Columns, blogs and opinion from some of the UKs leading business opinion makers and entrepreneurs and small business owners
I’m the kind of guy who thinks that if you don’t try to initiate or bring about change, then don’t feel you can sit on the sidelines and complain about what happens as a result, so when the opportunity came to be considered for the upcoming Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership board I threw my hat into the ring.
As a business starts to grow, it’s crucial that your actions don’t strangle it in its infancy. One of the most common mistakes is Doing Too Much Yourself.
This column, number one in a series of seven, looks at this first mistake and offers some advice.
I left the BSI building in Westminster, not so much as a skip in my step, but with a slightly more positive outlook for the coming year and our coalition government than I had carried with me on an early train from Leeds that morning.
So, you have moved your organisation over to the cloud – your sales and service are working great and the business collaboration tools have really enhanced the way you communicate. But to give your business a real advantage and make it operate in the exact way that you want to, you probably have ideas for bespoke business apps.
A Suit That Fits’ customers are at the heart of our business – we always strive to constantly improve our product and service for them and their needs. We truly believe that every suit lover should have a fantastic experience and own a suit that they really love.
If you want to get this year off to a bang and are planning to invest in a direct marketing campaign, then think very very carefully about this. You should try not to settle for what you used to do, and instead look at exploring more innovative ways of reaching your audience in this new year.
I’ve lost count of the amount of times someone has called another person ‘lucky’. And that situation happens just as much in sales, as it does in other aspects of life!
I applaud the choice of Ed Balls as Shadow Chancellor. Ed Miliband should be commended for his unselfish decision to promote the unelectable and therefore ensure the Coalition’s success.
For those forward-thinking SMEs already reaping the rewards from moving their sales and service to the cloud, the next stage is to build in real-time business collaboration. Time is a premium for most SMEs, particularly in today’s highly competitive business environment it can be difficult for management to stay in touch with employees and ensure they are kept informed of all the latest company or market developments.
There is a worrying tendency that has developed over the years for a level of ‘being promoted to the level of your incompetence’ to become ever more widespread. We’re taking a look at public and motivational speakers and wondering what qualifies us for the title.
Sales expert Andy Preston gives his tips for what your sales teams should be planning for the New Year.
Customer service is a crucial way to differentiate your business and increase its robustness to weather out the current economic uncertainties. Rather than just examining best practice, examine and learn from any examples of poor customer service you experience yourself to stimulate improvements in your own business.
How long are yours? Four pages? More? But what do you do when you get them from prospective suppliers? I’ll bet that 99 per cent of you, like me, turn to the back page, look at the price, and then make a decision whether to bother reading the rest of it.
The typical strains associated with the run up to Christmas highlight what can happen when one gets overloaded. The challenge is – how best to handle it? Top Tips and some real life examples of people who have handled some exceptional “crushes”!
Since the coalition announced the need for a VAT rise I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen that it’s the right move. However, I think the rise should be deferred for a few weeks to counteract the disruption to the economy caused by the extreme winter weather.
Need data that holds up in the boardroom — and the press? Trends Research is the UK's specialist SME research company, with a 750,000-strong panel and a 2,000-response minimum on every survey. AI-augmented analysis, headline-ready insights, and 38 years of trust built through Business Matters magazine. Trusted by Vodafone, BT, O2 and top UK PR agencies. From brief to deliverable in 10 working days — or 3 for press-led work. Request a quote today at https://trendsresearch.co.uk/
