Meet Roy Uhl of Send Out Cards!  With a background in sales for more than 17 years, Roy started out selling security systems.  He now has a very successful Real Estate Practice and has a side business distributing Greeting Cards.  In his interview, he tells us how distributing these greeting cards has helped him stay in touch effectively with his real estate clients.

1.  Tell us about your business and the service you provide.

Send Out Cards is a personal relationship tool that makes staying in touch with friends, family, clients and prospects simple.  A web based platform allows me to choose from over 12,000 pre-made greeting cards, or I can simply upload my own pictures and create a custom card in minutes.  SOC will print the card, stuff it in an envelope, place a stamp on it and mail for less than a dollar per card.  I never touch the card.  It is simply the most cost effective way to send love and appreciation to the people in both your personal and business life.

2.  How did you decide to get started?

The key to surviving as an independent business person is growing with repeat business and referrals.  Over 13 years ago I started sending small gestures of appreciation through Thank You cards.  I would send a client, past client, or a prospect a sincere Thank You for something as simple as calling me for advice or running into them at the grocery store.  Small tokens of appreciation get noticed more than people imagine.  Over the years I have grown to enjoy a primarily referral based business that produces predictable results.  When I was introduced to the SOC system it was the simplest decison I have ever made.  It was an automatic decision as I understand the power of making people feel appreciated and Send Out Cards is the perfect tool to get it done.

3.  What kind of background or expertise do you have in your field?

I think that was best answered in the response to the previous question.  13 years of realizing the tremendous benefit of staying in touch with the people in my life.

4.  What trends do you see in your current industry?

Send Out Cards will revolutionize the Greeting Card industry.  We will someday look back and say, "Do you remember when we used to buy birthday cards at the store?"  There will always be a need to stop in and get a birthday or sympathy card on the fly as people forget and of course things happen in life that will require us to give a card instantly.  But SOC will change this industry like subscription television has change how we watch TV and Netflix has changed the way we rend DVDs.

5. What things do you find to be most demanding about your job?

There is nothing really demanding witht his business.  It does have an optional income opportunity associated with it so I attend networking events for prospecting purposes.  Sometimes these events start at 7am and require a 30 to 40 mile commute.  This is the most demanding thing and it is totally optional.  For an independent business person who just wants to use the system to benefit their existing business there really is nothing demanding at all.  As a matter of fact, this system is a life saver for a busy professional.  It makes follow up, remembering birthdays and other occasions automatic.  It's a time saver and the most cost effective way to send appreciation.

6. What do you find to be the most rewarding about your job and day to day routine?

Hitting the 'Send the Card' button is very rewarding.  But getting the phone call from someone thanking me for remembering their birthday or the home buyer who calls after receiving my Thank You card with the picture on the front of the card of them standing in front of their new home is sincerely overwhelming.  This business is the most fun I have ever had at anything work or business related.

7.  What advice would you give to someone else who is interested in starting a business like yours?

Dont' wait another minute, get started now!  SOC is the only company that has this type of service.  Anyone can have custom greeting cards printed at a print shop.  If they order a large enough quantity they can get them fairly cheap.  But they will all be the same.  SOC allows you to create a truly unique one of a kind card in minutes, one card at a time, for less than a dollar each.  It's an invaluable service and there is NO competition at all...NONE!   www.YourCardMan.com

8.  What are you most proud of as a parent-preneur?

The time with my family speaks for itself.  I spent many years as a Little League and Youth Football coach.  During the heyday I was at the field 5 to 6 days a week.  I remember a lady asking me once how I did it.  "How do you have this kind of time?" she said.  My response was, "I am self-employed and there is nothing more important to me than being here for my kid and your kid.  The relationships I forged during those years will live forever.  I am now helping many of those same kids buy their first homes as they are now in their young twenties.  It is incredible!

9.  How have you been able to manage your time between work and family?

This business doesn't require a lot of time.  I talk to people who are doing things I already do and sending cards is super simple and only takes a minute or two to create a custom card, address it and hit 'Send Card'.

10.  What has been the most effective way to promote yourself?

This business is fun and gratifying.  It simply requires networking and talking with others abot the service and the opportunity.  The follow up is done by sending a Thank You card.  That's really all there is to it.  Everybody needs the service.  I focus on independent business people like myself.  I have been enjoying the benefits of sending appreciation for a long time, so showing others how is fun and easy for me.  The Send Out Cards system is simply the best tool to do it with whether you send a dozen cards a year or a thousand cards a year.

Finally: What does your 'Milk Money' provide for you and your family?

The 'Milk Money' allows us the extra money for supporting the kids of our community through sponsorships.  We also enjoy being able to contribute to some local charities.  Although the extra income allows for many extras, it is supporting our local community that is most gratifying.