Oil those machines

We get so busy sometimes that we forget to do the simplest things, like keeping the sewing machines oiled. It only takes a minute or so to do and can eliminate a big problem like a machine breakdown while working at 3am. Been there, seen that!

Sewing machines are no different than automobiles. It takes oil to keep the parts moving along smoothly. The best way to do this is to make a habit of oiling them on friday afternoon. Place a piece of scrap fabric under the presser foot and put the presser foot in the down position. This will allow the oil to drain all weekend and capture any excess on to the piece of fabric. By monday, you simply wipe down the bed of the machine and off you go for the week.

If you are lucky enough to have self oiled machines, check the oil levels on Friday. Make sure the oil is still clear and run the machine at full speed to check the "perk" bubble for oil flow. If you always run the machine on lower speeds, it doesn't give the pump enough fuel to feed the oil through the tubes and so the oil will just sit in the pan and not do it's job to lubricate the machine.

Does your customer suffer from decision paralysis?

A recent issue of Fast Company November 2007 had a great article by Dan and Chip Heath, authors of the book Made to Stick. The article discussed a phenomena that I often talk about in my seminars and classes but never found the right term for it until I read this article. It's called decision paralysis.

A Window Treatment Consultant can easily create decision paralysis for their customers when they try to get the customer involved in the design process. The reason a customer has called in a professional to advise them of the best window treatment is because they don't know what's best for their home and want to pay someone to tell them what they need. If you walk in there and give them dozens of choices, they are back to square one and will have a hard time deciding on the BEST treatment.

The solution is for the consultant to come up with no more than three designs that will meet their needs and their budget. It's ok to offer a few additional options that will add quality and value to the window treatments such as premium lining or the addition of trim but keep the fabric and overall design making process simple for the customer.

There was a great line in the article that sums it all up:

Simplicity allows people to act.

By following this principal, both parties will find the decision making easier and the end result will be completed quicker which is to sell the customer a beautiful new window treatment.