Small Business Help

March 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Small Business help is here to provide you with no nonsense musings, helpful small business helpadvice, videos, information and tools on the following and more. We search the internet to find the very best of what’s on offer to save you time, effort and money.

  • small business issues in retail
  • small business issues in service industries
  • small business marketing tips
  • small business help
  • small business customer service skills
  • small business management
  • small business news
  • small business in social media

Whatever our businesses are, we all go though the same issues, fears and problems. It is my vision that together, as small business owners, we can provide encouragement and ideas for each other.

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Filed Under: Small Business General Help

Ethics in Business – when is false advertising not false advertising – paying to avoid excess legal costs

May 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’ve titled this post ethics in business, but it’s really not all about that, It’s probably more of a rave. I just wanted to get my take on the FTC claims and Ethics in business - should you get a refund if you didn't wear them?payments to be made by Skechers in regards to the Skechers Shape Ups and am really unsure of what I should call this post to get the best readership!

 

Point 1 – Ethics in Business – selling a retailers perspective

I am a retailer in New Zealand and I have and do sell Skechers Shape Ups. When discussing the shoes in store I always made a point of saying that the shoes are not a magic bullet and that it does  diet as well. I did this is I felt that the hype was probably overrated  & the small print on the in store banners we had were often overlooked.  This was an ethical stance that I took and am very comfortable with my decision. My conscience is clear. I would even go to the point of saying that by purchasing the shoes off me they shouldn’t be entitled to a refund, as I gave them a slightly more balanced view prior to purchase. That’s pretty subjective I know but that’s the way I feel. Now is this the way I should act as a small business owner? will it mean that my customers will trust me more in the future?

 

Point 2 – Skechers will be paying out to avoid a long protracted legal battle.

Skechers have issued a press release stating just this. They stand by their claims and advertising and have made a decision to pay out now. This is probably the best thing to do. By taking this stance the companies executives are no doubt basing this decision on what is best for the company’s shareholders. The trouble is  this payout looks like an admission of guilt to many/most people. Most cannot understand the buisness decision as opposed to admitting guilt and liability. They just don’t get it, and lets not forget, Skechers have not been fined or penalised.

 

Point 3 – Refunds – even if the shoes have not been worn the way intented?

Now I can see a rush on to get refunds. I have been contacted by 2 customers about how can they get a claim in already & I have no idea! My concern is what about those who never actually used the shoes as they should have, but instead had them sitting in the wardrobe collecting dust. Did they ever walk the miles they should of to see any benefit? And what about diet? Did they make any changes? I have a pair and  have worn them, but not enough to do any good! I’m one of those people who have all good intentions but did not follow through with action. I did/do feel good wearing them, especially for my posture, should I be entitled to a refund?

 

Point 4 – What about the other manufactuers who make outragous claims?

This morning I watched a infomercial on the Ab Pro Wave, boy this that a fabulous machine, I can sit  down & move side to side & I’m going to slim down. Wow the before and after photos look great! Maybe I’ll get one and then wait to see if there are complaints… maybe I can then get a refund.

This is a little cynical I know… hopefully the payment by Skechers ( and don’t forget the same thing happened to Reebok last year).. maybe what is required is more truth in advertising… now where would the fun be in that!!!

 

Does the Skechers issue mean anything to you as a small business owner?

Does the advertising claims made by the manufacturers of products you sell effect your ethics in business

Let me know your views… leave a comment on my rave.. do you agree, disagree or don’t care?

 

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Filed Under: Small Business General Help, Small Business News Tagged With: ,

How to Use Social Media for Business – Facebook

May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Are you wondering just how to use social media for business?  Before you go bah humbug I promise I’ll be quick. In a previous post we looked what isEngage with customers on your facebook fanpages required to build a social media content strategy (click here) which was presented by social media expert Mikal E. Belicove. You may be like me and find business theories interesting but  all too often find that the reality as quite different. So I was greatful to find an article and video which gives actual real life examples of how social media and specifically facebook has helped two businesses, in the language and style of actual small business owners. It also reiterated the steps in my previous post. Phew!

 

Click the link below to view the video & read the article:

http://www.kspr.com/news/kspr-social-media-reinventing-the-wheel-for-local-businesses-20120517,0,5946238.story

 

How to Use Social Media for Business

 

Don’t fall into the trap that Facebook and other types of social media are the total answer and will automatically generate sales. Social media is all about building a relationship, getting potential customers to know, like and trust you….. it’s then when your authority is established that the sales can occur.

Jennifer of Facebook Ads Lab has this to say:

The key thing to remember – and a big mistake many marketers make – is that your WEBSITE is the center of your business. Not your Facebook Fan page.

Gather traffic from Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc and drive it all to your main “money site”. This means that you want to use Facebook to continually send people to your website. Don’t get confused and start thinking your Facebook Fan Page is the “be all” of your business. It’s not. Your “money site” is. source: Fb ads lab.com

So this is how to use social media in business, as a tool, but not as a sales technique.

And also just to add more confusion, here’s something else to consider, do your customers actually want a social relationship with you? Pete Davis, MD, of Getmemedia.com shares the following on how brands can humanise their social media strategy.

So where should they start? I asked some the social media experts at UM to come up with their top five tips…

1) Don’t assume that your consumer wants a social relationship with you. They may just want to transact with your brand and nothing else. Don’t waste time, effort and investment on creating a social relationship when there isn’t a genuine consumer need for one.

2) If you find that your consumers do want a social relationship with you, find out what kind of relationship they want. Not all consumers, brands and categories want the same kind of social interaction with brands. Some want very superficial relationships, i.e. “tell me when your new product comes out” and some want very deep relationships i.e. “let me work with you to develop new products that really meet my needs”. Knowing where your consumer fits along this scale is important, because otherwise you potentially over invest in an experience that the consumer ultimately doesn’t want or under invest in an experience that fails to meet the consumer’s needs or expectations. read the full post here

I’m now coming to the realisation that there is so much to the social media stuff that I am unable to devote enough time, energy and brain cells to it, I have a business to run! At some point I can see myself having to employ someone to help me.

I hope this has been a help with starting to get you on the right track on  how to use social media for business. How are you coping  with social media in your business? Leave a comment so that we can help each  other.

 

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Filed Under: Small Business Social Media Tagged With: , ,
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