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Making that Good Customer a Customer for Life!
In today's global marketplace, keeping customers loyal to your product or service may prove to be more difficult than you would anticipate. Customers have endless options via the internet and have worldwide access to information that may influence their purchasing habits. Customers are also more mobile than they have been in the past. They tend to relocate or travel more frequently. This will directly contribute to the possibility of them taking their business elsewhere. There are a few simple guidelines that business owners can follow that will assist in making their good customers, life long customers.
1. Be Proactive: To ensure that your customers have received the very best in customer service, you should regularly be in contact with them and find out things like; how they are enjoying their new products/services?; how did they find their experience with your company?; did they have any suggestions that would assist you in providing better services or products? (Read More)
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Dear Friends,
Hello and welcome to the June 2008 issue of the Small Business Centre Newsletter.
Summer is almost here. With the sun finally out and the temperatures rising, many businesses are faced with dealing with the "dog days of summer". So what can you do during this summer slowdown? Well, it's a great time to do the work that otherwise never gets done during busier times.
* Review your business plan. If you don't have a business plan, learn how to create one. You won't know where you are coming from and certainly won't be able to get where you would like to go in business, if you don't have a plan.
* Take some time out to meet other entrepreneurs and do some networking, both offline and online. You can either join a discussion forum or group, or set up your own. Networking is a great way to find out what's new, what others are doing, and what you can offer.
* Do any research you have been meaning to undertake, talk to your key accounts, finalize your marketing strategy and build any communication tools you think you will need.
If your business does slow down over the summer, September, October and November may be some of your busiest months of the year. Unfortunately, most companies wait until September before thinking about how they will capitalize on the busy times, and by then it is already too late. If this is the case with your business, you should seize the opportunity the slower summer months provide to map out your marketing plan for the fall and the new year.
The key to taking advantage of these slow times in business is to stay busy. Keep focused on your business. Whatever you're doing this summer, have fun!
Maja Pental
Business Information Advisor/ Newsletter Editor
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 Clients in the News...  The following clients have recently been featured in the local media. Congratulations!
Who: Brenda A. Feenstra Interior Decorator & Consultant
Where: Decor Magazine
When: Spring Issue - April 2008
Brenda A. Feenstra Interior Decorator & Consultant is a design and decorating business. Brenda has three packages to choose from to get your decorating ideas in motion. Each plan is tailored to your specific project in mind and a flat fee is assigned to each plan. The plans are designed for the client to do the work themselves or have Brenda implement it for you. For more information check out www.brendafeenstra-interiors.com
Who: Raegan Harding of Peek-A-Bootique
What: Store Grand Opening
When: May 31st, 2008
Peek-A-Bootique is an exciting new consignment shop in Mount Brydges offering new and gently-used brand name clothing for "growing" tots and moms-to-be at affordable prices. Peek-A-Bootique also carries an abundance of new and gently-used toys, books, games, baby gear, recreational equipment, shoes and accessories, nursing items, as well as nursery furniture and decor. Stop in and see Raegan at Peek-A-Bootique, where children's gear makes 'cents'! 22527 Adelaide Road, Mount Brydges, ON.
Who: Nedal Alotaibi of A Green Window & Blind Cleaning
Where: Snap North London
When: June 2008 Issue
Green Window & Blind Cleaning is a new cleaning company that uses a 'water fed pole window cleaning system'. The system pumps PURE-WATER up through a carbon fiber pole on to the window, the window glass is then scrubbed, rinsed and left to dry naturally. No soaps or chemicals are used in the process. On-site service is provided by a mobile truck for both residential and commercial contracts, and services are provided for windows, blinds, cladding and siding. For more information, call Nedal at 519-697-6261.
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  ABS Seminar: Tips for Growing your Business
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Time: 9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Location: London Small Business Centre
Cost: $25.00+GST
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 On Tap with The Entrepreneur's Club... 
Each month, members of The Entrepreneur's Club meet to learn from seasoned professionals, share knowledge and skills, and develop valuable business relationships.
Are you interested in becoming a member of The Entrepreneur's Club? Attend a Water Cooler meeting to find out what we're all about. All you have to do is pay for breakfast. You can attend two meetings without obligation and then we'd love to have you join us regularly.
Join us for our next Water Cooler meeting:
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Location: Timbers Chop House, 855 Wellington Rd., London
Check us out and pay only for your breakfast.
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 Small business calls for tax relief and assurances of no new taxes on fuel.
Canadian small firms are being hit hard by rising fuel prices and are calling on governments to provide tax relief and assurances that they will not introduce additional taxes, such as a carbon tax. This was the subject of an open letter sent today to federal finance minister Jim Flaherty and provincial/territorial finance ministers by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
"Any discussion of implementing new fuel or carbon taxes will appear incredibly insensitive to entrepreneurs and the general public who are struggling to deal with the pressure of rising fuel prices," said Garth Whyte, CFIB's executive vice-president. "Instead, we need our political leaders to be examining ways of reducing gas and diesel prices through tax relief."
CFIB is calling on governments to:
* End the 1.5 cent per litre additional federal fuel excise tax originally introduced as a deficit reduction measure;
* End the tax-on-tax anomaly that inflates prices and government revenue by eliminating sales taxes on existing fuel taxes;
* Undertake a review of all forms of fuel taxes - including diesel fuel - in light of the current price environment; and
* Place a moratorium on any discussions or implementation of additional fuel or carbon taxes. (Read More)
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 Viruses vs Spayware. What's the difference?
by David Proudfoot, Business Advisor
One of the challenges facing computer users today is computer security. There are a lot of viruses and spyware (sometimes called adware) that threaten your computer and the information you have on it. Collectively they are know as malware.
What's the difference?
Viruses are intended to harm your computer or the information on them, while spyware secretly collects your information. Both get on your machine without your knowledge or consent. Spyware is often installed as part of a program you do want, without properly informing you that information will be gathered about you through the use of the program. More detailed explanations about viruses and spyware can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/basics/difference.mspx
You need to protect yourself against both kinds of threat.
There are many good virus protection programs on the market. Several are free for personal use but charge for business use. These include AVG, ( www.grisoft.com), Avast ( www.avast.com) and Avira ( www.avira.com). (Read More)
Disclaimer:
The opinions and reviews expressed are based on the personal experiences of the author. The Small Business Centre makes no warrants and shares no liability with respect to the quality of the products and/or services identified in this article.
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