Business Development

Many small businesses are reacting to the recession by “battening down the hatches”, cutting budgets and laying off staff while they wait for the market to turn round and get back to normal. This is a risky strategy that many will simply not survive.

The skeleton crew left may not have the capacity to deal with revenue growth in a rebounding market. The lost skills may be difficult to replace by a burst of re-hiring or outsourcing. Economist John Maynard Keynes long ago called the unfortunate “knee-jerk” response of senior managers to cut jobs and costs across-the-board as the "paradox of thrift". This short-term tactic is undoubtedly fuelling the recession and driving to its current depths.

Even if this is disturbingly familiar, you needn’t become a “hostage to fortune” just yet! Economic downturns are actually the best time to rethink your business strategy and gain a big advantage over your competitors. It seems counter-intuitive, but recessions offer invaluable chances to grow your business, solidify relationships with suppliers and customers, strengthen the talent pool in your organization, and gain lasting market share. As Warren Buffett once said, “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful.”

Markets seldom come out of recession looking the same as they were before - and neither should your operation. You can take control of how your money is being put to work by focusing it where it will make the most telling difference. Rather than hacking away at costs indiscriminately, your objective should be to organise for efficiency so that you can trim costs intelligently. This will release cash that you can spend wisely elsewhere.

Creating the Difference that Makes the Difference

How can your business out-perform your competitors? What are the essential differences between how you operate compared to the competition that can make a difference to your bottom line? Well, you can:

• out-market the competition -

Most small businesses have no effective marketing strategy. So if you take the trouble to develop a marketing blueprint for your business, you are set fair to leapfrog the competition!

• run leaner & more efficient operational & business processes -

Inefficient, disorganised, ad hoc processes generate "red tape", pour money down the drain, hurt the customer, and your bottom line suffers.

• deliver superior customer service -

Superior customer service will keep your customers coming back to and ensure that they don't turn to your competitors. It's a behaviour instilled from focusing on customer value in order to operate more efficient and from an intimate understanding of who your customers are (demographics) and how they think (psychographics), both essential elements of your marketing blueprint.

• look after the finances better -

Having the proper finacial indicators in place to monitor your business performance and control budets and expenditure is, again, an area in which small business often fall down. Looking after finances is not an area I can help with directly - but I know a man who can!

Click here to find out what I CAN help with...

• Making Your Marketing More Productive
• Designing Your Business System
• Establishing Your Target Operating Model
• Optimizing Your Business & Operational Processes

You will NOT be charged until I understand the scope and nature of your problems and we have agreed a set of objectives, an outline programme and a start point.

Call 01933 396891 NOW to explore the opportunities for YOUR business!

For more details about how I can help you to build a more productive, more profitable business, call Alan Jackson on 01933 396891, 07899 954016 or email Alan.Jackson@bureau4betterbusiness.co.uk,
Rushden, Northamptonshire, UK