Air Courier

Lots of women grow and sell successful businesses. So why is it so hard to find business podcasts hosted by women? Here’s a list to get you started.

You probably listen to lots of business and entrepreneurship podcasts — but how many of those are hosted by women?
We know lots of women run exciting, innovative and successful businesses, and they have a treasure trove of knowledge and insight to share. (Here are just a few examples of women who have exited their companies.)
Yet many of the “best of” lists lack female voices.
So whether you’re craving a woman’s perspective when you open your podcast app or simply want to diversify what’s in your earbuds, we want to make it easy for you to find and learn from female business leaders.

Here are a few of our favorite business podcasts hosted by women.

1. They Got Acquired

2. Startup Parent

Host: Sarah K. Peck, founder of Startup Parent

Listen to The Startup Parent Podcast

Startup Parent’s podcast for working parents and entrepreneurs features founder Sarah K. Peck talking with founders and entrepreneurs about growing businesses while having kids.

Listen for relatable stories and advice on building and marketing your business, staying sane while parenting (in a pandemic!), productivity, raising kids according to your values and more.

3. The Opportunity Podcast

4. Free Time

5. Dear FoundHer

6. Female Startup Club

7. The a16z Podcast

8. She Turned Entrepreneur

9. The New Rules of Business

10. Better: The Brand Designer Podcast

11. Software Social Podcast

Our wonderful founder, Jaine, will be talking to me in two weeks about what it means to be a female CEO, founder, and some other issues surrounding being a woman in the workplace.

Want to find out more about us? Call us, email us, or check out our website. Or, you can check out our socials.

As small businesses look to the upcoming year, keeping an eye on emerging trends that can have a significant impact on your company is essential. Given the ever-changing digital landscape, this won’t be easy, but with a little proactive planning, small businesses can leverage the right tools and strategies to make 2023 successful.

Here are the key small business trends for 2023 that you should anticipate and be prepared for.

Artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance your small business

According to a recent survey of company founders, the most common trend for 2023 is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI technology has revolutionized the business landscape, creating platforms and tools that can automate repetitive tasks, streamline processes, provide customer insights, and even generate personalized content. For small businesses especially, AI can offer a much-needed competitive advantage by helping them operate more efficiently and increase their productivity through advanced analytics and real-time customer data.

Get a jump on this trend by learning about what AI can do for your company. Investigate tools like chatbots and automated direct messaging to improve customer experience and response times.

Data security in the age of cybercrime

In a time when malicious hackers can access customer information with a few clicks, data security should be at the top of any small business owner’s priority list. Security protocols are no longer optional. Data privacy state laws are being initiated or updated, and companies failing to protect data incur significant fines for breaking them.

Start by investing in measures like two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and secure servers to keep sensitive customer data safe.

E-commerce and its impact on brick-and-mortar business

Brick-and-mortar small businesses are feeling the impacts of the seismic shift away from physical stores as more and more customers continue buying online. In the United Kingdom (UK), over 80 percent of the population makes e-commerce purchases, or to put it in other words, over four in five UK consumers are digital buyers. Over the last couple of decades, online shopping has become ubiquitous, not just in the UK, but worldwide; moreover, the numbers are still growing. By 2025, for example, the penetration rate among the country’s consumers is expected to reach a projected 90 percent.

Keep up with the trend by setting up an online store if you haven’t already or by streamlining your e-commerce site with your POS system. There are more than a few great options available that are so popular, even your customers recognize their names.

Social media marketing is huge trend

As we rapidly progress towards a more interconnected society– social media marketing has become a vital part of small business operations. While it remains a cost-effective way to access current customers, small businesses are now able to reach audiences far beyond their local communities and engage people globally via paid social media, Instagram direct messaging and Facebook groups.

Stay ahead of the curve by investing time and resources in developing and executing a video marketing campaign. With access to powerful tools such as targeted ads and analytics tracking, you can create effective strategies that will generate results.

Even if you don’t have a full Social Media team, having just a presence of relevant and high quality posts is a must.

The increasing importance of sustainability and green initiatives

Companies like Patagonia, IKEA, and Nike have successfully developed sustainability strategies to limit their carbon footprint, reduce energy costs and appeal to a growing eco-conscious consumer base. According to the World Economic Forum, sustainability reduces costs, can affect operating profits by up to 60%, and increases productivity. Plus, your customers are paying attention. As it currently stands, only 8% of people in the UK do not concern themselves with sustainability in their consumption habits – while 61% said they were either concerned, or very concerned. 

Your small business can join the movement, helping to create a more sustainable economy. Don’t know where to start? Check in with your local environmental agency to make sure you’re in compliance with regulations. This will help you zero in on areas for immediate improvement while opening up the conversation with experts who can help your business target energy-efficiency improvements, reducing carbon emissions, and even day-to-day practices like composting. Prioritizing sustainability will help your business stand out from the crowd and ultimately benefit both you and the planet.

Make being proactive your top priority

The bottom line is with a combination of trend research, contingency planning, and an eye for innovation, your small business can evolve and adapt to make 2023 your best year yet. From the rise of AI and adopting data security protocols to keeping current with social media and sustainability initiatives, it is important for you to think proactively and stay ahead of the game.

Want to learn more or book a shipment? Check out our socials, give us a call, or drop us an email. Or, head to our main website here.

At Air Courier, we are very close to releasing our brand new website. We thought we’d share some of the top ways to generate sales with your own.

As a small business owner, staying up-to-date on the newest and most effective ways to generate sales with your website is essential. With the right strategies, you can maximize your profits and reach more customers than ever. Additionally, having a well-executed website can set you apart from a crowded online space full of e-commerce retailers and competitors.

Let’s explore some of the best methods for increasing sales on your small business website in 2023.

Use pop-ups to capture leads

In the early years of digital marketing, pop-ups got a bad rap. Marketers claimed that the Google algorithm penalized sites that used pop-ups, but that is not true. Pop-ups have an average conversion rate of 3%, and high-performing pop-ups get 60% or more. When implemented correctly, pop-ups can encourage customers to take immediate advantage of a presented deal or sign up for your email list, where you can build relationships with leads and nurture them through email sales.

Post engaging videos

Video should be an integral part of your website marketing. In 2022, an estimated 82% of internet traffic came from video. It has become one of the most powerful tools small businesses use to stand out from competitors, build brand awareness, boost SEO, and generate more revenue. Start your video marketing campaign small by using stock videos from services such as Shutterstock and unsplash, and consider hiring a video editor to customise the content.

Offer free shipping

(Obviously this one doesn’t apply to us, but we are trying to reach all businesses!)

You can blame Amazon for cementing consumers’ “free shipping” expectations. Not only do customers want free shipping, they want fast shipping. A full 56 percent of abandoned carts are left due to delivery concerns, having a serious impact on business revenue. By offering free shipping and building that “extra” into your cost-of goods, it encourages your customers to click “purchase” because there are no “extra fees.” Consider speed as well. Sixty-two percent of shoppers expect delivery in less than three business days so, if you can, offer that speedy upgrade to your customers for a small fee in addition to a free shipping option. This leaves the shipping cost decision up to the consumer and you’ve covered all of your bases.

Include social proof

Having customer reviews and testimonials on your website can be one of the best methods of gaining new sales leads. Not only does social proof build trust with customers by showing how trustworthy and reputable your business is, but they also inspire people to make a purchase. Ninety-five percent of potential customers read reviews before buying a product, so the more product reviews you have, the more likely you are to generate revenue. Once you have a few, include them on your website.

Implement a live chat feature

Recent news about the widespread availability and growing popularity of ChatGPT has brought the use of chatbot marketing or live chat features back into the spotlight. Incorporating a chat, a computer program designed to simulate conversation with real people, is a great way to provide customer support in real-time. You can create customer experiences tailored to each individual while improving their overall buying journey. Chatbots can give automated greetings and answer frequently asked questions, so customers quickly find what they need without searching for answers. You can even design custom messages for returning visitors based on what’s in their shopping cart.

Apply retargeting

Retargeting works by using cookies or pixels that track website visitors’ views as they move through a website to market products and services tailored to their interests on the site. By tracking what your customer views on your website, you can create ads that target those specific interests. Targeted messaging influences buying behaviors and increases the probability of purchase.

You can use many tools and techniques to optimise your website for sales generation. Take the time to experiment with a few that suit your needs, keeping in mind that the goal is to achieve a balance between converting customers and maintaining user-friendliness. Even minor adjustments to your site can make a significant difference in overall sales conversion.

As ever, if you want to learn more about us and what we do, drop us an email, check-out our website and socials, or give us a call. #itsbetterbyair #always

With the new year in full swing, small business owners are turning their focus on their small business goals for 2023. But one of the most integral steps to determining your new goals is reflecting on the previous year’s lessons. Although your lessons learned might be catered to your specific niche, there are a few lessons we all share as business owners.

Expect The Unexpected

Since the pandemic, expecting the unexpected is a motto business owners have grown accustomed to. Challenges like staffing shortages and supply chain issues continue to make “returning to normal” a bit of a cliche for companies large and small.

However, the repetition of this lesson should maintain its impact on the year small businesses have experienced, and the intel garnered. Perhaps you were able to be more innovative than usual when production slowed, or a key member of your team resigned. Being a small business owner means it’s your job to anticipate anything and prepare for it. Still, without a crystal ball, you’ll need to reflect on your previous experiences and initiate proper contingency planning to reduce risk.

Take Immediate Action to Fix Business Problems

The adage: “Good news travels fast but bad news should travel faster” rings true. Just as swiftly, taking action to fix any problems should follow. Many business owners tend to wait until the problem becomes a real crisis before taking action.

Adopt the concept of approaching your business with proactive vigilance. Keep tabs on every aspect of your business, key performance indicators (KPIs), and baseline for comparison to help predict a possible challenge and have a solution ready.

Create a Diversified Marketing Strategy

With the continual rise of social media and the decline of print advertising, one of the biggest challenges small business owners face is finding the best ways to market their small businesses. The lesson learned is that one marketing strategy most likely won’t move the needle.

Knowing who your customer is and how to serve them will help you determine the best small business marketing strategy moving forward. You may decide this is the year you finally engage with your email list, invest in Facebook ads, or build a following on Instagram. Whatever the plan, this year has proven that it must be diversified.

Customer Service Matters Most

It might sound like a no-brainer, but customer service remains one of the most critical aspects of a small business. It impacts everything from brand image and customer loyalty to company reputation and profitability. Ninety percent of consumers use customer service to decide whether or not to do business with a company.

If ever there was a time to invest in your small business’ customer service plan, it’s now. With so many choices on the market for products and services, company owners cannot afford to miss retaining a loyal customer simply because their customer service fell short. Refresh your plan with your team and consider investing in great tools like chatbots or artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, so you’re available whenever your customers need you.

Embrace New Technologies for Your Business

The world is changing faster than ever, and if you want to stay competitive in today’s marketplace, you must embrace new technologies. Innovative tools like IT management software (ITMS) solutions for better cybersecurity protection, artificial intelligence (AI) for predicting demand for services, and datafication for storing transactions to predict future trends are rapidly becoming the norm in the health and growth of companies.

Review the past 12-18 months of your business and evaluate if having one of these innovations in your business would have made a positive difference. Take some time to explore and understand how new technologies can improve efficiency and effectiveness for all business operations.

The world is changing rapidly, and it can be hard to keep up with all the latest innovations and trends, but these five tips will help you get started on your journey to success in 2023 and beyond.

Want to know more? Follow our socials here.
Want to book a shipment with us? Call us or drop us an email.
Anything else? Check out our website. We’re here for you 24/7. #Itsbetterbyair #always

Strategically reducing costs during slow seasons will make your small business more profitable year-round. And while it is easy to get carried away when you see decreasing revenue numbers, especially after a busy christmas season, cutting costs doesn’t have to mean taking drastic measures. The key is knowing where and how to find savings without impacting your ability to provide quality service or products.

Review and analyze your expenses

You’ll need to know where you’re spending to cut costs effectively. Ideally, you’ll have kept a good record of all your business expenses and transactions in an accounting system for at least six months, if not more. Having cost data properly stored and readily available will help you manage your cash flow, save time, and make business decisions.

Review and analyze your business spending by asking: What expenses do you have that aren’t necessary? Is there anything you can eliminate? If so, how much would that save per month? Examine each category of expense – operations, utilities, property leases, internet bills, phone bills, vendor contracts, and employee business expenses. You will find that some categories have higher spending than others and could be reduced without affecting your overall business.

Five Ways to Reduce Costs for Your Small Business

• 1. Reduce inventory

Managing inventory can be costly unless you can determine the right reorder points for your small business and efficiently eliminate old inventory. Knowing when and how much to buy will reduce costs while offering excess inventory at a discounted price can bring in a much-needed cash injection.

• 2. Negotiate with lenders and suppliers

If you have a loan or lease, it’s worth asking for a better interest rate or lower monthly payments. If you’re paying off debt and have been for some time, try negotiating with the lender on paying off your debt early. Likewise, negotiate with suppliers to receive volume discounts or long-term incentives.

• 3. Get creative with your product offerings

Consider grouping multiple products and services to create a bundle. You can then sell the bundle for one price, enticing customers to buy at a discounted rate. Purchases may mean a lower cost per unit, but bundling is a successful way to boost sales and move through inventory.

• 4. Cut back on marketing expenses

Keeping good records of spending and ROI (return on investment) is essential when deciding where to cut back on marketing expenses. Depending on your marketing strategy, it might be a good time to stop ad spending and utilize free tools such as social media and email marketing to promote your business organically. Experiment with video marketing techniques which can be done on a small budget and yield a significant ROI.

• 5. Use technology to reduce costs

Using technology creates many benefits while also reducing costs. Implementing assets like accounting software, cloud computing, and CRM (customer relationship management) systems will improve customer service and efficiency–two things that will ultimately reduce costs and grow revenue.

Small changes can make a big difference

While these suggestions may seem small, they can make a big difference in helping your business through the slow season. Take advantage of the time to keep an eye on your bottom line, stay within budget and maximize sales even during a predictably slow season.

Want to find out more or book a shipment with us?
Email us, Call us or Follow our Socials.
Check out our main (soon to be updated) website here.

Business goals are specific objectives designed to help a small business succeed. If you own or manage a small business, setting clear goals can help your business grow, overcome challenges, improve efficiency, and much more. Each small business’s goals may differ, as every business and business owner is unique.

If you’re considering setting small business goals, you may be wondering how, and which strategies may help you pick effective goals to keep moving your business forward.

Key Takeaways

• Business goals help business owners and managers work toward important objectives.
• Goals may include a mix of short-term and long-term goals.
• Goals may range from specific financial results to operational metrics.
• Each business is unique, and there is no right or wrong way to set small business goals.

What Are Business Goals? 

Business goals are objectives important to helping a business achieve short-term and long-term success. Without business goals, a business owner or manager may flounder and struggle to earn a profit. With clear and reasonable goals, you may find yourself in a better position to keep the business open and operating for years to come.

One of the most popular methods of setting business goals is the SMART goals framework. SMART is an acronym for criteria to use when choosing goals:

• Specific: “Specific” means a goal with a clear finish line that’s easy to measure. Something such as “increase profits” is not specific, whereas “increase profits by 20%” or “increase revenue by £10,000 per month” qualifies as specific.
• Measurable: This helps you know when you’ve crossed the finish line and keeps you pointed in the right direction. You can’t measure a vague goal like “increase customer loyalty,” but you can measure the number of repeat visits, average revenue per customer, or results from a customer survey.
• Achievable: You may have a dream of earning a billion pounds a year from your business. That may be possible at some point in the future. However, is it achievable in the next 12 or 24 months? When setting goals, make them realistic and reasonable, but not too easy.
• Relevant: Goals should be focused on business results and relevant to what you’re trying to achieve. For example, it may be fun to grow your social media following. But your Instagram or Twitter accounts might be irrelevant if you don’t turn followers into customers. What’s relevant depends on the business and your goals. Ultimately, every goal should lead to improving long-term profits.
• Time-bound: If you don’t have a strict deadline, you may find yourself continually delaying or kicking the can down the road. With time-bound goals, you have a little pressure on yourself to keep working toward that deadline.

Of course, these are only guidelines and one method to set goals. However, SMART goals are popular for a reason. They work well for many applications, including business management. Working with an action plan or business plan can also help you build a blueprint to grow and maintain a profitable company.

Short-Term Business Goals 

In business, short-term goals often mean one year or less. For example, in accounting and finance, one year is used as a benchmark for categorizing assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and determining certain tax rates.

Note

Some businesses may want to focus their short-term goals on periods shorter than a year, such as a quarter, month, or even weekly or daily goals.

Here are some examples of short-term business goals to inspire your goal creation:

• Increase average sales per day by 50 in the next 90 days
• Grow revenue by £20,000 per month after one year
• Lower employee turnover rate by 10% over six months
• Make five sales to repeat customers per week
• Decrease cost of production by 5% per unit in six months
• Lower average days to invoice collection by seven days after one year

Again, every business is unique, so these goals could be spot-on for your business or completely different from what’s important to you. Understanding your biggest challenges, opportunities, and key performance indicators (KPIs) is critical. You can focus your goals and efforts on your business’s most relevant and effective needs.

Long-Term Business Goals 

Long-term business goals should have you thinking more like five to 10 years instead of immediately beyond the one-year horizon. Even if you were not good at telling your school teacher or old boss where you saw yourself in five or 10 years, here’s where it’s time to apply that concept to your business.

Long-term goals may also follow the SMART goals framework, but can be loftier and require more to achieve. You may use short-term goals as stepping stones to reach these larger goals.

Examples of small business goals for long-term results may include:

• Double the number of brick-and-mortar locations in five years
• Add 25 sales representatives over the next two years
• Reach 100,000 customers in 10 years
• Hit £250,000 in annual revenue by 2025
• Become carbon neutral in 5 years
• Produce products using only recycled materials by 2027

Goals are a helpful management tool in many ways. Setting long-term goals can motivate you and your team to work together toward success.

Note

If you tie bonuses and compensation to reaching business goals, you know your employees are incentivized to hit the target you set as most important for the business. It will also make them feel involved in the core of the company, rather than just a moving part.

Examples of How Small Businesses Set Goals 

To better understand setting small business goals, here’s an example. Let’s say you bought a new food van and want to turn it into a successful business to support your family. Here are several goals that such businesses might consider to get rolling in the right financial direction:

• Find two weekly recurring events and four monthly recurring events to attend within three months
• Average £500 in sales per hour of operations by the end of year one
• Create a website and forms for online catering requests within 30 days
• Hire two part-time employees within the next two weeks and four part-time employees by the end of the first year
• Adjust the menu to achieve a minimum 7% profit margin within six months
• Reach £100,000 in annual sales by the end of year two
• Earn £60,000 in annual profits by the end of year three

This blueprint offers a mix of short- and long-term goals, which is great for building and maintaining momentum. If goals are too hard or all long term, it may be difficult, if impossible, to hit your target. With the right goals and consistent tracking, you’re setting yourself up for the best possible results.

The Bottom Line 

Business goals are critical for many business owners to succeed. Knowing where you want to take your business helps you and your team stay focused on the right places and activities. With a laser focus on goals following the SMART goals system, there’s no reason you can’t find the success you’re seeking. Combining strategic goals, hard work, and a little luck, you may find yourself on track to run your business for years to come.

What to know more or book a job with us? Head over to our website, email us, or give us a call on 020 3790 3738. Keep up with news via our socials here. #Itsbetterbyair #always

Giving holiday gifts is a great way to build relationships with employees, vendors, and customers. But it can be stressful to determine who should be on the gift list, how much to give, and what is appropriate to give. Let’s think through these criteria.

Decide Whom to Gift 

On average, 65% of a company’s business comes from existing clients, so gifting these individuals is essential. Equally important are your long-term employees and vendors. For some small companies, that could mean giving presents to dozens of individuals, which isn’t always financially possible. Determine who should receive a gift by considering a few things. Consider the time you’ve spent working with the individual, how easy or difficult they are to work with, if you’re currently working on a big project with them, and if they have sent client or employee referrals your way.

Determine Your Budget

As you plan who will receive a Christmas gift, you’ll determine how much money you can afford to spend. Although research varies, a familiar holiday spending formula is to reserve 1.5% of your revenue for gifting. You can then decide how much money to spend on each person based on the preceding considerations. Avoid Christmas gift giving pressure by not spending more than you can afford.

Five Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Small Business

As a small business owner, you appreciate when your peers employ your services. Holiday gift-giving time is a great way to reciprocate and show gratitude to other small businesses. Many offer easy online ordering and delivery. Here are five to check out:

– Cocoon Corporate – Choose any of your favourite hamper that suits your employees needs. The company has a huge range of items: completely personalised or you can pick one of their pre-made ones. Perfect for those employees working from home, too. 

– Babbel: Skill classes are a great gift that benefits the company and your employees. Babbel offers language courses specifically designed to give employees a lasting holiday gift. 

– Cakehead: Whether it’s to treat your team or to spread some joy to your customers, food can get you guaranteed brownie points with the gift of Cakehead’s delicious bakes and cakes. Their hand crafted and hand finished brownies & bakes can be delivered straight to employees’ doors perfectly packaged and with a personalised gift note inside. 

Walk-in backrub: A Backrub is a wonderful style of deeply relaxing Japanese massage which helps release stress and promotes health and well-being. It can be a great way to reward your employees after a year of hard work, and it can be something you could commit to on a monthly basis into 2023. 

– Loop & Tie: Purchase unique gifts from small businesses giving back to craft makers and artisans in local communities and diverse suppliers. Collections are categorized by price and interest to make finding the perfect gift a cinch.

The festive season is a time for giving, so take some time to think about the people who have helped your business flourish. A Christmas gift doesn’t need to be extravagant or expensive. Remember, it’s the thought that counts.

Want to learn more? Head to our website, or drop us an email. 

Always be on the lookout for great employees

We’ve all heard the sales phrase: “Always be closing.” When it comes to finding good people, the adage is similar: “Always be looking.” As the previous two and a half years have proven, employee turnover can happen when you least expect it. In addition to finding good employees, keeping them is also a challenge. The key to overcoming these problems is to be proactive. Start adopting new routines in how you actively look for and retain great help right now.

Here are three (3) great ways to find good people:

• Network with local schools
• Ask existing employees for referrals
• Write a job description that attracts the right candidate

Network with local schools and universities

Many educational institutions have job placement programs or an online job board. By networking with local schools and building relationships with the school and staff, you can get to the top of their list as a referred and great place to work. Start by calling your local university or high school district and asking which schools offer job placement programs and where you can post opportunities for multiple locations at once. Most schools also have Facebook pages that you can follow and engage with in order to build rapport.

Ask existing employees for referrals

Asking your current staff for employee recommendations could be a fast and cost-effective way to find new candidates. It could turn out to be a good fit since your current employee is already familiar with your company and can quickly determine if their referral is qualified for the role. Simply begin by inquiring among your employees if they know of a candidate who meets the job criteria. Try incorporating a hiring incentive program. Keep these programs easy to understand and manage. It can be as simple as offering the referring employee a cash reward or gift card if you hire their recommended candidate. 

Write an effective job description

Most job descriptions start by listing out tasks and responsibilities. Instead, start the job description by introducing your company. Continue with why your small business is such a great place to work or what your company mission and team motto are. For example, “We’re a tight-knit team of hard workers who love helping customers get what they need.” It’s a subtle difference that can provide improved results.

Hanging on to great employees

Once you find great employees, how do you keep them? According to CNBC online, record turnover is mostly attributed to low pay, poor working conditions, and/or better benefits. The competition to retain great people can be intense. Here are a few ideas for keeping outstanding employees:

• Make employees feel like part of the big picture
• Reward stellar performance 
• Communicate and be a good listener

Make employees feel like part of the bigger picture

Including your employees in your company’s goals is arguably one of the most overlooked tactics in retaining great people. Every person has a natural human desire to be part of something bigger. Fill your employees in on both your short- and long-term business goals. If the plan is to expand your team, create new products/services, or even sell, talk about your strategy, ask for input, and listen to suggestions. You might be surprised at the feedback you receive, and how positively influential that conversation can be.

Reward stellar performance

Create an incentive program to show employee appreciation that not only incentivizes but also builds a sense of team. If you have a few employees working together on one project, challenge them to beat deadlines, and reward them when they do. If you have multiple locations, have each location try to outwit the other in sales or a specific metric that makes sense for your business. Keep the programs easy to understand and challenging, but also fun to win!

Communicate and be a good listener

Being an effective communicator goes beyond simple chatting. It’s important to communicate your expectations early on and often so the employee knows exactly what to do and where they stand. Equally as important is listening. When a situation arises that needs to be addressed, give your employee a chance to talk through their process and their results. The root of the problem could ironically be miscommunication. Remain unwavering in always making time to communicate.

To alleviate the challenges of finding and keeping great employees, start laying down a solid foundation using the above practices. You will reap the rewards for years to come.

Let us know how we’re doing by sending an email to support@aircourieruk.com, and check out or website at www.aircourieruk.com. Our socials are constantly updated too @aircourieruk #itsbetterbyair #always

The festive season is fast approaching, and for small businesses, this is a great time to attract new customers. Our nation’s 5.5 million small businesses can expect a notable increase in sales for the Christmas season. According to a Finder research survey, they predicted that in the UK, we will spend approximately £25.6 billion. Each year provides one of the biggest opportunities for small businesses to earn sales and expand their client network. Here are a few quick tips to help prepare for a successful holiday season.

Check Your Digital Presence

If you’re a brick-and-mortar business, one of the best ways to prepare for the holidays is to build an online store. According to a recent study, 65% of consumers who shifted from in-person shopping to e-commerce will continue shopping more online. Building an online presence may sound daunting, but don’t panic. Easy-to-use platforms like Shopify and Wix provide step-by-step instructions for launching an e-commerce site.

If you already have a website, take some time to review your digital assets. Confirm that all of your verbiage and graphics are still accurate, links are correct, and prices and inventory are updated. Consider adding pop-up or banner ads to your website announcing any special offers you’ll have for the season.

Create a Special Incentive for Shoppers

The Christmas break is a big deal for local shoppers because, in addition to shopping for loved ones and showing support to their community, consumers often reap the benefits of scoring truly unique gifts while receiving special offers for shopping at local small businesses. Make sure your offer is easy to understand and enticing for your customers. Also, confirm you can deliver what you’re promising.

Here are a few ideas:

• 15% off discount
• Buy one, get one free
• 10% off gift cards
• 20% off your next purchase for returning customers
• Free gift wrapping

Prepare Your Staff and Your Store

The festive season is a powerful time for small business owners because it can expose your company to new shoppers. Store appearance and customer service will play a large role in whether or not new customers become repeat buyers.

Take some time to tidy up. Make sure your floors, windows, and shelves are clean. Next, check your register area, if you have one, for anything that’s not needed and clear it away. You’ll also want to double-check your inventory to ensure you’re organized for the big day.

Talk to your staff and get them excited about the festivities by incorporating a fun team incentive. Assess their strengths and position them where they’re most comfortable. Recognising their strengths will make them more productive. For example, if you have someone who is excels on the phone, place that person primarily answering phones. Is one of your team members an expert in dealing with complaints? Put them on email complaints.

Reach Out to Surrounding Businesses

Connect with leaders in your community. They are likely already planning for a successful holiday season, so get involved. Learn how to partner with other businesses to promote your special offer(s) and increase traffic to your store. General Christmas marketing will encourage consumers to support businesses, but you can also help other businesses simultaneously.

As a business owner and consumer, the Christmas Season is a time for you to show your local community that you care about its small businesses. It’s a great time to connect with customers and strengthen your business relationships. Start planning new so you can celebrate the season with new customers and a holiday-season business network for the coming year.

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Starting a small business requires time, effort, and commitment. To make your small business dream a reality, arm yourself with a viable business plan, the right support, and resources. Here’s how to get started.

Decide on the Purpose of Your Company

You may already have a skill or expertise that could turn into a business. Take some time to think about what you want to do and how you can use your expertise to provide a service or product that solves a problem. It should be sustainable and exciting for both you and your potential clients. 

Create a Business Plan for Your Small Business

Once you have decided on an idea for your business, it’s time to devise a plan. A business plan is a blueprint outlining how your company will operate over time. Design your business plan knowing that you may have to adjust certain strategies and goals once you start.

The best way to do this is by starting with these simple steps:

• Write your mission statement that describes what your company stands for and why it exists in the first place. This will help you create a business identity, attract potential employees, and develop culture and purpose that clients may notice.
• Create a company description that includes its objective, size, location, and industry sector.
• Perform market research that describes how the competitive landscape looks in your market.
• Design a marketing strategy that explains how you’ll advertise your products or services (e.g., social media). Think about what you’ll need to pay for and, better yet, how you may be able to advertise for free.
• Set measurable targets that are specific, attainable, and relevant before a specified time period ends. For example: By December 31^st of this year, I will have 100 customers signed up for my monthly subscription service at $19 per month each (that would be a total of $1900).
• Include a timeline that includes goals and milestones, such as when you want to open your doors, how much capital it will take to get there, and what additional expenses you’ll need to consider before opening up shop.
• Create a budget. No matter how large or small it is. Your budget will help you keep track of all the money coming in and going out so that nothing falls through the cracks (and you don’t lose sight of what’s important). Creating this document ahead of time can also help prevent unnecessary stress later on down the road once everything gets moving.

Gather Feedback on Your Business Plan

You will most likely start gathering feedback from others as you write your business plan, but if you do not, at this point, you’ll want to lean into a set of trusted peers and friends to solicit their input. Pitching your business plan to a personal advisory board or friends and family can help determine if it will resonate with potential investors.

Make Your Vision a Reality

You’ve worked hard to start your business and put together a solid plan. Now it’s time to implement the plan and make your vision a reality. The best way to do this is by breaking out each section into actionable steps. You may want to enlist the help of other qualified individuals or, depending on your circumstances, choose to tackle it yourself. Regardless, stick to the plan; over time, you will chip away at each project.

Do Just One Thing: Take Action

The best way to ensure your business’ progress is to take action. Never let fear stop you from pursuing your dreams and goals. It can sometimes be overwhelming, but starting a small business can be rewarding with the right approach, plan and mindset.

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