Surviving in a recession

Well we've got 'Gorgeous George Osborne' (GG to his friends) on Wednesday and no doubt all his initiatives will be responded to in the typical British 'we don't like change' manner.

- You can't cut the police - think of the crime
- Get rid of nurses and health care suffers
- Slash education and you increase ignorance

At the end of the day let's look at the facts - this country (if it was a company) is bankrupt.

Once again we've been let down by our elected politicians who by and large would struggle to run a bath let alone a budget.

Well same old, same old and we can do one of three things 1) shrink into our shells and moan, 2) adopt a Gallic mentality and 'slash and burn' or, 3) 'release the dog' and learn how to survive in the recession.

Let us not kid ourselves, we've seen a tough year and there is still great uncertainty as far as UK limited is concerned.

Interestingly, though in our business the evidence from suppliers and from a number of Franchise Owners as well as from contacts in other business to business markets is that there is still a lot of business available.

Certainly there is also evidence of people taking a little bit longer than usual to make a decision or commit to buying.

Without doubt though there is still a healthy flow of enquiries and requests for quotes.

I am note going to say that when times get tough the tough get going - though I do believe it to be true.

What is certainly true though is that business will not be generated unless we generate it ourselves and in time of recession particularly, it is those people who are closest to their customers, who are prepared to make on extra phone call and who religiously market their business who do best.

Cream rises and you now there are a lot (in face a vast majority) of your competitors who have rarely marketed and rarely seen their customers - relying on the good times to keep on rolling.

Do not fall into the same trap -if you are the cream, you know what needs to be done.

My key piece of advice is be active - talk to customers, ring prospects, mail the database - be sure your existing clients think of you first!

Two things we all need to remember:

1. The more active you are the more people you will see.
2. The more people you sit in front of the more business you will do.