BETTER BUSINESS
Spring has now arrived and maybe it is the time for some HACCP spring cleaning? Cornwall Council has provided this reminder for businesses about reviewing their business in terms of food safety.
Crowdfunding seems to be the hottest topic at the minute and the best way to raise funds without borrowing money from banks. From new business start-ups, young entrepreneurs, food lovers and many more, everyone seems to want a piece of the crowdfunding action. So what is crowdfunding, and how can it transform your idea into a reality?
Product packaging and labelling undoubtedly has a significant impact on your product sales, and your bottom line. How your produce stands out from the crowd and attracts your target market will determine how successful your brand will become in the long run.
Conflict occurs in many guises and as a result of many different factors. In some workplaces, it seems to be a fact of life that conflict exists. How many times have you heard “they just don’t get on” or “it’s just a clash of personality”? The reality is that workplace conflict usually exists where people with different priorities, motivations, methods and goals disagree on what or how things should be done.
An Introduction to Twitter
Twitter has gone mainstream. From global giants to small businesses, everyone seems to be going Twitter-mad. So what exactly is it, what can it do for your business and how should you use it? Is it just a waste of time or is it a useful marketing tool?
How to choose the right insurance during a recession
Finding the right insurance for your business is crucial in safeguarding you against risk, especially in a time of recession. Many businesses in the South West are in the hospitality, agricultural or food and drink industry and rely heavily on property, products and machinery to run their business. Every business is different with different insurance needs and because of recession-led cut backs it’s important to know what insurances are out there and how to make the right choice.
How much margin is right for my business?
Standard margins are notoriously difficult to apply and each business should carefully calculate the margins that they need to work on. We can, though, give you some idea of some roughly typical margins and how they build a final retail price from a cost of production.
Useful contacts - funding and finance
Looking for funding or financial advice?
Take a look at our handy guide to the best funding and finance contacts for food and drink businesses in Cornwall.
The importance of good business planning
David Platt, Cornwall Regional Agricultural Manager for Lloyds TSB
Cornwall has one of the UK’s most developed local food cultures. The region is fortunate in having the perfect climate to grow a whole range of crops and produce excellent dairy products. But its distance from many of the country’s major markets means that its products need to stand out from the crowd. This takes investment in production and marketing...
Negotiating with Buyers, Part I
Your ability to negotiate with buyers is key to your success in both getting a listing/contract and ensuring it recoups commercial rewards for you. Whether corner shop, chef, wholesaler or supermarket, it doesn’t matter who the potential customer is, the basics remain the same. Here we cover the first stage: getting and preparing for an audience with the buyer, in 10 simple steps.
