The infamous board game and starter of many family arguments, Monopoly, has decided to replace its iron token with a cat, with players now able to purr their way around the board.
The iron has been a token on the Monopoly game board since the early 1930s but after a worldwide Facebook poll and a massive response from fans and organisations, the iron has been replaced with a cat. The iron will be officially retired from the game from now on.
Campaigning and voting for tokens has inspired millions of fans to get back in touch with the brand, and Monopoly’s clever Facebook posts have assisted in boosting the company’s new image.
This change, while it doesn’t play a huge role in the scheme of things, is indicative of a well known, well loved and iconic brand mixing it up a little. The lesson here for SMBs is, how are you mixing it up? What are your plans for change in the new year?
Here are three ideas, both large and small, that might help to reinvigorate your business in 2013.
1. Move locations
While this isn’t always an option, looking into new premises for your business can really recharge your staff and your business plan. If you work from home, try looking into shared office space as a way to move your location and get your mind moving also. For businesses where moving is simply not an option, get your staff moving instead. Encourage staff to eat lunch outside or organise meetings to take place in parks or cafes in order to get people away from their desks for a portion of the day.
2. Upgrade your website
More and more, your website is becoming the first interaction your customers have with your business. Make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward by looking into the design. Is it looking tired? Do you need to add video or blog content? If you don’t have the in house capabilities to look after a redesign, it’s becoming cheaper and easier to outsource this type of work to experts, so there’s no excuse not to have a fresh look this year.
3. Educate yourself and your staff
Signing up for courses can seem daunting, but the time you spend learning new processes or understanding new software might save your business money and time in the future. Try organising an expert to come into the office to interact with staff, or if that’s not a possibility, look around for courses run by local business chambers, councils or entrepreneur workshops. You might be surprised at how many are out there and how it changes how you think.
