Business Butler Blog

In the world of business it seems that the large corporate companies continue to grow at the expense of smaller, owner led businesses. They don’t have the financial limitations or resource issues that smaller businesses face and they seem to get favourable tax breaks and incentives. Despite all of this it is important to remember that small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and their ...

For far too long, particularly in industry, ‘soft’ skills have been seen as the responsibility of HR while the operations department, maintenance, logistics, finance etc. concentrate on the ‘hard’ skills that generate value. As somewhat of a disruptor I take a contrary view. Firstly, why spend any time at all on soft skills if they do not contribute to the bottom line? Secondly, ...

Most of us understand the importance of delivering exceptional customer experiences to drive loyalty, repeat business, and growth. But have you considered the impact of a bad employee experience on your customer experience (CX) and ultimately, your bottom line? A robust employee experience (EX) strategy is essential. Why? So, you can increase productivity, reduce costs, enhance customer interac...

Fake reviews have caused frustration and despair for online retailers and shoppers alike for years but have escalated recently to record levels. Estimates reveal fake reviews account for up to 30% of all reviews online, which is a startling amount when you consider 90% of consumers use reviews as a guide before deciding whether to make a purchase or not. You will be relieved to know that all of...

Behind every successful business is a dedicated team of highly motivated and engaged workers. So with staff playing such an integral role it is important that businesses look after their most important asset. Paying them a reasonable wage and rewarding success go without saying. But what is pivotal to having a motivated workforce who are dedicated to driving a business forward is their mental, ...

Business owners tend to try and cover all the key business disciplines themselves as opposed to seeking external help when needed. This is understandable, especially for startups, when finances are tight and there is a refreshing self-belief where outsourcing doesn’t even come into the strategy. This may be for various reasons such as, a perception that the small but dedicated team can han...

The term “metaverse” has been making headlines lately, especially in the tech and gaming communities. But what is the metaverse? Is it just a buzzword, or is it something more significant? In this blog post, we’ll dive into what the metaverse is, how it works, and what it means for the future of technology and society.

How did the metaverse start?

The concept o...

Successful business owners share many traits and put their success down to several reasons including work ethic, timing, vision and being supported by a talented team. Obviously all of these are important but we are going to focus on that final reason i.e. the team, or more importantly leadership of that team. A team or a business without leadership is like a ship without a rudder, left to drif...

INTRODUCTION

So just in case you have not been paying attention, the world of work has been turned upside down in the past 20 years. This step-change is accelerating fast with the last of the baby boomer leadership generation retiring to be replaced with younger generations with new ideas, and new ways of working. Neither of these generations of people are wrong...

There is no doubt that a recession has a major impact on the business world and also on the consumers it relies on. One thing all business owners should remember though is that marketing in a recession is still very important. This is because it enables you to retain brand visibility through tougher times and lets consumers know you remain open for business. It also means you can showcase your ...

Business owners are a hardy bunch and can be reluctant to turn to anyone for help, especially during the early days. Many believe they can do everything on their own and seeking advice is perceived as a sign of weakness, when in reality the reverse is true. Asking for advice from experts in their relevant fields can strengthen a business and could even be the difference between longevity and cl...

The present economic situation indicates that we are heading into a recession. As more customers run out of disposable income, companies will cut down on growth and expansion activities. However, cutting down your marketing budget is counterproductive. Instead, identifying and executing approaches that work best during a recession is the better way to go. This article shares some effective appr...

You wouldn’t let anybody look after your legal matters, would you? And would you take financial advice from someone you met in the pub? Hopefully not. Ok, what if you were ill, would you seek help from any Tom, Dick or Harriet? Of course not, you’d make an appointment with your doctor.

So, when you entrust someone to look after your business’s finances you need to make sure they are fully...

Consumer Duty is one of the most significant shifts in UK financial services. The intention of companies to put the client's needs first is admirable, but evidencing actions can be challenging. Measuring and demonstrating how they are acting to deliver good outcomes for their clients is high on the boardroom agenda for financial services firms. But Consumer Duty is more than a tick-box exercise...

Sales can be a real roller coaster on emotions.. Hitting your targets you feel BRILLIANT ... yet if you aren’t hitting your targets then it can be a real downer...Did you know there are ways to get ahead and help you to hit your targets? How I hear you ask? Invest in UK business lists could be the key to your success.

UK busin...

Running a business can be exciting and rewarding but on the other hand it can also be challenging and exhausting. In the early days you may think that you can do everything yourself and maybe you can, but as the business evolves you find yourself stretched in all directions and there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish your daily tasks. As the obstacles you face become more challenging...

The integrity of the R&D tax credit industry has been under the microscope for some time, with both HMRC and Government enforcing policy changes to prevent fraudulent activity and abuse, with new legislation coming into force from April 2023. Fraudulent activity could include:

• Boundary-pushing when determining what is and what is not qualifying research and development
• In...

Where would we be without customer reviews? The importance that customer reviews play in the success of startups, sole traders and SMEs cannot be overstated. In a world where more business is being conducted online and customers are prompted to review their recent experience, what they post can make or break a business.

Building trust

Reviews are great for understan...

Dr Anthony Kenneson-Adams specialises in teaching the tools and building the culture and leadership that underpins Operational Excellence (OpEx), drives sustainable lean manufacturing, Reliability Centred Maintenance and organizational development. In this blog he breaks down the journey to operational excellence in an easy to follow step-by-step guide.<...

How businesses interact with customers will determine whether they are successful in developing long-term loyal relationships or lose them to their competitors. To ensure the former is the outcome it is vital that the customer journey is as seamless as possible and every touchpoint provides customers with a truly positive experience. In many cases, especially in the professional services arena,...