Here’s something to think about. As small business owners can we help our own businesses by supporting other small businesses in our local area. Here’s two ideas as reported in The Montreal Gazette

Visit a small business more regularly When you are shopping or out for dinner, think about how you can support a locally owned independent business. When we are out to the mall or the big box store, we miss out on fantastic opportunities for unique products and better customer service. We need to support local entrepreneurs who take huge risks to create jobs and pay taxes to support us all.

Pay with cash or Interac Few Canadians realize how much paying with credit cards costs small merchants – 2% to 3% of the entire sale (including sales taxes) goes to the credit card company and bank in fees. Paying with Interac or cash saves small companies a fortune and helps them keep prices down for consumers.

Just saying it’s an idea. This could turn out to be a win/win. Start talking to the business owner or manager and see were it leads. It could take a little out of the box thinking to see how the businesses could work together so try and  find common ground. Maybe there are areas of your businesses that are complementary or you have common interests that could lead to events run together . By taking this step you could end up in working together on promotions, saving costs by buying bulk marketing materials, sharing costs at school fundraising days, buying a table (jointly) at a charity dinner for you best customers, the list is endless. Then take that next step & get another local business to join in. Next thing you know you have a local business support/ networking group.Just take that first step to support each other, it just might work and help your small business to grow.

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Do you need some easy to understand and implement tips and help for your small business. The tips below have been sourced from the Coin Laundry Association website, written by Bob Nieman but are very relevant for any business.

Don’t lower your vend pricing as a substitute for a real marketing strategy.

Have the confidence in your store, your staff and your services not to lower your vend prices in an effort to win business. Focus on prospective customers who will value the quality laundry environment your store can provide them. Leave the price wars to your competitors.

Promote your business regularly and consistently.

Too often the task of promoting a small business slips to the bottom of the to-do list in the press of urgent tasks. If you want to attract new customers, you have to make promotion a priority. In 2012, resolve to take the time to create a real, honest-to-goodness marketing plan, and then follow through.

Meet with your customers and vendors face to face.

Stop relying on e-mail, Facebook and the telephone as exclusive ways to communicate with your clients. Spend a little more time in your store. Stop by to personally visit with your commercial clients. Even in a social media world, deep and long-lasting business relationships are still built IRL (In Real Life).

Attend at least one industry event.

A big part of success in any business is to never stop learning from others. Attend a CLA affiliate meeting, go to your local distributor’s open house event and perhaps sign up yourself and your staff for a manufacturer’s service school in 2012. (And while you’re attending one of these events, don’t “cheat” by spending the entire day working on issues that are happening back at your store.)

Give something back to your community.

There are all kinds of worthy organizations that make a difference in your community. Make a resolution to find a cause that matters to you, and give what you can. Make this the year that you serve on a committee, be a mentor, volunteer or make regular donations to the groups in your community that try to make the place you live a better place. And those that give get.

Invest in yourself and learn at least one new skill.

Old dogs can learn new tricks. You most likely invest in training for your laundry’s attendants. This is the year to look at becoming proficient in an area where you are less than confident. Only you know what that may be.

Understand your business’ financial statements each month.

Many laundry owners are too busy to check or don’t understand their financial statements. Make a commitment to learn what the profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements mean to your business, and use them as a guide for future action. Don’t simply delegate that understanding to your bookkeeper or accountant.

Be proud to be a small-business owner.

Above all, celebrate the huge achievement of creating and maintaining a company during these tough times, and helping your customers and employees through it. You are, quite literally, the future of this industry – and this country. Stand tall.

 

I trust this has given you something to consider and that you can apply these tips in your small business. When reading them you will be forgiven for thinking they are so basic, yet it’s the basics we often neglect & need to reaffirm from time to time.

Has this been of benefit to you?