Lori Williams

36 posts
Fund
Read More

Discount Strategy Causes Financial Problems

The internet allows consumers to do quick price comparisons.  For companies that sell similar products/services pricing becomes front-of-mind for the consumer. In response, many business owners lower prices to get the customer in the door....
Penguins
Read More

Employees are your Best Messenger

In larger companies new employees receive a welcome packet upon hiring. In addition to the standard employee HR forms there is usually documentation detailing the history of the company. More importantly, there is often a...
Lori Williams
Read More

A Rock Climbers View of Business Risk

As a business consultant I am painfully aware of the inherent risk in starting/growing a company. I work with entrepreneurs from cradle to grave; of course hoping the grave refers to a planned sale or...
strategic planning
Read More

Strategic Planning –A Crucial Component of Business Planning

Companies often have trouble maintaining growth, even in favorable economic conditions. The modern business landscape is ever changing:  The information highway remains supercharged; technology continues to develop at warp speed; distribution channels change unexpectedly; and...
Sales
Read More

Lessons Learned from a Childhood Lemonade Stand

Small towns are inherently entrepreneurial. Family owned businesses support the local community rather than the typical big city retail chains. I grew up in a small rural community with approximately 2000 people at the time...
Business Model
Read More

Where Did My Business Model Go?

In 1942 Joseph Schumpeter in his work entitled “Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy” coined the phrase “Creative Destruction” defined as a “process of industrial mutation that incessantly revolutionizes the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the...
Penguins
Read More

What are your Employees Saying?

In larger companies new employees receive a welcome packet upon hiring. In addition to the standard employee HR forms there is usually documentation detailing the history of the company. More importantly, there is often a...
Strategy
Read More

Planning Your Company’s Growth

In order to survive long-term, companies must develop a unique and sustainable competitive advantage—what will set your company apart from your competitors. Additionally, independent of size or time in business, companies have limited resources for...
Sales Pitch
Read More

Create a Selling Organization

Argumentatively sales is the lifeblood of a company. However, if not properly staffed and managed the sales department can also be a liability. In smaller organizations, the sales department is often understaffed, consisting of the...
Lori Williams
Read More

How to Fail

[1353 words | 6 minute read] It has been over two decades since I started my first company at age 25. My early years in business were emotionally draining. I wrestled with every decision, second...
Read More

Are your Financial Relationships in Harmony?

Companies are dynamic organizations with a myriad of business functions occurring simultaneously. In order for a company to grow, business functions must operate synergistically to produce an output that is in excess of the input....
Business Risk
Read More

The Risks of Ascent

[2196 words | 8 minute read] As a business consultant I am painfully aware of the inherent risk in starting/growing a company. I work with entrepreneurs from cradle to grave; of course hoping the grave...