To say that the markets have been turbulent in 2008 would be a complete understatement and the prospects for 2009 seem much the same. My prognosis is that while the markets may drop further, though providing a three to five year horizon is anticipated, this will look a good time to invest in hindsight.
Year: 2009
Do Customer’s Respond the way you would Like?
What happens when you ask for directions? You interrupt someone, stopping them from going about their business, yet people are rarely rude. This is because of the way we ask. We will normally say, ‘Excuse Me’ in a slightly deferential way. We continue, ‘I wonder if you can help me? Could you tell me where Bromley Place is?’
What do you really sell?
Many people in commerce are familiar with the idea of a “USP” or “Unique Selling Proposition”, that is, a benefit which is unique to your product or service that will attract new customers. Of course coming up with a “USP”, in today’s market place, is not easy when the competition is so fierce.
How to get the most from your sales staff in difficult times
When economic conditions are hard, leading a sales force can seem like the most difficult job in the world. One of the main ingredients to achieving outstanding results is to ensure the team is motivated. The key to motivation is recognition. Ultimately, everyone wants to be appreciated and their hard work acknowledged.
How to survive in 2009
With the recession predicted to last for the whole of 2009, many of us will come back to the office in the New Year, with some trepidation. However, with the right mechanisms in place, it will still be possible to find the opportunities that are out there and prosper.
Choose the ‘write’ route
If you’re going on a long journey, there may be many ways of reaching your final destination (both in terms of the route chosen and the method of transport). Your ultimate choice may depend upon factors such as speed, cost and convenience.
Similarly, there are many ways of promoting awareness of your company and/or its products and services. The one you choose will depend upon factors such as:
Motoring Review: Ford Fiesta
The 1970’s saw rising demand from European consumers for smaller vehicles now known as superminis. Ford answered this with the Fiesta in 1976. It was an instant success, with the millionth Fiesta produced 3 years later in 1979. Now after 33 years, over 10 million sales, the MK7 Fiesta remains one of Ford’s most popular cars. Dean Woodward takes one for a spin for us at Business Matters
New dragons unveiled for online version
The BBC have revealed that entrepreneur Julie Meyer is one of the new panellists for the recently unveiled online version of Dragons’ Den.
The web version of the hit television show will begin its weekly broadcast on the 30th of March, where aspiring entrepreneurs will have the chance to secure up to £50,000 worth of investment.
25 common characteristics of successful home working entrepreneurs
Regardless of your definition of success, there are, oddly enough, a great number of common characteristics that are shared by successful businesspeople. You can place a tick beside each characteristic that you feel that you possess. This way, you can see how you stack up. Even if you don’t have all of these characteristics, don’t fret. Most can be learned with practice and by developing a winning attitude, especially if you set goals and apply yourself, through strategic planning, to reach those goals in incremental and measurable stages.
Finalists of the Enterprising Young Brits Awards 2009 revealed
The finalists of the 2009 Make Your Mark Enterprising Young Brits Awards have been named and must now pitch to a panel of judges including successful entrepreneurs and representatives from HM Treasury and the Institute of Directors (IoD), but now YOU the public have the chance to help them on their way to success.
Enter this year’s Small Business Excellence Awards
Dell and the British Chambers of Commerce are looking for entries for their global 2009 Dell Small Business Excellence Awards. It’s only the second year that the UK has been an entrant, but in the first year UK business Wiggly Wigglers went on to win the global prize of £25,000 worth of IT equipment.
The UK winner will also receive a business class notebook and some personal tips on surviving the recession from Michael Dell, the entrepreneur who built Dell from his university dorm room into the global business Dell is today.
Peer1 offers £1,000 ‘Foxtrot-Oscar’ bonus to new recruits
Peer1, the multi-million dollar global managed hosting company is aggressively hiring to staff its new European HQ based in Southampton, UK, but the company is only interested in the very best technical, sales and customer service talent – and is prepared to pay off new recruits who don’t make the grade.
The £1,000 ‘Foxtrot Oscar’ bonus is designed to ensure that Peer1 only employs people who are fully committed to delivering outstanding customer service. The bonus will be paid to any successful new employees who want to give up their job within the first two weeks.
Even The Apprentice is feeling the recession
BBC’s hit business reality show The Apprentice has not escaped the recession – its budget has been hit, the overseas episode axed and contestants will instead undertake several “buy British” challenges, Sir Alan Sugar announced at the recent launch for the new series.
The traditional mention of Sugar’s wealth has also been omitted from the opening credits of the fifth series, which begins next week, although the winning apprentice will still secure a six-figure salary.
The Apprentices 2009 unveiled
The identities of the fifteen contestants taking part in this year’s Apprentice have been revealed.
Eight females and seven males will compete for a job working with multi-millionaire Sir Alan Sugar in the business-based reality show. The series kicks off on March 25 on BBC One.
This year’s hopefuls include a city stockbroker, a teacher, an award-winning restaurant owner and an ex-professional footballer.
Make working from home…work
Working from home has been a growing trend over the past five years. Now, with people taking redundancy payments and turning their backs on corporate life, it’s set to become even bigger. But before you take the plunge, consider the pros and cons in order to avoid the pitfalls.
“Don’t you watch TV all the time? Or sleep in?” are the two most frequent questions IT entrepreneur Katherine Mellon* gets asked when she reveals she works from home. They’re also the most common misconceptions about this increasingly popular way of working.
