A few weeks ago in this blog I was talking about the closure of several shoe chains and pointing out that if you are thinking of starting a business, whether it’s online, a market stall or in actual premises, a shoe shop might be a great business to get off the ground. Everyone needs shoes […] Read More »

Procrastination is what happens when we continuously allow low priority jobs or tasks to interfere with high priority jobs and tasks. Procrastination is what I have been doing while preparing to write this blog. It is really annoying when you are supposed to be working and you have so many things to do that you […] Read More »

Naming your business can be both stressful and fun. If you like being creative then finding just the right name for your business is part of the exciting process of starting up. On the other hand if you don’t have a creative or reflective bone in your body you’ll end up just using your initials […] Read More »

Consider the Pepsi Challenge. According to a series of blind taste-tests, Pepsi is more popular than Coca-Cola. Despite this, Coca-Cola always proves more popular than Pepsi when people are asked to choose between them. The reason for this? The power of the brand. A brand is a carefully crafted personality, designed to be memorable, attract […] Read More »

So that might be the longest title I have ever used in this blog but I wanted somehow to get a link in to bonfire night given that it’s November the 5th, however tenuous it might be. But in my mind the link is that instead of burning unwanted stock – let’s sell it for […] Read More »

I need to elicit some sympathy from you all here. I have recently been sick; in fact I am still sick. I’m not usually the type that gets poorly very easily and only suffer occasional colds and sore throats. But this time I have what is apparently generically known as ‘A Virus’. I don’t believe […] Read More »

With 60% of UK businesses starting at home , and three quarters of those keeping stock on their own premises , it’s understandable that there might be a few teething problems when it comes to storage. Figuring out what to do with a pallet of flip flops when the garage and basement are both full […] Read More »

For many people who are working in small businesses the idea of ‘giving back’ or working with ‘corporate social responsibility’ as large businesses call it, is something that comes perfectly naturally. Small businesses tend be more generous and more socially and culturally aware simply because they are such an integral part of the community and […] Read More »

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine the other day who owns a sweet seaside gift shop that sells a wide range of mid-priced gifts. She mentioned that without the cheaper pound shop lines that she offers, she would be in serious trouble some days. She has to work hard to take […] Read More »

If you are looking for ways to build your public profile you may be wondering how to do that when you don’t actually have much in the way of cash to spare. Marketing has become a complex beast over the years. There are now literally dozens of ways to get in touch with your customers […] Read More »