Rhonda Abrams At Gannett News Service:
I’ve heard a lot of doom and gloom from small-business owners lately. After all, the economy stinks. Headlines scream at us: Consumer confidence is down, unemployment is up. Housing prices are down, business closings are up.
In the face of all that, I have a piece of advice, “Pull up your pants!”
Heck, those of us who have small businesses don’t have to read the news to know times are tough. We see what’s happening in our own businesses. Costs are up, sales are down. We have fewer customers, and the customers we have place smaller orders.
Nevertheless, I say again — in the words of President-elect Barack Obama — “Pull up your pants!”
Here are ways to pull up your pants, roll up your sleeves, and survive, even thrive:
• Sit down and plan.
• Look for new markets and new customers.
• Retain current customers.
• Position yourself as the less-expensive alternative.
• Look for digital solutions.
• Get out there and make sales.Most importantly, make up your mind: Are you going to be one of the fatalities or one of the survivors? Are you going to let the times overwhelm you or learn to change with the times? If you want to be one of the winners instead of one of the losers, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and pull up your pants!
Photo by Freedom Foundation.
SEO Software on November 25th, 2008 at 9:07 am
One new market (bullet point number 2) is the bargain hunting consumer.
If you can appeal to this demographic in in today’s world you could have a product or company that defies financial trends
Curt on November 25th, 2008 at 9:32 am
We need a new generation of leaders to rise up and start building the businesses that will take the economy into the future. But first, they will need to put down their Game-Boys and turn off the TV. We need leaders to work their butts off to build new businesses and create new jobs.
cassy on November 25th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Its really the hardest times now, especially here in our place. Everything is high. Many company are closing there businesses. Lots of people are working to other countries to find a better earning.
Governments have a huge role. With the right policies and a global framework, we can generate economic growth.
Jaclyn on November 26th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I really agree…as a small business owner you know time’s are tough right now, and the simple answer would be to bow out, count your blessings and move on to something new…but now is the time to pull it together and really think about what kind of business owner you are…the one who call’s it quits and never know’s if you could have made it through the tough time or the one who roll’s up your sleeves and get’s ready for the tough time and look’s forward to the light of day and a better tomorrow.