With a business that is not quite working, is it better to start new or to pivot?
If your business is not working well enough, should you change directions or start a new business? I have been reading up on pivoting your business in a new direction, but how is this different than just starting over? Is starting over with a new brand better? How do I figure out which option is better?
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Aug 29, 2015
As David said, it is tough to be too specific without more detail...but I too would typically favor pivoting.
Hitting a point in your business, where you are not sure what to do next to grow it, is a very typical issue. Of course I am biased, but I strongly suggest getting with a professional to work through this with you.
A complete unbiased review should first take place to ensure that indeed there are not just some tweaks required to the existing business that would satisfy you. For example, quite often a business that is not growing the way it should could just need to upgrade the marketing effort. Or it could be that you need to tweak the product or the price. If there is any chance that it could be marketing, I am happy to direct you to a free, killer video entitled "Everything You Think You Know About Generating Leads and Growing Your Business...Has Changed." Go to this link: http://bit.ly/1L8NDsg
I'm a believer in a couple of concepts that I will typically go through with my clients. First is to map out the options (by product and service that you currently provide) utilizing the time-honored strategic axiom that you either want to take your current product or service to a new market or a new product or service to your existing market. Avoid, if you can, taking a new product or service to a new market. Try to take advantage of what you have already built.
The second concept I follow is to take my business owner client through a very important exercise. A business owner typically needs to create personal success THROUGH their business. SO I make sure it is clearly defined where one wants to get to in the medium term personally, and then determine what that means the business needs to look like. That is then compared with where they currently are and all the obstacles are determined and discussed. If one can overcome the obstacles, a plan is built and I help them execute it. If they cannot be overcome, then one punts and looks at other types of businesses.
I hope this was of some help.
Aug 29, 2015
Hi Tom, carry out a root cause analysis to reach the cause of failure. Chances are, you might discover something which you are likely to repeat in your new business too. Why change without an investigation and completely convincing yourself that there are no further options? Write down your blockers and pain areas and mention solutions against each of them. You are more likely to find a way out this way and continue an established business than going thru the pains of setting up a new one. I can help you a bit with the RCA.
Aug 30, 2015
My first thought would be to pivot, as it would seem this could be a lot less work than starting from scratch on a whole new option, but it really depends on what your business is and whether the new direction would be relevant to your current target market. Are you currently offering something that solves the 'right' problem? Perhaps doing a bit deeper dive on the market research within your target group would help make that decision, or maybe your target group needs to be expanded upon in some way - maybe all that is needed is a slight adjustment to what you are already doing.
Aug 29, 2015
Hi Tom,
Although you mention that the business is "not quite working", it is important that you have a clear picture of what the business would look like it were working according to your desires. This should be a clear objective standard that you can look at and quickly determine if the business is working correctly or not (you may have already done this).
Once you have determined what this standard looks like, compare pivoting to a new start in terms of whether or not each of these alternatives offers or detracts in getting closer to your business' ideal state. For instance, if you already have an established brand, a customer base of satisfied customers, and business infrastructure in place, this would suggest pivoting would be your better option. On the other hand, if the existing business has no real tangible or intangible assets that cannot be easily transferable to a newly started business, that may suggest starting anew. You may especially want to consider starting fresh if you made some missteps that has placed the business in a bad light and the company needs to shed that image.
The bottom line is to objectively consider the advantages and disadvantages and chose the option that will get you closer to your business goal the quickest. Best of luck to you!
Aug 29, 2015
"Well enough" is subjective. Business changes all the time and we must change with it. I always use a filter on my ideas for change and direction of "whats in it for them?" Sell what they want not what you make. If you still like the business you are in tweak it. If you don't have heart in it leave it. Not every swing at the plate will be a home run. After all baseball players are great when they fail 70% of the time. There are all sorts of experts out there but its up to you.
Aug 31, 2015
I have many clients face such problem, but each of them have they uniqueness. Your case is also unique, I think without detail to analyze your case, we just give you a long list of options which most of them will not fit your need. I suggest you try to structure your information specifically first. If you find it is not wise to publish in public, look at consultants near your place and share the information with them. You should get much more better advise.
Aug 29, 2015
Really tough question to answer w/o knowing all the details but I will say that you being open to changing is an awesome first step. Many people are unable to cut ties or even adjust or pivot as you are open to. Regarding the difference between pivoting and starting over, I would say pivoting would be to adjust what you are currently doing but staying in the same marketplace vs. getting into a new industry all together. Personally, I would always lean towards pivoting within an industry I am already familiar with unless you feel that you are just banging your head against the wall.
But again, would really need some more info to give my full opinion so feel free to buzz me and I'll be happy to discuss greater detail.
Aug 31, 2015
The issue of evaluating your best option is highly dependable if you deal with physical product(s) or service(s). Considering also the market you are into, your networking, your clients, purveyors and other stakeholders. Then, revenues, P&L, market insertion, branding, knowledge of the supposed new business (pros/odds) and many more. So, your have a hard homework to do, brainstorming, benchmark and other flat issues. Besides your intuition and perception. Considering what I said, I would rather say go into a new direction rather than start something completely new. It's better to have a bird in your hand than two f lying around. Unless you haven't disclosed your misfortunes and losses...
Aug 29, 2015
It is going to come down to the power of your network and your customer base. Is there a need to fill in your existing customer base or network that can be filled by adjusting your sales mix or business model? If so, then a pivot is going to be best. If the network you have developed is strong, can you justify scrapping it for a new one?
Aug 29, 2015
Did you set any goals with your business when you started. ? I't depends weather it's going to ever brake even. Shutting a business down because it don't work is no failure it frees you up to do something better. I had a business and made a straight loss for one year i tried changing directions about 5 times. I shut it down as the business model did not work hard but there is no regrets.
Aug 29, 2015
Hi Tom,
The reasons behind the fact that the business is not doing well enough have to be evaluated in detail before coming to a conclusion and a suggestion.
You need to explore the reasons and mention to have a better advice from anyone.
At times even in very early stages the business looks not doing good but it is expected to have low rewards initially in fact in most cases there are huge losses till the time when business actually takes off.
Another fact is the gap between entrepreneurial expectation from the business and the actual realisation on ground during the period it is being evaluated for failure or success.
The biggest test against which a failure and success can be evaluated is the fact that whether the business has customers and they still are interested in your product.
Remaining factors can always be leveraged with the help of engaging external stakeholders.
This matter needs detailed evaluation to come to a conclusion.
Hope you find a solution to your problem and wish you all the success in future.
Best Regards
Zafar
647-818-8550
Toronto, Canada
Aug 29, 2015
Finding a formula that fits is always a challenge. Until you have a succesful business pivoting is probably wiser. In the long run, if none of the products or services you try succeed then maybe try a different business.
Aug 29, 2015
I started over from an old company I founded myToday.asia - just carried off the intellectual capital and went guerrilla like Conan O'brien after he quite the Today show. Laying low for awhile or taking it easy after you scrape off all the gold from your past venture is a natural thing. Maybe it will attract new capital.
Aug 29, 2015
I agree, what does that mean? Is this a business that is only a few years old, new. Do they have a business plan written out and in place? What have they done so far? Do they have a business coach? Too many questions unanswered
Sep 2, 2015
Firstly, I would look into the potential of the business in your area .What many people here do not consider, is the fact that your business has to do well in the area where you have to work. Example: I worked for a Japanese Automation company who makes the small equipment which come with pneumatic automation systems. I was first sent to HO for 30 days where I went through various technical as well non-technical training ( I am a Mechanical Engg graduate). After a month, I came down to my area and found that there was simply no automation industry requirement there. Those marketing honchos had simply taken for granted that the market exists, by the average figure,whereas Industries tend to be situated in lumps, making the area density very high or very low.Well, I worked there for about 4 years and I luckily survived by concentrating in a high value item which wasn't selling well...Anyway-that's another story and I gave the example only because I wanted to point out that the 5P's of marketing are really very very mandatory.
If you find that the market exists, then you have to start over with a new brand. There is NO OTHER OPTION.You had made a positioning error. Your existing brand will already be there in the buyer's mind and I fear that the picture will not be very attractive. Going with the same brand is a no brainer. Just think and put yourself in the customer's space. Say you had never liked a particular brand of X. So, if you see the same brand, with "now improved" written on the pack, will you buy it.? You won't because in the first impression of the customer was that you're a jerk. So, the best he'll think that you're now an improved jerk. Go ahead with a new brand, position it properly-the less populated the better-fix a good price(remember, price can come down easily but it has a tremendous liking for gravity. Making it go up will be tough-maybe the toughest part of marketing your product.)
Make your ad line reflect the mood of your target population ( not what you think reflects the mood but actually what reflects the mood) and start with a bang. All the best!
Sep 2, 2015
I'm going through that myself, and I'm pivoting. I have a "graphic design" business, and it's going nowhere. I've always had a passion for knitting, and now THAT's what I do! Same name (Katmandu Studio), and I'm knitting and developing pattern for sale.
Sep 3, 2015
The major component in pivoting as opposed to starting over is that you would have established customers. Starting over would mean getting customers. Pivoting means you used the assets of the established business. You can transfer your assets, including client bases, to you new business but you have to start over again. Pivoting would include tapping into the established assets and using them to your advantage. An example is to start new means new marketing, new advertising and new everything. Pivoting would be redefining the business and changing the marketing, advertising and all else.
A personal example involves website deals made in 2000 by me and my partner for a company with magazines and movies. These are tangible items which had intellectual property (which is intangible). It was easily migrated to the web. When no longer needed we pivoted our efforts back to tangible items. Me and my partner started to produce magazines which would promote the websites, advertise the intellectual property as product in the actual magazine and sell the tangible products in the magazine. Instead of starting over we took the assets we had to produce income in another way. We got paid for the magazines and got free advertising. If we started over we would have lost countless hours and dollars.
Sep 13, 2015
There are some great answers here. Businesses need continuous change and at some point a major rethink. That doen't mean it is to be discarded but must be redefined for the next phase of growth. So the question you need to answer is really if it is the end of the road? Or is it just a turning point? Without assertaining that, to start an altogether new business is writing off potentially a large terminal value of a significant investment.
Sometimes, you just need to assess if your, product positioning, pricing, strategy and organization are not aligned to the market realities. Just fixing those issues will immediately yield results.