Business Opportunities Weblog

charset=UTF-8 Business Opportunities Weblog How Savvy Marketers Are Cashing In On The Tax Rebates Posted: 17 Apr 2008 08:19 AM CDT Work at Home Chuck: As the rebates are about to hit the street, suddenly all your customers and prospects are going to have extra money to spend. Will they spend it with you? Good question. Have you asked them to spend it with you? Have you sweetened the deal so that they know WHAT extra benefits will occur if they plunk down that windfall money with you? Photo by AMagill. Food Portal Opens Up New Business Opportunities Posted: 17 Apr 2008 01:30 AM CDT Northwest: Food and drink companies from across the region are set to benefit from a new, cutting edge e-business portal, by Food Northwest. Food Northwest, the organisation set up to lead the food and drink industryand to help grow the Northwest regional economy, has worked in partnershipwith AIMES, a technology transfer centre at the University of Liverpool, to develop new ways for food companies in the region to do business, become more efficient and improve their profitability. is an innovative which businesses can register on, only via the Food Northwest website Available to all food and drink businesses in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside, FoodPort uses the latest technology to bring businesses together and is safe, secure and easy to use. Business in the food sector is increasingly being conducted outside traditional market environments, with more and more trading taking place in an e-marketplace. Consultation with the sector identified the need for better information, easier networking with other businesses, joint procurement and for small businesses, easy to use ICT systems. Based on this, FoodPort has been developed as a research and development project that will run until December 2008 and will allow businesses to develop their e-business capabilities at low risk. FoodPort provides the opportunity for Northwest food and drink businesses to reduce the cost of commodities through joint buying with other companies.Its procurement service enables companies to compete by enhancing their buying power, for example on commodities such as packaging. An initial scoping exercise which took place in 2007, with 10 companies, has seen those involved realising savings of up to 10 per cent. The project provides three further areas of support*, including; to high quality, up-to-date information from Leatherhead Food International, after an initial free, three-month trial period; a free online business networking tool linking individuals within the Northwest food and drink community, and an affordable, managed computing service, offering access to Microsoft Office applications and the Internet without the need for in-house support. Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest, said: Б=80=9COur aim is to help food businesses in the region to improve their productivity and to grow. FoodPort will help companies to make connections with other individuals and businesses within the industry, gain access to information to increase efficiency and profitability, and find new ways to do business through channels to new markets. Ultimately we want to make them more competitive in the rapidly developing market environments of the 21st With the creation of Food Portal opportunities are being created for food and drink businesses of specific regions of the UK. Logo from Food Northwest. Baby Ktan Simplifies The Baby Carrier Posted: 16 Apr 2008 10:25 PM CDT Launched in April of 2007, one year ago, Baby Ktan has been able to bring together many positive things that people liked about all the other carrierswhile simplifying how to use one. The idea came to Michal Chesal when her son was born. Altering other carriers to create what would become Baby Ktan would be the best thing shed everdone. With the help of her parters, her husband - Brian, Isaac Wernick and Aviva Wernick, Baby Ktan is a quality product and a growing business. I got a chance to interview Michal and ask her some questions about her business. This is what she had to say: What is Baby Ktan? The Baby KБ=80=99tan Baby Carrier is the first carrier to combine all theessential qualities of both a structured front carrier and a sling, providing the positions and benefits of both. It is a unique two-loop design, which allows parents to carry their infants and toddlers (from birth to 4 years old or 42 lbs.) in 8 different positions. There is a built-in back support band to keep mom and dad as comfortable as baby. There is no wrapping,no rings, no snaps, no buckles and itБ=80=99s all natural cotton. KБ=80=99tan means in Hebrew - so our carrier is Б=80=9CLittle BabyБ=80=9D! When did the idea for the carrier come together into a potential product? My oldest son, Coby Joshua, was born with Down Syndrome in December of 1999. CobyБ=80=99s birth and disability presented the need for me to create an environment for him that would facilitate his development and provide theextra stimulation he needed for optimal growth. In addition to his developmental delays, Coby was born with hypotonia (low muscle tone) and was adversely affected by carriers that placed his legs in excessive abduction (legsspread too far apart). He also required tight swaddling. It was disheartening not being able to carry him in a forward facing position as used in traditional baby carriers. I kept reading everywhere how good it was to your baby, so not only did I want to hold Coby closely and show him the world, I wanted to do it appropriately. I could not use any carriers that were currently on the market, and with advice from his physical therapist, I ended up partially modifying existing carriers to providea position for him where he could face forward and see the world and get the developmental stimulation and closeness from me, while having his legs in a more developmentally appropriate posture and having a tight swaddled and secure feeling. Over the years, our carrier (Baby KБ=80=99tan) became very popular and I realized it was time to market it on a business level. We then decided, with our business partners, to start the business. What steps were needed for getting the business started and turned into an LLC? We incorporated Baby KБ=80=99tan and formed an LLC 2 years ago, but just launched the product in April 2007. It took us approximately 1 year to research the juvenile products market, source factories, receive and review multiple prototypes in various colors and cottons, and do testing, to finally perfect the carrier and launch our product. We then immediately proceeded with grass roots marketing, attended our first trade show, shoppinged websites, and approached local stores. Have you learned anything since starting that you wish youd known before? Yes, I have learned that you just need to go for it. My husband and I threw out the idea to Create the Baby KБ=80=99tan Baby Carrier and manufacture it almost 7 years ago, and hesitated. I wish I would have started it when we initially had the idea. I have learned from my mistakes. It took the push of our business partners and the security of the 4 of us pursuing this dream to actually put our foot down and start from stage one! But look, over the past year, we have developed and launched a new product based off of the construction of the Baby Ktan carrier. We just entered the Pet Industry with Do you have any previous experience or education that youre able to apply to the baby carrier and your business? Not really. I dabbled in marketing, but knew nothing of the baby industry or pet industry for that matter. I am fortunate to have 3 great partners, and between the 4 of us, although entering a new industry, we were all able to bring different strong backgrounds and experience to the table and make it work. Have you learned anything as a parent that youre able to apply in business? Always put things into perspective. There are always going to be stressfultimes when running your own business (as well as being a parent). But the joy that comes from being a parent as well as the joy that comes from running your own business far supersedes any stressful moment that occurs. (justkeep reminding yourself of that!) How do you manage your time as a president of a company and a mom? I am still trying to work on that and figure it out! I am currently attempting to spend my days on Baby KБ=80=99tan and devote time to my kids every evening when they get back from school, even if I have work on my mind. Then I get back to work when they are asleep. Weekends are mainly family time. Do you have any advice youd like to share with other moms whod like to start their own business? DonБ=80=99t let any obstacles get you down so much that you consider giving up Б=80=93 keep on pushing. They say it takes at least 2 years to know if your business is going to succeed, and it probably will if you believein it! Make Your Biz Legendary Posted: 16 Apr 2008 01:55 PM CDT Entrepreneur: After 17 years in the NFL, Packers quarterback Brett Favre is finally retiring. He will go down as one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and not just because of his numbers. What made him legendary were his intangible you can learn from and apply to your business. Be dependable Favre played in 275 consecutive games. It takes more than physical durability to achieve something like that. It takes dedication, determination and sheer will. Be loyal Favre spent 16 of his 17 seasons with the same team and, in a climate dominated by lucrative free-agent comings and goings, never once even flirted with the idea of leaving the people who gave him his shot at greatness. Be fearless If theres one thing people will always remember Brett Favre for, its his ability to make something out of nothing one play and nothing out of something the next. Be adaptable Late in his career, while never fully relinquishing his free-wheeling persona, Favre continued to be successful because he proved himself to be coachable and versatile. Have fun Every time Favre took the field, there was a sense that hed play the game for free. Theres no substitute for taking that kind of joy in your work. Photo by Working For Yourself Can Have Challenges Posted: 16 Apr 2008 01:11 PM CDT The Wall Street Journal: Its hard to imagine a more ideal-sounding work life: working when you want,where you want, and how you want. So, its no surprise that more and more people are jumping ship, moving from full-time, in-house positions to working for themselves, often in consultant or freelance roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of Americans choosing self-employment will keep increasing, from 12.2 million in 2006 to 12.9 million in 2016. Working for yourself can be an ideal career path, especially in todays tight job market, but it is also ripe for failure if undertaken without the right toolsand mindset. Create a vision and a workspace. Its Day One, and the phone probably isnt ringing off the hook yet. Find yourself an energizing writing spot, and take out a blank piece of paper, says Katy Piotrowski, M.Ed., author of The Career Cowards Guide to Changing Careers. Write a vision for yourself about what you want your freelance biz to look like what kind of work youll be doing, who youll be working with, what your lifestyle will be like. Think big, she says. Ms. Piotrowski also says its important to describe whats motivating you to take this step. Try to make your vision statement as detailed as possible. Keep in mind that you can modify it down the line, she says. Market today for business tomorrow. You could be a whiz at what you do and at the top of your field, and still find yourself clientless and with little if any cash flow during your first few months in business. So, you needto come up with a marketing plan. As my CPA friend said to me after 15 years as a freelancer, I remind myself every day that the purpose of the marketing Im doing today is to pay the rent for six months from now, says Ms. Piotrowski. Talent and marketing run hand-in-hand. The talent part is easy for most people, but marketing skills may need to be learned. When Ms. Piotrowski started freelancing a decade ago, a business consultant gave her some excellent advice: Experiment with various marketing activities until you find a few that you are good at and like doing. Ms. Piotrowski quickly discovered that while she hated making cold calls, she was more than happy to send out a newsletter on a regular basis and speak to professional associations. Take the time to discover your hidden marketing talents. Read more. Photo by MSDesigns. Showered In Glory Posted: 16 Apr 2008 11:09 AM CDT Newsquest Media Group: A budding young design student is officially the second best inventor in Britain. Polly Firth, of Glastonbury Drive, scooped second place at the Ideal Home Shows Innovation Nation competition. The 21-year-old beat off stiff competition from hundreds of other hopefuls and wowed judges with her Elegance Shower invention. I was ecstatic, Im so happy, she said. It was just fantastic to see my invention actually built, I just stood in front of it thinking oh my God, I cant explain how happy I am. Polly, who is studying for a Masters in product design at Leeds University,came up with the concept as part of a university project two years ago. Her winning design is a shower made exclusively for women to make shaving their legs easier. The shower has five heads at different heights so you canavoid getting your hair wet if necessary and has a footrest for ease of shaving. She came up with the invention after continually slipping over in her own shower. Photo by Newsquest Media Group. New Twist On Kids Business Posted: 16 Apr 2008 10:08 AM CDT Boston Globe: Technically speaking, they werent quite bellied up to the bar. At an average of about 2 feet tall, the miniature club kids perched on snakeskin barstools at the Revolution Rock Bar could barely reach their juice boxes. The Revolution Rock, typically frequented by an after-work crowd of full-grown singles, was transformed for a few daytime hours on Sunday into a romper room for cooped-up parents and their crazy-legged toddlers. With bubble machines, hula hoops, and classic soul and disco tracks pumping over the sound system at 110 beats a minute, it was a Studio 54 for kids still learningto count to five. The event was the Boston kickoff of Baby Loves Disco, a fast-growing national network of monthly outings that sanitize the nightclub setting for the day-care crowd. Judging by Sundays Oreo-smeared grins and temporarily tattooed limbs, by the end of the afternoon the first local participants were ready for a hard-earned bubble bath. Photo by Dina Rudick. When The Going Gets Tough, Get Tough On Costs Posted: 16 Apr 2008 09:07 AM CDT Los Angeles Times: Whittier Hearing Center Inc. has endured hard times before. Eight recessions have come and gone since the hearing care company opened its doors in 1955. Even though the economy is souring again, the companys owners expect that recent investments in staff education and equipment upgrades could mean higher sales this year. Weve been through these recessionary periods many times, said Mary Ann Gilbert, director of audiology and co-owner of the business, which offers tests, hearing aids and ear protection gear. We survive by being very value-focused for the patients. That helps us because the patients trust us and we get increased referrals from them and the medical doctors in our community. Here are tips that could help your small business weather an economic downturn. Operate lean. Check your balance sheet and income statement to look for places to free up cash. Cash is king, Morales said. The more of it on hand, the more options you have as a small-business owner. Redo debt. If your company is in good health, consider increasing or signing up for a line of credit to provide future working capital. Restructure, reduce or optimize your other debt. Manage inventory. Have a sale to move slow or obsolete inventory. Use the cash to pay off debt. Analyze your purchase patterns. See if you can shortenthe cycle the time you hold the inventory. Review receivables. Just like inventory, unpaid receivables can tie up cash. Keep an eye on your biggest clients to make sure they can pay their billson time. If you see warning signs, call them to make payment a approach that offers discounts for early payments and charges interest on late payments. Photo by MSDesigns. -- You are Purchased to shop updates from "Business Opportunities Weblog." To stop receiving these shops, you may unsubcribe now If you prefer to Purchase via postal mail, write to: Business Opportunities Weblog, c/o FeedBurner, 549 W Randolph, Chicago IL USA 60661 This shop Delivery powered by FeedBurner. =09 charset=UTF-8 Business Opportunities Weblog =09=09=09h1 a:hover ! important;} tr td div ul }} =09 tr td div blockquote }} =09 tr td div li }} tr td a:link, tr td a:visited, tr td a:active }}=09 =09=09=09img }} =09=09 Business Opportunities Weblog How Savvy Marketers Are Cashing In On The Tax Rebates Posted: 17 Apr 2008 08:19 AM CDT Work at Home Chuck: As the rebates are about tohit the street, suddenly all your customers and prospects are going to have extra money to spend. Will they spend it with you? Good question. Have you asked them to spend it with you? Have you sweetened the deal so that they know WHAT extra benefits will occur if they plunk down that windfall money with you? Photo by AMagill. Food Portal Opens Up New Business Opportunities Posted: 17 Apr 2008 01:30 AM CDT Northwest: Food and drink companies from across the region are set to benefit from a new, cutting edge e-business portal, by Food Northwest. Food Northwest, the organisation set up to lead the food and drink industry and to help grow the Northwest regional economy, has worked in partnership with AIMES, a technology transfer centre at the University of Liverpool, to develop new ways for food companies in the region to do business, become more efficient and improve their profitability. is an innovative which businesses can register on, only via the Food Available to all food and drink businesses in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside, FoodPort uses the latest technology to bring businesses together and is safe, secure and easy to use. Business in the food sector is increasingly being conducted outside traditional market environments, with more and more trading taking place in an e-marketplace. Consultation with the sector identified the need for better information, easier networking with other businesses, joint procurement andfor small businesses, easy to use ICT systems. Based on this, FoodPort hasbeen developed as a research and development project that will run until December 2008 and will allow businesses to develop their e-business capabilities at low risk. FoodPort provides the opportunity for Northwest food and drink businesses to reduce the cost of commodities through joint buying with other companies. Its procurement service enables companies to compete by enhancing theirbuying power, for example on commodities such as packaging. An initial scoping exercise which took place in 2007, with 10 companies, has seen those involved realising savings of up to 10 per cent. The project provides three further areas of support*, including; affordable access to high quality, up-to-date information from Leatherhead Food International, after an initial free, three-month trial period; a free onlinebusiness networking tool linking individuals within the Northwest food anddrink community, and an affordable, managed computing service, offering access to Microsoft Office applications and the Internet without the need forin-house support. Pat Foreman, chief executive of Food Northwest, said: Б=80=9COur aim is to help food businesses in the region to improve their productivity and to grow. FoodPort will help companies to make connections with other individuals and businesses within the industry, gain access to information to increase efficiency and profitability, and find new ways to do business throughchannels to new markets. Ultimately we want to make them more competitive in the rapidly developing market environments of the 21st the creation of Food Portal opportunities are being created for food and drink businesses of specific regions of the UK. Logo from Food Northwest. Baby K’tan Simplifies The Baby Carrier Posted: 16 Apr 2008 10:25 PM CDT Launched in April of 2007, one year ago, Baby K’tan has been able to bring together many positive things that people liked about all the other carriers while simplifying how to use one. The idea came to Michal Chesal when her son was born. Altering other carriers to create what would become Baby K’tan would be the best ever done. With the help of her parters, her husband - Brian,Isaac Wernick and Aviva Wernick, Baby K’tan is a quality product anda growing business. I got a chance to interview Michal and ask her some questions about her business. This is what she had to say: What is Baby K’tan? The Baby KБ=80=99tan Baby Carrier is the first carrier to combine all the essential qualities of both a structured front carrier and a sling, providing the positions and benefits of both. It is a unique two-loop design, which allows parents to carry their infants and toddlers (frombirth to 4 years old or 42 lbs.) in 8 different positions. There is a built-in back support band to keep mom and dad as comfortable as baby. There is no wrapping, no rings, no snaps, no buckles and itБ=80=99s all naturalcotton. KБ=80=99tan means in Hebrew - so our carrier is Б=80=9CLittle BabyБ=80=9D! When did the idea for the carrier come together into a My oldest son, Coby Joshua, was born with Down Syndrome in December of 1999. CobyБ=80=99s birth and disability presented the need forme to create an environment for him that would facilitate his development and provide the extra stimulation he needed for optimal growth. In additionto his developmental delays, Coby was born with hypotonia (low muscle tone) and was adversely affected by carriers that placed his legs in excessive abduction (legs spread too far apart). He also required tight swaddling. It was disheartening not being able to carry him in a forward facing position as used in traditional baby carriers. I kept reading everywhere how good it was to your baby, so not only did I want to hold Coby closely and show him the world, I wanted to do it appropriately. I could not use any carriers that were currently on the market, and with advice from his physical therapist, I ended up partially modifying existing carriers to provide a position for him where he could face forward and see the world and get the developmental stimulation and closeness from me, while having his legs in a more developmentally appropriate posture and having a tight swaddled and secure feeling. Over the years, our carrier (Baby KБ=80=99tan) became very popular and I realized it was time to market it on a business level. We then decided, with our business partners, to start the business. What steps were needed for getting the business started and turned into an LLC? We incorporated Baby KБ=80=99tan and formed an LLC 2 yearsago, but just launched the product in April 2007. It took us approximately 1 year to research the juvenile products market, source factories, receive and review multiple prototypes in various colors and cottons, and do testing, to finally perfect the carrier and launch our product. We then immediately proceeded with grass roots marketing, attended our first trade show,shoppinged websites, and approached local stores. Have you learned anything since starting that you wish you’d known before? Yes, I have learned that you just need to go for it. My husband and I threw out the idea to Create the Baby KБ=80=99tan Baby Carrier and manufacture it almost 7 years ago, and hesitated. I wish I would have started it when we initially had the idea. I have learned from my mistakes. It took the push of our business partners and the security of the 4 of us pursuing this dream to actually put our foot down and start from stage one! But look, over the past year, we have developed and launched a new product based off of the construction of the Baby K’tan carrier. We just entered the Pet Industry with Do you have any previous experience or education that you’re able to apply to the baby carrier and your business? Not really. I dabbled in marketing, but knew nothing of the baby industry or pet industry for that matter. I am fortunate to have 3 great partners, and between the 4 of us, although entering a new industry, wewere all able to bring different strong backgrounds and experience to the table and make it work. Have you learned anything as a parent that you’re able to apply in business? Always put things into perspective. There are always going to be stressful times when running your own business (as well as being a parent). But the joy that comes from being a parent as well as the joy that comes from running your own business far supersedes any stressful moment that occurs. (just keep reminding yourself of that!) How do you manage your time as a president of a company and a mom? I am still trying to work on that and figure it out! I am currently attempting to spend my days on Baby KБ=80=99tan and devote time to my kids every evening when they get back from school, even if I have work on my mind. Then I get back to work when they are asleep. Weekends are mainly family time. Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other momswho’d like to start their own business? DonБ=80=99t let any obstacles get you down so much that you consider giving up Б=80=93 keep on pushing. They say it takes at least2 years to know if your business is going to succeed, and it probably willif you believe in it! Make Your Biz Legendary Posted: 16 Apr 2008 01:55 PM CDT 17 years in the NFL, Packers quarterback Brett Favre is finally retiring. He will go down as one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and not just because of his numbers. What made him legendary were his intangible you can learn from and apply to your business. Be dependable Favre played in 275 consecutive games. It takes more than physical durability to achieve something like that. It takes dedication, determination and sheer will. Be loyal Favre spent 16 of his 17 seasons with the same team and, in a climate dominated by lucrative free-agent comings and goings, never once even flirted with the idea of leaving the people who gave him his shot at greatness. Be fearless If there’s one thing people will always remember Brett Favre for, it’s his ability to make something out of nothing one play and nothing out of something the next. Be adaptable Late in his career, while never fully relinquishing his free-wheeling persona, Favre continued to be successful because he proved himself to be coachable and versatile. Have fun Every time Favre took the field, there was a sense that he’d play thegame for free. There’s no substitute for taking that kind of joy in your work. Photo by Working For Yourself Can Have Challenges Posted: 16 Apr 2008 01:11 PM CDT The Wall Street Journal: It’s hard to imagine a more ideal-sounding work life: working when you want, where you want, and how you want. So, it’s no surprise that more and more people are jumping ship, moving from positions to working for themselves, often in consultant or freelance roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of Americans choosing self-employment will keep increasing, from 12.2 million in 2006 to 12.9 million in 2016. Working for yourself can be an ideal career path, especially in today’s tight job market, but it is also ripe for failure ifundertaken without the right tools–and mindset. Create a vision — and a workspace. It’s DayOne, and the phone probably isn’t ringing off the hook yet. Find yourself an energizing writing spot, and take out a blank piece of paper, saysKaty Piotrowski, M.Ed., author of “The Career Coward’s Guide to Changing Careers.” “Write a vision for yourself about what you want your freelance biz to look like — what kind of work you’ll be doing, who you’ll be working with, what your lifestyle will be like. Think big,” she says. Ms. Piotrowski also says it’s important to describe what’s motivating you to take this step. Try to makeyour vision statement as detailed as possible. “Keep in mind that you can modify it down the line,” she says. Market today for business tomorrow. You could be a whizat what you do and at the top of your field, and still find yourself clientless and with little — if any — cash flow during your first few months in business. So, you need to come up with a marketing plan. “As my CPA friend said to me after 15 years as a freelancer, ‘I remind myself every day that the purpose of the marketing I’m doing today is to pay the rent for six months from now,’ ” says Ms. Piotrowski. Talent and marketing run hand-in-hand. The talent part is easy formost people, but marketing skills may need to be learned. When Ms. Piotrowski started freelancing a decade ago, a business consultant gave her some excellent advice: Experiment with various marketing activities until you find a few that you are good at and like doing. Ms. Piotrowski quickly discovered that while she hated making cold calls, she was more than happy to sendout a Article on a regular basis and speak to professional associations. Take the time to discover your hidden marketing talents. Read more. Photo by MSDesigns. Showered In Glory Posted: 16 Apr 2008 11:09 AM CDT Newsquest Media Group:A budding young design student is officially the second bestinventor in Britain. Polly Firth, of Glastonbury Drive, scooped second place at the Ideal Home Shows Innovation Nation competition. The 21-year-old beat off stiff competition from hundreds of other hopefuls and wowed judges with her Elegance Shower’ invention. “I wasecstatic, I’m so happy,” she said. “It was just fantastic to see my invention actually built, I just stood in front of it thinking oh my God’, I can’t explain how happy I am.” Polly, who is studying for a Masters in product design at Leeds University, came up with the concept as part of a university project two years ago.Her winning design is a shower made exclusively for women to make shaving their legs easier. The shower has five heads at different heights so you can avoid getting your hair wet if necessary and has a footrest for ease ofshaving. She came up with the invention after continually slipping over in her own shower. Photo by Newsquest Media Group. New Twist On Kids’ Business Posted: 16 Apr 2008 10:08 AM CDT Boston Globe: Technically speaking, they weren’t quite bellied up tothe bar. At an average of about 2 feet tall, the miniature club kids perched on snakeskin barstools at the Revolution Rock Bar could barely reach their juice boxes. The Revolution Rock, typically frequented by an after-work crowd of full-grown singles, was transformed for a few daytime hours on Sunday into a romper room for cooped-up parents and their crazy-legged toddlers. With bubble machines, hula hoops, and classic soul and disco tracks pumping over the sound system at 110 beats a minute, it was a Studio 54 for kids still learning to count to five. The event was the Boston kickoff of Baby Loves Disco, a fast-growing national network of monthly outingsthat sanitize the nightclub setting for the day-care crowd. Judging by Sunday’s Oreo-smeared grins and temporarily tattooed limbs, by the end of the afternoon the first local participants were ready for a hard-earned bubble bath. Photo by Dina Rudick. When The Going Gets Tough, Get Tough On Costs Posted: 16 Apr 2008 09:07 AM CDT Los Angeles Times: Whittier Hearing Center Inc. has endured hard times before. Eight recessions have come and gone since the hearing care company opened its doors in 1955. Even though the economy is souring again, the company’s owners expect that recent investments in staff education and equipment upgrades could mean higher sales this year. been through these recessionary periods many times,” said Mary Ann Gilbert, director of audiology and co-owner of the business, which offers tests, hearing aids and ear protection gear. “We survive by being very value-focused for the patients. That helps us because the patients trust us and we get increased referrals from them and the medical doctors in our Here are tips that could help your small business weather an economic downturn. Operate lean. Check your balance sheet and income statement to look for places to free up cash. “Cash is king,” Morales said. The more of it on hand, the more options you have as a small-business owner. Redo debt. If your company is in good health, or signing up for a line of credit to provide future working capital. Restructure, reduce or optimize your other debt. Manage inventory. Have a sale to move slow or Use the cash to pay off debt. Analyze your purchase patterns. See if you can shorten the cycle — the time you hold the inventory. Review receivables. Just like inventory, unpaid receivables can tie up cash. Keep an eye on your biggest clients to make sure they can pay their bills on time. If you see warning signs, call them to make payment arrangements. Use a approach that offers discountsfor early payments and charges interest on late payments. Photo by MSDesigns. You are Purchased to shop updates from Business Opportunities Weblog To stop receiving these shops, you may Purchase now.shop Delivery powered by FeedBurner Inbox too full? Purchase online to the feed version of Business Opportunities Weblog in a feed reader. If you prefer to unPurchase online via postal mail, write to: Business Opportunities Weblog, c/o FeedBurner, 20 W Kinzie, 9th Floor, Chicago IL USA 60610

... Back to listing 10

... Back to article 1816 | SITEMAP | Next to article 1818 ...

We would like to express our gratitude to all those who are kindly providing this unique content, especially to:

office@a3ides.com
olga@bemobile.md
tirlik@brainchildhunter.com
office@bemobile.md
sharuha@causeni.info
info@webconsulting.md
irina.gorea@bemobile.md
office@milieukontakt.nl
igor.romanyuk@bemobile.com.ua
yuri.sekretar@olympia.net.ua
info@tophost.md
webmoldova@yahoo.com
admin@bemobile.md
webmaster@bemobile.md
emil@a3ides.com
olea@bemobile.md
yuri.sekretar@bemobile.com.ua
contact@a3ides.com
info@a3ides.com
vitaliy.lozovskiy@bemobile.md
drugg83@yahoo.com
flaviu.mateevici@gmail.com
flaviu@dataverity.com
rector@usm.md
gaugash@usm.md
acad.rudic@mail.md
acadrudic@yahoo.com
veaceslav.vasilache@gmail.com
s.bakker@milieukontakt.nl
katea.melnicenco@gmail.com
mkoe.moldova@vox.md
musteata@doctor.com
renat.buga@ase.md
s.molenkamp@milieukontakt.nl
si_problemme@mail.ru
willem.tjebbe.oostenbrink@planet.nl

Most popular links:

business, businesses, Posted:, carrier, Business, marketing, KБ=80=99tan, business., yourself, Opportunities, carriers, companies, working, learned, FoodPort, product, Northwest, Piotrowski, company, something, started, project, because, together, different, business?, market,, nothing, Carrier, through,

Similar listing on: