Latest news with #smallBusiness
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Business owner says Calgary Stampede brings big boost to their sales
Watch Owner and founder of Bullets N' Beeds Paulena Gidda shares her experience at Calgary Stampede and the positive impact it brings to her business.
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Small Business And The Circular Economy: SMBs Key to Sustainability
By Olanrewaju Babalola A circular economy encourages businesses to design products and systems where nothing goes to waste. If you have been asking yourself this new kind of question of late: How can I grow my business without hurting the world around me? The circular economy might be the best business move you haven't made yet. This article will help small business owners understand why sustainability matters, what you can do about it, and how it can help your business grow. What Is a Circular Economy? In simple terms, the circular economy is a way of doing business that avoids waste. Instead of the usual pattern where products are made, used, and thrown away, a circular economy encourages businesses to design products and systems where nothing goes to waste. Materials are reused, repaired, or turned into something new. Waste becomes a resource. Products are made to last, and businesses think about the full life of everything they produce—from beginning to end. It might sound like a concept for big corporations, but in reality, small businesses are often in a better position to act. Why? Because they are more flexible, closer to their communities, and often more in touch with their customers' values. All around the world, small businesses are already making the shift to circular thinking—and seeing real results. For example: These are not large corporations. They are companies run by regular people who decided to do business in a different way. Their actions are improving lives and building stronger, more trusted brands. More from AllBusiness: Why Small Businesses Should Care About Sustainability I know most small business owners are already stretched. I mean, you are focused on making sales, paying employees, keeping your customers happy, improving your products and services, and much more. Thinking about sustainability might feel like a luxury you can't afford. But then, going 'green' is an investment and a strategic advantage you should not avoid. When you reduce waste, you reduce expenses. When you offer eco-friendly products, you attract customers who care about the environment. When you show that you are thoughtful about your impact, you build trust—and trust leads to loyalty. More and more customers are asking questions about the products they buy: Where did this come from? Who made it? What happens to it when I am done with it? If your business can answer those questions in a positive and honest way, you will stand out. Today's customers are increasingly aware of how their choices affect the world. They want to support businesses that care about people and the planet. By embracing circular practices, you can build stronger relationships with your customers and stand out in crowded markets. How You Can Join the Circular Economy So, you do not need to be perfect, and you do not need to change everything at once. What matters is that you take the first step. Here are a few simple things you can consider: If you are not sure where to begin, just start small. One good decision can lead to another. A small compost bin behind a bakery. A simple repair service for a product. A decision to use packaging that can be recycled. These small steps can lead to a bigger impact over time. This Is Your Time As we look at the future of business, sustainability has become the way of thinking. A new way of growing; a new way of leading. If you are reading this, it means you care. You want to grow your business the right way. You want to be proud of the work you do. So let this be your moment. Take a step toward sustainability. Look at your operations. Ask new questions. Find new solutions. Talk to your customers. Talk to your team. See what you can do together. The world is changing, and you have a chance to lead in that change.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘It was a shock': Toronto business owner says customer used point of sale terminal to issue himself $2,000 refund
A family-run businesses in The Beaches says a customer used their point of sale machine to issue themselves a $2,000 refund. Thousands of dollars have been taken from businesses on Queen Street East in Toronto over the past few weeks as thieves use the very machine the businesses use to accept money from customers to rob them. At one business, the family-owned Souvlaki Hut in The Beaches, a security camera was rolling as a customer innocently picked up the point of sale terminal and issued himself a refund of $2,000. 'It was shocking,' said Artie Jorgaqi, the son of the Souvlaki Hut owner. 'Honestly, my mom works very hard here, so to hear that she just got that taken from her – it was a shock." 'He had picked up the machine so we wouldn't see anything, and he processed a manual refund. It's very easy. This is something that a lot of small business owners are vulnerable to,' he said. Toronto Beaches POS theft Artie Jorgaqi said a customer used the point of sale machine at his family's business to issue himself a $2,000 refund. (supplied) At another business, Pippins Tea Company, owner Barbara Deangelis told CTV News a few weeks ago a young man came in saying he wanted to buy a teapot for his grandmother – and instead refunded himself $4,900. 'It was just sick,' Deangelis recalled. 'That's a lot of money for a small, freestanding, independent retail store.' Both are pointing to vulnerabilities in their point of sale terminals they had never expected – vulnerabilities one security expert says are 'severe'. 'Most of the time, these POS terminals are misconfigured from day one,' said Claudiu Popa, who said the flaws come through either default passcodes that can be exploited by thieves, or through lax default settings that are never updated by the users. 'This is a scam that's essentially akin to leaving your locked iPhone and then finding out somebody was able not to just access your iPhone but to get into mobile payments and help themselves to a bunch of paid apps,' he said. Police say they haven't linked the two cases, but they appear to be part of a wave of thefts in another part of the city that concerned Toronto Deputy Mayor Mike Colle so much he hosted a summit on the problem last year. 'Almost every business on Bathurst Street, Dufferin, Eglinton, Avenue Road, Lawrence, St. Clair, they all got hit, and they never talked to each other about it,' he said. Colle said he went door to door explaining the situation to businesspeople and also put up stickers in the windows to tell potential thieves the point of sale terminals had been locked down. 'Essentially, lock the point of sale terminal up at night. And when you're not in there, don't leave it on the front counter. Put it underneath the counter. And then when the customer comes, you put it on the counter. Change the pin code every week,' Colle said. The Beach BIA has also warned its members about the POS terminal vulnerabilities in an email. The Beach BIA Manager Lori Van Soelen said she's not aware of a theft like this – a sign that the thieves are moving and trying new tactics on new areas. 'I think we're hitting a new level,' she said. 'Be very aware of your machines and what people can and cannot do.' In the case of Pippins, their POS vendor, Moneris, did refund the money and Deangelis said she felt well taken care of. Moneris told CTV News its machines do not have a default 'unauthorized refund' code. 'When merchants set-up their devices, they're prompted to set administrative passwords on the devices and it is recommended that they also set-up user profiles and permissions for things such as refunds. We also always recommend that businesses treat their payment terminals as they would cash - locked away and secure when not in use,' spokesperson Darren Leroux said in an email. In the case of the Souvlaki hut, the POS vendor is Clover. Clover hadn't returned messages by deadline Wednesday. Jorgaqi said $2,000 was a huge hit and had they known they had to put a limit on their machine, they would. But he said it should also be up to the POS terminal vendors to not sell the devices initially in such a vulnerable state. 'I think they should put in some better steps to help protect anyone that uses their services. Maybe limit the amount that someone can get in a refund, or put in two-step authorization to prevent this from happening again,' he said.
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Role Of SOPs In Building A Systemized Business
Andrey Shelokovskiy of Nomad Painting is an experienced business development leader and sales professional in the coatings industry. In fast-growing companies, chaos often masquerades as hustle. Everyone's moving fast and working hard. But without clear systems, that momentum eventually halts under miscommunication, burnout and avoidable errors. One of the most powerful ways to bring order to that chaos is by implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs). SOPs are more than just documents. They're the backbone of scalable operations, and they're essential for building a business that doesn't rely on constant supervision or memory. Whether you're leading a team of five or 50, well-defined SOPs allow you to deliver consistent results, reduce turnover and create a culture of clarity and accountability. SOPs Prevent Operational Chaos When I started my painting business in 2022, we had no SOPs and no clear guidelines for how to handle day-to-day operations. Every decision, every customer situation, every jobsite question came back to me. At some point, it became easier to just do the work myself. And that's how most small business owners stay trapped in the owner-operator role and eventually burn out. Without documented processes, businesses become bottlenecked by the founder. Mistakes multiply, decisions stall and no one can move forward without your input. SOPs change that by transforming guesswork into repeatable systems. When everyone understands the 'how' behind each recurring task, from prepping a home for painting to communicating with a customer, the entire operation becomes more efficient and independent. SOPs Reduce Turnover By Empowering Teams High turnover often stems from confusion, frustration and a lack of support. When new hires are thrown into roles without clear instructions, it's not just overwhelming, it's demoralizing. That was our experience early on. New team members would shadow others or ask questions constantly, but there was no structure behind the onboarding. Once we began building SOPs, training became far easier and more consistent. Processes didn't have to be reinvented with every new hire, and employees gained confidence more quickly. Even simple procedures, like jobsite setup checklists or daily communication protocols, made a huge difference. Teams that feel equipped are more likely to succeed and stay. SOPs Shape A Stronger, Healthier Company Culture Culture isn't about slogans on a wall—it's how people feel when they show up to work. Do they know what's expected? Do they feel supported? Are standards clear and fair? SOPs contribute directly to a healthy culture by aligning expectations and eliminating ambiguity. When roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, there's less finger-pointing and more problem-solving. And when team members follow the same playbook, collaboration and accountability improve. SOPs Are The Foundation For Scale Most founders eventually face the same dilemma: Growth becomes limited by how much they can personally oversee. SOPs are the bridge from owner-dependence to true scalability. In our case, documenting systems allowed us to delegate more confidently, expand our team and maintain quality as we grew. SOPs made the business easier to manage and far more valuable in the long run. If you're not sure where to begin, start simple. Record the issues that come up most frequently, then turn each one into a basic process your team can follow. Over time, those small systems will add up to a fully operational framework that runs with or without you. Final Takeaway If your company still relies on verbal instructions or 'just ask [name]' as your operating model, you're not alone—but you are vulnerable. SOPs don't just reduce chaos; they unlock clarity. And with clarity comes consistency, efficiency and long-term sustainability. In short, SOPs are the infrastructure behind every business built to last. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: How to streamline your business operations and unlock greater profit?
Running a small business in South Africa particularly these days comes with its own set of challenges. Between rising input costs and increasingly price-sensitive customers, you can quickly find yourself between a rock and a hard place. If you feel like your bottom line is under more pressure than it can take, it might be time to streamline your business. Jeremy Lang At its core, operational efficiency is about how well a business utilizes its resources to produce goods or services resulting in maximum output and minimal waste. Here's how to go about it: 1. Analyse your current operations Before you can improve anything, you need to have an in depth understand of the core processes and systems in your business. This means taking a hard look at all aspects of your business. Where are the bottlenecks and which processes are taking up the most time? It's also useful to get feedback from employees and customers here as they often spot inefficiencies that business owners miss. A good operational analysis will give you a clear diagnosis of where the biggest opportunities for improvement lie. 2. Simplify and standardise processes Complexity is the enemy of efficiency. The more steps it takes to get something done, the more time and resources it consumes. Streamlining means finding ways to reduce or eliminate unnecessary steps in your core processes. Start by documenting key workflows, such as onboarding a new client, fulfilling an order, or resolving a complaint. Once you have a clear process map, look for steps that can be simplified, merged or automated. Standardising these processes also means less confusion for your employees and a more consistent experience for customers. 3. Embrace automation and digital tools Many small business owners still rely heavily on manual processes – spreadsheets, paper-based filing systems, and repetitive admin tasks that take up valuable time. It's important to use tools that automate the mundane, to save you time and money. - Cloud accounting software can streamline your invoicing and expense tracking. - Inventory apps can help you monitor stock levels in real time. - Customer relationship management (CRM) systems can automate follow-ups and improve service delivery. - Workflow tools like Trello or Asana can help teams stay organised and accountable. Automating even a handful of routine tasks can free up hours each week, allowing you to focus on higher-value activities like sales, strategy and growth. 4. Tighten up cash flow and procurement Cash flow management is a key element of operational efficiency. Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) tie up cash unnecessarily in slow-moving stock or overly generous payment terms. Others suffer because they have not negotiated better deals with suppliers or do not review procurement costs regularly. Consider using just-in-time inventory models where appropriate and always compare supplier prices and payment terms to ensure you're getting good value. If you can, negotiate bulk discounts or early payment terms or explore supplier financing if capital is constrained. 5. Delegate and empower your team One of the most common traps SME owners fall into is trying to do everything themselves. This leads to burnout and bottlenecks, especially when the business starts to take off or is more established. Streamlining is not just about systems and processes; it is also about people. Make sure you have hired the right team and that they have the tools, training and authority, while mitigating risk, to make decisions within their roles. Clear role definitions and accountability structures help prevent duplication of effort and confusion. As the owner, your time is better spent working on the business, rather than in it. But that only becomes possible when you trust your team to take ownership of key functions.
