BUSINESS + TECH
TAKE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE NEXT LEVEL
The biggest downside to competing with other businesses is that there is only one pool of customers, so that pool will have to be shared out … Or is it? There may be only a certain number of customers to go round, but this should only encourage you as a business to make sure that the customers you do have are the happiest they can be, so they can then go and advise their friends and family to also become your customers. As Aristotle himself said:‘ the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’, and he’ s still bang on the money – customer service is no longer the stuff of queuing up to battle with Carol behind the counter about the validity of your receipt, it is everything, so much so that it now ranks as more significant than price or even product when it comes to customers deciding on who gets their business.
KEEP A BEADY EYE ON COMPETITION
While we’ re not suggesting that you come over all super-sleuth, loitering in disguise outside of the offices of your closest competitors in the hope of overhearing their secret plans, it is important that you keep a close eye on your industry peers to find out what they’ re doing well- for inspiration- and, crucially, what they’ re doing poorly to make sure you never do those things. A healthy attitude towards competition isn’ t about keeping up with the Joneses, but working out how you’ re going to offer more keeping ahead of the game in terms of your products, services, customer care and technology. You want your clients to tell their friends about you, so USPs are your best friend.
Having a team that wants to progress – both personally and professionally- for the good of the company’ s future is a beautiful thing, but just like plants that wilt when not tended to, people need nurturing and don’ t come in a one-size-fits-all package. In order to really stay on track for healthy growth, your ongoing development plan should involve constant fine-tuning, not just in terms of keeping the people that work for you happy, but in balancing the books, sticking to an achievable( and affordable!) marketing strategy and never taking your eye of what your competition’ s up to. Knowing these elements of your business like the back of your hand is essential for future success, so stay on top of it all and you’ ve a far greater shot at scaling up. inDEPENDENT BUSINESSES
AS WE CELEBRATE OUR COUNTY’ S RIPENESS FOR FRESH KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES, MEET THE INCREDIBLE KENT BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE ENRICHING ALL AGES WITH THEIR UPLIFTING, VIBRANT AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED OFFERINGS.
BINDFULNESS HANDMADE BOOKS bindfulness. com hopefitzgerald _ art
Studying Fine Art and Art History at Skidmore College in New York before gaining an MA in Fine Art from Canterbury’ s University for the Creative Arts and a PGCE from Canterbury Christchurch, Hope Fitzgerald has long been drawn to the joys of artistic growth. Later gravitating to bookbinding’ s satisfying mix of structure, creativity and hands-on problem solving after her artwork had featured in books of various guises, Hope refined her skills through practice, short courses and the support of generous bookbinding communities before setting up her new joyous adventure, Bindfulness Handmade Books. Now a beloved bookbinder, artist and workshop leader based in Faversham dedicated to celebrating the joy and wellbeing that creativity brings, Hope promises a clear and encouraging teaching style in her fun, thoughtful workshops that are always guided by a passion for excellence and connection.
BELIEVE SCHOOL OF DANCE Believe School of Dance believe _ schoolofdance
Founded in February this year, Believe School of Dance is a welcoming, Dover-based dance school led by the wonderful Jasmine Powell whose passion for the art captured her heart from a very young age.“ My love for dance began at age four and has been a prominent part of my life ever since,” she says.“ I always dreamed of owning my own dance school and now it’ s a reality! With years of training and experience I am now proudly a fully qualified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, International Dance Teachers’ Association and Acrobatic Arts.” Providing a place of inspiration dedicated to nurturing each dancer’ s potential, the school offers professional dance training for children and adults in a variety of styles. This coming year, Jasmine is excited to welcome a wealth of new dancers, to enter the school’ s first students into exams, hold their first ever dance show and inspire the local community through many local events.
THE PRINTING PRESS WORKSHOPS theprintingpressworkshops. co. uk theprintingpressworkshops
Harbouring a lifelong love of all things creative and noticing a prime gap in the market for inclusive workshops on the skilled art of printmaking, Julia Foxon set up The Printing Press Workshops in 2023 to provide a travelling printmaking workshop service suitable for all ages and abilities. Having worked in secondary education and as a Girlguiding volunteer for 18 years, Julia is truly passionate about uplifting the younger generation.“ The best part of working with young people has always been watching that‘ a-ha!’ moment where everything falls into place,” says Julia.“ I now get to do that with the‘ peel-and-reveal’ as a student lifts up their work to see the first glimpse of their print- I love it!” Find Julia at Bank Farm on 25 October at Kent Food Hubs’ PYO pumpkin event and at even more festivals and events in summer 2026 as The Printing Press looks to expand its Kentish calendar of events.
200 • www. insidekent. co. uk