Board game cafes, the latest playthings in town

Unknowingly since last year, board game cafes have become the latest playthings in town. Springing up in various corners of Singapore, they offer rare & interesting board games, cozy environment and of course finger licking good food.

No longer will you be restricted to the nostalgic monopoly and cluedo, with the wide array of board games, imported from the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and other countries, that are available at these cafés, you would be enthralled in the intriguing world of games.

Some cafes also offers a selection of “forfeit” items such as outrageous afro hair wigs, fluffy angel wings and ridiculous animal caps, amongst others, to enhance the fun of game playing. “Playing board games used to be something that only takes place in the home. So with a similar concept, we wanted to recreate a homely and cozy café setting, complete with a huge variety of games, to entice everyone to join us in the fun of playing board games in the comfort of our “home”,” shares Bernard Sim, an owner of HideOut Café.

More noticeable cafes out there currently are TheMind Café & Settler’s Café which even offer corporate functions gaming, and services that include sms reservations.

Board game cafes are definitely a great place to de-stress after a hard day’s work, or to engage mind-boggling strategy games to stimulate your mind and best of all, fellowship with your dear friends and have some great laughs!

Don’t Just Quit Your Day Job Just Yet

Most of us would like to run our own business - including me. Imagine all those advantages that you may have over your peers, freedom to work when and how and also unlimited potential for earning money, not to mention, you are doing what you like most.

But starting and stepping out can be a real risky business. If you give up your day job without much or little income, you may have no income til your business starts turning a profit.
Though people were saying, entreprenuer are risk taker, but you don’t have to take that unneccessary risk. Start small, taking on a few freelance projects, earned experience and expand your contacts in the related field while you are in your day job. In this way, you not only can save up your captial but also get a high chance to build up contacts and minimize risk, while maximizing your chances of success.

After much planning and as soon as you feel that you are prepared and have enough business on the go to launch a full-time career, you can quit your day job. So make the most out of your day job.

SEE LEARN LOOK ASK during your day job - just like me. Even though collegues around you may see you as a nosey poker, but is the experience that you will learned and carried over to your business.

20 tried and tested ways to increase sales and expose your business

In biz, reaching out to your targeted audience or clients is critical in closing in on that desired sales target. Below are 20 ways that you may consider in implementing it into your business. =)

1. Pass your name cards to whoever you meet.


2. Using world oldest marketing tactic - Word Of Mouth.


3. Write letters to editor to publish or interview your products/services in magazines.


4. Contribute your articles in magazines within your field or expertise.


5. Design your own brochures and send to printing house or if you are on budget, you may print it on your trusting printer.


6. Stick your signatures everywhere, be it forums, emails or groups.
   
7. Build up your sales speech not more than 30 secs. This is particularly useful if you going to meet your potential client.


8. Call and/or write to your potential, past and current clients.


9. Remember your clients birthday and send out greetings cards.


10. Start a newsletter mailing list to build up your customer base. Most effective if you are a affiliate marketer.


11. Use online FREE press release to get free publicity.


12. To get the latest updates in you industry, talk with your former employer, associates or friends.


13. Set a sales quota for your services/products.


14. Follow-up on a sales lead. Send them your brochure, then follow-up with a phone call and a meeting.


15. Get listed in online directories.


16. Use online marketing services like yahoo and google.


17. Review your marketing, customer and service program.


18. Tightly integrate your promotion online and offline.
    
19. Upsell your services/products to your current customers.


20. Having a smile goes a long way.