by Admin | Apr 29, 2020 | September 2021 Newsletter is now here!
WORKING ON YOUR BUSINESS
A NOTE FROM OUR BUSINESS ADVISOR:
JANET CRESSWELL
As the saying goes – ‘Knowledge is Power’. And this is true for you too in running your own businesses.
INVESTING IN YOUR CUSTOMER
Last time, I talked about understanding your customers.
Most business (80%) comes from repeat business, so getting to know your customers gives you a competitive advantage and a sound business base. Paying attention to your customer, providing a flexible and personalised service which addresses their needs, being responsive is a strength that all small businesses can use to their advantage. That personalised attention is very much appreciated and remembered in today’s fast paced high tech world.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
Education is an ongoing process, including now in these strange times. Take part in any learning opportunities you can, even if you think you know the subject well, there’s always something new you can learn. Stay curious and inquisitive. Top entrepreneurs buy and read business and marketing publications, and join business associations to learn from others, discuss ideas and define goals. That is the top benefit in being part of the Millin Charity’s A Chance to Trade programme. You have access to a range of free workshops, advice and guidance and networking opportunities.
CONTINUING YOUR LEARNING
There is a wide range of learning available in the present time through the internet, and it can be overwhelming when you are just starting out. So, think about what would benefit you the most. Do you want to learn a new skill or technique which you can sell on as part of your business? Or maybe you think that the most important thing is to gain an understanding of book keeping, or business planning so that you can run your business effectively? Maybe put together a personal learning plan, so that you can see what’s important to you, and then search the internet for courses.
FREE TRAINING COURSES
There are many training providers running free courses online including the WEA and the Open University. Click the below links to find out more.
Click here to find out more about the WEA
Click here to find out more about the Open University
SPECIALIST ENTERPRISE WORKSHOPS WITH THE MILLIN CHARITY
We at the Millin Charity are really keen to help you increase your knowledge. Don’t forget to check out our range of business workshops that will be delivered via the Zoom video app to ensure you can still benefit from our programmes. Click here to find out more. Please let us know any subject areas you think would help you, and we will see if we can put together more workshops to benefit all of you.
So, don’t forget, knowledge is Power! Here’s to your learning and business success!
Back next time with some more tips for great businesses! Janet x
by Admin | Apr 15, 2020 | Charity news
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WORKING ON YOUR BUSINESS
A NOTE FROM OUR BUSINESS ADVISOR:
JANET CRESSWELL
Like everyone else in business, we are looking at how technology can help us through this time. The Millin Charity has set up online ‘Ask the Business Advisor’ sessions, which connects fledgling business women with each other and with myself. A theme for the last two sessions has been about using the internet for research into our business ideas and how to connect with customers to sell either online or to build a potential customer base, so that when you are ready to trade you have a good start point.
Whether you are working online or face to face, the same business principles always apply.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CUSTOMER
Your customers decide whether your business grows or withers away. So, everything you do must be customer focused. Make it an easy and pleasant experience to buy from you. You can do this through researching who your typical customer is.
WHO IS YOUR CUSTOMER?
Give them a persona: For example, Mrs A is a busy mum working part time. She has a small budget to treat herself and buy treats for her family and friends.
Then think about where Mrs A might go, either to buy or to see promotional material. This could be online through social media sites, or by visiting craft fairs and markets, or meeting friends for a coffee, etc. Those places that Mrs A visits, either for real or online is where you need to be promoting your products and services. Promotion must sell the benefits of doing business with you. What sets your business apart from other similar businesses?
KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH CUSTOMERS
When it comes to making the sale, make it easy to purchase from you. And where applicable, follow up. If Mrs A is buying from you face to face, a simple thank you will be part of the transaction; but you could ask if she would like to follow your social media page, or join a mailing list. Similarly, if selling online, sending through a thank you message with the links to social media and joining the mailing list might also be a good plan. But again, make it easy and sell the benefits of doing this. If Mrs A likes what she bought, she can then share your social media page with her friends. Mailing lists and social media can be used to inform people of any events coming up that you are attending, any special offers or any new products, and keeps the connection with the customer, who may then buy from you again. You can find out more about creating a Facebook business page by clicking here.
MARKET RESEARCH
There are lots of easy ways that you can connect with potential customers using social media. How about try using free tools such as creating a Poll to find out which of your products are most popular? Check out this short tutorial for further details.
Back next time with some more tips for great businesses! Janet x |
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by Admin | Apr 1, 2020 | Charity news
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WORKING ON YOUR BUSINESS
A NOTE FROM OUR BUSINESS ADVISOR:
JANET CRESSWELL
In these difficult times it can be hard to see what you can do to take forward business ideas and nurture new start ups. However, times of uncertainty can be great opportunity for entrepreneurs. Now is the time to plan, research, learn new skills and develop business management systems. Those who’ve worked with me before know that I like plans: Business Plans (obviously) but also action plans to reach milestones and goals, and financial plans to show how you can afford to achieve that plan.
My plan at the moment is to review and learn about working online. I’m naturally a technophobe, so this doesn’t come easily, but my motivation comes from the simple fact that I love what I do as a self employed person, and want to keep doing it. My preference is for face to face work: I love people, and communicate much better that way, so I am exploring video conferencing and online meetings.
Working with The Millin Charity gives me the opportunity to try teaching online, so I’ll be giving that a go next week when I will be teaching basic bookkeeping and financial planning via Zoom – see above.
Here are some recommendations of mine for keeping busy with your businesses.
ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCING
Use Zoom to keep in touch with your friends & family as well as to join in with our upcoming Business Sessions. Click the below link for support with accessing Zoom;
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting
ONLINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
There is a lot of free or greatly reduced training available online at the moment which may help you progress your business. Check out some of these opportunities for further details:
Reed
www.reed.co.uk/courses/online
The Open University
www.open.edu/openlearn/money-management/starting-your-small-business
KEEPING CONNECTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Using networks on Social Media such as Facebook are great for connecting with like minded people, and finding out about opportunities. Using the search bar at the top of the Facebook page is a great way to find groups to connect with. Just type in a relevant word e.g. Accountant, and suggestions will come up. Here are some of the group we recommend:
Social Group for Millin Members
www.facebook.com/groups/765248534002985
Talented Ladies Club
www.facebook.com/TalentedLadiesClub
The Inspire Network
www.facebook.com/groups/mumsbusinessclubnortheast
Craft Fairs North East England
www.facebook.com/groups/1488806288056973
Back next time with some more tips for great businesses! Janet x |
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by Admin | Nov 23, 2018 | B Collective, Charity news
B Collective is The Millin Charity’s exciting social business, developed from the Women’s Trading Collective project, which aims to create collective support and trading experiences for local women.
B Collective offers ethically produced, environmentally friendly, design-led products and provides opportunities for women to gain enterprise experience & skills through participating in the running of the business. All profits are invested back into our projects to support local women. We are thrilled to have been working with Corinne Lewis-Ward of Powder Butterfly who has designed the fantastic new range, Same Difference. The range includes organic cotton t-shirts and bags and fully recyclable coffee travel cups. Click here to read more and to read about the story behind the designs.
The new range of products are available to be purchased online and from our base at The Millin Charity’s base at The Beacon, Westgate Road.
by Admin | Aug 12, 2018 | Charity news
We are thrilled to announce that The Millin Charity has secured funding through the Natwest Skills and Opportunities fund to deliver our A Chance To Trade Project. The #ACHANCETOTRADE project will support unemployed women to fast-track their enterprise idea from a product or service they make at home to one they sell to the public.
We were shortlisted for the funding back in March 2018, with the final decision being left to a public vote. We received so much support from all our friends, service users and supporters and were thrilled with the outcome. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for us thus enabling us to deliver this fantastic project.
The #ACHANCETOTRADEPROJECT will be launched in September 2018 and will offer one-to-one support, access to accredited enterprise training, business workshops, trading support and opportunities to sell at markets. We will be holding an opening day on Tuesday 18th September for women to come along and find out more. Click here for further information.
