April Fool

April 3, 2008 by mrbizplan.

Looking back at April 1st there were several occasions for someone reporting bad news to smile quietly and say “April Fools!”. 

Unfortunately, the only one to legitimately play an April Fools joke on me was my eight year old son, who upon arriving at school said he forgot his backpack only to reveal he put it on under his coat.  At least the spirit of the tradition was not lost on one person.

Upon arriving at work, I met with a business woman who, after two years in business, was struggling to gain a critical mass of clientele to keep her afloat.  I could feel her anxiety as she answered my standard litany of questions.  Everything I threw at her she had tried.  She had implemented a textbook marketing plan including standard advertising campaigns, community promotion, customer referral systems, even some guerilla marketing techniques. 

Despite these marketing efforts and running a tight ship controlling expenses, her clientel has hit a wall at just slightly over break even.  And, to make matters worse she is coming up on her slow season.  I was hoping for a quiet smile but it never came…  How about a short-term working capital loan to stem the bleeding?  Not the best strategy but with this person’s passion for their business surely they will pull through to profitability…right?

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