Business ideas are like freshly buttered warm toast, they look wonderful. But if put to one side for long enough they get cold, stale and uninviting. The first surge of excitement at discovering an opportunity needs to then have action to build a momentum, which in turn drives further action. If the initial process of [...]

Small businesses can have great products and services but struggle to get sufficient customers to allow them to expand. Often this is because the owners of the business are too busy dealing with day to day activities to have time to plan or initiate the marketing activity. Yet it need not be an overly arduous [...]

Unless you are running a business that must have a high street store, many Start-ups begin in a bedroom or garage and as they grow expand into larger more business specific accommodation. However can you really engage with customers if you are working from home? It depends on the type of business, much can be [...]

You don’t know when you might bump into or be talking to a useful contact, business partner or even potential Investor. This first conversation is your best chance to impress and could determine whether you get a second more detailed conversation or meeting. So grab the chance to explain your business, or idea, in a [...]

 Whether you’re writing a business plan, or simply want to make sure that your business has customers, you are going to need a sales plan and a marketing plan. Yes need. Not optional, not nice to have – need. First let’s get over the instinctive dread of the word plan. It doesn’t have to mean [...]

In a previous work life, I used to give presentations on technology and as a way of lightening the tone of what could be a heavy session, I showed a cartoon. The caption read “In a moment of inspiration Dave the repairman connected the air-conditioner to the Internet”. Now, what’s funny about that you may [...]

In talking to entrepreneurs the subject of business plans often comes up. While some have excellent plans, others haven’t and feel that business plans are a complete waste of time and just there to line the pockets of consultants. I think the issue is that the phrase “business plan” has become over used and lost [...]

The way people shop has changed rapidly over the last few years. On-line shopping is booming and consumers are using the internet to research and shop for products more than ever before. But despite this massive shift in how consumers behave, many small retail businesses resist the move towards ecommerce. This happens for a variety [...]

“I’ve got a great idea; it will make millions, guaranteed. I haven’t got the time myself to pursue it, so I’m looking for someone to take it on. Maybe I could licence the idea, or sell it. I don’t actually want much, I just want to see it made. “No, I haven’t got round to [...]

After writing the title of this piece I thought what more can I say? That’s it isn’t it? Provide a better service than your competitors and you will win business. But maybe it’s worth thinking about this a bit deeper. No one actually sets out to deliberately provide a bad service and does it really [...]