3 small business trends you should invest in for 2019

Small business trends for 2019 include catering to your customers needs, creating a positive culture, and attracting talent.

2019 is here! Does your small business have goals for the new year? 

Here are some of the trends relating to customer service, employees and talent, and company culture that could emerge in the coming year.

Social responsibility

Company culture encompasses your business’s personality, work environment, mission, values, goals and expectations. A company’s culture can be the difference between gaining a new client or retaining a talented employee. One thing your company culture should definitely address in 2019 is social responsibility.

This doesn’t mean being “politically correct” just for the sake of it. It means carefully considering how your business fits into the context of important social issues, like environmental sustainability, and seeing how the company culture can make positive changes in those areas. Millennials increasingly want the small businesses that they work with and for to be socially responsible.

Data security and personalization

We are in a golden age of customer data from a marketing perspective. Small businesses can collect more information about their customers than ever before thanks to affordable software solutions that make this data gathering and analysis possible for even the smallest teams. Using this data to personalize your customers service, and your marketing efforts, is definitely something that your small business should look into for 2019. Personalized service and marketing can generate tangible benefits, like increased customer loyalty, that can help grow your business.

However, in the age of data breaches, customers want to feel confident that you will protect the data that you collect. This means getting serious about your cyber security and data protection. No matter how sophisticated your marketing becomes thanks to customer data, if you can’t protect that data then you will find yourself in hot water.

Employee wellness and flexibility

Human resources philosophy has changed drastically over the last few decades. One of the biggest shifts that should continue in 2019 is the focus on employee wellness. Research shows that a business focus on employee wellness can translate into fewer dollars spent on healthcare, greater productivity and better business outcomes. The Chamber has created a guide for implementing an employee wellness guide that you can find here.

One aspect of employee wellness is making sure your workers are able to manage the other responsibilities in their lives. Flexible working schedules and remote work are increasingly on employees’ wish lists when looking for their next job. To compete with other small businesses, you should consider a flexible approach when possible. Learn more about alternative workstyles here.

Want to continue learning about 2019 small business trends? Check out our upcoming Business Studio events. These free workshops offer a chance for small business owners to get together and discuss important issues like growth, marketing, strategy and more.