I s s ue30•S e pt e mbe r / Oc t obe r2018
bus i ne s spa r t ne r t hema ga z i nef ors ma l l bus i ne s sowne r s
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Cont e nt s 0 2 MessagefromtheEditor 0 3 CanYouSpyOnYourEmployees? 0 5 ElectronicDetox:GoingOffTheGrid 0 9 TheMostImportantPartofGDPRCompliance 1 1
WhyHi r i nga nAppr e nc eCoul dBet heBoos tY ourBus i ne s s Ne e ds
1 3 AreYouADreamerOrAVisionary? 1 5 TopHackstoIncreaseYourBrandVisibility 1 9 Se ngupShop:ThingstoConsiderAsaNewRetailer
www. bus i ne s s pa r t ne r ma ga z i ne . c om
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E di t or S a ndr aHi ns he l wood
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L a y out&De s i g n S a ndr aHi ns he l wood& J a s mi neHi ns he l wood
I k nowt ha tt a k i ng meoffi sas t r ug g l ef orma nyofus . Asbus i ne s s owne r s , a swet e ndt obewor k a hol i c s !I nt hel a s ti s s uet he r ewa sa n e mpha s i sont a k i ng meout , a nda g a i nI woul dl i k et os t r e s st ha t t he r ea r ema nybe ne fit sofdoi ngs o, s uc ha si nc r e a s e dpr oducv i t y , r e duc e ds t r e s s , ne wi de a swhe ny our e t ur nr e f r e s he da ndr e v i v e d. Y ous houl dc ons i de ra ne l e c t r oni cde t oxa ndg oofft heg r i d. Hol i da y Co a g e ss ha r et her e a s onsWHY ?S howy ouHOW a ndt e l l y ou WHE RE . I fy ouc ompl a i nt ha ty ouha v et oomuc hwor kt odoa ndc a n’ tt a k e meoff, pe r ha psy ous houl dt hi nka bouthi r i nga na ppr e nc ewho wi l l bea bl et ot a k eons omeoft hewor k l oa ds . Re a dmor ei nt he a rc l e“ WhyHi r i nga nAppr e nc eCoul dBet heBoos tY ourBus i ne s s Ne e ds . ”
Bus i ne s sPa r t ne rMa g a z i ne i si s s ue dbi mont hl yby S a ndr aHi ns he l wood/ E ffe cv eWe bs i t eMa r k e ng 4 4( 0 ) 7 7 8 23 1 0 0 5 8 Arc l e si nBus i ne s sPa r t ne r Ma g a z i neha v ebe e n r e pr oduc e dwi t ht he pe r mi s s i onoft hea ut hor s . T hev i e wsr e fle c t e ddonot ne c e s s a r i l yr e fle c tt hev i e ws a ndopi ni onsoft hee di t or .
Ma yt he2 5 t hma r k e dt hede a dl i nef orGDPRc ompl i a nc e , butsl l ma nyor g a ni s aonsa r ey e tt oc ompl y . I fy oua r es t r ug g l i ng , y ou s houl dt a k eal ooka tt hea rc l e“ T heMos tI mpor t a ntPa r tofGDPR Compl i a nc e ”byKe nL y nc h. GDPRha sr a i s e dal otofque sonsa r oundda t aa ndpr i v a c y . A c ont r ov e r s i a l t opi ci st ha tofwor k pl a c emoni t or i nga ndwhe t he ri ti s l e g ima t e . I nt hea rc l e“ Ca nY ouS pyonY ourE mpl oy e e s ”Al a n Pr i c edi s c us s e st hel e g a l a s pe c tofmoni t or i nga nds ur v e i l l a nc e . T he r ea r ema nymor ei nf or mav ea rc l e swi t hi n. Ge tac uppa , put y ourf e e tupa ndt a k eal ooknow. T oy ours uc c e s s , S a ndr a
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Can You Spy On Your Employees? Although it can be a controversial topic amongst staff members, workplace monitoring is a legitimate, legal method that employers can utilise as a way of protecting their staff and business. Methods include maintaining CCTV systems, viewing internet browsing history, checking email traffic, listening in on telephone calls or conducting employee bag searches. However, recent research conducted by the TUC suggests a growing resentment to increased levels of monitoring, highlighting that more than half of UK workers believe they are watched by their bosses and only 38% feel that they are able to challenge this. If implemented correctly, strong systems for evaluating employee activity can help to safeguard against wrongful
working practices and encourage higher levels of productivity within an organisation, provided all monitoring is proportional to the situation. As outlined in Part 3 of the Employment Practices Code by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), employers can monitor the activities of their staff as long as the data collected is processed in line with data protection legislation. This is now in the form of the Data Protection Act 2018, which introduces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) into British law. The code also dictates that employees must be informed of all monitoring that is taking place and how the data is to be collected, processed and stored.
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Furthermore, the data must only be used for the purposes for which it was originally collected. For example, if a manager decides to install CCTV equipment within a building for the purpose of deterring or monitoring instances of employee theft, they cannot then use the images recorded to comment on employee entrances and exits from work without informing their employees first.
more dissatisfied they become with their role.
Whilst the Code still contains a reference to the previous Data Protection Act, its principles remain applicable under the new laws.
To support this fact, the TUC outlines several examples in which employees felt they were being severely over-monitored, including cameras and microphones constantly recording driver activity in vans. In particular, forms of surveillance that the TUC found to be the least acceptable to workers include facial recognition software, monitoring of social media accounts and recording worker locations on portable devices.
Arguably, by keeping a closer eye on employee emails, internet browser history and locations, employers are able to evaluate if they are acting in an inappropriate manner that would be damaging for the company and take appropriate action. Furthermore, electronic monitoring has shown to be effective when it is for a clearly -defined and well-explained purpose that is targeted at specific measures of performance. Any surveillance undertaken can potentially be combined with clear performance management frameworks, employee compensation and benefits, thus encouraging increased levels of productivity. The issue lies in ensuring that employers approach this in an open and fair manner that does not make the employee feel they are constantly being watched. Studies have shown that the more employees feel their privacy is violated the
The findings of the TUC show that overuse of surveillance data can result in the setting of unfair targets and ‘take away autonomy’, which can have strong implications for employee morale. Employees may even respond by trying to subvert this surveillance, creating further issues for employers to respond to.
Therefore, whilst employers are legally able to monitor their employees through various methods they should approach implementing these systems in an open, fair and lawful manner. They would also be wise to consider if this is a necessary course of action and ensure that appropriate steps are taken to confirm that the monitoring is proportional to the situation. As TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady concludes, employers ‘should discuss and agree on workplace monitoring policies with their workforces - not impose them upon them’.
Comment by Peninsula Employment Law Director Alan Price www.peninsulagrouplimited.com
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Electronic Detox: Going Off The Grid
These days we all know we have a problem with technology. Inspired by Holiday Cottages’ plan for going off the grid, here are some ways you can escape the clutches of all those gadgets.
Why? 4 reasons you need to take an electronic detox...
DE-STRESS A busy business person is always ‘on’. Screens glow, notifications pop and ping, there’s never a moment’s peace or quiet. The number one reason to take a timeout on technology is to breathe in and
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out in total silence, letting your brain reset itself and escape the constant pressures of running your own company.
IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY Even if your business relies on social media for promotion and contacts, it’s nigh on impossible to escape those moments when you (and your staff) get pulled under by the current of a WhatsApp whirlpool, or dragged beyond your control into an endless hypnotic cycle of Instagram scrolling. These cheeky distractions can seem like harmless procrastination, but you’ll be surprised how much better time is spent when the gadgets are switched firmly off.
CUT THE COMPARISONS While it might feel like the internet is the lifeblood of your business, one of the biggest predators lurking on the World Wide Web (waiting to catch - and possibly kill - your vibe) is social media. For all it’s positivity and fun, there is a dark side to any platform where businesses and individuals share carefully curated images of their ‘best life’. Waking up to scroll through rival companies’ feeds might seem like valuable research, but the potentially negative comparisons you’ll make could also be damaging. Log off, power down, and focus on you.
A FRESH START After a gadget detox, you (and your team)
will feel refreshed, revived and ready to kickstart the next chapter of your business plan. Well-rested staff are happy staff, and if you’re your own boss, you know running on empty is not OK. A well-earned break means fresh eyes and boosted energy to bring to new projects, which can’t possibly be a bad thing.
How? 3 ways to unplug and escape from all things digital... PLAN AHEAD If you’ve decided to take a tech-free holiday, make sure you’ve thought things through. Throwing your phone to the back of the wardrobe and running to Cornwall might seem like the answer on difficult days, but a thorough checklist of important dates, contacts and deadlines needs to be made if your detox isn’t going to cause chaos.
BE STRICT ON YOURSELF Identify what it is about technology that most distracts you or disrupts your workflow. If emails are a constant pest, make time to unsubscribe from unnecessary mailing lists, so only the essentials get through. Set a time each day to look through relevant messages if a total hiatus is impossible. All push
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notifications must go, and non-work related applications like Pinterest and Snapchat should be removed from your devices entirely.
TRULY ESCAPE Simply switching your iPad off for half an hour is not going to satisfy your craving for freedom. As well as turning off notifications and deleting apps, take your detox to the next level by booking a techfree vacation somewhere peaceful and green. In a WiFi-free wilderness you’ll have no choice but to leave your phone at home and fully indulge in the regenerative treats nature has to offer.
Where? 4 picturesque detox spots to try (with minimal Wi-Fi access!) THE COTSWOLDS With its honey-golden cottages, pretty villages and blooming floral displays, the Cotswolds is close enough to real life that it won’t cause a shock to the system, but far enough to breathe a sigh of relief.
THE LAKE DISTRICT Take yourself and your team to the magnificent Lake District, where you’ll be so awestruck by your surroundings the digital detox will be a breeze. By choosing a secluded cottage or B&B, you’ll ease yourself gently into the idea of a gadget free week, with the promise of civilisation close at hand, still with a healthy dose of wild skies and vast open water.
THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS If you want to commit fully to your break from tech, the Highlands guarantee zero signal, zero internet and 100% breathtaking natural highs. With mountains, lochs and marvellous coastline to explore, you’ll be so overwhelmed by your rugged surroundings, email pings will seem like a distant nightmare.
DORSET With spectacular rolling hillsides to the West and its dreamy Jurassic coastline to the south, Dorset is a glorious setting to choose for your digital detox in the UK. Windy seaside walks and fresh salty air are the ultimate tonic for a mind fuzzy from tech addiction.
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The Most Important Part of GDPR Compliance
By Ken Lynch May 25th marked the deadline for GDPR compliance. The fundamental question is whether your organization complied with the requirements in time. Well, if you are yet to comply, then you shouldn’t worry since you are not alone! The regulation has 99 directives which have been a hindrance to compliance with many CIOs report intimating that should the privacy, and security laws take effect, they would face difficulties meeting their mandates. As such, most enterprises are worried about heavy penalties and loss of clients’ trust that may occur due to non-compliance.
help you avoid penalties as well as protect your organization’s name for future success.
You should realize that your ability to do business with various entities and companies in the EU will be hurt by GDPR non-compliance. Also, you will be required to pay hefty noncompliance fines that may constitute approximately 4% of annual global revenue or an estimated 20 million euros; whichever is larger. To avoid this, your organization should start to pursue the GDPR compliance code which portrays good faith to comply. This will
First Step: Laying the Foundation Your comprehension of GDPR regulations and its differences with the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC is crucial for your organization’s compliance with the regulations. The primary intention of GDPR regulations is securing the privacy and codifying the ancient EU expectations of personal data protection. It achieves this by ensuring the following rights of individuals: Consent. Citizens must agree with any use of their information Special Categories. Data of specific groups be handled in a specific way Honoring Owner’s Request. If the owner of data request for deletion or return of data, the organization should honor the request Every organization that transacts with the 28 states that are members of the EU must be
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GDPR compliance. Also, all websites that directly reach these citizens must abide by these regulations for guaranteed data protection.
Policy Matters Your ability to comply with GDPR regulations requires that you upgrade your policies and procedures. You will need to start from the scratch where you’ll draft, edit, approve, update, implement, train, maintain and audit the policies. If you have clear policies that define the values of your organization, you’ll have an easier time complying with the regulations. During the auditing process, the GDPR team will need written policies and proof of systems that are able to safely handle, track, store, and share personal data collected from clients. Never overlook policy management since it may lead to failure of GDPR compliance exercise. Make sure that you follow the following steps for a successful policy development and management: Build a system to manage your policies Adopt a risk-based approach Try hard to automate the process Ensure a uniform and consistent format for your policies and procedures 5. Ensure proper record keeping for auditing and reporting 6. Limit changes to policies to only specific staff 7. Connect all your documents to GDPR principles 1. 2. 3. 4.
Finally, ensure that you keep policies inventory that gives sufficient details about every policy and procedure in your organization. In the inventory, including the details of how each policy fulfills the GDPR regulations to make it easy for the auditing process. Also, all your policies should be updated to conform to the latest GDPR regulations and ensure that your employees possess the latest document.
One Step at a Time After instituting a policy management system and designing an updated policy inventory, you’ll need to take the next steps of GDPR compliance that you can easily handle if you have the right technology. The next compliance steps include:
Risk assessment. Help to link your policies, procedures to risks that may come across your business Establish a budget Map GDPR controls to match the set standards Policy management automation Track attestations and keep proper records Link policy management tools to a third party and auditor needs Ensure an auditable processes and programs To ease your compliance, you can use an app that will guide your path to GDPR compliance.
Ken Lynch is an enterprise software startup veteran, who has always been fascinated about what drives workers to work and how to make work more engaging. Ken founded Reciprocity to pursue just that. He has propelled Reciprocity's success with this mission-based goal of engaging employees with the governance, risk, and compliance goals of their company in order to create more socially minded corporate citizens. Ken earned his BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT. Learn more at ReciprocityLabs.com.
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Why Hiring an Apprentice Could Be the Boost Your Business Needs Many people would be quick to state that the primary benefit of hiring an apprentice is gaining a new employee who is eager to learn, but the reality is that taking on an apprentice can give you a vital advantage for many other reasons. The modern business world is more competitive and more advanced than ever before, so it’s safe to say that companies have to be highly motivated and creative if they want to succeed. There are many ways to improve a company — many of which involve introducing state-of-the-art technology and brainstorming new marketing strategies — but integrating an eager, young mind into your team could be the game-changer your business needs.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at apprenticeships and the benefits businesses can enjoy by hiring an apprentice.
Increased Productivity There are many aspects of the workplace that can affect a company’s ability to succeed, but the productivity of your staff can make or break your business. Lulls in productivity should never be overlooked. If it’s something your business is experiencing, introducing a fresh face to your team could be just what you need to kick things up a notch. In fact, a survey carried out by the Department of Education in 2017 revealed that 75% of small business owners enjoyed
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several benefits by taking on an apprentice, one of which was an increase in productivity. If you currently have a job vacancy or feel that your company would benefit from hiring an apprentice, there’s no time like the present.
A Morale Boost for Current Employees Poor morale can directly impact workplace productivity, motivation, and, potentially, the mental well-being of your employees. If your team are inefficient or unenthusiastic, due to their mood, your business will struggle. There are many ways an employer can boost the morale of its employees, from team building and positive reinforcement to incentives and day trips. But another, less obvious, way to improve the morale of employees is to hire an apprentice. Not only will a new face and personality enhance the dynamic of the workplace, but their eagerness and excitement to learn will be refreshing to employees who lack inspiration or have forgotten why they chose to do their job in the first place.
Apprentices Are Tech-Savvy The digital age and continual evolution of technology has transformed the business world. Today’s generation has grown up using the latest technology on a daily basis, including smartphones, complex software and computers. For many employees, technological advances came much later in their careers.
Technology — especially computing — can be daunting, but it’s a vital part of modern business. An apprentice, on the other hand, will have used this technology during their entire education. It goes without saying that having a young person in the workplace who understands technology and can learn new skills quickly is a huge asset to a company.
An Opportunity to Delegate and Promote Employees Taking on an apprentice not only gives a young person the opportunity to take their first step on the career ladder, but it also offers employers the opportunity to delegate some of their team’s duties. The entire point of hiring an apprentice is to provide them with hands-on experience — this means you need to give them the chance to actually do the work. Delegating tasks will allow your existing employees to take on additional responsibilities, which can potentially increase overall output on a company-wide scale. As your apprentice gains the necessary skills and knowledge to work efficiently on their own, you will have the chance to promote employees who have excelled themselves or demonstrated an interest in taking on a more senior role. Not only will this boost an apprentice’s confidence and demonstrate recognition of hard work, but it also provides you with a dedicated member of staff committed to growing your business even further.
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Are You A Dreamer Or A Visionary? By Malik Muhammad The etymology of ‘vision’ is found in the Latin word ‘videre’ meaning: to see. Vision may be further understood as your ability to strategise or practically think about the future of your business with wisdom and imagination. This practical thinking is specific and time sensitive and results orientated. A dream is defined as a series of images or sensations occurring in one's mind, generally though not exclusively, during slumber. A dream may also mean a cherished ambition, ideal or aspiration. Are you a dreamer or a visionary? The above question needs to be asked and answered (as a business and individually) to avoid wasting time, energy and resources.
This question forces you to bring clarity and focus to your endeavours. This question encourages us to actively engage in self/ business analysis to measure or assess progress. Vision is one of the eight principles in the empowerment mastery system, and we will examine the three rules of vision later in this article. Indulge me for a moment as we appear to go little off this subject - only to return and demonstrate the clarity of a vision over the vagueness of a dream. USA Budget Accounts for 2018 estimates revenues of $3.6 trillion against estimated expenditures of $4 trillion. Apple is currently valued at $1 trillion. Apple’s market cap is approximately
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as big as a quarter of US government federal operations. Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne and Steve Jobs, may not have foreseen that their fledgling computer company would be the global technology giant it is today. However, they clearly had the vision to change and even revolutionise the industry. The evolution of Apple under Steve Jobs was not an accident because it involved the strategic expansion of market share through innovative technology plus savvy marketing. Now let’s look at the RULES OF VISION.
Rule 1: Start at the end. This may sound a tad contradictory and hence the reason you will apply this concept to continually experience measurable progress in your business. A vision is something you plan to accomplish by a specific time, so at this point, you are planning for the future. The future is the time when you will achieve what you are thinking about right now, so you are effectively working now to benefit in the future. This is why you start at the end, i.e. see the completed vision in your mind then work your way back to what you are currently doing to cultivate said vision.
Rule 2: Assemble the best team No one in this planet is ‘self-made’. I would go even further to add that the term is utterly ridiculous. As social beings, we
thrive on interaction. Our bodies function best through the interdependence of all organs and their primary functions. A business grows by understanding the unique value that each person adds to the overall objective and accrual of profits. Working with the right people is a useful way to realise your vision.
Rule 3: Take daily steps. This is about your vision. It is, therefore, unreasonable to expect anyone else to feel exactly how you feel about it. The acceptance of ownership on a personal level will propel you towards doing something each day in the furtherance of your vision. You need to be consumed by said vision. You must become the living embodiment of your vision and the best representation of what you intend to bring into reality. These three rules are reference points that act as a ‘check & balance’ to help you cultivate vision after vision after vision in your business development. There is a science to operating a successful business as there is to living a successful life. Seeing how you can increase your profits, expand your market share and strengthen your brand takes vision. Positive energies to you and your team as you visualise then actualise your ideas.
About the Author Malik is the host of online talk show ‘Reasoning Sessions’ and specialises in sharing self-empowerment strategies with diverse and multi-faith audiences. LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter
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Top Hacks to Increase Your Brand Visibility By Dan Radak The visibility of your brand is the ability of your clients or potential clients to effortlessly find you once they are on the lookout for the services you provide. Still, this is not an easy thing to achieve. You see, to be visible, you need to become omnipresent in their lives. Nevertheless, increasing your online efforts is not enough. You need to combine your offline and online marketing techniques and utilize all your resources in order to achieve this
worthy goal. Here are several hacks that can help you out.
1. Think about Google rank improvement The first thing you need to do to increase your visibility is to improve your Google rank. The reason why this is so effective is due to the fact that it allows people to passively find you, just by browsing for something within your industry. This is the
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so-called inbound marketing which allows your audience to find you on their own, instead of having to reach them through hard-sell techniques. In this way, they’re more susceptible to your offer, seeing as how their defensive mechanisms are not activated. Finally, 33 percent of people find what they’re looking for in the first result of Google search, which is reason enough to improve your Google rank.
2. Boost your curb appeal The next thing you need to understand is the fact that local sales often get closed on impulse. Imagine a scenario where a person
walks by your store and notices a sign or a banner informing them of a limited-time offer or a sale that you’re having at the moment. Well, for this to work, you need to boost your curb appeal.
3. Don’t forsake telemarketing Traditional marketing techniques are not to be forsaken, and one of the main things you need to focus on is telemarketing. Here, you should concentrate on two main points A) training your marketers and B) the number itself. Foot in door techniques are highly effective and, as a result, some of the most highly trained marketers have 25 to 40 percent conversions once they’ve
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picked up these tricks. As for the number, it speaks highly of the reputation of your business, for instance, 1300 numbers in Australia are a sign of prestige, which is why you need to look for an agency capable of providing you with one.
4. Invest in social media marketing Social media marketing is another great way to improve your visibility, since people who like and share your posts already have a reputation in their circle of friends. This means that they vouch for your brand with their own reputation, thus passively granting you a small degree of social proof. The best way to make this more reliable is to invest some extra effort in your attempts to make your content more shareable. This, nonetheless, isn’t nearly as hard as it may sound. What you need is content that people find entertaining, informative or instructional, as well as some unexpected stats that people will want to share with their friends.
5. Double your networking efforts At the end of the day, you need to understand just how important it is to leverage your private network of contacts to work in your favor. This is why you need to attend all corporate events, mingle with people from your industry and, overall, make introductions to all who could help you promote your business in the future. Regardless of what your networking efforts are at the moment, you need to find a way to commit as much as you can.
Conclusion With these five simple hacks, you get a comprehensive way to boost your brand’s visibility through different channels and mediums. By diversifying your attempts in this way, you get the greater reliability of your efforts, as well an array of tools to use depending on the situation. Either way, greater security is always welcome in the business world.
Dan Radak is a marketing professional with eleven years of experience. He is a coauthor on several websites and regular contributor to BizzMark Blog. Currently, he is working with a number of companies in the field of digital marketing, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies.
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Thes ecr ett ochange i st of ocusal lofyour ener gynotonf i ght i ng t heol d,butbui l di ng t henew. ~Socr at es ~ www. s andr ahi ns hel wood. com
Setting up Shop: Things to Consider As a New Retailer It’s no secret that we’re living in a world saturated with online businesses, and it’s becoming a rare occurrence to take your business into physical premises and set up shop. However, if your business isn’t just to sell products; but you offer a service, then it’s a necessity, and it’s vital you have everything in place before you open the doors on your new venture. There are plenty of customers out there who prefer to walk around, see, and touch the products
they’re buying, before purchase. Therefore, the following are some tips and ideas for those who are venturing into the world of retail, for business success.
What You Need And Where You Need It When you’ve planned your layout; you’ll want to source all your key equipment before you start to buy furniture or interior decorations. You’ll need to make the items
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that are imperative to your service a priority; therefore, investing in them is a smart choice. If you need an industrial fridge for your culinary creations, or perhaps you’re running a repair shop and need machinery; it’s always worth researching into reputable manufacturers and being able to view their products before you buy. Get on top of any software, services, or tech that’s going to make your life as a shop owner as straightforward as possible. Whether you need merchant processing services or an old fashioned till; ensure they’re set up and ready to work hard for your business, before you open the doors. It’s worth walking into your shop space as a customer would; this will help you plan out where items should go, and where is best for a specific area. By carefully designing the store’s layout; you’ll be able to think about the customer experience, and also make every process, activity, and transaction as easy for yourself as possible. It’s important to walk through and decide where visitors can sit and how they can best appreciate whatever service you’re provided them with. If you’re planning to run a beauty salon, you don’t want a patron who’s having a treatment to be sat next to the front door, where they’ll constantly be interrupted and disturbed. For small retail interior design inspiration, have a look here and get some great ideas.
Building Relationships With Your Customers Aside from being simple to get through your front doors; you need to think about the opening hours of your business, and how accessible this makes you to your target customer. Very often people tend to squeeze the treat of a service, like a manicure or a coffee and cake, into their evenings and weekends; so be mindful of when’s best to open to the public. If you deal in bike or car repairs, a couple of late night or early morning opening hours would be of great use to those who need their mode of transport back as soon as possible to get to work. If your store offers excellent service, is a joy to be in, and has the ideal opening hours; then you’re already onto a winner. However, it’s important to focus on building and maintaining relationships with customers and the surrounding community of shops. By getting to know who and what is available just outside the doors of your shop, you’ll be able to offer more help to people than just what you’re selling. In return, you’ll have loyal patrons, and other stores will be sending new ones your way.
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