Daily Archives: January 14, 2025

How to Optimize Small Business Operations for Increased Efficiency

Operational efficiency is vital to business growth. It helps business owners increase productivity while reducing costs and improving customer experiences. However, tight budgets and limited resources often make it difficult for small businesses to increase their operational efficiency. 
You must explore simple strategies with significant impact to overcome this challenge. This article recommends five simple yet effective strategies for small businesses to increase operational efficiency for sustained growth. 
1. Streamline your Processes
Streamlining and simplifying your processes is an important step toward achieving operational efficiency in a small business. It involves identifying and eliminating inefficiencies, redundancies, and bottlenecks in your business process. This results in significant money and time saving. 
The first step in streamlining your business processes is documenting your workflow for a holistic view of your entire process. Then, analyze your processes to discern areas for improvement. Finally, implement the necessary changes to standardize your processes. 
2. Integrate Technology 
Leveraging technology is an excellent way to implement continuous improvement. Technological integration does not refer to a systems overhaul; instead, it is a method of improving existing systems and processes with new technology. 
Adopting modern technology helps your business reduce human error, optimize resources, and make more data-driven decisions. Modern technology can also automate your processes, especially repetitive tasks. This strategy saves time and labor and directly improves organizational productivity. 
3. Invest in Employee Training and Development
Employees are a core resource in your business, and their efficiency directly affects operational efficiency. Properly trained employees are more efficient in handling other production factors and service delivery processes. They are also more adaptable to improved processes and a changing business landscape. 
Invest in continuous training and development to improve your employees’ knowledge, skills, and capabilities. Encouraging training and development also fosters a culture of continuous improvement, which contributes to increased efficiency.  
4. Optimize Resource Management 
Effective resource management and allocation ensure smooth operations throughout your workflow. Optimization also eliminates resource wastage, allowing you to reduce costs and increase output. 
Resources optimization allows your small business to do more with less so that you can easily respond to market demands. You’ll enjoy true operational efficiency with strategies that help you increase output per unit resource. 
For example, an ecommerce business can optimize resources with cheaper and more effective storage solutions. They can opt for Brisbane shipping containers instead of renting expensive warehouses for their shipping needs. 
5. Prioritize Monitoring and Evaluation
You can only find room for improvement when you effectively monitor your operations. Set key performance indicators (KPIs) for your business and evaluate these periodically. This way, you can measure your improvement in operational efficiency. 
Your performance indicators also show prevailing trends and specific areas or processes requiring improvement. Use appropriate tools and methods to ensure accurate evaluation. Accurate reporting lays the foundation for effective improvement. 
Endnote
Operational efficiency is important to the growth of every small business. However, small businesses find it challenging to improve operational efficiency. Simple yet effective strategies like streamlining business processes, employee training and development, technological integration, and resource optimization can help them succeed. 

Student ID swiping system will not be used at Risky Business

Ndidi Nwosu / Thresher By Abigail Chiu     1/14/25 10:58pm The proposed student ID swiping system will not be implemented at Will Rice College’s upcoming public party, Risky Business Saturday, Jan. 18. The proposal required swiping student IDs at scanners before entering publics to shorten attendee verification times and long lines.  Risky Business will follow…

Photography Business Institute Announces Go Boutique Live 2025

Photography Business Institute announces 2025 dates for its virtual event, Go Boutique Live, which helps portrait photographers build sustainable, profitable businesses in a competitive market.The Photography Business Institute announces the 6th year of Go Boutique Live, a transformative virtual event designed to equip portrait photographers with the tools and strategies necessary to navigate the challenges of today’s photography market. Taking place online from February 25 to 27, 2025, this event focuses on helping family photographers grow their businesses while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.The photography industry has undergone significant changes in recent years. With professional photographers competing with the free photos anyone can take with a smartphone in their pocket, photographers need innovative ways to attract right-fit clients while also earning a sustainable income. Go Boutique Live addresses these challenges head-on by offering focused insights for portrait photographers by emphasizing premium services, creative marketing campaigns and community connection.The event’s comprehensive three-day program will explore:Finding and Keeping Clients: Portrait photographers will discuss how to attract the right clients, whether working in small towns or competitive markets. Attendees will discover straightforward strategies to build lasting client relationships.Charging What They’re Worth: The event will help photographers avoid undervaluing their work. Portrait photographers will share how to offer photography services while communicating value, setting prices that reflect their expertise and appealing to clients who recognize the value of their services.Making Business Fit Their Lives: Portrait photographers will explore ways to grow their businesses without sacrificing personal time or risking burnout. Practical tips will focus on creating a balance that aligns with their priorities.Building Their Community: Through workshops and discussions, photographers will connect with others who share similar challenges and goals. These interactions provide support, fresh perspectives, and the chance to build lasting professional relationships.“We’ve designed our event for portrait photographers who have paying clients, are growing their businesses and want to stay on top of the trends that are working now,” says Sarah Petty, Founder of Photography Business Institute. “Whether you’re operating in a small market, transitioning away from digital files, or balancing photography work with family responsibilities, Go Boutique Live equips you with the tools and strategies on how to grow a photography business sustainably without the constant hustle.”Unlike traditional photography conferences, Go Boutique Live is a virtual event that allows photographers to participate from the comfort of their homes, eliminating travel costs and extended time away from family. Sessions include presentations, coaching, and interactive discussions designed to empower photographers to implement what they learn immediately.“The boutique photography market has grown by 32% since 2021,” explains Petty. “Families are increasingly prioritizing professional portraits, offering photographers a unique opportunity to deliver premium experiences. Boutique photographers currently earn an average of $1,200 per session — far surpassing the $250 average for traditional sessions.”For more information or to register for Go Boutique Live 2025, visit www.GoBoutiqueLive.com. To learn more about Photography Business Institute and its photographer resources that balance creativity with business, visit www.PhotographyBusinessInstitute.com. About Photography Business InstitutePhotography Business Institute aims to help photographers build a profitable photography business and make lasting contributions to the legacies of the families they photograph and the communities in which they reside.

TSLS-sponsored students urged to explore own business

The Tertiary Scholarship Loans Service (TSLS) is urging tertiary graduates and final semester graduating students to take advantage of their “Graduate Business Start-Up Grant Scheme”, an initiative that provides university graduates and final semester students start-up funding to kick start their own business.“We have partnered with FCEF (Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation) on the initiative called ‘Graduate Business Startup Grants’ to allow the students who have got exciting business Ideas to start their own business,” TSLS chief executive officer, Hasmukh Lal said in an interview with this newspaper.
“The startup grants allow tertiary graduates in the country to not only become job seekers but also become job creators.
“Once graduates are successful with the grant, they will be undergoing training by FCEF.
“In that training, they would actually startup their business and then when they start their businesses they will also be mentored and monitored for one year to keep their business sustainable.
“So that would allow the graduates to create employment opportunities for the other graduates in the country by starting their own businesses,” he said.
The Graduate Business Start-Up Grant Scheme, for which applications had closed on Monday January 6, will award 30 TSLS-sponsored graduates up to $5000 each to start their businesses.
The Fiji Government approved this scheme in its 2024-2025 National Budget with allocation of $300,000, to be administered by TSLS and implemented by FCEF.
NOTE: This article was first published in the print edition of the Fiji Times dated January 11, 2025. 

Joplin Business Expo returns Wednesday to Downstream Casino

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Local businesses and organizations are preparing to take a trip to the stars at the annual Joplin Business Expo on Wednesday at Downstream Casino Resort Pavilion.The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its 32nd annual Business Expo with more than 100 businesses participating. This year’s theme is “Out of This World Expo.”Business professional networking hours will be from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will need a business card for entry. The expo will be open to the public from noon until 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with children 5 and under receiving free entry.
Lynae Sanchez, an implementer at SHINE, was busy hanging products at the expo on Tuesday afternoon. SHINE, or Serving Him In Everything, is a faith-based day program for adults with disabilities, giving them the opportunity for purposeful work.This is the first time SHINE has presented at the expo, and Sanchez said she was looking forward to the event.“We are a pretty young organization, and we just want to get our name out there,” Sanchez said. “This is so people can learn about the services we offer and we can make connections in the community.”The SHINE booth will have some of the many products the members make at the program, showcasing the work they can do. There’ll be items like charcuterie boards, hair clips, key chains, bracelets and candles available for purchase.It also will have branding deals for area businesses. Sanchez said SHINE can put logos on many of the items the program makes.Connecting with businesses is one of SHINE’s main priorities at the expo, she said. Its presence at the expo fits well with its goals for the upcoming year.“We are looking forward to growing this year, getting more members and letting people know about SHINE,” Sanchez said. “We’re so excited to meet people and thankful for the opportunity.”