Europe feels the chill, and the "I" word is back.

I have just arrived back from seeing some customers in Europe, and it seems that they are in the same boat as us, i.e. one with a few leaks !!

In the German papers over the week, the German government has been forced to lead in a bail out to a small business bank, IKB, for the sum of €1.5 billion, in a third attempt to avoid insolvency. Other German banks such as West LB have also been hit by the sub prime crisis.

The "I" word is now being mentioned for the first time in ages. Inflation is in the Eurozone, and it seems that according to the Governor of the Bank of England, it is here as well and will rise well over the target of 2%. As inflation rises, I expect a marked slow down in UK growth. A sign of how hard the government think it will be is if they alter the planned tax increase on fuel in a few weeks time. If is stays the same, you know that we are in for a rough ride ahead.

With a tougher market , it is vital to maintain margins as much as possible. By utilising leasing not as a tool of last resort, but as the leading weapon to maintain margins will be crucial to most business in the next few months ahead.

Whatever equipment that you are selling, I think it is vital that you lead not with a cash price, but with a ballpark leasing figure. That is how companies survived and even grew in the last bleak times.

As always, if you need help, just go and visitus at Oak

New Month, New Opportunities

Well we have started a new month, and gloomy January is now behind us, Thank God !

Reading the papers over the weekend, a number of stories took my eye. Firstly there was the story concerning a credit card company, that were cancelling some customers cards, for no better reason than they had a a credit review, and goalposts were now moving. Tough on their now former customers.

It made me remember that a lease agreement, once it has commenced cannot be withdrawn as long as the repayments are continued to be made.

The other story was that last year, over £53 billion was spent over the web by UK consumers. That is a huge amount of money. I think that this year will be critical for business to utilize the web for its full potential. You simply cannot ignore the huge potential that is out there.

Business's who do not show to customers what they can fully offer, are simply not doing themselves justice. You would not dream of not showing all of your products in the best light, so why do suppliers and manufacturers not have a leasing page on their website, to show that is available.

In this present financial climate, customers will simply assume that they cannot offer a lease solution, and go to someone that does. Oak has over 30 suppliers that use our links. If you need help, see our web leasing solutions .

Lets see what this month brings, I think that some of the gloom will move away as it always does in the Spring