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Techniques to Improve Employee Efficiency

StrategyDriven Talent Management Article |Employee Efficiency|Techniques to Improve Employee EfficiencyThe success of every business depends on the efficiency of employees. If you are facing some challenges due to inefficiency, it is possible to change the situation. Achieving maximum efficiency in employees is the greatest challenge for most business owners and managers. These are people with different temperaments and views; therefore, you expect clashes before finally convincing them on how to be better. However, the benefits of efficiency in business are greater than any challenges you may encounter.

How to Improve Employee Efficiency

Be bold enough to delegate

Delegating work in your business is not as easy as it sounds. You want to know how everything is running. Although handling everything by yourself is an excellent way to ensure quality, in the long run, it becomes a waste of time.
Give some of the responsibilities to someone who is qualified and consider training or guiding them on how to handle the job. You will not only create time for yourself but also allow employees to gain leadership skills.

Invest in team building activities

While most businesses focus on making their customers happy, it would also be a good idea to give employees a good treat. Keep in mind that your employees are the lifeblood of your business. Therefore, you can talk to professionals from camp staff training Dallas offer team building activities. These activities will bring your workers together, help them communicate better, build trust, resolve conflicts, and enhance cooperation in teamwork.

Ensure communication is effective

Communication is the key to the success of any business. Nowadays, it’s even easier, thanks to advanced technology. You can install several apps and reach everyone working for you with just a single tap on your smart gadget’s touch screen. Apart from easing communication, most of these apps are free and allow low-cost voice calls. What’s more, you can have meetings and conferences online.

Set goals and stay focused

Goals keep employees focused. If your business has no goals, there is nothing defined to achieve. This will make them less productive. To increase efficiency, have a list of things that must be accomplished in day or week and check to see if they accomplished what you expected them to.

Incentivize employees

According to a recent study by Harvard Business Review, employees are driven to increase efficiency when offered incentives and rewards. You should take time to recognize and appreciate employees who perform exceptionally.
Most business owners think of increased budgets when incentives are mentioned. However, appreciating employees is not just about money; you can do it in many other ways. This may include:

  • Additional holiday days and paid sick leaves
  • Allowing them to go home earlier or buying them lunch
  • Always mention someone who performs very well when addressing annual meetings
  • Honor efficient employees publicly
  • Get them good parking spots
  • Upgrade work equipment for them

Empower Your Employees

While you may have the authority to decide what needs to be done to increase efficiency in your business, it is always a good idea to consider what your employees want. Have meetings or discussions to iron out areas that may be raising concerns. It’s also important to boost employee morale to get the most out of them.

Trade Show Setup: 5 Best Tips for Preparing for a Trade Show

StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |trade show setup|Trade Show Setup: 5 Best Tips for Preparing for a Trade ShowIf you’ve been to trade shows then you know just how valuable they can be. This is even truer if you’re a small startup or a growing business.

These shows provide an avenue for you to promote your brand, meet and network with prospective clients as well as to gain some sales. That’s the upside, but it’s also easy to not have as much success as you’d like.

This can either be due to a poor exhibition in comparison to competitors or simply a lack of overall planning and execution.

Are you trying to figure out how to have a great trade show? Read this article to learn the best tips for trade show setup and how to prepare for the show.

1. Preparing for Your Trade Show Setup

There is an old adage that says, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”Never has it been truer than when it comes to trade shows.

Sit down and make plans with your team so they will be ready for everything well in advance.

Book your flights early and reserve your hotel rooms well ahead of time. Make plans for any news release and be sure to get giveaways ready for the show.

2. Strong Social Media Presence

Inform your customers of your participation in the trade show via social media platforms. Do teasers, announce the latest news, and offer to let them meet the team.

On the day of the show promote your booth using social media and invite customers to stop by, visit, and shop.

3. Be the Talk of the Show

Use a vast array of colors and decorations to make your booth stand out. Be sure to include company colors and your logo.

Use a presentation board to display your company’s name and logo. You can even include pictures of products on your display board.

As an added bonus, have a slide show or show images of products and clients’ reviews. Distribute pamphlets, brochures and print outs of products, achievements, and other important information.

4. Prizes and Surprises

Giveaways, especially company-branded ones are vital. Pens, buttons, and business cards are a few of the best items you can give away.

Having a hospitality suite where you serve light refreshments is a plus. Gift certificates are always a good idea for your customers as well.

Get your visitors to sign in a guestbook, get them to add their email addresses or phone number in the book too.

5. Warm Welcome

First impressions last!

Put on your best customer service game and focus on what you can do to help the customer. Avoid being too pushy about your product.

Simply welcome each visitor, make conversation, and be sure to introduce yourself and your brand briefly but make it fun.

Ready to Shine!

Knowing what to do for a trade show setup is key. Use these tips to be the highlight of the show. Remember advanced preparation is vital.

Social media is your best friend too. A great display and prizes will also add some much-needed flair and make great Instagram pics.

If you would like more tips to help you succeed in business, please contact us.

Manufacturing Mistakes You Must Avoid

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Manufacturing Process|Manufacturing Mistakes You Must AvoidGot a product that’s ready to manufacture? Here are a few mistakes to avoid before you start the manufacturing process.

Rushing the prototype

A prototype is necessary before putting any product into mass production. It allows you to make any tweaks before finally manufacturing your product on a large scale. Rushing the prototype phase could result in you manufacturing a product that still has flaws. All these products you’ve manufactured may then need to be discounted or recalled, depending on how bad the flaws are. Take your time when prototyping and don’t be afraid to build multiple prototypes until you have one that is as perfect as possible.

Prioritising cost over quality

The manufacturing process can be expensive. While you can find creative ways to cut costs, you should be careful of prioritising cost over quality. This could include using cheap materials that break easily or using cheap machinery that doesn’t provide as smooth a finish. You may be able to make a bigger profit off a cheaply-made product, but if it’s built to a low quality you could find that customers respond negatively – which could mean demands for refunds, cancelled orders from retailers and negative reviews. In the long run, sacrificing quality could end up costing you more.

Ignoring your carbon footprint

Modern customers are starting to care more about the environmental impact of their purchases. If your manufacturing process isn’t particularly green, it could have a negative impact on your reputation. There are also other negative implications such as the cost. More energy consumption could mean higher energy bills, while wasted materials could result in higher supply costs. In some cases, there could even be higher taxes of fines for using non-eco-friendly methods.

Not taking advantage of outsourcing

It’s possible to design and manufacture your own product in-house. However, outsourcing the manufacturing process is generally cheaper and more time efficient. Processes like sheet metal fabrication could require purchasing specialist machinery and training up people to operate them if you were to do it in-house – by outsourcing the task, you can save yourself this hassle. Some companies outsource multiple manufacturers to build separate parts.

This can allow you to hire the best talent for each task, however you do need to be able to juggle these multiple suppliers. When choosing a manufacturer, always do your research by reading reviews and checking out their products so that you can guarantee that they will get you the results you need.

Manufacturing too few units

When it comes to the quantity of units, a lot of companies make the mistake of going too small. Unless the ‘limited edition’ status is part of the appeal and it allows you to price the product higher, it’s unlikely you’ll make much of a profit from only a few units. Manufacturing batches of hundreds or thousands of units is much more likely to pay off the cost of any machinery you use – providing that you can shift these units (which all comes down to marketing and sales tactics).

Employee Wellness: Tips To Make Employees More Productive At Work

StrategyDriven Managing Your People ArticleAny company will reap many benefits when they have healthy and engaged employees. An employee wellness program curated and designed correctly will boost morale, increase productivity, and reduce stress. Wellness programs have always been thought of as something nice-to-have rather than a must-have. What employers don’t think about is the benefits in the long term. In the long run, the company will see the results. Wellness programs help employees to stay healthy and lessen absences. The cost of having this employee wellness program will just be minimal compared to the benefits in the long run. Listed below are some tips to make employees more productive at work.

1. What is a Wellness Program?

Before crafting and designing your employee wellness program, you first have to understand what it is. A wellness program is any program with the goal to improve the health and well-being of the company’s workforce. Wellness programs are supposed to help employees overcome general health issues and educate them about what they should do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Usually, companies hire third-parties to conduct the program and seminar depending on the need and expertise. There are many great ways to increase productivity, and wellness programs are one of them.

2. What improvements to target?

The way to design your wellness program should address specific needs and target personal wellness. Programs structured can target physical fitness and stamina through regular exercise, Zumba, or yoga classes for employees. This doesn’t only increase welfare but also improves self-image and self-esteem, which you want in your employees. At the same time, this also reduces the stress that your employees feel. Targeting specific health-related issues will translate into a more reliable workforce and smoother workflow.

3. What are the kinds of wellness programs you can implement?

There are tons of programs that a company can implement for the well-being of their employees. Be sure to provide flexibility in the programs so many of your employees can join in. Here are just some suggestions and recommendations for great employee wellness ideas:

  • Zumba Classes
  • Diet Guidance Programs
  • Physical Fitness Programs
  • Quit-Smoking Programs
  • Physiological Testing Programs
  • Stress Management Programs
  • Nutrition Classes
  • Blood Pressure Screening
  • Cholesterol Tracking
  • Fitness Tracking
  • Gym Plans
  • Guided Meditation Classes
  • Cooking Classes
  • Team Building Activities
  • Anxiety Workshop
  • Annual Corporate Flu Shots
  • Healthy Lifestyle Education
  • Mental Health Days
  • Emotional and Mental Health Education and Resources
  • Book Clubs
  • Healthy Potlucks

4. Healthy Snacks

With working for at least 8 hours a day, employees will grow well into the snacking culture in no time. Unfortunately, most companies only have low-quality vending machines that offer junk food such as soda, candy, and chips loaded with fat and sugar. These snacks not only decrease productivity, but it also makes a serious dent in the health and well-being of an employee. An excellent way to improve the nutrition of your employees is to provide easy access to healthier snack choices throughout the day.

5. Launch Health Competitions

Nothing else gets people off their chairs than incentives. If economics taught anything, it’s that people respond well to incentives. Why not incentivize health? Gamify employee fitness by starting challenges and giving incentives. For instance, you can start giving out gift certificates for the employee with the most visits to the gym or went running. You can also provide employees with fitness trackers to keep them in shape and encourage them. Another competition you can start is a step competition or walking challenge. You can give out cash incentives to those who hit step targets. The goal is to keep your employees in good shape, keep them motivated, and up on their feet.

6. Pet-Friendly Office Initiative

Another way that has been proven to keep employees motivated and increase productivity is to bring in your furry, four-legged friends to the office. These are tested and proved to improve collaboration among employees. Some offices even encourage to bring pets and have pets running around the office.

Keeping your employees healthy and educating them about well-being does reduce not only absences but also boosts productivity and efficiency in employees. Even though it costs very low, this initiative from companies can go a long way in helping out employees while benefiting the company. The connection between employee wellness and productivity has already been proven and well-established. Hope this guide was able to give you some tips on how employee wellness programs can help in boosting productivity and effectivity.

How to Start Your Very Own Baby Business and Store: A Useful Guide

StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |baby business|How to Start Your Very Own Baby Business and Store: A Useful GuideLet’s face it: with a predicted market value of almost $17 billion by 2025, baby businesses are booming. Thanks to the rising demand in infant hygiene and nutrition, researching “baby stores names” is more trendy than ever.
Do you spend your day googling “selling baby clothes online business?”

If so, you’re in business baby. From creating a baby store name to selling baby products, read our handy guide to starting your very own baby business store!

Planning out Your Baby Business

If you want your baby company to be successful, you’ve got to start with a successful plan. Not only will this plan help you to identify your target market, but it will also leave room for the unknown.

For instance, start by asking yourself what your ongoing and startup costs will be. Think about who you’re marketing your products to.

Another important thought is: how long will it take for your business to become profitable?

Of course, figuring out what the perfect startup business name is will be crucial too. Fortunately, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Let’s talk about how much it costs to start a baby business.

Whether you’re starting on your own or buying a franchise, investing in a brand-new baby store is a big deal.

You’ll need money for everything from:

  • Purchasing or leasing a storefront
  • Fulfilling inventory orders
  • Hiring staff members
  • Buying point-of-sale systems
  • Acquiring accounting devices
  • Obtaining display racks
  • Paying for living expenses

In a nutshell, you’ll need anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000 to begin your baby business.

Expect for employee payroll to be your biggest expense. On top of that, keeping enough inventory in stock is expensive as well. Also, maintaining computer systems and your business property will be your third largest expense.

Now, your target market should be anyone who:

  • Is expecting to have a baby
  • Already has a baby
  • Knows someone else with a baby

Keep in mind that budget-friendly stores are much more in demand than upscale boutiques. To make money, you have to buy your baby products at a discount rate from a wide range of distributors and manufacturers.

Earning a profit will be as simple as reselling your wholesale products at a standard retail rate.

How convenient is that?

Creating a Legal Baby Company

When it comes to creating a legal company, it’s all about playing by the rules. For those of you are planning to form an LLC, this will prevent you from being held responsible if your baby business is brought to court. If LLCs aren’t your thing, consider forming a DBA or a corporation instead.

Finding a registered agent website will help your business safe and compliant. The next step is to register your business to file federal and state taxes every year. To do so, you’ll have to apply for an employee identification number.

Luckily for you, getting an employer identification number is both free and easy to do. Visit the Internal Revenue Service website to obtain an employer identification number via mail, fax, or online.

Here comes the fun part: opening up a new business credit card and bank account for your company. In case you didn’t know, this is the best way to keep business and personal accounts separate. Otherwise, your company could be sued for your personal assets if it’s taken to court.

If you want to separate your company’s assets from your personal assets, the tax and accounting process will be much easier. Plus, adding a company credit card to the mix to be a great way to build credit for your business too. This is a good time to establish your company accounting records as well.

FYI – keeping detailed and accurate records will make filing your annual taxes way less stressful. It also helps tremendously if you know your tax bracket and the resulting implications. After you’ve made sure that your business is legit, you’ve got to get your hands on the necessary licenses and permits for your company. If not, your baby business could get hit with fines or closed down.

Nobody wants that, right? We didn’t think so!

Following Local & State Regulations

If this is your first rodeo, then you should know that following the local and state regulations for your baby store is your number one priority. To find out what the laws are in your area, contact the Small Business Administration to learn more.

Also, checking in with your county, city, or town clerk’s office is a smart idea too. Now that we’ve got that covered, most baby businesses have to charge a sales tax on their services or goods.

What is a Certificate of Occupancy (CO), you ask?

Fair question. If you’re planning on running your baby business out of an official storefront, then you’re definitely going to need to get a CO. This will let everyone know that you’ve met the necessary requirements for regulations, zoning laws, and building codes.

For those of you who are intending to lease a business storefront, know that it’s your job to acquire a Certificate of Occupancy. Before you sign the lease, ask your landlord if you are allowed to get a Certificate of Occupancy for your baby business.

That being said, make sure that you renew your CO whenever you plan to do a renovation of your store. If these renovations occur before your opening, tell the landowner that you won’t start making payments until you receive a CO.

What’s the real deal about building or purchasing a baby store location?

Similar to leasing a baby business, it’s your responsibility to obtain a CO from local authorities or officials. The last step in this process is to get reliable insurance for your company. This is an essential part of becoming a business owner.

Planning to hire staff members means that you’ll have to pay for worker’s compensation too!

Building Your Baby Brand

Chances are that you been thinking about building your baby brand for years now. For the uninitiated, your baby brand will reflect your company’s mission, goals, and overall vibe. Yes, that includes how your brand is received by your target audience.

But wait – there’s more. Building an iron proof brand will help you to leave your competitors in the dust. To market or promote your baby products, put your brand and company name in any place that expecting or new parents would visit, including:

  • OB/GYN offices
  • Pediatric offices
  • The civic center
  • Gyms
  • Daycare centers
  • The local library

Launching a direct mailing campaign can reach families that are already looking for baby products or services. Establishing a blog with baby tips is helpful as well. Better yet, make a social media profile to connect with new or expecting parents in your region.

Investing in newspaper ads or placing ads online is another smart marketing move. That way, you’ll be able to snag as many future clients as you can.

But here’s the catch: how do you keep consumers coming back from more?

Surprisingly, the answer is simple. Your baby store opening should be as exciting and fun as possible. To take it up a notch, you could always:

  • Rent a jump house
  • Hire clowns
  • Find a face painter
  • Have a snack station

In addition to this, offering customer specials at the door will encourage customers to check out your fun and beautiful business.

For the next year, running bargains will be a great way to help you build up your clientele too. Continue to offer excellent customer service and competitive prices.

It doesn’t hurt to create a website for clients to learn even more about your services online either. Pro tip: invest in digital marketing for baby product companies!

Get Into the Baby Business Today

Looking to get into the baby business?

If so, then you’ve come to the right place. For those of you who are still feeling clueless, planning out a baby business isn’t as hard as you think. In fact, all that you have to do is fundraise enough capital to get started.

The rest is simple: purchase or lease a storefront. Next, focus on fulfilling inventory orders and hiring staff members. After that, acquiring accounting devices and obtaining display racks should be stress-free.

Now that you’ve made sure that your baby business is legitimate, follow local rules and regulations. Once you get the proper paperwork together, host a grand opening to attract new customers. Keep your prices low and you should be good to go!

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