Profitable Growth

Profitable growth

The point is not to grow a business, but rather to grow a profitable one, And to do that a business needs firm foundations, inspirational intentions, a strategy to stick to and execution, execution, execution. Julia Bickerstaff will look at some of the very real challenges to profitable growth and provide some practical advice.

Our strategy sessions get tangled up in execution. How can we stop this?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 8 July 2009

One of the most appealing aspects of life in a small or medium sized business is that you get to play so many different roles. But sometimes this causes abject confusion.

How do we make sure we learn the lessons of 2008-09?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 1 July 2009

I have this experience annually. The calendar says it is 1 July, the very first day of the new financial year, yet I feel like I have been living in it for at least six months.

How do I get staff to contribute growth ideas?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 24 June 2009

I would like all our employees to contribute ideas to help our business grow, but at the moment we don't get many. What can I do?

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I want to develop my management team, but I don’t know how. Help.

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 16 June 2009

You might remember that last week I wrote about a CEO and his unfortunate experience with a general manager. I had a few people contact me for some pointers on what qualities to look for in a management team and how to develop them. I thought I would share them with you too.

I hired a general manager and it was a disaster. What should I do next time?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 10 June 2009

Here is the dilemma. The entrepreneurial CEO of a fast growing $20+ million company hired a general manager in April last year. He fired him that October.

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I have some new and unusual opportunities, should I take them?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 3 June 2009

It was almost starting to feel like Groundhog Day. Last week, I met with three different business leaders on three consecutive days, all of whom were essentially saying the same thing. That they were going to add a new sideline to their business.

Our business has a weak spot. How do we fix it?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 27 May 2009

A coffee this week with an old friend, the CEO of a technology company, reminded me of how having an Achilles heel and a "critical number" can transform your business.

I've done the budget for 2010, what else should we do in preparation?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 20 May 2009

The other day an enormous Excel spreadsheet arrived in my inbox.

Everyone seems to be keeping their prices flat, but my costs are increasing. Dare I put up my prices?

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 13 May 2009

I had an interesting question from the managing director of a shoe company, whose business it is to source and import high quality European shoes for the (rather charmingly described) "non-standard" foot.

We're struggling to understand our key customers. Help!

Author: Julia Bickerstaff on 6 May 2009

I was lucky enough to spend last Wednesday at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. For those of you who aren't familiar with the ins and outs of the fashion world, this is essentially a glamorous trade show.