Issue #68 - The Community Issue 💓
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS - Join the Bionic small business community | Micro businesses in the local community | Start-up tips from micro business owners | The Animal Days | Words | Tunes | More
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Community is key for SMEs 🤝
Welcome to Issue #68 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
Micro businesses are the backbone of our local economies and the heart of our local communities. But their role goes beyond providing us with the products and services we need for our everyday lives.
A report from the Federation of Small Businesses shows how an average of 81% of these businesses have volunteered for or contributed to their local community or charity causes in the last three years. 38% donate time and 32% donate skills.
It also found that 95% of small employers have taken on at least one worker from a disadvantaged group in the last three years, and 78% have at least one worker aged 50 or above. At the other end of the age scale, 41% offer work experience as part of their recruitment process or community outreach.
Community is important to us here at Bionic too. That’s why we offer our team members one paid charity volunteering day a year so they can give back to their local community.
And because part of our mission is to make life easier for the millions of micro business owners across the UK, we’re starting a small business community where business owners can share tips, advice, and solutions for all those problems that arise when running a business, no matter how - big or small.
We interviewed a range of micro business owners and found that, despite launching two financial support packages to help businesses with the cost of high energy bills, more than half (52%) of micro business owners feel the government has not been on their side.
The millions of micro business owners across Britain are rarely given a voice, but through our small business hub, you’ll be able to help fellow business owners run their businesses better.
We’re opening the group exclusively to subscribers of The Backbone to begin with. All we need is your business email address (we won’t use it for anything else) and we’ll send you an invite. Be the first to get involved 👇
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🗞 READ
The effect of micro businesses on local communities 💸
The independent salons, coffee shops, specialist mechanics and takeaways all offer something bigger chains can’t - a personalised service and unique products perfect for any occasion.
But their role goes beyond providing us with the products and services we need for our everyday lives. These businesses are much-loved staples of our high streets and they help our local areas flourish.
Start-up tips from small business owners 💡
Wherever you are in your business journey, you probably have thoughts about when you first started out. Maybe it was harder than you imagined or maybe it was a walk in the park. Each company will face its own unique set of obstacles, so it helps to be as prepared as possible.
This got us thinking about things to keep in mind when setting up a business, so we got some sage advice from micro business owners who have been there, done that (and maybe even got the t-shirt).
📰 NEWS
The new energy price cap kicks in on October 1, but remember that it does NOT apply to business energy contracts.
🗣 SHOUTOUT
#SmallBusinessStory - The Animal Days 🐩
Bionic caught up with Jessie Stacey who runs dog behavioural and walking business The Animal Days. We got the low down on how she started, how her love for dogs has helped create a thriving business and how she motivates her staff.
Bionic: How did you start your business?
Jessie Stacey: I started pet-sitting for a few people and it snowballed from there! That was back in 2018. 2019 was about progressing and I started doing a lot of dog behaviour work. I've always been very good with dogs, so I took an online course and then I started giving behavioural advice to my clients.
B: What has been your proudest moment so far?
JS: My proudest moment was probably when I took on my first official dog walker because that was kind of like, ‘Oh right. Okay, I’m managing this business now’. I was so nervous about it as well but it feels good because you’re helping somebody else do something they love and you’re putting money in their pockets so they can do nice things with their money.
B: What is the best thing about being an SME owner?
JS: I think what means the most to me is when I get a random text from a client. I got one the other day, and it wasn’t even a day I’d been with the lady's dogs, but she just wanted to thank me and my other walker Grace for looking after her dogs and for everything we do for them. She said they're just so happy when they're with us. When I hear things like that it makes me feel very quietly proud.
B: How do you motivate your staff?
JS: You've got to pay people a fair amount so that’s motivation in itself, but it just comes down to not micromanaging people. I give my staff little bonuses for Easter or Christmas or something like that. I try and keep them motivated by having an open chatty relationship and paying what I think is a fair wage.
B: Where do you see yourself in the future?
JS: I'd like to look at having a unit with outdoor space for the dogs to use. Then we could have that as doggy day care, rather than running it from my home. I'd like to become a one-stop shop for dog owners, with a dog blog and information so owners can read about saving money tips and tools that will help them.
Read more of this small business story at Bionic, or watch our chat below 👇
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🎧 LISTEN
Playlist 🎶
Last time out, Steph (Digital Marketing Manager at Bionic) picked a playlist to help us cling to the last stains of summer. This time, she’s picked a playlist to ease us into autumn. No blurb is needed, just get your comfies on, snuggle down on the sofa, and enjoy.
Podcast 🎙
Chosen by Laura, top-notch copywriter here at Bionic, Salon Owners Collective is (as you’ve probably worked out) a podcast aimed at anyone who wants to make a success of owning a salon. It covers everything from team culture to dealing with bad days and will have some useful info for every micro business owner.
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🏡 HOUSEKEEPING
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🚫 STOP
Thanks for making it to the end of another Bionic small business bulletin 🤝🏻
Carry on the conversation at our Bionic socials 🤳
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