I work in a small store that opened a few months ago. The people I work with are great, but I have a sinking feeling that we are not making enough money to operate much longer. I know some of the figures and they are just not adding up, at least not with the info I've been getting. How long does it take for ab usiness to go under, and what are some warning signs?
Layoffs or reducing everyone's hours to skeleton-crew size, no new inventory coming in, owner losing weight or looking tired, suddenly raising or lowering all the prices…
Offer to help promote the store. Sometimes with the excitement and promise of a new business the owners don't promote very much, or despite having the big idea don't have a creative or selling bone in their body and then the business sputters to a stand-still. At the very least it would be a comfort to them that you want to breathe some life into the place, and it might energize them as well.
You guys could dream up a gift or price promotion and distribute flyers, put an ad somewhere, stand outside ringing a bell, just about anything.
