We all know how much nonattendance costs a company. Though, many businesses large and small simply bear employees who are time and again absent. Several large organizations fail to mange this problem efficiently and constantly.
An effective management policy could works like this. When a worker is not in attendance, on their return their nonattendance percentage over the preceding 6 months is calculated. If they have been not in attendance for over 3% of their contracted hours or have been off three times or more they will be asked to attend an investigatory meeting. At the meeting they will be ased about the cause for nonattendance, and if there are no extenuating circumstances, this meeting will move to a punitive meeting where they may be given a warning. The worker may also be offered assistance if they have a severe setback and this may result in a change of shifts or role for instance.
The consequence of this course of action is that those employees who feels like `chuck a sickie` either decides against it or ultimately get managed out of the company.
This course of action would be easy and effectual for a small business to use and the benefits for a small business are greater as non-attendance in a small business is much more destructive.
“If something isn’t working – change it or stop it.”
Successful organizations don’t procrastinate. When a new course of action, process, or merchandise are introduced and are knotty, they are quickly altered or removed. They are not frightened to say ‘ok, we tried this, its not working, so we are changing it or removing it’. Too many businesses will keep a problem under wraps and accumulate costs in lost productivity or sales as a consequence.
Successful organizations don’t procrastinate. When a new course of action, process, or merchandise are introduced and are knotty, they are quickly altered or removed. They are not frightened to say ‘ok, we tried this, its not working, so we are changing it or removing it’. Too many businesses will keep a problem under wraps and accumulate costs in lost productivity or sales as a consequence.
Listen to and observe your customers.
How many companies really care about their customers? Many people take for granted that if they can’t find what they want at a retailer then that’s it. However, successful stores should alter their range if customers want products they do not stock. Obviously if a product is introduced at the request of customers and it is not successful, it will be removed, but usually the product will validate its shelf space. What it means to watch your customers is watch their habits and trends. Of course retailers such as Tesco have a huge system which performs this for them. However most EPOS systems will follow average transaction values, number of items purchased etc. What Tesco does principally well is act upon the inclination their database shows them. For example, they are aware that customers who buy diapers also buy more beer! This is due to the fact that Dad has decreased his visits to the pub since his baby was born and now drinks at home. It is not feasible for small business to invest millions on state of the art systems, but actively inspecting what customers purchase, with what products, and what time of day may create some opportunities.
How many companies really care about their customers? Many people take for granted that if they can’t find what they want at a retailer then that’s it. However, successful stores should alter their range if customers want products they do not stock. Obviously if a product is introduced at the request of customers and it is not successful, it will be removed, but usually the product will validate its shelf space. What it means to watch your customers is watch their habits and trends. Of course retailers such as Tesco have a huge system which performs this for them. However most EPOS systems will follow average transaction values, number of items purchased etc. What Tesco does principally well is act upon the inclination their database shows them. For example, they are aware that customers who buy diapers also buy more beer! This is due to the fact that Dad has decreased his visits to the pub since his baby was born and now drinks at home. It is not feasible for small business to invest millions on state of the art systems, but actively inspecting what customers purchase, with what products, and what time of day may create some opportunities.
Recognize your competitors and respond quickly
Large retailers are good at this. They observe competitor activity very strongly and will do all they can to beat or match prices. They think of their competition as the large stores and, with respect, aren’t paying attention in proprietors or even the retailers who may be familiar in a local area. This offers some opportunities for smaller firms. They should observe their local Tesco (or other big supermarket) and you will become aware of the trends in their promotions. For instance, Tesco promotions last for 4 weeks long and alter on Tuesdays. Their point of sale tells you when a promotion finishes and more often than not they keep to these end dates. However, smaller retailers have responded with similar promotions to Tesco probably they believe that is the only way to them. For example, if Tesco are running a BOGOF on Nescafe at £1.99 a jar, he will run advertising on Nescafe which reduces the price from £2.50 to £1.75. This can be bettered by examining the end date of the Tesco promotion and start the particular promotion then. If a business is smart it will observe that the Tesco promotions are very conventional and it can time its offers to pick up business at an appropriate time, rather than compete with something that cannot be sustained.
Large retailers are good at this. They observe competitor activity very strongly and will do all they can to beat or match prices. They think of their competition as the large stores and, with respect, aren’t paying attention in proprietors or even the retailers who may be familiar in a local area. This offers some opportunities for smaller firms. They should observe their local Tesco (or other big supermarket) and you will become aware of the trends in their promotions. For instance, Tesco promotions last for 4 weeks long and alter on Tuesdays. Their point of sale tells you when a promotion finishes and more often than not they keep to these end dates. However, smaller retailers have responded with similar promotions to Tesco probably they believe that is the only way to them. For example, if Tesco are running a BOGOF on Nescafe at £1.99 a jar, he will run advertising on Nescafe which reduces the price from £2.50 to £1.75. This can be bettered by examining the end date of the Tesco promotion and start the particular promotion then. If a business is smart it will observe that the Tesco promotions are very conventional and it can time its offers to pick up business at an appropriate time, rather than compete with something that cannot be sustained.
Introduce your store to Tesco staff
A representative Tesco store will provide work for from about 20 in a small express to about 1000 or more in a larger extra store. The standard for a superstore is roughly 350. With the exemption of some of the managers, all of these employees will live in the area and know several of their customers. If the staff are aware of your store they will be able to recommend it to their customers and provide them with an idea of what products you have. The employees are inquired every day if Tesco have a particular product and on hearing no, customers ask where they can find it. By introducing a small firm to the staff the chances of referrals are increased.
A representative Tesco store will provide work for from about 20 in a small express to about 1000 or more in a larger extra store. The standard for a superstore is roughly 350. With the exemption of some of the managers, all of these employees will live in the area and know several of their customers. If the staff are aware of your store they will be able to recommend it to their customers and provide them with an idea of what products you have. The employees are inquired every day if Tesco have a particular product and on hearing no, customers ask where they can find it. By introducing a small firm to the staff the chances of referrals are increased.
Other suggestions for product offering are as follows:
1. Provide improved service. This is the advice offered by almost every book, magazine or pundit, but it is very important. For this a self-evaluation is critical. For instance, does staff smile when customers come in? Are they helpful and generous with their advice and are they well mannered?
2. Change timings to accommodate customers. The large proportion of the population works Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30 so it is essential to be open for business either before 09:00 or after 17:30 and not to take off for lunch. If a shop is closed on the weekend, it cannot accommodate the working population.
3. Give value added services. This could take the shape of free recipes around the shop (This will not only provide a advantage to the consumer, but it can help to sell ingredients that may otherwise prove difficult to sell), offer dieting assistance for those seeking to lose weight, or advice to people suffering from with allergies or food intolerances.
4. Offer demonstrations or workshops. Provide customers with opportunities to learn an do something interesting and new, such as how to cook or bake specialized items or how to carve fruit.
5. Make the shopping experience a memorable one.
6. Align yourself to a social cause. Make sure that it is a cause you yourself believe in, and that aligns with your products and your customers’ beliefs.
7. Make sure your cause is different from other others. Give customers a reason to choose you over your competition. For instance, differentiate your offering by for example only selling local produce or organic produce.
8. Take advantage of marketing strategies by competition. Identify weaknesses in your competitors’ strategies, and cater to them yourself.
9. Offer choices that larger retailers can’t. Larger companies will never be able to offer dedicated products that cater to special tranches the local markets by the personality of being a big business it just doesn’t have the give for this. Identify niche and specialist markets
Offer incentives to entice customers. There’s nothing to prevent the small retailer offering inducements to get shoppers through the door, and while Tesco’s inducements are typically restricted to price discounts, a small business can be creative. For instance a baker could proffer to trade in old for new on a loaf of bread. They will lose on the loaf, but they can make it up by charging slightly higher elsewhere.
Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun’s associate editor, has accused police of treating journalists like suspected terrorists after five of his colleagues at the newspaper were arrested.
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