Is now the time?

Something very puzzling, (apart from puzzles - see what I did there?), are the number of businesses that are cutting costs in this recession by reducing spend on training and marketing.

We are currently in an environment where cash flow is a concern, keeping costs to a minimum is paramount and staff are being made redundant. However, why oh why am I speaking to so many businesses that see the training coach or advertising spend as a luxury you can live without?

What comes to mind is that things could not be further from the truth!

Consider this.

To decrease costs in difficult conditions is one way of keeping the wolves from the door. Another proven way is to generate more revenue!

Generating more revenue seems an extremely obvious solution; however, it is surprising how many businesses currently under consultation, which are just not following that logic, so much so that I am challenging new and old clients to think about the following.

Is now the time to be more aggressive with your marketing strategy? Let us take advantage of the fact your competitors are not.

Is now the time to diversify into new markets?

Is now the time to invest in staff training, to ensure that your sales team are highly motivated?

Is now the time to enhance the knowledge of your team? Knowledge is power after all, power is confidence, and confidence in tough times could equal more sales!

Is now the time to invest in training to help your sales team spot opportunities with new clients or develop new revenues through your existing bank of clients?

Remember, “Whatever the masses are doing, do the opposite.”

Our clients are certainly feeling the benefit in prudently investing into sales and coaching and intelligently investing resources into marketing & new business development.

The masses certainly are not!

Contact us to see how our services could help your business.

Darren_leighfield@fulcrumcr.co.uk

Recruitment agencies who needs them?

The recruitment market is worth billions of pounds worldwide and there are hundreds of agencies covering a multitude of sectors. However, do you still need the services they offer?

Allot depends on the type of employee you are looking for.

If you have a technical requirement or a specialist profession then without a doubt employee the services of a knowledgeable and well-connected agent in that market place. Temporary staff, needed to start a short-term assignment then look no further than a specialist agency in that field.

If your requirements are more generic, then I suggest there may be a better way. If you are paying a recruitment fee to fill roles such as, customer services, general sales, or non-technical BDM roles then you could be spending thousands of pounds that you do not need to.

In this current climate, getting candidates through your door should not be the issue. The issue is making sure they are right for your business. Here is where the screening skills of a recruitment consultant comes into play and knowledge of your business is essential to getting the fit right.

Before you pay a fee to an agent, let us discuss alternatives that could save you money, protect your valuable time, and more importantly get the right people into your business.