Thursday August 27, 2015

5 principles for small business success

Manufacturing

GROWING and maintaining a successful printing company in the world’s exploding digital environment must rate as one of the most difficult business challenges any owner could imagine.

Thursday August 27, 2015

Thursday August 27, 2015

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Add to that challenge being a family-owned printing company based at the bottom of the earth in South Australia and the ability of Openbook Howden to continually increased their market share and client base is downright impressive.

According to general manager Sarah Leo, the underlying element of their growth is quite simple in its approach.

“We don't look at ourselves as a printing company, we look at ourselves as a business,” she says. “We must apply successful business principles – not printing company principles.”

Sarah’s five of the key principles for success:

1. Help clients achieve their business goals as smoothly as possibleHowden

2. Cash is king and without a positive cash flow your company will not be around for longcashflowOpenbookHowden

3. Upgrade technology to meet new demands

Companies can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars – even millions – for the latest technology, only to find out they don't have a market or clients who need that output. It's critical to “move with the times'' and keep up with client’s demand but it has to be based on sound business principles. Don’t upgrade just for the sake of upgrading, says Sarah.

4. Staff engagement is all importantupskilling

5. Target markets that relate to the company and its expertise

This is a Creative Commons story from The Lead South Australia, a news service providing stories about innovation in South Australia. Please feel free to use the story in any form of media. The story sources are linked in with the copy and all contacts are willing to talk further about the story. <h1>5 principles for small business success</h1> <p><p>GROWING and maintaining a successful printing company in the world’s exploding digital environment must rate as one of the most difficult business challenges any owner could imagine.</p> </p> <p>Add to that challenge being a family-owned printing company based at the bottom of the earth in South Australia and the ability of <a href="http://www.openbookhowden.com.au" target="_blank">Openbook Howden</a> to continually increased their market share and client base is downright impressive.</p> <p>According to general manager Sarah Leo, the underlying element of their growth is quite simple in its approach.</p> <p>“We don't look at ourselves as a printing company, we look at ourselves as a business,” she says. “We must apply successful business principles – not printing company principles.”</p> <p>Sarah’s five of the key principles for success:</p> <p><strong>1. Help clients achieve their business goals as smoothly as possible</strong>Howden</p> <p><strong>2. Cash is king and without a positive cash flow your company will not be around for long</strong>cashflowOpenbookHowden</p> <p><strong>3. Upgrade technology to meet new demands</strong></p> <p>Companies can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars – even millions – for the latest technology, only to find out they don't have a market or clients who need that output. It's critical to “move with the times'' and keep up with client’s demand but it has to be based on sound business principles. Don’t upgrade just for the sake of upgrading, says Sarah.</p> <p><strong>4. Staff engagement is all important</strong>upskilling</p> <p><strong>5. Target markets that relate to the company and its expertise</strong></p> Copy to Clipboard

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