Become a Green Company – The Sooner the Better

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter May -- June 2008              Volume 5 -- Issue 22 Exactly how green is GREEN?  Regardless of your views of Al Gore and his global warming crusade, he is managing to bring a topic that long bubbled in the background to a full boil. It's impossible to pick up a magazine or newspaper, turn on a TV or radio, or log onto the Internet without being confronted about global warming, sustainability, green design, green products or green companies.  Have you thought about how your organization can become a green company? Before the recent flood [...]

By |2017-02-18T06:50:12-05:00May 21st, 2008|Newsletter, Strategy, Trends|

Prepare Marketing Strategy for Outside Influences on Your Small Business

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter  January - February 2008            Volume 5 -- Issue 20   The 2007 Fortune 'Top 100 Best Companies to Work For' is out. Once again, several of our own have made that coveted list.  Milliken ranked 92nd , Herman Miller ranked  96th and Sherwin Williams was ranked 98th on the list.  Milliken  provides extensive hours each year for professional training of its staff, having an on-site fitness center, and allowing for telecommuting.  It was recognized for having a diverse workforce: 40% of their employees are minorities and 39% are women. They also have a strong nondiscrimination policy. Herman Miller was cited for their job [...]

By |2017-02-18T03:19:27-05:00January 18th, 2008|Market Planning, Marketing, Newsletter, Strategy|

Expand Your Product Line Through Innovation to Increase Revenues

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter September - October 2007               Volume 4 - Issue 18   Just when you think you know everything there is to know about rubber bands!  I recently returned from speaking at the S.P. Richards' Advanced Business Conference in Nashville.  Attendees were owners of smaller office product and furniture dealerships. What an event! Energy levels were high and excitement abounded the entire four days. I walked the exhibit floor to learn about the audience I would be addressing.  There were not only office furnishings on display, but every type of pen, paper, pencil, art supply, adhesive, paper [...]

By |2017-02-25T02:57:18-05:00September 15th, 2007|Innovation, Newsletter, Strategy|

Innovation: Essential Strategy for Small Business Growth & Success

  'Designing Strategies' Newsletter July - August 2007                Volume 4 - Issue 17     One of the brightest innovations I’ve seen lately comes from the people who brought me my first box of crayons...Crayola.  To be more precise, it was Binney & Smith, Inc. who brought pure joy to my childhood.  What child didn't have a box of Crayola crayons in their toy box?  Once they gave the world a box of eight colors in the early 1900's, they increased color choices to 16, then 24, 48 and 64, and beyond.  Innovation is necessary to grow [...]

By |2017-02-24T18:21:44-05:00July 17th, 2007|Growth, Innovation, Newsletter, Strategy|

Prepare for a Mass Migration of Baby Boomers Toward Retirement

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter May - June 2007               Volume 4 - Issue 16   A crucial business facet that can be affected by the mass migration of Baby Boomers toward retirement is your company's market share and sales volume. If your business has been built over the years through contacts and influence with people of this age demographic, you may soon see that valued network disappearing. Your sales volume and market share may well disappear with them. If you are gambling on continued success based on an existing and static group of customers, you could be in for a [...]

By |2017-02-24T03:07:03-05:00May 24th, 2007|Generations, Market Planning, Newsletter, Strategy|

Designing Strategies for Success in the New Year

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter January - February 2007               Volume 4 - Issue 14   We've all managed to make it through the year end rush. There is always so much that goes along with the November and December holidays. Then there is New Year's Eve with parties and celebrations that leave us exhausted as we face the new year. The exhaustion seems to be just the right mood to watch the football playoff games on New Years day. It may not make a lot of sense, but unfortunately, seems to be the way it works out.  Hopefully, somewhere [...]

By |2017-02-24T03:08:27-05:00January 15th, 2007|Newsletter, Strategic Planning, Strategy|

Globally Diverse Workforce Can Bring Innovation and High Profitability

'Designing Strategies' newsletter November - December 2006                Volume 3 - Issue 13   The terms 'global village' and 'global economy' have been bandied about for quite some time. Maybe it's in a discussion on out-sourcing or off-shoring.  It might be uneven trade levels or immigration issues.  Clearly,  'global' is a hot business issue with both proponents and opponents.    The reality of expanding globalization for most industries is here.  But, there still seem to be those who think it doesn't exist or that it can be avoided.  Rest assured, a diverse workforce is the reality of the very [...]

By |2017-03-13T02:02:29-04:00November 19th, 2006|Employees, Generations, Newsletter, Strategy|

Loyal and Profitable Customers – Greatest Assets of a Small Business

'Designing Strategies' newsletter September - October 2006               Volume 3 - Issue 12   Image: freedigitalphotos.net | dream designs Is your customer base eroding, and your market share declining? Neither situation is unusual. Every year, most businesses expect to lose some customers and hopefully gain new ones to replace them. But, are you finding the percentage of customers leaving you for your competitors is extremely high? Or, is the number of new customers not significant enough to replace lost customers?  The solution is to fill our contacts list with loyal and profitable customers to stop the decline [...]

By |2017-03-11T10:21:44-05:00September 18th, 2006|Customer Relationships, Newsletter, Strategy|

Involve Your Employees to Improve Processes and Productivity

'Designing Strategies' newsletter July - August 2006               Volume 3 - Issue 11   My favorite philosopher, Ziggy, the cartoon character, always has something profound to say in his little square of comic page real estate. The latest to catch my eye found Ziggy staring at a sign on the wall with an 'X' in the middle of a maze. In bold type across the top was printed: “You Are Here”, with an arrow pointing to the 'X'. Below the maze in smaller type it read: “…that's ALL you need to know for now!”  Not much of a [...]

By |2017-03-11T10:25:51-05:00July 16th, 2006|Employees, Leadership, Newsletter, Strategy|

Basic Market Research You Can Do In Your Small Business

'Designing Strategies' newsletter  March - April 2006               Volume 3 - Issue 10   Characteristics of failed businesses include lack of sufficient funding, lack of planning and lack of a vision of where and how owners want the business to grow and succeed.  Statistics show only one in three new business start-ups survive past their second year.  Those with sufficient financing and a clear direction enjoy a much greater chance for success.  Basic market research can also bolster your chances of success. Have you reached a plateau or stumbling block in your business?  Are you unsure how to get past it to move [...]

By |2017-03-08T02:53:11-05:00March 15th, 2006|Customer Relationships, Market Research, Newsletter, Strategy|
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