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Technology Levels the Playing Field Between Big and Small Businesses

Not long ago, there was a vast chasm between what Big Business and smaller, Mom-and-Pop startups could accomplish.  Why?  The biggest differentiation was the size of their budgets.  Big Biz could easily afford to put themselves in front of potential customers on a grand scale.  They could afford splashy advertising with celebrity endorsements in big name national and international magazines.  They could afford to regularly market on radio and television. Small business budgets were limited mostly to local publications, direct mail, flyers and bill boards.  Most could not even afford a marketing specialist, so the owner took on that task.  [...]

By |2017-09-25T19:08:43-04:00September 24th, 2017|Systems and Processes, Technology|
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Get Your Small Business Growing: Off the Treadmill and Onto a Conveyor

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter September - October, 2017                                         Volume 14  --  Issue 79   Do you find yourself doing the same things in your business that you did last week, last month or even last year?  Not good.  You have reached a plateau where  you are comfortable and decided to stay put?  Really not good.  You know what happens when something sits still in the same place don't you?  If you've ever watched 'American Pickers' on the History channel, you'll understand that [...]

By |2018-01-05T03:40:43-05:00September 22nd, 2017|Growth, Newsletter, Systems and Processes|
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Employee Recognition Programs Help Recruit and Retain Great Staff

It seems there is never neutral ground when it comes to recruiting and retaining top talent to move companies forward.  On the employee side of the conversation, we hear that there are no good jobs available.  Or, they say that what jobs are available offer pay and benefit packages that are unimpressive.  Attracting and keeping top talent takes time and planning on how you can find, engage, recruit then motivate good employees.   Part of motivation should include an employee recognition program. On the other side, employers complain that there just aren’t enough good workers out there to fill vacancies they [...]

By |2017-08-27T00:22:26-04:00August 28th, 2017|Employees, Systems and Processes|
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8 Important Management Factors That Affect Small Businesses

'Designing Strategies' newsletter March - April, 2017            Volume 14  -  Issue 76   There are eight important management factors identified by Neil C. Churchill and Virginia L. Lewis in the Harvard Business Review.  They apply equally to any small business start up.  Four of the factors apply to the business owner.  The other four apply to the small business itself.  Their research noted factors that affect both the small business owner and the business entity itself.  Those factors are as follows: Important Management Factors for the Business Owner Personal and Business Goals Without specific, clear [...]

By |2017-04-21T01:31:04-04:00April 21st, 2017|Newsletter, Strategic Management, Systems and Processes|
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Customer Experiences and Service: Become a Customer-Focused Operation

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter  May - June 2009                Volume 6 - Issue 28   Designing Ways To Survive Turbulent Times Are you looking for ways to survive these turbulent times?  Trying to get designers into your showroom, or help a distributor attract new customers? We have a number of continuing education programs on a variety of business topics specifically suited for the issues we’re all facing.  New topics now being presented include “Develop Your On-line Presence”  and “Move Your Firm's Customer Experience to WOW!”  Other presentations on industry trends and topics like generational diversity – designing for the generations, marketing and selling to the generations or recruiting [...]

By |2017-02-08T04:02:47-05:00May 16th, 2009|Customer Experience, Newsletter, Systems and Processes|
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Hidden Leaders May Be Your Best Leaders

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter March -- April 2008               Volume 5 -- Issue 21   Where have all your leaders gone?  Are they really gone, or have you been totally overlooking them in search for someone from outside?  You know the leadership type everyone looks for:  someone with an MBA from a top ivy league university, years of experience, a designer suit and slick haircut.  Many times leaders are hiding in plain sight within your organization and you simply didn't notice your hidden leaders. Have you been ignoring hidden leaders within your organization?  Some may have been with your company [...]

By |2017-02-18T05:01:16-05:00March 18th, 2008|Leadership, Newsletter, Systems and Processes|
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Environmental Scanning and Scenario Planning For a More Secure Future

'Designing Strategies' newsletter November - December 2005               Volume 2 - Issue 8 As everyone prepares for, or finalizes their planning for the coming year, I hope your process involves environmental scanning and future scenarios.  These two important tools provide a basis for a solid foundation for your strategic plan. Without those elements, most plans remain just more of the same. There is little opportunity for your firm to expand and grow in new and exciting directions. Without knowing what is happening in the world around you, how can your company grow and expand?  An awareness of coming changes [...]

By |2017-03-27T20:31:45-04:00November 22nd, 2005|Newsletter, Strategic Planning, Systems and Processes, Trends|
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Crisis Management With Continuity Planning For Long-Term Business Survival

'Designing Strategies' newsletter September - October 2005               Volume 2 -  Issue 7   Crisis management with continuity planning should be prominently displayed on your radar scope.  Without planning, your business may well not survive even a small crisis situation.  Just for a moment, imagine your business located in New Orleans. Your facility is submerged in a lake of fetid water. Hopefully this was not reality for anyone reading this publication. But, if it were your reality, how prepared would you be? How would you know if your employees escaped safely? What would your business priorities be? Who is in [...]

By |2017-03-27T19:20:12-04:00September 20th, 2005|Newsletter, Strategic Management, Strategic Planning, Systems and Processes|
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Strategic Planning Score Card. How Else Will You Evaluate Your Success?

'Designing Strategies' newsletter July - August 2005               Volume 2 - Issue 6   We're already past the middle of the year.  Depending on when your fiscal year begins, you should be thinking about strategically planning for the next few years of a path toward success. Of course, you've been routinely tracking your progress, successes and failures alike. Will all goals and objective be met by year's end? Now, where did you put that plan after last year's retreat? Oh, there it is, sitting on the shelf collecting dust beside the business plan and policy manual. If this is [...]

By |2017-03-27T11:54:28-04:00July 18th, 2005|Newsletter, Strategic Planning, Systems and Processes|
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