Member Article

Top tips to help your business remain entrepreneurial at heart

Small businesses are vital to the success of an economy and entrepreneurial strength is an important feature of such economy.

Often associated with the launch of an organisation, entrepreneurialism is becoming increasingly important. It is vital that companies with years of heritage continue to encourage new business creation, breaking and changing the rules both inside and outside of an organisation. Businesses need to set themselves apart by beating current trends and staying one step ahead of the game.

At FedEx, we work alongside a number of small businesses, helping them deliver innovative new solutions while providing them with in-depth market knowledge. To ensure businesses remain innovative, we wanted to share some top tips on how your company can remain entrepreneurial at heart, using examples from two well-established Irish businesses.

1.Nurture your passion

Whatever your business may be, it should always be fun. Nurturing your passion should always be a priority and drive you on your entrepreneurial journey. Being passionate about your business is a vital component to your success.

We are always inspired by one of the family-run businesses we work with. Heritage Irish Crystal is passionate about keeping the original craft alive and aims to deliver the finest authentic crystal to customers. Owner Joe Williams has been working with crystal since he was 15 years old and is keen to preserve the ancient techniques of crystal manufacturing.

2.Seek to improve your products, and consider developing new ideas

You should encourage and develop new ideas to ensure your business can continue to grow. Small businesses are in the best position to do this as owners do not necessarily have to report, or seek approval from anyone else, allowing creative ideas and innovative product design to flourish.

While Heritage Irish Crystal is based on a long-standing tradition of crystal manufacturing, to differentiate itself from the market it uses full lead molten crystal. This means patterns cut deeply, resulting in antique-style quality and a consistent diamond-like shine.

3.Embrace change and take calculated risks

Many long-standing brands have had to adapt the way they run their business to ensure they’re up-to-date with the latest trends and driving their sector forward. The growth of social media and advancing technology has pushed many companies to create new methods of communications with their audience.

My Irish Jeweler saw an opportunity to grow its market overseas. With a large proportion of customers living abroad, the need for a static shop was becoming less apparent. Having gathered in-depth market insight, and with support from its logistics provider, owner Peter Gavin, decided to take the leap and begin offering a purely online service, rocketing his business to success.

4.Keep up with customer demand

It may seem obvious that keeping up with customer demand should be a priority when growing your business. However, all too often, companies are under increasing pressure, and the overall quality of their service can suffer.

My Irish Jeweler saw an incredible influx of orders when they began offering their online service. To keep up with demand, the company reassessed its processes to adapt to the number of orders and ultimate company growth.

5.Remain optimistic and do not rest on your laurels

Be confident in your business and your expertise, but always look for opportunities to improve. Do not stand-still, as you will fall behind your competitors. Producing quality products is of course the most important factor in a fruitful business, however, do not fall behind in delivering excellent customer service from start to finish.

Both Heritage Irish Crystal and My Irish Jeweler provide their customers with a seamless process, finishing with their items being delivered in a timely, and efficient manner.

Following these steps, and ensuring that your brand remains entrepreneurial at heart could help ensure your business flourishes. Leaning on supportive partners, including logistics providers, as well as maintaining an innovative, dynamic spirit will also help you on the path for business success.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Davidian .