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 

7 Steps to Better Time Management for Small Business

At Sharp Realty as with all business owners, time is money. Below are seven steps for better time management.

 1. Record all your conversations, activities and schedule for a week. This will help you understand how much you can get done during the course of a day. You'll see how much time is actually spent producing results and how much time is wasted on unproductive conversations and actions.

2. Any activity or conversation that's important to your success should have a time assigned to it. Appointment books work. Schedule when they will begin and end and stick to the time.

3. Schedule time for interruptions. Plan time to be pulled away from what you're doing, "planned interruptions."

4. Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don't start your day until you complete your time plan. The most important time of your day is the time you take to set your schedule.

 

5. Take five minutes before every call or task to decide what result you want to attain. This will help you know what success looks like before you start.  Take five minutes after each call or activity to determine whether your desired result was achieved. If not, what was missing? How do you put what's missing in your next call or activity?

6. Don't instantly give people your attention unless it's absolutely crucial in your business to offer an immediate human response. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls.

7. Block out other activities like social media unless you use these tools to generate business. 

 

Finding the best location for your retail business is foremost.  Sharp Realty has over 20 years of experience and many locations throughout the United States. Contact us today to get started.

Blog 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 

 

 

 

Why Business Retailers should Embrace Social Media?

Just a few years ago the formula for success consisted of finding the right commercial retail location, suppliers and traditional advertising such as print and radio.

Social media has changed not only how consumers shop but how they find, connect and talk about your business. “The web has changed from something we do to how we live”, according to social media experts.  

There are four main points to consider in keeping up with social media in business.

First, business owners need to truly learn and know about their customers; what is their family and social circumstance, their level of community involvement and expectations as potential and continuing customers.

Secondly, it’s critical to learn what is being talked about online. What are customers saying about your business, products or services?

The third step is to stay connected! This can be done by being proactive in conversation by asking engaging questions designed to elicit responses and draw people into the conversation.

Last but not least, regularly reviewing your social media analytic to make sure you are on track.

Some final advice from experts: “Keep things on a human level not just business”.

 Finding the best location for your retail business is foremost.  Sharp Realty has over 20 years of experience and many locations throughout the United States. Contact us today to get started.

Blog 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 

 

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

Keeping cost low is vital for the success of any new business. Here are five ways to reduce cost those first few years.

1.   Consider bartering - Establishing some type of bartering agreements with vendors and friends who can provide goods and services during your first critical months or years of business can result in future success.

2.   Review your resources - The Chamber of Commerce, your local library or YouTube to help with planning, marketing and other information you need to open a small retail business. 

3.   Develop a communications plan for vendors and suppliers. You will benefit from partnerships with those individuals and companies that will help you keep inventory stocked from the day you open your store and beyond.

4.   Lease equipment or purchase used equipment to save money on operating costs. 

5. Use social media like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest as a marketing tool and be seen by customers and potential customers. It is FREE!!

For help with leasing a building or questions about leasing or management contact Sharp Realty. 

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