I was interested to learn recently that, according to a recent Deloitte survey, 59% of consumers say they have increased their usage of local services and retailers. (< link)
With this shift towards local business offering greater support to the surrounding economies, it certainly seems good business sense to play a proactive role in supporting community-level enterprise don’t you think?
Here’s one way to participate.
… especially during this time of lock-down and considering many of our potential ‘customers,’ work from home, it needs little explanation that the priority should see us all ensuring our online presence is attractive, fresh and engaging …
Tough times also call for bold decisions by stepping away from the relative ‘comfort’ of the online world (when possible,) so introducing your solutions in-person should be encouraged. Why? Because even more so today, personal business relationships are hugely important and it’s not simply those well-established local ‘cornerstone industries’we should be approaching either …
According to “New Business Start-Ups”there are an expected 85000 new businesses established in the UKby the end of 2020. For any would-be entrepreneur, engaging the like-minded local establishments shouldn’t be dismissed. After all, developing close allies and affinity, better understanding through relationships are the type of associations that turned the one-time small business start-up into the ‘cornerstone industries’we see thriving today.
People buy from people.
Not forgetting, it’s not all the furthest, most sparkling horizons hold the richest of rewards. Try to imagine what may be right in front of you, by reaching out. Simply introduce your own local services, define your offer and invite the engagement. By lowering the ‘horizon of expectation’ and engaging local we’re creating opportunity when that local needs arise. With our own genuinely local flavour, our prospects see the worth of association and we become more readily referrable. More business at a lower cost.
Of course, readily referrable means we’re seen as a reliable business connection, the reputation grows and over time, the horizons for business broaden organically as the reputation sells for you.
A new business can be challenging during tough times although you are never alone and just now (right now!) the opportunities are enormous, we simply need to embrace the change and be prepared to adjust the expectation for when our prospects need us and …
CharlieKenny.me 