Gary Millar from CCUK & Parr Steet Studios
Current Roles
- Chief Executive and co-owner of Parr Street Studios (www.parrstreet.co.uk)
- Co-owner and Designer of Parr Street Hotel (boutique hotel)
- Managing Director of CCUK (www.ccuk.com - ICT and marketing business)
- Chair of Ripples on the Mersey (www.ripplesonthemersey.com - Sirolli Project)
- Chair of The Linda McCartney Centre Field of Women Appeal (www.fieldofwomen.com)
Gary's Top 10 Business Tips
1. Know Your Product - Make sure you fully understand what it is you are trying to sell (customers will instinctively pick up on the gaps in your own know how). Make sure your customers are interested in the product or service (see point 3).
2. Know Your Direction – List and understand where you want to be now, next month and next year (see point 6).
3. Know Your Customer – Investigate your customer types, find out where they are and find out what they really want.
4. Know Your Competitors – Is someone else doing the same as you, are they local, is their price better than yours and is their service similar to yours. Keep checking, don’t get complacent and be the best!
5. Know Your Bottom Line – Find out if you are or will make money. Check your costs against your sales. Check if you can really afford to be the cheapest and or whether you can truly afford that new computer. Don’t forget the taxes you may have to pay sometime in the not too distant future (if you forget – they won’t).
6. Plan Your Direction – Plan how and when to get where you want to be now, next month and next year (see point 2).
7. Plan Your Money Needs – How much will it cost to advertise, to make telephone calls, pay staff, buy in products to sell and how much can we sell our services or products for and still remain competitive whilst making some money. Plan ahead for each month and try to plan for the next 3 years. It can be a great tool to keep an eye on the bottom line and make better more profitable decisions.
8. Be Passionate About Your Product or Service – Believe, love, cherish and what you have to offer.
9. Be Passionate About Getting It Out There – If you don’t tell them, they won’t come. If you don’t market your business, you won’t sell. Really believe that your customer wants what you have to offer and shout from the rooftops. If you don’t know how to then see point 10 below.
10. Find Someone to Fill Any Gaps – You can’t do it all. If you are not passionate about something in your business or have not got the time to do it (i.e. administration, finance, marketing, etc.) then find someone who can. It’s amazing who much better the bottom line is if you share the workload.
