Post Sub Prime (see my blogs from JANUARY 2007) and Northern Rock in the UK, the banks have taken their bat and ball and gone home.
Whilst the Banks were happy enough to flog derivatives to make themselves billions, now that their errors of judgement have materialised, it's business that will pay the price. Banks are not lending, they want to reduce overdrafts and defer decisions concerning investment propositions.
All of a sudden they have become too risk adverse. But now they risk causing a severe recession, they have to lend to keep the economy on track. Without liquidity industry will suffer. The Banks should take their pain from the sub-prime debacle, but no, its us who will suffer.
A set of recent proposals sent to various banks have all met with a similar fate. The lending ratio is dropping to nearly 50/50, security needs are getting to a point where those with this much free assets would not need the facility anyway. And cases are being deferred for 6 months.
So what are we to make of this?
The recession is already here.
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Internet Shopping
There is no denying that more and more people are using the internet to buy good and services. Both retail and whole sale transactions are occuring at a phenominal pace measured in £billions.
And is it any wonder, when a site can be set up for several £,000's tailor made to your business or concept. With strategic and well planned marketing and PR customer can be buying within days.
Just contrast the difficulties faced when opening a shop!!
It goes on and on, and thats before you sell a bean.
But apart form the loss of face to face contact, the web is a must-even if you already have a shop, business or idea to sell products, services and concepts.
Look at the following 3 examples
Shopping Web Site
Wholesale Specialist
Local Community Web Site (Not for Profit)
Notice the amount of actual material availabale to build-up that all important customer relationship, plus all the electronic tools to automate this process. These sites are full of news and articles, which can be submitted (after being moderated) by customers and suppliers alike, as well as the owners.
This is the future, be warned.
And is it any wonder, when a site can be set up for several £,000's tailor made to your business or concept. With strategic and well planned marketing and PR customer can be buying within days.
Just contrast the difficulties faced when opening a shop!!
- Rent
- Rates
- Heating and Lighting
- Security
- Fire alarms
- Insurances and Public Liability
- Health and Safety
- Disability Discrimination and Access
- Fitting Out
- Planning and Building Regulations
- Local Authority Regulations
It goes on and on, and thats before you sell a bean.
But apart form the loss of face to face contact, the web is a must-even if you already have a shop, business or idea to sell products, services and concepts.
Look at the following 3 examples
Shopping Web Site
Wholesale Specialist
Local Community Web Site (Not for Profit)
Notice the amount of actual material availabale to build-up that all important customer relationship, plus all the electronic tools to automate this process. These sites are full of news and articles, which can be submitted (after being moderated) by customers and suppliers alike, as well as the owners.
- E-mails
- Newsletters
- Blogs
- RSS Feeds
- PDF downloads
- E-mail a friend
This is the future, be warned.
Friday, 16 February 2007
New Resource in Yorkshire
A great idea is being piloted in Yorkshire by IBD Yorkshire. Its a FREE to join Networking Forum aimed at all businesses and anyone wishing to start up a business.
Whilst forums are nothing new, nor network groups for that matter, the neat thing here is that the buyer or seller can "post" their needs into the forum and then will be e-mailed when a responce is made to their post.
It's ideally suited to those many busy owners and mangers who just can't seem to find the time to do face to face networking.
There are regular articles, grant alerts and a whole host of benefits, which will increase as the membership rises. They can be e-mailed here too!
Good Luck to Yorkshire Network Online
Also there is the North East Network Online which was started up last year, along the same lines as the fore-runner. Thanks to Mark Flanighan.
Whilst forums are nothing new, nor network groups for that matter, the neat thing here is that the buyer or seller can "post" their needs into the forum and then will be e-mailed when a responce is made to their post.
It's ideally suited to those many busy owners and mangers who just can't seem to find the time to do face to face networking.
There are regular articles, grant alerts and a whole host of benefits, which will increase as the membership rises. They can be e-mailed here too!
Good Luck to Yorkshire Network Online
Also there is the North East Network Online which was started up last year, along the same lines as the fore-runner. Thanks to Mark Flanighan.
Friday, 2 February 2007
Make a Business From Your Skills
One of a clutch of new clients picked up in the last two weeks, is a great example of turning your skills and employment history into a new business for yourself.
First step is to list your achievements, skills, strengths and testimonials from third parties. Then work out the weaknesses, threats and marketing needed to promote your new idea. This has been done with Inspirational Seminars Ltd. A strong skill set in presentation seminars has been augmented by a commercial and marketing team to create a "rounded" business plan.
We are at the point where finance plans are being drawn up and market research is being conducted. Please remember that with e-mail and internet sites, that marketing feedback need not cost a fortune. So a business can be floated at a low cost, that is able to target the right niche market segment profitably.
Get the legal structures right, take advice, insure the assets (including the Talent), find a few "old contacts" to exploit and you have the makings of a business. Plough the initial earnings back into marketing and PR, build a sales "machine" from Web Sites, Blogs, Podcasts and e-mail campaignes to pick up any traffic produced from the PR. This will "kick start" the business.
But remember that returns in the early months will be modest and do not count on a profit in the first year as a minimum. If you beat these targets, its a bonus, and put it towards more marketing.
First step is to list your achievements, skills, strengths and testimonials from third parties. Then work out the weaknesses, threats and marketing needed to promote your new idea. This has been done with Inspirational Seminars Ltd. A strong skill set in presentation seminars has been augmented by a commercial and marketing team to create a "rounded" business plan.
We are at the point where finance plans are being drawn up and market research is being conducted. Please remember that with e-mail and internet sites, that marketing feedback need not cost a fortune. So a business can be floated at a low cost, that is able to target the right niche market segment profitably.
Get the legal structures right, take advice, insure the assets (including the Talent), find a few "old contacts" to exploit and you have the makings of a business. Plough the initial earnings back into marketing and PR, build a sales "machine" from Web Sites, Blogs, Podcasts and e-mail campaignes to pick up any traffic produced from the PR. This will "kick start" the business.
But remember that returns in the early months will be modest and do not count on a profit in the first year as a minimum. If you beat these targets, its a bonus, and put it towards more marketing.
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