And for the Small to Medium Business Owner most of what we think is wrong. Huh?  Prices are UP on everything from Gas to Food to Services.  Right?  Wrong!

 

Yes, it is true that many of what we consider the essentials are going up with little to no relief in sight.  Yesterday Oil dropped $3 a gallon.  Last week it was up $4 a gallon. And it will most likely be up again in a day or two.

 

So why would I say 'WRONG' when its' all over the media about soaring prices?  Because the one thing that continues to be a value and has actually come down in price is 'TECHNOLOGY'.   One of the best values and the best thing that you can do for your business is invest in TECHNOLOGY today. 

 

'STARBUCKS CLOSING 600 STORES', 'WALMART CUTTING BACK ON EXPANSION', 'MAJOR CHAINS RETRENCHING AND EITHER CLOSING STORES OR STAYING PUT. 

 

 What you don't hear about if you don't read the trade journals in the technology circles is that every one of these companies is investing in new technologies to make them more efficient, more 'green', more profitable in the long term and more competitive!

 

Contrary to what you might believe, Big Business is not going out of business, they are only getting ready to launch the NEW attack.  And NOW is your opportunity to load your own guns.  Take AIM at your customers through improved customer service, better customer tracking, better marketing and easier ways for customers to BUY FROM YOU!

 

Most of you have businesses that are owned and operated by individuals who have been a part of the local community for a while.  You know that Mr. Jones likes his imported cigars trimmed for him before he leaves, you know that Mrs. Palmer likes to run her fingers over ever piece of fabric before she chooses 'just the right color'.  You know that little Jacky Plummer skinned his knee sliding into home base last week with the winning home run for his little league team.  Tom Phillips likes that extra shot of Mocha in his latte and his wife always drinks Green Tea with a lime twist.

 

The price of attracting new customers through marketing has not gotten any less expensive, in fact it has gone up in local media.  But the price of servicing our existing customers, giving them that little extra has gone down.  Your Point of Sale system allows you to track, target and market to these existing customers as if they were part of your family - And that is the way you should think about them.  It amazes me when I visit a customer of ours who has a POS system and is using it like a Cash Register.  they are not tracking sales, not checking inventory, not marketing.  All of the features that could help them build their business are wasted because they are still stuck with the 'old system mentality' even though they bought a POS.

 

Can you look inside that Cash Register tape and see what Mr. Jones actually bought in the last month?  Want to let him know that you have a new batch of his favorite cigars coming in?  Where's his email address, ground mail address?  And maybe you're thinking about starting a COFFEE CLUB.  How are you going to let Mr. and Mrs. Phillips know that they can get a discount if they sign up today? 

 

My Point?  If you have a POS System - Use it for what it was intended.  Grow your business with the features that are available.  If you don't have one yet, seriously think about getting one soon. 

 

 Hey - Remember that Government Stimulus Package?  Did you get your check?  Did you know that there was another part of that aimed at Small Business?  Yes!  There is a Special Tax Deduction Depreciation that is only available for purchases made before January 1, 2009   The price of Technology has come down and NOW is the time to buy so that you are ready when Starbucks decides it wants to 'rule the world' again, because we gurantee that your competition is getting ready for war.