IN THE TRENCHES  

When she was 11, Vanessa Merit Nornberg had the most notorious collection of chandelier earrings in the 5th grade. In 2004, Vanessa opened Metal Mafia, a wholesale body and costume jewelry company that sells to more than 5,000 specialty shops and retail chains in 23 countries. Metal Mafia was an Inc. 500 company in 2009. Fluent in Spanish and French (as well as English), Vanessa has also worked abroad in communications and business development in the video game and jewelry industries. @vanessanornberg


Want to Improve Your Business? Talk to Your Vendors

I find some of the best new ideas come from the companies I already work with.  Read story

How to Set Demanding-Yet-Doable Sales Goals

Sales expectations should be beyond an employee's comfort zone, but not so high that they're unattainable. Here's how to find the right balance.  Read story

Judge the ROI of a Trade Show: 4 Steps

Trade shows can either be a sinkhole for your money, or a great way to uncover new customers. Find out fast.  Read story

Do Any of Your Employees Have a Life-Threatening Allergy?

No idea? Never thought to ask? You can prepare for and avoid a serious health catastrophe. Here's how.  Read story

3 Ways Lateness Could Blow Up Your Business

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has a reputation for being late. You really don't want to be like her.  Read story

3 Financial Metrics You Can't Miss

If you're managing a growing business, a few numbers and financial processes matter more than any others.  Read story

Want Loyal Customers? Compete on Value, Not Price

Your customers care a lot about factors other than cost. Here's how quality, experience, and consistency can work for you.  Read story

How I Hire Great Talent

Vanessa Nornberg, owner of Metal Mafia, talks about why your sales team matters.  Watch video

3 Oddball Interview Questions You Need to Ask

Vanessa Nornberg, owner of Metal Mafia, talks about how she screens candidates.  Watch video

There's a Big Stigma in Sales

Vanessa Nornberg, owner of Metal Mafia, talks about how to find great sales talent.  Watch video

Quick Ways to Turn a Rookie into a Pro

Vanessa Nornberg, owner of Metal Mafia, talks about how she trains her sales staff immediately after they take the job.  Watch video

These Days, Recruiters Are Worth the Money

When it comes to sourcing the right interview candidates, I've never been keen to use recruiters. But I recently changed my mind.  Read story

Interviews: First 5 Minutes Tell You Everything

Vanessa Nornberg, owner of Metal Mafia, explains the three redflags you should look for--all happen in the first moments of meeting a candidate.  Watch video

Vanessa Nornberg: Building a Killer Salesforce

Inc. Live: The Metal Mafia founder explains how you can ramp up your recruiting and interviewing process to get the best possible sales team.  Read story

5 Ways to Make Your Business Better in 2013

If you want to take your business further this year, here's what you need to focus on.  Read story

Get Nosy. Pry a Little. You'll Win Big

If you want to grow your business, nothing is more essential than a big dose of curiosity.  Read story

Why Company Culture Especially Matters During the Holidays

I don't throw an opulent holiday party, but I go out of my way to let my employees know how much I appreciate their work.  Read story

Managing Senior Hires: When to Back Off & When to Lead

If I'm willing to learn from my staffers, they're more willing to learn from me. Here's how.  Read story

Tackle Problems Effectively: Learn From Mistakes I Made

One owner confides how she improved her management when she had to troubleshoot a botched customer order.  Read story

Why I Use Flirtation, Seduction & Feminine Intrigue in Business

As a business owner, I have the duty and responsibility to use every technique to get my business where it needs to be. You do, too.  Read story

3 Entrepreneur Lessons for the Presidential Candidates

As the election approaches, it's apparent that government officials--Republicans and Democrats alike--need to take their cues from small businesses owners.  Read story

4 Creative Ways to Grow Your Business Using the Web

Take your business further than your budget. Think imaginatively to market your business online.  Read story

Do Your Employees Know What They're Talking About? (And What You Can Do About It)

You must demand the highest level of knowledge from your salespeople--and train them to make that happen.  Read story

Someone Copied Your Product. What Next?

Taking legal action is costly and time-consuming. Here's how to weigh whether you (really) need to.  Read story

Forget Perfection: 3 Ways to Embrace the Entrepreneurial Struggle

Nothing frustrates me more than chasing after some elusive moment when my business will run smoothly. So I don't.  Read story

Team-Building Activities Are Worth It (Really)

A month ago, I paid to take my staff on a team-building scavenger hunt. Here's why it was definitely worth it.  Read story

Hate Networking? 3 Ways to Get Over It

Here's how to make networking work for you--and your business.  Read story

Build Trust: 6 Foolproof Steps to Train Employees

Want to trust your employees to do the job right? Train them like you would teach them to drive.  Read story

4 Traits of Incredibly Effective Delegators

You know you don't want to choke your staff with micromanagement minutiae. Here's how to hold yourself back and get the best out of your employees.  Read story

5 Simple Strategies to Sell Successfully

Sales is a journey. If the customer does not understand where you are headed and why she should come along, she won't.  Read story

Let Your Employees Know It's OK to Leave

Want to grow your business? Map out as clear-cut a strategy for employee exits as employee hires. Here's how.  Read story

3 Sure-Fire Ways to Expand Your Product Line

Learn from customers, competitors, and those in completely unrelated fields.  Read story

5 Effective & Genuine Techniques to Motivate Employees

Reward your staffers in ways they'll find meaningful, and you'll convey that keeping them motivated is important to you.  Read story

Don't Outsource Your Sales. Here's Why

Independent sales reps may seem cost-effective, but when it comes to longterm business strategy, they are too risky for these three important reasons.  Read story

Hire Right the First Time: 5 Steps

Spend time up front to nail the right hires, and build a strong, cohesive team.  Read story

Ace Customer Service Every Time: 5 Rules

Little things often make a customer interaction a success or failure.  Read story

Small Business' Real Problem with the Banking System

Increased regulation of bank lending still needs to allow for measured risks that permit sound small businesses to receive funding needed to thrive.  Read story

Surprise! You Can Win Customers For Life

Here's how to convert one-time buyers into repeat customers--and loyal advocates.  Read story

3 Crucial Indicators to Track as Your Company Grows

Are you on the path to domination? Here are the key business traits you should routinely measure and assess to find out.  Read story

5 Sales Myths to Get Over Now

Don't think of sales as a special, natural-born talent, and other misconceptions that are getting in your way.  Read story

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