Monday, 21 June 2010
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Acts of Kindness
It's nice to know that in business there exist many types of human kindness. When I take time to think of all the wonderful people that I've met whilst networking, and the paths that have lead on from this, I am amazed.
The "6-steps-from-anyone" rule of contacts certainly can apply when networking, I've proved this many times over. The rule is, that you are only ever 6 steps from someone that you would like to meet, i.e. someone in your network will know someone who may know someone who can put you in touch with that person. However, what I find so wonderful about the whole networking scenario, is how busy business-minded people, will spend their time doing favours for you, for no economical gain themselves.
In turn, I do the same, and always have, when I cast my mind back. However, it seems even more wonderful when this favour is reciprocated. They always say "it's easier to give than to receive" don't they?
This blog, really is, just a thank you to all the people I've met whilst networking, it has helped me to realise that not everyone is in business is a "money grabbing egoist" - far from it!
The "6-steps-from-anyone" rule of contacts certainly can apply when networking, I've proved this many times over. The rule is, that you are only ever 6 steps from someone that you would like to meet, i.e. someone in your network will know someone who may know someone who can put you in touch with that person. However, what I find so wonderful about the whole networking scenario, is how busy business-minded people, will spend their time doing favours for you, for no economical gain themselves.
In turn, I do the same, and always have, when I cast my mind back. However, it seems even more wonderful when this favour is reciprocated. They always say "it's easier to give than to receive" don't they?
This blog, really is, just a thank you to all the people I've met whilst networking, it has helped me to realise that not everyone is in business is a "money grabbing egoist" - far from it!
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Doesn't eveyone speak English?
How many times have we heard these words?...
As a nation, we are understandably lazy when it comes to learning new languages, as everyone speaks English. However, I have now lost count of the number of our training centre's language students who have told me about remote parts of either Germany or Spain that they have visited, where no English was spoken.
In fact, the whole reason that I started to learn Spanish was for that very reason alone. For those of you, who are interested in the works of Salvador DalÃ, you will know that he was born in the little fishing village of Figueres just North of Barcelona. It's a tiny village, but his final masterpiece was the museum that he built there before he died. As like with all his work, it's a show piece in it's own right. So whilst holidaying in Spain, I decided to visit the museum. After a 1- hour train journey, I just thought that on arriving a the railway station in Figueres - someone was bound to know where the museum was. After all, it was such an unusual building in such a small village.... however, this was not the case unfortunately!
I approached several local people in my loudest, slowest English voice "Excuse me please, could you tell me where the Salvador Dali museum is?". After asking the 10th person I finally got a reaction "Oh! you mean Salvador DalÃ", I was then directed to the museum in exceptionally brief pigeon English. At this point I realised 2 things:
1. the importance of speaking the basics when in a foreign country, especially if you want to travel around
2. the importance of correct pronunciation
In Spanish "Salvador DalÃ" is pronounced "salbadoor dar-liiii" as there is an accent on the "i" and "v's" are pronounced as "b's".
The same principle applies to visiting Germany. Some parts of rural Germany have very few people who can speak English, and will not be particularly accommodating to you as a foreigner if you don't speak German.
On this note, we are now widening our course offering here at the Rubicon Develoments training centre, to teach Eastern languages, as well as Western.
On 28 June 2010 we will be starting our 4-week introduction to Japanese from 7-9pm - 日本語をå¦ã¼ã† (Learn Japanese) at £45.00. Very shortly we will also be launching our 4-week Introduction to Mandarin Chinese at £45.00 å¦ä¸æ–‡ (Learn Chinese).
I hope that reading my blog has tempted you to fulfil that desire of wanting to learn a language. If you would like to enrol on any of our courses, or would like to chat about your learning needs please log on to www.rubicon-developments.co.uk or call us on: 0161 330 2546 and we will be pleased to inspire you further!
As a nation, we are understandably lazy when it comes to learning new languages, as everyone speaks English. However, I have now lost count of the number of our training centre's language students who have told me about remote parts of either Germany or Spain that they have visited, where no English was spoken.
In fact, the whole reason that I started to learn Spanish was for that very reason alone. For those of you, who are interested in the works of Salvador DalÃ, you will know that he was born in the little fishing village of Figueres just North of Barcelona. It's a tiny village, but his final masterpiece was the museum that he built there before he died. As like with all his work, it's a show piece in it's own right. So whilst holidaying in Spain, I decided to visit the museum. After a 1- hour train journey, I just thought that on arriving a the railway station in Figueres - someone was bound to know where the museum was. After all, it was such an unusual building in such a small village.... however, this was not the case unfortunately!
I approached several local people in my loudest, slowest English voice "Excuse me please, could you tell me where the Salvador Dali museum is?". After asking the 10th person I finally got a reaction "Oh! you mean Salvador DalÃ", I was then directed to the museum in exceptionally brief pigeon English. At this point I realised 2 things:
1. the importance of speaking the basics when in a foreign country, especially if you want to travel around
2. the importance of correct pronunciation
In Spanish "Salvador DalÃ" is pronounced "salbadoor dar-liiii" as there is an accent on the "i" and "v's" are pronounced as "b's".
The same principle applies to visiting Germany. Some parts of rural Germany have very few people who can speak English, and will not be particularly accommodating to you as a foreigner if you don't speak German.
On this note, we are now widening our course offering here at the Rubicon Develoments training centre, to teach Eastern languages, as well as Western.
On 28 June 2010 we will be starting our 4-week introduction to Japanese from 7-9pm - 日本語をå¦ã¼ã† (Learn Japanese) at £45.00. Very shortly we will also be launching our 4-week Introduction to Mandarin Chinese at £45.00 å¦ä¸æ–‡ (Learn Chinese).
I hope that reading my blog has tempted you to fulfil that desire of wanting to learn a language. If you would like to enrol on any of our courses, or would like to chat about your learning needs please log on to www.rubicon-developments.co.uk or call us on: 0161 330 2546 and we will be pleased to inspire you further!
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Monday, 17 May 2010
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Finance for Non-Financial People is a really popular course at the moment - our next one runs on 28 May 2010 http://ping.fm/sIT0e
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Are we Creatures of Habit?
As a Trainer it is key that my training "hits home" and that delegates go away from their course, whatever it may be, with a positive impression. Not only is this achieved by training techniques, good quality hand outs and presentation skills, but also by their mentality and receptiveness to learn new things. It is also essential that training delegates understand the reasons why they are learning.
We all hate change.... don't we? If you have been doing a task in a certain way for 20 years (or even less) your mind tells you that it works. So why change? Well, imagine if you were told a better way to perform that task that can save you hours of your life... what would you do? I'm sure that most of you would like to say that you would do it the new way and save time, but would you really? Would your inner sense of habit kick in and prevent you from making that life changing change to the task.
What I have experienced with some trainees in the past 10 years, is that they are so enthusiastic about learning new things and can't wait to put them into practice. Day one, week one, month one... these new practices continue and they are making excellent progress, but then they undertake, what I call "training flip back", whereby they revert to their old way of performing the task. Why is this? The "buy in" to the training was clearly there, the results were proven and they demonstrated clear enthusiasm for learning.
It was a mystery to me, until I recently posed this scenario to our Business Psychology Trainer, Sharon De Mascia. Sharon identified that there are 3 clear strategies that need to be in place to prevent this "training flip back" from happening, and explained that we are habitual creatures who program our brains to repeat tasks rather than re-think them and process them differently.
1. Ensure that the internal change is made with the delegate (i.e. they understand WHY they doing something differently)
2. Ensure that their physical environment supports the change
3. Continually monitor the results and outcomes
Having now got a clear perspective and pointer to this, it made me realise even more, just how important my follow up calls are to training delegates and their Managers, after I have delivered a training session!
So, is there light at the end of the tunnel? Can we, as human beings, overcome our reticence to change and take on new training? Or are we creatures of habit?
We all hate change.... don't we? If you have been doing a task in a certain way for 20 years (or even less) your mind tells you that it works. So why change? Well, imagine if you were told a better way to perform that task that can save you hours of your life... what would you do? I'm sure that most of you would like to say that you would do it the new way and save time, but would you really? Would your inner sense of habit kick in and prevent you from making that life changing change to the task.
What I have experienced with some trainees in the past 10 years, is that they are so enthusiastic about learning new things and can't wait to put them into practice. Day one, week one, month one... these new practices continue and they are making excellent progress, but then they undertake, what I call "training flip back", whereby they revert to their old way of performing the task. Why is this? The "buy in" to the training was clearly there, the results were proven and they demonstrated clear enthusiasm for learning.
It was a mystery to me, until I recently posed this scenario to our Business Psychology Trainer, Sharon De Mascia. Sharon identified that there are 3 clear strategies that need to be in place to prevent this "training flip back" from happening, and explained that we are habitual creatures who program our brains to repeat tasks rather than re-think them and process them differently.
1. Ensure that the internal change is made with the delegate (i.e. they understand WHY they doing something differently)
2. Ensure that their physical environment supports the change
3. Continually monitor the results and outcomes
Having now got a clear perspective and pointer to this, it made me realise even more, just how important my follow up calls are to training delegates and their Managers, after I have delivered a training session!
So, is there light at the end of the tunnel? Can we, as human beings, overcome our reticence to change and take on new training? Or are we creatures of habit?
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Please call me back!
Time is of the essence when you run a business, isn't it? I always feel a great sense of satisfaction when I work through my "to-do list" and make those all important calls to various suppliers and customers alike. In my mind it's a job done, if I am able to leave a message on a mobile answer phone or with a colleague, as that person will then call me back when they get the message, won't they? Or will they?...
Many times these days, I recognise that my"to-do list" is full of follow up calls to various people with whom I left a message several days or maybe even weeks ago - who haven't yet returned my call. I ask myself, on occasion, why this is. Is it because people are rude? Is it because they don't get the messages? Is it because they are disorganised? Or is it because people simply do not have enough hours in the day anymore?.... Whatever the reason it multiplies my "to-do list" five-fold and creates far more work for me to keep on top of things within the business.
In truth, I have also started to use the "call-back factor" as a key indicator of supplier performance. For example, if I am looking to place an order with a brand new supplier and they don't return my calls, I use this an indicator for the future, when perhaps they may / may not deliver the product?
Turning this thought on it's head, as companies offering either a product or service, we should think about what effect this "call-back factor" (or lack of it) has on our business. For this reason - I always return people's calls, you never know who they are, what they might need, until you speak to them. Even perceived nuisance calls can be turned into a plus if handled correctly, in some instances.
So, next time you get a pile of messages, sit down and take some time to call people back - it may be in your best interests!
Carol Saunders, Director
Rubicon Developments Ltd
Many times these days, I recognise that my"to-do list" is full of follow up calls to various people with whom I left a message several days or maybe even weeks ago - who haven't yet returned my call. I ask myself, on occasion, why this is. Is it because people are rude? Is it because they don't get the messages? Is it because they are disorganised? Or is it because people simply do not have enough hours in the day anymore?.... Whatever the reason it multiplies my "to-do list" five-fold and creates far more work for me to keep on top of things within the business.
In truth, I have also started to use the "call-back factor" as a key indicator of supplier performance. For example, if I am looking to place an order with a brand new supplier and they don't return my calls, I use this an indicator for the future, when perhaps they may / may not deliver the product?
Turning this thought on it's head, as companies offering either a product or service, we should think about what effect this "call-back factor" (or lack of it) has on our business. For this reason - I always return people's calls, you never know who they are, what they might need, until you speak to them. Even perceived nuisance calls can be turned into a plus if handled correctly, in some instances.
So, next time you get a pile of messages, sit down and take some time to call people back - it may be in your best interests!
Carol Saunders, Director
Rubicon Developments Ltd
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
The Art of Presentations
How many presentations have you been to - where you find that you've studied the back of your hand more than ever before...?
In reality, it doesn't take a lot to keep your audience interested and attentive, with a few basic techniques, such as changing the tone and pitch of your voice, for example. Whilst presenting - wake up your audience now and again with a raised tone to your voice, when you want to emphasise a point and whisper when you want to have their undivided attention - you watch them strain in to hear. Ensure that you have a very clear message during your presentation, with a mapped out path to get you to your finale. Don't let your audience sit and wonder what the point of the whole presentation is - make it clear from the onset.
Why not use some interesting props during your presentation (preferably heavy ones, that don't highlight your nervous shaky hands!), to add another dimension to your presentation? Try posing questions to catch their attention or make them ponder a point that you are trying to convey. How about a bit of audience participation now and again to make people become more involved in your message and actively participate - why should you do all the hard work?
This, amongst many of the other tips were shared by our guest Neil Firth of Vocal Coach and Andrew Thorp, at last night's well attended "Speakeasy" training session.
In reality, it doesn't take a lot to keep your audience interested and attentive, with a few basic techniques, such as changing the tone and pitch of your voice, for example. Whilst presenting - wake up your audience now and again with a raised tone to your voice, when you want to emphasise a point and whisper when you want to have their undivided attention - you watch them strain in to hear. Ensure that you have a very clear message during your presentation, with a mapped out path to get you to your finale. Don't let your audience sit and wonder what the point of the whole presentation is - make it clear from the onset.
Why not use some interesting props during your presentation (preferably heavy ones, that don't highlight your nervous shaky hands!), to add another dimension to your presentation? Try posing questions to catch their attention or make them ponder a point that you are trying to convey. How about a bit of audience participation now and again to make people become more involved in your message and actively participate - why should you do all the hard work?
This, amongst many of the other tips were shared by our guest Neil Firth of Vocal Coach and Andrew Thorp, at last night's well attended "Speakeasy" training session.
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Blog title...
Difficult customers just need more advice
Internet retailers – the scurge of the kitchen industry.
That’s what we are led to believe, if we listen to the major wholesalers, in particular, complaining about how even they are affected by the prolific number of cheap appliances available to retailers on the internet.
For retailers, fair enough. Margins are pressed and customers are savvy enough to do their homework and establish what a fair price is for their chosen appliance.
I became somewhat perplexed, recently, when through our kitchen and bedroom retail division, Katherine Cavendish Fitted Interiors Limited, we tried to deal with a well known trade supplier of appliances.
Fair enough, they wouldn’t open an account and we didn’t expect them to. However, a particular customer wanted a particular appliance, so we needed to source it from said wholesaler.
Would they take a cheque? No
Would they take a credit card? No
So, what did they want – cash? No, they don’t accept it !
They wanted a company debit card – we don’t have one.
We offered to electronically transfer £1000 as a bond, so that we could order up to that limit and replenish monthly – they couldn’t accept that either.
The “Sales Prevention Department”, sorry “Credit Control Department”, seemed to put every possible obstacle in the way of bringing money in, alienating us every step of the way.
This is, I stress, a MAJOR supplier, currently expressing regular concerns about their financial woes, both in the UK and the USA, continually “bleating on” about how their retailer business is affected by manufacturers flooding the internet.
I now have, I’m afraid, no sympathy whatsoever. Nor, I believe, should anybody else.
What did I do?
I bought off the internet, of course.
Peter Saunders
Director
_______________________________________
Rubicon Developments Limited
(www.rubicon-developments.co.uk) are a training and installation company, with a retail division, in kitchens and bedrooms (Katherine Cavendish Fitted Interiors Limited – www.katherinecavendish.co.uk)
Internet retailers – the scurge of the kitchen industry.
That’s what we are led to believe, if we listen to the major wholesalers, in particular, complaining about how even they are affected by the prolific number of cheap appliances available to retailers on the internet.
For retailers, fair enough. Margins are pressed and customers are savvy enough to do their homework and establish what a fair price is for their chosen appliance.
I became somewhat perplexed, recently, when through our kitchen and bedroom retail division, Katherine Cavendish Fitted Interiors Limited, we tried to deal with a well known trade supplier of appliances.
Fair enough, they wouldn’t open an account and we didn’t expect them to. However, a particular customer wanted a particular appliance, so we needed to source it from said wholesaler.
Would they take a cheque? No
Would they take a credit card? No
So, what did they want – cash? No, they don’t accept it !
They wanted a company debit card – we don’t have one.
We offered to electronically transfer £1000 as a bond, so that we could order up to that limit and replenish monthly – they couldn’t accept that either.
The “Sales Prevention Department”, sorry “Credit Control Department”, seemed to put every possible obstacle in the way of bringing money in, alienating us every step of the way.
This is, I stress, a MAJOR supplier, currently expressing regular concerns about their financial woes, both in the UK and the USA, continually “bleating on” about how their retailer business is affected by manufacturers flooding the internet.
I now have, I’m afraid, no sympathy whatsoever. Nor, I believe, should anybody else.
What did I do?
I bought off the internet, of course.
Peter Saunders
Director
_______________________________________
Rubicon Developments Limited
(www.rubicon-developments.co.uk) are a training and installation company, with a retail division, in kitchens and bedrooms (Katherine Cavendish Fitted Interiors Limited – www.katherinecavendish.co.uk)
Monday, 22 February 2010
Do you realise that when you are participating in self development you are accessing both side s of your brain?
The right side of your brain is the creative part, with no logic applied. This is complemented by the left side of your brain which then applies the logic and intellect.
So how is this applied when you are learning?
Firstly, you open your mind to receiving training, by becoming receptive to what is being taught to you, then the creativity flows from the right side of the brain.
It is amazing what happens when you block the left side of your brain, ignore any logic and just let your creativity flow (depending on what subject you are learning of course!). So many people are unaware of their own capabilities, purely down to letting the logic, intellect and sense of reason kick in. We allow ourselves to think that it’s a “silly idea” or that we “can’t do something” – instead of relaxing into our own creativity.
Naturally when you are learning a logical topic, such as science or maths, the left side of your brain is king. It will be essential then to quash the right side of the brain and let the logic and intellect make sense of the topic.
I was recently opened to this revelation during a course I attending on writing magazine features, and it prompted me into thinking... how many people are in the world, who don’t know just how capable they are?
Carol Saunders, Director
So how is this applied when you are learning?
Firstly, you open your mind to receiving training, by becoming receptive to what is being taught to you, then the creativity flows from the right side of the brain.
It is amazing what happens when you block the left side of your brain, ignore any logic and just let your creativity flow (depending on what subject you are learning of course!). So many people are unaware of their own capabilities, purely down to letting the logic, intellect and sense of reason kick in. We allow ourselves to think that it’s a “silly idea” or that we “can’t do something” – instead of relaxing into our own creativity.
Naturally when you are learning a logical topic, such as science or maths, the left side of your brain is king. It will be essential then to quash the right side of the brain and let the logic and intellect make sense of the topic.
I was recently opened to this revelation during a course I attending on writing magazine features, and it prompted me into thinking... how many people are in the world, who don’t know just how capable they are?
Carol Saunders, Director
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Difficult customers just need more advice.
I looked at some of the headlines in the February issue of "kbb review" and read;
"Tough but positive year for Ripples"...
"Wolsely pulls out of lossmaking....."
"BLP bought out of administration..."
It makes fairly depressing reading but our business levels indicate optimism in a shrunken market and this being the case, our ethos of placing customer service at the heart of everything we do, is a wise one. I'm not saying that it's easy to do so but if I feel aggrieved at being the recipient of poor customer service levels, then why won't my customers feel the same?
The series of pages in the "kbb review", citing the industry's current issues, placed customer service as a new entry at the 8th biggest issue, facing the industry.
I read the "Editor's comment" - "....keep calm and carry on...", explaining that perhaps we are over the worst but what short memories we risk having.
Then, I read with some dismay, the article about "Nit - picking customers", from Tim Foley, advising to "ditch them".
I continued and then read replies to Lisa Mather's previous article about "Time Wasters", filling almost a page with opposing opinion and backlash. All I can say is, quite right, too.
Lest we forget, customer service is at the heart of providing a great customer experience and we train all of our staff and sub-contractors in delivering such customer excellence. This ensures, that we not only do not fail in our goal but ensure that we have the skills to deal with all situations.
Have we all forgotten the hard times recently witnessed and the ensuing aftermath? A pound is a pound, wherevever it comes from but you can't extract profit from that pound with rudeness and arrogance.
At Rubicon Developments Limited, we have a couple of mottos;
"Good enough is never good enough" and
"Step back, look at your work and ask yourself, if I were paying this money, for this installation, would I be happy to accept it?".
If we have the slightest hesitation, then there is work to be done.
Mr Not-Happy and Mrs Nit-Pick, as referred to by Tim Foley deserve high standards. I'm sure that the previous correspondents promise them when taking a deposit, so the customer can expect them. The "Time Wasters", referred to are admittedly not always easy to sell to but it's our job to use our industry knowledge and expertise to win them over and give them confidence.
Fair enough? - I think so!
"Tough but positive year for Ripples"...
"Wolsely pulls out of lossmaking....."
"BLP bought out of administration..."
It makes fairly depressing reading but our business levels indicate optimism in a shrunken market and this being the case, our ethos of placing customer service at the heart of everything we do, is a wise one. I'm not saying that it's easy to do so but if I feel aggrieved at being the recipient of poor customer service levels, then why won't my customers feel the same?
The series of pages in the "kbb review", citing the industry's current issues, placed customer service as a new entry at the 8th biggest issue, facing the industry.
I read the "Editor's comment" - "....keep calm and carry on...", explaining that perhaps we are over the worst but what short memories we risk having.
Then, I read with some dismay, the article about "Nit - picking customers", from Tim Foley, advising to "ditch them".
I continued and then read replies to Lisa Mather's previous article about "Time Wasters", filling almost a page with opposing opinion and backlash. All I can say is, quite right, too.
Lest we forget, customer service is at the heart of providing a great customer experience and we train all of our staff and sub-contractors in delivering such customer excellence. This ensures, that we not only do not fail in our goal but ensure that we have the skills to deal with all situations.
Have we all forgotten the hard times recently witnessed and the ensuing aftermath? A pound is a pound, wherevever it comes from but you can't extract profit from that pound with rudeness and arrogance.
At Rubicon Developments Limited, we have a couple of mottos;
"Good enough is never good enough" and
"Step back, look at your work and ask yourself, if I were paying this money, for this installation, would I be happy to accept it?".
If we have the slightest hesitation, then there is work to be done.
Mr Not-Happy and Mrs Nit-Pick, as referred to by Tim Foley deserve high standards. I'm sure that the previous correspondents promise them when taking a deposit, so the customer can expect them. The "Time Wasters", referred to are admittedly not always easy to sell to but it's our job to use our industry knowledge and expertise to win them over and give them confidence.
Fair enough? - I think so!
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Clearing Snow!
I’ve never seen bigger icicles in the UK, I’ve never seen better snow for skiing and sledging, I’ve not seen so many people gathered together having such fun for a long time!
Certainly in the minds of many children – and a lot of adults – that constitutes a fun start to the year, with bigger and better prospects. I think so too.
Many businesses have been “treading water”, for some time now but when the water freezes, then you can walk on it.
The “big freeze” has frozen many businesses and their trading activities even more, than late last year. Traffic at a standstill, fewer shoppers on the high street, all in the midst of a recession. Yet John Lewis, Next and even Marks and Spencer, report record takings.
So what’s the secret? Are we turning the corner of recession? I suppose the answer is, we probably are starting to do so but prices have reduced, many people’s wages have been reduced by their employers, lean thinking is no longer just a “buzz word” to many businesses, it is a necessity and has been fairly fully embraced.
We’ve all suffered but businesses are leaner, cuter, more agile, more customer focused, more customer service aware and more acutely aware of what can happen in the real world.
The “Sales” may not turn out to be as successful as anticipated due to the abnormal weather conditions and that will clearly be an “ill wind” for many but the creativity of many to modify the “Key Success Drivers” of their businesses to cope with the current business climate can only assist sustained improvement.
The “Ambition Club” by Rubicon Developments Limited assists, nurtures and develops the skills needed for managers to succeed and is a partly government funded management and leadership programme.
Those businesses with ambition will succeed – stick with it!
Peter Saunders
Director (Rubicon Developments Limited)
Certainly in the minds of many children – and a lot of adults – that constitutes a fun start to the year, with bigger and better prospects. I think so too.
Many businesses have been “treading water”, for some time now but when the water freezes, then you can walk on it.
The “big freeze” has frozen many businesses and their trading activities even more, than late last year. Traffic at a standstill, fewer shoppers on the high street, all in the midst of a recession. Yet John Lewis, Next and even Marks and Spencer, report record takings.
So what’s the secret? Are we turning the corner of recession? I suppose the answer is, we probably are starting to do so but prices have reduced, many people’s wages have been reduced by their employers, lean thinking is no longer just a “buzz word” to many businesses, it is a necessity and has been fairly fully embraced.
We’ve all suffered but businesses are leaner, cuter, more agile, more customer focused, more customer service aware and more acutely aware of what can happen in the real world.
The “Sales” may not turn out to be as successful as anticipated due to the abnormal weather conditions and that will clearly be an “ill wind” for many but the creativity of many to modify the “Key Success Drivers” of their businesses to cope with the current business climate can only assist sustained improvement.
The “Ambition Club” by Rubicon Developments Limited assists, nurtures and develops the skills needed for managers to succeed and is a partly government funded management and leadership programme.
Those businesses with ambition will succeed – stick with it!
Peter Saunders
Director (Rubicon Developments Limited)
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Reduced VAT on kitchen appliances ? is it justified?
We read continually about energy saving ideas and how to recover hard cash through savings. Couple that with “switching” suppliers and the significant savings make for a very happy consumer. “Switching” however, does little for the environment.
Payback on boiler replacement can be in as little as 4 years, with annual savings reported as high as £200 to £300 pa and something as simple as investing in a hot water cylinder jacket can be recovered in a matter of months.
So what about a new kitchen? Is it wrong to think of such a “big ticket” purchase, in terms of savings and cost recovery?
There are tangible benefits to fitting a new oven, microwave combi, dishwasher, hob and A+/ A++ rated refrigeration equipment.
The consumer can achieve annual savings and reduce chemical usage, hence contributing to environmentally friendly initiatives.
For instance, Siemens appliances offer a “pyroKlean” function, which takes approximately one hour at 2.5kw, costing, say 14p per kw hour. In real terms, this costs about 35pence, with no chemicals! Compare this to more traditional scrubbing – in itself unpleasant and kind to neither hands nor environment, costing about £1.23 when taking into account raw materials and proprietary chemical cleaners, there is a saving of almost 90pence per clean.
An induction hob by Siemens or Gorenje, uses automatic pan recognition to heat only the area of the base of the pan, unlike traditional ceramic hobs, where the red glow around the outside edge of the pan clearly represents the amount of wasted energy.
“Quick Stop” functions on Siemens gas hobs eliminate wasteful use of unnecessary gas and hot water taps, such as “Quooker” and “Insinkerator” by Emerson, totally eliminate random clicking of electric kettles and heating of unused water. That can certainly add up to a considerable saving!
Humidity control on fridges reduces fresh food waste and “four star **** ” freezer compartments allow food to be stored at less than -18 degrees centigrade and for longer periods, reducing food waste.
Modern state of the art refrigeration electronics, monitor fridge and freezer cycles, saving considerable levels of energy by initiating cycles only when needed.
A+ refrigeration uses up to 25% less energy than A rated and A++ refrigeration appliances are 45% more energy efficient. This means that a Siemens IQ700 “A cool” fridge costs as little to run as £20.17 per annum.
So, can the cost of a new kitchen be linked to “payback” and cost recovery? Can the purchaser be considered to have an “environmental conscience”? You be the judge but new kitchen technology indicates that it can.
I wonder when government will start giving grants for appliances other than boilers? It makes sense. Maybe VAT could be held at 15% on domestic appliances, against a justifiable energy consumption saving?
Peter Saunders
Director
Payback on boiler replacement can be in as little as 4 years, with annual savings reported as high as £200 to £300 pa and something as simple as investing in a hot water cylinder jacket can be recovered in a matter of months.
So what about a new kitchen? Is it wrong to think of such a “big ticket” purchase, in terms of savings and cost recovery?
There are tangible benefits to fitting a new oven, microwave combi, dishwasher, hob and A+/ A++ rated refrigeration equipment.
The consumer can achieve annual savings and reduce chemical usage, hence contributing to environmentally friendly initiatives.
For instance, Siemens appliances offer a “pyroKlean” function, which takes approximately one hour at 2.5kw, costing, say 14p per kw hour. In real terms, this costs about 35pence, with no chemicals! Compare this to more traditional scrubbing – in itself unpleasant and kind to neither hands nor environment, costing about £1.23 when taking into account raw materials and proprietary chemical cleaners, there is a saving of almost 90pence per clean.
An induction hob by Siemens or Gorenje, uses automatic pan recognition to heat only the area of the base of the pan, unlike traditional ceramic hobs, where the red glow around the outside edge of the pan clearly represents the amount of wasted energy.
“Quick Stop” functions on Siemens gas hobs eliminate wasteful use of unnecessary gas and hot water taps, such as “Quooker” and “Insinkerator” by Emerson, totally eliminate random clicking of electric kettles and heating of unused water. That can certainly add up to a considerable saving!
Humidity control on fridges reduces fresh food waste and “four star **** ” freezer compartments allow food to be stored at less than -18 degrees centigrade and for longer periods, reducing food waste.
Modern state of the art refrigeration electronics, monitor fridge and freezer cycles, saving considerable levels of energy by initiating cycles only when needed.
A+ refrigeration uses up to 25% less energy than A rated and A++ refrigeration appliances are 45% more energy efficient. This means that a Siemens IQ700 “A cool” fridge costs as little to run as £20.17 per annum.
So, can the cost of a new kitchen be linked to “payback” and cost recovery? Can the purchaser be considered to have an “environmental conscience”? You be the judge but new kitchen technology indicates that it can.
I wonder when government will start giving grants for appliances other than boilers? It makes sense. Maybe VAT could be held at 15% on domestic appliances, against a justifiable energy consumption saving?
Peter Saunders
Director
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Get ready to roll! Roll back VAT to 15%
The turn of the year is usually the time, when many of us look to new opportunities, new starts, new resolutions and unfortunately, new debts.
These are unfortunate times in some respects but in other respects, offer bountiful opportunities for bargains. Business is tight so discounts are a permanent high street feature, rather than the “one off” rush, normally witnessed at the January sales.
A couple of things have crept stealth like upon us, though. Currency exchange rates and VAT increasing to 17.5% from the reduced level of 15%. We all got used to it, didn’t we?
For a “big ticket” purchase, 2.5% represents a lot of money! Couple that with a foreign holiday and the increased cost, in real terms and it hurts.
Rubicon Developments are involved in the “Home Improvement” industry, through their installation division and also associated retailers and suppliers, such as “Katherine Cavendish Fitted Interiors”, “Bauformat”, “Burger”, “Lechner”, “Siemens”, “Gorenje” to name but a few. The overseas manufacturing element of this impacts further on the back of a weak sterling. “Big Ticket” purchases are the life-blood of this division.
So what do we do? We plan. We forward buy goods and currency, enabling our retail divisions to effectively hold VAT to our customers at 15%, whilst still offering sale discounts of up to 20%.
It’s not easy but as always, innovation is the vehicle, planning is the fuel and training enables us to turn the ignition. Let’s get ready to roll!
Peter Saunders
Director
These are unfortunate times in some respects but in other respects, offer bountiful opportunities for bargains. Business is tight so discounts are a permanent high street feature, rather than the “one off” rush, normally witnessed at the January sales.
A couple of things have crept stealth like upon us, though. Currency exchange rates and VAT increasing to 17.5% from the reduced level of 15%. We all got used to it, didn’t we?
For a “big ticket” purchase, 2.5% represents a lot of money! Couple that with a foreign holiday and the increased cost, in real terms and it hurts.
Rubicon Developments are involved in the “Home Improvement” industry, through their installation division and also associated retailers and suppliers, such as “Katherine Cavendish Fitted Interiors”, “Bauformat”, “Burger”, “Lechner”, “Siemens”, “Gorenje” to name but a few. The overseas manufacturing element of this impacts further on the back of a weak sterling. “Big Ticket” purchases are the life-blood of this division.
So what do we do? We plan. We forward buy goods and currency, enabling our retail divisions to effectively hold VAT to our customers at 15%, whilst still offering sale discounts of up to 20%.
It’s not easy but as always, innovation is the vehicle, planning is the fuel and training enables us to turn the ignition. Let’s get ready to roll!
Peter Saunders
Director
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Christmas - Is it over?
Due to the bad weather preventing me getting the car off the drive since about New Year’s Eve, I’ve taken to walking and using public transport quite a lot.
I’ve been amazed by the number of people I’ve heard referring to the “Christmas Break” and saying things like....”I’m glad it’s over!” and “I don’t miss it!”
Bearing in mind the tremendous build up, the amount spent by us all, the welcome holiday with the family, I ask myself “Why?”. I know Christmas can’t go on forever but surely there’s more to the whole thing than a post Christmas series of regrets?
Times are bad for many, at the moment, both commercially and personally, as money is tight and jobs are lost but based on the premise, that there are no problems, only opportunities, we should feel reflective, renewed and energised after Christmas.
Without putting aside the real reason for Christmas, which we shouldn’t forget, January presents a time for fresh thinking, renewed energy and extra challenges. This time of year, as always, even 2010 years ago, presents a fantastic opportunity, so let’s not, as then, waste it through disbelief and doubt.
It’s “SALE TIME!”..... let’s be creative, forward thinking and plan for the future. It’s a time when we should not just look after ourselves but others, too. Training plans can be part of that ethic.
Develop a “20-20” vision in “20-10”.
Peter Saunders
Director
I’ve been amazed by the number of people I’ve heard referring to the “Christmas Break” and saying things like....”I’m glad it’s over!” and “I don’t miss it!”
Bearing in mind the tremendous build up, the amount spent by us all, the welcome holiday with the family, I ask myself “Why?”. I know Christmas can’t go on forever but surely there’s more to the whole thing than a post Christmas series of regrets?
Times are bad for many, at the moment, both commercially and personally, as money is tight and jobs are lost but based on the premise, that there are no problems, only opportunities, we should feel reflective, renewed and energised after Christmas.
Without putting aside the real reason for Christmas, which we shouldn’t forget, January presents a time for fresh thinking, renewed energy and extra challenges. This time of year, as always, even 2010 years ago, presents a fantastic opportunity, so let’s not, as then, waste it through disbelief and doubt.
It’s “SALE TIME!”..... let’s be creative, forward thinking and plan for the future. It’s a time when we should not just look after ourselves but others, too. Training plans can be part of that ethic.
Develop a “20-20” vision in “20-10”.
Peter Saunders
Director
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