Innovators help firms exploit new ideas for success

Sep 29 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

SMALL businesses are being urged to think outside the box to improve their bottom line.

Making small but imaginative changes to gain a competitive edge is the main message from the just-launched Real Innovators campaign.

The Business Link North East-backed project has pulled together a number of entrepreneurs in the region who have made small changes with big results.

Among those featured is Mick Farwell, who runs The Avalon Hotel in Whitley Bay, who has been using the power of social media to boost his new venture, The Trojan Rooms.

He said: “When the neighbouring business went up for sale I saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the market for a dedicated alternative music venue hosting a range of bands appealing to a wide range of people, as there was nothing of this kind outside of Newcastle.

“A friend recommended I promote the business on sites like Facebook and Myspace. My son helped me to set it all up and now that I know what I’m doing I update the pages every day. It seems like a simple idea but it’s really worked and the feedback has been great.”

He is now attracting regular customers from all over the region to see bands including Bad Manners, The Beat and the Sex Pistols Experience.

Business Link adviser Hina Joshi said the campaign is all about helping enterprises to exploit new ideas to the maximum.

She said: “Any business that does something new or different to improve its bottom line justifies being labelled as innovative. Encouraging innovation and maximising its potential will both help to develop new areas of opportunity and also protect and reinforce those areas in which the region already excels.”

More ideas on boosting the bottom line are available on the project’s dedicated website at www.real-innovators.com