Island Business Online

Although an extremely effective method of winning business, promotions require a careful balancing act that even established companies have seen go terribly wrong; here's how to satisfy your customers without damaging your brand, writes the British Chambers of Commerce.

The latest borrowing figures highlight the major challenge that lies ahead for the UK, while positive retail sales hint at a continued recovery, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Brits are embracing mobile shopping faster than their European counterparts, according to data produced by eBay.

Responding professionally to messages from customers can be an all-important deciding factor in winning or retaining business, writes Business Link South East.

A number of Business Link events are planned for August and September covering various aspects of marketing your business.

A recent survey of small business owners revealed that a third saw sales and marketing as an area of weakness in their company, writes Business Link South East.

Generating extra sales doesn't have to be expensive; there are plenty of techniques that can be adopted at little or no cost, writes Business Link South East.

Protecting UK consumers online is the focus of a long-term strategy launched for consultation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Positive retail sales must not lead to complacency, writes the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The value of online sales by small businesses in the UK is estimated to be worth around £50 billion per year, and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) would like to hear from small firms about their online trading experiences and the barriers they face when trading on the internet.

The volume of sales on the high street fell again in June, compared with a year ago, according to the latest CBI (Confederation of British Industry) Distributive Trades Survey, but are expected to recover in July as retailers eye World Cup boost.

With budgets being tightened, businesses are forced to find creative and cost-effective ways of attracting buyers, writes Business Link South East.

The volume of sales on the high street during the last month were lower than a year ago, surprising retailers, according to the latest CBI (Confederation of British Industry) Quarterly Distributive Trades Survey.

Did you know during 2009 UK consumers spent an estimated £38 billion online? This is 12 per cent more than in 2008, writes Business Link South East.

Publishers of Island Business Magazine and Island Business Online, The Knowledge Zone (TKZ), have announced a fantastic May offer of free advertising on the Isle of Wight's number one business website.

Compared with a year earlier retail sales have grown for a third consecutive month, and the high street expects a similar increase in May, reports the CBI (Confederation of British Industry).

The question of "How do I get the most from my marketing budget?" seems to weigh heavy on the minds of small business owners, writes Business Link in the South East.

On Tuesday, 20 April, Business Link are holding a workshop on marketing, taking place at their offices in Newport, Isle of Wight, from 1600 to 2000.

Positive retail sales make it easier to present a credible deficit-reduction plan, reports the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Non-store retailing, which includes internet spending, grew much faster in recent months than other categories of retailing, according to the 16 March Economic Review from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

With more than 6,000 products in stock, and another 30,000 available online for fast delivery, one Island business can justifiably claim to offer its customers plenty of choice, writes Kevin Wilson.

As the Island gets set for another tourist season, the company known as a reliable barometer, says it is 'cautiously optimistic'.

According to research conducted by Harvard Business School over 30 years, the most profitable way to increase your sales revenue is to focus on maximising the value of your existing customers, writes Business Link South East.

The UK high street outperformed its expectations of a flat first half to February by posting the strongest growth in sales volumes in over two years, and further growth is predicted in March, reports the CBI.

A business woman from the Isle of Wight is giving hotel and holiday home owners the perfect incentive to attract visitors ahead of the 2010 spring and summer season.

Ever since the beginnings of the World Wide Web, businesses have understood the value of placing adverts on popular websites, writes Business Link South East.

If sales and marketing have been underperforming, here's how to take a review of your basic processes, writes Business Link South East.

The Solent Innovation and Growth Team (SIGT) have a number of useful events coming up in March, including 'IPR in Software' and 'Winning business for growth: how to prepare compelling proposals'.

If you are selling your products but want to improve your promotional materials without breaking the bank, then this South East Food Group Partnership training day is for you!