February « 2009 « Fresh Idea

9Feb/090

Shopping Center or Mall for business

The development of planned shopping centers and malls changed forever the way people shop. Shoppers could now do their shopping in a controlled environment without prolonged exposure to inclement weather, having to drive long distances between stores, or repeatedly searching for parking places. Retail and service establishments could attract customers into their places of business simply by being in a popular shopping center or mall.

Locating your business in a shopping center or mall can be expensive. Not all businesses derive any real advantage from a shopping center location. Shoe-repair shops and cleaners, which provide essential services, generally do as well if maybe even better on a major street where their expenses are less. The businesses that most benefit from a shopping center or mall location are the ones that cater not only to working people but also to nonworking adults and to teenagers who like to gather at the mall. Among these are department stores, clothing and shoe stores, record stores, bookstores, gift stores, restaurants, snack stands, ice cream parlors, candy stores, jewelry stores, and
toy stores.

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2Feb/090

Management and marketing consultants

Management and marketing consultants can detect weaknesses in your
methods of operation or your marketing strategy and can recommend
corrective measures. They can also help you before problems arise,
providing advice on new product development, market research, business
expansion, administration, employee motivation, cost control,
security, and so on.

Many businesses make a practice of calling in a management or
marketing consultant whenever a major decision in these areas needs to
be made. This enables the business owner to benefit not only from the
consultant’s knowledge and experience, but also from something equally
valuable: the consultant’s objectivity. Unlike employees, consultants
have nothing to gain or lose from the outcome of a decision.
Furthermore, the variety of their contacts in the business community
usually gives them a broader perspective. The best way to locate a
management or marketing consultant is through recommendations,
preferably from the consultant’s satisfied clients. Contacting the
business departments at the colleges in your area is another good
idea, or you can check the listings in one of the several directories
of consultants available at public libraries.