Business Education

How Businesses can Deal with Inventory Supply Shortages

Inventory supply shortages will happen. Sometimes, it’s due to overwhelming consumer demand, leaving businesses unable to keep stock. Other times, like now, inventory supply shortages occur as a result of material shortages and/or manufacturing issues. At this time, lumber and other essential construction materials are in short supply. Likewise, computer processing chips are also limited in supply. So, if this happens to your business, you need to be prepared.

Inventory Shortages are Inevitable

There’s no such thing as unlimited supply when it comes to material inventory. Whether it’s a disruption in the supply chain or sudden and unexpected limit of raw materials, the end result is the same — businesses can’t keep their shelves stocked. When put in this precarious situation, sales are inevitably affected, usually negatively.

COVID-19 has had a disruptive effect on the global supply chain, and small businesses are not immune. An average of more than 30% of American small business owners across sectors still reported a disruption to their supply chain in June 2020 data, months into the pandemic. Supply-chain disruptions can affect small businesses in many ways: They can reduce revenue, inflate costs, cut into market share, or cause issues with production—all of which can damage a company’s bottom line. —The Balance Small Business

Of course, a drop off in sales can be temporary and inflict minimal damage. But, a prolonged shortage will certainly cause a lot of monetary damage. If there’s enough inventory missing for a long enough period of time, it can spell the end of a business altogether.

Ways Businesses can Deal with Inventory Supply Shortages

When inventory supply shortages occur, it’s only prudent to react with strategic means. Business owners must act immediately, particularly if there’s a sense the shortage will go on for a lengthy period of time. Here are four ways businesses can deal with an inventory supply shortage:

Explore alternative vendors. Fortunately, there are usually a few or more vendors who supply businesses with the same types of inventory. Even a source that’s a bit more expensive can be worthwhile if it keeps customers coming through the door. (And, better still, if competitors aren’t willing to pay a higher sourcing price.)
Clearly communicate with customers. There’s simply nothing good that can come from not being totally up-front with your customers. In fact, there’s hardly more that is counterproductive. If you experience an inventory supply shortage, let your customers know what’s going on — especially if it’s expected to last for a significant amount of time.
Tap into super-sized, large bulk orders. Much like the first suggestion, you might find inventory for products in short supply in larger bulk orders. Obviously, you’ll have to run the numbers to determine if it’s financially viable and doesn’t present too much a risk.
Identify problems with inventory management. There are times when businesses have inventory issues that are caused by their own ordering and selling practices. Go over your procedures to identify any problems and then apply sensible solutions.

What other suggestions do you have? Please take a few moments to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! Your input could really help someone out! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Here are the Best Strategies Entrepreneurs Can Use to Overcome Rejection and Turn it Into Power

September 13, 2023 No Comments

Here are the Best Strategies Entrepreneurs Can Use to Overcome Rejection and Turn it Into Power Entrepreneurship is often seen as a journey filled with highs and lows, successes and setbacks. One of the most significant challenges entrepreneurs face is rejection. Whether it’s rejection from investors, customers, partners, or even employees, it can be disheartening and discouraging. However, rejection doesn’t have to be the end of the road; in fact, it can be a powerful catalyst for growth and success. 7 Effective Ways Small Business Owners Can Overcome Rejection and Turn it Into Power Rejection is an unavoidable part of life, but it can be especially tough for entrepreneurs. After all, they are constantly putting themselves out there, pitching their ideas, and trying to win all sorts of people over. When they get rejected, it can be easy to feel discouraged and give up. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to cope. Even better to get over the sting and turn a negative into a positive. Of course, this takes time and a considerable amount of practice before becoming a healthy behavior. However, if you learn to use these strategies, they’ll eventually feel natural. 1. Embrace Resilience Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, and it’s a trait that successful entrepreneurs cultivate. Instead of dwelling on rejection, view it as an opportunity to build resilience. Understand that setbacks are a common part of the entrepreneurial journey and that they can make you stronger and more determined. 2. Reframe Rejection as Feedback Rejection often provides valuable feedback that can help you refine your business idea, product, or pitch. Instead of taking rejection personally, view it as an opportunity to gather insights and make improvements. Analyze the reasons behind the rejection and use this feedback to refine your approach. 3. Maintain a Growth Mindset A growth mindset is the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Entrepreneurs with a growth mindset view rejection as a chance to learn and grow. They see challenges as opportunities to acquire new skills and knowledge, which can ultimately lead to success. 4. Seek Support and Mentorship Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Seek out support from fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, or business advisors – even family and friends. They can offer guidance, perspective, and encouragement during challenging times. They’ve also faced rejection and can share their experiences and strategies for overcoming it. 5. Stay Persistent Persistence is a key trait of successful entrepreneurs. Rejection should not deter you from pursuing your goals. Use rejection as fuel to drive your determination and persistence. Keep pushing forward, even when faced with obstacles. Remember that many successful entrepreneurs faced numerous rejections before achieving their goals. 6. Develop Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing your emotions effectively. It’s crucial for handling rejection in a healthy way. Instead of reacting emotionally to rejection, take a step back, assess your feelings, and develop the emotional intelligence to respond thoughtfully and constructively. 7. Refine Your Pitch and Presentation If you’re facing rejection from investors or customers, it may be time to revisit your pitch or presentation. Seek feedback from trusted sources and refine your approach. A well-crafted pitch can significantly improve your chances of gaining support. Two Other Key Strategies for Transforming Rejection into Power Also, stay focused on your vision. Rejection can be distracting, pulling your focus away from your ultimate vision. Remind yourself of your long-term goals and stay committed to your vision. A clear sense of purpose can help you stay motivated and resilient when it counts the most. And, be sure to use rejection as motivation. Instead of allowing rejection to demotivate you, use it as a source of motivation. Let the desire to prove doubters wrong fuel your determination to succeed. Many entrepreneurs have turned rejection into a powerful driving force for their businesses. What We’ve Learned Rejection is an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey, but it doesn’t have to be a roadblock. If you can overcome rejection, you will be well on your way to entrepreneurial success. So don’t let it stop you from achieving your dreams. Remember that many successful entrepreneurs faced rejection before achieving their goals, and it’s often those who persevere through rejection who ultimately find success. Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group to learn more about us and the services we offer. You can phone 602-435-5474 or send us an email.

Dunkin’ Donuts just Streamlined Its Menu — Is it Time for You to Do the Same?

January 22, 2018 No Comments

Dunkin’ Donuts just reduced its menu offering by 10 percent. While that doesn’t seem like a big decrease, it actually is. The company is removing afternoon sandwiches and some other items, starting New England, then onto the rest of the country. The reasons are obvious — some food choices just don’t sell nearly as well. But, it also represents a sound business practice. That is, the strategy of streamlining. Why Streamlining should be a Top Priority Business owners are go-getters. They look for the right people and avoid toxic personalities. But, they also can easily fall into a routine. After all, once a measure of success is achieved and maintained, it’s actually difficult not to fall into a routine. However, this usually presents a problem. It stops you from innovating or looking at things through a different prism. In short, it’s a comfortable but dangerous place. Streamlining your business removes wasteful or redundant steps to improve efficiency. Streamlining may involve modernization of your equipment, outsourcing organizational activities, and minimizing low-performing products and services to focus on what your company does best. In business, time is money, so a small business achieves several financial and operational advantages from streamlined operations. You reduce costs, attract more customers through nimble response times, drive higher revenue and compete effectively. —Biz Fluent.com It’s dangerous because you can no longer effectively see your blind spot. And, seasoned business professionals know once you stop seeking out an edge, you’re in for trouble. Take the defunct Blockbuster chain. One time a huge success, it fell prey to its own slow and stubborn adaptation of streaming. The list it joined is very long. This is where streamlining comes into play. It forces you to rethink a lot of things; and, that’s good. How to Streamline Your Business But, what can you streamline if you feel your company is already efficient? The answer is likely longer than the following suggestions. Think of these as a good jumping off point. From there, you can take more steps. Here are some helpful tips for how to streamline your business: Go paperless. While there are certainly industries where paper is a logistical and legal necessity, there are far more which simply don’t need paper. Go paperless wherever you can. This way, you’ll cut down on sorting and sifting when you need to find a specific document. Outsource. This is a great way to increase overall productivity. It’s also some entrepreneurs worst nightmare because it gives a level of control to others. But, the benefits far outweigh any negatives. So, give outsourcing a go and reap the rewards of higher productivity in shorter amounts of time. Automate repetitive tasks. Every business has those monotonous, repetitive takes. Identify these and then seek to automate them. Doing so will free up a little more time and also take the boring feeling out of doing them. Reduce your travel time. Let’s face it, when you need face-to-face meetings, you don’t have to travel across the state, county, or country. You can use video and voice conferencing. This not only cuts down on travel time (which is generally unproductive), it also reduces travel expenses. What’s more, it’s very convenient. How do you streamline your business? What steps do you take to make it more efficient? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

How to Deal with Employee Ghosting

July 15, 2018 No Comments

Employee ghosting is a scary situation. It’s spooky because it’s so awkward and strange. If you haven’t heard about employee ghosting, you’re certainly not alone. Although, it’s a trend which appears like it’s on the rise. Basically, this is a workplace phenomenon born from personal relationships in this day and age or IRL. (That’s In Real Life — BTW or By the Way.) And, it’s possible you might just face this particular scenario. So, it’s best to err on the side of caution and take proactive measures to limit the fallout. Employee Ghosting Explained Before we get to how to deal with it, let’s first explain employee ghosting. It’s simply when an established team member, a new employee, or a fresh hire doesn’t show up, without notice or any forewarning. It’s actually a practice that’s been present in the dating world for quite some time. One person simply up and disappears, without any indication. Poof. All communications are cut off, all of a sudden. In fields ranging from food service to finance, recruiters and hiring managers say a tightening job market and a sustained labor shortage have contributed to a surge in professionals abruptly cutting off contact and turning silent–the type of behavior more often associated with online dating than office life. —Inc.com This has found its way into the professional workplace. And, it raises a number of concerns. Of course, the first is being a person short. Then, there’s the matter of reconciling or trying to make sense of a nonsensical move. Moreover, it makes your team members wonder just what the ghost knows they don’t yet know themselves. In other words, just what reason could cause a person to up and disappear? How to Deal with Employee Ghosting Now, let’s get to dealing with employee ghosting. After all, if it does happen, you certainly don’t want to be caught totally off guard. Here are some helpful suggestions for how to deal with employee ghosting: Create a backup plan. At some point, you’re going to deal with a sudden change that comes out of nowhere. So, it’s best to have a plan in-place. Get with one or more team members and create a backup plan that’s reasonable and actionable so it can be implemented, if necessary. Be prepared to reward. Of course, if someone doesn’t show up, someone else will have to shoulder the load. Which means they’ll have to work more. Make it worthwhile by rewarding them appropriately. A gift card, an extra paid day off, or a bigger bonus. Create a high trust culture. When employees call in sick or they are late, handle this professionally and according to your policy with consistency, but don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill. The same is true with employee mistakes. Be careful to react negatively or to belittle an employee who has made an honest mistake because these negative acts cause employees to not disclose the truth and hide their mistakes … even not showing up for work for fear of retribution. A safe and healthy work environment with open communication helps to foster high trust in the work place. Formulate a way forward. You can’t just rely on a temporary stop-gap solution because it isn’t tenable. You’ll need to formulate a plan for how to transition and proceed in a way that isn’t too interruptive. Stay calm and breathe deep. It’s an unfortunate situation and an uncomfortable one, just like when you have to tell your employees you’ve fired someone. But, you can make it past the setback. Start by remaining calm. Take a deep breath and handle it coolly. Have you experienced this strange trend? How do you deal with it? Or, what other suggestions do you have? Please share your thoughts by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.