Stock markets and running your business

I have been following the stock market for a long time and there is no denying that it has not been a pretty show these last few months.

When gauging what might come next as far as the UK economy is concerned, I tend to look broadly when making decisions that are likely influence my future.

I am under no illusions that there is still a huge amount of pain to come as far as the economy is concerned and indeed, there are small to medium sized businesses that will fail - not to mention some larger ones who will not be able to survive this turmoil.

The auto-mobile trades are and will continue to suffer badly and it matters no a jot what the unions try to say and do to influence management decisions, pure economics will dictate that there will be further failures and substantial job losses.

However, saying all of this I am seasoned enough to know when to start thinking bullish in general terms.

What made my ears prick up was the speech made by long term pundit Jim Cramer who does a daily spot on CNBC.

Cramer is saying that unless we get some support of the stock markets, it won't be just the rich who are suffering - in other words, if the markets don't turn bullish soon, we are in one serious serious crisis.

Focus on market needs

As far as garden businesses are concerned; concentrate on what you do best. There is no doubt that theonsumer will need services of gardeners and landscapers.

However, consumers are going to be looking for genuine support type services rather than luxury commodities.

Forget about indulgent garden design and think about what the average family will need to support their current lifestyle.

We are not going to need - certainly on a market wide scale - designer gardens and bespoke 'hey, look at what I've got' landscapes.

Garden design, landscaping and maintenance will be centred around the family and its needs.

The family car will be what the family needs and not what it desires and holidays will be about necessity and not about what costs the most.

Times have changed forever and I will go to sleep with Cramer's words ringing in my ears.