18
February 2021
The South Shuswap Scoop
Re-envisioning Your Company
Business Scoop - Community Futures Shuswap
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Located on the beautiful Shuswap www.blindbayhideaway.com
By Paul Abra So much happened in 2020 to change just about every and any business. Not every business has been a loser in the current pandemic lottery, some such as courier services and online retailers saw their businesses grow significantly. Others, unfortunately, were greatly affected by social distancing restrictions and virtual lockdowns in some cases. It’s safe to say, however, that for almost all of us in business, the world shifted and the environment within which we operate is vastly different from what it was 12-months ago. As we enter 2021, therefore, it may be a good time to stand back and take stock of our company’s mission, its goals, and its objectives. If you were going to start your business today what would your business plan look like? More importantly, what would your sales and marketing strategy contain? What would your product or services line up consist of? Try to carve out a half-day over the next week or so and look at your business from 30,000 feet; the big picture view will be very different from the in-the-trenches view you have while trying to survive. Go back to basics and revisit your vision for your company. Don’t underestimate the power that a good understanding of your overarching vision for your business has on your big picture thinking. It translates into every action you take in your day-today business. As we enter the new year, therefore, it’s important to reposition yourself and your business firmly in the
new reality. To begin, award yourself an imaginary magic wand, wave it, and conjure up a vision of what your business will look like in five years’ time. Your vision can be a stretch, but it needs to be grounded in reality. If you have a team working with you, then treat it much like a brainstorming session. Once you have clarified your vision for the future then you will want to drill down to see how you might achieve it by creating a plan for the future. Here’s a shortlist of questions, or discussion points, to get you started. • Going forward, what products and services will be sustainable and which will we discontinue? • What new products and services should we introduce to better reflect the new reality? • How can we more effectively reach and service our customer base? • Given that we are likely to see some form of restrictions continue until the fall of 2021, what changes do we need to make to our sales, marketing, and distribution? • How can we create new goals and objectives to take advantage of the current situation, or at the very least limit the damage they inflict? Remember, visioning is not simply a skill. It is an attitude and an act of faith. Rob Marshall is the Executive Director of Community Futures Shuswap. For more small business tips and resources, visit beyourfuture.ca
Shuswap Trail Alliance; Deep Winter Lockdown Silent Auction Shuswap Trail Allianc Welcome to the annual Shuswap Trail Alliance Party and Auction. While it’s not quite the party of the year we’ve come to look forward to, it is going to be a month of supporting all of our trails throughout the Shuswap AND supporting our local businesses. And hey, you can party along at home on your own. The on-line auction went live on Friday, Feb 5, and will run until the
28th. There are some awesome auction items, a 50/50 draw that if sold out could have a prize value of $10,000, and of course a chance to support some local businesses too! Check out the Shuswap Trail Alliance’s Deep Winter Lockdown Silent Auction here: https://trellis.org/ shuswaptrails2021fundraiser Thank you for all you do to make our trail, we wouldn’t be able to do it without your support!
