In the last week I’ve been talking to a number of businesses in different parts of the UK. All are experiencing a marked slow down in business and all expect it to be a tough year. The same question kept coming up ‘What can we do to improve things?’
There’s often a knee jerk reaction to cut prices but my view is that it’s not just about that. Prices need to be at a level that sustain your business but offer a fair deal to your customers. In the retail market some of the most successful brands are not the cheapest. Instead they offer quality, value and style – an extra element that is aspirational or inspirational – the compelling emotive factor that seals the deal.
When we’re crazily busy it is easy to keep the tread-mill turning at speed and lose sight of what’s going on around us. When things are quieter it can give us an opportunity to make improvements to our offering, to revisit technology, refresh marketing collateral, improve systems, introduce greater efficiencies. More importantly it gives mental space to generate exciting ideas, to think creatively and develop something new.
Examine your thoughts. Are you coming from a point of fear or determination? Defeat or optimism? Gloom or excitement? Bear in mind that your words and actions will be affected by your attitude. We have only so many hours in a business day and a choice to use our minds to be creative and look for solutions or to be eaten up by stress. If you feel you’ve got no reason to be positive, you can at least be determined. Focusing on making each hour of your business day count is satisfying and brings results. With a bit more breathing space, the right state of mind, an injection of energy and new ideas, you could soon find it is a very vital time for your business. And although you may be lucky and turn your fortunes around overnight the chances are it will be more a question of hard work and tenacity that wins through. Just get on with it and finish the end of each day knowing that you have done your best and more.
Remember current clients or customers deserve to be cherished. As a business’s life-blood they are VIPs and top priority. Some of the most successful businesses in the world have had their finest hours following their greatest challenges. My father once gave me some great advice ‘this time will pass’ … and he was right. Obi Media can refresh your look, develop your standing online, create a new website, refresh your brand, design new brochures, stationery and more.