The Wow Blog

The Budget 2010 - What does it mean for small businesses?

2010-06-24T19:31:00.000+01:00

As the dust begins to settle on the Emergency Budget, we've sifted through the detail and have put together Wow's take on it all. Click here to find out how it will affect you, as a small business owner.

What do you think about George Osborne's first Budget? Check out Wow's twitter page and let us know what you think here.

Wow Summer Celebration

2010-06-24T19:29:00.000+01:00

On 16th June, members and guests of the Wow Network met for the annual Wow Summer Celebration. Martin Palethorpe from The Pragma Group delivered a rousing and thought-provoking speech on 'High Performance Lessons from the Arctic' and gave motivating insights from his 2007 race to the North Pole. Martin has a deep-rooted passion for challenging and inspiring himself and others to achieve extraordinary performance, which made him the perfect speaker.

Find out more here.

Tax Investigations: Would you be covered?

2010-06-24T19:26:00.001+01:00

Read our article on fee protection insurance to find out how you can be protected.

www.thewowcompany.com/fee-protection.htm

Forget about the weather...... Summer is here!

2010-06-24T19:23:00.003+01:00

The Wow Newsletter

Summer 2010

Read the Summer issue of the Wow Newsletter, your update from The Wow Company.

www.thewowcompany.com/summer-newsletter.htm

Lessons to learn from the election

2010-05-07T18:28:00.001+01:00

Now that the election is over and we are faced with the prospect of a hung Parliament, are there any lessons that small businesses can learn from the politicians? Wow Network members certainly think so and debated this at the recent Election Fever event on Tuesday.....

Click here to read the full article.

Spring clean your business - top tips to help you prune your business ready for growth

2010-04-29T19:22:00.001+01:00

www.thewowcompany.com/spring-clean-your-business.htm

One week to go...

2010-04-27T19:51:00.002+01:00

Have you booked you ticket for the hottest event in town?

Election Fever, Tuesday 4th May at The Holiday Inn, Eastleigh, 5.45pm to 8pm

The political parties are working hard to get our votes, using a combination of tried-and-tested methods and new, innovative techniques. But, what are you doing to ensure your customers continue to pick you over your competition? This event is an opportunity to rate your customers' allegiance using the Wow Swingometer, as we debate what small businesses can learn from the politcal parties about leadership, inspiring loyalty, connecting with people and creating life-long supporters.

If you are a business owner and would like to attend, e-mail sian.jackson@thewowcompany.com

Marathon Man Mabbutt

2010-04-13T20:51:00.005+01:00

With just days left until Wow's Financial Planner Geoffrey Mabbutt prepares to embark upon his first marathan.......find out his top tips on staying motivated here!

Good luck Geoff!

What Can We Learn From Highly Successful Business Owners?

2010-01-14T08:51:00.003Z

Wow have experience of working with successful businesses and believe there are some common characteristics that the top performing companies all share. In the December issue of The Wow Newsletter we asked you to give us your top habits of highly successful business owners. We’ve combined the results with our experience to bring you the top habits of highly successful business owners.

1. Invest time and money in your team and yourself
Highly successful business owners recognise the importance of building a strong team and motivating and developing their team and themselves through personal and professional development. Make sure you instil the same passion you have for your business in your employees. It’s important to make sure you have the right team who live and breathe your company’s vision, know where you want to take the business and the role they play in this.

2. Be Decisive
Successful business owners aren’t afraid to make decisions and to take risks. Your team will respect your decisions much more if you show confidence. Small businesses don’t have the bureaucracy or decision-making hierarchy that bigger businesses have – so be confident, don’t be afraid of making a few mistakes along the way....and most importantly BE DECISIVE!

3. Get Organised
It sounds simple, but you need the systems in place to allow you and your team to work efficiently and you need to be organised! Whether it’s your IT systems, your HR infrastructure or your CRM software that’s holding you back or making you less efficient – make 2010 the year you change this.

4. Look after your customers and clients
Never forget your existing customers, make them feel loved, keep in contact and never be complacent that you have their business. Make sure you have regular meaningful contact with your customers. Your customers are the life-blood of your business and nobody needs to be reminded about the cost-savings in retaining existing customers versus getting new ones!

5. Have a life!
Highly successful business owners know it’s also important to have a life outside of their business. Make time for your personal life and take a step back from your business. It will make you a happier and more successful person!

Do you agree? Post your comment now!

Events with the Wow Factor in 2010!

2010-01-07T11:29:00.001Z

2010 already looks like an exciting year for networking events, take a look at our 2010 calendar of events....there's something for everyone!

The Pre-Budget 2009: Wow’s Verdict

2009-12-09T16:33:00.003Z

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling has insisted in the Pre-Budget report that although the recession has been the worst in modern history, the UK economy is on track to recover and will return to growth next year. The plan is to halve the deficit in four years, with a new levy on bonuses for bankers and an increase in National Insurance of 0.5%. The Pre-Budget report was focused on building a stronger economy, but what does this mean for small businesses and where will the cuts come from to fund this growth? You can read the key points here.

What are your thoughts on today's Budget? Please click on the comments icon below to share your thoughts or to ask Wow any questions relating to the Budget.

Wow Selected as Finalists in Prestigious National Awards

2009-09-17T14:53:00.002+01:00

Hampshire-based Accountancy firm, The Wow Company, has been selected from a record number of entries to become finalists in the prestigious Accountancy Age Awards. Wow are one of only 5 companies nationally to be shortlisted for the ‘Small Firm of the Year’ category, and are the only company in Hampshire to be put forward as finalists within this category.

The Wow Company will find out the outcome of the award at the Accountancy Age awards ceremony on 18th November at Battersea Park Arena in London. Editor of Accountancy Age, Gavin Hinks stated ‘It has been a very competitive selection process with a lot of high-quality entries, and those who have made the shortlist can be justifiably proud of their achievement.’

Managing director of The Wow Company, Paul Bulpitt stated ‘we’re really proud of being selected as finalists for such a prestigious award. With our blend of Accountancy, Business Advice and Financial Planning, we believe our offering for small business owners in the South of England is completely unique. Being shortlisted for this award really is testament to the hard work of the whole Wow team’

Wow is the market-leading firm of Accountants advising growing businesses in the South of England. The company was formed in 2004 and Wow now has 13 staff, over 140 clients and is continuing to grow and take on additional clients despite the recession. Wow is passionate about helping businesses grow whatever the market conditions, offering a unique approach to Accountancy, Financial Planning and Business Advice. For further information go to www.thewowcompany.com or call 0845 201 1582.

Back to Business - 15th September 2009

2009-09-17T14:33:00.003+01:00

At the 6th event of the year, members of the Wow Network met to discuss useful hints and tips to help get motivated for the final push before the end of the year.

Although we are starting to see the green shoots of recovery in some sectors, it’s still important to keep focused on the basics. In particular:

Business model –Get those spreadsheets out. Look at profitability. If you expand this…… will it work? Or are you expanding something that is unprofitable, over-complicated, difficult to leverage?

Positioning – Is your current offering still relevant to the market? Do you need to reassess this? How are you positioned compared to your competition?

Cash management – keep hold of it! Forecast, have a credit control procedure.

Your team – have you got the right people on the bus to re-commence your journey. Get this right now, before you start off!

Your influences - Do you have anyone challenging you? Have you considered MD swap? We discussed the importance of having positive influences at the secret to success event in May – having a mentor/ someone to bounce ideas off.

100 days until Christmas - What do you want to achieve by Christmas? What do you need to be focusing on? If you would like to be sent Wow's 100 Day Focus Plan, please email sian.jackson@thewowcompany.com

What changes have you made since the beginning of the year? Have you started to see signs of recovery in your industry? Post your comment now!

Recommendations

2009-07-01T08:46:00.006+01:00

One suggestion for the Wow Blog has been an area for you to recommend motivational books and business books you have read that others may be interested in.

Here are some books Wow would recommend:

Automatic Wealth: The Six Steps to Financial Independence

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Fish!: A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results

If there are any books you would like to recommend, please post a comment below:

The Wow Network Summer BBQ

2009-07-01T08:30:00.003+01:00

On 25th June 2009, members of The Wow Network met at the annual Wow BBQ in the gardens of the Royal Winchester Hotel. One of the topics debated on the night was collaboration and the importance of building alliances with other companies and collaborating on new or existing projects. This is even more important during these economic times.

Post your comments on the BBQ below:

Vote for Added Value

2009-06-04T08:53:00.003+01:00

Inspired by the forthcoming local elections today, The Wow Company is launching a “Vote for Added Value” campaign to encourage Hampshire business owners to review their suppliers to ensure they are receiving added value. To find out if you getting real value from your supplier click here.

How do you identify added value? What makes a profitable long-term supplier relationship? Post your comment below to have your say!

Secret to Success Series

2009-05-21T14:07:00.006+01:00

On 20th May, members of the Wow Network met to hear from two inspirational speakers: Avril Owton MBE, owner of The Cloud Hotel at Brockenhurst in The New Forest and Paul Thomas, Director of leading direct marketing agency, Market Makers.

A couple of key points that we took away from last night: Paul Thomas's concept of asking "Does this make the boat go faster?" This is a great way of looking at what you are doing right now and asking yourself, is it really helping you get where you want to be?

One of Avril Owton's secrets to success is "whatever you're planning to do, think fast, plan fast and act fast", which is arguably never more important than in today's economic climate.

Read more about their talks here.

Top tips for becoming wealthy

2009-05-08T13:59:00.004+01:00

At Wow, we work with ambitious people who have a strong desire to get wealthy and we are often asked the best way to do this.......The fact is, there is no single way to become rich – but there are a number of habits that people who are good at building wealth tend to have in common. These give them an almost super-natural ability to build wealth.

Read our article on the top 5 habits of wealthy people here.

To find out about the remaining habits, Wow recommends you read Automatic Wealth: The 6 Steps to Financial Independence by Michael Masterton......

For your chance to win a free copy of this book, post a comment on your top tip to becoming wealthy below:

The Budget 2009

2009-04-22T15:08:00.006+01:00

There has been much speculation about the Budget that the Chancellor, Alistair Darling delivered just a few hours ago. But what are the key points from today and how will these changes impact upon small businesses?

To find out Wow's verdict on the Budget and what it really means for you, please click here.

What are your thoughts on today's Budget? Please click on the comments icon below to share your thoughts or to ask Wow any questions relating to the Budget.

Top tips to beat the recession...

2009-04-17T14:45:00.003+01:00

On 22nd April members of the Wow Network met to discuss Wow's 77 Ways to Grow Your Business in 2009. This was focused on creating a plan, getting more from your staff, reviewing your target market, adapting your products and services for today, using your existing customers and much more....

We want to find out from you what your top tips for beating the recession are, whether it's a great marketing campaign, tips for cutting costs or generating more awareness of your products and services.....

Please click on the comments icon below to share your thoughts. What are you doing differently in 2009 to help you beat the recession?

Director of Sunday Times Top 100 Company and leading Businesswoman Avril Owton MBE talk to The Wow Network

2009-04-17T11:12:00.004+01:00

Wednesday 20th May at The Holiday Inn, Eastleigh from 5.15pm - 8.15pm

There is nothing quite like hearing from someone who has already achieved significant success in building a business! Join us to hear from Paul Thomas, Director of Sunday Times Top 100 Company Market Makers and Avril Owton MBE, the inspirational owner of The Cloud Hotel at Brockenhurst.

To find out more about the speakers, click here.

Wow members can attend the event without charge, tickets are available for guests at £15+VAT. To book your ticket contact sian.jackson@thewowcompany.com or call Sian on 0845 201 1582

The Big Wow Marketing Debate

2009-04-17T11:11:00.002+01:00

On 2nd March members of the Wow Network met to discuss the ingredients of a winning marketing strategy and what really works for small businesses. Many exciting ideas and hints and tips were shared on the evening, from a wide variety of industries.

To read these hints and tips click here.

Welcome to the Wow Blog!

2009-04-17T09:39:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the Wow Blog, which gives you the chance to comment and read about the issues that are affecting growing businesses today and to hear from like-minded businesses owners.