What often surprises people is how simple this can be. The challenge for many people seems to be staying with a system.

It’s like any habit, it has to be cultivated. When someone initially contacts your company make sure to input their name and contact information into your database. Send some type of a follow up regardless of whether or not they make a purchase. This can be done through phone calls, email or standard mailings.

Here are a few recommendations that can be an effective part of any business system. These suggestions will help build a consistent flow of business throughout year.

If, and when, you experience a slow period in your day, utilize time to call clients/customers in your database. Recently I stopped into a pet store located in Salt Lake valley. The groomer was frustrated because several people had made appointments for that day and failed to show up. Her clients may not realize if they don’t show she doesn’t make money.

The groomer told me she got more discouraged as day progressed. I asked if there was a system in place to assure a higher rate of clients keeping their appointment. As I suspected, there wasn’t. My suggestions were as follows:

1. Require a 25 - 50% deposit when an appointment is set. No shows forfeit deposit. It will only take once before people realize they need to be certain when setting appointment. A simple explanation to someone who doesn’t want to put a deposit down should take care of situation. Consider this - if someone refuses to give a deposit are they going to be a good pay when they get full amount to pay? You may want to consider carefully before you do business with them.

2. A day or two before appointment call customer giving a friendly reminder. This one strategy will realize a dramatic increase in people keeping their appointment.

3. After appointment, send a thank you card to pet in c/o owner. This is not a common practice, so groomer will be seen as someone who cares about customer’s pet rather than someone who simply provides a grooming service. By sending card to pet you add humor that makes groomer stand out and owner may show card to his or her friends because it is so unique.

4. When time allows, pull out past and current client lists. Make as many calls as possible. Use dialogue such as, “Hi Mary, I notice that Max is due for a grooming. We tend to get very busy this time of year and I want to make sure you are able to get an appointment. Can we go ahead and book Max for his grooming right now? Great, let me go ahead and get your credit card number so we can take care of your deposit on that. Thanks and see you on _____.”

These communication techniques can work for you, regardless of your business. Think of how you can apply these simple tools to your business.

In these changing times, it is up to you to be as flexible and creative as possible. Take advantage of every opportunity to keep in touch with your customers and clients. You will be amazed at bottom-line results. Results that are a result of people remembering you and your company name.

Are you looking for effective systems to increase your revenues? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As the top rated keynote speaker and home based business owner for 2004 in the state of Utah, Kathleen Gage invites you to get her FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com

In XX century, after Civil War in 1936, emigration was important. In decade of sixties, tourist phenomena completely changed life of Creixell, as well as most of littoral villages of Costa Dorada. GASTRONOMY There is a few typical dishes such as ‘esmarris’, a peculiar way of eating anchovies and blue fish. ‘All i Pebre’ is another dish consisting of fish stew served with their best local wine. Another very typical dish is ‘el Rossejat’ which consists of rice, but toasted. To manage this, they pour rice on top of boiling olive oil, letting it toast, and later pouring some stock. FIESTAS AND TRADITIONS On 25th of July they celebrate ‘minor major fiesta’, in honour to Sant Jaume. There is another major fiesta called ‘Minerva’, celebrated on third Sunday of September, in honour to ‘Santisim Sacrament’.

ECONOMY The agriculture was most important activity in Creixell, until 1960. Since then, this activity has decreased in number of employees. In irrigated lands, which are ones that give higher profits, farmers grow some vegetables. The dry lands have almost disappeared, although carob tree is still important, which is used as a raw material by many industries. The activities related with cattle, fishing and industry are very infrequent. The tourism has been basic activity since 1960. All necessary equipment for tourists has been installed, and this has necessarily changed structure of village (camping’s, apartments, etc).

The tourists who visit Creixell come from nearest counties and enjoy village not only during Summer but all weekends throughout year.

PLACES TO VISIT 1.The parish church, which was built in XVI century, in honour to Sant Jaume. It is a Gothic building, and it has a belfry that was built around 1771, following designs of architect Jujol. 2. The Castle, from its first construction in XI century, it only conserves "talús". The building was reconstructed between XVI and XVII centuries and modified again in XIX century. 3. There are some interesting "Masies within township, which are typical Catalan homes. The most famous is "Cal Mercader". It was built at beginning of XVIII century, but after then it had some reformations done, and is fairly damaged nowadays. Inside "Clos de Mas Mercader" there is Chapel of Santa Teresa which is well conserved. 4. Another interesting place is Hermitage of la Mare de Dèu de Fàtima, which was built in 1952. DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SPAIN? PLEASE CLIK THIS LINK: www.zarholidatvillas.com