by theEmother | Feb 24, 2014 | build a Mother of a Business, business ideas & thinking, Finish Unfinished Business, so you think you're in business, start with the end in mind, the business model
The warning that middle-of-the-road retailers would have to change or die was sounded as far back as 2003, in the marketing manual “Trading Up,” by Michael J. Silverstein and Neil Fiske. Because consumers had so much information and so many options, the authors explained, people were shifting their spending habits: they “traded down,” or saved money, on products when they cared only about getting the lowest price, and “traded up,” or paid more, for goods that were especially fashionable or functional.
That pattern has persisted through boom, bust, and feeble recovery. “It’s the segmentation of the American population that’s killing Sears and J. C. Penney—their inability to respond to the needs of heartland consumers, who remain a very rich force in the world of retail, who spend a lot of money and love to go shopping, still,” Silverstein, a senior partner and managing director at the Boston Consulting Group.
Great article! Read more here
“love to go shopping, still”
No doubt about it. Thinking of my own shopping habits… the amount of shopping done has not diminished much but the way I do it has. How about you?
If your way of shopping has altered, what about your customers and clients?
Are you where they are?
If not why not?
What do you know need to do differently?
by theEmother | Feb 21, 2014 | build a Mother of a Business, business ideas & thinking, BUY a Business, Buy a Mother of a Business, Consultant EXIT Options, EXIT execution, exit strategy, Finish Unfinished Business, growth by acquisition, how to sell a business, Sell Your Business, SELL your Mother of a Business, Sellability Score, so you think you're in business, start with the end in mind, TEMpting, the business model
How Saleable is Your Business in 2014?
How Saleable do you want Your Business 2014?
What are you waiting for? GET YOUR SCORE…
Continuing to spend much of this week working on one particular sale and exploring the sale option with a number of Business Owners keen to chat.
The discussion about what constitutes an Online Business is one I am continually having at the moment . Just because a Business Owner calls it so doesn’t mean others agree. What’s happened with the few I’ve spoken to this week, the business definitely has an online frontend but the backend is still being fulfilled manually, either by the owner or a contractor.
So, is that an Online Business or not?
Really?
GOT A WEBSITE FOR SALE?
My conversation with the 2 website owners continued this week, exploring the sale option. Good sites too. If you want to do same or you’re looking to buy a website (excellent bolt-on possibilities), please email me at dhall@businessbrokers.com.au
And you…what does 2014 bring?
If any of the following tickle your fancy, please email me at dhall@businessbrokers.com.au, letting me know which one it is…
FOR SALE…
BS30 Online Venue Business
Completed Sellability Score
One meeting booked for March. The main focus is on the custom-built technology platform this business runs on.
BS43 Tourism
SOLD!
BS49 Home Help…
One party is very interested. The potential has been well and truly revealed so it’s down to price and the level of comfort required to “pull the trigger”, as they say in the classics! Final questions being flagged now, prior to an offer being made (hopefully!).
BS53 Balloons! and all that goes with them…
Such corporate appeal, so untapped. It’s waiting for the savvy operator that can see past the retail component and tap into it’s possibility as a warehouse servicing the larger players. Completed the database trawl, with a number of calls being made. 4 put their hand up to receive the CA so that’s a positive start..
BS57 Online Business
Signed good to go. It’s making money! Have received signed authority’s and in the process of developing the IM now. Stay tuned.
Others I’m talking too.. are you interested in?
- a particular event
- project management of large Melbourne events
- corporate cleaning offering
- specialty educational toys
- “experiential” advertising and events provider
- niche in building trade (via Sellability Score)
If yes, let me know as these revealed themselves this week…
Exploring the Sale Option?
GET YOUR SCORE…
Onwards and Upwards!
by theEmother | Feb 18, 2014 | build a Mother of a Business, business ideas & thinking, Consultant EXIT Options, entrepreneurial mothers, MEinc, so you think you're in business, start with the end in mind, the business model
HOW FREELANCERS ARE REDEFINING SUCCESS TO BE ABOUT VALUE, NOT WEALTH
Time is a new currency and successful freelancers manage, save, and spend it wisely.
Freelancers often work independently, but being “on your own” doesn’t mean “going it alone.” Freelancing successfully means building a network to line up new gigs, passing assignments to others when things are busy, and getting referrals from friends when they’re not.
To read more of this Fast Company article, click here.
Sounds easy doesn’t it?
For those who have been in the consulting game for many years (and still are to some extent), like your’s truly, knowing all this logically and DOing the activity required can be poles apart.
So I ask you, how well are you spending your time?
Is it working for you?
Are you generating enough money to live on?
If not, why not?
What are you going to do about it?
Rest assured, there are options available to you, if you are open to what’s on offer.
If now is the time to start exploring what these are, please contact me on info@theentrepreneurialmother.com
by theEmother | Feb 14, 2014 | build a Mother of a Business, BUY a Business, Buy a Mother of a Business, EXIT execution, exit strategy, Finish Unfinished Business, growth by acquisition, how to sell a business, Online Strategy incl. www, Sell Your Business, SELL your Mother of a Business, Sellability Score, so you think you're in business, start with the end in mind, TEMpting, the business model
How Saleable is Your Business in 2014?
How Saleable do you want Your Business 2014?
What are you waiting for? GET YOUR SCORE…
Spent much of this week working on one particular sale and continuing to explore the sale option with a number of Business Owners keen to chat.
Speaking of chatting, I caught up with a colleague of mine from the consulting game yesterday and he was saying that a number of consultants he knows are not particularly happy with the consulting path they’ve chosen, mainly because the DIY component is just too much.
But, given most of them are way too young to stop doing something and their job prospects are not looking promising, what else are they to do? BUY A BUSINESS of course!
There is a growing sense that now is the time to buy a business, especially if looking for a capped price. The reason being is that as more quality businesses come on to the market (as they are predicted to do), the prices will rise. So if you want to talk to me about your long held wish of being a business owner, seems like now would be the time to do so…
GOT A WEBSITE FOR SALE?
I was introduced to 2 website owners this week, who are now exploring the sale option. Good sites too. If you want to do same or you’re looking to buy a website (excellent bolt-on possibilities), please email me at dhall@businessbrokers.com.au
And you…what does 2014 bring?
If any of the following tickle your fancy, please email me at dhall@businessbrokers.com.au, letting me know which one it is…
FOR SALE…
BS30 Online Venue Business
Completed Sellability Score
2 new inquiries have come through and waiting to hear back from them
BS43 Tourism
Deposit locked and loaded. Settlement now set for February 17. Mainly due to last minute Legal consultation queries! When it’s a good thing, it pays to act quickly.
BS49 Home Help…
One party is very interested. The potential has been well and truly revealed so it’s down to price and the level of comfort required to “pull the trigger” as they say in the classics!
BS53 Balloons! and all that goes with them…
Such corporate appeal, so untapped. It’s waiting for the savvy operator that can see past the retail component and tap into it’s possibility as a warehouse servicing the larger players. And it probably needs to be a local. Shall do a database trawl and see what that reveals too.
BS57 Online Business
Signed good to go. It’s making money! Have received signed authority’s and in the process of developing the IM now. Stay tuned.
Others I’m talking too.. are you interested in?
- a particular event
- event management
- corporate cleaning offering
- specialty educational toys
- “experiential” advertising and events provider
- niche in building trade (viz Sellability Score)
If yes, let me know as these revealed themselves this week…
Exploring the Sale Option?
GET YOUR SCORE…
Onwards and Upwards!
by theEmother | Feb 11, 2014 | build a Mother of a Business, business ideas & thinking, Consultant EXIT Options, entrepreneurial mothers, Finish Unfinished Business, MEinc, so you think you're in business, start with the end in mind, the business model
you can’t WIN unless you first begin, so START now…
Continuing on from last weeks post…
Organising your thoughts first and then your business…
Right Thinking leads to Right Actions
First we THINK about what we want to do.
Having thought it, we must DO it. To that end…
1. Create a story about your business
Your story should be an idealised version, a vision of what the preeminent in your field should be and why. Your story must become the very heart of your business. It must become the spirit that mobilises it, as well as everyone who works for it, buys from it, sells to it and lend to it.
2. Organise your business so that it breathes Life into your Story
Unless your business can faithfully replicate your story-in-action it all becomes fiction.
- identify the key functions of your business
- identify the essential processes that link those functions
- identify the results you have determined your business will produce
- clearly state in writing how each phase will work
- take it step-by-step
3. Engage your people in the process
“What do I want?” becomes the first question; not, “What do they want?”
Be clear with yourself. And if it’s only you, then so be it!
It’s important to know:
a) exactly what you want?
b) how you intend to proceed?
c) whats important to you and what isn’t?
d) what you want the business to be, how you want it to act, and where you want it to go?
The story is paramount, because it is your Vision.
You must Love your Story for it to become a reality.
Tell stories that come to Life in the form of the business.
