Posts Tagged ‘startup’
Calling all Start-ups….
We need your help and feedback
We have generated a sample of successful Irish start up businesses in an attempt to gather some insight into the effectiveness of our website as well as looking into the motivations continue reading
Startup Story – www.Jobkey.ie – Starting a business
Robert McGonnell introdues his new recruitment business www.jobkey.ie continue reading
Startups.ie Gets a new Logo
Some of the more observant amongst you may have noticed our new logo for startups.ie. continue reading
New Business Startup Idea. Where do I start ??
All Businesses start with an idea!, How do you find the right one??
continue reading
Blanchardstown Area Partnership – Start your own Business Courses 2010
Business Workshops 2010 Series of Morning Workshops:
Blanchardstown Area Partnership offers in a variety of workshops and seminars to help people gain the knowledge necessary to develop and run a successful business.
All seminars are from 10am to 1pm unless stated
€10 per seminar.
To book your place contact the Enterprise Dept,
Ph: 01- 820 9550 / 824 7819
Email: enterprise@bap.ie
All classes take place at Dillon House (beside Power City), Unit 106, Coolmine Ind Est, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
Click here for directions & map >>
26 February
Bookkeeping
Why it is vital to keep the books straight
Recording data in a systematic manner in the books
Tailoring the record keeping to meet your needs
Bank reconciliation
How to use the information recorded
5 March
VAT
Who must register for VAT and why
How to assemble data for VAT and how to completed the returns
What VAT is allowed and disallowed and why
How imports and exports are treated for VAT purposes
Why VAT is the most lethal of all the various taxes
12 March
How To Market Your Business On-line
The concept of on-line marketing
The new media and on-line platforms
Irish consumers and the internet
On-line advertising objectives
Outline internet marketing plan
Types of on-line marketing
Case studies of best practice on-line marketing
The pros and cons of being on-line.
18 March
A ‘How To Guide’ To Designing & Delivering Effective Promotional Material
Promotional Materials within your business
Importance of effective promotional materials
Types of promotional materials and uses
Logo & Corporate Stationery, Newsletters, Brochures, Website
Price Lists/Quotations
Good design practice –v- poor design practice
Real-life examples of strong, effective design
Real-life examples of poor, ineffective design
How to properly brief a designer
Printing options available to your business
How to ensure that your promotional materials get into the right hands!
Hard-copy Delivery (eg direct marketing / An Post)
Electronic Delivery (via newsletter or e-mail)
Top Tips for getting the most from your designer and/or printer
Measuring effectiveness of promotional materials.
26 March
Getting Your Message Across
Effective Communication, Confidence Building and Assertiveness
Understanding Communications
Challenge your understanding of communications
Introducing you to new communications thinking
Being aware of how you communicate
Being confident in your communications
Having confidence in your own communication
What is your message
Know what you want to say
Choose how you want to say it
Exercises for gaining confidence
Tools for communicating
Know the tools, understand the kitbag
Choosing the right tool for the right task
The media – how to make best use of a very diverse market
Practical preparation
Discuss & Rehearse with partner
Listen to feedback
Reverse roles
Presentation
Building confidence
Group communication
Assertiveness
Feedback
30 March
Idea Generation
What is creativity and idea generation;
Creativity exercises;
Brainstorming;
Idea generation techniques;
How to assess your ideas.
31 March
Principles of Employment Law
Summary of relevant Acts, Equality, Unfair Dismissals etc.
Practical application of Acts for the small business
Contracts of employment
Managing poor performance
Policies & procedures
13 April
Business planning
What is a business plan & why write one
Business plan template (workbook will be provided)
Self assessment, background & experience
Legal structures
Your Product/service
Target market, Market research and marketing strategy
Financial projections, cash flow, profit & loss account
16 April
Guerrilla Marketing
Definition of guerrilla marketing
Online examples
Suggesting and using guerrilla marketing for clients
Building guerrilla marketing into a marketing campaign
Case studies
How to do it yourself – brainstorming
20 April
Taxation For Self Employed
Tax registration – sole trader / partnerships / limited companies
VAT – registration / thresholds / cash v accruals accounting for VAT / filing requirements / Year end reporting / penalties
PAYE – registration / filing requirements / year end reporting / penalties
Income tax – calculation / payment dates / allowable expenses V’s disallowable expenses / capital allowances / penalties
Revenue Audits
ROS
How to save tax.
23 April
E-commerce
Payment packages
Shopping carts
Things to watch out for
What works and why.
28 April
What You Need To Know for Importing / Exporting
Speak the language
Know who you will talk to: customers, customers of your customers
Regulations & customs
Logistics.
7 May
How To Create & Use Social Media
What is Social Media?
Facebook, LinkedIn, twitter, bebo, my space, blogs
How to create and use Social Media to benefit your business
Raising your profile
11 May
Market Research
What is Market Research
Aims of Market Research
Primary and Secondary Sources of Market Research
Conducting Market Research on a Budget
14 May
Copywriting For Online and Offline Media
How to write attention grabbing headline
How to use the words that sell, (and avoid those that don’t)
Headlines, the rules you must obey
Proven and effective openings you can use NOW!
What are copy connectors and how to use them
POWER words
Live workbook exercise
What’s your most wanted response
18 May
Idea Generation
What is creativity and idea generation;
Creativity exercises;
Brainstorming;
Idea generation techniques;
How to assess your ideas.
21 May
Setting Up And Managing AdWords Campaigns Effectively
4 questions you must ask about YOUR OWN website
How to avoid the “Newbie” learning curve
What does Google think of you?
How to get results at no or low cost
Outperform your competition – find out what they’re doing
Banner ads – how to get other people selling for YOU
Split-testing your return-on-investment
How YOU can find the best keywords
3 June
Bookkeeping
Why it is vital to keep the books straight
Recording data in a systematic manner in the books
Tailoring the record keeping to meet your needs
Bank reconciliation
How to use the information recorded
11 June
VAT
Who must register for VAT and why
How to assemble data for VAT and how to completed the returns
What VAT is allowed and disallowed and why
How imports and exports are treated for VAT purposes
Why VAT is the most lethal of all the various taxes
15 June
eBay for Sellers
Introductions, How eBay works
How Feedback works
How to Search, Bid, Buy & Pay (PayPal)
Registering as a Seller
Photos & Descriptions
Listing an Item for Sale – Live Demo
Pop Quiz – revision of learning
Tactics & Pricing Strategy
Moving Beyond the Basics
Cross Border Trade
Top 10 PowerSeller Tips
18 June
A ‘How To Guide’ To Designing & Delivering Effective Promotional Material
Promotional Materials within your business
Importance of effective promotional materials
Types of promotional materials and uses
Logo & Corporate Stationery, Newsletters, Brochures, Website
Price Lists/Quotations
Good design practice –v- poor design practice
Real-life examples of strong, effective design
Real-life examples of poor, ineffective design
How to properly brief a designer
Printing options available to your business
How to ensure that your promotional materials get into the right hands!
Hard-copy Delivery (eg direct marketing / An Post)
Electronic Delivery (via newsletter or e-mail)
Top Tips for getting the most from your designer and/or printer
Measuring effectiveness of promotional materials.
22 June
Idea Generation
What is creativity and idea generation;
Creativity exercises;
Brainstorming;
Idea generation techniques;
How to assess your ideas.
25 June
Credit Management
Principles of Credit Control
Before You Make the Call
The 4 reasons people wont/cant pay
Strategies to achieve payment and maintain
For further details, and to register for any of the above workshops, please contact:
Niall Comber
Enterprise Development Officer
Phone 01 820 9550 / 824 7819
Mobile: 086 354 5210
E-mail ncomber@bap.ie.
All classes will be held at Partnership offices:
Dillon House
Unit 106
Coolmine Industrial Estate
Clonsilla
Dublin 15
Viral Loop – From Facebook to Twitter
If you are interested in using the Internet to grow your business virally, then “Viral Loop: From Facebook to Twitter, How Today’s Smartest Businesses Grow Themselves” is a must-read.
continue reading
Boom time is over and we are slap bang in the middle of hopefully the worst recession we will ever see.
So is it time for aspiring entrepreneurs to hunker down and wait for the sun to come back out before starting a business?
Not at all.
Recession does indicate a contracting economy but it doesn’t mean that businesses across the board are shrinking and dying. Many businesses and industries buck the trend by growing through the downturn.
You can increase your chances of running one of these businesses by starting a business in an industry that tends to remain resilient, or even prospers, in economic downturns.
So which types of business are good to start in a recession?
Start a business selling essential goods or services
Most businesses are discretionary, meaning that their products and services are non-essential.
Essential items tend to be bought in roughly the same quantities whatever the economic weather. Businesses dealing in food or shelter, two of life’s most fundamental needs, tend to be resilient in an economic dowturns.
There are stark exceptions, however.
Restaurants are enormously susceptible in a recession as the difference in cost compared to eating at home is huge, so meals out are often the first thing to go when people have less money in their pocket.
And the mortgage market can seize up in tough times, like at present, where there’s a squeeze on credit. However, people always need somewhere to live so the lettings market, by contrast tends to remain stable.
Other examples of businesses bracketed in the essential category are law firms, funeral parlours, healthcare businesses, law firms, schools and home maintenance businesses.
Start a business selling guilty pleasures
And yet, somewhat paradoxically, people often increase their spending on non-essentials too, on indulgencies.
For example, Cadbury’s announced a 28% jump in profits in July, and analysts suggest it was, to an extent, because of the recession rather than despite it. In gloomier times people often turn to comfort eating and buy chocolate, ice cream and other treats to make themselves feel better.
People do tend to be more price aware, however, so the emphasis is on affordable luxury. So they’re more likely to plump for Cadbury’s Dairy Milk than Hotel Chocolat truffles.
Start a business selling budget goods
Starting a business selling budget ranges are, unsurprisingly, more prosperous in lean times.
‘Everything for a pound’ shops tend to do well. And with the credit crunch making bank loans hard to come by, pawn shops and cheque cashing shops are enjoying a spike in custom.
In contrast to restaurants, retailers selling budget food ranges are very successful.
Start a business selling goods and services used by the over-50s
They’ve got equity in their property, and they’ve got savings so their earnings rise with interest rates: over 50s have more to spend than younger age groups and they’re also more resilient in a recession.
Buy a franchise
An established franchise will invariably stand a better chance of thriving than a start-up. Many franchise brands have come through previous recessions unscathed so you can be confident they’ll have the means and savvy to do it again.
When the economy contracts some businesses inevitably go under. With their time-honed, streamlined processes and systems, franchises are usually leaner and fitter than their rivals and much less likely to fall by the wayside.
“We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.”
Warren Buffett
Company: Kids in the Kitchen and Whip It Up
Website: www.kidsinthekitchen.ie and www.whipitup.ie
Founders: Victoria Mackechnie
Age: 29
Based: Dublin
Staff Numbers: 1
Date started: November 2008
Tell us what your business does?
My business involves providing cookery classes to children and adults. The Kids in the Kitchen constitutes the main part of my business through which I work with a number of primary and secondary schools as well community centres in the Greater Dublin Area to educate children about healthy eating and equip them with practical skills to produce tasty dishes for themselves. All of these classes are practical cookery sessions where children are involved in all aspects of cooking from beginning to end. Children then bring home their dishes to share with family and friends.
The Whip It Up business which was just launched in October 2009 aims to teach adults a number of tasty easy recipes and give them new culinary ideas. Each class has a different theme from Mediterannean to Mexican and shellfish to sinful desserts. These cookery classes are demonstration and take part mostly in chq, IFSC, Dublin 1. I work with Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants who teach participants about wine pairing and how to choose different wines to complement food flavours.
Where did the idea for your business come from?
I took a year out and lived in Sydney for a while and had the chance to run children’s cookery classes there. I have always been passionate about food and cookery though and did my first course when I was 9! Starting young stood to me. By acquiring this important life skill at a young age, I feel strongly that children are equipped to make healthy eating choices for themselves.
Have you always wanted to run your own business?
Yes always. In fact I wanted to launch this business when I finished college but felt the market wasnt yet ready. Since then, the obesity epidemic among children has exploded and I think as a nation we have become alot more aware of nutrition and healthy eating, while cookery has gained enormously in popularity, particularly now that people cant afford to eat out as much!
What planning did you do before you started up?
I had already tested the market by speaking directly with schools and also had the benefit of hands on experience from Australia. I was fortunate in that I didnt have a big capital outlay in order to start the busines so was in a position to start trading immediately after setting it up.
How did you raise the money?
I used savings to start the business. However the financial challenges ahead lie in the fact that these programmes are needed most acutely among schools in disadvantaged areas so I am constantly lobbying public and private bodies to fund these cookery programmes in these areas.
What challenges have you faced how have you overcome them?
Financial challenges are always going to be a feature of running your own business. Not having a consistent steady income stream is a big change and one that takes time to get used to. Obviously having a business degree and coming from a financial background helps. You have to become a lot more self disciplined and adept at financial planning. Another challenge for me has been adapting to working by myself. I miss working as part of a team and all the interaction with work colleagues.
How have you promoted your business?
Mostly it has been word of mouth and I have been lucky enough to get some good press coverage.
What has your growth been like?
The business has grown to incorporate a wider number of schools and has expanded to run adult programmes. I soon hope to turn this one woman show into a two person show!
What’s the impact on your home life been like?
I suppose my home life and work life are now very much intertwined. There is no longer a clear delineation between the two. However, I definitely have more flexibility which is something I really value.
