| Author | Message | ||
     Sylviathomp New member Username: Sylviathomp Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2008 |
Hi Question: Am trying to do better in marketing my business, am so busy, am a caregiver,working full-time etc, I keep putting my marketing off because of time, so little time, but I was thinking about hiring a College student to do my post cards mail outs, just to type my labels, put them on the post cards and do some organization of business names,address etc as they go. What would be a fair price or wage to pay? Any advice on this matter, thanks for your help!! Thanks Sylvia | ||
| Jarrieta Advanced Member Username: Jarrieta Post Number: 150 Registered: 02-2003 |
Sylvia, My experience with younger generation is not good they come with a lot of drama even college kids. So I flipped the script and went to hiring seniors that only want a few hours a week and not every day. It works well for me especially during the holiday season and I just love it they are dependable and reliable no drama!!! They are like working bees! LOL I don't overwhelm them I give them their duties and it's done. If you are interested and if they have one in your area try the AARP. Jarrieta | ||
| Christy620 Junior Member Username: Christy620 Post Number: 25 Registered: 03-2005 |
Jarrieta, Have you found that they can't do a lot though. Like make bows because of arthritis or lift heavy stock? Christy | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 887 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi ladies. I'll chime in if I may. Hiring the oldsters: I agree with Jarrieta, there is far less drama than with the young. But seniors have their own issues. I have arthritis most especially in my wrists and knees. I had to rethink how I worked. Avoid stairs, carry two boxes (no heavier than 20 lbs) instead of the 4 or 5 boxes I used to carry. Bow tying? Certainly, just can't do if for 5 straight hours. So I'd tie for 1 or 2 hours and then tackle a project that didn't require that repetitive motion. After an hour, I could go back to the bows. Use rubber floor mats rather than standing on bare concrete. While each sufferer is different, most people with arthritis can work doing "manual labor". They/we just have to work differently. What jobs besides bow tying and lifting/carrying inventory could this person do in order to help you? In Christy's case, if what you really need is someone to haul inventory and tie for any great length of time, I believe I would get a younger person. Pass the ribbon and the Ben-Gay. ;) Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley | ||
| Sylviathomp New member Username: Sylviathomp Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2008 |
Thanks so much for your input. I did have the seniors in mind, but I do understand that they have health issue, like myself, I thought about a college person, because in theory they are suppose to be on top of their game and they have energy "or they use to". "Drama", yes I still work full-time with the State of Florida and during the summer the State will hire them, we never could get them to work. smart mouth, talk back and lazy. We always said among ourselves that we hope the State didn't hire anymore. We do have a AARP here in Jacksonville, I'll give them a call and see what I can get. Question still: What do you think would be a fair price for that kind of work? Thanks Jarrieta and thanks again to everyone for there input!! | ||
| Jarrieta Advanced Member Username: Jarrieta Post Number: 151 Registered: 02-2003 |
Wait a minute now you can't put all seniors in the same boat here even thou society has tried to lead us to believe that they are all old and useless now. Young and stupid is IN... Most senior you find are very creative and enjoy sitting and working with their hands. Tere to answer your question. "What jobs besides bow tying and lifting/carrying inventory could this person do in order to help you?" 1. fillers for baskets 2. cello fans 3. filling office paperwork 4. year end inventory 5. mailings/stuffers 6. check arrival of product shipment 7. create baskets from start to finish 8. send fax documents & use stamp machine 9. track shipment arrival dates 10. answering phones and yes some do have very professional voices and not sounding like it's their last breath. Yes a lot of our seniors are still very useful in society if given a chance. Since my group are excellent worker bees as I called them and have been with me for the past several holiday seasons that's a plus to because you don't have to train them again they do remember. LOL unlike me who got up from my desk heading to the back of the warehouse and couldn't remember what I went out there for •••••• me right off!! LOL Sylvia you may want to start at mimium wage or a litle bit more you have to decide and find seniors that are talented or as I put it trainable and willing to learn. Jarrieta | ||
| Patrick Advanced Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 125 Registered: 04-2004 |
might want to check out www.sendoutcards.com (Message edited by patrick on August 21, 2008) Pat | ||
| Sylviathomp New member Username: Sylviathomp Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2008 |
Thanks Pat, I will look into the sendoutcards.com, as far as seniors are concerns with anything there is always that 10%, as they say that aren't washed-up!! Am 54 I think am a senior.....the restaurants and stores have started giving me that 10 to 15% seniors discounts. (LOL) Thanks Again! Sylvia | ||
| Opie Senior Member Username: Opie Post Number: 254 Registered: 06-2003 |
Well now...I am 70 years young and have been doing gift baskets from start to finish for the last 8 years, answering phones and taking orders, lifting heavy boxes, and everything else. Have arthritis in hands,however,making bows and staying busy helps keep agile, and can't imagine retiring. Good idea! Hire the elderly. Opal | ||
| Jarrieta Advanced Member Username: Jarrieta Post Number: 152 Registered: 02-2003 |
Great Job Opie, But you are consider a baby to two of my girls, Glad to know that there is still hope for me when I get your age and that I can still go strong. This is a great thread about hiring... YOUNG vs SENIOR POWER so who shall we bet on? You already know gets my vote! Love it Jarrieta (Message edited by jarrieta on August 22, 2008) | ||
| Hgbaskets Senior Member Username: Hgbaskets Post Number: 222 Registered: 02-2003 |
What resource are you tapping into to find and recruit seniors? We had a fabulous group of teenage girls helping us out during the holidays last year, but unfortunately they're all going to be away at college this year. We never had any drama, and they were ALL work horses. I'm going to miss them. | ||
| Gracej Intermediate Member Username: Gracej Post Number: 75 Registered: 02-2003 |
This is an interesting thread. I think it depends so much on the individual person. Over the years we've had a mix: Late 30-yr.-old, good hard worker but very odd and flaked out at the end, quit by email over wearing sandals to work... more to that story but TMI for here! A couple mid-50-yr.-olds who lasted days/weeks and left because it was too hard, not the "fun" they expected it would be. Several early to late 50-yr.-olds who have been great workers, excellent work ethic, and I can totally trust. Computer skills have been somewhat of a challenge though (understatement), but again that's an individual thing and not across the board. A couple mid to late 40-yr.-olds who have also been great workers with an excellent work ethic, except one who revealed after hire that she had carpal tunnel and couldn't tie a tight bow and she talked NONSTOP!!! Talk about the drama!! Fortunately, she moved to another state after 3 weeks. We had a college sr. temp one holiday season, and I so wish I found her when she was a freshman and not a senior. She was a great worker and good on the computer, too. We've used a couple high school teens here and there, not anything long-term, and they were nice and pleasant but moved at a snail's pace!!! And then there was the early 20's girl we had for a few weeks one Christmas season... seemed nice enough but showed up hung over more than once, moved slower than a snail's pace, and then there was the belly shirt... complete with a belly button piercing that wiggled right along with her and the thong and large tattoo we all saw when she bent over. (Soon after that, I added "no bare mid-drift shirts" to our dress code... things you'd never think you would need to do!) Anyway, as I said at the start of this long post, I believe it depends on the individual and it's nearly impossible to categorize abilities (or willingness to work) simply based upon age. P.S. Just for reference, I'm 46 on Monday... Happy Birthday to me! It's also my husband's birthday on Monday but he's 5 yrs. older:-) Grace:-) | ||
| Jarrieta Advanced Member Username: Jarrieta Post Number: 153 Registered: 02-2003 |
Grace I think I am now blind from your story of the gal bending over! LOL But like you said it depends on the individual. I'll share this with you years ago I had my son helping I told him to spray paint baskets. Well after being up his b--- to finish the job after taking a nap in the back on a few occasions. He finish the painting a few hours later he said "hey ma I finish with the last one and it's dry now you can start making the basket. What are you NUTS, I said before I knew it create a basket with a freshly painted basket on sure just put me right out of business here! LOL But I gotta love him it's in the mommy's handbook LOL. I think this year I will have a couple stay and do inventory last year was my first time and it was hard won't make that mistake again. Jarrieta | ||
| Alayne Senior Member Username: Alayne Post Number: 966 Registered: 02-1999 |
On behalf of your son painting baskets - from my own experience, I have found that Dutch Boy spray paint does not hold the odor like others. They can be used much more quickly. And if I was looking for senior help I would contact my local senior center and talk to the director and go from there. Another source that I saw posted a long time ago was hiring a "group" if you will who are working to make money for a specific organization, like a church or non-profit group. Obviously you would have to do a lot of planning and training ahead of time, but it's another option. Lea | ||
| Jarrieta Advanced Member Username: Jarrieta Post Number: 154 Registered: 02-2003 |
Thanks Lea, For that tip I don't paint much anymore, but from time to time I need a basket spray painted so I'll try Dutch Boy spray paint. Jarrieta | ||
| Mavenbeth Senior Member Username: Mavenbeth Post Number: 1058 Registered: 02-2003 |
I use Walmart $.99 works perfect! Beth Luggery Why Choose Ordinary....CHOOSE Extraordinary! Hand delivery to ALL of South Florida | ||
| Alayne Senior Member Username: Alayne Post Number: 967 Registered: 02-1999 |
I found Walmart's stinks and the Dutch Boy has good coverage!!! LOL! Lea (Message edited by alayne on August 24, 2008) |
