Survey Indicates Better Times Locking In

Last week the Burlington Chamber (ON) of Commerce announced the results of their 2010 Economic Forecast survey of members. With a wide range of business types reporting the results are very encouraging. 92% of the respondents forecast that the economy will be the same or better than 2009 in the coming year. Of course that sounds kind of discouraging when you reflect on how tough 2009 has been for many businesses. But the great part of that number is that 62% said it will be better than 2009 in 2010 and only 7% predicted a worse prospect.

When asked about their own businesses, over 63% predict a better year in 2010 and only 11% are expecting a worse year. There are sectors who have been hit harder than others, most notably exporters and some retailers. We can hope as the market gains momentum that their impacts will be mitigated as well.

Interesingly the number one external factor that is rated to have the biggest impact on businesses of all types (almost 50%) is consumer confidence. With some employment improvements and continued low interest rates this should be a more positive situation and their predictions have a good chance to come true.

One of the real fears that everyone has is the potential for tax increases due to the massive deficits that governments are racking up. The only saving grace here is the low interest component of this debt and with discipline we should be able to start to see governments leveling out their spending soon.

So as we enter the Holiday Season we actually have much to celebrate on the economic front...and we can all continue to work to consolidate the positives in the year ahead...

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a very Prosperous, Safe and Happy New Year

Lee K

Keep Working At Progress

Its been a while since I have had the time to add much to the blog, but that does not mean that there has been nothing happening. We find that more and more we are talking to clients and others who are saying that they are experiencing positive business growth. Many have taken new roads to keep moving forward and have looked for new avenues of opportunity.

Rather than bemoaning the difficult parts of their business they have looked to the components which have weathered the changes more solidly and redoubled their efforts to support these clients and to find more clients like them. Keeping in contact with this part of there opportunity base can pay dividends. Also, it is a time when many suppliers are looking for ways to move their products through the channel, so buying opportunities can be found which may make it possible to open up new routes to market.

Is it easy? No. Can it be done. Yes, many organizations are finding the ways to make it happen. It takes putting the effort in, thinking about alternative ways to move forward and perhaps shedding some of what you used to do. In the end you can be faster, stronger and have better results as a bi-product of shifting your focus to the places in your business where the best potential lies.

Keep up the hard work.

Lee K

Creative Advertising Can Win Growth in a Recession

One of the truisms which is around is that those organizations which invested responsibly in their advertising and marketing activities in past recessions came out of the recession stronger and with growth as compared to their competitors who retrenced. A recent article in the BNET news feed regarding activities undertaken by Hyundia in the past few months deals with exactly this topic. While some competitors have been forced to retrench and reduce their activity, Hyundia has taken advantage of the opportunities presented to grow its market share, introduce new models and win converts to the brand.
To read more you can go to http://www.bnet.com/2403-13240_23-346169.html?promo=713&tag=nl.e713

On a personal note we are driving our second Hyundia and our daughter & son in law are driving one too. They have been reliable, comfortable and decent vehicles. I can understand why they have been able to win market share...the vehicles offer a lot of value for the money.

It will be interesting to watch in the next couple of years to see how Hyundia does as other brands come back to the market more aggressively, but for now they seem to have become winners out of a tough situation.

Lee K

Its Official - The Recession is Over

We heard it fromthe Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Head of the US Federal Reserve...the third quarter is going to have a positive economic result in both Canada and the US. So what are you doing in your company to make sure you are contributing to this result. Are you talking to more clients? Are you putting on some better promos? Have you introduced some new products or services? How about trying some new web tactics? Whatever you do that can improve your operations, your market prescence and your business will also be a piece of making sure that the recession is really over.

We're going to keep the blog going for a bit longer to be sure that we can tell all of the wonderful stories about the turnaround...and then maybe we will rename it and start looking at how we make sure we all participate in the good times ahead.

Kepp up the good work!

Lee K

Even car sales appear to be improving

One of the biggest stories of the recession period has been what the last twelve months have done to the auto industry. Long the darling of manufacturing and seen as an industry that constantly spun off billions in profits, auto manufacturing has been hardest hit throughout most of North America and potentially worldwide. A few niche players, such as Hyundia and Audi seem to have held on and even grown their markets in Canada, but almost every other manufacturer has been negatively hit.



We are now seeing stories of some of the auto markets returning to better times. Fewer stories about dealerships restructuring or closing...less about subsidies, (wouldn't we all like a few billion from government for our businesses), and more about product being bought by the public because they see some value in the delivery.



In our business, office technologies, we still see clients taking longer to make decisions when they buy, but if the product is matched to their real needs then we see purchases being made. Usually it is all about productivity...will the new product or service help their employees deliver value better and faster. Seems to me that this is a good by product of the pressure we face. Clients should be able to expect to be ahead after their purchase...in quality of delivery, in productivity and in reliability. Aren't these the kinds of base values which makes any of us smile when we buy. Why should it be any different for business?



Lee K

Bank of Canada Says Recession in Canada is Over

Today's newspaper had a banner headline quoting the Bank of Canada Monitary Report, http://www.bank-banque-canada.ca/en/mpr/pdf/2009/mpr230709.pdf, which declares that for the current quarter they are predicting modest GROWTH. While it won't be a banner, it will be positive. Ford Motor Company, in the same paper was reported to have a profitable quarter in the past quarter, and not all of the profit was due to cost cutting and other structural changes. Much of the success has been winning business from other car companies who are in tougher shape and who have lost consumer confidence.



Speaking of consumer confidence....what do we think these kinds of headlines will do for it? We know that a large part of the problems we have faced have been due to the "chicken little syndrome", but in fact the ski has not fallen and many people, businesses and organizations are weathering and even prospering in the current environment. Let's keep up the effort; continue to seek new solutions to the issues we face and let's celebrate an upturn which we can all make a solid win.



Congratulations Bank of Canada for calling it early. Congratulations media for finally reporting the good news. Congratulations to everyone who has not given up and has worked to make things better economically.



Lee K

A Whole Page of Positive Headlines

Its been a bit of time since our last entry, primarily because I have been on the road and a short couple of days of vacation time...and it is great to be able to post again with a continued positive outlook.
I noted in the business section of the local newspaper today (The Spec) that the whole main business page had positive focused headlines. What a change six months can make. The most positive article of them all predicted that we could see an actual change from recessionary data to a positive growth of up to 2.7 % in the next quarter. Now that is a pretty significant change that would have a real impact on people's perception of their world.
So if you have been wondering if the steps you have been taking to creatively respond to today's economic picture are worthwhile....take this stat to heart and keep on trucking.

Lee K