By Peter Hatfield, Director at 4C Associates For retailers and manufacturers alike, the Christmas season is pivotal – the stakes are at their highest, and success during this period can shape the outcome of the entire financial year. With consumer demand at its peak, the holiday rush offers immense revenue potential but it also presents […] The post Five moves for retailers and manufacturers to boost seasonal profits  appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

The much-anticipated Global Workplace Report 2024, powered by WorkL, unveils that working from home boosts confidence in management, that workers are worrying about the commute and that women are more than twice as likely to demand flexibility than men. The in-depth look at the state of the global workplace, presents a comprehensive global analysis of employee happiness and […] The post Report reveals that pursuit of happiness is key to economic success appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

By Chris Jackson, below, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Six Degrees The clocks have gone back, the first snow has fallen (and settled), and I think I might have already heard that Maria Carey Christmas song on the radio a few too many times. It all points to the fact that the festive season is […] The post Planning for the year ahead: Long-term objectives for IT decision-makers appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

By Mark Richdon, below, Tax Director, Bishop Fleming For many owner-managed businesses, the financial impact of the Autumn Budget may have added an additional complication to what is a challenging outlook. Tax increases and rising employment costs mean many business owners face significant challenges that demand strategic planning and adaptation. Here’s a closer look at […] The post How the Budget impacted owner-managed businesses appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

By Peter Harris, COO, Pipedrive Not many people know of the special awareness ‘Salesperson Day’ on December 6. SMEs are sales-oriented in a way employees in larger businesses are not always, considering their more rigidly defined roles. So, the day marks one of those moments where it’s worth sharing some wisdom for those that sell, strive, […] The post Business card or online intro? Make an authentic connection appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

By Amy McKeown, above Workplace health and wellbeing are often talked about in glowing terms, but let’s be honest—most strategies are little more than box-ticking exercises. For SMEs, where every penny counts and teams are small, there’s even less room for empty gestures. To make a difference, workplace health must be tackled head-on, with the […] The post Workplace Health: How SMEs can get this right for employees appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

By Pauline Green, Head of Product Compliance & Programs, Intuit QuickBooks UK The upcoming Self Assessment deadline is a critical time for sole traders, often regarded as one of the most stressful aspects of running a business. This Small Business Saturday highlights the vital contributions of sole traders to the UK economy and underscores the […] The post Small Business Saturday: Accounting tips to help sole traders appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

By Rachita Sharma, CEO & Co-Founder, Girl Power Talk Picture a group of colleagues around a conference table—embodying a mix of races and genders. What ages do you imagine them to be? A typical response might be 30 to 50 years old. But who might be missing? Enter Generation Z: individuals born between approximately 1997 […] The post Empowering Gen Z: Building diversity with young leaders appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

By Andrew Saffron, below, author of Better Culture, Faster and director of Innermost Consulting Your organization’s culture will either enable you to achieve your strategic goals or get in the way of it. That’s it. It is the key determinant of whether your organization has the ability to deliver results. Don’t believe me? Try this […] The post Why getting your culture right will change everything appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more

Small firms have a strong appetite for international trade despite rising costs, new customs and product safety requirements and potential changes from the US election, according to new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). FSB’s Ready to Dispatch report calls on the Government to commit to trade export support policy that fits small […] The post FSB: Over a third of small exporters seek international opportunities appeared first on SME Magazine ..read more