Business Education

Don’t Get Bulldozed: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive, During Storefront Construction

You’ve been running a retail shop in a hot location for years now. Out of nowhere, you get news from the local government that construction will be done right outside your door. At first, its schedule is relatively short, but now, the estimated time to completion keeps getting pushed back later and later on the calendar. Meanwhile, your foot traffic is dwindling as customers opt to go elsewhere to avoid the inconvenience. So, what can you do?

A Retailer’s Survival Guide to Dealing with Obstructive Storefront Construction

Extended construction projects can pose significant challenges for small business owners, from reduced foot traffic to difficult customer access. However, with a proactive approach, businesses cannot only navigate these disruptions but also turn them into opportunities for growth. Here’s how small business owners can effectively manage extended construction around their storefronts.

Communicate with the construction crew and city officials. Establishing a good relationship with the project foreman and city officials is crucial. They can provide you with a timeline for the project and updates on daily work schedules. Knowing when the noisiest work will occur or when certain access points will be blocked can help you plan your business operations accordingly. For example, consider adjusting delivery times or scheduling staff meetings during these periods.
Stay connected with your customers through a strong online presence. When physical access is challenging, your digital storefront becomes even more important. Update your website and social media channels regularly with information about the construction, including photos, videos, and clear directions on how to reach your business. This shows customers that you are aware of the situation and are actively helping them navigate it. Consider using social media to offer special promotions or online-only deals to encourage continued engagement.
Enhance the customer experience. If customers are making an extra effort to visit your store, reward them for their loyalty. Offer a small discount, a gift with purchase, or a loyalty program incentive. Ensure your storefront signage is obvious and direct. You can also offer services like curbside pickup or free delivery to mitigate the inconvenience of the construction.
Collaborate with neighboring businesses. You’re likely not the only business affected. Partnering with other local businesses can lead to shared marketing efforts, joint promotions, or even a collective effort to lobby for better communication or support from the city. A united front can be more effective than individual complaints.
Be transparent and creative with marketing. Be honest with your customers about the situation, but frame it positively. Use humor in your marketing with slogans like “Our entrance is a work in progress, but our deals are perfect!” or “Pardon our dust, but come on in!” Consider temporary signage that directs customers to your store and highlights that you are still open for business. The key is to keep your brand visible and top of mind, even in the face of physical obstacles.

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7 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Deal with a Competitor Who Plays Unfair

March 20, 2025 No Comments

We tend to think of unfair trade practices as a multi-billion dollar corporation scheme. Mega companies like Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, and Google typically come to mind. And while it’s true these International entities do as much to monopolize their industries as possible, unfair practices can happen on a much smaller scale.

Business Succession Pros and Cons

April 15, 2021 No Comments

If you are part of a family business, and don’t have anyone related to pass it onto, you might consider a business succession plan as an option. Business secession is the process of transferring the company over to a new group of owners and/or operators. It could be anyone, from a competitor, to a family friend who’d like to take over the business. Regardless, it means turning over the reins to another person or party. So, it’s best to have a fundamental understanding of the process itself and its net effects. Business Succession Advantages Perhaps the biggest benefit of succession planning is knowing who will continue the business, particularly if you’re concerned about maintaining its good reputation. Additionally, it also motivates employees to do their best, because those with key roles who will run the company in the future will most definitely take their responsibilities seriously. If you were a business owner who was considering putting your company on the market but decided not to sell (or at least not anytime soon), what steps should be you taking now? The goals are to ensure preservation of the current business, as well as provide for an orderly and stable future transition when the proper time to sell arrives. —Kiplinger Yet another advantage of business secession is having peace of mind as to what happens to the company after you retire, or in the event you become disabled or die. (This is not only true for you as the current owner, but also, for your customers.) Plus, it helps to put in place processes that are known quantities, and therefore sets the successors up for a successful future. Business Succession Disadvantages Of course, there are drawbacks to everything, including business succession planning and eventual execution. Here are the three most common downsides of business succession you should know about: Turnover. Not everyone inside the business will receive a key role in the future. That can damage company morale once the plan is revealed to the company at-large. Moreover, it could cause good people to leave for other opportunities. No guarantees. Even if every single aspect is outlined and detailed, this does not guarantee the business will continue to be successful. After all, turning over the management means relinquishing leadership, which opens the possibility of failure. At the very least, a risk the business will suffer instead of flourish. Inappropriate strategy. Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about succession planning is the very real possibility of selecting the wrong people to run the company. Sure, the personnel chosen might well be top-notch producers and good with mentoring others, but might not be up to the challenge of actually running an established company. What else would you add to the pros and cons of business succession planning? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Biggest Mistakes to Avoid when Selling a Small Business

April 14, 2022 No Comments

When it comes time to sell your small business, you want to make sure that you avoid making any major mistakes. If you wait too long to sell, you may miss out on a great opportunity. If you don’t find the right person to represent your business, you could end up selling it for much less than it’s worth. And if you don’t market the business for sale, you may not get the best price. In this article, we will discuss five of the biggest mistakes to avoid when selling your small business: Not finding the right person to represent the business: If you don’t find the right person to represent your business, you could end up selling it for much less than it’s worth. It’s important to find someone who knows how to negotiate and who has experience in selling businesses. Otherwise, you may not get the best price for your business. Most sellers don’t expect the exit from their company to be easy, but many are surprised by how difficult it can be to sell their business for a good price in a reasonable timeframe, especially in the current economic environment. It’s important, however, to not let frustration get in the way of maximizing your sale. —Entrepreneur.com Before you speak with a business broker, it’s highly advisable to get your corporate affairs in order and understand the process. An experienced business consultant can help with these and much more. The bottom line is, that you need to know key details in order to identify the right buyer. Forgoing marketing the business for sale: If you don’t market the business for sale, you may not get the best price. You need to let people know that the business is up for sale and you need to promote it in order to attract potential buyers. You want multiple buyers interested in making offers so that the demand drives up your selling price. This doesn’t mean spending copious amounts of money. But, it does mean advertising smartly to the right people. Asking too much or too little for the business: If you ask too much for the business, you may not get any offers. If you ask too little, you could end up selling the business for less than it’s worth. It’s important to find a fair price that will attract buyers but that won’t leave you feeling like you’ve given away your hard work for nothing. Conversely, if you put it up for sale at a discounted price, otherwise interested buyers might think you’re trying to sell to get rid of a headache. Selling to the wrong person or other company: If you sell to the wrong person or other company, you could end up regretting it later. Make sure that you know who you’re selling the business to and that they are someone who will be able to take it in the direction you want it to go. In other words, someone who shares your business values and approach. Otherwise, you could see your beloved creation turn into something you would never want it to be. These are just a few of the biggest mistakes to avoid when selling your small business. By following these tips, you can help ensure that you get the best price for your business and that you don’t end up regretting the sale later on. If you have any questions about selling your small business, please feel free to contact us anytime! We would be happy to help! Interested in learning more about starting, running, buying, or selling a business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.