Business Matters: What is Amble missing?
A regular column from Amble-based Small Business PR specialist Claire Shiels
PR Specialist Claire Shiels
What is Amble missing? Imagine that money is no object and you have the opportunity to start a brand new business in Amble. What will it be?
Bear in mind that as a business owner you need to have enough customers all the time, to make it a success. You should also consider issues such as price sensitivity, seasonality, competition, market saturation and satisfying both residents and tourists.
I’d love to hear your ideas but it should be clear that starting a business which continues to be successful over time is no mean feat! My advice, if you’re thinking of becoming a business owner, is to firstly seek out any gaps in the market. Don’t try and anticipate what people want – ask them! And ask lots of them.
Queen Street
Secondly, think ahead. In five or ten years, with the rapid expansion of the town, we may find ourselves with one or more supermarkets and big name stores. If you feel this would have a significant impact on your business, then a change of plan might be in order.
Finally, consider the impact that the internet and e-retail has had and will continue to have on shopping and services. Where once customers would always shop local, they now have the world at their fingertips.
How will you ensure that the benefit of what you’re offering will win over price and how will you keep those loyal customers coming back for more? Is customer experience the key? Remember that an office or a shop can be run from home, too. You’d be surprised about the number of businesses in Amble you don’t know about – simply because they don’t have a big store front.
Consider the stalwarts of Amble, the older businesses which seem to have been around forever – S&M Electrics, Lawrence’s, Roland’s, Leanne’s. What is it about them which has enabled those shops to stand the test of time despite the weather, technology and competition? I’m hoping to interview many of our old favourites for future issues and who knows, we fellow business owners may learn something about sustainability!
Please do send in your thoughts, memories of the older shops and ideas for new ones – either to the Ambler team or post on my Facebook page, Claire Shiels Media.
Claire
Hi, reading through Claire’s column, one section stood out to me …” Remember that an office or a shop can be run from home, too. You’d be surprised about the number of businesses in Amble you don’t know about – simply because they don’t have a big store front.”
Later on, on the ACT facebook page, the discussion continued and people were talking about the lack of certain services, such a a florist, that they simply don’t know exists in Amble. Would it be beneficial, do you think, to both consumers and local businesses to publish an Amble business directory? Businesses with or without a shop front could be easily found and customers would have all the information they need at their fingertips.