Tag Archives: value

Running your own business down

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Jon Stow

So often I meet earnest business people who work hard and are not making money. So often it is because they undervalue themselves and what they do. They offer a great service, and if you asked their customers they would … Continue reading →

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No time-wasters?

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Jon Stow

I do not like having my time wasted. However time-wasters are hard to avoid when they telephone to try to elicit free information or professional advice, even though they should know that free advice is not worth the paper it … Continue reading →

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Don’t sell yourself short – lessons from a great physicist

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Jon Stow

  As you know if you read this blog, I am all for selling our skills on value. All too many business professionals think “How much will it cost me to do a project?”, then they add a bit of … Continue reading →

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Giving the customers what they want

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Jon Stow

  Taking a dip The famous UK department store chain, Marks and Spencer, has reported falling sales in clothing and non-food items again. It is sad to see a flagship high street name struggling. They always used to be so … Continue reading →

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Tailoring your offering to suit the client

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Jon Stow

Package deals In many businesses, including my general area, it is customary to quote package prices. For example, there might be a price for a tax return, and then a price for self-employed accounts and a tax return, one for … Continue reading →

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Penny-pinching in small businesses can be very expensive

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Jon Stow

Do you try to do everything in your business or do you confine yourself to the sharp end – your expertise? Most of my work is to do with tax; that is advising people on it or writing about it. … Continue reading →

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Small business and the baked bean test

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Jon Stow

Smalls Shopping around for products and services, it is human nature to look for good value. Because an offering is cheap does not necessarily mean it is good value. It may be though, depending what you want, and if the … Continue reading →

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Shouldn’t you part from your ungrateful customers?

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Jon Stow

Giving thanks We should always thank those who give us good service. It oils the wheels, makes them feel good towards us, and it is only polite. It is a question of respect, and most of us know this. Unfortunately … Continue reading →

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Dealing with yesterday’s men and women

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Jon Stow

  Old times In 1970 the Labour Party published a poster during the General Election describing the Tory opposition as “Yesterday’s Men”. It was a short-lived element of the campaign and was withdrawn very quickly. The Labour Party lost that … Continue reading →

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Selling our knowledge as a small business service provider

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Jon Stow

  They can’t do what we can Having knowledge, an expertise, is to have a highly valued asset. It is up to us to exploit it as well as we can. If we are service providers there are two ways … Continue reading →

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