Critical Small Business Decision #7: Stock Inventory Or Dropship Product For Your Online Store

Planning on an Internet storefront? Every small business owner needs to take these things into consideration when laying the foundation of a "click and order" operation.

Keywords:

wholesale,dropship,drop ship,small business,home based business,work from home

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Starting a business online could be much quicker than starting one offline. However, as a small business owner, you need to be prepared to spend a fair amount of time and energy to make your business profitable. After all, that is why you're going into business isn't it?

An online business is still one of the greatest work from home business opportunities on the planet. You may even have a grand vision for an online store, but find yourself struggling to handle the basic details of getting your store up and running. One essential detail is selecting the products you will use to "stock" your store. You will also have to decide if you want to keep an inventory or want to use dropshipping. Starting a store online can be as challenging as starting one offline, but it if you understand what's involved, this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. By identifying and using the right resources, you can make your start-up a smooth one.

The key to having a profitable online presence instead of just another online enterprise is creating or locating good quality products that you can sell for a profit. One way to do this is through drop shipping. Drop shipping allows small business owners, like you to establish a professional relationship with vendors who wholesale the products you want to sell. These vendors will ship customer orders directly to them rather than you having to stock inventory and do the product fulfillment yourself.

Prior to opening your store, it is critical to have the foundation of your business firmly established. Organization must be an integral part of this process. As your list of vendors and dropshippers increases, you should have all of their contact information in a convenient location for easy access. Don't short-circuit this part of the process, it is amazing how much time you can save by being organized and by having established contacts within your product market. Take the time you need to build your store right from the ground up and business will virtually run itself in due time.

A number of factors will contribute to the ultimate success of your business whether that business is online or offline. The Internet, especially, is often viewed as a way to "get rich quick" rather than as a way to build a good business with a greater reach. You will get out of your business what you decide to put into it. Today's technology allows small business owners to build their businesses faster, but it

Critical Guidelines You Need to Know Before Hiring Anyone

We don't like to think about people doing harm to ourselves or others. The reality, however, is that we live in a country with one of the highest rates of financial crimes, including embezzlement, fraud, theft, etc. And, that's just the beginning.

Keywords:

employment screening,hiring,background checks

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We don’t like to think about people doing harm to ourselves or others.  The reality, however, is that we live in a country with one of the highest rates of financial crimes, including embezzlement, fraud, theft, etc.  And, that’s just the beginning. 
 
Let’s look at just a few statistics on what the FBI reports is the fastest growing crime in the US - employee theft:

·         US Chamber of Commerce reports that $50 billion dollars are lost annually due to employee theft and fraud and that 20% of all businesses fail due to the same reason.

·         According to an Ernst & Young Report, "White Collar Crime:  Loss Prevention through Internal Control" companies lose 1% to 2% of its sales to crime -- most committed by, or in collusion with, employees.

Employee theft, negligent hiring, sexual harassment, and workers’ compensation fraud are just a few of the liabilities an employer has to face in today’s hiring environment. 
 
For example, an Arizona Fitness Club hired an unscreened applicant which resulted in the rape and murder of a female patron while she lounged in the sauna.
 
Is it any wonder that employment screening has become mandatory?  Not only do you want to avoid hiring criminals, don’t you want to hire the right candidate who is most qualified for the job?  All of this information can be ascertained through a proper background check from a company that knows what they are doing, and/or which can supplement an already existent screening program.
 
Critical Tips When Choosing an Employment Screening Company

When choosing an employment screening firm, look for longevity first with a track record that can be verified with numerous references from clients.  Also look for professional memberships in organizations such as ASIS, SHRM, PIHRA, NPRRA, NAPBS, to name just a few. 
 
Do you have a complete knowledge of employment law?  If not, your screener should know the laws involving the background screening process.  It helps, if the firm you hire has an acute knowledge of “negligent hiring,” much in the way that an Expert Witness might know, since it will be the expert witness who exposes the shortcomings of any hiring loophole which created the environment for the negligently hired employee to have come aboard in the first place! 
 
Intimate, thorough and long-term knowledge of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is necessary, as well as the ability to testify for you in a court of law if need be – or even better, keep you out of court!
 
Does the prospective screener have knowledge and understanding of current HR Management systems?  How about corporate Due Diligence programs or Factual Employment Screening programs that train people to find fraudulent applications and false identities?
 
In short, can your vendor help keep you from unwanted litigation?  Unless you or someone in your company is an expert in employment law, you are putting your company at significant risk.  If you are using any of the multitudes of online databases that have become available recently, it’s not likely you are protected. 
 
Not only do these companies decrease your risk of exposure, they may even add to it.  For example, let’s say you are currently using an employment screener who does not require you to provide a signed release for each applicant.  Sounds relatively harmless, doesn’t it? 
 
The truth is what these companies have done is had you waive liability to them when you signed up for an account so they can avoid the time and effort it takes involved in this critical step.  In the case of an audit, your company is responsible for producing a signed application and therefore liable if you don’t have one on file.  A good employment screener provides signatures for these audits and you’ll never even know when they occur.  A typical lawsuit of this nature could cost your company six figures.   Can you think of any good reason to take this kind of risk?
 
Join us again in the next issue and we’ll expose several common myths about background checks and give you the real facts such as what you must have including: a thorough candidate identification process, financial and driving history and hand-researched criminal court records.  We’ll also show you how to use this information to make the best hiring decisions.

Getting Along with Critical People

We all have to deal with critical people at times. You know the type - the person who can spot a flaw from across the room, gives unsolicited advice, frequently complains and passes judgment, is negative and seems impossible to please. It can be quite challenging to get along with a critic, especially when we live, work or attend church with them. Learn practical strategies to help you get along better with critical people.

Keywords:

critical people, relationships, relationship at work, conflict resolution, difficult people, interpersonal relationships, relate well

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We all have to deal with critical people at times. You know the type - the person who can spot a flaw from across the room, gives unsolicited advice, frequently complains and passes judgment, is negative and seems impossible to please.

We can all be critical. Every day, we literally critique everything that goes on around us consciously and unconsciously. Unfortunately, some people tend to verbalize the thoughts many of us have learned to keep to ourselves. When things don't go our way or we're in a bad mood it is easy to become critical. It's true, miserable people prefer miserable company. Critical people actually feel better around others who share the same negative attitudes. Before we spend time learning how to cope with other people's critical traits let's make sure we have our own well under control.

It can be quite challenging to get along with a critic, especially when we live, work or attend church with them. Here are 10 tips to help you get along better with critical people.

1. Understand what motivates people to be critical

Hurting people hurt people. Most critics were criticized themselves as children and did not develop the sense of security and healthy identity that can come from positive nurturing. They tend to have a low opinion of themselves and consequently feel best (although often frustrated) when attempting to achieve the unrealistic standards they set for themselves and others. Critics are often motivated by the need to feel better about themselves by putting other people down. Understanding their motivation can help us to develop empathy and compassion - two qualities that will help you get along with critical people.

2. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water

Although critical people often lack diplomacy and tact, they also tend to be able to size up people and situations accurately. You may be tempted to discount what you hear, but listen carefully to what they say because there is often valuable information underneath the sharp edges of the message.

3. Be willing to confront your critic

It is not easy to confront interpersonal problems, but it is typically the best approach. Be willing to tell the critic in your life how you feel about the way they interact with you. This won't guarantee change, however, by expressing your thoughts and feelings you are in a better position to manage your own emotions and behaviors. Emotional expression will decrease your chances of growing embittered, and consequently, doing or saying something you'll regret.

4. Focus on the truth not on the criticism

If someone puts you down, fight the temptation to dwell on the criticism. If there is something you can learn from the message, do so, but then move on. Instead of dwelling on the negative comment focus on the gifts, talents and strengths that you possess.

5. Be careful about what you share with the critical person

It's not always wise to share personal or important information with a critic about yourself or anyone else. Providing such information is asking for trouble because critical people often take things out of context, misinterpret or exaggerate information and place a negative spin on ideas or opinions. Learn how to discern what you should and should not reveal. When in doubt, don’t share.

6. Don't join in on criticizing others

It can be easy to fall into the trap of criticizing others when you're around a critical person. Joining in on the criticism only serves to legitimize the behavior in the mind of the critic, and the transition into gossip is close behind. Today the criticism is about someone else - tomorrow it could be directed toward you.

7. Limit the amount of time you spend with critical people

It may be very appropriate to limit the amount of time you spend with a critic. This, of course, can be difficult if they happen to be your spouse, parent or boss. However, it may be in your best interest to let the person know that your level of interaction with them will be based, in part, on their willingness to communicate with you in a constructive and appropriate manner. If the critic is your spouse you may benefit from consulting with a professional marriage counselor.

8. Control your response to critical people

Pay close attention to how you respond to criticism. If you tend to react with anger, hurt or intimidation, you will encourage the critical behavior. Critical people are often motivated to behave the way they do because of the response they trigger in others. When you learn to not overreact, the critic will likely move on to someone who will.

9. Try to understand the needs of the critical person

The emotional "gas tank" of a critical person is often very low. Criticism is sometimes an outward expression of an inward need - usually the need to feel worthwhile and significant. It is surprising how a sincere compliment, congratulations or demonstration of care and concern can improve your relationship. People with full emotional tanks are the least likely to mistreat others.

10. Maintain realistic expectations

Critical people don't change overnight. Even if they are making positive progress, they are likely to revert back to their old ways from time to time, especially under stress. Realistic expectations will help guide your interactions and will likely result in a healthier relationship.