One of the biggest obstacles when opening up a startup business is the possibility that you won’t gain many customers. It’s a general fear for any startup company as customers are what make your business. However, not having a constant flow of customers doesn’t necessarily mean that your product isn’t very good or that your employees are bad; it could simply be about location.

For a store of sorts providing a product, location could make or break your business from the jump and that’s something that no small business owner wants. There are, however, many options to counteract the possibility of location ruining your business on its first day. Here are some quick and simple solutions to assuring that you get the right location for what you’re trying to provide through your business.

Before you even open the business, be sure to check the surrounding areas and check to see what other businesses are around. As a startup company, established business is your biggest competition and the further you stay away from them, the easier it will be to run your business and earn your customers. It’s not impossible to succeed so close to other businesses, but it wouldn’t be wise to open a brand-new, never heard of ice cream shop next to a Baskin Robbins.

If you do decide on a location, but realize there isn’t much traffic around you to help you stay afloat as a business, you need to reanalyze the situation to come up with a new solution in order to get customers for your products.

One of the easiest ways to assure people know your location is by strategic marketing. Get a few of the products from your store, put them in your car or van and go to a community event. Sell (or give away) samples of what your store has to offer, if they like it enough, they’ll be in your store to get it. If you own a restaurant, take some of your food and pass it out along with a business card letting everyone know exactly where you are at.

Another method before even opening up a place is to think about the possibility of opening a mobile business. This may seem like a completely different vision from what you’ve had in mind in the past, but there are many businesses (especially restaurants) that have gone on to make a very big profit through mobile businesses like a food truck.

There are plenty of solutions to the obstacle of location, but some of them you just can’t figure out. A location with low traffic is just that, unless you bring the traffic to you. Be sure to market wisely, explore options and keep an open mind if you would like your business to strive despite location.

Image adapted from original work created by: washington_area_spark on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our Business of the Week winner, The Corner / Rx Express Pharmacy! Located at 1963 Jericho Tpke East Northport, NY  11731, this gift-shop-slash-pharmacy is truly a unique establishment in New York. It’s a combination of two businesses that attends to both the health and recreational needs of its patrons. According to reps of the business, “The owner of the company is a pharmacist with a passion for personal, friendly, knowledgeable service, integrity, quality products and a flair for unique gifts of all kinds. This combination is unique in a small business. Rx Express Pharmacy is an independent pharmacy where the owner addresses customers on a first name basis. The Corner is a unique gifts store with class.”

About the Pharmacy

Rx Express Pharmacy has been providing the local communities of East Northport, Dix Hills, Greenlawn, and Huntington with high quality medication, surgical supplies, and pharmacy services for over 20 years. It’s an independent pharmacy—and is proud to be one. The countless loyal patrons of this business are a clear testament to just how great the service is. Unlike the many other pharmacy chains out there, Rx Express Pharmacy will not treat you like just another number. Not only are the staff members helpful and friendly, but they’re extremely professional and knowledgeable as well.

About the Gift Shop

Need a one-of-a-kind (and sometimes quirky) present? Right this way. The Corner sells unusual items and presents for all occasions, and offers great gifts for various individuals. This store will be there for you for every step of the gift-buying process. From selecting an item, to adding a card, and as a bonus, they’ll even gift wrap your items for free!

Is someone getting married? Why not get their wedding and bachelor / bachelorette presents all in one place? You can find various frames, mugs, and other precious trinkets in the store. On the other hand, if you want to give a treat to all the “little ones” in your life, consider getting a nice plush toy, rattle, blanket, or book from The Corner! Want to keep track of all the significant moments in life? Check out their albums, brag books, frames and keepsakes. If you’re shopping for the home, be sure to stop by and view their selections of measuring spoons, salt & pepper shakers, glass fusion platters, and other useful items.

Indeed, The Corner / Rx Express Pharmacy is an awesome two-in-one business that has been keeping patrons happy and healthy for 2 decades now. This gift shop / pharmacy in Huntington, NY is truly a gem. If you wish to inquire about their pharmaceutical services, or if you’re looking for a particular gift item, you may reach them at (631) 462-2233.

Everyone knows when starting a business, one of the most crucial parts of the startup process is finding the correct employees to help run your business smoothly.

It’s no secret that every small business owner starts off at a disadvantage when compared to the bigger companies in a certain niche. That, however, doesn’t mean they can’t find the high quality employees they seek to help keep their business afloat. So, small business owners: What is it that you look for in an employee when you are a startup company?

Odds are, you’re providing a service to someone, so you’ll need people that can sell your product to customers, clients, other businesses or whoever else your main target is.

The first question you have to ask a potential employee is simple and rather generic, but it gets straight to the point of what you want to know. The first question asked should inquire whether or not the job candidate has excellent customer service skills. Odds are they won’t tell you ‘no’, but you’ll some of the time the candidate will give an example of their skills.

Of course, the world is full of customers who become irate for no reason whatsoever, so you’ll have to ask the candidate how they will handle a heated situation should it start to go too far. There are some people who go into interviews with a well prepared answer; however, if they can explain a good example of what they would do, you would at least know they have a clue about it.

Some of the key qualities that you would like to look for in a potential employee are flexibility, responsibility, passion, drive and innovation. Flexibility and responsibility will show you that the candidate has the ability to adapt to any given situation all while taking accountability for all actions. Passion, drive and innovation are all stellar pillars to a company and all of the employees should have it.

The best part about hiring someone with an innovative view to go along with passion and drive is the fact that they’ll come up with some different ideas and outlooks on ways to go about different situations. Usually, someone with enough drive will find a way to make that idea work, no matter what. More ideas on hiring the right candidate can be found in our previous blog: Small Business Hiring.

Hiring the proper way will help guarantee that your business will be a big hit. Having the right people will rub off the right way on the customers and clients which equals big business for your company.

Image credit: dierken on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our Business of the Week winner, Total Watch Repair! Located at 10800 West Pico Blvd, 202 Los Angeles, CA 90064, this well-established watch repair shop is the go-to place of most Angelenos for their watch-related needs. Having been in business since 1979, Total Watch Repair has completely gained the trust of countless watch owners. Their team consists of competent watchmakers and technicians that deliver quality services time and time again. In fact, since the business was established, they have successfully serviced, repaired, and restored over 2 million watches!

Customers keep coming back to Total Watch Repair because of their top-notch services that include the basics such as polishing and cleaning to more advanced services such as crystal replacement and case repairs.

Need to replace your watch bands? They provide bands that can fit Breitling, Casio, Rolex, Seiko, Swiss Army, and more. The Total Watch Repair team hand-picks all the watch bands that they offer, so whether you’re looking for leather watch bands, metal bracelets, or rubber diver stamps, you’ll know that you’ll be getting watch bands of the highest quality.

Need a quick battery repair but don’t have the time to take it to the shop? Total Watch Repair can service your watch and send it to your doorstep. They’ll even provide you with free shipping materials! You can start the whole process with just a few clicks on their site. Simply request for shipping materials, send your watch to the shop, and they’ll mail it back to you in no time.

Did your timepiece suddenly stopped ticking? Just head to Total Watch Repair. Whether you need your watch to be cleaned, oiled, or completely overhauled, their staff can take care of it for you. No need to worry about anything happening to your valuables, either; the Total Watch Repair facility is located in a high security building and their team has access to the most modern materials and equipment, so you know that your watches are in great hands. Not to mention, their Certified Master Technician has been working with the company since 1985 and has successfully repaired over 500,000 watches!

Total Watch Repair also offers a lot of “extras” that you just can’t get at any watch repair store. Not only is the establishment accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but they also provide free estimates, 1 year warranty, a quick turnaround and a low price guarantee!

Indeed, if you’re ever in search for a great watch repair shop in Los Angeles, CA just look up Total Watch Repair. Have any questions? You may call them at (310) 920-2851.

Becoming an entrepreneur or your own boss is something that many in the world would love to do. There’s nobody to really answer to, you make your own hours and your success determines solely on your performance. What is there not to love about that?

However, it seems that those who strive to live this lifestyle and open their own business will commonly make the same mistake. The problem is, they never prepare and ask themselves the proper questions before venturing into this business opportunity. Often times, this leaves the individual in a bad place that they will have a tough time getting out of.

Let me explain further.

No new business start-up will come without passion. A passion and belief that the business you plan on starting will be very successful and will grow with great upside is crucial into starting your very own business. It’s the reason, the very essence, of why you want to start your own business in the first place. You look at the industry of your choice and you see something wrong with it, something that needs changed. That’s your goal; your vision. To change the failing aspects of other businesses in your niche and make your brand stand out, using your passion to make it happen.

Keep in mind though, passion isn’t everything and just because you have it doesn’t mean you should immediately follow it. That will only lead you to disappointment.

Ask yourself before this venture: Can I afford this?

That’s the main question to ask. Opening your own business and becoming an entrepreneur is a very risky move and if an individual is not financially secure prior to making the move, it could lead to a lot of issues. Companies all take some kind of start-up money and time. Sure, you can attempt to get a loan to get the business off the ground, but do you have the funds necessary to keep it going in those first, very crucial months. Know that your company may need employees, supplies and product to provide.

Nothing of great value is built overnight. It takes time, effort, money and tons of preparation to make a business successful for the long term.

Often times, those who wish to start-up their own business are unhappy with their current careers. That means they will be leaving an income, possible benefits, insurance and pension that you may be getting offered at your current job. Can you take that hit for the short term?

Of course, as mentioned in some of our previous blogs, you also need to ask yourself if your idea is going to stand out. Opening a business with the same generic idea as the competition out there is not going to get you anywhere. Have an idea, have a plan and stick to it in order to achieve the maximum success in a world where originality is the key.

If you’re planning on opening up your own business, revert back to some of the previous blog posts that we have and go for it. Just make sure that your finances and passion are in order; that will determine success.

Image credit: Stefan Baudy on flickr

How would you like your business’ brand to be seen by millions and millions of people all over the world?

Well, that’s what you get from social media marketing, especially on Facebook. Everyday people sign on to the website to view statuses, pictures or whatever else comes their way. Why not have your brand name right there for everyone to see?

Facebook allows for business pages and makes it simple for advertisement and marketing opportunities in an exceptional way. If you don’t have Facebook, now is the time to start and build a presence for your brand in a powerful way. There are multiple strategies that you can aim for when marketing on a social media platform such as Facebook; some are simple and some are more advanced.

First, you need to decide exactly how you’d like to set up your Facebook account, whether as a personal page or a business fan page (a wonderful feature offered by the company). Be aware, securing the name for your business on your personal account will disable you from using it on your business fan page, so keep that in mind.

When joining Facebook, know that you’re not the only one in your niche taking part in this marketing strategy. Take time to evaluate your competition and view their pages. It will help you a lot to know what they’re posting, if they’re offering special deals and how many friends or fans their pages have. Spend a little bit of time researching each one and base your strategies similarly and off of what you see from your competitors.

Know that using these forms of social media marketing can go a long way in promoting your business with special deals. Facebook allows for different application forms, such as sweepstakes and other ways for users and fans to share your businesses information. It’s good for contests and providing deals that are Facebook exclusives. Certain specifics such as offering a percentage off purchases for Facebook users has given many businesses advantages that have caused an increase in sales and notoriety.

Taking advantage of all that Facebook has to offer for small business marketing, you can get your brand to the masses in one of the easiest forms and on a powerful platform.

There are multiple businesses on Facebook that are already making fans, making a presence and making money.

Again, if you have the chance to have millions and millions of people around the globe see your business’ name, would you take the chance?

Image credit: Sean MacEntee on flickr

The LocalPAGES Team is pleased to announce, our Business of the Week winner, SOL Cocina! Located at 251 E Coast Hwy Newport Beach, CA 92660, this one-of-a-kind restaurant specializes in classic Baja cuisine. What’s great about SOL Cocina is that while it offers a modern comfort for its customers, the establishments still has an “old world charm,” allowing people to have a truly unique dining experience.

When you walk in, you can either get a table, or choose to have seat at the counter where you’ll be to get a first-hand look into the restaurant’s busy kitchen. When it comes to food, diners will be pleased to know that the staff at SOL Cocina makes every item on the menu fresh every day.  According to their website, they “showcase dishes that celebrate what Baja is known for: fresh fish, slow-simmered meats, colorful, vibrantly flavored salsas, and satisfyingly simple sauces. In fact, we make everything on the menu fresh every day, from scratch, including more than 12 different salsas and sauces, using the finest ingredients we can source. Our cooks take pride in giving you the freshest, most original and most authentic Mexican food anywhere outside Mexico.”

SOL Cocina has extensive Brunch, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert menus that will surely please the various tastes of people. Their Fish Pibil ‘Zarandeado’ style is an absolute must-try. If you’re more of a carnivore, be sure to ask about their Carne Asada Street Tacos or Wood-Grilled Kobe Skirt Steak. Watching your diet? Don’t fret! A lot of Sol Cocina’s menu items are healthy, glutten-free, and low-fat. In fact, a lot of their dishes have vegetarian and vegan alternatives!

Additionally, when you dine at SOL Cocina, you’re also helping to keep the local economy healthy! The restaurant is “committed to using only sustainable fish, bought locally whenever possible.” Not only that, but their beef and pork are humanely raised and sourced, and the greens that they serve (including the ones uses in the salsa) are mostly local and organic.

Need a drink to go with your meal? You’ll never go thirsty with SOL Cocina’s wide selection of signature drinks, wines, beers, and tequila. Speaking of which, be sure spice up your work week with Taco & Tequila Tuesday! From 4PM to closing time, you’ll be able to enjoy margaritas starting at $5! Be sure to fill up your stomach, with their tacos starting at $2.50!

Need a venue for a private event? SOL Cocina has a great private dining menu that would be perfect for corporate dinners, luncheons, or intimate cocktail receptions. The downstairs patio can sit up to 35 guests, while they can accommodate up to 55 individuals for tray passed mixers. Indeed, if you’re looking for an awesome Mexican Restaurant in Newport Beach, CA, you can reach SOL Cocina at (949) 675-9800.

With the way the economy is now-a-days, everybody is looking for a career that they could enter into and enjoy. Sometimes, it’s harder than we think and things can be discouraging. However, there are many great options out there that could give you a great career and are not hard to start up. Today, many people are setting out on those New Year’s resolutions that seem to elude us for most of our days, namely the resolution to live a healthier, fit life.

This is where you come in.

One of the hottest trends for small-business growth is, and is expected to be for quite some time, is personal wellness. Everybody wants to live healthier lives and finding the right program is essential in their success. Starting a career in this field can almost guarantee your financial success if you go through the process correctly.

Personal trainers, training consultants, diet planning and supplement experts are positions that could be in high demand with personal wellness being the primary goal of so many people at this time of the year. Once you have a client, it’s keeping them that will count so becoming a friendly adviser at this time is crucial for both yours and your client’s success.

If you wanted to venture even further than those careers, there is always the opportunity to open your own business, in this case a gym and workout facility. We know, there are plenty of those out there in the world so the competition would be stiff. However, standing out is all about your innovative ideas and creativity.

As a gym owner, you could possibly offer deals that other facilities don’t offer or special services that others don’t. How about online meal-planning to help clients track their food and progression each day? The possibilities of things you can do are never-ending and limited to your imagination only.

Remember, careers are life-long ventures; they don’t happen overnight. They take long hours, hard work and plenty of determination.

However, with one of the highest trending areas of small-business growth ready to be explored, your career is yours for the taking. Just look at the possibilities: Health coaching, disease management, physical training, rehabilitation, massage therapy, stress management, weight loss programs, nutrition programming, etc. The options are endless for those looking for a career in personal wellness and fitness.

To get started, just take a look around at the current platforms set up already, and then decide which field would work best at your location. Check out fitness centers and other wellness programs to compare what they offer. Be innovative and the wellness and fitness world could be a beneficial career choice for the long haul into your future.

Image credit: prayitno on flickr

We all realize that social marketing has become one of the biggest waves to hit the business world in quite some time. It’s useful for marketing small businesses, big businesses and anything in between. It allows for the small business owner to connect with the customers on a more personal level. However, there are many more ways to go about marketing and helping your business grow a significant margin. There are tactics that give back to the consumers and ways that make that personal connection in a different form.

One form of gaining loyal customers by giving back is by offering something for free or for a percentage off the original price. Be innovative and use social networks as well, offering certain things for a retweet on Twitter or a “Like” on Facebook. Things like this get the customer to be more involved and your business gains much more exposure for the excellent quality you provide during that free service. If you can afford to squeeze out a few things for free or on sale, it will go a long way to making your business even bigger and your dreams a reality.

A nice event or a booth at a convention are also beneficial tactics of marketing that could do big things for your business. Sending out a well-thought invitation would also catch the eye of the customer, enticing them to go back to your business for the event or convention. This builds the personal connections a bit and allows for them to see the real you. Being a good person goes a great deal with being a great business owner.

Be innovative in your ideas. Think of all the ways to get your brand out to the masses and take an extra step further, pushing the limits on what you can do and getting more involved. Flash dances, random personal advertising, etc.; things like this catch an audience with great attention. All you have to do now is add the logo where ever you feel like.  A customer seeing your brand on such an innovative method shows them you’re not afraid to take risks in order to get people to your business.

Don’t forget to continue doing the essentials, such as common courtesy and sticking to the targets of your niche and your business can go all the way, turning from a small start-up to a well-respected an well-known business.

Image credit: Maria Reyes-McDavis on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce, our Business of the Week winner, STACKED Restaurant! Located at 18425 Gridley Road, Cerritos, CA 90703, this unique establishment adds a whole lot of fun to dining! Considered as “the first fully integrated restaurant concept based on the iPad,” STACKED truly serves food in a dynamic and contemporary way.

All the ordering at STACKED takes place electronically. Diners take the iPads on each table and use it to tap the dishes that they want. Customers can choose from a variety of entrees, including burgers, pizzas, soups and salads, sausages, and more! That’s only half of the fun, though. Another great feature of STACKED is that it allows customers to build their own dishes. Want to create a burger that’s uniquely you? STACKED lets you customize it no end! Simply use the iPad to drag and drop the type of bun, meat, and toppings that you want. The same goes for building your own pizza and salad. Once your party is done ordering, simply tap the “Send to Kitchen” button, and wait for your scrumptious dishes to arrive.

STACKED is also very kid-friendly, as the restaurant offers a wide kids menu with different types of pizzas, burgers, and sausages, as well as classic favorites like mac ‘n’ cheese and fried chicken pieces.

Be sure to save room dessert, because you’d want to get a piece of their tempting sweet courses. Aside from having a yummy dessert menu, STACKED also lets you create your own shakes and ice cream sandwiches! This is the time to get creative, folks—make your taste buds proud!

Some people might get the impression that since STACKED only lets people order via iPads, customers may lose that valuable personal connection with the staff. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The staff members at the restaurant are extremely friendly and attentive, and they’re all more than happy to address and questions or requests. Not everyone may be iPad-savvy at first, and the wait staff does a good job in assisting customers to get the hang of this new high tech way of dining out.

Indeed, if you want to get out of your restaurant or fast food rut, STACKED is definitely worth checking out. It’s a unique restaurant in Cerritos, CA that’s guaranteed to appeal to various types of people. Want to get in touch? Simply call them at 562-376-4300 or shoot an email to info@stacked.com.