Category: Business Blog

If there’s one thing that’s important when you’ve got a busy office to run, it’s everyone working like clockwork, supporting each other and making sure that all of the tasks for the day are completed on time and properly. However, like with any job you can come across tension in the office which can greatly disrupt the flow of work and affect how smoothly your business is run. It’s important to make sure that everyone in the office is remaining professional and getting on with work, but working relationships are also important too because working with someone that makes your life uneasy can affect how productive you are. That’s why you need to ensure that there’s harmony in the office, so take a look at these tips on how to keep your staff running like clockwork.

Build solid working relationships

As mentioned above, working relationships are important and usually, they are formed without any interjection from the boss. However, with so many different personalities around the world you cannot expect these to always form naturally. You should make time to get all of your staff together so that you can do team building exercises together. This includes learning to be able to trust everyone that you’re working with and also airing out any problems that you or your staff feel are lurking. Read here why team building is important so that you can get a better view on how important it is to build solid working relationships.

Provide for your staff to gain the biggest returns

It’s no secret that if you’re given something from your boss that you will immediately respect them more. This isn’t to say that you should be bribing your staff, in fact it’s far from the opposite. Giving them everything they need to keep themselves alert and focused is imperative to a smooth running business. Simple things like providing free refreshments for them to help themselves to will immediately earn their respect. While you don’t want your staff constantly meeting around the kettle it’s also important to have them alert so that they can produce high quality work. All you need to do is find the balance.

Revamp the office

Sometimes the problem isn’t necessarily within your team, it could be the office itself that’s distracting and causing people not to produce their best work. Make sure that the office isn’t too bright or too dark, that there’s fresh air and enough warmth, and also that there isn’t anything that could be distracting like large artwork or sounds from outside. Revamp the office so that you and your staff have higher productivity levels.

Communication is key

Finally, be sure to include all of your staff in a weekly meeting so that you can praise them for their hard work, update them on need to know information, and also address any issues that have cropped up. Effective communication will allow you to have permanent harmony in the office and have everyone working like clockwork.

If you run a company that regularly requires the use of a third-party supplier, then you might be wondering how you can find the best value for money. It doesn’t matter if you’re running a hairdressers, a bakery or even an office–you need to keep in mind the value proposition when supplying your business.

However, finding the “best” supplier is often more than a question of price. It’s about the level of service you get, the reliability of their service and also the relationship that you foster. There are many ways to find the right suppliers for your business, and here are a couple of tips to help make that process easier.

Speak with businesses that are willing to negotiate

There should never be a set price on anything especially if you’re planning on buying in bulk. Things should always be negotiable, but if you do find a business willing to discuss payment plans or discounts, then try and build a healthy working relationship with them. If you’re able to find businesses that want to talk instead of just stick to the same pricing structure, then it means they’re willing to invest their money, effort and money into growing a business relationship with you. This is admirable and the opportunity shouldn’t be passed up.

If you work in construction or a similar industry, you can find dependable suppliers that can also help your business fulfill promises to clients. Researching reliable lifting services gives you the option to rent rather than buy outright, which can save your business money and enables you to focus your investments on better quality materials.

Reaching out to multiple suppliers

One of the most devastating things that could happen to a business is to run out of supplies because their supplier no longer exists or no longer supplies something crucial they need. In cases like this, you’ll need to look for other suppliers and the race to equip your business with all the right equipment and tools will cause mayhem. If you’re unlucky, then it will also cause your own business to slow to a crawl as you recuperate and try to find a new supplier. To remedy this, you’ll need to reach out to multiple suppliers.

Always consider local over global or national

Local businesses are usually always better to contact as opposed to national or global businesses. For instance, if you’re a construction company or work in carpentry, then a local timber supplier such as George Hill Timber is far better than hiring a company overseas. While the costs may be slightly higher at a local business, it’s much easier to see the product yourself, to see how it’s collected or manufactured and it also means faster delivery times.

Some final words

Finding the right supplier is always a challenge. It’s a time-consuming process that involves a lot of trial and error and communication with different businesses, but if you’re willing to pour in some effort then it can save your business a lot of money in the future. The relationships you create with other businesses are important and you need to use your network of contacts if you want to be a successful company.

While most online marketing, is, well, online, there are a few notable exceptions. One of these is the blogger meet-up, the chance to get a whole heap of influencers in the same room and exposure them to your product and brand. With that in mind, here’s how your small business needs to approach this opportunity to ensure you get the maximum return on your investment.

Don’t spend more than you hope to gain.

One essential aspect to maximizing your return when being involved with a blogger meet up event is to try and quantify the advantage in the market you will gain from this action. The reason that this is so important is that these events can end up costing a lot of money, and if you don’t have an idea of the sort of return it can bring, you can end up spending way more than is prudent.

Also, remember that while your visual game needs to be on point, as discussed below, there are some smart ways that you can save money on the materials you need to dress you stand or area.

In particular researching wholesale price tablecloths, banners, and any other decorative resources you are going to be using can help you ensure you are getting the best quality items that will make your stand shine for the lowest possible price. Something that is essential if you want to make sure that your attendance at a blogger meet-up is financially justifiable.   

Get your visuals right.

Next, do not forget that the way you stand is visually dressed can have a huge impact on whether it appeals to the bloggers that are attending or not. Traditionally branded items like banners, business cards do have a place, but usually, the vibe at these meet-ups is more informal and focused on fun.

With that in mind try and create something original that the bloggers will enjoy like decking your area out like a tearoom, beach, or give it a luxury pampering vibe. Remember you want it to stand out and be linked to your brand so it will stick in their minds and help you get better visibility for your company.

Freebies are the name of the game.

Lastly, the real nitty-gritty of these blogger meet-ups is providing attendees with the chance of sampling your products. The best way by far to do this is to offer as many freebies as you can. People love free stuff, and sending them home with a gift bag jammed packed full of samples of your products, along with other delightful things like coupons and sweet treats can help them hold your business in high regard.

Vlogger unboxings are great marketing you can secure through meetups.

Also, you increase the chance of being reviewed on their blog or vlog with freebies, something that truly is the main aim of the game with these sorts of meetups. Remember to get their contact details as well, so you can send them further packages to unbox on their blogs and channels. Something that will enable you to continue to tap this very valuable form of marketing even after the event.