Business121 Small Business Newsletter #77

In this week's Business121:

1. From £1 profit to £2.6 billion
2. Pay per click advertising for small businesses
3. HMRC podcast to help employers complete Annual Returns
4. Sales techniques - are these 3 common sales mistakes holding you back?
5. Stop "Winging it" and Start Preparing
6. Sales Training - Six Powerful Prospecting Tips
7. Barclays launch free workshops to help small businesses increase profits
8. File PAYE return online and receive £150 tax free
9. Sole traders failing to plan for death or incapacity
10. Are you looking for a fresh start? New Channel 4 show planned
11. Smaller retailers aim to hit back with loyalty scheme

From £1 profit to £2.6 billion

Yesterday, Tesco announced a 20% increase in profits to an incredible £2.6bn. For most small business owners, these kind of profits are just telephone numbers but we should all remember that the giant retailer, that is now Tesco, was once a one-man band.

Jack Cohen founded Tesco back in 1919, when he began to sell surplus groceries from a stall in the East End of London. His sales on the first day totalled £4, and his profit was the princely sum of £1!

There have been a lot of changes in the 80 years since Tesco was born. The profits it now makes are a quantum leap from the £1 Jack Cohen made on his first day of trading. But whether you love or loathe Tesco, it is an incredible story of how a small business started on a market stall has grown to become a leading global retailer.

If you're setting out in business to take on the world, you don't have to look much further for inspiration.

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Pay per click advertising for small businesses
Pay per click advertising is an ideal solution for businesses with small marketing budgets. With the ability to target your adverts accurately, as little as £3 per day can open up a whole new world of sales opportunities.

HMRC launch podcasts to help employers complete Annual Returns
The deadline for employers to file their end-of-year returns with HMRC is fast approaching. This year employers can find help on completing their annual returns with a newly-launched podcast.

Sales techniques - are these 3 common sales mistakes holding you back?
Whilst the technology revolution has enabled many businesses to become more efficient in their day to day activities, it could also be, unwittingly, hampering your sales efforts.

For more help on selling, try out these other useful articles;

Stop "Winging it" and Start Preparing
Lack of preparation is a potential precursor to disaster whether you’re a lawyer, a pilot, a surgeon or a salesperson. Here are 5 ways you can use the time before your next sales call to maximize your chances of advancing the sale.

Sales Training - Six Powerful Prospecting Tips
Prospecting for new business, like any other skill, can be trained and developed into a habit. Some key prospecting tips to help build your small business.

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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
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Barclays launch free workshops to help small businesses to increase profits
Business expert Robert Craven has partnered with Barclays Bank to run 19 free workshops throughout the UK. The workshops are designed to help businesses to increase their profits and improve their marketing.

File PAYE return online and receive £150 tax free
HMRC is reminding 1.7 million small employers to send their 2006-07 PAYE End of Year returns online to receive a £150 tax-free payment.

Sole traders failing to plan for death or incapacity
Two thirds of sole traders have no plans for their business in the event that they become incapacitated or die, according to research.

Are you looking for a fresh start? New Channel 4 show planned
A new TV show is looking for participants who want to start again - with a complete work and home makeover.

Smaller retailers aim to hit back with loyalty scheme
A mobile phone-based loyalty scheme called Shop Scan Save, is to be launched across 17,000 local grocers as corner shops strike back at the supermarkets' powerful special-offer campaigns, The Times reports.

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