the receptionist.

In other words, put yourself for a few moments in your clients’ shoes (or thongs) and imagine what they could think, what they would like to know! Think ahead and prepare your entry and reception areas accordingly.

BUSINESS CARD & UNIFORM
Sometimes we meet people while we are out of the office. Wearing our clean and ironed work uniform gives us a sense of belonging and pride. Handling a professional business card reflecting the business logo and valid contact information is essential for potential upcoming business and work connections.

Last month, I offered the suggestions of this article to a couple of local businesses in Honiara. In the few days that followed my visits, I started seeing changes in the office layouts. New photos on walls, furniture rearranged or removed, new seats covers – and more!
Today, staff feel better in their work environment and their happiness levels have increased at work and at home too. The new look has reinforced and built the team – today they all focus in the same direction: the Focal Point .

Roseline Deleu
International Homes, Business & Life Style Designer  – in other words… Feng Shui Master & Author 🙂
www.fengshuisteps.com.au