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  • 9 Things to Consider When Starting your own Business

    Beginning your journey with your own new business can be a wonderful experience, but also a daunting one. While working for yourself can certainly be a hugely rewarding path to take, it comes fraught with dangers – not least of which is the disappearance of your weekly pay cheque.

    Are you ready to take the plunge? Great. Here are 9 things to consider when starting your own business.

    The three elements of a sale

    No matter what your business, its products and / or services, there are essentially just three parts to any sales deal – the buyer, the seller and the product (or service). Are you sure that at least two of these three elements are known to your target market? In other words, when you approach your first prospects with your own business, presenting its products, will that prospect recognise at least two of these elements? Will they, for example, know what your type of product is or does (even if they don’t know you)? Will they relate to others who use your product? Do they know you already, even if they weren’t aware that you are now marketing whatever your product is?

    Your family’s opinions have no value (and that includes your own!)

    The fact that your wife, husband, daughter or mother thinks your idea is great does not count. Your product or service has (hopefully) not been designed according to your tastes, but those of the identified target market.

    things to consider when starting your own business

    Money, money, money

    Quite apart from the resources you must have in order to build your product or design your service, you must have cash to run a viable marketing campaign, e.g. build a website, advertise on Facebook, print flyers, etc. One of the great business adages reminds us that “Running a business without promotion is like winking at a good-looking girl (or boy) in the dark. You know what you’re doing, but nobody else does”.

    Confidence

    You’ve simply got to believe in what you’re doing. Coming back to the point above, that does not mean your friends and family can give you confidence. No, it’s about research, research and more research.

    Resilience

    Yes, things will get sh*tty at some point. It’ll also get lonely. C’est la vie. Get on with it.

    Target market personae

    Marketing research is critically important, but it’s not exciting or sexy. Knowledge is intricately linked to confidence, above. Carry out lots of research, including as objective a SWOT Analysis as you can manage. Learn as much as possible about the marketplace, competitors, pricing, distribution channels used by others, etc, etc. Segment the market. Then focus – and I mean really, really focus – on one or two target markets within the overall market. You do not want to try to be all things to all people. Develop a persona that represents each of your one or two target markets, as if each of them is one single real human, and put all your effort into them.

    Of all the things to consider when starting your new business, this is the key.

    But you’re not doing this blind. You’ve carried out thorough research and that research has told you there’s a market out there for your product.

    Get used to having coffee with strangers

    Hopefully, you will have some pre-existing relationships to bring to this new business. They might be past clients with your previous employers; they might be suppliers from your last job. No matter. You’ll still need to build lots of new ones, so get out there and meet people.

    AIDA

    You don’t expect the first person (or business, if you’re in the B2B space) you encounter to purchase on your first meeting. No, it will take time to build that business, recalling the AIDA Formula, namely

    A – Awareness

    I – Interest

    D – Desire

    A – Action

    Your task is to move targets through each stage, from at first knowing your new business exists, to becoming interested, then wanting to act, then purchasing your product or service, thanks to your impressive marketing and great product.

    “Nobody gives a damn about your business but you”

    I’m also very fond of this saying. It reminds us not to be too precious about our lovely shiny new business. What it’s telling us is that your targets have loads of things on their mind and their world is not going to change just because you’ve set up a business. No. Your job is to provide value to your market. If you provide genuine value to the correct target market, you’ll make it.

    Keep in mind these things to consider when starting your own business and the very best of luck. Break a leg!

    Things to consider when starting your own business – Resources

    The internet is full of helpful articles on tips and tricks for the new business owner. Be disciplined – grab yourself a coffee every day for at least two weeks and dedicate 30 minutes to reading every tip you can find. Then distill and go for it!

    The network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) offer regular training programmes in ‘Start your own Business’. Find your local LEO at https://www.localenterprise.ie/Find-Your-Local-Enterprise-Office/.

  • IBYE 2018 is Launched by Minister for Enterprise & Innovation

    Press Release :

    Local Enterprise Office Roscommon confirms €50,000 county investment fund available

    Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. and Minister of State for Business, Pat Breen T.D., have launched the national search to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneurs (IBYE 2018) through the Local Enterprise Offices.

    IBYE is a programme run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), including LEO Roscommon, with the support of the Department of Enterprise & Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. The competition is open to people between the ages of 18 and 35 with an innovative business idea, new start-up or established business.  Now in its 4th year, IBYE has an investment fund of up to €2 million. The closing date to enter this year’s competition is Friday, 29th September 2017,  and there is a €50,000 county investment fund on offer to local winners and runners-up in Co Roscommon.

    Visit http://www.ibye.ie/

    IBYE 2018 promo pic

    Speaking at the national launch, the Tánaiste said: “Building on the success of previous IBYE competitions, this Government wants to support more young entrepreneurs right across the country through the LEOs. Ireland has a well-earned reputation as a country that supports and fosters enterprise. Our young entrepreneurs are talented, innovative and dynamic. Last year, 180 young entrepreneurs won investment funding for their businesses through IBYE, helping them reach their export and job growth potential. I would encourage all young entrepreneurs, between the ages of 18 and 35, to talk to their LEO about the IBYE 2018 programme and the valuable supports available throughout the various stages of the competition.”

    Minister of State for Business, Pat Breen T.D., said: “IBYE offers a very significant stepping stone into the world of running your own business for young people aged 18 to 35. It’s not just the scale of the investment fund on offer that makes IBYE so important, IBYE 2018 entrants can go on to receive intensive enterprise boot camp training from their LEO under the programme, to help them establish and develop their entrepreneurship careers. Now in its 4th year, IBYE has proven to be a great success in all the regions with more than 1,800 applying across the country last year. I would encourage young people with a business idea or currently running a business to apply for IBYE before the deadline of 29thSeptember, 2017.”

    Louise Ward, Head of Enterprise at Roscommon LEO, said: “The substantial investments available under IBYE are a very important part of the programme and will help more young entrepreneurs here locally to grow their businesses and create more jobs. Other business supports, such as management training, networking and one-to-one mentoring are also at the heart of IBYE. Last year, 450 young entrepreneurs all over the country benefitted from these business supports and 180 of them won investment funding to help start and grow their own businesses, so the rewards are there for participants, as well as for the winners. Taking part in IBYE will help Ireland’s young entrepreneurs move their businesses to the next level with the support of their Local Enterprise Office, whatever stage their business is at.”

    IBYE 2018 is run locally by Local Enterprise Office Roscommon across three categories:  Best Business Idea, Best Start-Up Business and Best Established Business.

    With an IBYE investment fund of €50,000, LEO Roscommon will award up to six investments to three category winners and three runners-up at county level. The local winners in the Best Start-Up and Best Established Business categories at county level will receive investments of up to €15,000 each and the two runners-up will each receive up to €5,000.

    The Best Business Idea winner at county level will receive an investment of up to €7,000 and the runner-up will receive up to €3,000 of investment. These winners at county level will progress to Regional Finals early next year and the National IBYE Finals will be held in March 2018.

    Previous Co Roscommon winners and runners-up of IBYE have included :

    2014:

    Mark Bannon, Vizor Technology Ltd., Bealnamullia, Athlone (Best Business Idea and Overall County Winner)

    Niamh Cunningham, Irrelevant Fish, Lisacul, Ballaghaderreen (Best Start-Up)

    Mark Molloy, Honest Bread & Cakes Ltd., Roscommon town (Best Established Business)

    2015:

    Oz Ibrahmi, Hex CNC, Knockvicar, Boyle (Best Established Business and Overall County Winner)

    Mark Bannon, Vizor Technology Ltd., Bealnamulla, Athlone (Best Start-Up)

    Enda Mahon, Progrip, Cloonee, Ballymoe (Best Business Idea)

    2016:

    Desmond Dolan, MistCalls, Cortober  (Best Business Idea and Overall County Winner)

    Kyle Flynn, Heather Fed Fowl, Ballyfarnon, Boyle  (Runner-Up : Business Idea Category)

    Kyle McLoughlin, Boyle Posude T/A SubTeacher.ie, Boyle (Best Business Start-Up)

    Neil Patrick Collins, Cryptic Clique, Castlerea (Runner-Up:  Start-Up Category)

    Eoghan Kenny, Project 5 Creations T/A BeltLock.ie Rathpeak, Ballinasloe (Best Established Business)

    Brian Larkin, Centrepoint Autos, Hodson Bay, Athlone   (Runner-Up : Established Business Category)

    IBYE 2018 – Categories :

    1. Best Business Idea (pre-trading) – up to €10,000 investment fund through every LEO (€7,000 for category winner and €3,000 for runner-up, through every LEO)
    2. Best Start-Up Business (up to 18 months) – with up to €20,000 investment fund through every LEO (€15,000 for category winner and €5,000 for runner-up, through every LEO)
    3. Best Established Business (over 18 months) – with up to €20,000 investment fund through every LEO (€15,000 for category winner and €5,000 for runner-up, through every LEO)

    IBYE 2018 – How to Enter :

    Local entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 should visit the IBYE website at www.ibye.ie, to submit their applications online.

    The closing date for entries is Friday, 29th September, 2017 and there are no entry fees.

    Further information for Roscommon entrants is available from https://www.localenterprise.ie/Roscommon or by calling me on 086-8318748.

  • The Creatives Dilemma

    The Creatives Dilemma – A Curious Matter.

    Way back in 2009, I was asked to carry out a study of the professional lives of almost 100 creatives – crafters, artists and designers – living in the West of Ireland.

    The overt aim of the project was to research what workshops, training and other support inputs the designers would like to avail of. However, it also revealed worryingly low levels of income among the group. Over the almost 10 years since, I’ve worked with a large number of creatives and repeatedly come across what I term “the creatives dilemma”.

    For those of us looking in, a creative might seem somebody who would be comfortable in the realm of marketing, no?

    After all, they’re creative, right? And we all know that large marketing and advertising houses are constantly seeking ‘creative’ minds for their client projects, to spin their latest advertising slogan or develop their rejigged branding look.

    But artists, crafters and designers are another breed of creative entirely.

    creatives dilemma
    Creatives like to create. They like to paint, sculpt, weave, dance. They don’t like to market, sell, meet, or put themselves out there in any way.

    I’m generalising, of course *.

    This creatives dilemma results in the low levels of income encountered and the sense of isolation many (particularly rural) creatives experience. Resulting low sales are a barrier to realising their true potential, unless a buyer or influencer just happens upon a creation they just happen to like.

    When I mention pro-active marketing to many creatives, or how they might get themselves ‘noticed’, their eyes glaze over. I can sense their internal voice saying something along the lines of “oh, just let me get back into my studio”.

    Indeed, once back in the studio, another dilemma is encountered. This one, Scott Barry Kaufman describes thus :

    ” I am often torn between two extremes– inspiration and self-doubt. There are moments I feel I have stumbled upon a great truth, a new discovery. This enlivens my spirit and motivates me to further explore and share. Explore and share. The deep drives of the artist. Yet, what happens when we explore and discover that so many others have trod the same path, have been inspired by the very same questions and have already reached satisfying conclusions? This inevitability can bring out the defenses, the self-doubt. What do I possibly have to contribute to this world? What can I say that hasn’t already been said? “

    A Solution to the Creative Dilemma?

    But getting back to my own take on the creative dilemma.

    In my opinion, there is clearly a need for some kind of third-party marketing person, perhaps initially joint-funded by local authorities, the DCCOI and/or other micro-enterprise support agencies. Such a person could take charge of the sales and marketing of a group of creatives from, say, a limited geographic area and for, say, a defined time period. The aim would be to generate awareness of them and make some sales. But, and this is the point, such a scheme would require legacy. There would need to be transfer of knowledge to the creatives in the ultra-practical areas of selling, marketing and “getting-out-there”. The marketing person would inevitably depart, but the creatives must have learned both about strategy and practical marketing skills.

    * Note : There absolutely are exceptions to this generalisation and some creatives are excellent at promotion, marketing and “putting themselves out there”.

  • Profiteering UK Retailers in Ireland exposed by Exchange Rates

    Profiteering UK retailers in Ireland have been a problem for years.

    In recent months, however, this has been particularly clearly demonstrated by the post-Brexit exchange rate between the Euro and Sterling.

    I was down in Galway recently and rambled into Debenhams, where I picked up a coat and took a notion to pull off the Euro price tag to reveal the Sterling beneath. I was interested to see if, and to what extent, the retailer was “doing” its Irish customers.

    Even though I fully expected to see something unfair and unjustified, in fact I was shocked by the extent of the blatant profiteering. With an average exchange rate of below 1.20 over the last 5 months or so, I might have expected the Stg£ 125 price to equate to somewhere around € 150 – 155 maximum. In fact, the price was € 190, a total unadulterated rip-off.

    profiteering uk retailers ireland
    Coat in Debenhams Galway

    Recently, my ‘other half’ purchased a pair of jeans for me (bless her) in Next. Upon receipt, I did the same thing and removed the Euro price tag to reveal the Sterling “equivalent”. In this case, the Stg£ 35 item should have been priced at around € 42 –  44. As you can see, it was € 48.

    profiteering uk retailers ireland
    Denim at Next Castlebar

    Perhaps the most telling aspect of profiteering by UK retailers in Ireland is the appearance over recent years of a new type of price label they have created for Irish stores. More difficult to remove and with a type of extra black skin underneath,  it has become difficult to reveal the Sterling price. This new departure is a clear and blatant attempt to cynically hide the outrageous exchange rate often applied to pricing in Irish stores.

    Directly related to this issue of pricing in Irish bricks-and-mortar shops is the phenomenon known as “geo-blocking“, an online practice that prevents shoppers in some countries from being able to buy products and services for cheaper prices in other countries. Incredibly, this is not yet illegal within the EU.

    Come across profiteering UK retailers in Ireland? Go elsewhere

    Ultimately, of course, we have to question why Irish-based retailers do not take greater advantage of this appalling behaviour by UK brands. There is the argument of marketing power, on the one hand, whereby “Barry Murphy Menswear” cannot possibly compete with the advertising budget of the larger chains. On the other, there is the fact that most Irish clothing retailers source their stock in the UK anyway and lack the purchasing power to drive a hard bargain on that front. Thirdly, Irish brands simply don’t have the market clout, don’t sell the same huge volumes and couldn’t get away with it anyway. I’d like to think they wouldn’t try.

    But why do we let profiteering UK retailers in Ireland get away with it? Go shop elsewhere, I say.

  • Winking at a good-looking Girl in the Dark

    Avoid Winking at a Good-looking Girl in the Dark

    As the old adage goes, “Running a business without advertising is like winking at a good-looking girl (or guy) in the dark. You know what you’re doing, but nobody else does”.

    winking at a good-looking girl

    Now, for “advertising”, you can substitute “promoting”, thereby allowing yourself to concentrate on social media, for example, or getting out and meeting people. You may not have a budget for pure advertising, in the sense of spending money on media. However, if you’re short of cash, mister *, you might still be able to time-manage yourself to a sufficient degree to allow yourself dedicate some time to social media work, on Facebook, Twitter or other. Or get along to some networking opportunities. Or try to generate some favourable and free press coverage through PR work.

    Essentially, you’ve got to be telling people (your target markets) about what you’re doing and what’s good about your product or service. Another adage states that “If you’re not telling, you’re not selling”. There’s no arguing with that.

    As the summer winds up over the next few weeks, many of us self-employed small business owners who have perhaps been on autopilot for the previous two months will begin to turn our thoughts back to the job at hand. I regularly say that micro-business owners often have two beginnings to their year. The first, of course, is in January. But there’s a second one in September, once the holidays are over and the kids have gone back to school. Let me suggest that you develop some rigorous system to urge yourself to communicate with your audiences into the future.

    • Develop a social media marketing plan and schedule that makes use of the platform(s) your audience is active on.
    • Get networking offline, regularly.
    • Build relationships with journalists, bloggers and other influencers who can give you some coverage gratos.
    • Ask for testimonials from satisfied customers and put them up on your website. Even better, shoot some video testimonials.
    • Employ some free content marketing amplifiers, like Missinglettr. I like it very much.

    Winking at a good-looking Girl

    So, the next time you’re considering it, switch on the light first …

    *  Stolen from an old U2 track, “Bullet the Blue Sky”.

  • How has Applegreen done it?

    Applegreen and Me

    We spend a lot of time at petrol stations. Well, I do anyway.

    We’ve got our Topaz, Maxol, Texaco and others. We used to have our Statoil, Jet, Shell, etc. But never has one brand achieved anything like Applegreen. This is the first time in my life I’d actually bypass a petrol station if it isn’t of one particular brand – and that brand is Applegreen.

    Applegreen

    OK, so they’re on the motorways. But, in fact, I’m rarely on a motorway, so that isn’t a factor for me personally. No, I’m talking about places like Frenchpark, Swinford, Birr and Poles.

    There’s something about them. The interior design is as nice as you’ll find in a roadside petrol station. Heck, some of them even have comfortable armchairs and low coffee tables to sit down and enjoy your coffee. The toilets are – wait for it – clean! They’ve got a decent rewards scheme going, complete with handy small keyring card. Their fuel price signage is big and clear, making it simple to choose to stop when driving towards them. And let’s face it, they’ve got bright cheery light-coloured green fascia and branding.

    But there’s more. There’s a quality about the place. They’ve dumped the typical cheap and nasty look of a roadside petrol station, with crappy interior doors and poorly thought out interior. They’ve gone with nice rich-coloured shelving, doors and walls, with some dark browns, rather than bright white or light creams. In as much as is reasonable in this environment, they’ve gone with an upmarket look, while keeping the fuel prices low.

    We speak of the “Four Ps” of product marketing. Applegreen has nailed its product, pricing and place (great locations). I don’t need to pay attention to the promotion; I’m converted already. Then again, maybe that means they’ve nailed that ‘p’ too …

    But in services marketing, there are three other “Ps”, namely processes, people and physical evidence. Applegreen would appear to have made a particularly conscious effort on the physical evidence front. Basically, they’re nice petrol stations. Enough said.

    Basically, this is a great example of positive branding.

    During 2015, Applegreen held its initial IPO on the Irish Stock Exchange.

    However, in March 2016, Clare County Council rejected its bid for a new motorway station in that county.

  • IBYE Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur 2015

    Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) – Countrywide Search Begins (Official Press Release)

    Competition to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, aged between 18 and 30, launched by An Taoiseach and Minister Bruton

    Up to €50,000 investment prize-fund for three local winners, through Local Enterprise Offices.

    The Taoiseach, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation  and the Local Enterprise Offices have launched the search to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE), with a total investment fund of €2 million available nationally and up to €50,000 on offer for three local winners.

    Aimed at those aged between 18 and 30 in every county, the competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.

    IBYE
    IBYE 2015

    The Taoiseach and Minister Bruton urged all young people with a start-up or a business idea to apply through their Local Enterprise Office before 31st July. The competition is free to enter, and further information is available from the Local Enterprise Offices (www.localenterprise.ie) as well as at www.ibye.ie.

    The first stage is a county-based competition, with a closing date of July 31st through the Local Enterprise Offices, leading to the naming of the Best Young Entrepreneur in each county. This will be followed by eight regional finals, with one young business-person being crowned Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur later in the year, at the national finals in Google’s European HQ in Dublin.

    Up to €50,000 will be awarded to three winners in each county. The winners at national level can then receive up to an additional €50,000 and over 400 young entrepreneurs will also win places at regional Business Bootcamps with mentoring supports, to further develop their business skills.

    During last year’s highly successful inaugural competition, over 1,000 applications were received, 400 young entrepreneurs took part in Business Bootcamps and 93 young entrepreneurs throughout every county in Ireland won cash investments for their businesses.

    At the first-ever National Final, Eamon Keane of Xpreso Software in South Dublin clinched the overall title of ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ for his parcel delivery software company, ahead of runners-up from the tourism and food sectors.

    The aim of the initiative is to support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Ireland, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice and to encourage Ireland’s young people to set up new businesses which will ultimately create jobs.

    Part of the effort to attract applications from young people both in Ireland and abroad will be a comprehensive social media and marketing campaign.

    Launching the nationwide competition, the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD said:  “This Government is determined to support jobs, enterprise and local recovery, and make sure that work pays.  Our vision for Ireland is to be among the most entrepreneurial nations in the world and to be acknowledged as a world-class environment in which to start and grow a business, including for young people with bright ideas.  ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ is a unique, interactive and challenging competition, but with clear and tangible results, from self-development and networking to the valuable financial aid available to category winners.  Increasing entrepreneurial activity is a core theme of the 2015 Action Plan for Jobs with the aim of doubling the jobs impact of start-ups in Ireland over the next five years.”

    The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said: “Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups, so if we are to create the jobs we need we must support more entrepreneurs to start new businesses. That is why we have placed start-ups right at the centre of our Action Plan for Jobs, and put in place new measures like establishing a new system of easily-accessible supports through the Local Enterprise Offices.

    “Part of this plan is also fostering a stronger culture of entrepreneurship and promoting start-up business as a career option for young people. That is what is behind this new competition to find the best young entrepreneur in every county in Ireland also ultimately Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. Last year as part of the judging panel in the inaugural IBYE I was overwhelmed by the quality and the energy of the young business-people who took part in this competition. I firmly believe that IBYE can be a crucial means of encouraging more young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice and ultimately create jobs. I urge any person under 30 who has a business or a business idea to contact your local LEO or visit IBYE.ie and apply to become Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur for 2015”.

    The deadline to apply for this year’s Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is Friday, July 31st and the full details are available through www.ibye.ie or by searching #IBYE on social media and YouTube.

    For further information on IBYE, contact your Local Enterprise Office.

    NOTES FOR EDITORS

    Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur 2015 (#IBYE)

    Website: www.ibye.ie

    Social Media: #IBYE

  • The Hive, Technology Enterprise Centre at Carrick on Shannon

    Leitrim County Enterprise Fund has been busy working away on its all-new technology enterprise centre for months. The Hive, as it has been named, is just about ready to accept tenants from the local knowledge-based business community.

    Joe Lowe, CEO of Leitrim County Enterprise Board (Update 2014 : Now Leitrim Local Enterprise Office), says “The Hive, a new concept in business centre for the region, will be open for business in early September 2013. Accommodation solutions range from a single desk with high speed fibre broadband access, to fully furnished and serviced office suites with fixed cost flexible leases and optional packages including phone systems, print solutions and secretarial support.”

    “Please look out for our launch date in the local press and on social media and if interested parties have any questions on this exciting new development, please feel free to contact Colm Keane, Business Development Manager, on  071 9616275 or colm@the-hive.ie”

    Local businesses will be aware that The Hive will occupy the much redeveloped building (newly expanded) as the County Enterprise Board on the Dublin Road in Carrick on Shannon, directly across from the new Aldi store.

    The Hive

    Connectivity and convenience are the main focus of this new centre to serve the knowledge-based business community of the North West. Accommodation solutions ranging from a single desk, with high speed fibre broadband access, to fully furnished and serviced office suites with fixed cost flexible leases and optional packages including phone systems, print solutions and secretarial support are available.

    There is an on site coffee dock and high tech meeting rooms and training suites, which make it the ideal location for your next training or conferencing event, with its high profile location on a national primary route (N4). The Hive is also an ideal location for off-site interviews or meetings with short and long-term flexible availability, in a high quality business focused environment.

    Read the Enterprise Board’s Hive PDF

    Visit The Hive’s website.

  • Innovation & Creativity Seminars, Leitrim

    On Tuesday next, in conjunction with Leitrim County Enterprise Board and its Innovation & Enterprise Programme, two free seminars take place in the Landmark Hotel.

    From 11.00 to 13.00, the theme is “Sparking Innovation and Creativity”. This short seminar will introduce attendees to four innovative local businesses, in the areas of software development, tourism, brewing and fashion. Spanning quite different sectors, each speaker will tell their story of innovation.

    Innovation can be a quite daunting concept for small and micro-enterprises. But it need not be so. Don’t forget : innovation is not always a case of designing a new product. It can span each of the seven Ps of marketing – product, yes, but also price, physical evidence, promotion, people, processes and place/distribution. Perhaps you can deliver your service in an innovative new way. Perhaps you can help customers achieve their goal through new processes; new ways of looking at their problem. Maybe you can offer a new pricing structure to help your potential customers make that buying decision. Could you reshape or redesign your premises so that it more accurately reflects the service or products you offer within ?

    So come along to the Landmark, Carrick on Shannon and listen to the story of these inspiring local business owners. Book your place at this seminar via Leitrim County Enterprise Board.

    This first session will be followed between 14.00 and 16.00 by a talk on “One Eye on the Environment; One Hand in the Pocket” – how to save money on water, waste and energy management, while being friendly to our shared environment. Creativity is not just in the production and marketing side of business, but can also be applied to business inputs and costs.

    This session will look at how savings can be made, even by micro-enterprises. Book for this session via Leitrim CEB’s site and see if you can cut everyday costs in your business.

    Next Tuesday’s seminars will then be further complimented by a session on social media one week later. But more on that anon.