BETTER BUSINESS EVOLUTION

From White Stag to UO to Portland Oregon, everything evolves. You evolve, so does your business.

Every species knows the rules of evolution, or at least abides by them.

The fossil record is full of proof, studied or not. Adapt or perish.

Do the same rules apply to business? Consider the world economy.

Industries didn’t move to China for the clean air and sparkling water. They moved for the favorable labor market and unregulated pollution control.

Once that domino fell more followed. Look at the labels on your next visit to a big box store.

Made in China won’t be hard to find.

You can’t blame business and industry when they move their manufacturing base to China, not when the other choice is shut down, shutter the windows, and lock the door.

If something costs ten dollars to make in America and one dollar in China, and you can sell each for $50.00, the math gets easier.

Moving to China as a last resort is one thing, starting manufacturing in China as a first choice is quite another.

It’s the difference between making enough money to pay the bills and making enough to drive profits, which is a good thing generally.

A better profit margin is part of business evolution. It shows you’re doing something right. High profits help business evolve and diversify.

Take Airbnb for example. Since they focus on hospitality, their base isn’t moving to China, though some hosts are already there.

Airbnb started when some guys rented out an air mattress in their San Francisco apartment to travelers. Now it’s a multi-billion dollar property making inroads around the world. Portland, Oregon is fast becoming it’s model city.

The Airbnb chiefs have enough to do keeping track of their company. They could stand pat and tend the garden, but it turns out they’re more hunter than gatherer.

Decisions makers want to create a travel experience that goes beyond accommodations. They want to provide door to door service from the time you leave your front door on a trip until the time you come back and kiss the welcome mat.

That means transportation, food, and lodging all under one brand for easy navigation. Airbnb is making it happen by reducing their 2014 business plan to one page.

Does that page include forecasts and predictions, charts and graphs? Or does it spell out in plain language what will happen during the next year?

One page doesn’t leave a lot of space. This isn’t a crib sheet for an art history final filled edge to edge with microscopic code only you can interpret. It’s a business document, a map showing the company’s direction.

How many successful companies do this? How will a growing company on the cutting edge of a huge industry evolve?

Airbnb discounts on airfare? Uber rides? Car rentals? Restaurants?

Since the core is short-term rentals, discounts make sense. Travel and transportation go hand in glove, so make the hand stronger.

If you decide to rent a European castle on you next trip to the continent, wouldn’t you want a carriage fit for a king? Of course you would.

How’s your business evolving? Tell boomerpdx about the changes in comments.