ASK THE EXPERT: HOW DO WE OVERCOME BAD NEWS?

Q: My business has been good so far this year, but the news, while never great, has been particularly bad recently.  I’m feeling it, and I’m sure my customers are too.

How do I keep all this negativity from affecting my customers, especially with the holidays around the corner?

A; My recommendation is to turn off the news and focus on what’s in front of you.

If your business has been performing well, it should keep on performing.
The question you should be asking is: “What is making my business perform well now?” Really study and understand the contributing factors.

You should be asking the same question even if you’re not happy with your current performance. What is contributing to your under-performance?

Great performance is a result of great strategy. Review your strategy monthly, and fine-tune it daily and weekly.

The business is out there – your job is to figure out how to bring it in.

And remember, no matter what is going on in the news, you are in the fashion business. Fashion is a great form of escape and fantasy. Get your customers interested in the escape, and you won’t have to worry about the news.

Photo by Mateus Henrique.