Business

If there was ever a case for creating an online business, it is the rising percentage of online retail transactions. Recent figures from Statista show that e-commerce revenue in the UK has reached £110bn, accounting for 38 per cent of total retail spend. The UK also has 60 million e-commerce users.  Having an online presence is therefore essential. The internet offers a platform for a business to be found, be competitive, to gain credibility and ultimately provide great returns.  A 2018 survey of over 2,000 small and micro-businesses by website provider 123-Reg found that online businesses were 51 per cent more likely to grow than those without a website.   Together with the fact websites are now a vital element of consumer pre-purchase research, it is more necessary than ev...

If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.Metal-Inert Gas or MIG welders as they are more commonly known are the most widely used welding machines. They are easy to use, and they make  fabrication and complex jobs more affordable than other forms of welding.Whether you have a business that needs a MIG welder, or you are a DIYer, this type of welding has a very low entry point. And once you become an expert, you can buy more expensive MIG welders.What Is MIG Welding?The acronym MIG stands for Metal-Inert Gas, and it is technically known as gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and more loosely as wire welding.It is an arc welding process that fuses two metals by which a solid wire electrode is fed through the welding gun and then to the welding...

Recently we’ve been on a journey to set your small business up for success in 2023. In a three-part series, I’ve been guiding you in creating a small business strategy to launch in the new year and bring your business to new heights in 2023. In part 1, I laid the foundation by explaining why business strategy is important (and worth your time!). In part 2, I shared a 6-step path to creating an effective small business strategy. In this final article, we’re going to answer the question, ‘why does strategy fail?’ Why Does Small Business Strategy Fail? The harsh reality is that business strategy failures happen all the time for a variety of reasons. Understanding why can help you avoid the pitfalls and better understand the criteria for creating a good business strategy. So, why does small bu...

When put together well, your task of printing booklets to be distributed to customers and potential customers can have a big impact. Your business can grow with careful print marketing, utilising online booklet printing and expert guidance to ensure that you are maximising the potential of your brand. There are a few key tips that you can take with you when considering how to print a booklet for your business and the different things that you need to think about to get it right before it is printed and sent into the hands of your prospective customers. What do you Want to Print a Booklet? Before you do anything else you need to sit down as a team and think about why you want to look for an online booklet printing service. What type of people are you trying to reach with this booklet? Wha...

It’s the 300th episode of The Small Business Show! We start this special episode with a conversation about some of the most important lessons we have learned over the past 6-years of recordings and guests. Then it’s on to a great interview! Want people to remember your name? Feed them.  Our guest today has built a business around making a great impression on your current and potential customers with branded boxes of goodness that will put a smile on everyone’s face. Chelsea Martin is the Co-Owner of Noms Bake Shop where they specialize in connecting you with your customers on an entirely different level than standard marketing techniques. Since we all love cookies, I’m especially interested in learning about how they have created a business around something so important to all of us. Join ...

Black Friday is coming around again and your SEO in the run-up and on the day is crucial for sales. This year, Black Friday falls on November 25 with Cyber Monday on November 28. In 2022, UK Black Friday sales are expected to drop by £850m, down 18 per cent from 2021, with spend per person expected to drop by £85 (31 per cent) to £189.59. However, the rise in British people shopping the sales has risen to 39 per cent, a six per cent increase from 2021, according to Finder. That’s why this year your SEO is all-important. The most popular items are expected to be small kitchen appliances, with 22 per cent of shoppers planning to purchase something in this category. This is closely followed by gaming consoles and devices (20 per cent) and home decorations (20 per c...

The head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has called upon Americans to ‘Shop Small’ throughout this holiday season, as well as on Small Business Saturday on November 26.SBA Implores Americans to Shop Small on Small Business SaturdaySmall Business Saturday was founded in 2010 by American Express and officially co-sponsored by the SBA since 2011. It aims to encourage consumers to do business with independent retailers and restaurants, who number close to 32 million businesses across the United States.Record-Breaking Spend and Start-Up NumbersThis year marks the 13th annual Small Business Saturday. Last year, American Express say there was a record-breaking total reported spend of $23.3 billion by American consumers at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Sat...

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, or GAO, the federal government awarded $637 billion in contracts in 2021. As a small business owner, competing against large corporations for government contracts may seem daunting. But government work may be more accessible than you think. Of all the money spent on contracts, $149.5 billion was awarded to small businesses. That’s no coincidence. The government actively supports small business owners through its procurement process. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of winning a government contract and the steps you can take to make your business competitive. Benefits of Government Contracts When it comes to customers, the federal government is one worth pursuing. Here are some of the benefits available to government contract...