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Business Growth 2
Doing Business on the Tilt-a-Whirl
By Ellen
Huxtable
Advantage Business Concepts
ellen@advantage-biz.com
Are the ups and
downs, the spins and stalls of the economy making you dizzy? Does
the future look like an unpredictable blur? Are you getting nervous
and just a little bit queasy? How do you brace yourself when you
dont know which way things will spin?
Welcome to
Business on the Tilt-a-Whirl.
Businesses of
every size are scrambling to adjust downsizing, right-sizing,
offering new products, cutting product lines, offering new
promotions. The flurry of activity makes Chicken Little look like
the Rock of Gibraltar. Activity is good; we need to adapt to
change, and the current economy certainly is a change. Unfocused
activity, however, can be deadly. So how do we do business on the
Tilt-a-Whirl?
First, the
basics are the basics. Customer service and courtesy have never
been more important. Going the extra step, with a genuine smile, is
mandatory. No one has to tolerate indifferent, abrupt or arrogant
service, and no one will.
Know your
costs and price strategically. Know your fixed and variable costs
and the contribution margin per item. Know what impact a special
promotion will have, and how much business the promotion has to
bring in for it to be worthwhile.
Analyze your
customers. Know who is coming in, and why, and who no longer comes
in, and why. Know if sales per customer are stable or declining.
Use this information to target promotions that will have the best
impact to your bottom line.
Look at your
operations now. Evaluate who you have, what you have, and how you
can maximize your products and services. Old processes and flows
might be disrupted, but there are always opportunities for
innovation. Give value. Think out of the box!
Do the right
thing. Take the opportunity to reach out to your community. Were
all on the Tilt-a-Whirl together, and some individuals, businesses
and charitable organizations are having a rougher ride than others.
Reach out and lend a hand.
Times of change
are times of opportunity. Structured innovation and working smarter
can strengthen your company to survive and thrive. Smaller
businesses can move quickly, respond to change and out-maneuver
larger competitors. Focus on the future and take advantage of the
opportunity to do Business on the Tilt-a-Whirl!
Ellen Huxtable
helps business owners boost profitability, manage change and make
the most of what they have. Contact her at
ellen@advantage-biz.com.
Zuk-Lloyd Associates, Inc. Creative writing and art solutions.
We help
clients increase sales by turning ordinary business information into
extraordinary stories.
Contact:
Paul R. Lloyd
630-393-6516
info@zuklloyd.com
www.zuklloyd.com
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