Tag Archives: #Small business

– #Resistance, an imperative for #advancement

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It’s somewhat obvious that without some resistance, there would be no strengthening and weakness would increase. This applies to our physical strength and to anything else created. Though good for us, we are uncomfortable and resent experiencing any resistance. Our natural reaction to experiencing resistance is either avoiding the situation causing it, or removing the source of resistance. Rarely do we focus on increasing our strength so the initial resistance feels less and insignificant even when it has not diminished. Perhaps we know that increasing our strength does not occur overnight, but through regular persistent practice and training.

Resistance is everywhere. In fact, from a business perspective, it is impossible for business to operate without experiencing some resistance. Resistance is as prevalent as night and day, or good and evil. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 June 2019. Continue reading →

– Taking One’s Craft Seriously

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It’s encouraging seeing small-business owners taking their craft seriously in managing customer relations. The mistake many small-business owners make is taking things personal when concerns about aspects of their businesses are raised. Owners are not necessarily good managers of businesses. It makes sense sometimes, having someone else as a manager of the business than the owner being one. Considering challenges faced by many small-businesses, it is understandable that many owners are also managers of their businesses. However, such owners should also invest in skills to manage those businesses, learn about the importance of maintaining good reputation and humility, and taking every customer, including potential customers, seriously.

If small-business owners do not take themselves seriously, why should customers? Business owners are like captains of their armies. They should try to show zeal and interest always, and be energetic. No follower will be inspired by following a lethargic leader. Customers too, take the cue from the behaviour of small-business owners. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 March 2019.

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– Be careful of partnerships you enter into, your expansion could be stunted by them

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Let’s get first things out of the way. In South Africa, if you are a start-up targeting bigger businesses than yours as clients, you are more likely to fail in making any meaningful inroads towards your business success.

To make it as a start-up or small-business in acquiring bigger businesses as clients, you’d need to partner with bigger businesses already doing business with your targeted bigger business clients. Or you could expand your business by targeting ordinary consumers.

Targeting consumers can able your company “grow organically” and later become attractive to bigger businesses owing to yours having a solid customer base.

These expansion challenges are usually felt by small-businesses in the knowledge-based advisory consultancy service sector. However, smaller companies having a tangible physical product may not necessarily face the same challenges as those in the knowledge sector. Big business is more readily available to deal directly with them than they would be willing to do with smaller consultancies. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 29 August 2018. Continue reading →

– The Small Business Pricing Conundrum

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The biggest undoing of small businesses is their inability to configure, package and price products into different offerings. Of greatest concern even, is the failure to publish prices of their offerings, preferring, instead, to treat every sale as a special deal and quoting the price separately. Generally, there are times when it would be appropriate to adopt the auction-styled pricing strategy and others where upfront display of the price would be preferable. The key to success is in knowing and understanding the company’s target market and the appropriate response to meeting their needs. Growing small business managers need to perfect their pricing strategy to avoid inadvertently turning away potential customers. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 January 2018. Continue reading →

– Everybody Needs A Big Break In Life

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My heart is filled with joy whenever I visit the hood (as youngsters would say) and seeing many smaller shops and businesses that used to be our source of supplies for goods and services throughout my childhood still running. Despite the onslaught of shopping centres and well-established national retailers cropping up in the neighbourhood, they are still straddling along. It’s a good thing that they have survived the worst and are still standing, yet also concerning that they seem to be stagnant or are dying slowly.

By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 August 2016. Continue reading →