Balance Beam #12 – Gametag

Welcome to our latest ‘Balance Beam’ work life balance profile, brought to you by Janene Samuel from Gametag.

We are getting a great response from our readers to these profiles where we place our focus on organisations from Australia, New Zealand and around the globe who are implementing work life balance initiatives into their organisation. Our aim is to inspire you to seek greater work life balance inside and outside your business.

I hope you enjoy this latest ‘Balance Beam’ profile, and if you would like your organisation profiled on our blog we would love to hear from you. Please scroll to the end of this post for further information.

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Title: Manager

Company: Gametag

Country: Australia

State/Province: NSW

Years in business: 1 year

Number of staff including business owner: 1

Website: www.gametag.com.au and YouTube

1. What are some of the work life balance issues your organisation faces?

One of the biggest issues in relation to work life balance is attending markets which mostly occur on the weekends. This can take me away from my family and with children as young as 8 years this is something I like to keep to a minimum.

2. What work life balance initiatives do you have in your organisation, big or small?

Planning is the key here to balancing work and my/our family life. I do not attend markets when my children have engagements involving sporting or school events. My husband and children regularly come with me to markets and assist me with the promotion, demonstrating and discussing the benefits of Gametag with our customers.

3. What have been the main benefits to your organisation of these initiatives?

The greatest benefit is having my children with me while I work and watching them interact with customers during a demonstration that they are performing, executing a sale and the achievement they feel when they have “closed a deal” . My husband accompanies us on a lot of occasions which allows him to spend more time with our children.  A lot of markets have nearby parks where they have a game of soccer or just browse the markets.

4. Have there been any obstacles or issues in implementing your work life balance initiatives?

Definitely working out that balance between home and work can be tricky. There are occasions where events with my children and markets or shows do overlap.  It is then that a backup, being my husband or mother, are needed to ferry the children to events or take them out for the day.

5. Do you conduct any regular surveying or evaluation of your work life initiatives?

No as all commitments revolve around us as a family, it is easy to adjust elements of the business that do not work

6. What are some of your own personal work life balance and/or time management tips?

For me having my whole family involved has been great, which included some extended family members, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles who have contributed with great ideas and tips or they have just helped out with packing and manning markets. Gametag has given us so many laughs!

7. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy being with my family and friends, my house and garden and generally just being involved in family life.

8. Tell us about your organisation. What are the key services of your organisation and what is your target market?

I invented Gametag because my children had lost four of their expensive Nintendo DS games. I set about to stop this from happening and accidently invented Gametag. As my children started using Gametag at sporting events other mothers were asking where I purchased it.  “Blown away” by this attention and because of the demand we now manufacture, have an international patent pending and sell from our website and markets.  We have a limited number in some retail outlets as well.

Gametag needs an explanation and demonstration for our customers to fully appreciate the benefits of Gametag. I still find markets where personal service is the key and the best way to reach my target market of mothers. As mothers if we like something then we are the first to tell someone else. This is reflected in the survey on my website order form.  Facebook has played a large part in the exposure of Gametag it is usually the first choice for mothers when telling friend about a great product! And for us share our youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcy5hUlZuc4  No loose games means no lost games!

9. What is your role within the organisation?

My role is definitely team leader, coordinating markets and promoting Gametag where ever possible. I certainly take every opportunity to do this.

10. Other comments, tips or ideas?

When we decided to investigate bringing Gametag to commercialization we did a huge amount of research but were amazed that most of the answers and assistance came from people in our own circle.

I read an article by Sir Richard Branson (I think it was on facebook) where he said you have to “get out there”. He was right!Tthe more markets and shows I attend the more people I speak to the more interest in my product is generated and I can see the snow ball affect happening.[hr]

Abbie’s Comments: “What a great idea, to actually involve your family directly in the business, even children! I can see that the benefits and bonding within the family would be wonderful.”[hr]

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