30 Jun
Continuing To Climb Out Of Crisis
Posted in News, Promotional Products on 30.06.10 by John Meloche
In yesterday's blog, we discussed some of the ways that small business owners can overcome the hardships they faced during the recent global financial crisis to succeed in the post-recession era. With the help of Paul Spiegelman, who offered his tips on Entrepreneur.com, we touched upon a variety of strategies that may prove very helpful if implemented correctly.
Picking up where we left off, Spiegelman also suggests that company owners do their best to maintain a fun environment. It's easy to get frustrated when times are tough. But a negative attitude is contagious and can only have adverse effects on your staff and inevitably, your customer base.
Instead, to boost employee satisfaction, and ultimately their job performance, owners should continue to sponsor work parties and other events to keep the atmosphere lively. This will encourage and foster a happy working environment and motivate your staff to strive for greater results. As Spiegelman writes, ?A consistent culture will encourage your staff to provide consistent service to your customers.?
He also insists that you ?celebrate being small?. Be thankful that you own a smaller firm and, as a result, do not have to worry about being bogged down by ?mulitple management layers and overlapping operating units or debt?. By contrast, smaller business owners are able to make decisions more quickly, allowing them to focus more on taking advantage of new opportunities.
?Don't leave room for doubt,? encourages Spiegelman. It is important to maintain strong relationships with your customers. So don't allow openings for your competitors to weasel their way into your clients' pockets!
Writes Spiegelman: ?Competitors will take advantage of any opening, and they will be more aggressive in making promises during the recession, even if it means filling in your silence with a few tales of their own.?
And while we at Synergy continue to advocate the practice of giving your customers promotional gifts, Spiegelman reminds business owners not to donate their products and services. A pen, knife, mouse pad, mug or keychain is a great gift to give away. Your company's product or service, however, should be worth charging for.
You may want to offer discounts on products, but remember that it will be difficult to charge for products in the future if you have given them away for free in the past. Getting over the recession is not impossible. It just takes a great deal of effort. Be confident, however, that all of your hard work will pay off in the long run and success may come quicker than you think.
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