Save Money and Time! Be a Small Business “Mentor.”

The resources available to many small businesses are often limited. We frequently struggle to get more productivity out of every dollar that we as business owners invest. Two ways that we at Sharn Enterprises have found to save money is to use the resources available from your local community colleges!

• Internships:   Help yourself and a young college student by filling a job with an intern.  Programs are available to you that help pay a portion of their salary. Most of the interns work “part time” so you can fill a needed job with as little as 10 to 12 paid hours a week. These folks are young (but mature) enthusiastic, educated, and eager to learn!  Save yourself some money and time, be a small business “mentor”.

Roger Wandersee (President- Sharn Enterprises, Inc.) and Marketing Intern Melinda Arce-Gudino at the 2016 Spring Career Job Fair (Governor’s State University)

• Small business departments:  Most of our local colleges have a small business department. These folks have the job of assisting local companies with everything from performing analytic project or process work, marketing assistance, loan preparation advice, or even helping you create a business plan. Much of this work is done by Senior or even MBA level students.

Roger Wandersee (President- Sharn Enterprises) speaking at an Academic Advisor Conference at Governor’s State University

So, if you would like some great free advice, contact your local college business office for more information.

To learn more about our Company, its products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

“A proud American manufacturer”

The Great Debate! Are Touchscreen Displays right for your Business?

I don’t know about you, but I get a little irritated when I’m filling up my gas tank and the gas pump (with digital monitor) starts playing some type of commercial. After all, I have already made my choice; I’m just filling my gas tank. But you can’t get away from the commercial; blah, blah, blah, for 5 minutes while my tank is being filled.

However when I actually go in to a retail store of my choice and am interested in a specific product, I find this informational technology helpful. For example, our company makes a wine display for a very good customer of ours. It holds dozens of different bottles of wine. Added to this wine rack is a touch screen monitor where you have the ability to select your entree so that the computer can tell you what the best wine selection for your specific entree is. Pretty Neat! I’d rather find out that way, instead of asking some clerk in the store for whatever they like best.

For a non-mechanic like me, automotive parts stores can be very confusing. How do you do this, how do you do that? I’ve got no idea! Last fall one of our customers came to us regarding their “Bump step” product. They wanted a display that not only held this rather heavy automotive product, but also one that would allow their customer to understand all of the wonderful features of their product, which helps protect your car from minor bumps and scrapes. Check it out!

Finally, going to a hospital or clinic can be a very “scary” experience.  You know that the doctors and nurses know what they’re doing, but are they able to quickly access your medical records? Working with another customer of ours, we helped design and manufacture the medical cart shown below. These carts have universal mounting brackets which allow any hospital’s touch screen computer to be easily accessible. It also has enough additional space to add a variety of medical instruments necessary for your care. You may have seen some of them recently if you have had any type of medical appointments.

So while the “Personal touch” is still very important in making any type of purchase decision, we here at Sharn are finding that more and more of the retail folks that we deal with are embracing this product specific technology. You may want to consider it for your next product campaign!

To learn more about our Company, its products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

“A proud American manufacturer”

This story leaves a “Bad Taste” in my mouth: Oreo, Nabisco and the Big Bad Trade Deals

If you’re from the south side of Chicago, you’ve probably smelled the sweet aroma of cookies from the Nabisco plant on Kedzie Ave at some point in your life. Of all the products produced there, the Oreo cookie is the most famous. The plant employs about 1200 people. Last summer, employees were expecting an announcement of a $130 million upgrade to their plant. Instead workers were told that they needed to absorb $46 million in wage and benefit cuts in order to keep their jobs. The corporation that owns the plant, Mondelez International (based out of Deerfield, IL), has now decided to outsource 600 jobs to a plant in Salinas, Mexico. What they are now facing is a loss of about half of their workforce. This issue not only affects the workers here in the U.S., but also the workforce in Mexico, who are being paid such low wages that they earn a daily salary of $4. In the meantime, CEO Irene Rosenfeld pocketed upwards of $200 million in pay and benefits in the last eight years alone.

As is now a common theme in the U.S., American jobs are being lost to other countries that have cheaper labor costs. This has become more prevalent as current U.S. trade deals such as NAFTA and the latest trade deal up for vote — TTP ( Trans-Pacific Partnership), make it more attractive for American companies to outsource their jobs without penalties. Over the past 20 years, policies in the United States have encouraged companies to send their jobs to the cheapest place. These bad trade agreements have basically penalized workers who get a decent wage and reward corporations that send jobs overseas.

While taking these trade agreements into account, it is important to note that there are other issues at play here. Many local governments give theses corporations incentives to keep jobs in America. As an example, a Cook County resolution in 1993 granted tax incentives close to 90 million dollars to this particular plant, formerly run by the Nabisco Biscuit Company,  from the state and from the city of Chicago. These incentives were given to keep the company in the city.

The American people were told that these deals would help to create MORE jobs and grow our economy, but the truth is quite the opposite. In just 10 years, more that 50,000 U.S. factories closed down by the end of 2010. Though corporations cite many reasons and excuses for why they continue to cut jobs from the U.S. market, the truth is that the outsourcing of American jobs is killing our economy, plain and simple.

At Sharn enterprises, we pride ourselves on being an American company.

That means that we make all of our products, here, in the U.S. and we work with other American companies to source the materials that we use. For 41 years, we’ve produced quality displays made in the U.S.A. and created jobs that benefit our local economy. It’s not always easy, but it is the right thing to do, and we are proud of that.

To learn more about our Company, its products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

“A proud American manufacturer”

Temporary vs. Permanent Displays: Which is best?

Which type of display do you think is best suited for your particular product? Would it be a corrugated temporary display, or a permanent custom display?

According to the latest research we have seen, most consumers make their decisions at the actual point of purchase. Just over 60% of total purchases are attributed to the retail display as the major promotional element within the store. Because consumers are “bombarded” with competing information, it is more important than ever to know how to compete for the customer’s dollar.

So, the answer here may just be “Either one.” The type of retail display that will make your products sell best actually depends more on your products features, your program with your retailer, as well as your goals for this specific promotional campaign!

Let me give you a few important features of both to help you decide depending on the type:

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Corrugated

Positive:

• Piece price
• Versatile
• Durable
• Light weight
• Easy to Customize

 

Negative:

• Tooling price
• Somewhat plain
• Looks inexpensive
• Product weight
• More tooling

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Permanent

Positive:  

• More impressive                                                                                                                        
• Claims retail territory                                                                                             
• Used for years                                                                                                      
• Unique to product                                                                                                                  
• Increase perceived value of your products              

   Negative:

• Initial Cost                                                                                                               
• Difficult to acquire                                                                                                                 
• More difficult to update the “look”                                                                                        
• May perceive a higher price

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Sharn Enterprises manufacturers both temporary and permanent product displays. Our Designers have the proven industry expertise and experience to discuss your program with you and your own design ideas. They will work with you to get your ideal retail display produced on time and within the budget that is best for you. 

To learn more about our Company, its products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

“A proud American manufacturer”

Too Busy?

Let’s face it, we’re all busy but are you too busy?  Are the daily pressures of balancing work and personal time getting to you?  Does it feel like every task accomplished is only replaced with another task, repeating like a broken record?

We have all the technological advances imaginable to keep our lives organized and on task; whenever and wherever, but we often forget to say enough is enough!

How about the one weekend where you tell yourself you’re just going to lay low?  Whether you want to enjoy a few peaceful  days alone deep in a book, you’re watching football, or having a low-key weekend with the family. It all sounds well and good until that guilt trip comes calling and reminds you about all of the things you should be doing and that you are just “wasting time.”  Because we are so “connected,” often times worry over our business interferes with what is supposed to be our time off…

Like us here at Sharn Enterprises, many of you are involved with retail sales.  The demands of design, price, and delivery can often times seem overwhelming.  Because we’ve been in business since 1974, our professional team at Sharn Enterprises is here to ease your heavy-lifting. This isn’t our first rodeo, so working with us will give  you confidence in knowing your project is in experienced hands.  We listen and work with you to ensure your product will turn out exactly as planned; from quote to design, creation and delivery.

Today, business can consume us 24/7– like a moth to a flame. But, that’s not the case when you work with us. Let Sharn take care of all the details, that’s what we have been doing for our many customers for over 41 years now.                             

To learn more about our Company, its products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

“A Proud American Manufacturer”

 

Take a look at our Exciting New Plans!!

In the interest of sustainability, Sharn Enterprises has decided to find new, creative ways to build our product displays. With this initiative in mind, we have installed collection bins throughout the city to collect any “gently used” disposable items that you need to get rid of. Your garbage is our treasure!

Our design experience allows us to find creative ways to provide you with custom displays while reducing waste! Since we will be saving on material costs, we will only have to raise prices by a small margin (75%!) as we hire the dedicated workforce needed to process these new materials.

With this new and exciting change will come some compromises, as our product line will be dictated by the raw materials that we are able to acquire. Below are a few examples of current designs that we are working on:

Please support us in our new venture!!

One last thing…

 APRIL FOOLS!

As always, Sharn will continue to provide custom displays made with quality materials according to your specifications!

 

To learn more about our Company, its products and services, please visit our website at www.sharndisplays.com

For for 41 years,

 

“A Proud American Manufacturer”