Small Business Can Do Big Things.

Small Business Has Enough Energy To Do Big Things!

Small business has a lot of energy.  Although most small business models are under-capitalized, they do have an abundance of energy and ideas.  The ideas they host are more valid than a big business in that small business models can immediately put their ideas into motion.  The bigger the business the less able they become to place good ideas into actual, workable motion.

This little difference between the big and the little is one of best kept opportunities that remain.  During times of tough economies, which we are living currently, this difference may be the great advantage a small business has against the larger models.  Good ideas can begin their action immediately in the smaller models.  When little ideas are exposed to consumers on a regular basis, the small models will begin to attract increased consumer interest.  This will help produce the potential for increasing traffic flows.

This Is An Unattractive Presentation

If you are a small business, begin working on the 'first things first' ideas.  Clean up your presentation policies.  Begin the work on identifying where you need to begin fixing, repairing, touching up and working to improve your 'attraction policies.'   Make sure you concentrate on the simplest things we tend to over-look.  Are all of the light bulbs working?  Are the fixtures free of dirt, cobwebs, and unsightly appearances?  Dig deep into these kinds of things.  They are cheaper than re-modeling and may be more effective than you are giving credit to recognize.  Look at the unsightly scuff marks on the base of your walls...clean them up.  The big business models cannot keep up with your effort and energy on this one.  They have likely laid-off the labor portions that used to perform these duties and many have cut back on their janitorial budgets.  By now, the big business models are beginning to look a little run down.  With extra tightened budgets, they are passing this subject up like it does not matter anymore.  Make it matter to them...be the competitor who looks sharp and ready to play!  Your customer is not ready to have their hard-earned money go to organizations who look and feel like they do not care.  If you are small, this is your best and cheapest opportunity!  Do not miss this opportunity to edge out the big guys!

This Approach Helps To Attract Customers

If you do not believe me, go visit the bigger outfits...you will notice a very run down appearance occurring.  Their parking lots are filled with trash, their carts are not collected as often and placed where they belong, neatly.  Their entryway glass doors are filthy, finger printed heavily and their light fixtures are burnt out sporadically.  They look unkempt and tired.  Their 'seasonal' small vignette displays may be very nicely arranged but all of the peripheral amenities are heavily ignored.  Many promotional and directional signs are in need of repair, upkeep and touching up.  They have a lot of voids in this area.  Look around and pay attention to their current lack of detail.  This is one of your great opportunities.  Re-energize your worn out energy.  This is one of your great assets.  Turn it up a couple of notches!  Slam dunk what they have come to ignore!  You will help energize your workers as well...and the difference in their pride and care will bleed over to their improved interactions with your customers.  What a great time to add gifts, coupon offers, specials and hand-outs that describe your uniqueness.  Load your customers up with these up kinds of things.  It is so much easier to do when your facility looks and speaks these kinds of upbeat things.  Vital!  Vital!  Vital!

In our facility, we clean the restrooms at least once each day.  This was a duty in the past that commanded only twice per week!  We want our facilities to smell fresh, look clean and be inviting.  Pay attention to these little details!  They are working deeply in the subconscious minds of your customers.  Help your customers notice the difference.  Your customers may never comment about the difference, but subconsciously, they notice.  It will add value to their effort as they spend what little hard money they have to share.  Give them a multitude of reasons why they should be spending it in your business.  This goes way beyond product and price!  Value is much deeper than opening your front door and supplying them tomatoes at a low price.

If You Close Early You Are Not Sorry We're Closed...Maybe You Are Sorry They Did Not Come Earlier.

Above all, do not open late or close early.  This smacks of serving your needs ahead of theirs.  Not something I recommend in these tough times.  Be smarter than that.  Some of this stuff is elementary, but often times forgotten or neglected.  It may only take once to wick someone off and turn them away forever.  I have sold a lot of people in my life who shared how a competitor was closed right now.  And one thing I noticed at that point, they did not examine the price.  Be 'open ready' when the hours of operations lend it to be a ready time.  Do not be unlocking the door at 9 A.M. when you open at 9 A.M.  Be 'open ready' at 9 A.M.  Remember, you are the one who wanted this business...now follow its rules.  The closer you get to the right stuff, the more potential you will realize.  So many business operators compromise these items and force themselves to learn to live with less.  Silly stuff.

Do the little things well and you will learn that the big stuff will follow you just fine.  This is when a little business begins to do big things.  Big things are easy when you get the little things down correctly.  You can actually feel your way into the big things when your business is operating right.  If you cheat on these things, you cheat on your success potential.  Cheating has never compensated very well.  Each owner will determine at what level they will cheat themselves out of success.  We all do it.  Work on improving your 'attraction policies,' try to avoid cheating your business.

Cheating Will Produce A Lower Outcome...Good Luck