Award Winning local Business Consultants and Business growth specialists providing expert advice to ensure you get the best return from your small business whether your are already established or just starting out. Our winning strategies will help you achieve higher profits; Increase sales; Improve cashflow or Raise finance. As your local Business management consultants with 30 yrs professional experience and a proven track record of satisfied clients we can show you exactly how to drive up your profits, achieve your business goals. SEE OUR SPECIAL OFFER.

GROWING IN THE RECESSION

By Janette Whitney ACIB MCMI of Award-Winning Business Consultants, Janette Whitney & Associates Running a successful business in a recession requires an appreciation of two distinct roles, managing the day to day operations and building for the future. Every business person needs to know the importance of both ‘hats'- and when they are wearing each one. Some companies do well, both in good times and bad. They not only withstand the onslaught of economic recession, but they emerge stronger and fitter. Unsurprisingly, they also make the right choices when economies are growing. HOW DO THEY DO IT? Irrespective of the state of the economy, companies which regularly beat the competition have an ingrained ability to do two conflicting things at the same time. They run the day job effectively and efficiently and they make the right choices on how to grow. These require different, conflicting management styles: relentless detailed operational control, as well as having an eye for the main opportunity. Being great at both things is essential to long-term managed success. Without clear growth management, companies often end up doing the urgent and forgetting the important. This is most true in a recession, when the extra focus on cash drives aggressive cost control and revenue chasing. But while there is a major focus on running the day job, successful companies also know how to build for the future. Retaining an eye for the opportunity in the good times is relatively easy; keeping it when it gets tough is vastly more difficult. Successful companies operate with two ‘hats'. One hat - the operational hat- focuses on delivering immediate needs, driving revenues, costs and margins to meet cash and profit targets. The focus is on the known- we know what the market is, what customers want, what competitors offer. The other hat - the strategic hat- focuses on growth, driving long term sustainable business that predicts and responds to customer trends and opportunities. Here the management style tends to be openness and analysis of opportunities. Critically, running the day job and delivering sustainable growth requires that both these different styles of capability and approach co-exist in the same organisation. In essence a succesful business must be able to wear these 2 hats comfortably. The challenge comes when you are a small business and you are the sole owner/director and have the skills & aptitude of one of the ‘hats' but not necessarily the other- this is when the input of a professional adviser is vital to help give you the perspective of the other ‘hat'. Would your business benefit from a 2 hour business review?The contact me at Janette Whitney & Associates on 01403 733671 for professional, impartial business advice.http://www.whitneyassocs.co.uk/

5 Ways Business Consultancy helps Small Business

How many times have you thought ' if only there was an easy way to access Business Development advice for local business'?Well you can -if you visit my website http://www.whitneyassocs.co.uk/ and see all the free articles and tips written just for your small business to help you grow your business1. As an experienced and qualified Business Consultant my clients often ask for specific advice to a particluar business problem or to act as a sounding board to their concerns or ideas. As time is at a premium this is quite often best answered via my telephone/email 'helpline' which is available on a low cost monthly fee and if the issue becomes more complicated then face to face meetings can be arranged.2. Another method of providing small business advice is to have regular monthly meetings at your premises - usually for 2 hours each month to ensure that the trading performance of your business is going in the right direction or what needs to change to ensure that it is. These focussed sessions are great value for money and can involve just the small business owner or some/all of his management team whatever the owner wishes.3. The key is that as an Award winning local business consultant , I am impartial and can give an external perspective which gives greater clarity of strategic issues allowing you to view the 'bigger picture' without getting bogged down with the day to day politics or emotive issues.4. Another way Business managment consultancy can help small businesses is by offering a one - off consultation in the form of an independant review - called a ' Business Healthcheck'- very similar to going to the doctors for a medical. It is a fixed price 2 hour overview of your business establishing exactly how fit your business is now and what changes or improvements are needed to breakthrough to the next level of growth or profitability.5. Business advice is vital to keep your business on track whether you are an experienced business owner or a new start up. Richard Branson didn't become successful without his own band of advisers and you too can benefit from independant business consultancy. By using a local business consultant as a mentor you are adding their experience to your own to acheive your business goals more quickly and stay ahead of the competition. This MENTOR approach should be viewed as an investment and is usually delivered by payment a monthly retainer fee, so the local Business Consultant is available whenever you want .This service can start from as little as £500 per month which is very cost effective when you realise that research has shown that business profits can be increased by up to 49% when using an experienced business adviser/mentor on a regular basis. for more information or to contact me visit www.whitneyassocs.co.uk

HOW TO CREATE THE NETWORK YOU WANT

By Janette Whitney ACIB MCMI of Award Winning Business Consultants, Janette Whitney & Associates As the saying goes ‘it's not what you know but who you know' so how can you widen your network of contacts to create the network that is important to your business. Here are 10 tips to help you create the network you want. Be alert for opportunities to meet new peopleEveryone is connected. The typical person knows about 250 other people. Each time one new person feels they know, like and trust you; potentially another 250 people may also come too. Be open to people knowing youIt's not just about whom you know, it's more about who knows you. Share something of yourself, allow people to get to know you. You will be more memorable. 3. Find new ways to meet peopleIt's always easier to meet new people when you share an experience .Most schools & universities have alumni organisations containing people in a wide range of occupations. Whatever you do, there will be a relevant professional organisation where you can meet other people in your field. More importantly, get invitations to meetings held by institutes and trade bodies where your clients are. 4. Don't be too choosyConsider all invitations to events even if they don't initially interest you. Such events can still often turn out to offer valuable networking opportunities and that is what you are there for. You never know who's going to be there. If you have time, go along, 5. Carry distinctive business cardsMake sure you have plenty of business cards and don't be shy about passing them out. Be distinctive. Have something about you (clothes, accessories, tie) that people will remember and associate with your card. 6. Follow up with personalised notesFollow up meeting new contacts with a handwritten note saying how much you enjoyed meeting them. Takes a little longer than an email, but gives a really good impression and cements you in the person's memory banks. 7 Create a brief ‘script' you can use at events.To stop you fumbling for answers when you meet new people, jot down your brief reply to ‘what you do', what your company does, and what makes you and your company unique. Then practice it!! 8. Find out that you're greatThink about all the people you know and identify one fan, a person who thinks you're interesting or fun. Ask him or her to tell you what makes you good company. It will help you to feel less inhibited when talking to strangers. At least one person thinks you are great! 9. Show a genuine interest in peopleStart by first listening to the other people. If nothing else, it helps you to relax. Ask them questions about themselves and really listen to the replies. Listen well, respond promptly, and maintain eye contact. 10. Keep a key people listMake and maintain a list of everybody you know who has some relevance to your work. Use either a CRM software system or create your own excel spreadsheet/manual card system- whatever works best for you. Regularly (at least weekly) select one person for a ‘hello, how are you?' call. Update your contact details with what you learn from meeting people. For professional, impartial advice on Busienss Growth Strategies contact Janette Whitney & Associates on 01403 733671 or email jw@whitneyassocs.co.uk WWW.WHITNEYASSOCS.CO.UK

Specialist Services

BUSINESS HEALTHCHECK - 2 hour Fixed Price impartial overview of your business establishing exactly how fit your business is now and what changes are needed to breakthrough to the next level of growth . WEBSITE COMPLIANCE CHECK- Simple Online service keeping your website legal . SPECIALIST in Business Growth Strategies and finance. START UP PACKAGE- all the vital information to get your business going and to hit the ground running.

Trade Bodies / Associations

Member of Federation of Small Businesses. S.F.E.D.I. accredited Business Adviser. Qualified member of Chartered institute of bankers. Member of Chartered Management Institute

Trading Since

2000