Family Run Businesses, the ups and downs!
2 min reading time
Until recently, aside from the wonderful Pauline who runs the office, Apollo has been a predominately family-run business. It has been a unique and rewarding environment as each family members bring their own unique skills, experience, and passion to the business. Pauline has always provided a fresh perspective and added to the mix of personalities.
Here are some of the key features of a family-run business:
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Long-term focus: Family businesses often have a long-term focus, which can lead to more sustainable growth. They may be more willing to invest in their employees and their business in the long run.
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Flexibility and adaptability: Family-run businesses can be more flexible and adaptable as they are not as constrained by bureaucracy and red tape. This can allow them to respond more quickly to changes in the market.
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Personalised service: Family-run businesses often provide more personalised service to their customers. They may be more likely to remember customer preferences and go the extra mile to make sure customers are satisfied and be more flexible with their time.
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Sense of community: Family-run businesses can foster a sense of community among their employees. This can make for a happier and more productive work environment.
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Strong family values: Family-run businesses are committed to running their businesses in a way that aligns with strong values that creates a positive and supportive work environment for everyone involved.
Here are some challenges that family-run businesses may face:
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Clear boundaries: It can be difficult to maintain clear boundaries between family and business life. This often leads to working longer and unsocial hours.
- Balance: Balancing family and business responsibilities can be difficult for family members who work in the business. This can lead to stress and burnout especially with the reps/installers who often have very long days travelling around the country during the week. With children this can be difficult for them which is why we don't always work weekends unless it's essential.
Despite these challenges, family-run businesses can be incredibly successful and rewarding. By addressing the challenges mentioned above and leveraging the strengths of the family-business model, family businesses can thrive for generations to come.