To Grow Your Business, Get Next to Your Banker
To Grow Your Business, Get Next to Your Banker Many things are important to nurturing your business, growing it, and reaching the next level – whether it’s larger quarters, bigger staff, or even adding new locations. Of course, you need a sound business plan, a professional management team and a good customer base. But you
Finding Mr./Ms. Right: Staff, Rather Than Location, Will Build or Break Your Business
Finding Mr./Ms. Right Staff, Rather Than Location, Will Build or Break Your Business No. Location, Location, Location are not the three most important factors in retailing success. Instead, they are Staff, Staff, Staff. The smaller your tire dealership, the more important each person becomes. Just one bad apple in a staff of, say, three can
Dream II: The Branch
DREAM II: THE BRANCH Deciding If, When and How For That Second Location Like most entrepreneurs, you probably went into business to fulfill a dream of owning your own place and being your own boss. If your operation is successful, then chances are you’ve thought of opening a second location – a sequel to the
Advertising: Standing Out in the Crowd Takes Planning, Savvy and Control
ADVERTISING: Standing Out in the Crowd Takes Planning, Savvy and Control Waste begins when you are "sold" advertising instead of "buying" it. Then your program is not really "programmed" but, instead, is the result of successful sales calls made by eager media representatives. Getting your ad dollars to produce more takes sound budgeting, astute buying
Keeping It All In The Family: A ‘Well-Run’ Family Business is Not a Contradiction
Keeping It All In The Family A ‘well-run’ family business is not necessarily a contradiction in terms. There have been many cases of successful family companies, and there will be many more to come. But having family aboard can be both a help or a hurt, depending on how things are handled. Family ties are
Strategy For Returns
If you are like most business people, you’ll be going to at least one convention and/or trade show in the next year. At last count there were more than 12,600 conventions each year, attracting 13.5 million attendees and spouses to 300 convention centers around the country.
Make or Break: Smart Pricing Strategy Can Keep You Humming Long-Term
Make or Break Smart Pricing Strategy Can Keep You Humming Long-Term How important is pricing to retailing success and how tricky is it? Answers: Very and very. The evidence rests with the story of two retailing giants – Wal-Mart and Sears. Wal-Mart built its success on "everyday low prices" rather than sales, and now is
Get More ‘Sell’: Prepared and Creative Sales Team Can Conquer Objections and Add Sales
Get More ‘Sell’ Prepared and Creative Sales Team Can Conquer Objections and Add Sales You probably spend plenty of effort and money on advertising, signage, business location and inventory breadth. All this is designed to attract prospects. So everyone coming through your door represents an investment, and those walking back out without buying is an
In the Line of ‘Fire’: Preparation is the Key When It’s Time to Cut the Cord
In the Line of ‘Fire’ Preparation is the Key When It’s Time to Cut the CordPerhaps you can fire any employee "at will," as the legal saying goes. And you may make it stick despite a lawsuit. But who wants an expensive lawsuit where legal costs mean you lose even when you win? Even as
It Takes a Thief: One in Three Steal -Detecting and Preventing Employee Theft
It Takes a Thief One in Three Steal –Detecting and Preventing Employee Theft One of three workers steals from an employer and such sleight-of-hand costs businesses more than $50 billion a year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Don’t think it’s a problem in the tire biz? Just last month an ex-store manager for