Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025
We all know that times are tough right now, not just in business either!
We also know that business success is never guaranteed, but – there are certain actions we can take now to give us the greatest chance of survival for the future, as we cannot simply rest on our laurels and hope that things will change.
We have to be proactive, focused and smart in how we make our moves each day.
This means putting in place the risk lowering systems, processes and drivers, especially since global shifts regarding the economy and business including trade and manufacturing are deeply affecting many small business owners as we speak in the U.K..
In this post I will share with you ‘exactly’ what you have to do now in order to not just survive this storm, but hopefully thrive and stick around for many more years to come.
First off – let me take you back to being a child for a moment.
So was it fun and a great time for you? Can you remember what was it like? Was it colorful? Was it simpler? I do hope so, as mine was just wonderful.
My childhood was filled with many great adventures, as we often went out fishing for trout in nearby rivers, went on walks in the countryside, rode our bikes, climbed trees and went apple scrumping.
We also loved playing army in the woods, hiding behind trees with sticks as guns.
You’re childhood may have looked a bit different to my own in the 1970’s/80’s era in the UK, but I hope you have some fond memories like I do.
Either way, most of us hopefully have some nostalgia that will stick with us for life.
One thing is for sure; as kids we were adventurous, we were always testing our boundaries, and we wanted to see how far we could go.
We would also test each other’s skills and talents to see who was the best at whatever endeavors, so we found ourselves enjoying our competitions during the summer holidays.
We all wanted to be the best at what we did, didn’t we?
It’s okay to want to be great as well! It’s only human!
And of course kids love praise, and love to feel that they are doing great at something, so as kids we aimed to run faster, do wheelies on our bikes for longer, and perhaps climb higher up the oak tree than our buddies.
It’s heart warming to recall those golden times for me.
Do you remember a time or times where you were praised for doing something you did well?
Did it make you feel amazing for a while?
I was never particularly good in school, but I was good at selling toys, running for a long distances and drawing. So I aimed to be good at these things.
The point is we have always known some form of competition really haven’t we.
Even if we are just competing against ourselves to be better each day.
We want to win, and that doesn’t mean we are being mean or selfish, it just means that we have that healthy human spirit for wanting to be good, for achievement in something.
We are now adults
Well, some of us are! 🙂
But, in a way it is no different to back then.
In life, roles and businesses we also have that spirit for wanting to be the best we can be, and we have that hunger for winning.
It’s not always to impress our ego, or for self-interest, but it might be to try to make more sales, be more trusted, or win more business.
Business is often our livelihood and we cannot afford to throw money at it without seeing results.
So we have to try to become smarter and more aware, become more efficient, and to market effectively enough to see how we can develop a solid reputation.
This includes having a great USP or unique sales proposition.
We should stand out, and be prepared to continually innovate our ideas and refine our offers, as we also place customer care at the top of the pile.
In small business models we have to aim to master metrics and be at the top of our game, so we may draw in those vital customers that stay with us for life.
But not only that – we need our customers to tell others how great we are. Share what they experience in positive ways, and refer others to us.
We want be recommended, grow retention, attract referrals and we want to receive great reviews.
This means we need to aim to deliver the greatest value to happy customers, and beat competition to become the monopoly.
We are simply trying to win at what we do.
The struggle is real though
Unless you have been living on the moon, you will know that in our current reality and economy, the small business owner is facing many struggles, due to the fact that there are so many uncertainties both nationally and globally now in 2025.
With increasing costs, taxes, tariffs and the constant strain on Brits with the cost of living crisis in the UK, it means the small business economy faces many setbacks, stresses and challenges.
However, there are small business owners that are fortunate enough to be expanding and experiencing growth, both traditionally and in the digital space.
So of course – we want to be one of those small business owners.
But with half of all small businesses facing increased costs and taxes now, it can pile on the pressure to stay afloat, and this may mean we have to apply new monitored strategies, make shifts in thinking, and look at our products and markets to determine what may be required now for us to stay in the game.
This could mean making vital changes and alterations in order to survive.
What are the real concerns right now?
Let’s look at what’s going on.
Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025
Business rates relief
However, the rates relief is reducing in 2025, meaning less support for certain types of small businesses.
The Future and National Economic Risk
Everyone is feeling the pinch in the U.K. as we all know!
With higher taxes, greater lifestyle costs and a third of all UK small business operations reporting the biggest challenge moving forward to be the uncertainty of the UK economy, it is very concerning.
For many small businesses this could sadly mean the risk of failure.
Although Trump has been advised to reconsider his ridiculous tariff and trade deal percentages, two thirds of all small businesses national and international still face real trade challenges, and that means an impact on turnover.
Local, independent and community based operations in my hometown are feeling the economic pinch, and so always advice that we support them.
I shop locally where possible, and I speak with the owners and lend a hand in any way that I can. That’s because I care about my city, and so should you.
In addition to this – many small business owners face shortages with staff, increased expenses, and of course the unavoidable global economic unrest.
With expected delays from the import of goods, supply chains issues, and on top of that the consistent changes in customer demands, it is tough for many to navigate this time successfully.
Tax Burdens
Streamlining Can Help You
Streamlining is something to look at, which essentially means finding ways in which you can increase the rate by which you work, operate and hire, in order to become more efficient – and see where there may be vital adjustments and improvements made in what you currently do.
How? CLICK HERE TO SEE SCRIBE’S EXPLANTION OF STREAMLINING
Now for some good news
It is not ‘all’ bad!
Many SME’s are currently seeing exceptional levels of growth, and many business owners whom I have spoken with are feeling positive about their financial future in certain sectors.
Those that have anticipated change, kept their eye on competition, and have been able to dominate their market whilst streamlining are confident that through continued focus and consistent monitoring they will be able to serve their communities for many years to come.
In fact – half of all Small businesses in the U.K. moving into the second half of 2025 are hopeful that they will still increase their workforces.
That’s good to know isn’t it.
This can mean increased buoyancy in the community, which in turn grows the local economy and revenue.
And if locals spend their money locally, and sellers spend their money locally, everyone can win.
Of course – some rely on supply chains, import and export in Europe and globally, and so even the most local of businesses can still be greatly affected by what is going on now.
The key is to always look at what the alternative options are, so if your current supply chain is causing you problems, you must study alternate solutions. Research other suppliers, and adjust your supply strategies, in order to improve reliability and processes efficiency.
You and or another person should always be awake and aware, and keep an eye on global and European trade news, to consider what measures are required.
Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025
What else can you do?
Maybe you need to
1) adapt more with your customers needs, or maybe
2) respond more to customers communications,
3) look at your products and the market to ensure you stay ahead of shifting current trends.
Perhaps it is as simple as..
4) Offering more ways to pay, keeping in contact with those who have left their e-commerce basket, or following up through emails and other forms of communication.
5) It might be about asking better questions to your customers and what their needs are.
It might be that..
6) You need to obtain the right kinds of funding so you can invest more in your hiring, business products or tech.
You must own a brand where you can position yourself in your market through mastering your presence sufficiently.
We are vital to the U.K. economy
Be a survivor
What is a competitive edge or advantage?
It relates to the unique strengths, skills and resources that a small business may own and operate with. These may be regarding relationships with customers, location, timing, technology, teams and whatever else you have that is giving you an edge over others.
Through having these it enables you to become a primary choice for the consumer.
You have to achieve an edge by ensuring that you are closest to your products and customers.
Through delivering the very best, and having the awareness to create increased loyal custom.
How?
- Online and offline communication mastery
- The follow-ups, the care and continued relationship building
- Delivering the quality & standards consumers have come to expect
- The ability to be open minded to shifts in demands and the market
- Time spent with partners/ teams/ Investors in identifying how to outperform others
Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025
Healthy Competition
But keep an eye out
Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025
The Tariff wars
I’m sure you are aware of the tariff wars around the globe, since Trump started slapping higher tariffs on many countries.
And so we must all understand the impact of these global shifts, and what these will mean for your business now.
Many UK business manufacturers currently sell to the U.S. but with the latest tariff increases it could mean more costs for you and less profits for you, and sadly some of these increases could lead to ending business trade with the U.S. for some manufacturers.
Even in the U.S. these tariff shifts are causing great confusion and chaos for American manufacturing. And the creation and selling of products in the U.S. is not easy when there are consistent changes being made.
Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025
Get your staff and teams on board
You already know this!
And you cannot do it all alone.
Can you cut costs?
Take Note
A Solid Reputation
Use what you see
No competition?
You don’t have to be original though
Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025
What next?
Competition can be good
Vital Questions You Need To Consider NOW! (I will say the word ensure a lot!)
- If I am running a business online which may also be offline or specifically an ecommerce store, then how am I ensuring I am not losing potential customers? If a customer has items in a basket then abandon that basket then why? Formulate a plan to ensure you are keeping in contact with them to remind them to come back and finish the transaction. 1) Perform this action yourself and be the buyer, see how the company stay in touch with you. Hire an expert or company to help you cover all bases to minimize loss and maximize sales.
- Am I you using all the tools I need in todays modern business operation? If not why not? Where am I getting left behind? Because I cannot afford to be left behind, so this means investing intelligently in the right tools and also – letting go of what is an extra cost that is not serving me. I have to have an edge technologically as well as in every other area.
- What procedures need to be in place to ensure I am not missing a trick with social media, marketing, branding and my website. Not to mention crafting strategic content? And how can I ensure that I am being seen enough in my efforts? ‘Who’ is managing this and what is the data telling them and me? How do I stand out and what is working/not working? Waste no time in solving this and look deeply at the data.
- How am I managing conversion rates? I have to understand my CRO strategy: Conversion rate optimization. This means maximizing my Conversion Rates and increasing sales. CLICK HERE TO UNDERSTAND THE MATH BEHIND IT. And I have to understand my SEO strategy: Search Engine Optimization. Do I need to hire experts to manage this? I need to master CRM customer relationship management also. This is my email relationship system. I must be on top of this to ensure I am always in contact with and building relationships with existing and potential future customers. This also means using communication in social media, text messaging, phone calls, mail and e-mail.
- Why do I lose potential offline customers? Why are they going elsewhere? What can I do to attract them back? Get to grips with ‘why’, and create a solution to bring them back with your team. Look at businesses around you, look at the foot fall and numbers of shoppers each day to monitor the numbers – and look for patterns.
- How can I ensure I turn my visitors to buyers? I can highly recommend ConvertCart. They are ‘I believe’ the primary experts at helping companies and brands get more sales conversions. They will ensure that you are not missing out on sales through examining your current online business systems data.
- In my local community I have to remind my customers why I am the best option. So they come back to me. What am I doing to ensure they return? I need to build the loyalty in to what I do. Again focus on relationships, value and quality. Great value for money is very powerful, and even though high quality products means you may need to charge more for what you sell, you have to ensure you deliver that extra service and memorable experience. Remember: Return customers, Retention, Referrals, great Reviews. Master all.
Study your “churn” rates. The rates by which customers cease being your customer. Looking at specific time periods you can work out what your churn is and why they may be leaving. And you need to know what a percentage of loss of customers will do to your profit margins. And do you need to create a strategy by which to acquire new customers. It costs more to acquire new customers, so always be mindful of ‘how’ to keep existing ones. Remember to study behavior, in order to increase retention.
- Trade and manufacturing. Right now we are facing a huge global challenge to overcome, as there are major trade wars, supply chain issues and potential higher costs. This may sadly mean letting go of extra costs or even staff members. You have to look at streamlining your business, meaning managing your processes and ensuring your workflows are as efficient and effective as they can be.
- Pinpoint the steps needed now to reduce risk and identify the areas that require attention to avoid losing revenue. Where and how can you optimize your operation more? Do you use an effective use of your resources to reduce waste? Do you need more automation or greater personal customer service? Where can you improve all communication channels? You need to improve productivity, meaning the effectiveness of productive effort, measuring the rate of output per unit of input. HERE IS 4 TYPES OF PRODUCTIVITY FOR YOUR ORGANISATIONS SUCCESS BY FELLOW. You have to get the most out of what you already have.
- Ensure you as a modern leader and your team are on the ball every day. You cannot afford to hope and pray for changes to come when the economy is so uncertain now. Every role and member has to be vital to the overall success and growth of your organization.
- Don’t try and do it all by yourself. You will burn out. You cannot spread yourself so thin that you are no good in any role. Aim to ensure every role is a leader who is managing themselves and communicating effectively with all other roles.
- Have quick powerful meetings every morning to ensure ‘all’ are on the same page, and be mindful to stay ahead with KPI’s and the business plan, strategic objectives and adjust as you move. Every morning, study business news including what most affects you, which may be: supply chains, levy’s, tariffs, trade deals and European business.
- Currently we are in a downward spiral with regards to government spending, as this invariably leads to lower growth, which then leads to lower spending, and increased taxes. This means greater struggles for all, so we must study how we can retain customers in these uncertain times, and above all offer great value where possible.
- Learn about the vital principles that govern life and business. Why? Because understanding how you could be impacted by this can help you avoid costly mistakes. What are constitutional principles? | The Constitution Unit – UCL – University College London. Source: The Constitution Unit https://search.app/
vjqqPFNVC3wYCHuZ9 - Learn the strategies that are practical and hands on that can help you avoid the pitfalls of failure. This means understanding challenges and legal issues including employment law, employment disputes, raising funds from equity, and the all important skill of negotiation of deals.
- AI. That wonderful new invention that is taking the world by storm. Like it or not it is here and can be leveraged to help you become more efficient. I wrote an AI blog post here which explains everything.
Competitive Edge 2025
Gaining A Competitive Edge 2025