27/03/2011 by Geoff.

Many small businesses grow but can hit some pitfalls:

• Reaching capacity - if you hit this ceiling and you have orders the the only option is to get larger premises. These come at a cost but beware of saying no to potential clients. Bad news travels fast.
• Investment is like plants they grow! This can be a problem - you need to know where its going to come from. It also pays to interrogate you original budgets thoroughly and have a contingency
• Don’t forget to draw a proper salary or budget for it. If you don’t it’s not a real business or financial picture
• One route to investment can be to offer a supplier a stake in your business. But be careful who you share your bed with
• Like investments your plans will probably overrun. This can have positive and negative effects. Know them
• Know your costs - like salaries don’t fool yourself 

Like most businesses its about profit.

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27/03/2011 by Geoff.

Although the First and Second Class postal rates are unaffected, as are franked mail and standard parcels, there are a number of postal services that will include VAT from 31 January 2011. These include:

Express and tracked services

• Special delivery 9am, stamp, franking and account customers.
• Special delivery next day, account customers only.
• Royal Mail tracked and tracked next day
• Royal Mail Same Day

International Services (EU destinations only)

• International contract services
• International Airsure
• International Admail and Admail Packets
• International redirections

Advertising, Catalogues and Magazine services

• Big Book
• Royal Mail Heavyweight
• Mail Media

Unaddressed Mail

• Door to Door

If you are a business user of these services you should be able to reclaim the VAT. However businesses that use these postal services who are not VAT registered or have Exempt Services may have to absorb the 20% VAT increase.

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22/03/2011 by Geoff.

The scientific study of persuasion has been going on for more than 50 years now, however it’s surprising how often key decision makers don’t use established psychological theories to assist with decision making.

We spend time learning business, economics, finance, policy and legislation but possibly leave key psychological areas to gut feel and instinct.  Some key tricks could be being missed.

Here is a sample of some key social influence techniques that could make a real impact in your life and work:

• We feel obliged and committed to perform favours for others who have done the same for us.  Referral Organisations like BNI are based around this key principle.

• People respect experts and positioning yourself with authority can have a big impact in getting your message across.

• People respect people who appear to be committed to their values and act with consistency.

• Making things appear scarce makes people want them all the more!

• People buy people.  The more likeable we are and the more people warm to us, the easier it will be to influence people.

• People look for social reinforcement when making decisions, basically what other people and recognised bodies are saying. This is the cornerstone of the need to use testimonials and recognised studies to help your case.

You can use these techniques in all aspects of your marketing material and when you are out and about networking. They will enhance your results and the strength of the relationships you develop.  

Written by Tony Brooks - Business Coach

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22/03/2011 by Geoff.

The advent of the Royal Wedding in April of this year has presented plenty of opportunities for small businesses who can achieve short lead times.The opportunity has further been enhanced by the relaxation of strict rules under The Trades Mark Act 1994. There are still rules as detailed below:

·         Souvenirs must be in good taste, free from adverts and carry no implication of Royal custom or approval

·         Photographs and coat of arms must not be used on clothing and textiles except carpets, cushions, wall hangings and scarves

·         The coat of arms must not be flown as a flag

·         Souvenirs to mark the Royal wedding must not be manufactured after October 1 this year

·         A company or commercial organisation may not display their name alongside a photo of William and Kate

Weddings aside we should point out that short lead times are not the exclusive domain of small businesses. We can help this contact enquiries@emseff.co.uk

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11/03/2011 by Geoff.

As most owners or MD’s of businesses will testify theirs is a lonely job. Who tells them somethings not going to work?

An answer to this circumstance can be the use of a mentor. This person can bring with them experience, contacts and an objective view. The mentor is there to offer informed objective advice and support based on his or her experience, with the aim of increasing the other person’s chances of success.The mode of operation can take many forms, from an occasional phone call to a regular strucutured meeting.

What does the mentor get out of it? Other than any agreed reward satisfaction is high on the list closely followed by giving something back and using their experience rather than just throwing it away.

The following can help make it work for both sides:

• Set the ground rules before you start
• Decide how long the mentoring process will be
• Find someone you get on with and trust 
• If the relationship isn’t working, don’t force it

If you would like to use any of the EMS expertise in this way contact us on enquiries@emseff.co.uk.

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11/03/2011 by Geoff.

As you may remember I’m a great fan of Phil Brown and his management style - remember him keeping the Hull team on the field at half time? 

Whoopy – he’s back post his sacking by Hull!

I look forward to more man management gems and will pass them on.

 Coming to the Championship near you, but only for 90 minutes, Phil Brown is back. Get your pie before half time though, some of his best work is done during the interval.

What have Preston let themselves in for?

Written by John Hill our FD

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07/03/2011 by Geoff.

The Government has finalised the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2010, which amend the National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 and came into force on 1 January 2011.

 Schemes that operate at the moment allow part of employees’ pay, which would normally be subject to tax and NIC, to be replaced with expenses payments for travel. The amendment means that expenses for travel to a temporary workplace and related subsistence costs can no longer form part of employees’ pay for national minimum wage purposes.

The amendment does not apply in relation to any pay reference period beginning before 1st January 2011.

If you want to know more contact Sue Gott - HR Consultant - who wrote this post. enquiries@emseff.co.uk

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07/03/2011 by Geoff.

I’m not an Alan Sugar fan, sorry Baron Sugar of Clapton to give him his correct title, but I agree with him on networking events.Lord Sugar says he is sick and tired of hearing people asking what to do, going to networking meetings and seminars expecting to glean some gems of wisdom.He goes on to say that such events are money-making exercises and benefit one party and one party only – the organiser, and the only thing you will learn is that there are other people in the same boat as you (which might help some people).His advice – Research the subject yourself, and you will learn more

Networking, a waste of valuable time and resources.

For better ways to improve contact EMS (enquiries@emseff.co.uk)

Written by John Hill our FD

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