Is it a good marketing practice, especially with the holidays coming up, to run a CASH ONLY sale? -

If we are making hand over fist next Friday, but most customers pay with debit/credit cards, isnt that rewarding the banks more than the business itself?

Jason, this plan sounds more like a strategy to market yourself onto the scrap heap. I rarely like concepts that make it harder for customers to complete transactions. Taking away the way most consumers like to pay doesn t seem like much of an idea for them to connect with your business. What is the value proposition for them? (By the way, business owners who aren t constantly asking themselves that last question don t have much a future.) Customers don t care if you have to pay bank fees for card use; all they care about is making their transactions quicker and easier.That said, if you could turn it into a positive for buyers, I could warm to this idea. For instance, you might think about setting aside a certain segment of your merchandise and slashing prices with a cash-only caveat. You could select slow-moving or low-margin products, sort of a close-out for those armed with cash. That way, customers could feel that they are winning as you win too.

On it sites are good top links for decisions of your problem http://infobusiness1.notlong.com/9AAe43D

Why identify customers needs? -

By identifying anticipating their needs you re in a better position to make them feel comfortable and taken care of.It s the initiative that puts one company (agency) apart and above others.

Success comes from filling the Customer s needs. When you understand your client s needs you are more likely to:Know what and why the client is buying.Tailor you customer approach to match why and what they are buying.This will allow you to SELL your product or service faster,more often and at a better price-making more money. The most successful understand what is motivating the client and sell a solution or answer to their needs and wants on an emotional basis.

To understand your client s needs you are more likely to:

If you identify what your customer needs you would be able to provide better services and not annoy them more. as my friends say it s better to have something more than enough, than not enough at all :D

I guess they don t teach critical thinking skills in school anymore

to recognize demand and plan

to fulfil them

What is the best way to buy a commercial espresso machine? -

Looking to learn about the best way to buy or lease an espresso machine in the Atlanta area. I guess any Georgia Coffee Commercial Supplier tips will help.

Here check out this local company. http://www.brugnetti.com They have a repair service if your machine need fixed. A warehouse club will not have the machine you will need.

No restaurant supply warehouses in your area? Atlanta is a very big city with suburbs, gotta have at least one of those...

What are some pros and cons of owning a business that installs solar panels? -

im doing a business plan at school for solar panel installations. Best answer 10 points....CMON PEOPLE there has to be someone that knows

Its an illuminating experienceYou bring light into peoples lives

Present market, relatively immune to economic downturn, as generally only the rich install panels.When the economy turns around, potential for huge growth.Oversupply of people that will want to work for you, at least for now.Low barriers to entry - your competition will be every penny-ante installer working out of a garage that could pass the licensing test. Look at the stock chart of Akeena (AKNS) - it s hard to get big and compete with the small shops. Growth could be limited unless you can add value in some other business model.A solar panel system is capital-intensive. If your business model is to simply install panels that someone else supplies, you avoid this problem. But then, any monkey can do what your shop does, dirt cheap. If you intend to go after the customers that are cash-poor, you will need to carry the cost of the system, or somehow arrange financing. If your business model is not all-cash-up-front, then you will have to carry the cost of the panels and equipment for a short time before you get paid. It s customary not to pay a contractor the full amount up front. You may need start-up cash to purchase the equipment.

Can I trace a customer via a credit card receipt for non-payment of an item? -

A customer bought an item from my shop and also borrowed another item to see if it looked ok in their home, the agreement being that they would phone the shop to confirm the purchase or else just return the item in question. As neither has happened I feel I may have been conned. I have the merchant copy of the receipt for the other purchase but what are the guidelines and is it possible to debit money from their account?

Use the information from your copy and put a charge through for what they owe you. If they challenge it you can then submit your proof as best you can. It is worth a shot anyway.

How do I build a vending machine? -

I need help building a vending machine similar to the snack and soda machines that are in malls. I need a list of the specific materials to build it and instructions for assembly. Or pointing me in the direction of a website with this information? Thanks

Huh? Why would you build one when you can simply buy them.

Why would someone wanting to start a business wish to become a subway* franchisee? -

*subway (the sandwich shop)

I can t see why anyone at this point in the game would want to. The individual owners are making the smallest profit margins than ever due to the $5 foot long. I read in Newsweek that leaves a profit of 1.38 a sandwich, which is not a lot. If you sell 100 sandwiches in a day, you ve only made $138 profit for the day.On top of that, most small to medium size cities already have at least one, if not two or more. The internal competition coupled with external competition and pricing makes it a very risky venture.

A little birdy told me that her store sells roughly 60 sandwiches an hour during the busy hours of the day and anywhere from 20-45 sandwiches all other hours that day.. if your in a crappy location i might believe just 100 sandwiches in a day but around here its way more.. WAAAAY more.. Report Abuse