March 1st heralds a subtle change in all of us.  Donning my daffodil today I began to feel everso slightly springlike.

With that feeling comes the realisation that the tax year is coming to an end and with it the opportunity to get things straight and in place for the new year. For us this means ensuring all of our paperwork is up to date, that we’ve implemented any new procedures and shared the templates with anyone who requires them.  It also means making any final purchases of office equipment or stationery that need to come under this year’s P&L account.

For any business running efficiently these undertakings can be onerous and eat into vital time needed to ensure that next year is as successful as this year.  That’s where Absolute You can help – we excel at picking up the threads and weaving them expertly to complete the tapestry.  Get in touch today and let us do the same for you…

Happy St David’s Day!

Are you on Facebook? Come and join our growing community.

One of the best things about running a business is the interaction with lots of different people.  Today, for example, I have had random conversations that included a discussion around the correct collective noun for penguins.  It’s often cited that ‘people buy from people’ and in sales and customer service it’s worth remembering this at all times.

At Absolute You we like to work with good people. Take Michelle who designed our logo, not only is she a great designer she’s also a really good person and working with her is a complete pleasure.

Life is far too short and there are definitely times when it’s best to listen to your instincts and steer clear of certain situations.  Of course we all get it wrong sometimes, and the best thing you can do then is extricate yourself with as much grace as possible and move on with a smile on your face.

One of our key aims at Absolute You is to build our own network of Good People.  Bringing together people who we know do a great job and do it with integrity and professionalism.  By creating an environment where we’re sharing with one another our tips for success, we can offer our clients greater value and the best possible service.

High excitement at AY towers today as we’re the lead story in the business news section of the local paper. Big thanks to the Advertiser for giving us such a great spread, and to everyone else who has supported us in getting to this point we’re eternally grateful.

If you’d like to know more about how Absolute You can support your business just click here.

]]> http://absoluteyou.co.uk/2011/02/04/hitting-the-newstands-ay-in-the-press/feed/ 0 http://absoluteyou.co.uk/2011/02/01/a-local-business-to-support-every-business/ http://absoluteyou.co.uk/2011/02/01/a-local-business-to-support-every-business/#comments Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:46:01 +0000 Absolute You http://absoluteyou.co.uk/?p=157

Absolute News – Tuesday 1st February

Two local entrepreneurs, Katie England and Paula Battle are the driving forces behind Absolute You, a new start-up business devised to provide flexible business support to any business large or small.

Paula Battle says: “We’ve devised a business model based on low overheads, minimal infrastructure and impressive skill sets. What this means for our clients is exceptional service on a reasonable budget.”

Katie says: “Every business has its ‘to-do list’ containing all of those jobs that you’re always about to get around to, if only there were a few more hours in the day. Absolute You is the perfect solution – a trusted partner that you can feel confident in and call on whenever you need to.”

Katie and Paula first met through Gawcott Pre School where they both served as Chair of the committee at different times in its 30-year history.

The partners have a wealth of experience in all sections of business administration over their careers to date, straddling public and private sector work and gathering experience that includes administration, research & planning, finance and credit control, marketing, communications and recruitment. They have applied these skills to building Absolute You and will use them to supply bespoke solutions as and when needed.

February 2011

One of the most critical aspects of running a business is keeping the cash flowing. Your invoices clearly state your payment terms, then on that deadline you start chasing payment and, with a bit of luck, get paid at some point in time approximately equal to twice the original payment terms.

It’s a constant frustration, especially when all you want to do is focus on servicing your customers really well and hope that people will do the decent thing and pay their bills on time. For most of us the time we spend chasing payments is dead time – if we’re on the phone to our debtors then we’re not being productive elsewhere, compounding the potential impact of late payments and creating other issues throughout the business.

You want to maintain a positive relationship with all of your customers but still know that you are going to get paid.  Absolute You can assist with this process. On a monthly basis we’ll work through your invoices, chasing late payment with confidence, tenacity and courtesy, ensuring that your business relationships remain intact whilst working at improving your cashflow.  Contact us today for more information of how our services could help you.

Thanks for visiting! If you’d like to see some examples of what we can do for your business, please visit our “What we can do for you” page.

Absolute You has been created to help your business by providing professional support where you need it most.  The founders Katie England and Paula Battle have pooled their plentiful experience and designed a business model that couples low overheads and minimal infrastructure with the vital tools and skills to supply bespoke services as and when you need them.

Most companies have an ever-growing to-do list and the best intentions to work through it. But there just aren’t ever enough hours in the day.  Absolute You is the ideal solution to that problem – we’ll apply our skills to whatever challenges you throw at us, and we’ll produce fantastic results!

Contact us today to find out more about how we can make a difference to you.

We met with our bank manager this week, a lovely chap who may very well be appearing in The Apprentice one of these days (take note Sir Alan). As we chatted and he flicked through computer screens filling in various details, so did the pile of paper to his left grow. We seem to be completely unable to let go of the need to print out, touch, read and check things on paper – is this a good or a bad thing?

The rise of the kindle, e-reader and iPad, in partnership with the burgeoning blogging army, social media and online content adds serious weight to the argument for the long predicted forecast of ‘The Paperless Society’ becoming a reality. Politicians have longed since targeted changes to increase efficiencies and reduce the need for printed output although these plans are undoubtedly always more fiscal than ecological.

As I write my desk is piled high with paper, magazines, newspapers, bills, my diary, address book, business cards etc. Yes it could be tidier but that’s not the point. I don’t ‘need’ these things anymore, I have wifi and an iPhone, I can store all of my business and personal contacts in my digital address book. I can read the paper and magazines online and I already pay my bills online, so why the hard copy?

I’m sure that there’s not many dinosaurs left still printing out their emails just to read them, but I do still print some- if I’m going to a meeting for example, it’s a useful reference point and much easier to pass around the room than a laptop. Where I find a printed copy essential is if I’m proof-reading. No matter how many times I look at the screen, there is ALWAYS something that only shows up in the printed copy.

On a personal note, I can’t imagine a society without print in the form of newspapers and books and yet the predictions are already out there saying that our children will NEVER read a newspaper. Much as I’d LOVE an iPad, unless I’m forced by the monster that is technological advancement there’s no way I’m ready to eschew the sensation that is skin on ink on paper, but I wonder how long it will be before someone develops a kindle and markets is as “Just like the real thing”?

What do you think? Is the paperless society inevitable?Is it desirable? Do we have a choice?

As a business owner there always comes a time when the balls that you’ve successfully juggled to date start to blur in the air and threaten to fall.  You’re faced with the fundamental dilemma facing all growing businesses, but the costs of recruitment, training and retention, coupled with the ongoing investment and impact that this has on your overheads can mean that you delay this process, with obvious effects on your productivity and success.

Successful outsourcing works through creating positive links throughout an organisation, engendering a feeling of trust and understanding and building a relationship that works for all involved.

If you’re considering outsourcing, spend time thinking about which areas you really need help in and what you’d like to achieve with the time you save.  Take your focus away from hourly rates or retainers and instead look at how well you feel they understand you, your business, your customers, your values and ethics.  Are you confident and comfortable enough with them to invite them into your domain and share your vision?

Once you’re clear in your mind about what you’d like to achieve and happy with the idea of releasing certain tasks, you can begin the task of looking for the ‘right’ person.  That’s where Absolute You comes in…