One of the speakers I was fortunate enough to experience was the amazing author Jackie Huba. She is a huge advocate for Lady Gaga and what she stands for and it was clear that during her presentation that Lady Gaga is one of Jackie's "One Percent". What is this 1% thing? Well, during Jackie's presentation she spoke about the difference of marketing towards your current customers and people whom are not yet your customer. She explained that it is cheaper to "wow" your current customers and let them advertise/market for you by word of mouth rather than go out and find new customers and offer them the better intro pricing or service.
As we know major companies like Time Warner Cable or Verizon Wireless (two of my LEAST favorite companies EVER) are huge into getting new customers by offering these amazing introductory deals. But what about the current customers? The loyal ones who pay each and every month only to continue to pay a higher rate and get less than the new customers are getting. Now, I can't tell you how many times we have gone back and forth with said companies questioning why the new customers get these offerings, but we don't! I feel like we have all been there. Jackie explained that every company has a 1%. These are the die-hards. The people who will do anything for you if you ask. They market for you without even knowing by word of mouth. You are always their go-to when they are in need of your product or service, no questions asked. Jackie explained her die hard is the Pittsburgh Steelers. She then went to the audience and asked what our 1% is. What are we crazy about? What is our thing? I instantly got that panic feeling in my stomach. Please don't call on me. I had no idea what my 1% was.
Eight pairs of shoes later in two weeks and it hit me. Shoes. Shoes are my 1%. I cannot get enough. Heels, wedges, sandals, flats, flip flops. Every. Single. One. I love shoes! Okay, so I know you're thinking...really? Are we really reading a blog about shoes? No. No, you're not. Not only did I realize my 1% is shoes, it is also food. I realized that the kitchen is my happy place. Cooking for my family and friends is what I enjoy. It is what I love and what I want to do forever. I found a job at a catering company to be around what I love. Not only do we have the best catering in the triangle, but we get to eat the food each and every day. I got to go to catering conference across the country in order to find my niche and realize this is where I belong. Sharing my favorite food and recipes with you all.
Eating. Cooking. Sharing. This is what I love.
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| Dia De Los Muertos Party with Jackie Huba |
Later that afternoon I realized how upset I was with the fact that I did not have a 1%. I didn't like that I wasn't THAT passionate about something. Am I just going day by day without really having that thing I am living for? Obviously my family and friends, but what do I enjoy? What is my end all, be all?
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| Colin Cowie & Myself at the conference. |
Eight pairs of shoes later in two weeks and it hit me. Shoes. Shoes are my 1%. I cannot get enough. Heels, wedges, sandals, flats, flip flops. Every. Single. One. I love shoes! Okay, so I know you're thinking...really? Are we really reading a blog about shoes? No. No, you're not. Not only did I realize my 1% is shoes, it is also food. I realized that the kitchen is my happy place. Cooking for my family and friends is what I enjoy. It is what I love and what I want to do forever. I found a job at a catering company to be around what I love. Not only do we have the best catering in the triangle, but we get to eat the food each and every day. I got to go to catering conference across the country in order to find my niche and realize this is where I belong. Sharing my favorite food and recipes with you all.
Eating. Cooking. Sharing. This is what I love.
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| 8 said pairs of shoes. |
So, stick around and you'll get to enjoy some delicious recipes and maybe even a few shoe pictures just for safe measure.
xoxo
Nicole
