IF YOUR BUSINESS IS UP AND RUNNING, you know how hard you worked to get your first customers. But did you know that acquiring customers can be the easy part - keeping those customers loyal and making sure they return to do repeat business with you can often be much more difficult. However, existing customers can contribute significantly in helping you build a successful business - so it makes good business sense to manage these relationships effectively.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software has been around for years but many small business owners don't consider it as an option as they think their business may be too small or just doesn't need it. On the other hand, small business owners that use CRM software to track interactions and keep in touch with customers and/or prospect customers could not envisage operating without it.

To succeed in today’s global marketplace and win sales against foreign competitors, Exporters must offer their customers attractive sales terms supported by the appropriate payment methods. Because getting paid in full and on time is the ultimate goal for each export sale, an appropriate payment method must be chosen carefully to minimize the payment risk while also accommodating the needs of the Importer. International trade presents a spectrum of risk, which causes uncertainty over the timing of payments between the Exporter (seller) and Importer (buyer). Therefore, Exporters want to receive payment as soon as possible, preferably as soon as an order is placed or before the goods are sent to the Importer. And of course Importers want to receive the goods as soon as possible but to delay payment as long as possible, preferably until after the goods are resold to generate enough income to pay the Exporter’s invoice.

As shown below, there are five primary methods of payment for international transactions. During or before contract negotiations, Exporter should consider which method is desirable and appropriate depending on the relationship with the Importer.

Rent Pressure Zones are located in parts of the country where rents are highest and rising, and where households have the greatest difficulty finding affordable accommodation. A new Bill published recently aims to cap rent increases at 2% per year in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs). The Bill will also provide for tenancies of unlimited duration – a key reform under the government’s recently published plan to create a sustainable housing system in Ireland. The new cap will only operate when general inflation is higher than 2%. These changes will be enacted under the Residential Tenancies Act once passed by the Oireachtas. The legislation proposes to provide enhanced tenancy protection by making a ‘Part 4’ tenancy one of unlimited duration after a tenant has been in place for six months and not subject to expiry at the end of a six­ year term. It is intended that this would apply to new tenancies commencing six months or more after enactment of this Bill. In addition, where any existing tenancy is renewed after this time, it will become a tenancy of unlimited duration. Further information on these zones can be found on www.rtb.ie/rent­pressure­zones