Author Archive for Aaron Parkes - Business Systems & Growth Strategy
Aaron Parkes has been helping start, fix and grow businesses since day one in his first sales job over 20 years ago. He's always been drawn to businesses that are in ‘change' mode because his specialty is uncovering ways to get around obstacles to growth and moving forward to build better businesses... with some awesome results. ...more about Aaron
What Will Help this Cafe Stand Out From The Crowd?
Cafe with Zing! asks…
‘We’ve owned a small cafe for about 5 years. It’s a good business and provides us with a reasonable lifestyle but, for a while now, I’ve felt like it just doesn’t have any ‘zing’ or stand out at all?. We’d like to invest in making some changes but because we can’t really put our finger on the problem, we’re not sure where to start?…any suggestions?
Aaron says…
That’s a great way to look at your business! So many business owners get so tied up in managing the day to day, they never take the time to step outside and really take a good look at how their business really works.
How Do I Fire Up My Sales Team?
Sales Team Meltdown asks…
‘We are a B2B business with half a dozen reasonably good sales people (male & female) … problem is that they are currently experiencing a lot more ‘no’s’ than they have been used to over the last few years. I’m finding its getting them down and in turn making them less inclined to look for new business or even try to close existing customers… it’s a downward spiral… what do I do? (Sales Team Meltdown)
Aaron says…
Firstly, I’d suggest your use of the description ‘reasonably good’ to describe your sales team is not a particularly good sign. What happens in boom times like we’ve just been through is that ‘reasonably good’ was good enough because everyone was spending up large. The challenge now is that reasonably good will turn into ‘average’ then ‘awful’ really quickly unless you start making some changes!
One place to start is to reintroduce a little structure back into your team. Good sales teams are always managed by the numbers… how many phone calls?, how many visits?, analysis of the outcomes etc so you could look at putting a formal sales reporting
More Cash and Customers please!
Cashflow Crisis asks…
‘I have a retail shop and I am currently facing a cashflow crisis. I had an overdraft given by the bank but have now not been able to pay that off and as such I am in their “high risk portfolio”. Although I am paying off most of my other creditors I need to find ways of getting more customers to come in and purchase. I started noticing the reducing sales approx Jun 08 so I have tried bringing in new products, including being involved in a back-to-school stationery promo, which did not have the desired effect, even though there was a catalogue (letterbox) drop with my business details on the back. I’m working (IN) the business 6 days a week. I have a part-timer but can’t afford to engage any more staff. HELP!!! (Cashflow Crisis)
Aaron says…
If it makes you feel any better ‘Cashflow Crisis’ I definitely don’t think you’re on your own in feeling this way at the moment however, and this is a good thing, I get the impression that you definitely WANT to carry on and make your business successful!
Buying a Franchise Business… Good Idea or Bad?
James asks…
‘My wife and I looked at buying our first business, a franchise, a few years ago before I got offered a high paying job in mining. Due to the downturn, I recently got laid off and we’ve started looking again but have realised we don’t really know how to sort good from bad?… can you help us out with what to look for in buying a franchise? (Franchise or not?…)
Aaron says…
Franchising is one of the fastest growing business sectors in the world but… it’s not for everyone. The good news however is that statistics show franchise businesses having a much better chance of surviving the first 5 years than a ’stand alone’ small business so, let’s address what to look for…
Meet the Panel – Aaron Parkes – Business Systems & Growth Strategy
Aaron Parkes has been helping start, fix and grow businesses since day one in his first sales job over 20 years ago. He’s always been drawn to businesses that are in ‘change’ mode because his specialty is uncovering ways to get around obstacles to growth and moving forward to build better businesses… with some awesome results.
