5 Ways to Increase Footfall in ANY Shop
Paying customers is what keeps any business or shop afloat; the more you have, the better. However, there are several stages in the process of a purchase decision and one is getting people through the doors. Once in, you can use a variety of appealing offers and marketing tools, such as posters, desktop roller banners…
Read More3 Ways to Become Better at Managing People
Managing people is no easy task. But no matter what business you’re in, you’re going to be working with people, and effectively managing them is critical to the success of your business. In over 10 years of being in business, I have had to do my own hiring, coaching and firing. In the process, I…
Read More5 Secrets of Employee Retention for Small Business
Great employees are the lifeblood of any small business. However, as the job market accelerates, even happy workers may be tempted to explore whether the grass is greener at another company. Losing employees is a concern for most small businesses, not least because of the cost: a study from the Center for American Progress estimated…
Read MoreThe Lion and the Ant: A Managerial Lesson
This story has been making the rounds lately, and I confess that our research cannot find the source. So, with thanks to whomever created this great little parable, here it is: “Every day, a small Ant arrived at work early and started work immediately, she produced a lot and she was happy. The boss, a…
Read MoreHow to Hire the Right Employees for Your Business
In today’s post-recession economic climate, many companies are growing and on the hunt for new talent. This is obviously great news. However, for some small and medium-sized enterprises, hiring staff can be fraught with difficulty. Employees are an expensive asset and choosing the wrong person can end up costing you more than it generates in…
Read MoreBusiness Plans are Always Wrong
Yes, I admit; I’ve used “business plans are always wrong” a few times in slides, blog posts, and even in both of my two latest books. It’s an important concept. Way too many people misunderstand the point of business planning and assume that because we can’t predict the future, we shouldn’t plan. Which prompts me…
Read More6 Places to Find the Right Investor for Your Startup
One of the biggest myths I have found in the entrepreneur community is that every startup needs one or more outside investors for credibility and success, and perhaps is even entitled to at least one. They don’t realize that according to statistics from Startup.co, almost 60 percent are funded with personal savings and credit, and another…
Read More10 Questions to Ask the Franchisor Before Signing on the Dotted Line
Buying a franchise is a major investment financially, emotionally and physically. There is a lot that goes into making your new business a success. By defining expectations up front, you can ease the transition into franchise ownership. To do this, you need some answers. Here are the top 10 questions to ask the franchisor before…
Read More5 Tools to Enhance Your Customer Experience
Customer experience comes as a by-product of customer service. The best customer experiences will be the sum of the quality interactions between the customer and the company. Every organization should have the answer to this basic question: “Do we have happy customers”? If the answer is no, then we should be using technology to create…
Read MoreEverything You Need to Know About Expense Reimbursement
Travel, dining, mileage, office supplies and other costs that employees incur as part of their jobs are all considered business expenses. That seems straightforward enough. What’s not so clear-cut is the process of reimbursing business expenses. If you’re in the process of establishing or revamping your company expense practices and procedures, the following is a…
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