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Free Money! |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
6/13/2009 10:19 AM
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Well… not really, but it may be as close as small business will ever see. The SBA’s ARC Loan (American Recovery Capital) will provide six months of principal and interest payments on qualifying small business loans up to $35,000, with ARC Loan repayment deferred for one year, then spread over five years at zero percent interest. Here is more information…
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Hot fun in the summertime… |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
5/25/2009 8:59 AM
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Summertime… warm weather, children out of school, summer movie releases, vacations, events at parks, local festivals, people wanting to have fun. Is your business fun? Can you make it fun? If so, employees will be happier and customers may come back more frequently.
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The “four-letter words” of Inventory |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
5/11/2009 10:07 AM
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The “in’s and out’s of inventory, that necessary evil of business, both loved and cursed because it represents hope for profit, enables making a sale, generates cash, but also represents a cost, and if not controlled can be lost, or at least result in a loss. To examine inventory in greater detail, read on…
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Où est le boeuf? |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
3/30/2009 9:11 PM
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Where are the customers? Are you going to settle for lagniappe, or will you be d'abord à la ligne to make sales? Is your business positioned to grow during the recession? There is a way to turn tough times into opportunities…
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How to stay ‘wired’ without the use of caffeine… |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
3/21/2009 5:25 PM
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In the ‘old economy’ it was simple: when opportunity knocked all you had to do was be by the door. In the ‘new economy’ the door is virtual, so if your communication systems don’t work, you may not even know that opportunity knocked...
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Lessons from the Land of Ceredig |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
3/1/2009 8:17 PM
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I was testing a random search function on Google and landed on the Ceredigion Museum website. While reading about historic agricultural activities in the spring, it occurred to me that analogies could be made with small business practices…
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The Business Within… |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
2/15/2009 2:26 PM
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In the tougher economic conditions we are encountering during the current recession, any symbiotic relationships which businesses can create with each other will strengthen the viability and enhance the profitability of both the host and symbionte organizations.
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The Value Proposition |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
2/8/2009 3:55 PM
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If, as many suggest, we are experiencing a long-term, or even permanent, shift in consumer behavior, then in order to remain competitive and profitable businesses must adjust or change their value proposition…
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Homebodies… |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
1/19/2009 10:59 AM
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According to recent studies, home-based businesses represent 52% of all small businesses. Although operating from home, they can offer customers all of the features a “brick and mortar” establishment would have while being able to increase competitiveness by passing along lower operating costs…
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Many happy returns for the New Year! |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
1/4/2009 2:58 PM
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“Since the 18th century this has been used as a salutation to offer the hope that a happy day being marked would recur many more times. It is now primarily used on birthdays; prior to the mid 19th century it was used more generally, at any celebratory or festive event.” Let’s examine how focusing on ROI and ROO can let you celebrate increased profitability…
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A Christmas Carol (or not) |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
12/14/2008 10:55 AM
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My Christmas Blog in which business owner Dale Wright is visited by the spirits of Business Past, Business Present, and Business Future and learns some valuable lessons is reposted by request. Appologies to Charles Dickens...
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Change – The New Reality |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
11/10/2008 11:22 AM
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Change is here, and more is coming. Some has been forced upon us by shifts in the economy, some has been decreed by governmental actions like those of the Federal Reserve, and some will be as a result of executive orders and legislation emanating from the new administration. A good strategy at this time is to adapt your business to take advantage of opportunities created by current and forthcoming change.
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As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap… A White Paper on Economic Reform |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
10/31/2008 1:29 PM
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As early humans evolved, they progressed from hunting and gathering what they could to growing what they needed for survival and prosperity. Similarly, to ensure economic diversity and long-term viability of their municipality, forward-thinking communities are placing less emphasis on “economic hunting” and focusing their efforts on “economic gardening.”
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Recession doesn’t mean Retreat! |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
10/19/2008 4:37 PM
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There seems to be some consensus now that the U.S., and in fact most of the world, has entered into a recessionary period. While this one may be deeper and longer than the previous one, recessions are part of the normal economic cycle of growth and contraction. There are business opportunities in the midst of a recession if…
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White Water Ahead! |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
10/3/2008 7:53 AM
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The warning call of whitewater rafters as they prepare to “shoot the rapids” ahead may be an appropriate analogy for the situation facing small businesses today.
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How much is ENOUGH? |
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By Dr. Philip R. Geist on
9/15/2008 9:44 AM
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If you haven’t thought about your inventory levels in the last six months, you have not focused on one of the easiest ways to improve your business’s performance. As sales levels drop in this economic slowdown, your inventory levels may be tying up cash that is needed for operations. See how, in one case study, a local business can adjust inventory and move from a negative to a positive cash flow…
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