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Arkwright - The Independent Voice
Is there anybody one can turn to for reliable and genuine business advice these days or are they all charlatans? Judging by the plethora of letters, leaflets and emails in circulation one would imagine there are thousands of experts just bursting full of ideas to solve any and every problem even the most challenging might come up with. I don't trust any of them. Babblers and snakes the lot of them, you'd be better off trusting a used car salesman or an estate agent these days.
More than likely these born again crisis experts are the same offenders who offered fistfuls of credit most could not afford, showed businesses how to expand when they would have been better advising them to consolidate and best of all promoted the doctrine of greed and self interest. Showing no shame at having been caught out spinning yarns and outright lies they've quickly metamorphosised into our saviours or so they'd have us believe. Aided and abetted by the Government it is truly the financial pantomime season: "I didn't say have another credit card" ... "Oh yes you did", "It wasn't my idea to give 125% mortgages"... "Oh yes it was", "Let tomorrow take care of itself".... "Oh no it won't", "Where are the good times?" ..."They're behind you" and the little jokers who are government funded (that's funded by you and me), which include most of the banks now, are amongst the worst propogandists. A letter I received, as thousands of others in my region would have done, from Business Link is a classic of the type circulating. I feel compelled to share one paragraph with you:
"By the end of January we will know how long and how deep the recession will be. Why do I say this? It is at this point that we will all be paying our VAT bills".
The first sentence tells us the writer is delusional, or extra-sensory but that's improbable, the second sentence confirms she actually wants us to tell her she's insane and the third explains nothing and certainly doesn't give the answer to the first. This rubbish is churned out by a government funded service who describe themselves as being a local point of access to all the information, advice and support you need to start, maintain and to grow a business. I'd rather rely on the eight-year-old next door and his hamster for advice.
A new year brings forth other bright ideas but perhaps Canterbury of New Zealand's change to the small order administration charge is one of the dimmer ones. Guys! We're all struggling and surely any order how ever small is good business. Naturally there has to be a level where carriage free kicks in but £250 is high and a small order charge of £50 makes it perfectly clear you don't want any small orders. Are you the only company in the world that can afford to turn away business? I doubt you want my recommendation but you're getting it anyway: £150 carriage paid, below that £10 handling charge + first class postage seems reasonable, surely you wouldn't be out of pocket and would do more to retain the goodwill of your customers.
Now I'll turn my vitriol to the spoilt overpaid brats on the sporting fields. It's about time they got their come-uppance in the same way some have in the city. Team games are for a set of players forming one side, a set of persons working together - not a one-man show. One man does not make a team whatever exorbitant sponsorship he is paid by a sports brand that can be as much to blame as the individual. The brat may be good at his sport but there will always be someone as good or better coming behind and that new talent should be given a chance while the over (good pun!) egged ego is stood down. Good behaviour, manners and sense of respect for teammates, management and supporters should be part of the contracts and sponsorship deals. Retail sales are heavily influenced by players' performances; we don't want negative behaviour being emulated in the same way. Positive well-balanced role models are vital to help set a decent standard of respect in society that in turn makes life more pleasant for all of us.
Can't end my first rant of the year without posing the question: now that times are hard will Nike reconsider dealing with small independent accounts who they unceremoniously dismissed a few years ago? I've received one of their random emails saying my thoughts and opinions are very important to them and ask that I complete a survey, as they'd like to meet my individual needs. Well if they really mean that, re-opening my account would be a good start. Won't risk holding my breath!
