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Thoughts

2009: Really as bad as it seemed at the time?

14th November 2009
Author: Matt Chatterley

2009 isn't over yet, but we feel it's time to discuss some of the repercussions it has had for us. During an undoubtedly tough year for businesses (small and large alike), we have been lucky to work and interact with people who have been unfailingly positive throughout - if not optimistic, then grimly determined.

An age ago, near the start of the recession, an office debate turned up the fact that we agree that the current economic climate presents some serious opportunities for small businesses as well as serious challenges.

It is also clear that there are no 'gravy days' looming in the near future - the next few months, if not the next year, are going to be tough too. But small signs of hope are emerging in various places - we've certainly seen an increase in business over the last couple of months and hope you have too.

So, without further ado, here are three things we have done this year, initially to combat the impact of the recession, but which will ultimately help us emerge stronger - as a team, company and individuals.

1. Work Smarter - By Redefining and improving core business processes from handling of leads right through to credit control and introducing some really smart Software as a Service applications we've increased efficiency and reduced costs.

2. Work Harder - Having streamlined processes and upgraded equipment to improve performance, we squeezed some extra working time into each day by cutting out wasted minutes - then added some extra time on top. Increased throughput has helped us to continue meeting our clients' needs and expectations.

3. Work Together - We took two key steps to bring us closer to our clients this year - the first was to upgrade our blog so that comments can be left - and so you can subscribe to email updates. We also began running our monthly newsletter and looking for community forums to engage with new people on - for example, we wrote an article for top10tips.co.uk.

There is a lot more to tell, but we'll save some for another time - until then, why not share with us - what have you done this year to make your business (or yourself) better and/or stronger?

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Comments

Helen Stothard at 18/11/2009 07:57:59

The start of the year saw my working week dropped from five days to four days in order to avoid redundancy, my four days then dropped to three later in the year. My role deteriorated so much it was no longer the job I loved. But hey, it was all to help keep the company going and save jobs so knuckle down and get on with it.

However, not one to give in I started working for myself part time, I filled that one day a week, then two days a week and then had enough work to say thanks but here's your job.

I went full time self employed in September and have not looked back since.

I am a success story on the back of this recession, but it doesn't happen just by sitting there waiting for it, you have to work real hard for it, but the rewards are worth it in the end.

Great blog, thanks.

Sean Stevens at 20/11/2009 18:42:33

2009 has been an interesting year. Many people have learnt to live with the 'economic crisis' and have adapted their lives around it. Many people will have made changes in their daily lives that I hope they stick to when things start to improve.

Many businesses have scaled down their activities and now run much leaner teams that work harder and faster which can only be good in the long term to create stable companies.

Many people that have lost work have taken the chance to start businesses of their own, some will fail, but the ones that make it will do so in the knowledge that they have gone through the hardest crisis in history and they are still here.

This is a really interesting topic Matt and I congratulate you on bringing it up.

For me personally 2009 was the year I decided to start my own company - no time like the present.

Chris Carrier at 22/11/2009 12:30:10

it has been an emotional year, with some struggles and some soul seaching (from a business perspective).

We had to seriously take a look at our marketing budget and it's ROI, this caused us to shift in a completely different direction, can you believe I was going to open a posh sandwich shop!

Anyway, after amassing far too much debt we could not start the cafe/sandwich shop and afford all the advertising and banners etc, so when looking for a cheaper alternative, we came up with EMBN then WMBN and then formed it into UKBN, we started this pretty much under the philosophy above, Work Smarter!

And so far so good, luckily due to our other business interests we knew exactly what companies needed to get off the ground, so we created it.

I have to admit that I am a very positive thinker, and whilst there may be an economic crisis going on, I can only think of the pruning it has done for the better, there are exceptions I admit, but most of the companies going under are the ones that have no manners, no customer retention and the down right rude.

It may well be quite draconian of me to welcome their demise, but it is opening up a whole new gap for start ups that can see what is being done wrong and filling the void.

The complacency of yesteryear is in our wake, and companies like ourselves (I include Matt, Helen & Sean, who I all know from fourms etc) will have a stronger future, all because we are approachable, helpful and affordable, not to mention offering services that consumers and businesses need.

As Sean has said, this is the year we decided to go for it, we know we are offering a great service, and it is gaining more exposure and clients all the time, one of which is above us here on this blog!

Imagine how a business model, that works in a recession, will work when spends are high again!

We are all the future, and a bit of culling happens in business aswell as in nature, so this will be a benefit to us all!

Viva La Business!

Katherine, Global Assistant at 22/11/2009 13:00:48

This year has certainly seen a big change for my husband and I, and although it was tough at the beginning, it has lead to a massive change of direction in our lives.
Over the years I have only dabbled at my virtual assistant services and freelance writing, as my main role was as a partner with my husband in our kitchen business. At the start of the year we had our showroom and small manufacturing site which we had built up over 12 years. We saw sales reduce drastically throughout 2008 and in the first 3 months of 2009 only had 3 orders, and those were not substancial ones. In March we took the very difficult decision to close down the business.
I have to say at this stage, that for a few years we had not been enjoying the business. It is too difficult to explain why not exactly, but lets just say that the business was also linked to other family members who just took and never gave.
We have struggled this year, but have enjoyed the fight to set up new businesses, have had great support from family and things are now starting to go well.
I have my VA business and my husband has set up an online kitchen business, which coupled with continuing recommendations from our old business is going well.
We have gone from commuting 25 miles to work, 6 days a week and needing 3-4 kitchen orders a week to just break even, to working because we are loving it.
I have found that I love being a VA, writing articles. I am also becoming a very sociable person, when before, all I ever wanted to do after work, was shut the doors on the world.
And the best bit? We have taken the big decision to sell our house and move to France from where we will both be able to run our businesses.
2009 has been tough for us, there has been alot of tears shed through the earlier part of the year, but we are now starting to come out of it, happy, free from old ties and loving our jobs.
I think if you believe in your abilities, can be flexible and not be afraid of change, you will succeed.

Helen Stothard at 22/11/2009 13:55:37

Some great comments above, it is also good to see that people have reacted positively to the down turn and still come out of it smiling.