Prepare For These Four Realities When Starting A New Business

There is nothing more exciting than the thought of owning your own business, being your own boss, and having your brand or name on merchandise.  

However, the excitement can turn to distress if you have not considered these four subjects when you start your new business.

1. Financial: There are many start-up costs associated with opening a new business.  

There are often hidden costs or fees that will come up when starting the business such as licensing, cost of maintaining a building, merchandise stock, marketing, staff, insurance, accountant and much more. 

Multiply your budgeted start-up costs by 3 or 4 to maintain a financial comfort zone.

2. Marketing: Create an annual Marketing Plan.  The adage "build it and they will come" only happens in movies! Opening a business with a sign outside does not guarantee people will shop your business.  

You should have a annual marketing plan and budget for the entire year.  Marketing is not a once a year event.

Also, successful marketing requires professionals.  Don't leave have your collage age child do your social media marketing just because they are good at using social media to communicate with friends.

3. Long Hours: The fantasy of working whenever hours you want is exactly that, a fantasy!  As a business owner you will work more hours than you ever in your life.  

Being a business owner means you are never far from your business, even while on vacation if you are lucky enough to get a vacation.

4. No or Little Income The First Few Years: Most new businesses do not turn a profit for several year.

Take these considerations and be realistic when planning your new business.  There are many successful business owners in your area.  Talk to them and ask what helped make their business a success.

Presented by Sharp Realty 

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300  Birmingham, Al. 35209
205-879-1995
www.sharprealty.com

Leasing Commercial Retail Locations Nationwide.

Other topic:
4 Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners
6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate.

5 Ways to Reduce Cost the First Few Years of Operating a Retail Business

4 Easy Ways to Go Green in Business and Save Money in 2015

Business owners seek ways to cut cost constantly but can they help the environment at the same time?  Yes, below are 4 easy ways to Go Green in business and save money in 2015.

    1. Stop printing and using paper.

Start 2015 by implementing a policy of storing information on the company server or a secure cloud server. Use paper file only as needed. By stopping printing you save ink, paper, storage space and most of the environment. 

    2. Use LED lights.
LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are a form of solid-state lighting that is extremely efficient and long-lasting. LEDs that are EnergyStar-qualified should provide stable light output over their projected lifetime.

    3. Power off computer and laptops.

    When not in use power off any electronics in the office. Computers and monitors account for half the electricity used in an office and energy is being wasted every day, even by "energy saving" hardware. With every workstation on standby mode, the electricity meter continues to tick over at an alarming rate. 

    

    4. Use other transportation or hybrid vehicles.

   Convert your company vehicles to a hybrid vehicle or alternative transportation such as biking.

Keep your goal of ways to go green in your business, it will pay off for you and the environment.

Blog Content and photos: Sharp Realty

Sharp Realty
400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300  Birmingham, Al. 35209
205-879-1995www.sharprealty.com


Leasing Commercial Retail Locations Nationwide.
Other topic:

Why Business Retailers should Embrace Social Media?

6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate.

5 Ways to Reduce Cost the First Few Years of Operating a Retail Business 

Make a Good Impression: 5 Ways To Spruce Up the Office

You never get a second chance to make a good impression.  What do people think when they first visit your office?  Here are 5 easy things you can do to spruce up your office to make a great first impression.

1. Clean:  A clean office makes everyone happy. Make sure that the office gets cleaned inside and outside each week. You may not notice but trust me, the public does and it can cost your business more money than a cleaning service.

2. Organize:  When a potential client walks in to a desk piled up with files and papers it is not casting your skills in the best light. A fast way to solve this is simply put them in a drawer or out of sight until later.

3. Plants:  Having a nice fresh arrangement of flowers or plants in the lobby, main office or bathroom can not only help clean the air but can help distress the office.

4. Art:  Art lends to class and gives the potential client something to focus on while they are waiting, showcase local artists by using a painting, photography, sculpture, or water treatment.

5. Music: Depending on your office setting, relaxing music can help calm.  It also defuses conversations in the office.

Tell us how you feel about this subject.

Blog by: Sharp Realty

Commercial Real Estate Office and retail location space for lease throughout the United States. Contact us for details.

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995

www.SharpRealty.com

How being organized in a multi-tasking world ensures business success?

We are all multi-tasking, running businesses and our lives.  Although at times, it may feel like they are running us. One sure way to stay on top of it all is to have a system for organization.  Below are a few tips to stay organized for success.

1.   Touch things only once:  So much time is wasted by touching things over and over again. How many times have you opened a file or mail and moved it from one pile to another in your office? Doing this is a big time waster and leads to clutter in the business.  When you start something, complete it and put it where it belongs immediately.

2.   Schedule your day:  At the start each day make a schedule for your day’s activities.  This will help you stay on track and have a more productive and successful day.  Add fun time in your schedule.  A walk outside for ten minutes each day can help clear and open your mind.

3.   Give yourself a time line: Putting a time stamp on our daily activities helps you focus and stay on point.  When you have a start time, and more importantly an end time, you are more likely to complete tasks rather than putting them off until later. Later never comes!

4.   Organize your messages: Plan a time to respond to emails, phone messages, text and social media.  If it is not an emergency, have a set time to handle all of the above. Do not feel you have to respond immediately to everything. This disturbs your train of thought and waste time in the day.

   
  
5.   Designate a place for things in your business:  Do you at times feel overwhelmed when you see piles of things that need to be done?  Have a designated place for everything. This helps by keeping things clean, organized and you can find things when you need them.

 

Following all or a few of these tips will make our days more productive and successful.  Please share your tips of organization with us below. Blog by Sharp Realty, Commercial Retail Locations Nationwide.

 

 

Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al. 35209

205-879-1995

www.sharprealty.com
Leasing Commercial Retail Locations Nationwide.

Other topic:
4 Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners
6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate. 5 Ways to Reduce Cost the First Few Years of Operating a Retail Business

 http://www.sharprealty.com

Retail Therapy: What does it mean today?

First coined in the 80’s, retail therapy has changed its meaning and face. Once used to describe people who needed to fill a void, today retail therapy has become more a family event that is enjoyed by all.

 

People love to shop! And they love it more when they find a bargain!

One such place to spend time shopping for great deals on a variety of items for the whole family is at the Northport Corners in Northport Alabama.

  

The stores in the Northport Corners Plaza include:
Nancy & Co Fine Jewelers
Catos
Hibbett Sporting Goods
HoneyBake Ham
K-Mart
Bedzz Express
Check Advance
GNC
Celebration Bakery
Subway
Arby’s
Taco Bell

Northport is a city in Tuscaloosa County in the west central part of the State of Alabama. Located on the Black Warrior River across from downtown Tuscaloosa.

Come visit the stores soon and let us know how you found us!

Blog Content and photos:
Sharp Realty



Sharp Realty
400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300  Birmingham, Al. 35209
205-879-1995
www.sharprealty.com


Leasing Commercial Retail Locations Nationwide.

Other topic:
4 Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners
6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate.
5 Ways to Reduce Cost the First Few Years of Operating a Retail Business

12 Dos and Don’ts for a Successful Meeting

Remember to:

1.  Prepare! Even if you know the material inside and out, being prepared helps you stay on track, remember all the points you want to discuss and command your audience.

2.  Start and end on time. You lead and teach by example, starting and end on time shows a level of respect on your part to the audience and gains the audience’s respect for you.

3.  Have an easy to follow agenda.  Audiences like knowing what is being cover and what is next, having an agenda that is easy to understand will ensure that anyone can stay on point with you.

4.  Have the right attendees. By inviting only the attendees relative to the subject or project will ensure full attention and participation.

5.  Agree on action items.  This step eliminates wasted time later trying to gather all the parties back together again for an approval. There is nothing worse than trying to get an approval to move forward and a key person is on vacation.

6.  Have common understanding of outcome.  By everyone having on the same sheet of music will ensure productivity.

 

Do NOT:

1.  Meet too often. Having meetings too often is a waste of time and money on everyone’s part.

2.  Meet too long.  Cover only the necessary points and information.  At a certain point the audience losses interest. 

3.  Meet without need.  Again, biggest waste of time and money for any company large or small – monitor how often meetings are arranged for your business.

4.  Get off topic. Getting off topic can take you down different roads and you may miss the points of what you need to cover.  If questions arise during the meeting have a Q&A at the end or in an email format to be addressed at a later time.

5.  Get off rhythm. Stick to the agenda and don’t get stuck on a single topic.

6.  Allow anyone to commandeer. Maintain control of the meeting, otherwise you will lose respect and risk not achieving your expected outcome. 

Blog Content and photos: Sharp Realty
Contact us for details or visit our website.


Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300  Birmingham, Al. 35209

205-879-1995
www.sharprealty.com


Leasing Commercial Retail Locations Nationwide.

Other topic:
4 Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners

6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate.

5 Ways to Reduce Cost the First Few Years of Operating a Retail Business 

 

Cherry Tree Plaza – Commercial Retail Space for Lease – Washington, IN

Join the anchor stores like Goody's Department Store, Jay C Foods, Orscheln’s Farm & Home in the 143,000 square foot shopping center.

 

 

Cherry Tree Plaza is located on Highway US 50 and is the closest and most convenient center to the residential population. The retail trade for the center is approximately 60,000 residents.

 

 

 

Other Tenants Include:
* Hibbett Sports
* Southern Wireless
* Anytime Fitness
* Jimbo’s Pizza & Wings
* 4 Star Books and Games
* New Wave Communication
* Trader Baker's Flea Market
* Eye Works
* Smooth U Medical Spa
 

 

Contact us for details or visit our website.

Sharp Realty
400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300  Birmingham, Al. 35209
205-879-1995
www.sharprealty.com

Leasing Commercial Retail Locations Nationwide.

Other topic:
4 Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners

6 Smart Tips for Leasing Commercial Real Estate.

5 Ways to Reduce Cost the First Few Years of Operating a Retail Business