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  • Retro Business Planning

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    administrator
    Published on 12-12-2011 11:11 AM
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    They say a picture can paint a thousand words! This newspaper article caught my eye a couple of weeks back with the heading “Something old ... gowns go retro” – and the caption “Modern brides update their vows to suit themselves but are walking down the aisle in yesteryear fashions”. The article was about a new niche trend for vintage and rustic themed weddings – “popular bridal styles today include 1940’s Hollywood glamour, 1950’s starlets Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly and 1960’s mod”. Reflect on the time you have been in your business – for some of this it may be only a couple of years, for others it may be 5 or 10 years. Draw up a timeline of your business.

    What are some ‘highlights’ from your time in business – that is, what have been your ‘Hollywood glamour’ moments? For example, your successful marketing campaign that you ran on your facebook business page in March, or the new product line that you introduced in June 2010 that has now become the main product you business sells, or five years ago when you did a business launch for your business and had a fabulous ‘coffee and cupcakes’ garden tea party inviting friends and family to celebrate with you.

    Is there ‘something old’ that you could ‘revamp’ and use again, get that ‘retro look’? So often with business planning we always think about looking forward, - that is, ‘what’s the latest, what is the new thing to do’ etc but how about going in reverse and instead taking time to ‘look back’ and identify some ‘Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly’ business moments? “The fantastic think about a vintage wedding dress is that you are almost guaranteed no else has it – it becomes your treasure; a unique piece that has history behind it. There is also the green factor when wearing vintage we are helping our environment by recycling” (Designer Cristina Tridente).

    What is the unique history of your business and do you incorporate that into the branding and planning of your business today? Do you include this as part of your ‘About Us’ on your website, or as part of your ‘story line’ that goes with your product your service? What are some trends/factors that are occurring in business today that you need to build into your business products and services? For example, in what ways can your business be more ‘green’; or how does (or could) your business demonstrate social responsibility?

    So my tip for you this summer is when updating your Business Plan think in REVERSE before moving into GEAR for 2012!





    Maree Cutler-Naroba    is the Ideas Generator at: www.ideas2propelu.com As a business consultant, for the last 9 years Maree has been working in business, community and tertiary educational settings. Along with 24 years teaching, coaching and training experience she has tertiary qualifications in Business, Law, Management and Teaching. Her passion is to grow and develop people in their business, work and studies.