In the past few years there has been a wave of small businesses opening across the country, individuals and small groups thinking they want to turn that idea into a business, or thinking they are tired of working for someone else. They want more flexibility, less dependence on others, and they want to do something […]
Public Houses : A British Institution Going Downhill
The last few decades have seen a rapid decrease in the number of pubs around our fair isles. A fresh report from Camra, Campiagn for Real ale, suggests that as many as 31 pubs close down every week. And the total number of pubs is at an all-time low – 54 490 across the UK. […]
Fact: Customers Want Loyalty Programs
One simple, irrevocable fact of human psyche is that we love a bargain and a saving. This is why loyalty programs and discount systems are so popular – but not all are equally profitable for a business.
5 Types of Customers and How to Deal with Them
Having extensive experience in retail, both as a customer and as a salesperson, and dealing with customers on a regular basis even now, ithas become apparent to me that there are 5 types of customers, all with their own characteristics to the joy or despair of the person behind the till. Read on, and see […]
Why Focusing on Loyalty is the Smartest Way to Growing Your Business
Loyalty card, schmoyalty card. What is loyalty? It seems there is a lot of confusion going around about what exactly loyalty means. Many people seem to think of it as huge discounts, scandalous offers and unbeatable deals. But that isn’t loyalty – it’s the opposite. It’s shopping around, without being loyal to anyone, basing the […]
Why Social Media Really Matters
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Bloggr, Instagram, MySpace (whoa, that’s a blast from the past), LinkedIn, Google+…..aaargh! The list goes on, and it can be a headache trying to sort out even one functioning social media account. However if you’re a small business, the rewards for doing so could be great. Here are 6 things to keep […]
ScandiKitchen – From Startup to Successful Business
Once upon a time, more specifically in 2006, two lost Scandis paced the corporate streets of London looking for the comforting foods from their long left behind native lands. ’Twas nowhere to be found, and so came the idea of Scandi Kitchen to life. So the story goes. Today, 8 years later, the café has […]
5 things that will make your coffee shop stand out
Follow my blog with Bloglovin We are huge fans of independent cafés, and are on an unofficial mission to try them all! This is an extreme but enjoyable task, but we happily overindulge on caffeine and sweet treats to continue this arduous task. All in the name of supporting small businesses! We have had numerous cups […]
Let’s Talk About the Sandwich
The Great British Sandwich We all know them, those oddly uniformly looking triangular pieces of bread with some indistinguishable filling and – if you’re lucky – a few green bits (1 of your 5 a day!). Every shop has them, ranging from the humble cheese and pickle to the more flamboyant chèvre, pear and walnut […]
A Dying Breed: Bustling High Streets
Back in the day, the high street was the place to go. It was a place for specialist shops with knowledgeable staff, and anyone looking for quality products went there to do their shopping. This was before the digital age, and the remise we have experienced in the last couple of decades is partly to […]