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Looking with a fresh perspective
TJ Duncan-Moir (pictured), a former director at a family-run manufacturer, now acts as an improvement and growth consultant to other companies as owner of Business Glu. She explains why it pays to have a different set of eyes viewing a business from outside.
During my 30 years gathering the experience I have, by working my way up through a business from bottom to most senior, I started to understand that while “in” the business, you’re so busy firefighting that you can only ever see and know what’s directly in front of you. Business leaders often get the
year off to a positive start with all the things you’re going to accomplish throughout the year. Two weeks in, you’re back with your nose to the grind doing what you’ve always done, the way you’ve always done it. It’s so easy to become
operationally blind. Getting a new pair of eyes, which don’t get distracted by other urgent tasks, to help is a real gamechanger – and a skilful way of becoming unstuck while bringing new excitement to your team. Understanding this position has made me passionate about helping
others to achieve results they didn’t think possible and creating awareness of how beneficial outside help can be to a company.
HOW EXTERNAL SUPPORT CAN BE BENEFICIAL Businesses rarely recognise when change is necessary because getting the work out the door is a challenge in itself. Engaging with an external specialist, with their own set of skills, knowledge and experience, can open new doors – while bringing new and innovative ideas to the table that internal members probably wouldn’t have been able to see on their own. Many challenges faced are often
put off for another day. But having someone plan with you – prompting you to achieve your objections, using the correct tools in a controlled way and working with you to keep everything on track – quickly realises a return on your investment.
Clients’ eyes are opened to new
plans, opportunities, products, markets and processes, all while the business continues. Nobody is taken away from their day job, morale is boosted and the change that worries leaders will not be rejected. It becomes the norm as the team feels part of the improvements and a sense of achievement is enjoyed across the organisation.
BOTTOM LINE IMPACT Reviewing departments, processes and areas of the business that don’t usually get considered can be rewarded with huge cost savings.
Clients benefit from an objective, unbiased evaluation that drives them forward and has a positive impact on their bottom line. This is driven without
involvement in office politics or making savings on employee costs, and the only objective for the external specialist is the continuity plans of the business and its success. The management team is relieved
of the pains faced with running a company. It has the confidence that someone has their back and has learned new skills it can continue to use long after the external involvement has left the building.
Outlet shopping offers chance to reconnect
While the plight of Arcadia and Debenhams has thrown into sharp focus the struggles facing bricks and mortar retail, there’s still plenty of opportunities for the industry, believes the manager of a major shopping centre in the region. David Jackson (pictured), centre manager at McArthurGlen Designer
Outlet East Midlands, said he feels “extremely optimistic about the future of retail” despite mounting shop closures during the pandemic. The South Normanton mall, which offers discounts of up to 60%
compared to high street prices across more than 70 brands, witnessed an increase in visitor numbers. After non-essential retail opened once more last month, David said he
expected outlet shopping to be popular again as shoppers seek to get out and reconnect with loved ones. “In the long term, outlet shopping will become a larger part of the retail landscape as consumer shopping habits continue to evolve,” he said. “Our guests have applauded the offers and selection available across our
retailers, as well as the health and safety measures implemented at the centre, and I predict that going forward, more consumers will look to enjoy similar experiences. “The outlet market will also become more viable for a number of major
retailers over the next few years, as such stores tend to be the most profitable – meaning we will see more brands engaging with the sector as desire grows for brand names at great value.” McArthurGlen, which owns 26 centres in 10 countries, has plans to
enhance its food and drink offer in the future as part of its strategy to “revaluate the customer experience” for post-Covid shopping habits. David added: “The key challenge that has emerged for our industry over
the past 20 years is the threat of online retail. “However, it’s important to examine the situation and rethink instead
14 business networkMay 2021
how our physical assets can actually target potential customers, as well as support e-commerce through digital experiences to offer everyone more choice.” But after three brands joined the centre’s brand line-up last year, David believes this “highlights there is still demand for physical retail”.
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