Ever felt like everything is going wrong and you’re not sure where to start? When your production isn’t running at speed or your machinery keeps breaking down, it can quickly feel like that. It can be frustrating – and expensive. Guess what? You’re not alone. Many of the world’s top manufacturers struggle with these same […]
I don’t want to be an alarmist, but the warning signs of a potential recession are all around us. While we all hope it doesn’t come to pass, you need to be proactive just in case. Building a sustainable business model before any downturn happens is the smart play. If an economic downturn does occur, […]
We’ve all seen Help Wanted signs popping up everywhere. For years now, we’ve had trouble finding enough people. Unfortunately, it’s likely to get harder due to the significant number of people retiring. Baby Boomers have hit retirement age, and they’re calling it a career in record numbers. Pre-pandemic, about 3 million Boomers retired annually. Post-pandemic? […]
Hiring is hard, especially when you’re looking for skilled workers. At the start of 2022, 91% of businesses said they had a difficult time finding skilled workers. A year later, more than three-quarters of companies surveyed say the skilled labor shortage has gotten even worse. As an example, one of the most challenging jobs to […]
Without sales, you’re dead. It’s HARD. With the labor shortage, it’s close to impossible to find sales people, and a real challenge to keep the sales funnel full. So, how can we get more done with less? The incredible downpour of new orders during COVID is starting to come to an end. How do we […]
In my early 20s, I was a supervisor for ConAgra Foods. We made Snack Pack pudding. One thing I’ll never forget is the sweet smell of the chocolate and vanilla puddings. But besides learning how to make pudding, I learned a lesson that would change the way I worked: Measuring your business makes you more […]
Uncertainty right now is a real thing. We’re still recovering from COVID and we’ve just had the second- and third-largest bank failures in history. We have no idea what the fallout is or how the economy will perform moving forward. Regardless of what happens, you still need to run a strong shop and get the […]
Losing great employees is painful for your company, and it might result in bottlenecks, missed sales, or reduced morale. Worse yet, the labor market is tighter than in 70 years, making finding a replacement challenging. You need to find out why an employee leaves and then use that knowledge to keep your other employees around. […]
Your stone fabricator business depends on the results of your salespeople. You could be the highest quality and most efficient provider, but without sales, that means nothing. Hiring the best salespeople is the goal, but you have to know the traits to look for that indicate the most excellent chances of success. A salesperson’s desire […]
You’ve built a successful company, and it’s time to move on to new things. Regardless of whether the business is acquired or opts for a merger, your goal is to realize the highest value. If you wish to walk away now, you may certainly do so if you’re willing to trade off a higher business […]