There is so much negativity in the world. We are bombarded daily with stories and images that reflect the pain and suffering occurring all over the globe. It is easy to start to believe that things were better back in the "good old days" and that there isn't much hope for the future of our planet. I suspect that if you truly remember the "good old days" you would know that everything wasn't sunshine and roses back then. I also believe that there will be a time when others will refer to today as "good old days" as well. It truly is all a matter of perspective. When we think about simpler times we focus on small town life, everyone knowing their neighbors and never locking their front doors. We forget that this generation also survived World War I and the struggle for civil rights. When we focus on the positive, things seem better. In today's post we're going to be sharing some positivity to help your small business, including our simple small business inventory solution.
- Congratulate yourself because you are in business. The statistics are all over the place but one thing is certain, not all small businesses survive. If you're still in business after 6 months, a year, or longer you should be proud. Yes, there are challenges to owning your own business but you are beating the odds and succeeding.
- Remember why you started your business in the first place. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks and focusing on turning a profit. If you forget why you wanted to own your own business to begin with you risk your dream turning into just another job. You need to keep your passion for your business if you want to continue to grow and succeed.
- Look for ways to give back. Often the struggle to keep your business afloat makes you want to hold on to every dollar that you make. Giving back and supporting your community can really pay off in the long run though. Not only does it get your name out there in a positive way it can generate goodwill that you just can't buy with standard marketing. Spending a little, even if you feel like you can't afford it, can pay big dividends later.
- Focus on your employees. You really are in this together. They depend on your business for a paycheck, you depend on them to be the face of your company and to help it succeed and grow. Talk to your employees and really listen to their feedback. Let them know that you value and appreciate their service and they should return the respect by showing up on time, and giving 100% when they are at work. The little things really do make a big difference.
- Know your customers. Get to know your customers. Find out what brought them in to your business and what keeps them coming back. This is your competitive advantage. This may be the bread and butter of your success and it may not even be what you expect. Gather customer feedback so that you know what is most important to them and can keep finding new ways to provide this. The economy will go up and down but if you know your strengths you may be able to weather the storm better than your competition. Knowing what matters most to your customers will also allow you to target sales and promotions to their tastes to get the biggest bang for your buck. Don't just use survey tools to gather feedback either. Encourage your employees to talk to customers and share any insight they gain as well. Often casual conversation is the best way to get a true picture of what brings your customers back time and time again.
Our Simple Small Business Inventory Solution Is Always Good News
There will always be good and bad things going on in the world. The key to staying positive is to focus more on the good. Need some good news when it comes to dealing with inventory issues? Try Stockpile today! You'll be amazed by how easy it is to implement. Stockpile is the simple small business inventory management solution you need to handle all your inventory.
