Home business owners to meet by phone

Mon, 11 Oct 2004

Home business owners to meet by phone

Home business owners throughout New Zealand are due to participate next week in a tele-seminar on countering negative perceptions of home businesses.

The free seminar, on Thursday evening, has been organised as part of Home Business Week.

Organiser, marketing coach John Shattock, says successful home business owners don't hide the fact they work from home and have learned how to counter negative perceptions generated by larger competitors.

"But for those new to home business, and even old hands in some industries, dealing with potential clients and customers who won't take you seriously because you operate from home can be a daunting challenge," he says.

"Some pretend their business is bigger than it is, or even hide the fact they are home based. But that's not the answer.

"Very competent and highly-experienced people who prefer to work from home are sometimes painted unfairly by larger rivals as 'the cottage industry'

"Unspoken negative perceptions held by potential clients and customers can impact on business inquiries, the ratio at which they convert to sales, and the prices which can be charged for products and services."

Mr Shattock, who's own home-based business consults to larger organisations and provides marketing coaching for small businesses, intends the tele-seminar to be an opportunity for home business operators to develop pro-active strategies to deal with the issue.

The tele-seminar will be from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm Thursday, 21 October. The seminar itself is free, but access call charges apply. Details and registrations are online at www.shattock.net.nz/homebiz.html

About Shattock Communications & Research Ltd:

John Shattock is a communications veteran with 37 years media, marketing, research and public relations experience. His company specialises in helping businesses get their message across more effectively.

Shattock Communications provides marketing communication advice and services for medium and large organisations. John also coaches coaching small businesses in marketing.

He has been involved in home business since 1996, winning a Chamber of Commerce 'Best New Business' award for helping set up what was believed to be New Zealand's first 'virtual company' ­ four home-based operators combining to enlarge their market share and take on larger competitors.

ENDS

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