Tag Archives: Shopping

Work Can Be Done Remotely From “Virtual”ly Anywhere

Tracy Helps You, like so many small businesses, has had a really hard year. Many of my personal assistant clients were, of course, put on hold during the shelter in place guidelines.

However, I got a couple of new clients that I have been shopping for. They were referrals from clients that I used to take shopping / running errands and now currently shop for.

When so many people started using shopping services, they felt comfortable letting me shop for them because they trusted me. Being able to trust the people you are working with is so very important. They were also glad they didn’t need to download any new apps. They didn’t need to learn new software just to be able to get groceries in the house. Luckily, I love to shop for groceries, and I seem to be pretty good at picking out the best produce 😊.

This past year, we have also learned that so much work can now be done remotely (virtually). Thanks to online meeting platforms like Zoom and WebEx, and various social media platforms, many businesses can still operate. I have kept fairly busy moderating FaceBook Live Events and some Zoom calls.

Mostly I have learned that small business owners really appreciate having someone (me) they can trust to hand over some of the responsibility of posting to their social media accounts consistently. In the past, I’ve shied away from offering “Social Media Manager” type services (even though I have taken SMM training courses), because I did not want my clients to rely solely on my post suggestions as a way to increase business.

After talking to a few small business owners, I now realize that it is really important to make sure they understand the purpose of social media for businesses. Its name holds a big clue, it is to be “social”. It is a way for potential clients to get to “know” you and your business virtually. It is a tool to help build your online presence and reputation. The business should post content that could be helpful to their potential clients. Quotes and “pick your brain” types of general info about their industry is a good way to build trust as a leader in the industry. Also, sharing the occasional personal / keeping it real type of post helps potential clients bond with you.

That being said, all a business can hope for from (free – not paying for ads) social media is to get their name / brand in front of the eyes (and top of mind) of your potential clients. I advise them that by making consistent posts that give value, your potential clients may think contacting your business when they are in need of your product or service. Social media has the potential to bring in new business, but that is not its purpose. My clients understand that I am merely taking the task of social media posting off their to-do list. They appreciate the time I am saving them – time they can then use for building their business.

To that end, I have created a basic social media posting package based on how frequently the client wants me to post their content for them. It is a basic package that we can then customize to meet their particular needs.

Call me to talk about the various ways I could save you valuable time!

Tracy Helps You would love to “help” you!

The Most Wonderful (aka Busiest) Time of the Year

The Holiday season is upon us, and it’s the most wonderful time of the year. There are so many fun things to do, like spending time with family & friends … traveling … going to parties … shopping … wrapping … not to mention, celebrating the actual Holiday.

All these things are wonderful, but can also be stressful. Adding these fun activities to our already busy schedules can sometimes feel overwhelming. You are only one person, and you only have so much time. It’s the perfect time to have a Personal Assistant !! Continue reading →

Summer is Party Season

Summer is almost here … It’s Memorial Day Weekend – the unofficial start of summer. Summer has the reputation of being unscheduled and carefree, but it’s not – well, not really.

During the month of May, you start getting invitations to many parties and celebrations. Between graduation parties, bridal or baby showers and weddings, the calendar fills up quickly.

All this celebrating is fun, but it can be a lot of work too.

Having a party sounds like fun, right? It can be, but it all starts with the planning. Personally, I love planning, but not everyone does. We can help you plan your event or plan it for you (with your guidance in decision making, of course). Everything from choosing the date and theme, to cleaning up afterward … you can just let us know what you want help with.

Invitations
Make Party Favors
Shopping
Decorating
Work as Your Assistant Host during the event
Clean Up

Maybe you aren’t hosting an event, but you’ve been invited to numerous parties. We can go shopping for the gifts you want to give and wrap them for you.

Or you were the honored guest at the party, and you received many wonderful gifts. We all know the old saying “it’s the thought that counts”. Perhaps some weren’t so wonderful … they were the wrong size or color … not your style … you just plain didn’t like them. We’ll return or exchange them for you.

Tracy Helps You “Your Personal Assistant” can help you handle all the details, whether you are having the party / event or you are a guest. We can take the “work” out of parties so you can have the “fun”. What are you waiting for ?? Call us 🙂

Black Friday Shopping ~ Yay or Nay ??

Black Friday isn’t what it used to be. When my kids were young … you know, back in the day, I used to shop on Black Friday. That was when the coolest toys were on sale, and if you didn’t want disappointed kiddos on Christmas morning, you braved the crack of dawn time, the weather & the crowds. Back in the 90’s, before everyone was online, stores ordered a certain number of the item and when they were sold out, that was pretty much it … waiting to see if another shipment came in before Christmas was a big gamble. So, I went … Continue reading →

Good Bye Cold, Chicago Winter … Hello Warm, Sunny Mexico

I have the privilege of going on a Baja Mexico Cruise (and escaping the brutal cold) in the middle of January. It was a very generous birthday gift from my husband and kids. I’ll be cruising with my aunt, I can’t wait ! Soon, I’ll be lounging poolside with a Pina Colada (sp?) in my hand 🙂

However, before I go, there is lots of work to be done:
Shopping – travel sized items and new sandals 🙂 plus grocery shopping for the fam while I’m gone … after all, we don’t want them starving to death in my absence.
Laundry – to bring my favorite outfit on my trip, plus I’m sure the hubby will appreciate clean clothes to wear.
Packing – I need to bring clothes for hot, mexico type weather but also some things for cooler weather in the 60’s predicted for Catalina Island (our first port of call). I had to go with the big suitcase … I always think I can fit everything in the carry-on, but I never can. I usually bring too much, but I like to have choices 🙂
Mani/Pedi – I have to … scary winter feet and horrible cuticles, plus I feel pretty when I get pampered 🙂

I was starting to feel overwhelmed when I had a past client call asking for a last minute pet sitting (due to a death in her family). I was pretty booked already, but didn’t want to let her down. Lucky for me, my daughter volunteered to take down all our Christmas decorations for me. That took a load of stress off me.

It’s the first time I’m traveling alone in a long time, but I think I’m going to really enjoy getting away for a while. I hope I don’t miss my hubby and kids too much 🙂

BON VOYAGE !!

The Christmas Season Is Upon Us … Already !!

It’s Friday, December 5th … only 20 days til Christmas …Let the countdown begin!

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ … Peace on Earth & Goodwill to Men. However, in the 24/7 world we live in, sometimes the preparations for Christmas can be anything but peaceful … it can be downright hectic.

Everyone’s to-do list gets longer during the holidays. All the festivities are great fun, but they also add more to our already busy schedules. Our December to-do list has additional items like sending out holiday cards, decorating & baking, shopping & wrapping, not to mention holiday parties & get- togethers.

Tracy Helps You is here to, well, help you 🙂 We can take care of some of your to-do list items. We can do some of the more routine stuff on your list, or we will Christmas shop and wrap your gifts for you. We can get your Christmas cards written & mailed out for you. We will even go to a party for you, oh wait … you probably want to take of party attendance yourself (we understand, lol).

Hiring Tracy Helps You will free up your time to do the most important things … spending time & making memories with the people you love, your family and friends!

Some time to relax and peace of mind is just a phone call away 🙂

Tracy Helps You’s Thankful Thoughts for Today ~ 11/13/14

November 13, 2014 ~ Today I am thankful for modern grocery stores. It truly is a blessing to be able to just “run to the store” when you are out of something. I think many people take them for granted, I know I do. If you live near a city or its suburbs, the grocery store is more of mega center. You can get practically anything you can imagine. They usually have aisle upon aisle of specialty foods and most ethnic ingredients you might need.

Many of the national chain type grocery stores are actually superstores. These stores combine department store items with food items under the same roof. Some of these stores even have a car maintenance department on site so you can get your oil changed while you are shopping. Some of these mega stores rent space to other businesses like hair & nail salons, eye doctors or bank branches. All very convenient for one stop shopping, which can save time 🙂

♥ Today I am thankful for modern grocery stores ♥

Tracy Helps You’s Thankful Thoughts for Today ~ 11/6/14

November 6, 2014 ~ Today I am thankful my local small business community. I’ve only been a small business owner for about 1 ½ years now, but I have come to appreciate the relationships I’ve gained through learning and working with other local businesses.

By joining the Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce, I’ve been able to take part in many networking events as well as attend educational seminars geared toward running & marketing my business.

At one of these networking / seminars, I sat next to a woman and we started chatting about our businesses (networking). This woman then hired me as her personal assistant to help her with an event. We became friends and now help promote each other’s businesses whenever we can.

Her organization, The Carol Stream Woman’s Club, is hosting a vendor fair ~ FALL SHOPPING JAMBOREE ~ this evening at Joe Cotton Ford in Carol Stream (on North Ave., just west of Gary). Tracy Helps You, as well as nearly 30 other local vendors, will be there. There will be shopping, food, music & raffles! Come on out tonight to support your local small businesses while you get an early start your Holiday shopping 

♥ Today I am thankful for my local small business community ♥

Tracy Helps You ~ Your Personal Assistant for Shopping & Running Errands

Would you like to have a wife?? No, this isn’t a marriage proposal. What I meant was, wouldn’t be nice to have a partner / someone to help out with some of your household duties?? How about someone to run those time-consuming, never ending errands??

I got a chuckle one day last week when I rang the doorbell at my client’s house. I was returning from running her weekly errands and grocery shopping. She opened the door with a smile and said, “Yay … my ‘wife’ is home”. It was too funny 🙂 Continue reading →

Grocery Shopping ~ People Either Love It Or Loathe It

I know, I’m weird, but I really like to go grocery shopping. Love may be bit too strong a word, it is after all a household chore, but I do enjoy it. What about you, given the choice would you take it or leave it?

I like making a shopping list of all the ingredients I need to prepare the meals I have planned for the coming week. I like looking through the sales papers trying to find which store has the best prices for the items I need. I like sorting through my (hopefully not expired) coupons. I just love finding a great deal. Continue reading →