Planning Tips to Avoid the eCommerce Iceberg
Implementing eCommerce at scale is not for the faint of heart. Yet, with some good eCommerce planning it can be done in phases and reduce both stress and risk.
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Once you attempt to scale any part of the business, you must make that part of the process more efficient. Once you do, you will inevitably find that some other part of your business becomes the limiting factor.
This moving bottleneck problem is true for eCommerce as well.
eCommerce Bottlenecks
Suppose you have a decent retail component […]
Lessons in Business – Communicating 21 Years of Quiet Success
What do you say when someone says, “So, what does your business do?” Communicating what success looks like for your customers is key.
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We don’t sell anything popular like pizza or chocolate. We aren’t spies or secret agents. Or superheroes who wear capes.
For almost 21 years, we’ve run a software and business consulting company that quietly serves other businesses.
This line of business is not as glamourous and sexy as it sounds. Really.
It is complex.
How Communicating Usually Works
Unlike financial planners, real estate […]
When Saying “Be Careful!” Isn’t Enough
It is snowing, and the roads are slippery. One of your team members is about to hit the road, so you say, “Be careful out there!” as they depart.
You are about to head out for a wintry walk on the icy sidewalks of Calgary, and a friend texts, “Be careful!” before you bundle up and head out.
Did your chances of staying safe improve from the well-intended reminder?
The Safety Illusion – Looking Back
I was a relatively confident walker before I […]
How To Profit From Your Business Safety Needs
Entrepreneurs are risk-takers by nature. Often that means putting aside safety but, it doesn’t have to. Thinking a little more like an investor can mitigate risk and build some security into your business.
In my last article, I talked about Maslow’s hierarchy and its impacts on consumers (or overall market), your customers, and the people inside your business.
A business also has a hierarchy of needs distinct from the people in it.
For example, human physiological needs correspond to the parts […]
How to Rescue Your Business with a Little Maslow’s Cat
Maslow’s hierarchy is often expressed as a pyramid and frequently used to explain the basics of human nature based on five levels of needs.
According to established historical lore, ancient Egyptians revered cats. Perhaps pyramids were built to house ancient kings, but that would not have stopped a cat from sitting on the top of one and looking down to watch everyone else.
Cats see things a little differently.
Maslow’s cat can help us better understand those needs […]
How to Fight the Right Fight – Pick a Rising Trend
“A rising tide raises all ships.” ~ John F. Kennedy
The tide is a metaphor for the overall economy. The theory is that if the overall economy is rising, everyone benefits. Conversely, if the tide is falling, everyone suffers.
Yet, is any of this consistently accurate? Does the tide affect every business the same?
Looking Closer at the Trends
To see the overall economy, you have to zoom way out. When you are at this level, you can’t easily see any details.
To find meaning – cause and effect – you […]
Is Honest Communication a Lost Leadership Value?
More and more, we see examples of leadership that are less than stellar – including less than honest communication.
Part of this seems to be a win at all costs mentality where “at all costs” means any way you can – even if that includes lying, bullying, cheating, and changing the rules so you can win.
As someone who spent many years as a leader in the military and 20 years leading a business, I find this disheartening. Crony capitalism and other forms of cheating are not good […]
Sunwapta: What Is Up With All Of The Water?
As we pass our 20th business anniversary for Sunwapta Solutions, I spent some time reflecting on some of the most popular questions we’ve received over the years.
- How did you come up with your company name?
- What’s up with all of the water?
It All Started When
Like all business owners, we spent a lot of time trying to come up with a name that was: interesting, meant something to us, and wasn’t already taken.
After much discussion, I searched a map of Alberta and landed on Sunwapta as a […]
Surviving in a Crisis Requires Facing the Truth
Hiding from the truth will not serve you well, especially during a health and economic crisis like a pandemic.
Your business is always at risk. Maybe the threat is not immediate.
However, markets change. Products become obsolete. Often, a new competitor emerges. Tastes change. Often change is gradual. Sometimes it is relatively sudden. At times it is local in nature, and sometimes it is a global phenomenon.
Surprises happen. A squirrel shorts […]
19 Years – Our Big Mistakes Are Your Powerful Lessons
A little over 19 years ago, my two business partners and I set off on the entrepreneurial journey that became Sunwapta Solutions. Over the years, we’ve had some successes, made some (costly) mistakes, and sometimes learned a few things.
People typically don’t learn much from easy success, aside from a false sense of security and overconfidence. Nor do they believe they will make the same mistakes you did – until they do.
I can’t prevent you from making any mistakes. Nor […]