Ok, I Messed Up

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If you haven't read my company review regarding my experience with Pocket Pets, then you might want to do that before reading this post.

Behind the Scenes:

But anyway, here's what's happened between then and now.  Because of that review I received a call from Adam, my local Pocket Pets representative.  Sadly I was in a bad reception zone (dang cell phones!) and the call was dropped before we could actually start the discussion.  He at the time thought I hung up on him and passed it to his boss, Virgil the owner of Pocket Pets.

Virgil sent me a VERY long letter (as an email attachment) that while intelligently and civilly written, basically accused me of slandering his company and warning me off before I get caught up in a huge lawsuit.  (If anyone would like to see the copy of this letter, let me know.)

Wait, what?  He's accusing me of slander?  No way!  Since when is a customer review slanderous?  This is basically what went through my head as I read it to the end.  Almost immediately, I typed up a reply email to Virgil (again, if you'd like to see a copy, let me know).

The gist of the email was along these lines...

• A review based of personal experience isn't considered slander and is a common place practice among customers of numerous companies
• I described some concerns that I had regarding my personal experience
• I mentioned that I was insulted that both he and Adam thought I hung up on Adam earlier
• I requested that we continue this discussion and can come to a solution peacefully and maturely
• I promised that if my concerns were taken care of satisfactorily that I would post a public apology with a full explanation (hence this post)

My Apology:

Yes, there was a BIG misunderstanding.  And I did get caught up in the passion too fast.  No I never saw any proof of the accusations (and I never actually posted those accusations as my own).  But, for my part in the drama, I definitely apologize.  I was wrong.


My Reasoning Behind the Apology:

Now that you have the back story, here's what happened next.  Virgil himself never emailed me back (according to Adam he's too tired of the accusations to believe in diplomacy, lol).  However, Adam did call me back (during the lunch hour of 1/14/11).

And during a phone conversation that lasted just over an hour, Adam explained the history and the reason behind Virgil founding Pocket Pets.  He also discussed at length with me regarding various concerns that I had regarding my experience and some of the accusations that I had heard during my lengthy research.  (Sadly there's not many sources out there that I can utilize!)

No, I didn't take notes.  But, he was very respectful and obviously passionate about his work, his side of the story, and his love for his own Sugar Gliders.  And, as far as I'm concerned, they alleviated my worries and suspicions about their ethical standings, concern about the sugar bears, and business practices.

Would I run the business different?  Maybe.  But I truly cannot know since I don't know nearly enough about Sugar Gliders and that type of industry.  And, as of now, I respect where both Virgil and Adam are coming from.

A Note to Those Who Might Be Upset Regarding My Change of Mind:

I have a feeling that I'm going to disappoint many people with this post.  So here are a few things that I want to say to them.

• I was in no way frightened or bribed or tricked into this
• I'm not the type to 'change sides' without VERY good cause
• I still greatly respect your opinions especially regarding the care and quality of life of Sugar Gliders
• Fritz and any other gliders that I get will be kept in a LARGE cage, be fed the HPW diet, receive plenty of interaction and enrichment
• I will still assist with the education regarding the care options regarding sugar gliders
• I will assist with the challenge of breeding mills (as long as there's concrete proof)
• I will assist regarding the collection of valid data to help reduce any confusion regarding the best care for our favorite little snuggies
• If you can provide me with CONCRETE (aka can hold up in court) proof that the accusations made against Pocket Pets and affiliates (real or not) are true, then you'll have my full support

Also, unless you have that concrete proof regarding what you're saying about Pocket Pets, I'm suggesting that you quiet down because Virgil is going to court about this.  And he has every right to as a businessman and a human being.  I'm not trying to threaten anyone, this is just a piece of friendly advice.

If anyone would like to question me further regarding this change of mind, please feel free to message me here or on sugarglider.com or glidercentral.net (I'm KatFarrell).

Ok, now for a lighter topic, I want to hear your favorite sugar glider stories!  :D

P.S. - Adam, now you can show this to Virgil and hopefully increase his faith in the sugar glider caregiver community!  :D

How to Become a Local Voice for Your Cause

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Do you have a cause that you are passionate about?  Does it need help creating awareness in your community?

In this post I'll provide some quick, easy tips on how you can become the local 'voice' for your cause even if you are not an official representative (yet).  Right now my main cause is...

1. spreading the word about mill brokers and breeders of sugar gliders/honey gliders
2. helping build awareness of reliable sources of information to help potential and current sugar glider owners make the best educated decision for them and the sugar gliders (or sugar bears as some like to call them)

So I will be using this an example throughout this post (two birds and one stone, lol).

Before you go off and spreading the word to help your cause, please do your research.  There might be materials, phrases, forums, organizations, tools, etc that can help you.  Why re-invent the wheel?

Once you've done a thorough job of researching and know that you can consider yourself at least a beginner expert about this cause, then dive right in by all means!

1: Talk about it

Does this cause or a related topic come up often? Good, that should be an easy transition to inform people (briefly) about your cause.

How can you do this?

Nice thing about Sugar Gliders is that 90% of people in my area have absolutely no clue what they are (which is something the mill breeders and brokers like to take advantage of).  So, I am regularly explaining what type of creature they are and how I find them to be a great pet for me. 

There, I can share some knowledge and places where they can go to research for themselves. 

Note: do NOT go over board and make a lecture out of a conversation; people have a tendency to stop listening.

2: Utilize the Web

With the right timing, consistency, and voice certain causes can go viral.  Which is great, but not necessary to make an effect.

Post/share informative articles (blog posts, videos, quizzes, etc) about the cause that are engaging and easy to read (or they're useless) to your social media platforms.  If you do this on a regular basis, those who are apart of your online community will see you as an expert.  Which means they'll ask you questions or refer people to you.

For example: I will start sharing any news articles, blog posts, or videos I think that will be able to help potential owners or current owners of sugar gliders find the best information possible so they can make an educated decision for themselves.


Out of sight, out of mind



Plus, if they see it, it's on their mind.  Creating awareness even if it doesn't create any tangible results...yet.

Note: please follow best practices for web marketing while doing this. Don't overcrowd people's feeds or inboxes.  Keep it regular and often, but no bombarding!

Those are the basics that everyone can do.  There are others, but they follow along the same lines.

Now it's time for the ways you can take it to the next level!

Note:  The 'next level' should be just that: the NEXT level.  Start with the 1st two ways to spread the word.  Once those are solid and the word has gotten around (and maybe you've recruited a few helpers), that's when you can advance.

This is when you start CREATING, instead of just sharing.

3: Blog it

If you have a blog, you can use that to create informative, intelligent, and engaging content about different aspects of your cause.

A good resource for newbie bloggers (it's on my reference shelf)

Note: make sure you know the best practices about blogging before you decide to do this.  Blogging is not something that should be done as whim.  You need regular and frequent content.

4: Create a Facebook Page

You're starting a grass-roots movement, this is one way you can build 'members', awareness, and create a 'home' for the community of people who care about the cause.  This is free and easy to do.  If the community grows too fast and too big, you might need a separate nich community home like a separate web page with a forum.

5: YouTube It

YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine world wide.  Try creating a channel, connect it to any official and related channels, and make videos sharing information and rallying people. 

Note: If you're not a writer, this can take the place of a blog.

6: Tweet It

Share links to videos, blog posts, discussion threads and more.  They don't have to all be by you.  They can be by other similar organizations.  You can also share links to news videos and articles that are related to your cause.

And I could go on about social media tools and web marketing.  But those are the basics.  They should get you started.  Here are some tips to help them get off their feet and start running.

1. create a dedicated team of content creators and managers (so it's not just you)
2. continue using the 1st two ways to spread the word
3. make sure everything you do regarding the cause is interconnected (with your efforts and efforts of related groups)
4. play with the strengths, tools, and materials you already have at your disposal
5. think outside of the box regarding everything
6. the more creative you and your team are the more engaging it will be to the current community members and new members
7. encourage your community to start sharing information with their connections as well (the more voices the better) and give them tips on how to do so

Together...we can

I hope this helps.  Did I leave something important out?  What sharing tips or questions do you have to share?

[Company Reivew] Pocket Pets at Sugar-Bear.com

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This review is from the point of view of a consumer, or to put more accurately a new 'mother' to a Sugar Glider that was breed by Pocket Pets.  (Yes, that is me.)

My mother bought Fritz for me in June of 2010 and I was thrilled to have a pet of my own to share my new apartment with.  Sadly, Fritz wasn't old enough for me to take him home yet, so I had to wait over a month to pick him up. 

During that time I researched, I read, I watched videos...I basically memorized every bit of information that Pocket Pets and their associated veterinarian website had available.

Then I started to ask clarifying questions to fill in holes that their information left.

But all I got in return were 'cookie cutter' answers where they basically copied and pasted the information that I already had into the email.  Definitely not what I was looking for.  With every other company I asked a question, I was able to have an actual conversation with the person on the other side of the line (either by phone, email, or chat).

The first couple times, I dismissed this.  Then I started digging around in the web-world outside of Pocket Pets and their associates.  And I started reading some very disturbing things, things I couldn't quite believe.

Pocket Pets, the very professional looking company who seems to be so helpful, was called a mill breeder countless times.  Yes, that's on the same level as those horrible puppy mills.  Others even went so far to call them liars and fraudulent because of their 'fake' vet association: the ASGV.

Plus, they kept on pushing off the date when I could pick Fritz up and take him home.

Needless to say, I became worried and suspicious.

So I sent them an email mentioning these concerns and asking for pictures of the breeding facilities as well as an update on Fritz.

They again gave me a cookie cutter answer, avoided the pictures all together using their USDA certification (which seems to be as useful as an FDA certification) and Better Business Bureau grade A standing. (Though we were able to set up a time for me to pick up Fritz, finally!)

-Quick Side Note: As a marketer for my family's business, I've had the Better Business Bureau (BBB) call us up and asking us to pay multiple of hundreds of dollars for a Grade A standing.  Excuse me?  You want me to PAY for a good reputation?  Sorry, that screams a scam to me.  But anyway, back to the review at hand.

I picked up Fritz and everything went so well that I let it slide.  I followed their directions to the letter and my research slowed basically a halt.  I was busy bonding with Fritz and making sure I had good toys, treats, and other accessories.  Plus, Pocket Pets couldn't be a scam, they looked to professional and official and Fritz seemed fine.

Then I met someone with a female he had bought from Pocket Pets and a male he had rescued.  They started to breed and their fur began to have a brown tint.  This didn't mesh with me.  The gliders were of different ages, so it couldn't have been them getting older.  Plus, I was worried about the state of their habitat (to the point I was thinking negligence) but not sure enough to step in or report him.

So I started researching again.  The first thing I did was email a question to Pocket Pets.  Their history was to email me back within 24 hours (a good habit to keep).  But they didn't follow that habit this time. (Note: It's been about 4 days since I sent that email with no response.)

So I branched out looking for advice from others in the Sugar Glider Care Giver Community (no, that's not an official name, lol).  This is when I decided to join the community at SugarGlider.com and get feedback from them.

I have yet to see proof of the claims about Pocket Pets being fraudulent and a mill breeder, but I'm definitely suspicious and not happy with their customer service post-purchase.

Have you (or someone you know) bought a Sugar Glider from Pocket Pets or used the ASGV?  I'd like to know your experience.

Before You Adopt a Sugar Glider

Like any pet, it's always best to do your research before adopting a sugar glider (or multiple sugar gliders) into your family.

1: they are highly social creatures = they need lots of attention and interaction

Yes, some gliders are more independent than others (thankfully I have one of those) but some have been known to go suicidal because they're lonely.  To counteract this you can...

• make sure they have a playmate (another sugar glider would be wise)
• spend at least a few hours daily with them (cuddling, 'wrestling', and playing)
• put the cage in the main room in your home (so they can see all of the activity) - remember, they're nocturnal so a bedroom isn't wise (unless you're like me and don't even hear a sever thunderstorm or earthquake when sleeping, lol)
• take your li'l furbat with you whenever possible (and introduce him/her to multiple people and animals to help keep him friendly to all)

2: they require a specific diet.  This is true, a simple kibble won't cut it. 

• certain people think that anything more than kibble gets too expensive and complicated
• but there are simple ways of getting them the nutrition they need such as widely recommended diets (I use the HPW diet) - these are often as simple as throwing the ingredients into a blender, freezing the mixture (I use ice cube trays for easy serving), melt, and serve nightly - can't get much easier than that
• also, depending on where you do your shopping, a fresh diet like HPW can actually be cheeper (don't you love it when nutritional/healthy things are less expensive than the popular unhealthy things?)

Note: like children, Gliders tend to eat the treats first. So make sure that treats are limited.  Also, avoid grape skins, chocolate, pork, and any plants that you are unsure of - if you can eat the plant, it should be fine.

3: since sugar gliders haven't truly caught on as pets (except in CA and FL, from what I can tell) there are not a lot of specialized toys, accessories, cages, etc...  Be prepared to make it yourself, buy baby/other pet toys, and have to order an expensive cage cause a typical bird or small pet cage will NOT work.

4: Sugar gliders can be costly.  They are considered an exotic pet which tends to drive up the price.

With the kibble food option, it generally takes about $5/month per glider to feed them.  However, they are expensive to buy, the 'starter packs' are expensive, and you need a vet who's used to working on them (usually an exotic pet veterinarian).  Costs like that can put a glider out of your budget.

5: It's said that Gliders can get along with most pets.  This isn't necessarily true and you need to keep in mind the temperament of any pets they'd regally meet. 

For example, my mom has a German Shepard with a high prey drive.  He's fine with Fritz except when he thinks Fritz is a toy or Fritz crabs at him.  Now, it's possible that if they lived in the same house together, they'd eventually get used to each other. 

But don't take it for granite that they'd bond with any other pets like they did with you - especially bugs, birds, and reptiles. 

6: Sugar Gliders can live up to 15 years as pets.  They are NOT a short time commitment!  (I have even heard of one living for 18 years!)

They're definitely adorable.  They're definitely rewarding additions to the family.  But they are not for everyone.  Take your time.  PLEASE do not splurge on a Sugar Glider until you're positive that you're fully prepared to be a new mommy/daddy for the fellow. 

Note: there is a lot of conflicting info out there.  Double check your sources, find multiple sources for the same topic, and see if you can ask questions of a local vet who knows them. 

Also, if anyone has any questions, please let me know.  If I cannot answer them, I can definitely pass along your question to the breeder where I got Fritz (Pocket Pets) and get back to you.  The breeder has been the top breeder in the nation for 16 years and they're certified by the USDA which regularly checks up on them to make sure they meet quality standards.

Note: diet section has been updated with improved information.

Local Business Showing Community Support to the Troops

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Hey! I know this is not in my list of topics that I'd said I'd be posting about, but it's a good cause and I'm trying everything I can to spread the word.

My family's business is working to send care packages to our troops serving overseas and they're trying to get the community involved as well.  This way our warriors get the best support possible; they deserve to know that we appreciate all they do.

Here's how you can help:

1: Help Spread the Word

• share this on any social media outlets you're on
• email your friends, family, coworkers, etc
• bloggers, reporters, etc are more than welcome to cover the event and/or interview me or another member of the Mercer Team regarding this community project

2: Donate Time

On Sunday, January 30th from noon till 4pm Mercer Carpet One is opening up our Downtown Westminster Showroom as a packing station to prep the care packages for shipping. Any and all are more than welcome to stop by to help out. 

Light refreshments will be provided (Birdie's is bringing the coffee!).  All who help will be given a small thank you gift from Mercer Carpet One.

If anyone serving in a uniform (military, police, fire department, etc) can join us, please wear your uniform so we can thank you appropriately.

3: Donate Money

It takes $25 to ship two packages. Please send or bring monetary donations to our Downtown Westminster Showroom.

4: Donate Items

The drop box is at our Downtown Westminster Showroom (26 W. Main St, Westminster, MD - the teal building) and we're accepting donations all the way up to the 30th.

Here's a list of ideas for possible item donations -

Top 12 Requested Items:

1.    Beef Jerky

2.    Good coffee

3.    Ziploc bags (to keep sand out of things)

4.    Individual wrapped snacks of all kinds

5.    Movies

6.    Nuts

7.    Wipes (to help keep clean)

8.    Cards or small games

9.    Powdered drink mix (esp. w/electrolytes)

10. White socks

11. Lip balm

12. Moisturizing lotion

Food/Snacks:

·         Cookies/crackers/pretzels (snack sizes)

·         Tuna in a pouch

·         Canned meats (no pork)

·         Any kind of jerky

·         Cheese spread (no aerosol cans)

·         Ramen noodles

·         Peanut butter

·         Pop-top canned fruit

·         Snack cakes

·         Gum

·         Nuts/trail mix/dried fruit

·         Granola bars

·         Pop-Tarts

·         Throat drops

·         Individually wrapped candy

Hygiene Supplies:

·         Razors and shaving cream

·         Deodorant

·         Toothpaste & toothbrushes

·         Facial cleansing pads

·         Eye drops

·         Soap/body wash

·         Shampoo and conditioner

·         Sunblock (High SPF)

·         Feminine hygiene products

·         Foot powder

Entertainment:

·         AA and AAA batteries

·         Books (mysteries, action, drama, SciFi)

·         Magazines (new or nearly new – sports, news, entertainment, travel, nature)

·         Playing cards

·         Small hand-held games

·         Crossword puzzles/word search/sudoku

·         CDs/DVDs

Sports Equipment:

·         Baseballs/softballs

·         Baseball/softball gloves

·         Soccer balls/basketballs/volleyballs

·         Pump for inflatable balls

·         Squirt guns

Other Good Ideas:

·         Socks

·         Cool scarves

·         Sand scarves

·         Blank cards/stationary/paper

·         Envelopes and stamps

·         Pens/pencils (w/sharpeners)

·         Pre-paid international phone cards

·         Disposable cameras

·         Cards and/or letters of support and encouragement

Notes:

·         All food items must be in the manufacturer’s original packaging

·         No chocolate except M-n-M’s

·         Wrap any potentially leaky items in Ziploc baggies

Any and all help is more than welcome! Thank you in advanced for everything you're able to do.

If you have any questions, please let me know using the comments form below or emailing me at Katlin@MercerCarpetOne.com.

Related Links:
 ~ Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=190734097608663
 ~ Coffee is to be provided by Birdie's Café (located on East Main Street): http://www.birdiescoffee.com/
(more coming as they go live!)

5 Things to Consider Before Starting a Blog

In today's marketing world with the importance of web marketing booming, it's considered a best practice for businesses to have their own blog. 

Trust me I'm not saying otherwise, there are numerous benefits to having a well run business blog.  But that doesn't mean that you're in the position right now to have one.

Here are some things you should keep in mind before starting your blog (business or otherwise) and during the pre-planning sessions.

 1: Time Commitment - guess what, while blogging can look like a free way to market yourself it truly isn't. 

Why?  Simple: Time Is Money!  And blogging can take a lot of time (especially when you're first starting up).  You need to be sure that either you (or one of your partners/employees) has enough time to regularly and frequently post quality content to your blog.

 2: What is the Goal of your blog - Make sure you know why you're starting your blog before you do.  What is the main purpose?  Does it have any secondary purposes?

Are you blogging to build SEO benefits for your website?  Are you blogging to spread the word about your company through the web?  Are you blogging to build the aura of expertise around you and your company? 

Note: if the ONLY reason that you're considering blogging is for SEO benefits, than you need to find something else to do.  Why?  Because readers and subscribers can tell when you're talking about/for you and not thinking about them.

 3: Who are you writing to?  Or, to be better put, who are you talking WITH?

Who are you looking to build a conversation with (basically: who's your potential customer)?  Think about gender, age, interests, communication styles, and more as you're building a profile for your target audience. 

Then, take that knowledge and build the theme of your blog (and the content) for that profile.  It needs to be interesting to your potential customer base, or you are just wasting your time.

Note: a blog is meant to build interaction between you and your readers/subscribers.  It is not a way for you to take a bullhorn to their ears (they'll just ignore you anyway).

 4: What voice will you use?  How will you be sharing your expertise and information with your audience?

Will you be chatty or informative?  Formal or informal? Note: keep the profile of your target audience in mind because the goal is to - Engage!

 5: How will you spread the word?  (What's the use blogging if you aren't reaching an audience.)

Where does your potential customer spend time on the web?  How will you let her know that your blog has content that she'd be interested in?  There are many ways to do this, which ways do you think will work best for you?

Remember: think outside of the box.

How about you?  Do you have any tips on what people should consider before blogging?  Or are you unsure on how to proceed yourself?

I'm a Guest Blogger! "Hosting a Dinner Party in Less than 400sq.ft."

My Guest Post was just published on Gastro Travels and talks about how I served a party of 8 a full Thanksgiving Dinner in my tiny apartment.

"So, I’m not sure why, but I decided to invite 8 people over for a holiday dinner party in my two room (not including the 2 closets, one also acting as a laundry room, and the small bathroom).
What could go wrong with…

• most of the guests not knowing each other and being in such tight quarters
• my TINY stove and oven
• my never having before hosted a party (much less a dinner party)

Despite, or maybe because of, the challenges I was quite excited for the party and had fun planning the following menu…
Appetizer (to greet everyone with):
I sliced the top of a brie round and warmed it in the microwave for about 1 minute to melt it.  This was served with thinly sliced apples and pears as well as li’l toasties.  I also added in (last minute) a cinnamon basil jelly from a local farm; this was a huge hit."

Read more here!

I'd love to know what you think of it!

5 Blogging Pet Peeves

I don't know about you, but I only have so long to spend reading all the interesting blogs.  So, any post out there that doesn't include a mix of the following (or, even better, all of them)...

• pictures (to emphasise interesting points)
• bullets (or another form of lists)
• white space (give the eyes a break!)
• good punctuation (you'd be surprised)

Plus, I try to keep the number of websites I check per day down as much as possible, so I haven't set up a 'Reader' yet.  So here's my 5th pet peeve

• the lack of email subscription option

And frankly, if a blogger doesn't take advantage of all the various ways there are to subscribe (and make them easy to find and use) then I wonder if s/he even wants to have regular readers.

How about you, what is your preferred way to subscribe to an interesting blog?  What do you look for in a blog (other than interesting content of course) before subscribing to it?  Do you have any blogging pet peeves?

What is a Sugar Glider

Hehehe, I know this won't stop the questions, but this is for those who have never heard of such a creature.

A Sugar Glider is a tiny marsupial (yes, from Australia like Kangaroos) who is nocturnal, highly social(1), omnivorous(2), and highly curious.

1) Sugar Gliders live in groups as large as 20 of their own kind in the wild
2) in the wild they'll eat bugs, fruit, leaves, veggies, eggs, etc.  I feed my little guy a 'kibble' that the breeder recommended plus vitamins, fruit, and other treats.

My li'l furbat is named Fritz.  He's about 6 months out of the pouch (I'm not kidding, that's the official term) now.

They LOVE anything sweet, so he snatched a quick lick.

That picture should give you an idea of just how small they are.  They can get up to 7oz and are full grown at about 4" long (plus the tail that's as at least as long as the body).

That's a basic summary of what a Sugar Glider is.  There will be more like this coming soon.  But for now, any questions?  Did I leave anything out of this brief 'definition'?  Do you own a Sugar Glider?  Are you thinking of getting one?  What unusual pets do you think are the coolest?

My First Post

This post is to serve as a kind of 'welcome' post (a.k.a. starter content lol).

So, welcome!

I'm Kat and this is my personal blog.  No, that doesn't mean that I'll talk mindlessly about what I did today. I'm going to use this as a platform to help me share information with you. 

Most of the time I'll be talking about...

• sugar gliders (I'll explain what that is in another post)
• various food and drink 'adventures' (I'm a foodie, lol)
• marketing (especially non-traditional marketing and doubly especially web marketing)
• wellness discoveries (basically what I've stumbled upon as I attempt to keep all aspects of myself healthy)
• and pretty much anything else I find interesting lol

I look forward to sharing and talking with you as the future unfolds.  Please, comment on and share any posts that you find interesting/worthy.  If I leave anything out, there's a related topic that you'd like to share, maybe a related link - whatever you decide - bring it on!  :-D

Have fun and I'll talk you to later!