17Dec
How Small Businesses Can Stand Out in a Saturated Market

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There’s a well-known saying, “In a world where you can be anything, be unique.” This resonates with many small business owners navigating the crowded commercial landscape. Standing out is no longer a choice; it’s a necessity. So, how can a small business differentiate itself? Here are some effective strategies to create a distinctive identity.

1. Stellar Customer Service

The first and foremost approach is to offer exceptional customer service. Big corporations may lack the personal touch that you, as a small business, can provide. Know your customers, anticipate their needs, and exceed their expectations. This isn’t just about solving problems or handling complaints; it’s about creating an overall positive customer experience that instills loyalty and leads to word-of-mouth referrals.

2. Unique Branding

Your brand should tell a story. It should represent your business ethos, your values, and what makes you different. Everything from your logo and tagline to your online presence and office décor should reflect this. Unique, consistent branding fosters recognition and builds a connection with your customers.

3. Showcase Expertise

As a small business, it’s vital to exhibit your deep knowledge and expertise in your field. Educate your customers through blog posts, social media updates, webinars, or even in-person workshops. These efforts demonstrate your authority, increase your visibility, and foster trust with your audience. 

4. Community Involvement

Being a part of the community can help differentiate your business. Attend local events, sponsor a youth sports team, or donate to local charities. Not only does this build goodwill, but it also increases local visibility and helps build strong relationships with customers.

5. User-Generated Content

Leverage user-generated content to amplify your brand’s reach and authenticity. Encourage customers to share photos, reviews, or testimonials. This creates a sense of community around your brand and provides social proof that can persuade potential customers.

6. Personalize Your Products or Services

If possible, personalize your offerings. This could be as simple as offering customizable features or as complex as tailoring your service to individual client needs. Personalization enhances customer satisfaction and can make your business the go-to for those seeking a product or service tailored to their specific requirements.

7. Sustainable Practices

In a world increasingly concerned about climate change and social issues, sustainable practices can make a small business stand out. This might involve sourcing products ethically, minimizing waste, or contributing to social causes. This not only resonates with ethically-minded consumers but also shows your commitment to a bigger cause.

8. Collaborate with Complementary Businesses

Collaboration can help you reach a wider audience. Find complementary businesses and explore opportunities for partnerships. This could take the form of bundled offerings, cross-promotions, or joint events. Collaborations provide mutual benefits and can make your business more attractive to customers seeking convenience and value.

9. Leverage Technology

Technological advancements offer many opportunities for small businesses. Whether it’s implementing a chatbot to provide instant customer support, using data analytics to understand consumer behavior, or harnessing social media for targeted marketing, technology can help your business stand out.

10. Be Flexible and Adapt

Perhaps one of the most significant advantages a small business has over larger competitors is agility. Small businesses can pivot quickly in response to changing market conditions, customer preferences, or innovative trends. Embrace this flexibility and show your customers that you’re adaptable and forward-thinking.

In conclusion, standing out as a small business in today’s crowded market requires creativity, dedication, and a keen understanding of your customers’ needs and desires. By offering stellar customer service, unique branding, demonstrating expertise, engaging with the community, utilizing user-generated content, personal

izing offerings, adopting sustainable practices, collaborating with other businesses, leveraging technology, and showing flexibility, you can differentiate yourself and achieve success. Remember, the ultimate goal is not to be everything to everyone, but to be something incredible for those who matter: your customers.

29Nov
The Art of Employee Retention: Keeping your Team Engaged and Motivated

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In today’s rapidly evolving corporate landscape, one of the most pressing challenges organizations face is employee retention. Retaining top talent has become a strategic imperative for businesses, not only due to the financial costs associated with high turnover, but also because high-performing, committed employees are key drivers of organizational success. Let’s delve into why employee retention matters and how you can foster an environment that encourages employees to stay.

Understanding the Importance of Employee Retention

The significance of employee retention stems from its multiple ramifications. High attrition rates not only lead to increased recruitment costs but can also hamper productivity, destabilize teams, erode company culture, and damage a company’s reputation. Conversely, a lower turnover rate ensures knowledge continuity, promotes a healthy work culture, and bolsters overall performance.

Strategies for Effective Employee Retention

Now that we’ve established the importance of employee retention, let’s explore strategies to boost it within your organization.

1. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

While money isn’t everything, it’s certainly a significant factor in job satisfaction. Employees must feel that they’re being compensated fairly for their skills and effort.

Solution: Regularly review your compensation packages to ensure they align with or exceed industry standards. Additionally, offer comprehensive benefits packages and consider perks like flexible hours, work-from-home options, or wellness programs that can improve work-life balance.

2. Foster a Positive Work Culture

A healthy, positive work environment goes a long way in retaining employees. It engenders a sense of belonging and allows individuals to thrive.

Solution: Build a culture rooted in respect, transparency, collaboration, and inclusivity. Encourage team-building activities and open communication. Recognize and reward good work to motivate employees and foster a positive atmosphere.

3. Provide Growth and Development Opportunities

Ambitious employees seek growth – both professional and personal. If they feel stagnant in their roles, they are likely to look elsewhere for opportunities.

Solution: Invest in your employees’ development. Offer training programs, mentorship opportunities, and clear career progression paths. Encourage employees to take on new challenges and responsibilities that will enable them to acquire new skills and grow.

4. Listen to Employee Feedback

Employees want to feel heard and valued. Ignoring their feedback or concerns can lead to frustration and disengagement.

Solution: Establish platforms where employees can voice their opinions and suggestions. Regularly conduct surveys to gauge employee satisfaction and act on the feedback received. An open-door policy can also facilitate dialogue and make employees feel valued.

5. Prioritize Work-Life Balance

Today’s employees, particularly the younger generations, highly value work-life balance. Overworking your team can lead to burnout and disengagement.

Solution: Encourage employees to take time off to relax and rejuvenate. Ensure that workload distribution is fair, and offer flexibility where possible. Showing concern for your employees’ lives outside of work can help cultivate loyalty and satisfaction.

6. Implement a Robust Onboarding Process

The onboarding process sets the tone for an employee’s journey in your company. A poor onboarding experience can lead to early departures.

Solution: Create a comprehensive onboarding program that welcomes new hires, familiarizes them with their roles and the company culture, and provides the necessary training for them to perform their jobs effectively.

In conclusion, employee retention is more of an art than a science. It requires a deep understanding of people’s motivations, continuous effort, and a genuine commitment to creating a work environment that respects, values, and nurtures your team. Remember, your employees are your most valuable asset, and investing in their satisfaction and growth is an investment in your company’s long-term success. With these strategies, you can significantly boost your employee retention rate, promoting a happier, more productive workplace.

19Nov
Unraveling the Co-Founder Puzzle: Essential Aspects to Explore in Depth  

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Starting a business venture can be a thrilling yet daunting endeavor. One of the most pivotal decisions you’ll make on this journey is choosing a co-founder, the individual with whom you’ll experience the euphoric highs and inevitable lows of the entrepreneurial ride. It’s critical that you and your potential co-founder resonate on a multitude of levels to ensure a smooth voyage. In this blog post, we aim to provide a comprehensive guide to facilitate your co-founder discussions, drawing from valuable resources such as Y Combinator’s guide on the subject. 

Probing the Inner Drive and Defining the Roles 

The first step in these deliberations should be to explore each other’s motivations in-depth. Questions such as “Why are you keen on this startup? What are your personal and professional aspirations, in monetary and non-monetary terms?” will help you gauge if your drives synchronize or if there could be potential friction points in the future. 

The subsequent step is to crystalize roles and responsibilities. The clarification of who will don the CEO hat, how duties will be divided, and what role each person will play aids in establishing a definitive operational framework from the inception. While these roles might evolve as the business does, having a blueprint for the initial 6-12 months is vital. 

Discussing Equity, Finalizing Location, and Evaluating the Business Idea 

Equity division is often a complicated matter but addressing it promptly is imperative. There may not be a universal solution, but an open, honest conversation can lay the groundwork for a just agreement. 

Another functional detail to consider is the location. What will be the geographical home of the company? Will you operate from a shared physical space or will you adopt a remote working model? These determinations can greatly shape the culture and operations of the company. 

A profound analysis of the business idea and its potential pivot scenarios is a crucial conversation. Gauge your potential co-founder’s flexibility by asking, “If our initial idea doesn’t yield results, are you willing to modify the idea?” This conversation can offer a glimpse into your partner’s adaptability and commitment to the venture’s success, irrespective of the specific business idea. 

Scrutinizing Financial Commitments and Examining Work-Life Balance 

Fully understanding each other’s financial commitments and the circumstances under which each of you would commit to the venture full-time. This requires delving into personal financial situations, willingness to initially work without pay, ability to live on savings, and the minimum salary needed to dedicate full-time effort to the project. 

Work-life balance and working schedules are equally crucial. Engage in a conversation about what your routine working schedules would look like, how long you aim to maintain them, and any non-work-related activities that you consider essential to continue. 

Constructing a Team and Resolving Conflicts 

As your startup expands, the probability of building a team increases. Engage in discussions about your potential co-founder’s values, their approach to building a team, their vision for the company culture, and their preferred management style. 

A crucial, though often uncomfortable discussion, revolves around how you will address disagreements and what the recourse is if you decide to part ways professionally. While it may be tough to navigate this conversation, it’s critical to avoiding bitter disagreements or fallouts in the future. 

Deepening Personal Connections 

Beyond these business-focused aspects, understanding your potential co-founder on a more personal level can yield valuable insights. Engage in dialogue about past experiences, long-term life ambitions, work preferences, strategies for managing stress, and any external pressures that might be in play. This deep-dive will enhance your comprehension of each other and nurture a robust foundation for your partnership.  

In conclusion, navigating the co-founder conversation is a delicate dance. By openly discussing these key topics, you’ll have a much clearer vision of whether or not this individual is the right fit for you, and vice versa. Remember, honesty, transparency, and mutual respect are the cornerstones of any successful co-founder relationship. Embark on this conversation with an open mind and a clear intention for the best possible outcome. 

8Nov
Evaluating the Potency of Your Business Idea

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Entrepreneurial minds are perpetually buzzing with ideas. As exciting as each new idea can feel, the reality is, not every one of them will translate into a successful business. So, how do you discern the wheat from the chaff? This blog post lays out seven key points to evaluate whether your business idea holds potential.

1. Solving a Real Problem

The most successful businesses often address existing pain points for customers. Does your idea solve a problem? If yes, is it a problem that a significant number of people face, and are they willing to pay for a solution? 

2. Market Research

Thoroughly researching your market is crucial. Understand your potential customers, their needs, and the competitors who are already addressing similar problems. This will give you a clear sense of demand and competition, crucial factors that influence the viability of your venture.

3. Unique Value Proposition

This is where you focus on what makes your idea stand out from competitors. Do you offer better quality, lower prices, faster delivery, excellent customer service, or a differentiated product/service? This unique selling proposition often becomes the backbone of your brand.

4. Profitability

At the end of the day, your business needs to make money. Consider cost factors, prospective pricing, and the profit margin. Conduct a simple break-even analysis: How many units of your product or service do you need to sell to cover costs? If the volume seems achievable, that’s a good sign.

5. Scalability

Your idea may look great on a small scale, but can it grow? Depending on your intentions, it’s essential to consider if your business model could eventually cater to a larger customer base or other markets without a detrimental impact on efficiency or costs.

6. Business Model

How will you make money? A solid business model outlines how your business will generate revenue and become profitable. Whether it’s a subscription model, freemium, e-commerce, or direct sales, ensure the model aligns seamlessly with your product or service.

7. Passion and Expertise

Lastly, are you passionate about your business idea? Running a business requires resilience and tenacity, and your passion is often the fuel you’ll need when the going gets tough. Moreover, expertise in your chosen business sector greatly improves the chance of success.

Testing your business idea against these parameters provides a strong indicator of its potential for success. Remember, however, that even the most promising ideas require a well thought out business plan, a robust marketing strategy, and effective execution to succeed. Business ideas are unique and challenging and require a lot of introspection and analysis. But, taking the time to evaluate your idea thoroughly can save you precious time, money, and effort in the long run. Not every idea will pass this test, but that’s okay! The key is to remain resilient, learn from any setbacks, and keep exploring until you find your winning idea. Fast-growing startups are indeed born from potent ideas backed up by solid execution and an unrelenting passion for success.

15Oct
The Power of Surveys: Harnessing Customer Feedback for Business Success 

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Today’s dynamic and ever-evolving business environment demands constant interaction with customers. In the age of the customer, where expectations and preferences shift at the speed of a click, understanding your consumers’ needs and adapting to meet them is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. One of the most effective tools businesses have at their disposal to gain these invaluable insights is the customer feedback survey. Customer feedback surveys are a crucial ingredient to business success, and their importance cannot be overstated. Here are some reasons why. 

A Direct Line to Your Customer’s Mind 

At its core, a business revolves around its customers. The ability to get inside the mind of the customer is a superpower that every business should aim to possess. Customer feedback surveys provide just that – a direct line to understanding what the customer thinks, feels, needs, and wants. Surveys offer an opportunity for customers to voice their opinions and feelings in a structured, systematic way. This enables businesses to quantify and analyze data, identify patterns, and formulate actionable strategies. The feedback received can be about a product, a service, a process, or the overall customer experience. No other tool is as direct and efficient in capturing the voice of the customer. 

Customer Retention and Loyalty 

Businesses often focus on customer acquisition, but retaining existing customers is equally, if not more, important. It is estimated that acquiring a new customer costs five times more than retaining an existing one. Customer feedback surveys play a crucial role in identifying potential issues that could cause a customer to leave, thus helping companies retain their customer base. 

Surveys also show customers that their opinion matters, making them feel valued and heard. This increases customer loyalty and advocacy, turning customers into powerful brand ambassadors. 

Refining and Innovating Products or Services 

Feedback received from customers can act as an essential resource for product development and innovation. Surveys can reveal what features or aspects of a product or service customers love, and more importantly, what they don’t. Businesses can then refine their offerings accordingly to improve customer satisfaction and market fit. Furthermore, surveys often uncover innovative ideas or trends that a company may have overlooked, driving future growth and setting the company apart from its competition. 

Improving Customer Experience 

Customer experience is the sum total of a customer’s interactions and perceptions about a company. A positive customer experience fosters loyalty, enhances reputation, and increases sales. Regularly conducting customer feedback surveys allows a business to assess and enhance each touchpoint in the customer’s journey, ensuring a stellar customer experience. 

Informed Decision-making 

Business decisions, be they strategic or tactical, benefit significantly from reliable data. Customer feedback surveys provide a wealth of quantifiable data, translating subjective experiences into objective insights. This information empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions that align with customer preferences and expectations. 

Benchmarking Performance 

Finally, regular surveys help businesses benchmark their performance over time and against competitors. It is a way to measure if efforts to improve customer experience, product quality, or service delivery are working. 

In conclusion, customer feedback surveys are a powerful tool in the business arsenal. They provide deep insights into customer perceptions, preferences, and pain points. However, conducting surveys is only half the battle. The key lies in analyzing the data, acting on the feedback, and communicating changes back to the customer. This creates a feedback loop that fosters continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, business success.  

No business can afford to ignore the voice of its customers. In a world where every customer’s opinion can reach a global audience in seconds, the power and importance of customer feedback surveys have never been greater. 

27Sep
Invoicing Mistakes Costing You Money

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As a business owner, you have a lot on your plate. It is very easy to overlook simple tasks like invoicing when you already have many other priorities. However, beware of these invoicing mistakes that are costing you money. It is something that should require your full attention since small mistakes could become costly to your business. These mistakes can easily be avoided and you will encounter fewer problems in the long term.

  1. Not sending invoices in a timely manner

It is important that you do not procrastinate sending out the invoice. The invoice needs to be prepared as soon as possible and sent to the client immediately. Delays in dispatching the invoice to the client will only affect your business by not getting payment in time. This is something that can easily be avoided to assure you are not wasting any time and assure the proper cash flow of your company.

  1. Not having payment terms

By not specifying the payment terms to the client, they will not know when to pay. This leaves the deadline open to interpretation and most likely causes the client to pay much later or forget entirely. You need to include the terms for example it’s often written as Net 7, 10, or 30 days. This means that the client has 7, 10, or 30 days to make a payment depending on when you choose.

  1. Not specifying payment methods

You need to make it as easy as possible for the client to make a payment and if they do not know how they can pay, then it will result in further delays. Clearly indicating what payment methods they can use, will avoid delays caused either by the client contacting you to ask or by the client pushing it off and forgetting entirely.

  1. Not following up on your invoices

It is important to follow up on your invoices this will make sure that the client has in fact received them. Sometimes, clients will forget to make a payment and by following up with them it will remind them to pay right away. Other times, some clients need to be badgered in order to get the payment from them. In either case, following up will solve the problem is receiving anything late and to assure they received it at all.

  1. Incorrect information

Make sure that the invoice is addressed to the correct person. It is possible that the invoice will not be billed to the same person that you had contact with when you are dealing with a bigger business. Also pay attention that all other information on the invoice is correct such as an address, pricing, and even spelling. Incorrect spelling will make your business look unprofessional which is not an impression you want to give. Before sending out the invoice, double-check that it is the correct information.

  1. Itemizing

It is a good idea to include a list of charges that you are charging the client. This way it will be easier for the client to understand their charges. There will be less confusion and therefore less reason for the client to contact you with any questions that will further delay the payment.

Invoicing and receiving payment is a key part of a business that you need to have under control. When sending out an invoice, your goal is to make it as clear as possible for the client. Set up payment terms, be clear with how you accept payment, and follow up on all invoices to make sure you are paid. The less confusion there is the easier it will be for the client to pay right away.

17Sep
Marketing to Millennials

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Social media has emerged as a critical component of marketing to millennials. According to one study, millennials now make up the majority of the population in the United States. As a result, millennials have the world’s largest consumer base. So, in order for your company to grow, Millennials can play a significant role. Here are some general characteristics of Millennials that set them apart from the general population. 

Millennials are more likely than older generations to conduct online product research prior to making a purchase. 

Authenticity & Transparency: Millennials, the discerning consumers of today, hold authenticity and transparency in marketing to the highest regard. 

Influencing friends and family: This group is more likely to discuss their brand experiences and purchasing decisions on social media, making word-of-mouth marketing particularly effective. 

Experiential marketing is a strategy that can be successful with millennials. It involves creating memorable events or experiences that engage the consumer. 

In spite of their propensity to shop online, millennials still value in-person interactions and are more likely to make impulsive purchases in physical stores. For many millennials, sustainable and socially conscious business practices are crucial, so emphasizing those features of a product or company can be a successful marketing tactic. Remember that these are generalizations and that not all millennials will fit these descriptions. 

There are key things that you need to understand about millennials in order to sell to this market. Doing this will allow you to capitalize on this digitally inclined demographic while increasing profits for your business. Here are a couple things you need to know when marketing to millennials. 

  • Outbound Marketing is Out 

Millennials want to feel connected and involved when it comes to their purchases. Traditional marketing does not encourage this. Outbound marketing methods like magazine ads, direct mail campaigns, and radio spots, do not work well with Millennials and should as much as possible, not be used. 

Millennials know what they want and, since they are so digitally savvy, they know how to find it online. That is why these young consumers do a lot of their research via blogs, forums, and YouTube videos. 

  • Word-to-mouth culture 

Millennials are glued to their devices because they constantly need to be connected. Product reviews and social tools are readily accessible to them. This allows them to research and share opinions before they commit to a product. They purchase from brands and products they can trust and that are endorsed by Instagram influencers or real people. 

Instagram influencer marketing is the result of this word-to-mouth culture that values trusted endorsements. It’s not just about having celebrities to make the consumer buy things, it’s about advertising real people. People that the consumer can relate to and trust. A survey shows that 61% of people will trust a friend’s endorsement of a brand and are more willing to buy from that brand. Social media is a way of creating this brand loyalty, it provides an unofficial endorsement in the form of user-generated content that can be reposted by the brand. 

Respond to customer service requests, create campaigns that engage customers, and don’t just promote products but add informative posts and info on social channels. By incorporating these strategies into your marketing efforts you can generate/ drive traffic to your website and broadcast your brand’s core values. 

  • You have an 8-second window 

Millennials have a very short attention span. Their focus is constantly shifting from one thing to the next. If your content does not capture their attention in the first 8 seconds, then it becomes irrelevant. This is why there is such a high demand for content creators because it’s not easy coming up with something that will grab people’s attention in such a short time frame. You need to be able to help them understand what your product is about and why they should care within those few first seconds. 

We have become very fast that if visually something is not appealing then we are not interested and we move on to the next best thing out there. There are so many products available on the market that you need to be able to prove why yours is the best for your consumer and why it matters. The world is constantly changing and improving and if you are not the first or the best to do something then you will completely become irrelevant in a matter of seconds. 

  • You need to visually look the part 

Millennials judge with their eyes first. Your website, brand, or ad content needs to be up to par. Visually it needs to be appealing, in style, and professional. If your content looks old or outdated then your brand or product will lose credibility, regardless of what you are selling. Not to mention you will not even have their attention for more than a second. 

This generation is obsessed with creating and sharing video content. It is on every social media platform where people can upload short clips and stories on either Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat.  YouTube has become very popular over the past decade and anyone is free to share almost whatever they want.  Just about anyone can become famous. YouTube stars are becoming just as popular as celebrities. 

Creating video content is the best way to create a connection with millennials. It is a way of grabbing their small attention span. They will be more interested in watching something than reading an ad or looking at a picture since they are so quick to scroll through images. However, your video needs to be professional and visually appealing. You need to create a connection with them, inspire them, and give them a reason to keep watching. 

  • You need to be in more places than one 

Millennials have developed a culture of multitasking by constantly switching between devices and platforms. Our generation is plugged into their devices and our attention is split between different platforms. We’re constantly scrolling, switching, and looking at different things.  Our attention is not on one social networking app but on multiple platforms all at once. If you plan on running ads through YouTube only then this may not be very effective, as the majority of people will switch devices as soon as an ad campaign comes on.  However, this division of attention is used to benefit strategic ad campaigns. By dividing your brand’s ad investment into different platforms, you can extend your reach across different channels. 

  • Brand storytelling 

In order to reach millennials, you need to create content that means something to them or that they can relate to. They are receptive to brand storytelling. This generation values being acknowledged, being presented with options, and feeling connected. Your message needs to be intelligent, thoughtful, and inclusive. It is about including everyone together. Millennials are interested in products that are sustainable and make a difference. Slowly products are trying to incorporate these values, which have been attracting millennials to purchase their products.  This makes a huge difference when advertising to your demographic, as this generation is more inclined in making a difference. When your product means something and makes a difference, then they will be attracted to your brand or product. 

Marketing tactics that might have worked in the past recently changed due to this digitally inclined generation. By directly addressing this generation, brands will be able to create a connection between them and the consumer. Engaging millennials sustain these connections and transform ads. 

19Aug
Founder of Naked and Famous Denim: Brandon Svarc

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Brandon Svarc; is a founder who decided to do the exact opposite of what his competitors were offering in order to succeed. Naked and Famous Denim is a high-quality denim brand that is not like any other pair of jeans out there. Made out of only the best fabrics and priced at a point where you get your money’s worth. Today’s fashion industry is focused on glamour and celebrities rather than quality. Naked and Famous Denim’s primary focus is quality.

We are proud to have funded this business and once it became successful, founder Brandon Svarc joined the PME committee in order to help other entrepreneurs like himself. We had a chance to speak with Brandon and he shared with us his success story but also gives us insight into what he has noticed while being part of the PME committee. He shares with us some tips and advice he has learned along the way.

  1. What made you start naked and famous denim?

I started Naked and Famous Denim because I wanted to start a brand that was the opposite of all the other denim brands on the market. I realized all high-end denim was based on corrupted values and was highly overpriced for the quality of them. My main motivation was to create the best possible jeans on the market.

  1. How does your denim brand differentiate from other brands?

Our denim differentiates from other brands through our product values. When I started this business in 2008, my competitors were all Hollywood or celebrity-endorsed brands. What they sell are glamour and million-dollar ads, what I sell is quality. It is simple: no ads, no stresses/rips, no product giveaways, and no celebrity endorsement. We are focused very much on the product and quality, that’s it. We stick to a concept my grandfather taught me, making better quality products than your competitors for a better price.

  1. How did you come up with this idea? Why Japan?

My family has been in this industry for 70 years. So, this has always been a part of me. When I was born, my father even made a line of jeans in my name. However, I was still tackling something I didn’t have much experience in. My concept was simple, to make the best product I can sell at the most expensive stores but sell them at the opening price points of those stores. I set a goal and went from there. The first goal I set was to sell at Barneys and we accomplished that in our first season of selling. After that, we continued selling there for 16 more seasons in a row.

In order to make the best possible product on the market I did a lot of research. I knew I wanted to make them locally in Canada because I wanted to support the local market. Next, I needed to find where the best denim fabric is. After countless research, I found it in Japan. When I found the Japanese denim and saw how much they obsess over it I knew this is what I needed. With the amount of detail and innovation that went into the material, stitching, and washing, I knew this was it. My goal was to find the best fabric, and make it in Canada, for the lowest price, with no ads, no celebrities just keep it simple.

  1. What were some of the most challenging obstacles that you had when building your business and how did you overcome them?

Sales were one of the biggest challenges I had when I started out. I had no sales experience. Even though my family was in the clothing industry they still never really targeted what I was going for. This was a big challenge when I wanted to sell in every high-end store with no experience or pre-existing contacts. However, this didn’t stop me from going door to door to every store asking them to sell my brand. By going door to door to different stores, this helped me learn and practice and eventually I became really good at it.  I had a lot of people turn me down and even throw me out of their stores but I didn’t give up. Eventually, I had those same people who kicked me out of their stores call me back to ask to sell my brand.

  1. What kind of risks did you need to take as a founder in order to be where you are today?

There are a lot of different risks that every entrepreneur needs to take in order to be successful. Not using ads or following the conventional path that most people in the fashion industry take was a risk but I wasn’t too worried. There are a lot of competitors on the market I was going after, however, I knew if I made the best quality product then the rest would follow.

Most people who work with corporations don’t have the constant anxiety of will my company go out of business. Usually, there is a level of security in those employed positions. As a founder, you don’t have this sort of safety net that is offered when you work for a company. That’s a risk you need to be willing to take.  I constantly had this anxiety about if my business will actually make it and if people will buy my product or if this was all for nothing. That’s a risk I was willing to take because I believed in my product and was passionate about what I was selling.

6.   If you can give one piece of advice or a golden rule for an entrepreneur starting out what would it be?

 One piece of advice I like to share with young founders is something that was told to me. When the time came to sell to high-end stores in Ontario, I set out to find someone with pre-existing knowledge and contacts about the Ontario market. I did not have much experience and I knew I needed to find someone to sell my denim for me. I finally found the perfect person, whom I contacted and arranged a meeting with. After pitching my denim brand to him, he was amazed by my product. However, he declined to sell my denim for me. He declined because he said the best person who can sell my product was me.

No one else has the passion and product knowledge for your own product other than you. You need to sell your product yourself. That’s what I like to tell young entrepreneurs. Even if you have no sales experience or contacts you need to take a chance on yourself because nobody knows the product better than you.

  1. As a board member, you’ve seen many entrepreneurs pitch their ideas. What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when pitching?

The biggest mistake I’ve seen founders make when pitching is over-selling it. Some overestimate their financials and that doesn’t go well with the board. Obviously, these numbers are based on assumption and it’s good to dream big. However,  if you’re going to over-exaggerate your numbers you need to be ready to defend those numbers with facts. Be realistic. 

  1. Naked and Famous denim is a PME-funded business and you are a board member, what kind of advantages has PME provided to your company along with others you see come in?

Of course, the loan itself can help with the pre-seed funding to get things running. By being a board member, I’ve seen how willing everyone is to make connections for the founder. Even if they don’t get the funding, we will still try to help them in every way possible by connecting them with the right people. Everyone will look through their network in the Jewish community and put them together. We really want everyone to succeed and it’s not just about giving them the money to help them to do that.

Every founder should take note of the passion and dedication that Brandon Svarc exemplifies. He believed in what he was selling and had faith in his product. He had a straightforward, simple concept and executed that successfully. Passion is key when you’re a founder because if you really believe in what you’re doing then everything else will come. His jeans are now sold across numerous stores across the globe.

PME’s goal is to help every entrepreneur that comes in to succeed. It’s not just about giving them the financial tools but also mentoring them and putting them on the right path to succeed.

16Jul
Should You Take Out That Loan or Not?

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Should you take out that loan or not?

There are numerous factors you must consider while expanding a startup. How you plan to finance your business is one of the most crucial factors. Small business loans are frequently used by startups to fund operations, but without sound financial management, taking on more debt could be harmful to the company.

How can you tell if taking on more debt is necessary to run your startup? What inquiries must you make of yourself before submitting a loan application?

5 inquiries to make before incurring debt

Your business may be able to get the funding it needs through a loan in order to expand and grow. You can use it to manage your cash flow and get out of difficult financial situations. However, borrowing money is a big decision that shouldn’t be made hastily. Before taking out a loan, you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. How will I use the funds?

The first thing to think about is what you will need the money for. Small businesses borrow money for many different reasons. Maybe you need to raise money for a renovation or new equipment or perhaps you need to cover unforeseen expenses or changes in your cash flow due to the seasons. Whatever the reason, it is important to understand the rationale behind your loan decisions and how it will help your company.

2. What amount do I need?

After knowing why you need to raise more money, you need to make an educated guess as to how much you’ll need.

The following information will help you decide how much money to borrow from lenders.

You must first estimate how much money you will need based on the anticipated revenue and operating expenses for your business. The loan’s interest rate is the next thing you should think about. As the interest rate rises, so does the cost of the loan. You should also consider your ability to make the loan’s monthly payments. A loan’s associated costs must also be considered. These fees can add up quickly, so you must be careful to include them in your overall borrowing costs.

3. Do I make enough money to take on extra debt?

One of the most important things to think about is whether you will be able to repay the loan you are taking out. If you are unable to pay the loan installments out of your revenue, your business can suffer. You run the risk of losing investors for your startup. Your personal and corporate credit profiles can both suffer as a result.

4. Which finance option will best meet my needs?

It might be difficult to choose the loan type that is best for your business when there are so many different types of loans available. It all comes down to knowing the loan’s purpose. By knowing what you’ll do with the money, you’ll be able to choose the type of loan that best suits your requirements.

You can give us a call if you’re unsure of the kind of loan that would be best for your small business. The PME fund is one option for some to consider.

5. What does my credit profile look like?

A summary of your credit history is included in your credit profile. It contains details about your credit accounts, including loans, credit cards, and mortgages. It also contains details about your credit usage and payment history.

Your company credit score, which ranges from 0 to 100, serves as a representation of your credit profile. Borrowers with a business credit score of at least 75 are frequently approved for loans. If your score is lower than that, you may want to raise it before applying for credit. As a result, your chances of obtaining financing will increase.

It is essential for startups to think carefully about whether taking on debt is the best course of action for their company. In some circumstances, slower growth without borrowing money could be preferable. In other situations, borrowing money could be necessary to achieve the level of growth that the startup needs to be successful.

11Jun
How to Build Trust With Word-of-Mouth Content

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How to build trust with word-of-mouth content. Every consumer has the power to change opinions about your company for the better or worse. Their ability to spread the word about your brand may be a potent asset for your content marketing team if handled correctly. Below you will find, key information on how to build trust with word-of-mouth content.

Word-of-mouth advertising is not only significantly less expensive than paid techniques, but it also has a bigger potential for both immediate and long-term influence.

Businesses that leverage user-generated content from their customers and authentic reviews in their content marketing strategies enhance their own reputation while growing their client base.

Here are four strategies for including word-of-mouth advertising in your content:

1. Highlight pertinent user-generated content

User-generated content, when done right, can have an impact. Share social media mentions about your company. This is a simple technique to highlight the positive public perception of your company. However, don’t end there:

  • Find content that highlights the products or services you offer. Find information that demonstrates how the customer may use or profit from your service or product. This content can be incredibly useful.
  • Highlight customer success tales that feature your entire brand or your products/services. Customers who have publicly expressed their opinions should be contacted again to see if they would like to elaborate on their experiences. Make them the focus of the narrative; let them take the reins so your brand won’t have to.

TIP: Word-of-mouth advertising does not need to rely solely on in-depth reviews. Even a picture with a brief, encouraging text can be effective.

2. Have dialogues in the present.

Even when a customer’s social media post is about customer service rather than marketing, your content marketing team should still pay attention to it. By participating in the here and now, you may increase the impact of client feedback. Not to mention that when you can resolve or clarify an issue, responsiveness can rapidly transform a negative into a positive.

Consider the following tactics to engage clients in conversation:

  • Keep an eye on mentions in real time so you can jump into the conversation as it’s happening. This will allow you to intervene if you want to put an end to it or continue the topic.
  • Incorporate yourself into the conversation with consideration. Engage the customer authentically rather than trying to control the discussion, whether they are asking for assistance, asking a question, showcasing your product, or sharing a positive experience. Answer the query, offer advice, express gratitude, and mention why you also adore the product. You might be able to provide information about a brand-new good or service if the possibility is genuine.
  • Speak in personable, not corporate, tones. Brands that appear more human in real-time interactions with customers perform better than corporate ones. It is not appropriate to promote your brand during these chats. These are the chances to display your character, brand values, and dedication to your customers.

3. Create narratives based on consumer feedback

Because of exceptional (or subpar) customer service, people are motivated to submit reviews, and many consumers won’t make a purchase without first reading reviews. Hence, use those excellent client testimonials you currently have. With the customer’s consent, utilize them in your content.

  • Track down the testimonials that most truly reflect your company’s image and its offerings, then create tales around them. Promote on your blog, in your newsletter, and on social media.
  • Look for a client who had a particular issue or requirement that your business was able to address. Share any behind-the-scenes effort that was done to resolve the difficulty to provide context for the review.
  • Create graphic postings for social media using notable customer quotes.
  • Combine reviews that are alike and create a single narrative that exemplifies your business’s reliability.

4. Produce and distribute video reviews

You should consider including customer videos in your content marketing plan. They can act as a due diligence source for prospective customers, just like other types of word-of-mouth content. When done correctly, personal narratives convey how potential clients can envision themselves or their issues being resolved. These videos can be utilized in a variety of ways:

  • Display comprehensive video testimonials on your business’s website. They can be used independently or as a supplement to a longer case study.
  • Post soundbites from the video that have been expertly edited and demonstrate how your brand lives up to expectations on social media.
  • Grow your YouTube following. This material may then be used to improve your search engine optimization and Google My Business profile.
  • Develop a series of thematic blog posts based on the information in these films.

Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the most effective content marketing methods. Your customer base is likely to increase when your consumers do the talking, publishing, and sharing. The trick on how to build trust with word-of-mouth content is to successfully organize, combine, and repackage user-generated content in order to get greater outcomes for your company.