How to do Business - Business Research and Development.
I'm Alan Rae - since 1981 I've set up and run 4 different businesses. I'm Chairman of Fletching Glasshouses which sells plants, gardening equipment and organic vegetables on line and I carry out Business Research projects for Universities, Government agencies and private companies. . So I know a bit about business growth - which is what this site is about.
Growing businesses meet a series of well defined problems that need fixing. I ’ve lived through many of these and I'd like to help you achieve the right blend of systems and people skills to get the results you want..
I'd summarise the principles of How to do Business like this.
The 7 Point Plan for How to do Business
Treat people who buy from you, sell to you and work for you as grown ups - it's amazing the difference this makes.
Identify something that people want to buy - then sell it to them - politely
Describe what you have to sell in words of one syllable focusing on why it's useful to whoever's going to buy it. If you are selling spinach then this step is not necessary.
Take the trouble to create easy to operate procedures that have some resilience in them.
Think permaculture and build sustainability into your business model. It's no longer a nice-to-have but a core part of a 21st century business strategy. We've put in a rainwater harvesting reservoir this year. It will save us £8k a year.
When you screw up admit it and refund without question - this will save time, money and your blood pressure.
Take whatever profits you make and spend them on something that is valuable, useful or beautiful. Don't what ever you do entrust it to a suit to invest on your behalf.
I can help you achieve these with
Free fact sheets, whitepapers and signposts to videos that give you information you’ll find useful . The Download page is here.
Books, reports and video training materials. The book shop is here. Two recent books that might interest you are "Social Media for Real Businesses" and "Growing Jobs"
Workshops Boardrooms and facilitation. I'm speaking at Digital Brighton in January and running a free webinar on "Social Media for Real Businesess" on 1st November
Consultancy to help you
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Research, Develop and launch new products and services
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Develop a convincing story to promote the businesses you develop
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Use the intermet to improve delivery and promotion
- Collaborate with other companies using remote and flexible working
- Become a learning company
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Track how well you're doing
- Lead your team to deliver the results you want
To discuss how we can help telephone 0845 094 0407.
And there's more specialised help at our other sites.
- Punch above your Weight is about Social Media and online Marketing
- Communication in Business covers Marketing and Leadership
- Growing Jobs describes some practical HR ideas
- The Brain Map helps you understand your psychology and those who you work with
- Ai Consultants is about the research itself and our approach to it.
I try to be an engaging and informative speaker and regularly gives talks on social media marketing and workforce developmentl as well as delivering an edutainment called music and marketing which illustrates some basic marketing principles with some classic songs.
You might enjoy the Daily Newspaper which is made up of others on this journey telling you their story
Business Track Record - our other businesses .
We have 25 years experience of running growth businesses in IT, Business Training, Internet trading and horticulture. We run a £650k internet trading company - Plants4Presents - and a 10 employee Organic Vegetable Business. These gives a real-life basis for our consultancy and training business and underpins our research into how companies actually use IT to promote themselves and improve performance as they grow. Our journey taught us to integrate, people, processes and technology help customers more effectively. Perhaps you could benefit from this experience.
I'm a chartered fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, an associate of the Market Research Society and an accredited workwise adviser. You won't be impressed by the credentials but you might think it reassuring that I have some.
Contact - To discuss how we can help with your business growth or marketing ring 0845 094 0407
