Today's Issue
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Editor's Take: Raise Your Business Ante: Go for Cleanliness
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SME Article: Bloodlines of A Business: the Workforce
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Meet Our Member: Cartridge World Island Phils. Inc.
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Tax Calendar
Bloodlines of A Business: the Workforce
For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), workforce may number to a handful of 10 to a large-scale of a 1000. Whatever the numbers are, it is undeniable that the people involved in the business gives it life and vitality.
Dedicated workers can help propel the company to great heights while careless ones can cause the company to tumble and fail.
To read more, click here!
Cartridge World Island Phils. Inc.
Cartridge World operates in a fast-paced environment. Advancements in information technology over the past decade have transformed businesses to be dependent on computers and printers. Consequently, refilling printer cartridges has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
In servicing this market, Cartridge World has successfully provided an environmentally- sound, economical solution to the growing costs of replacing printer cartridges.A recycled printer cartridge that is refilled with toner can be . . .
To read more, click here!
Tax Calendar
June 25 - Last day of e-Filing/Filing & e-Payment/Payment
-2550M & 2551M - VAT & PT for May 2007 (Groups A, B & C)
-2550M & 2551M - VAT & PT for May 2007 (all EFPS groups)
-2550Q - VAT for TQ ended May 2007
June 28 - Last day of submission of SEC - AFS for FY ended February 2007 by corporations whose securities are not registered under RSA or SRC
June 29 - e-Filing of Filing & e-Payment or Payment of 1702Q - ITR by taxpayers on FY accounting period for quarter ended April 2007
Source: Punongbayan & Araullo
Editor's Take
Raise Your Business Ante: Go for Cleanliness
More than the infrastructure, what is the first thing that catches your attention in a store? I doubt that you will easily take notice of the elaborate decorations on the wall; but you will spot the scum on the floor. It's highly that you will not easily become aware of the grand floral arrangement, but you will take in the clutter on table tops. Your eyes may have missed the fancy chandelier but not the whiff of a stale odor. Have you ever experienced backing out from entering a store because of its sloppy appearance? I know I did; if you are like me, chances are you know the high value of cleanliness. Marketing gurus may have overlooked this topic, but as customers ourselves, we know what it can do to a business.
We suggest incorporating cleanliness in your business plans; Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerilla Marketing for Free, agrees with us. "Neatness proves that you care, that you take your business seriously." When we talk of neatness, we talk of the office, the stores, the delivery vehicles, your signs, your windows, even your correspondences, your service crew and your manners - in short, everything reflective of the business; all these should be kept clean and well-polished. Obsessively neat however, is not necessary.
This is all the more important to SMEs - because of your business' novelty, people easily take notice of you. If people see that your store and its premises are clean, they would easily assume that it is the way you also do business. A sloppy looking store on the other hand gives the impression you deal with your business the same slapdash way. It does not hurt to have passion for cleanliness; for the very same zeal could well translate to profits.
However, no matter how clean you get, if it's not consistent enough - the ningas kugon mentality, your efforts may well be futile. It is best to remember that consistency, in any aspect, appeals to customers.
In as much as you are consistent, rally in your associates - your employees, staff and even business partners to take an active role in cleanliness. You all should be in the same wavelength after all, for the efforts to really take effect. This way, you will not find it difficult to keep your office space and your stores spic and span. Now, that's teamwork.
As Levinson points out, "In a world were mass marketing reigns, there is an important place for neatness." And that place is where you work. So instead of losing business because of full waste baskets and messy desks, clean it up - and be ready to raise your business ante.
Russelle S. Trinidad
SME BizLink Editor
