Need to be ALMOST a miracle worker to run a profitable business these days do ya

[middleaged2wheeler]

Yea and if i had my way 1 barrel of oil would = half a sheep carcass to get relativity bac---at the end of the day you can,t eat oil and food producers will win in the end because of that--no matter what is stockpiled or not.
Humans eat food and use oil not the other way round.

[middleaged2wheeler]

civilised world has been around a lot longer WITHOUT oil than with it.

A short 150 years and were all oil addicts are we??

[tri boy]

Being a hard nosed business person doesn't mean you need to be cruel or uncivilised to your opposition.
And in these times, focussing on your clients needs/wants, and going that little bit further for them, (even if it costs you in labour/man hours) will ultimately pay off.
People do spread the good experiences as well as the bad ones.
Exceed your customers expectations is the mantra in a tightening economy.
We had a new customer travel from Manly (Akld region) to purchase off us this Sat, solely because of the free advice and honest approach they received from us over the ph.
Another was stoked with a detailed report that was given back to them regarding there machine.(picked up more work from that) and the fact that we adapted to his time frame, and called him with updates, and gave him several price related choices to the work.
The customer isn't always right, but he/she is keeping your door open.

[middleaged2wheeler]

glad to hear not all stratas of life function at "street level".
Another theory--groups of a like tend to interact with groups of a like--whether consiously so otherwise.
is it a fact that stratas in our society interact with similar and equal stratas in the wider globe.
Maybe our world has become like the old english class society where different classes now interact with each other worldwide. Top flight businessmen mix with other topflight businessmen and apply that to other stratas of society and determine how the different levels mix together or NOT>
Not any topflight businessmen or politicians or leaders of anything frequent my streets so they mix with their own--and can become out of touch with other streams of society.
FORUMS like this begin to open barriers--on one level and that,s good but narrowly virtual.

[tri boy]

I hope there is no class level developing, and with regards to the service sector, I think it is quite irrelevant.
A struggling family man that expects great service, and value for his limited budget is no less a client than a rich client who can throw thousands over a counter. (in alot of cases, the rich man is more of a time burner, as they can expect you be at their beck n call for some reason), maybe that is where the class structure is emerging??

[middleaged2wheeler]

Just look at the seating arrangements of international flights-
economy class, business class, first class--now that is ingrained and can any group wander between the other-
we have been slowly conditioned and brainwashed into these things--as long as your aware of it I think it has less effect.

[kickingzebra]

Ironically, the ones that have screwed me the most have been the ones whom I have tried too much to go above, over and beyond for.
So now I over deliver, but price accordingly, and this seems to be working.
Try and treat every client the same, but is tricky not to be a bit more prompt when they are driving a shiney new merc or something...
Weird that... right you are I suppose.
I am service industry too, and meeting all sorts of people is definitly a perk to me, granted, it is a better perk when they pay...
Oh, BTW, was sooo on the verge of deep doo doo only a couple of months ago.

[Gremlin]

?? I'm busier than ever. Had to tighten up the credit though as businesses taking a LOT longer to pay their bills.

yeh, got to keep an eye on that. All nice trusting them, but sometimes you have to send reminders, and make 'em jump

As a result, I don't even chase work, it comes to me.

I don't ride my bike much at the moment, I sit here at the computer all weekend, churning out a never-ending stream of large invoices. Sigh.

We've tried to stop taking on clients, too many and you can't service them properly. Don't even remind me about invoicing... got ours in the next few days

You needed to order items months ahead of time, because the letter you posted to your supplier took time to arrive and the goods were shipped to you.
NZ has completely forgotten how to plan ahead. The "overnight delivery" from anywhere on the planet, has killed off this skill.

No no, you have it all wrong, its a new term, called JIT Allows you to buy when needed, and not hold old stock (in IT it is relevant), but stops working so well, when the suppliers don't have stock (damn their JIT tactics)

DB: If you are getting screwed from both sides, not knowing the business, its unusual. We have good relationships with our chosen suppliers, and they know they have to compete with other similar suppliers, we don't even place pressure on them.

Customers, well, they always want everything for nothing, and thats not a new thing. It depends whether or not your customers are recurring, but it becomes more about the basic principals of customer service and relationship building, with the long term goal of them trusting you to take care of them.

[CookMySock]

A struggling family man that expects great service, and value for his limited budget is no less a client than a rich client who can throw thousands over a counter. (in alot of cases, the rich man is more of a time burner, as they can expect you be at their beck n call for some reason), maybe that is where the class structure is emerging??

It is their attitude that gets you to jump. If they look the part and they tell you to jump, you will jump. Try it yourself - its fun. Dress smartly, and tell people to do what you want - and don't flinch or chicken out. Watch them jump - yes sir! You don't even need to be rough on them to get your way, just tell them to do it like you "know they will do it."

DB

[tri boy]

Clothes don't make me impressed. Within a few minutes talking to somebody, I will decide if I need to go that extra mile. I once meet the owner of Krupp Engineering. (a huge German machinery conglomerate), he was a quietly spoken, gentle man, that could get a special flight arranged for a Russian Star Lifter plane just for a slew ring for one of his O+K face shovels to be picked up from his Frankfurt warehouse, and flown into Brisbane within two days.
Now that is power, but he never bossed or bullied a single person. Mucho Respecto.

[karla]

I like the title of the thread - ALMOST a miracle worker. If I leave the miracles up to others, and get on with doing the work that needs to be done, it saves me a world of wasted energy trying to change things I have no control over.

I've been waiting for the 'tighten your belt' time for a while. I'm looking forward, in a way, to getting back to basics, when business was done between gentlemen and your word had to, and did, mean something.

My fathers business survived many economy downturns. He planted his tree, nurtured it through the winters and is still there today, growing slowly. Put down roots, tough it out, and you gain credibility that is worth more than any advertising.

I think many of the businesses that didn't make it through this winter, or won't make it through the next, got burned when the interest rates went up. Being in debt right now will be the quickest way to finding yourself back on the assembly line. Keep food in the pantry ~

[CookMySock]

I'm looking forward, in a way, to getting back to basics, when business was done between gentlemen and your word had to, and did, mean something.

I hope this will come to pass, but it has been tough and there is much trust to rebuild. I'll start, but I won't be burned again.

DB

[Beemer]

Yes, it is sad that so many businesses have gone under lately but the Chronic is one that won't be missed. Hopefully they will get rid of a few of the deadbeats who currently work there and replace them with people who can spell and don't write crap.

I also live in the Horowhenua and I run a successful business from home - I only employ myself, but I earn a good income and my running costs are minimal. My neighbour also runs a successful business, although his is huge (Swazi Apparel), so it can be done.

The best thing is, working from home also allows me to save money in unexpected ways - by baking, cooking most of our meals from scratch, and drying clothes on the line. See, girls can do anything!

[Gremlin]

I also live in the Horowhenua and I run a successful business from home - I only employ myself, but I earn a good income and my running costs are minimal.

I think this is going to become more and more frequent. Small businesses offering niche services with a small customer base. Allows them to keep costs down, and with all the red tape etc, employing the first extra employees can be off-putting

[middleaged2wheeler]

the Chronicile as not so much will it be missed,but had 6 day coverage like any other full time newspapaer--- so you want to place an urgent advert in for next day for" boil the drinking "water or some other important issue--now you have to wait 4 days as it is only a giveaway.
I was thinking of an "INBOX NEWS " subscription fed online newspaper--as an opportunity--easy home business--but hey i,m almost sixty now and don,t have full on drive i used to have 20 years ago----trimming trees is only a distant memory--still an opportutnity in my mind neverthe less--Trade ME started in some garage and sold out for the biggest bikkie ever in recent times--stil honeing my compuer skills and knowledge. NICHE marketing sounds more liveable than the VICE like clamp some have to work under as self employed. After all ,these are the days of our lives--sounds korny i know but how you spend them and wear yourself out, is important and when younger you think your energy and stamina is endless but hit 55 and its different .I known people work full on until 67 quit and be dead with 18 months--hey hey got to get some pleasure out of life.