Many of you are aware that our beachdog.com owners, Keith and myself (Keleigh), have been out of the office for a couple of months.  I’m more than delighted to report that we are once again on the Peninsula and, better still, my cancer is in remission!  W00t!

I haven’t been released to return to work just yet but I show up just about daily for a few hours to do a bit of this-n-that.  I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be on a daily basis, so it must be good for me.  Besides, staying home was making me nuts!

I’m asking friends to please feel free to drop in and visit me at home but to refrain from the same when they see my car at the office.  My time here at beachdog.com is very limited and I need to spend it wisely.

Clients, I’m taking a very limited number of appointments, but you can call the office (360-642-4431) and Wendy or Sabrina will fit you in as needed.  Honestly, Wendy, Sabrina and Ethan did such a great job while I was away, I hardly feel needed around here.  I think my 12+ hour days may be in my past (yay!).  It’s pretty clear that we have a great team in place right now, based on all the positive feedback received from YOU.  Thanks for letting me know how they were doing!

I have to share this photo with you, which could as well be me at that age.  It was taken by Becky Johnson at Sandsations this past month.

Here’s to a prosperous, healthy and FUN summer!

Keleigh

While we’re very committed to shopping locally, Astoria/Warrenton may be the closest place to buy office paper by the ream.  So, fellow merchants, here’s a great coupon offer (pdf) on 20# office paper, good at the new Staples in Warrenton.  $20 for a case of Hammermill that works in inkjet or laser copier/printers, good through the end of April.

We also have it on good authority that it’s a great paper for drawing and coloring (source: Avary & Royce Murry, ages 5 & 11).

UPDATE: We’re shutting down the shop on Monday so we can all attend this workshop. Hope to see you there!

Brad Worthley is a acclaimed customer service trainer whose client list includes Macys, Nordstrom, McDonalds, Alaska Airlines and Western Union, as well as small and medium organizations from a variety of industries. His mission? To help organizations create service cultures: A place where employees love to work and customers love to do business.

Brad equips companies with dynamic customer service and leadership essentials. Brad’s research shows that it is easy to change people, but unless the leadership has undergone specialized training on how to manage a service culture, the employees will revert back to their old ways within 90 days.

• Eliminate office politics
• Increase employee retention
• Increase employee performance
• Increase customer retention
• Increase sales
• Increase profits

Renowned for captivating his audiences, many have referred to his lively presentations as “shows”.

• Brad keeps seminar participants entertained while helping them retain the information they learn.
• He is a master storyteller and delivers his powerful message from the customer’s perspective.

Thanks to the Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, you can attend a Brad Worthley seminar in  your own back yard on April 11th.  In fact, you can even afford to bring–or send–your front line employees!  These two organizations are subsidizing the cost of the workshop, making it only $10 each – INCLUDING LUNCH!  If you’re a member of the Willapa Harbor Chamber (details), it’s only $5!  You can’t beat that.

You want a sweeter deal still? Okay, how’s this?  Pacific Transit will take care of transportation to South Bend if only 15 Peninsulans register to take them up on the deal by April 1st.  Free transportation, free lunch, and only $5-10 for a speaker one would typically pay $50 to see?  Come on!

Register: Contact the Willapa Harbor Chamber at 360-942-5419 or info@willapaharbor.org

Click for a closer look

We’re participating in For Japan With Love, which generates funds for Shelter Box, an outstanding program Keith and Keleigh first became acquainted with through Rotary several years ago.  Shelter Box made a significant difference to survivors of Haiti’s earthquake and are now doing the same in Japan.

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide.  Each box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and essential equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless.  There is a great breakdown of what’s in the box at http://www.shelterboxusa.org/about.php?page=9.

If you prefer, you can donate directly to Shelter Box via their online form, and even track your box as it makes its way to Japan.

May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
brightened by a song in your heart,
and warmed by the smiles
of the people you love.