Back to the Future

Sound familiar? Back To The Future? I am sure we have all seen the movie and enjoyed the silly possibilities and scenarios featured in it.  I picked this title for my column because just like the movie, sometimes we need to put ourselves in a position where we think ahead of time and then look back. Is that a bit weird?  Not really.

   Sound familiar? Back To The Future? I am sure we have all seen the movie and enjoyed the silly possibilities and scenarios featured in it.  I picked this title for my column because just like the movie, sometimes we need to put ourselves in a position where we think ahead of time and then look back. Is that a bit weird?  Not really.

What I am trying to say is that we need to evaluate decisions that will have an impact on or could change the way we do business. If we could only transport ourselves to the future, like in the movie, experience and evaluate our business decisions of the past, we would know how to avoid the wrong decisions and expand and focus on the ones that proved to be right.

   Life does not work that way. But let me be clear, we have a lot more tools today to make the right decisions affecting the future of our business. It has been said, that retail is a business that is “fickle” and unpredictable. Very true! However, the tools available today to grow your business and be successful are far more sophisticated than ever before.  

   Some of the basics, of course, still apply and should be incorporated in any application of the available technology, designed to help your business.  Customer service and product knowledge are still and by far the most important contributors to your success, but today’s technology can help you bring these important contributors to the foreground.

   Large corporations and retailers have the resources to provide well-designed websites, which will eventually draw potential customers to the store, or motivate them to purchase online. This approach was unavailable to the smaller, individual store owner for a long time, mainly because of the costs.  That scenario is rapidly changing.

   Applying technology to increase business in the natural food and products retail environment has been a challenge. After all, we are in the natural “stuff” business and technology is far from being “natural.”  In today’s business environment, the lack of embracing technology is a contributor to the demise of your business!  Pretty strong statement, wouldn’t you agree? But it is true. 

Take a good look at your advertising and marketing approach. Are the dollars you spend giving you the results and the return you expected or need?  Does your business have a website? If not, why not? Because of costs? You may be surprised what the costs associated with a website actually are. If you do have a website, does it really motivate the customer to come to the store or to buy online?

   I live in the “Golden Triangle” area of Ontario, where tech businesses providing help to smaller companies are plentiful. In today’s world, distance or where you are located no longer matters.  You can go on line and find a multitude of web design companies all over the country. It does not matter if your business is located in BC and you want a Waterloo, Ontario company to design your website, or visa versa.

   My message to you is, evaluate and embrace today’s technology to help your business grow. You are still in charge, but let the professionals guide you. Maybe, and this is not impossible, your business may have its own  “app” for a very affordable price. •

 I have not mentioned any particular technology providers so that I do not show favouritism. A simple search on the internet will provide a large number of these providers.