Business

4 Easy Steps for Rebranding Your Small Business

Be it an app or a new employee policy, changes are rarely welcome with open arms. Still, while they may not be a fan favourite, changes are a key component of any successful business. Just like social norms, a business has to evolve if it’s to remain afloat.

This statement may be most true of small businesses – companies without the backing of tech giants and investment firms. To remain relevant, they have to remain visible and this means rebranding.

However, keeping up with the revolving door of business trends is no easy feat – one misstep could cost you everything. Fortunately, there are still a few sound rebranding steps out there and this article just happens to have them all!

First things first – find the root of the problem

Similar to sophomore mathematics, not every business obstacle can be solved on the spot. Rather, a solid business approach requires getting to the root of the problem before attempting to fix it.

So, before rolling out a rebranding strategy, find out why your business has hit a wall. Unfortunately, finding faults within your own company is not as easy as it sounds. Thus, instead of going about this alone, look and ask around – consider how your employees and clients see the business.

These are people who know the company inside and out and will tell you what’s missing. In short, with a fresh pair of eyes, you’ll notice problems you never knew were there. After you’ve jotted all of that down, you’ll be free to move on to the next step of the master rebranding plan!

It all comes down to the business budget

While you may have your finger on the pulse, you’ve still got a long way to go before PowerPoint-ing your rebranding to the board. The first stop is finances – a definite albeit not exciting must. The financial situation of a company determines the scope of its rebranding campaign. In other words, it’s crucial for small and large businesses alike.

However, because it depends on everything from investors to the chain of supply and demand, making heads or tails of your financial report is often not a one-person job. It requires the help of a financial professional – bankers, financial advisors, and the finance department at your company.

The cherry on top would be finding a trustworthy trade finance company to look over the books. These companies will put all the missing financial pieces together – this way, your small business will be in safe hands from start to finish.

It’s what’s on the outside that matters

While your employees may be the heart and soul of your small business, they don’t get people through the door – your logo does. Although this may sound harsh, a company logo is pivotal for its success.

It’s what catches a person’s eye and gets them to click, share, and subscribe to your business. A logo has to be distinguishable and unique, especially from other similar businesses on the market.

Here, the best approach is to hire a professional designer. Even though your doodling skills may be unmatched, designing the perfect logo is best left to professionals. The important thing is to have a clear vision and explain it to the designer. Let them give you several options and choose the one that speaks to you – that’s the one that will change the game!

It’s not about what you say, it’s about how you say it

Once you’ve got the logo down, it’s time to work on what goes with it – the slogans. From McDonald’s to Nike, all great companies come with unforgettable slogans and yours should be no exception.

If you’ve noticed that your original catchphrase isn’t catching on, don’t be afraid to change it. In addition, if you lack a bit of imagination, don’t hesitate to ask around the office. See what your employees or even clients have to say – a real gem of a slogan might be hiding right under your nose!

Of course, your slogans could already be memorable. In that case, scratch everything you’ve just read – just alter the design to fit into the new company image.

There’s that old saying – life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and the same is true for rebranding small businesses. It takes time, patience, and effort. Most importantly, it requires a village – from bank clerks and designers to loyal employees and partners.

Although it may not seem like it at first glance, all these people play a vital role in rebranding a company. Thus, instead of tricking yourself into thinking you can do it alone, swallow your pride and ask for help from the people around you – this is the only true formula for success.

Written by Brigitte Evans

Business

PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

Business

Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

Business

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP