Almost everyone who reads Green Lodging News is in one form of sales or another—whether one runs a lodging establishment or sells a product or service. As a sales representative for your company, you have to be constantly mindful of sales and networking opportunities. If you are doing your job well, you already have a great website, make sales calls relentlessly, are a member of the various local, state and national industry associations (and actually attend their meetings), and exhibit at and attend trade shows where purchasing decision makers congregate. If you are really smart, you take advantage of public relations opportunities and stash away dollars for marketing your company during the worst of times.
After being downsized from a publishing company a day after the World Trade Center attacks in 2001, I chose a path that led me to represent several companies as a public relations consultant. Doing that kind of work, and while publishing Green Lodging News, I have learned a few things about sales. The most important lesson I learned is that those companies that fail to make a noise in the marketplace during the worst of times—by not advertising, sending press releases, or networking at industry or community events—are missing a huge opportunity to make an impression on potential first-time customers, and on those existing clients who will return when things get better.
Especially if you own or operate a green property, or sell a green product or service, the future is incredibly bright. According to a report just released by the United Nations, the market for environmental products and services is likely to double by 2020. There is a lot of green gold waiting to be made. Now is not the time to hunker down and hide from your existing and potential customers. Be a patient optimist, get out there in your community and in your industry, and use all of the tools available to you to promote the good, green things you are doing. There are definitely better days ahead.
See You in New York City?
I will be attending the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City beginning Saturday, November 8. Be sure to look for coverage of the event on the Green Lodging News website and in the weekly e-newsletter. If you will be attending the event, be sure to come to the session I will be moderating entitled, “Energy Miser All Stars: Conservation Lessons from the Best.” It will be held on Saturday, November 8 from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. I am looking forward to that session and to stopping by to visit with all of the exhibitors who will be promoting their green products and services.
Green Lodging News Welcomes Two New Directory Partners
Green Lodging News welcomes ARTGANiKS.com and RMB Group, LLC as Green Product & Service Directory partners. ARTGANiKS.com is a provider of sustainable framed artwork and framed mirrors. The company strives to incorporate recycled components in its framed artwork and mirrors. Designers and architects can earn LEED points for their projects by specifying ARTGANiKS. The company is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. For additional information, call (630) 305-8849, e-mail Dan Thomas at dthomas@witc.us, or go to www.ARTGANiKS.com.
RMB Group’s Rest Easy bed bug spray is a green, all-natural spray used to kill and repel bedbugs and other small insects such as dust mites. It is cinnamon scented and includes natural essential oils. Rest Easy is available in up to one-gallon containers. It kills 90 percent of bedbugs within five seconds of contact and the rest within 30 minutes. The product provides a repellency effect for as long as one week and does not leave harmful residuals. For additional information, call (800) 676-4871, ext. 701, e-mail bbrenner@thermbgroup.com, or go to www.resteasykillsbedbugs.com.
Green Lodging News Advertising
If you are a supplier selling green products, be sure to call me at (440) 243-2055 to discuss your advertising plans for the fall and winter. A 2009 media kit is now available by request or by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Green Lodging News Blog
Be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. The address for the blog is http://greenlodgingnews.blogspot.com. More importantly, participate with your comments.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
