Don’t Let Rodents Eat Your Profits
December 23, 2012 by Dr. Letitia Wright
Filed under Featured Articles, Front Page, Wright Ideas
Don’t let rodents eat your profits
by David Etherington
copyright 2012
The risks involved where rats are concerned is something every business should take seriously. While a rat on a construction site may not be a big issue, a rat in the warehouse or the kitchen of a food premises could lead to the loss of brand reputation, loss of consumer trust, production losses, product recalls, lost sales, disrupted production and compensation claims. However prosecution is perhaps the biggest threat to your business.
Changing the environment and proofing gaps before rats gain access is much easier than trying to evict them after they have set up home. As with proofing to prevent entry to buildings discouraging rats from harbouring too close to your business is also a very important consideration. Ensure overgrown amenity areas are cut back and unsecured food waste is not left out overnight. Doors and windows are other common entry points and must be kept closed at all times. If this is not feasible, a door closure policy should be adopted. Gaps under doors should also be proofed.
Employees should be made aware of the signs of a rodent infestation. Signs of infestation include droppings, odours, damaged packaging, wall discolouration. The importance of reporting these signs immediately should be stressed to all your employees.
Good hygiene practices practices should also be introduced these should include proper waste control and cleaning routines. Stored product should be kept covered and preparation areas should be kept clean. Food should not be stored on the floor or near walls. Food and beverage spills must be cleaned immediately. Food should never be left outside the facility. This means trash should be picked up immediately.
Brand reputation
One of the most infamous cases in resent years occurred back in 2009. An oil company worker in the United States reported finding a mouse in a can of Soda. He claimed he got a can out of the vending machine and nearly choked on a mouse inside. After placing the mouse in a Styrofoam cup for display to coworkers, he called the manufacturers. The company stopped production on the offending line, and a representative attempted to collect the dead mouse, but the evidence was gone. Damages in excess of $50,000 were sought. The manufacturers lawyers argued that the man could not have choked on a mouse because the chemicals in the drink would have dissolved it. The defence caused as much brand damage as the incident itself.
Controlling rats
After consideration of the above points place the secured baits and/or traps in areas where the rats have been noticed. Check for and remove carcasses daily and continue with the program until no further activity is apparent.
Tracking dust can help identify entry points and runs which will help you decide where to set rat traps and or rat poison and where to proof to prevent re infestation.
Poisons should be secured so that pets, birds and other wildlife can’t gain access as rat poison will kill them as easily as it will kill rats.
How to put social media on remote control
November 27, 2012 by Dr. Letitia Wright
Filed under Featured Articles
Many people want to get involved in social media and are concerned that it will take up all of their time. I have a simple solution that allows you to appear online and engaged and yet, really only use a few hours a week to do this. Especially if you only have one brand you are pushing.
Right now I am in production for the television show “The Wright Place TV Show”, Solve It Sisters – web series, Wright Place radio and A Crowd Funded Life radio show.
My three brands, Wright Place TV, Solve it Sisters and A Crowd Funded Life all have their own social media foot print. Then there is my personal footprint. Because of the brands I am handling, I spend a little more time that what I talk about in this article but not much more. You simply can’t be online all day and get any revenue generating work done
The accounts you need
My friend Dr. Rachna Jain keeps me up to date what what’s what. I used to say you only need 3 social media, I have since then updated my numbers.
I highly recommend you have these accounts (they only take minutes to open)
Opening these accounts takes 30 minutes
This is a task that can be delegated
- Twitter (my personal favorite)
- Facebook (everyone lives here)
- Linked in
- Pininterest
- Google Plus
- Rebel Mouse
- Foursquare
Rebel mouse will automatically add your activity to it, there is no need to post there once it’s set up. I send people to https://www.rebelmouse.com/drwright and they can see everything I am doing on each show. They can follow and subscribe.
Sign up for a Hootsuite.com account
Add all your social media to it (at the time of this writing, Rebel Mouse is not an option)
Use Hootsuite to pre plan your social media posts. It posts to all accounts if you want. That’s why even on 5-hour flight to the east coast; I can have a post going out without bothering to get online. Spend 30 minutes a week and you are done.
How to Get People to Do Things
October 23, 2012 by Dr. Letitia Wright
Filed under Featured Articles, Front Page, Wright Ideas
Seth Godin
The easiest way to get people to do what you want them to do…
By Seth Godin
is to start with people who want what you want.
Identify, organize and excite people who are already predisposed to achieve what you had in mind and you’re much more likely to have the outcome you seek. It’s far easier (but less compelling) than turning strangers or enemies into customers/voters/supporters/colleagues. Over time, an engaged and motivated base of followers is the single best way to earn more followers.
You used to be stuck with whoever walked in the door or opened your mail. Today, you change minds indirectly, by building a tribe that influences via connections to others.
Comments by Dr. Letitia Wright
This goes for crowd funding and any kind of selling. We are so often trying to give people what they do not want. Our business, our crowd funding has to offer something people want. WIIFM station is always on!
