Giving away farm. Many catalogs will ask for a multitude of discounts and concessions before they even place one order. You give them a set price for your product. But they insist on a lower price. They expect you to pay freight. They want an "advertising allowance." They ask for a volume discount, a catalog allowance, and a photography fee. The requests for concessions go on and on. But beware of this game. If a catalog truly likes your product, they will usually pick it up without requiring a ton of concessions.

Being stung by mistakes. Review a catalog's rules and shipping requirements closely. Mislabeling your master cartons, shipping late, or failure to follow any of their vendor requirements could cost you. Penalties are typically enforced through deductions off invoices. A few deductions here, a few there, and you can kiss your profit goodbye.

Falling behind with orders. The only thing worst than having a product no one wants to buy, is having one that so many people want you can't keep up with deluge of orders. If you've never had insomnia, this scenario is guaranteed to cause it. When thinking about your production needs, think as optimistically as possible. Make sure you're capable of handling production if catalogs are successful with your item. And always have backup suppliers lined up -- just in case.

(c)2003 by Ann Rusnak

Do you check your email first thing in morning before doing anything else and make your cup of coffee while it's downloading?

It is last thing you do before going to bed?

Do you check you email at least a thousand times during day?

When you hear words, "You Got Mail" does your heart flutter and your adrenaline gets going?

Do you sign-up for every ezine, report, mini-course but rarely read them?

If you don't check your email for one day does it send you into a panic?

Is some of your email growing mold because it's been in your inbox too long?

Okay let's face it...email is addicting...boy does it pile up fast!

You started out innocently, saving a couple of emails, signing up for a few things. Next thing you know... if all that email in your inbox was in paper format, there is probably enough to stack up and climb to moon.

Email is both and blessing and a curse. During our monthly support calls for "Too Busy To Get Anything Done", number one question is "How do deal with email effectively?"

Here are 5 tips to help to you gain control over your inbox.

1. Don't have your email open all day. Close it. You won't be tempted to stop what you are doing when you hear those 3 words, "You Got Mail."

2. Set aside designated time slots to open and answer email. I usually reserve 2 hours but I break it up during day into 4 half hour segments. Some days I need full 2 hours,other days I don't. I'll use that extra time to clean out folders.