"When you are through learning...."

"....you are through." So said John Wooden, perhaps the most respected coach in the history of intercollegiate athletics.

There's no excuse for not learning when folks like David Meerman Scott, author of a book we featured in our early blogging days - The New Rules of PR & Marketing, continues to put out great stuff....for FREE! Check out his excellent site and download some of his latest content including Lose Control of Your Marketing and The New Rules of Viral Marketing.

Portions of Scott's latest e-book appear in his soon-to-be released World Wide Rave. What is THAT? Glad you asked. According to the author, "A World Wide Rave is when people around the world are talking about you, your company, and your products-whether you're located in San Francisco, Dubai, or Reykjavik. It's when global communities eagerly link to your stuff on the Web. It's when online buzz drives buyers to your virtual doorstep. And it's when tons of fans visit your Web site and your blog because they genuinely want to be there."

Scott gives you the RULES of creating a World Wide Rave...FREE...look 'em up on his site.

Speaking of RAVES.....our Neat Stuff Production crew is jazzed about our latest HIT video featuring the highlights of the 2009 Orlando ASI Promo Show - Episode One. We feature a handful of the COOLEST new promotional products with - hold your breath - more to come in later Episodes. Check it out and help us start the World Wide Rave.

Sunshine in '09!

It's the first Monday morning in January and the Neat Stuff/Western team is wrapping up a great four days at the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Show in Orlando. It goes without saying that the multitudes (that's you) are anxiously awaiting the Neat Stuff Production videos featuring all the latest and greatest from the show. As always, our focus in not on "stuff" but on helping you get results. We're planning on a great year in 2009 and our primary objective is to assist our clients in having a great year as well.

Stay tuned.

Just Passin' Through?

Dave Hancock-a great one in the Promotional Product business and, more importantly, a great friend to many-on December 8th finished his race on this earth. Dave started his promotional career in the late 80's with Applegate/Potter in Charlotte and later joined the local firm Fletcher Barhnardt & White-one of the nation's largest promotional agencies at the time. Dave spearheaded the FBW fulfilment division which launched programs in the 90's for the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and numerous corporate clients. Dave is survived by his mother, Katy, and his daughters Laura, Liz and a grandson, Carter.

Big Show, Big Success!

Once again, hundreds of Neat Stuff fans attended the annual Christmas in October (click here to see life-changing video) event held at the Ballantyne Resort on Wednesday, October 15th. Entertaining the crowd was motivational speaker and magician, Chris Hannibal. Hannibal (available for YOUR employee or marketing event) dazzled the crowd with numerous feats of intrigue and MAGIC! Dianne "Sweetie" Maxwell did her annual Vanna White imitation at the Spinning Wheel while giving away Parker Pens, Free Golf at Ballantyne Resort, our annual Limited Edition Inspirational Tee Shirts, the 08-09 Neat Stuff U. Motivational Calendar, Cutter & Buck/Clique/New Wave golf shirts and apparel, flash drives from Leeds, Maui Jim sunglasses.....and much more!



Special thanks to our exhibitors representing Fabriko, Cutter & Buck, Gemline, Maui Jim, Panache Publishers, Imagemark, Integrity Media, The Murphy Group, Greg Norman, Le Blue Private Label Water, Parker/Papermate, Plybon Company, Journal Books, WA Recognition, Ash City, Eagle Dry Goods, Shedrain, Starline, HIT Promotions, Kanata Blanket, Toppers and Next Promotions.

Neat Stuff Show this week!

Wednesday, October 15th is the time and the Ballantyne Resort is the place where suppliers from around the country will share the latest in promotional products, employee incentives and direct marketing. "This year we are putting an extra emphasis on helping our clients get results," said Neat Stuff U. Chancellor Haines Maxwell. "While this always drives us, we have brought in a number of exhibitors to help us focus in this area." Among first-time participants in the show dubbed "Christmas in October" are Imagemark-a firm that specializes in variable data printing, direct mail, PURLs (personalized URLs) and on-demand printing; Integrity Media-experts in using video for web and email applications;WA Rewards-our in-house employee recognition division; The Murphy Group - specialists in unique, custom import programs.

It's still not too late to sign up. Register today and plan to drop in this Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Back to School - Great Events!

One of my friends checked out our blog the other day and said, "Dude! You haven't posted anything since June!" Guilty. The Chancellor has been on the road this summer to Folly Beach, Blowing Rock, Wichita and the Rocky Mountains! All business, of course.

Time to get back in the groove. Let's start with Great Events:

1-First Fridays. Friends, clients, countrymen - have been joining us on the First Friday of each month for fellowship, burgers, brats, beverage, prizes, chipping golf balls...all at the Neat Stuff U. Student Union patio. Next blast noon-ish on September 5th. Join us THIS FRIDAY if the hurricane doesn't get us.

2-Art/Music show. If you're not hip enough to go up to NoDa (or if you haven't even heard of it...derived from "NOrth DAvidson"...north of downtown). All kind of Neat Stuff going on this coming Friday evening, September 5th...art, music, food.

3-Projecting Hope Film Festival. FREE inspirational films at the Ayrsley theaters (485 and South Tryon) all weekend long.....October 3rd-5th. Amazing Grace, Bella, Facing the Giants, Veggie Tales, Expelled by Ben Stein, and more! Info at http://www.projectinghope08.blogspot.com/

4-Christmas in October. The big NEAT STUFF Show will be held once again at the Ballantyne Resort on Wednesday, October 15th. Suppliers from around the country will be showing there Neat Stuff from 10 a.m. til 3 p.m. On-line registration will be available sooooon.

...and a BUSINESS thought.....according to the experts, what are the most effective days and times to send emails? And the answer is.... (click right here!)

Raving Fans!

What is a raving fan? As Ken Blanchard wrote in his best-selling book Raving Fans, "if you really want to 'own' the customer, if you want a booming business, you have to go beyond satisfied customers and create raving fans."

How loyal are your clients? Are they telling others great things about you? Are they blogging about YOU? (Just thought I'd throw that in since I'm a veteran blogger of 6 months).

Local Story #1 ~ With a customer event a few days away, I stopped by the Matthews Beantown Tavern location and approached my new friend, Beantown owner Donnie Gaskin, about my purchasing a handful of ten dollar gift certificates and "borrowing" a pot of his AWESOME clam chowder so we could give out free tastes at our client cookout. Good for us, good for Beantown, right? Whoa, check out what happens next. Donnie said, "I'll be back in a minute" and left my sweetie, Dianne and me eating chowder at our table. Moments after Big Papi (Red Sox player David Ortiz, for you non-baseball fans) hit a homerun into the right field bullpen on one of Beantowns's flat-panel screens, Donnie returned with a STACK of FIFTY and ONE HUNDRED dollar gift certificates....for me....no charge. I was speechless. Donnie said, "I'm a marketing guy. If just one or two of those folks come to Beantown and become regular customers it's a great deal for me!" Wow....over the top! Little did Donnie know that he would ALSO become FAMOUS by appearing on the Neat Stuff U. blog! FYI: We smuggled the SECRET Neat Stuff-Cam into the pre-opening party of Donnie's NEW Beantown Tavern location by the Western Associates/Neat Stuff office at the Fountains. See the results.

Local Story #2 ~ "I go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals," says the website of local realtor, Ann Cabaniss, http://www.workwithwhoworks.com/. When her firm-Carolinas Realty and Investing Group-helped our own David Murray purchase a home recently, she put her money where her mouth was. Not only did she pay for an upgrade on David's home warranty but when she heard David mention his desire to get someone to pressure wash part of his new home, Ann made the arrangements...and paid the bill. If that doesn't define "going the extra mile" then Ann's recent delivery of a watermelon for David from her family farm in Pageland should do it.

Back to Ken Blanchard and Raving Fans....are people talking about your business, my business? Are they loyal? Are they raving? Are they spreading the news? Have we given them a reason to?