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As far as I know stock isn't insured for incidental theft (Shoplifting) and certain damage.

If you're robbed in all entirety, or your store burns down, that's another matter.

Looking at the masses, it would be difficult to control such hysteria without making people que outside and then walk round in a big line.

The situation was tantamount to a riot. Sorry state of affairs.

As for liable, I think it's fair to take the person who broke the goods to task. Quite often I see signs saying 'All breakages must be paid for'. Personally I don't favour these signs, and unless damage was malicious, I'd probably just put it down to experience, and put a process in place to prevent it from happening again.

You're most welcome Julia, 

It's a pleasure to be somewhere with good sound admin support and a healthy direction!

Absolutely Steve!

Take for example, a forum called 'my local services'. Filled with people from all walks of business life, and a whole host of information and advice, all for free! 

What could be better! :-D

I'm not really experienced enough with the online side. Networking events, it's hard enough to get people to stop speaking!

Courses is where it's at with us, and through Ice breaking, and leading questions, we turn our students into chatterboxes, all contributing to the course content.

I've as yet to use a Judas Cradle...

Ok, so, you have a broken leg. Where do you go? That's right. The Plumber! 

There are many 'Business Support Centres' knocking about. For someone thinking about making the leap from employment, to self employment, what a great place to start eh! 

Erm... Be careful!

Firstly, BE CAREFUL who you're getting advice from. Ask yourself these questions:

Has the Advisor been in business before? 

If yes, why aren't they still in business?

If their business is this advice centre, what business did they have before, and why aren't they still in it?

Hopefully, those questions alone will save you being processed into what is becoming more and more disgracefully common.

It's a sad fact, that there are business centres open right now that offer FREE advice, and access to Government Grants for startups, and this all sounds attractive... But, check them out first, are they a limited company? If so, they are there to make money - so what really are they giving that's free? (Ditto sole trader, one man band advisers etc)

Scrape the surface off, and you have in addition a company that offers to do your accounts (For a charge) offers to do your marketing (well... print leaflets and cards for a charge) will sign you up for business insurance, phone lines, mobiles, Card terminals, car finance, business finance, convince you to get a lease on property with high rent and rates and generally destroy your company with expenses before it even starts - all under the guise of 'Free Business advice'

Their information on Government grant schemes are public knowledge, and, guess what, if you do get a grant, they get the agent fees.

So... Business Advice... who to approach?

My advice is to interact only with other people in business, and ask 3 people the same question to get a rounded view. Each one will offer opinion based on experience, which is something most 'business advisers' cannot.

An advisor will be with you for what is in it for them - where as a fellow business person will be with you for the networking.

NB.

Not to be confused with specifically established local authority, and national government business advisers employed to assist with business growth and sustainability. 

I loved reading that, and can totally understand the owners perspective!

Here they are, putting in all the hours on the earth to run their business, and with all the futurity some fingers on a keyboard can bring, someone slates their hard work.

It's really tough to keep calm!

But keep calm you must.

There's nothing wrong with explaining your side to correct the situation, or making a statement, but in all consumer resolution it should be:

Apologise - Either for not making it clear enough at the time
Explain - Why the situation occured
Resolve - Offer them something small and cheap as a freebie on their return.

What is being said inside your head should often stay there!

Yeah, my blog on blogger blogs on my website...

Urgh, it was just an attempt to get some backlink love... but, with a readership base that is so tiny... I prefer some interaction...

Forums are much better... there's more of an audience, and a bigger audience means bigger interaction... well, that's the idea!

It's worked before... how can it now be applied to forums?

Makes sense Barney.

I did enjoy watching people fight over TV's.... whilst watching my own TV...

Makes me wonder what it would be like if there were only 3 cans of beans left on the shelf, with no restock till next year....

Meanwhile... In Wales....

I seriously believe this phenomena is retained within the big brands. Ok, we're specialist... it totally doesn't apply to us... but, our friends in business just had a regular day (None of them own the big stores)..

Biggest retail day was the turning of the Christmas lights for them...

Christmas eve is equally a mad day. Ill be selling stocking fillers from the boot of my car outside Tescos. (Not really, Bandages make for a pants Christmas)