The Adventures of an Import/Export Agent

April 23rd, 2012 · · personal, travel No comments - Tags: , , ,

I have talked about everything from the 2012 London Olympics to how to start a small business in my blog lately, but what I haven’t talked about is my adventures as an import/export agent. I deliver consumer goods from all over the world and I’m talking everything from motor cars to the finest coffees known to man. There is nothing like the smell of fresh coffee beans to wake you up in the morning.

Many times, I go on these trips myself just to enjoy the fresh sea air and see what I can see. I have visited many places in my travels and I have to say that most of them have been interesting and all of them have been beautiful. I do have to say that the white sandy beaches of South Carolina have to be my favorite spots. I also have enjoyed the mountains of North Carolina and have seen Mt. Rushmore. I have a penchant for the Grand Canyon and have traveled across the Golden Gate Bridge. Most of my travels have been in the United States and I very much enjoyed visiting the Statue of Liberty and seeing the White House that the American people’s president resides in.

The Empire State Building has also been a favorite stop on my travels and I have swum in the Mississippi. I have relatives in Mississippi so I have spent a lot of time there. I’ve been to Gettysburg and even seen a reenactment of the battle that took place there. I have been to the Bahamas’ and the Gulf of Mexico.

I have even taken a tour of America’s Hollywood and met a few of their famous stars, like Bruce Willis and Johnny Depp. New Mexico is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. Even with all of the traveling I have done, there is still no place like home. I would rather be in London than anywhere else in the world.

When it comes to the best of anything, including import/export and small businesses, or just a place to live, London is the best place to be. I hope you have enjoyed this edition of my blog and I hope to bring you many more in the future. For now, it is time for me to start another journey, this time to pick up goods in Greece.

 

 

How is the UK Recession Affecting Small Business Owners?

April 18th, 2012 · · business No comments - Tags: , , ,

It seems that the small businesses in London are being hit hard by the recession that has affected not only the United Kingdom but the rest of the world as well. The stress and strain of pinching pennies and trying to stay afloat has affected many owners but it doesn’t seem to have dampened their spirits. I have talked quite a few business owners lately that while they are struggling they are hopeful that the year coming up will prove to be lucrative and help them to end the recession.

 

It is going to be a long, hard road for the UK and the small business owners to pull out of the recession but it can be done. This blog is pretty much going to be a ra ra pep rally and a stab at improving everyone’s spirits. The import/export business is going well for me and I want others to be as happy and content with their businesses and their lives as I am.

So it is best to keep a positive attitude to and to look at the statistics as they come in. Most small business owners expect to increase their businesses by at least 50% this year and to overcome the slump that the small business world has fallen into.

The recession has had physical consequences for some, as stress can be a major health hazard. Many small business owners have reported increased headaches, backaches and many other health concerns.

Even with the increased stress, most business owners feel prepared to face the rest of 2012 with hope for a better year. The challenge that seems to face most of the business owners this year are loss of customers, customer loyalty, budget cuts and many other factors that can make or break a business.

It is important however, to make sure that you keep up with your checkups and to see your doctor regularly during these stressful times. You will not do your family or your business any good if you wind up in the hospital and unable to run it or take care of them.

This has been a pretty long pep talk I know, so I am going to end this blog for now. However, I do want to end it on a positive note. Keep your chin up and reach for the stars. Until next time…

Oskar

 

The 2012 London Olympics

April 16th, 2012 · · olympics, sport No comments - Tags: , ,

The Olympics have come to London and everyone is invited. This is the perfect time for small businesses to make themselves known and to drum up some business for themselves. Everyone will want to attend the Olympics and there will be lots of shopping, and eating, in the time between events. So, I am devoting this blog to the 2012 London Olympics and throwing in a few tips to help the small struggling business owners of London.

The Olympics is coming up soon and it is helping my import/export business to thrive already. It is time to take advantage, especially if you own a restaurant or any type of small food or clothing store. Fledging stores should make a killing, and hopefully put themselves on the map, with all of the hype leading up to, during and after the Olympics is over. After all, they have to shop and eat somewhere right. If it is entirely possible, maybe as a small business owner, you can set up a refreshment stand at the Olympics. I know that security is tight and there has been a ban put on bottled water being bought into the stadium, however you can purchase the water in the stadium if you want to.

Passing out flyers, buttons, and other little advertisements in the parking lot of the stadium, which will be packed I assure you, is also a good idea. How about sticking flyers on cars or giving out tiny samples to people going in? I’m not saying that it will make you a fortune but when you are trying to get a small business in the black, every little bit helps.

I myself will be at the Olympics, because I have waited forever to see them. I’m not going to be working but I will certainly buy from any of the local businesses that are being sponsored. Excessive amounts of picnic items and food will be banned as well, but you can buy refreshments inside, which is as I said a perfect way for local businesses to be noticed.

London is a huge city and there will be plenty of competition, so make all of your advertisements count. These are just a few tips for the 2012 London Olympics. If you are a small business owner look me up and be sure to come back and comment on my blog… See you there…

Oskar

 

How to Open a Small Business in London

April 13th, 2012 · · business No comments - Tags: , ,

As England, struggles, along with the rest of the world, to rise above the recent economic crisis small businesses are barely keeping their heads above water. I can’t even begin to count the number of fledgling businesses that I have seen flounder in recent months when with just a little bit of help they could have kept their heads above water. They should have been keeping up with the news when the economy start to falter and when it started its recovery. But that is neither here nor there and I’ll stop with my rant. This blog will focus on how to start a small business, or any business in London.

London as I’ve stated in other blogs is a very busy and profitable city. You can find great success if you mind your p’s and q’s and follow a few simple steps. Location is key to starting your own small business, and you want a spot that is competitive. For example, if you are opening a restaurant then you want a spot where there are no other restaurants serving your brand of food to compete with you, but you want a location with many stores, so you have steady traffic.

The first thing you need to do is to organize a business plan. This involves how much money you will need to get started, how many employees you will need, and how you will pay them when you get started. A sound business plan is the first step in having a successful small business in a big world.

There is plenty of competition in London so you want to choose an original name for your business. You need to choose a name that no other competitor has to make your place stand out above the rest.

You will need to have a budget and stick to it. You will get the necessities that you need to start your business but you have to remember 9 out of 10 businesses run in the red the first year. This is something you need to prepare for and save as much money as possible to cover overhead cost.

After you work out a budget, business plan, and location, it is time to get down to business. You need to file forms 10 and 12 and incorporation documents. Then you need to Inland Revenue and get insurance on your business. If you follow these simple steps and really work hard, your business should be a huge success.

 

Imports and Exports in England

April 10th, 2012 · · business No comments - Tags: , , ,

I decided that this blog should concentrate on what exactly London England, actually England as a whole imports and exports. I was talking to a few local import/export business owners this morning and we were surprised to realize how little that the world really knows about what we do here in our beloved London. Many new businesses would do so much better if they actually knew something about the economy and environment that they will be working in.

Trade is the most important and successful factor of England’s economy and London is the leading center for importing in the United Kingdom. London is not only that however, it is the largest wholesale center as well. Folks that is a lot of importing and exporting. This is a good thing for small business owners as there is much to work with. England has depended on trade and import/export for centuries and it is no different in today’s modern world.

England as an industry produces everything from machine tools and ships to processed food, paper, and paper products. So, a small business owner should have no problem starting out, you just need to know how to keep your head above water, articles such as http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/england/export-import.html are a big help in letting a person wanting to start a business, especially import/export, know where the best place to begin will be.

England’s most common exported products are manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, food, beverages, and tobacco. The most common imported items are manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, and food products. England has many import and export partners.

Since London is a large city, you do have to make sure that you don’t get lost in the shuffle as a small business. I knew one small restaurant that didn’t stay open for six months because the owner knew nothing about the location or London in general. He came in cold turkey from another city and failed miserably because of it. I am here to try and keep that from happening to others. I know how hard it is to get started as a small business owner and how hard it is to keep afloat. Location and money are a huge part of it, but so is personality and what you choose to sell. You wouldn’t open a bookshop in the middle of a library would you? Of course not! Scout out your prospects and then dive in, not dive in and then scout your prospects. Until next time…

Oskar