Nicholas Bate

10 Ways to Boost Business at your Deli

1. Think systems: which way do we queue? What happens if we just want a coffee-to-go?
2. Open a couple of minutes early, rather than late.
3. Make sure everything looks clean, fresh and best of best. Your sun-dried tomatoes may be superb, but they don't look it in that cheap plastic bowl.
4. Help us learn. About the cheeses and meats... Tell us. Pin up a guide.
5. Have a cheese/chutney/coffee of the day to make us curious. Allow us to sample.
6. Be green: eco containers. Eco bags.
7. Ask people how they found out about you: spot themes and use that channel for more business.
8. Change the window display regularly. Make it easy to buy with clear pricing.
9. Be attentive but not fussy. Ensure the experience is close to perfect.
10. Help us tell others. Give us a card with your details. 

Ten ways to boost business at your:

• garage
• cafe
• clothes shop
• bistro 

Ten Ways to Boost Business at your Bistro Restaurant/Cafe

1. It may be French, Spanish, Italian or even Portuguese. But give it a name we can say without sounding foolish.
2. Less is more. Do a few things well. Great (short) wine list. Great (short) desert list.
3. What do you want people to come to you for? Romance? Family? Ambiance? Amazing fish? Decide.
4. Light the candles on time.
5. Re-place the menus before they look tired and dirty.
6. Get clear, easy to read bills/checks with clear service/tipping policy. 
7. Ask people how they found out about you: spot themes and use that channel for more business.
8. Allow people to sit where they want. Not just to fill the window for you so you look busy.
9. Be attentive but not fussy. Ensure the experience is close to perfect.
10. Thank people for coming. Give them a card with your details. 

Ten ways to boost business at your:

• garage
• cafe
• clothes shop

Making it Happen

I was in the City (of London, that is) early yesterday morning. The Starbucks opened at 0629. The manager was up-front, cheerful. Getting the drinks flowing for the - as yet - low volume, but steady flow of customers. Between servings he was coaching - discretely - his team on how to make the best of the food display. He was making it happen.
I walked across to the conference centre for 0730 to set up for the work-shop. The manager of the centre - to get to work - had cycled to Maidenhead station, where he had left his bicycle. Caught the train to Paddington. Run (yes, run) from Paddington to Tower Hill where the conference centre is. He does that five days a week. He was making it happen.
At 1730 as I headed to the tube line, I bought an Evening Standard from the seller who was surrounded by free newsapper issuers. He was cheerful, funny and thanked me for for my business. All for 50p. Transaction after transaction.He was making it happen.
Whatever you do today: make it happen.

You can't afford to be a commodity

because if you are you will only be able to sell on price and thus you will have to discount and thus you will lose margin and thus you will be stuffed. You must create difference. But what if you don't really have any? They offer it in red, you offer it in red; they do 24 by 7 service, so do you. Then you must differentiate through superior skill: by getting them to percieve that you offer difference. Sure, you both offer red but yours is a better red. Sure you both offer 24 by 7 service but yours comes with a smile. You just need to work harder. Ask more, listen more. Sell more. The simple process of that will differentiate. Can you do that? Sure. That's your real USP: you work just that bit harder which makes the difference.

1 Way to Get Great Clients

Don't mess about any longer: fire the dreadful client. That will immediately free up time for (1) searching for new quality clients (2) servicing your current great clients.

Give it some serious thought. Please.

5 Ways to Get More (Profitable) Money from your Small Business

1. Increase your prices/fees-just a little.
2. Chase your debts sooner and harder-just a little.
3. Reduce some costs-just a little.
4. Sell more in each transaction-just a little.
5. Start today: a few 'just a little's will have a huge impact.

How much a cup of coffee?

Whether you are in London, Paris, New York or Moscow it's early in the morning and you want a cup of coffee. How much will you pay? It depends; here in London you could pay anything from 50p through to £4.00 and I'm sure some readers will know of prices beyond those ranges at either end. Are those prices fair? Some seem ridiculously high; some seem worringly cheap!

Yes, they are all fair. Because people pay for them. A price is fair if it is sustained, if it is of value to the person wanting it. How much a bottle of water on a cold winter's day when you are perfectly hydrated? And on a blisteringly hot summer's day and you are 'parched'?

When setting your prices, move away from the defensive and just watching your competition. Build the value and defend the price.

And you are still wondering why...

...to start your own business? Then read this. Choose your favourite ten and re/re-read them every day until you launch. Good luck.

WOM accelerators

Undoubtedly, the best way to boost business is through great word-of mouth. This will happen naturally over time if your product and/or service is good. Can you accelerate the process?

Yes:
ask people to do more word-of-mouth ('please tell your friends').
ask people for real references from real people. Publish these references.
remind people who you would like them to tell (the IT director? their girlfriend?).
make it easy for them: give them a simple story ('it really is the best pizza-dedicated Italian restaurant in California').
go-back to the originators of word-of-mouth and thank them.

Back to Business...

Here in the UK, the 'Back to School' signs in shops have been up for weeks; various retailers waste no time in convincing you NOW is the time to get a new protracter, football socks and a new school tie. Of course, those of us in business can't relax either as the new term looms:

Back to Business

Top Technology
Are you doing all you can in this area to make your life as easy as possible? And do remember easy and ready access to e-mail does not necessarily make life easier. Perhaps be radical and ditch some technology? Finally technology is generally relatively so cheap that if your employer won't pay: get it yourself. If it helps work/life balance it's worth it many, many times over.

Looking Good?
Maybe it's time for a new suit? A proper overcoat? Unfortunately many do judge by appearances. Dress as you wish to be perceived. I know you can get away with jeans.......Take a fresh look at your appearance for the new term.

What's on the syllabus?
The great thing about being in business as opposed to school or college is that you don't have to work their tedious syllabus: you can make up your own. You do have one don't you? Otherwise it's a little tricky to pass the exam....

Sorry to mention it....but there is an exam to be passed.
Is every one clear what it is? What's needed for a pass? A distinction? Cool.

Welcome to the new term. (You may like this: How to be Topp)