All articles by Jac Roper – Page 29
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Sometimes it seems like the odds are against you and you just can't win
Yes, it’s a bit of an old theme, I’m afraid. I’m on the subject of trading standards officers again. In the last issue I wrote a story passed on by a retailer praising a TSD who had inspected the store’s fireworks and who had been both co-operative and willing to learn. Spiffing. it should always be like that - tho of you on the same side, making sure no harm comes to your ‘public’.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Nothing like a good price war to keep things exciting in retailing.
Two issues back I reported on the money-off tactics of the Daily Record in Scotland. This prompted feedback ranging from a two-line email of support from 'Gazzy' in Rothesay, to several who pointed out that the handling fee for the coupons is not 2p but 1p so it's actually twice ...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Are you clear on VAT and etop-ups for mobiles?
Jac asks: are you clear on VAT and etop-ups for mobiles?
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: How do you rate a business? By its threats?
Since I put out a warning in the April 21 issue about business ratings cowboys, my phone has been on overtime.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: The feedback on epos viability for tiny turnovers has been considerable.
In the last issue I posed Alistair Main's dilemma. The convenience turnover at his Ormiston post office is only £150,000 a year. Would it be worth investing in epos?
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Do you do everything according to plan? This retailer reckons she did but didn't get the benefits she expected
Superna Patel, whose Londis store trades in Hounslow, Middlesex, is none too happy with Masterfoods. She recently discovered a reward scheme launched by the company four years ago that allows retailers to build up points by following a confectionery planogram. Superna, who has traded for 13 years, has had a Mars rep visit every month throughout that time. She says she started to follow Masterfoods' Capital scheme as soon as she became aware of it in December 2005.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: What are the rules on stocking the 'real thing' since the European Union got involved?
Every so often I get asked to clarify the rules on stocking stuff other than Coke in branded Coca-Cola coolers. The latest query comes from Rod Oakford who runs Mottram Road Post Office at Stalybridge in Greater Manchester.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: How do you 'define' your business and what is the real meaning of convenience?
The question was posed via email by Saleem Uddin from Glasgow who is currently negotiating with landlords for a new lease. He wanted to change his definition to c-store to reflect the more modern usage of his business and the products available. His landlord wants to keep the business description ...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Is Manchester 'Scam Central'? And is there really a Mr Big?
I hope I don't offend any law-abiding upright Mancunians but I can't help thinking that Manchester could also be known as Scam Central as it is where so many of the 'popular' scams originate.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: When does an epos system become a viable business proposition?
I don't get asked this very often - probably only once every few years. But while most businesses would view computerisation as essential to their efficient operation, it might not be for everyone.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: If you catch them with their fingers in the till, don't hang about, fire them.
I'm not going to identify this Essex retailer because he still hasn't fired the member of staff who has spent most of her time stealing bits and pieces from him on a daily basis ever since he took over the business and its staff 18 months ago.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: When you're strapped for cash and under the shadow of Tesco, every penny counts.
And certainly every £20-30 quid counts. Douglas Gill, who runs Doug 'n Di's in Stockport, has been in business for 20 years. Over that time he's had to watch superstores springing up all around him. So far he has managed to stay afloat, but says it is touch and go. ...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: I hear the spurs jangling – looks like the cowboys are back in town. You have been warned.
I am indebted to Preston-based chartered surveyor and ratings consultant Ken Batty for the following warning: "What all your readers must be clearly aware of is that, on the 2005 Rating List for England and Wales, only one proposal against a compiled list entry will, under current legislation, ever be ...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Are there any other Scottish retailers totally ticked off by the Daily Record?
The Daily Record is Asif Mahmood's biggest-selling daily paper. He sells about 200 copies a day from his Spar store at Oakley in Fife.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: So the OFT has ordered an investigation into the power of the supers
And about time too. Still, there are no guarantees. The announcement came as I was writing this column and the story got quite a lot of headlines, not, I suspect, because many sympathised with the plight of the independent but because it concerned the big four that make news whatever ...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: This solution is clear and easy and cheap, so it deserves a plug.
I know many retailers are on the lookout for a simple way to sort the books because in September 2004 I featured IOW retailer Graham Sutcliffe’s plea for help in this department. Over the next three months I wrote up at least six retailers’ recommendations for accountancy packages.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Terminal breakdown has resulted in a loss of faith.
Jaykant Shah is one frustrated retailer. He has been in business for 27 years and contacted me for the first time last month. He has an Alliance & Leicester Chip and PIN terminal.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: This retailer had pictured some fine profits from his mini photo booth.
But it was not to be. Mohammed Rafi refurbished his post office at Winchwen in Swansea last June and invested £6,000 in a mini ID photo booth supplied by Snap Digital Imaging. The lease was arranged through Bank of Scotland.
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: Just when you think you’ve heard all the tricks, another comes along.
A man walks into Subhash Patel’s Spar store in Richmond, Surrey, and explains that he has just moved in and is running a business in the building opposite. In a business-to-business spirit he runs down the ways that they can mutually benefit. The ‘neighbour’ will need to buy in bulk ...
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Dear Jac
Dear Jac: You plan your business, your future and then an interloper interferes
It's probably just coincidence but lately a clutch of retailers have rung me about planning applications. A few years ago it was simpler in one sense. It was the little guy against the superstore, David versus Goliath. My planning file has a set format for fighting them: marshall all the ...