Check out our latest newsletter!
March/April 2025
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Note: Our newsletter’s cover article will spotlight a member of our team each month. For this latest edition, we’re thrilled to share a few words from one of our paralegals, Sali Bekir. Hello, and welcome to the March/April edition of the Sul Lee Law Firm newsletter! My name is Sali Bekir, and I’ve had the pleasure of serving as a paralegal at the firm since April 2024. At 25, I’m currently the youngest in-house member of our team. To be honest, my law career fell into my lap! While in college, I initially debated between law and education as potential career paths. One day, a friend helped me get an interview for a legal assistant position at the law firm she was working at in Dallas. The longer I worked there, the more fascinated I became with our work and the cases we handled. Four years later, I have no doubt I made the right decision to choose the legal profession as my home. What is a typical day for a paralegal at Sul Lee Law Firm? Well, it could be anything. Most of my work pertains to remembering things — and making sure everyone else remembers them as well. Typically, that commitment involves guaranteeing we meet deadlines, continually informing clients of the progress in their cases, and staying on top of what needs to be done. We take tremendous care to ensure we never miss deadlines for filing pleadings or responding to them. I find a lot of fulfillment and enjoyment in being asked by an attorney to research a case and investigating potential actions to address a client’s needs. I love the opportunities to go down the rabbit hole, explore possibilities, and put those findings into writing to prepare a filing. We must keep clients informed of what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and the potential outcome of those actions, and I’m honored to play such an active role in that process. Research and Rewards A Paralegal’s Perspective
value and respect one another as teammates and professionals. I appreciate every attorney’s willingness to genuinely welcome input and listen to what others share. This level of openness helps everyone work together toward a common goal. Away from work, I spend a lot of time reading. I enjoy poetry, especially the work of Audre Lorde, and “A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan is my all-time favorite book. Like many people my age, I’m big into video games. I also enjoy traveling and spending time with friends. Most recently, I visited Hot Springs, Arkansas, and I am always looking for my next destination to explore. I have very high hopes for the rest of 2025. I’ll be taking the test to get into law school around May of this year. I also look forward to continuing my work at Sul Lee Law Firm, refining my skills, and taking advantage of all the opportunities this firm offers. On behalf of my team members, thank you for your continued trust in our expertise. I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of Sul Lee Law Firm, and it is my profound honor to serve you.
-Sali Bekir
As I celebrate my first year at Sul Lee Sul Lee Law Firm, our positive, family-oriented atmosphere continues to inspire me. We all
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BUMPS, SETBACKS … AND BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD?
A Small-Business Success Snapshot
In celebration of National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day on March 29, we present this summary of the hurdles, harsh realities, and hopeful signs that define small businesses in 2025. Although the following words are bleak at times, they also point to a brighter tomorrow for anyone committed to fulfilling their American dream. Struggles in a Shifting Market Inflation has impacted virtually all American life in recent years, but few areas have been hit harder than the mom-and-pop shop sector. In a November 2023 report by Yahoo! Finance, approximately 80% of small businesses revealed an expense increase of 6% or higher. Additionally, the 2023 Q3 Small Business Index report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce noted that 56% of respondents reported increased challenges in offering compensation that kept pace with employees’ expectations. Loss-Leaders and Clever E-Commerce In addition to attracting consumers through their size and strong branding, major chain stores often outperform smaller businesses by offering “loss-leaders” — items and services sold with drastically reduced profit margins or even at considerable losses. Although the practice may seem counterintuitive, businesses that engage in loss-leading believe consumers will purchase additional items at full price once special deals lure them in. Fortunately, many small businesses are succeeding in outpacing their loss-leading competition by offering customers the
When you think of your customer’s buying journey, do you envision it from start to finish, or do you just focus on the result: the sale? While that end goal is crucial, your marketing strategy needs to get them there. To nurture your customers through the checkout process, you have to put yourself in their shoes and develop your marketing strategy from their perspective from start to finish — an approach called customer-centric marketing. What is customer-centric marketing? Remember, you know your product/service is impressive, but it’s your job to convince potential buyers. The bottom line of customer-centric marketing is to understand the following areas on the buyer journey: • Why does a customer need your product/service? • How will the product/service meet their needs? • Can customers see themselves using your product/ service? Is it relatable? So, how can you discover the answers and tap into your customers’ shopping behaviors? Meet your customers where they are and interact with them! According to a 2023 Sprout Social Index Report, 53% of consumers have increased their social media usage since the pandemic. Those same consumers also desire stronger engagement from the brands they follow or support. They want your help! How can customer-centric marketing benefit your business? Putting customers at the center of your marketing strategy requires dedication from your entire team. Your customers respond to techniques that appeal to emotions, that invite reactions, and thus interactions. This engagement helps Adopting the Customer- Centric Mindset Why Putting Customers First Is the Key to Growth
convenience of purchasing goods in the comfort of their homes. The pandemic spurred many independent businesses to establish online stores via Shopify and other portals, allowing them to maintain sales when brick-and- mortar transactions were out of the question. According to the New York-based web design firm Digital Silk, 71% of small-business owners credit digitalization for saving their businesses during COVID-19. Hope and New Horizons Although small businesses have faced considerable
challenges in recent years, data from the Wall Street Journal/ Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index point to an increasingly positive perspective among mom-and-pop store operators. According to an Index report released in January, 54% of small-business owners predict improvements to the U.S. economy over the next year — a 22% increase from October 2024. Additionally, 76% percent anticipate experiencing increased revenue in the same 12-month period. While the journey toward such optimism has been treacherous for many, 2025 may be the most profitable year for small businesses this decade.
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THE LONE STAR SHIFT BUSINESS CONVERSION STRATEGIES IN TEXAS
If you’re a business owner looking to tap into exceptional economic opportunities, few wells are deeper than Texas. In addition to boasting the eighth-largest economy in the world, the Lone Star State prides itself on providing a business- friendly environment free from personal or corporate income tax. Unsurprisingly, businesses from other states often decide to set up shop here, allowing them to take full advantage of our strong growth opportunities and various financial incentives. Moving a business entity to Texas from another state is known as conversion — and businesses can embrace a host of options to make this goal a successful reality. There are two primary ways to reestablish an out-of-state business in Texas. The first option is to transfer your existing business from another state to ours fully. It provides several benefits, including keeping your existing employer identification number (EIN) and certain licensing and credentials critical to your operations. This option is
also helpful for maintaining continuity with your overall business structure and current client accounts, particularly if you’re a product or service provider for a major corporation, such as an automobile manufacturer. The second option is to create an entirely new company and sell your existing out- of-state business to that entity. This option is helpful for businesses looking to make a fresh start in a new state because it usually eliminates any liabilities associated with the previous entity. While this article provides a few basics of business conversion in Texas, no two businesses are alike, and yours may have unique circumstances that are not covered here. For a more extensive explanation of how to convert your enterprise to a Texas mainstay — along with guidance on complying with state laws and avoiding common bookkeeping and organizational issues — please contact us at 469-715-4558 to schedule a personalized consultation.
WORD SEARCH
Homemade Shamrock Shakes
INGREDIENTS
Milkshake •
Toppings •
1 pint vanilla ice cream 2/3 cup whole milk 1/2 tsp peppermint extract 8 drops liquid or 4 drops gel green food coloring
Whipped cream Green sprinkles
• • •
• •
2 maraschino cherries
DIRECTIONS
1. Put 2 tall drinking glasses into the freezer to chill. 2. Allow ice cream to slightly soften for 10–15 minutes. 3. In a blender, add milk, peppermint extract, green food coloring, and softened vanilla ice cream. 4. Blend on lowest setting and work up to medium speed for 1 minute or until smooth and pourable. 5. Pour evenly into frosted glasses, and top with garnish of your choice. Serve immediately.
Aquamarine Basketball Bluebird Clover
Green Ides Leprechaun Madness
Pisces Spring Tangerine Tulip
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Inspired by TheKitchn.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
3030 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Ste. 220 Dallas, TX 75234
INSIDE THIS ISSUE A Team Member’s Trek page 1 A Mom-and-Pop Shop Scorecard page 2 Get to Know Your Customers page 2 Steps to a Masterful Move page 3 Homemade Shamrock Shakes page 3
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nurture a relationship that gives you more information about what customers want and helps them gain trust in what you offer. Be prepared to put in the work on the front end, and understand that your strategy must adapt and adjust as your customers grow and shopping needs change. These investments in your business will yield impressive benefits. Utilizing Customer Feedback to Improve and Grow Focusing your marketing strategy on customers makes it easier to promote tailored products that respond to customer needs. Let’s say you’re promoting a potential product on social media and ask followers for feedback based solely on what they see. A few months later, you present a new and improved product based on their feedback. You’ve made your brand stand out in your followers’ minds, created new followers, and allowed them to contribute while feeling heard and seen. Likewise, we are in the era of the “informed shopper,” meaning social media is the top channel for product discovery. However, before customers commit to a particular purchase, they check existing customers’ reviews, comments, and testimonials, making customer interactions paramount. Even with negative feedback, customers are looking for how you responded. If they see you put forth no effort to make things right, they’ll be less likely to engage with your brand or products/services.
Creating Loyal Customers Who Trust Your Products Loyal customers are your biggest advocates and will continually choose you over competitors. Once you acquire new customers, it’s time to build those connections to create loyalty by reflecting their needs and values in your marketing campaigns. Customers who love a product or service stand by it and will tell everyone why they love it so much — and will do this without you asking. Word-of-mouth is one of the best compliments a customer can give — and one of the most lucrative.
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