<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	
	xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss"
	xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Social | The Barefoot Spirit</title>
	<atom:link href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/tag/social/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com</link>
	<description>Founders of Barefoot, a Top Global Brand New York Times Bestselling Authors International Keynote Speakers, Entrepreneurial Coaches.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:50:23 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	
	<item>
		<title>World’s Best Sale Pitch: “My Product will help you Increase Sales”</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/worlds-best-sale-pitch-my-product-will-help-you-increase-sales/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:50:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Acquisition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Area-wide exclusive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assistant Buyer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best interest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best price]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bottom line]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bragging rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business-to-business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buyer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Capital investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Causes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Client]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cost per unit sold]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Displays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Distribution channels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fast seller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feauture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Festive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[For sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Funds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Guarantee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Higher profit margin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Higher profits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Increase profits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Increase sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Keep]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Keep good people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local promotions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loyalty program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Make more money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Membership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Neighborhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Overhead]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Overhead cost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[People]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personnel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Point of Sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Positioning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Price]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Produce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Product]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Profit Margin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Profits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Promotional programs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reduce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retail price]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retail space]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ROI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales efforts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales package]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales pitch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social reason]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Staff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ultimate question]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Value]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Value proposition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volume purchase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volume purchase program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Worthy cause marketing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=1823</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>We’ve spent over two decades in sales, and it’s true &#8211; nothing happens until the sale is made. We have a friend who described her sales job as “conveying the value proposition of (her) product to (her) buyers.” There are many books written on the subject of sales, sale techniques, and best closing strategies. We’ve [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/worlds-best-sale-pitch-my-product-will-help-you-increase-sales/">World’s Best Sale Pitch: “My Product will help you Increase Sales”</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ShamWOW.jpg" rel="lightbox[1823]"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1815" title="ShamWOW" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ShamWOW-300x258.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="258" srcset="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ShamWOW-300x258.jpg 300w, https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ShamWOW.jpg 464w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>We’ve spent over two decades in sales, and it’s true &#8211; nothing happens until the sale is made. We have a friend who described her sales job as “conveying the value proposition of (her) product to (her) buyers.”</p>
<p>There are many books written on the subject of sales, sale techniques, and best closing strategies. We’ve often said the best sales person is the “Assistant Buyer”. The key to sales success is simply to sincerely have the buyer’s best interest at heart.</p>
<p>When you produce a product that goes through distribution channels, or when you offer a service business to business, the funds your buyer has to buy from you came from the sale of <em>their</em> product or service. If you are selling direct to the consumer, you still have to recognize that they have to work for the income, one way or another, that enables them to buy your product.</p>
<p>Everybody who sells products or services wants to sell more. The ultimate question from your prospect is: “How does your product or service help me sell my product or service?” or “How can you help me make more money?” That’s why positioning your sales pitch as enhancing theirs is so effective.</p>
<p>Here are some ways your product or service can help your customer’s bottom line:</p>
<p><strong>1. Reduce his overhead cost per unit sold.</strong> He has to pay rent, lights, power, insurance, staff, cleaning, etc., whether he sells your product quickly or slowly. If it’s a fast seller, his cost per sale is reduced. He improves his ROI on his capital investment, maintenance, advertising, and staffing.</p>
<p><strong>2. Increase his profits with lower acquisition costs</strong> and, consequently, higher profit margins on your product. Give him a volume purchase program that enables a lower retail price and increased volume resulting in higher profits per month.</p>
<p><strong>3. Make his retail environment more attractive</strong> with seasonal point of sale materials and promotional programs geared to the theme of the given holiday. Make your displays festive decorations to his retail space.</p>
<p><strong>4. Increase his business with local promotions</strong> and support for neighborhood causes. Use Worthy Cause Marketing to bring in customers who have a social reason to buy your product. Let the membership of the non-profit you support know where your product is for sale in his neighborhood.</p>
<p><strong>5. Sell him a product or service that makes him more attractive</strong> and more competitive to his clients or retail customers. Give him the best price in your category, or an area-wide exclusive for an introductory period.</p>
<p><strong>6. Add value to his total sales package.</strong> Is there something you can sell him that makes what he’s selling more valuable, adds an extra feature or delivers another benefit &#8211; like a guarantee, excellent customer service or loyalty program? Does your product give him “green” bragging rights?</p>
<p><strong>7. Improve his personnel’s efficiency</strong> by providing training, benefits or tools his staff can use to increase his sales. Help him find and keep good people.</p>
<p>These are just a few examples of how you can help your buyer increase profits and do <em>his</em> job more efficiently. When you focus on what your <em>buyer</em> is trying to do, you can quickly get a clue as to what <em>you</em> can do to help him increase his sales. Adding value to his sales efforts with your product allows <em>him</em> to say to <em>his</em> customers, “But wait, there’s more!”</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/worlds-best-sale-pitch-my-product-will-help-you-increase-sales/">World’s Best Sale Pitch: “My Product will help you Increase Sales”</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>On Independence Day, We’re more Interdependent than Ever</title>
		<link>https://thebarefootspirit.com/on-independence-day-were-more-interdependent-than-ever/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Houlihan &#38; Bonnie Harvey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:01:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beaches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Car-pool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaner beaches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environmental health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Farmer's market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Founders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Future]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happy Birthday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthcare costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Healthier food choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Independence Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Tsunami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lobbyists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local merchants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketplace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Merchants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Order]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Oil supply]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pacific Coast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Political differences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Powerless]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Price]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Purchase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Russia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Superpower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suppliers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tsunami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[USA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Working conditions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://thebarefootspirit.com/?p=1657</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>As we approach the nation&#8217;s 236th year of independence from England and thereby Europe, we find ourselves glued to the financial news out of Europe like we were still part of it. And we are, more than ever. We worry about the economies of China and Russia as if they were our own &#8211; regardless of [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/on-independence-day-were-more-interdependent-than-ever/">On Independence Day, We’re more Interdependent than Ever</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/FlyingFlags.jpg" rel="lightbox[1657]"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1658" title="FlyingFlags" src="https://thebarefootspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/FlyingFlags.jpg" alt="" width="259" height="222" /></a></p>
<p>As we approach the nation&#8217;s 236<sup>th</sup> year of independence from England and thereby Europe, we find ourselves glued to the financial news out of Europe like we were still part of it. And we are, more than ever. We worry about the economies of China and Russia as if they were our own &#8211; regardless of our political differences. Why? Because our very livelihood depends on the world’s economic and environmental health.</p>
<p>We live on the Pacific Coast where debris from the Japanese tsunami is now just starting to wash up from a catastrophe clear across the world’s largest ocean. Beyond our human empathy for the brave people of Japan, many Japanese products we took for granted became scarce. We were confronted with how the damage to their infrastructure affected our marketplace.</p>
<p>If there’s even a hint of an interruption in the supply of oil from the Middle East, we feel it at the pump. That cost trickles up into everything we buy, including the food we eat.</p>
<p>On the West Coast, we’re now getting air pollution from China. If the developing world continues to copy our approach to “prosperity,” we will suffer the health and environmental consequences right here in the USA.</p>
<p>So yes, we wave the flag and celebrate our great nation. We are thankful for the opportunities and freedoms we enjoy. We are proud to be Americans. But independence? We are all here on the same planet, all interdependent and becoming more so every year.</p>
<p>The good news is that the superpowers all know that their customers and suppliers in the other superpowers are too important to allow anything that would hurt their infrastructure, economy, or the world atmosphere. The bad news is that we haven’t yet realized that our economies and health are ultimately dependent on the health of the environment.</p>
<p>But we as individuals are not completely powerless, especially in America. Over and over again we hear that the world economy depends largely on the health of the American consumer. We all know by now that we vote with our money. In our incessant desire to get everything at the very lowest price, we can inadvertently subsidize political, social, health and environmental practices we would never allow in our own country. Every purchase we make is a vote for how it was made, the working conditions and how it got to us.</p>
<p>It’s hard to blame the government when the lobbyists are financed by our choices. If all politics are local, as it is often said, we can start to make changes in the way we spend our money. We can shop at the local organic farmer’s market and try to buy as many goods and services from local merchants as possible. We can avoid the purchase of single use plastics and vote for cleaner beaches. We can vote for lower healthcare costs by making healthier food choices. Every time we fill up with gas we can at least recognize where those funds are going and hope the day will come soon when we will have cleaner alternatives. Car-pooling, biking, and just plain walking are great votes for a more sustainable future.</p>
<p>This Independence Day let’s recognize our interdependence and how our individual choices can shape the future of not only our great country, but also the world. We are free to make independent choices in how we spend our money, thereby casting our votes. We can yet bring in the “New Order” that our nation’s founders called for by recognizing our true power right here in our wallets.</p>
<p>Happy Birthday USA!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="whoweare">
<h3>Who We Are</h3>
<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4564" src="https://consumerbrandbuilders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Michael-Bonnie-at-Bloomberg-2-300x253.jpg" alt="Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey Barefoot Wine Founders" width="300" height="253" />
<p>Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Barefoot-Spirit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand</em></a>. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&amp;J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.</p>

<p>Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=worthy+cause+marketing">Worthy Cause Marketing</a> and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/?s=performance+based+compensation">performance-based compensation</a>. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.</p>

<p>They offer their <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Entrepreneurs-GPS">Guiding Principles for Success (GPS)</a> to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, <a href="https://xk208.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/The-Entrepreneurial-Culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People</em></a><em>, </em>helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.</p>

<p>Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, &amp; keynoting at <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/business-school-speaking-testimonials/">business schools</a>, <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/conference-speaking-testimonials/">corporations, conferences</a>. They are regular media guests and <a href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/contributed-articles/">contributors</a> to international publications and professional journals. They are <a href="http://c-suitenetworkadvisors.com/advisor/michael-houlihan-and-bonnie-harvey/">C-Suite Network Advisors &amp; Contributing Editors</a>. Visit their popular brand building site at <a href="http://www.consumerbrandbuilders.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.consumerbrandbuilders.com</a>.</p>

<p>To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@thebarefootspirit.com">sales@thebarefootspirit.com</a>.</p>
</div><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com/on-independence-day-were-more-interdependent-than-ever/">On Independence Day, We’re more Interdependent than Ever</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://thebarefootspirit.com">The Barefoot Spirit</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!--
Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https://www.boldgrid.com/w3-total-cache/

Page Caching using disk: enhanced 
Database Caching 105/110 queries in 0.018 seconds using disk

Served from: thebarefootspirit.com @ 2026-04-09 02:42:52 by W3 Total Cache
-->