Monthly Archives: January 2018

As a budding entrepreneur, you�ll always be looking for new business ventures, to raise more revenue, to develop and sell more products and services. But, are you keeping up in the online marketplace? It�s where many people are headed, particularly retail consumers. Here are some reasons why you should take e-commerce seriously � and how you can up your online game.

Online trading is thriving

E-commerce is a booming business, and appears to be going from strength to strength. Take the US, for example. In 2016, online sales of physical goods totalled more than 360 billion dollars and, in 2021, are expected to exceed 600 billion dollars, according to statistics. So, you can see that online is the place to be for many businesses � and a whole range of them, offering everything from clothing and furniture to holidays and insurance.

Reach more customers

Trading online is a real plus in the sense that it can help your business widen its client base, worldwide. And you don�t need expensive shop fronts in towns and cities. Your website is your shop front. Busy people want to buy online, you already have a willing audience. And it�s not always through a traditional website that sales come, it�s through apps and other online platforms too.

By having an online presence, you can connect with customers much more easily. Search engines will hopefully pick up on keywords across your online platforms as potential clients hunt for products and services, taking your business right in front of their eyes. If you haven�t already, make sure you get your website the SEO treatment, or search engine optimization � so that it does stand out in the crowded online market.

When you reach more customers, your company workload is going to grow � lots more processing will be needed, from finance systems to delivery. You may also have to take on more staff. If you need help managing your infrastructure systems, you could hire in JDE support to ease the load.

Design to impress

When trading online, you need to make sure that your website looks the business, is easy to navigate and reliable. Your products and services need to be clearly illustrated and, if you�re featuring a shopping facility, customers need a smooth experience from selection to sale.

Think about including some striking images and videos on your website to bring the products and services alive. Remember, your website is your shop window � dress it to impress!

And don�t just stop at a website. Make sure it�s mobile-friendly and think about getting an app up and running � so that you can reach people on the go. That could open-up your market even further.

Shout it all from social media too! Have your business represented across all the main social media platforms, build followers � and link to your website and other online sales facilities.

Don�t shirk on customer service

If you�re trading online, it doesn�t mean that you don�t have to put much effort into customer service. It�s equally as important as having a physical store. Customers need to know you care about their online experience and that you will deliver goods in the way they expect. Think about rewarding your loyal clients through online promotions. But there should also be promotions and incentives more widely across your platforms, to bring in more customers – and more sales!

As the owner of a retail business, you are always going to be at risk from customers suffering accidents in your stores. No matter how safe you try to make your retail units, there can still be accidents that need to be investigated. However, the safer you can keep your stores, the less likely accidents will occur. Here are some helpful tips to getting your stores as safe as possible.

Having Good Insurance

Because no-where is totally safe, you should be prepared for an incident by having the right type of insurance. No matter its size, every company should have general liability insurance so that they can deal with any accident claims. It also helps to cover the cost of any attorney fees and settlement. If you work out of your home, you should also need this type of insurance if you ever have customers coming to your property.

Making Your Stores Safe

The best way to prevent accidents and keep your customers safe is to ensure your stores are as safe as possible. It is something that all of your employees should be aware of, and something that they should all help to achieve. It is a good idea when looking at new store possibilities that you check for any possible dangers that might exist. For example, if the outside of the store is old and pieces are falling off, then this will need to be addressed before the store opens. You should also plan your store to be easy to navigate for your customers, and there shouldn�t be anything in the aisles that could become a hazard.

Keep Things Organized

Having a store that is organized is a good way to help prevent accidents. Your employees need to be organized by keeping paperwork clear, ensuring that restocking happens when the store is closed, or that staff is there to prevent accidents. Also, if there is a liquid spill, then wet floor signs need to be deployed, and the spill cleaned up as soon as possible. There can also be times when customers might make a mess or leave things in the aisles, so there needs to be regular cleaning up and tidying of the shop floor.

Employee Training

Having your employees trained in health and safety is the most important thing to do. They need to be aware of potential dangers and how to fix them. They should also be aware of what to do in the event of an accident. There should be procedures in place that your employees can refer to if needed. The customer might seek a San Diego personal injury attorney, so it is important that all the evidence is gathered, and the customer is given all the help you can.

Being prepared for a possible accident is the best way for you and your customers to stay safe. With the correct training and sensible layout of your stores, you can help to create a safe environment for your customers and your staff.

 

It takes a special something to become an entrepreneur. There�s no question it takes hard work and dedication. It also takes an understanding of how businesses work. From hiring a team of advisors, like the ones at Anderson Advisors, to understanding business entities, a lot goes into starting a business.

However, all the inner workings of a business are things anyone can learn. So, exactly what makes entrepreneurs different from everyone else?

Entrepreneurs Aren’t Afraid of Taking Risks

Taking risks is scary. You never know exactly how your decision is going to turn out, which is why so many people avoid taking risks like the plague.

However, it�s been shown time and time again that taking risks leads to success. Entrepreneurs understand this. They aren�t afraid to make risky decisions for their business because they know it�s likely to pay off in the end.

And if it doesn�t? Entrepreneurs know it isn�t the end of the world. They�re ready and willing to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and move on to the next risk that may potentially bring them closer to success.

Entrepreneurs Aren’t Afraid to Say No

When was the last time you said no at work? Chances are, if someone asked you to take on that project or pick up a little extra work, you probably agreed.

An entrepreneur is more likely to say no. They understand where their strengths lie and what kinds of opportunities will provide them with growth opportunities. If they know something will stretch them a little too thin, or if an opportunity just doesn�t feel right, they aren�t afraid to turn it down.

Entrepreneurs Focus on One Thing at a Time

So many people buy into the myth of multitasking. Entrepreneurs don�t. Instead, they focus on one thing at a time, even if it makes for a longer day, because they understand that multitasking:

• Actually slows you down
• Causes you to make more mistakes
• Causes more daily stress
• Reduces your capacity to remember important things

Entrepreneurs Are Obsessively Focused

Entrepreneurs are extremely focused on their goals, almost obsessively so. Many successful entrepreneurs report being told that they were crazy to start their business. Entrepreneurs are different than the rest of us because they don�t believe the naysayers.

They will do whatever it takes to get their idea off the ground, and they will do whatever it takes to grow their business. That might mean putting in some long nights, but they understand life goes through seasons. Just because their work-life balance may be a bit off kilter for the next few weeks, months, or years doesn�t mean it will always be that way, giving them permission to obsessively focus on their goals right now.

Every single one of us has the potential to become an entrepreneur, but only if you work on fostering these four important skills. If you�re willing to take a few risks and ignore all those people who are telling you no, you just may become the entrepreneur you�ve always dreamed of being.

 

 

 

 

�…