After a lengthy recession, there are now signs of growth in UK businesses and the start of economic recovery. Whilst the past few years have been tough for many, there have been many lessons learnt during the recessionary period. Many of the organisations who survived and even thrived in recent years have explored efficiency measures that have reduced waste and tightened up processes. They have needed to be innovative and be open to seeking out new opportunities that may never have been previously considered.

Where businesses have effectively managed change, managed risk and adapted their strategic plan to best meet the requirements of their loyal customers, they have seen success. Now that a positive outlook for the future presents itself, those organisations who have made it through may well be considering the possibility of expansion.

So, you have a successful business that is generating profit, so if you grow the business, the profit will grow too, right? Unfortunately it is not always as simple as that. A lot depends on what made your business a success in the first place, why your customers choose your products and services over competitors and whether you can maintain those factors when scaling up. Take time to consider all the reasons why your business is strong, so consistency in these areas can be maintained.

As a smaller scale company, you may have been excellent at deliver a personalised service. Working with a smaller number of clients can mean you get to know them and their requirements and you can work more flexibly to best meet their needs. In a world where you have to scan your own products at a till, communicate with electronic phone systems and speak with call centre staff on the other side of the world, finding a local supplier who you can arrange to meet and will speak to you in person is very satisfying. If this helped you to stand out from the crowd, plan how it could be replicated on a larger scale.

You may have offered training and updates to staff on customer service and developments in your product or services. You are more likely to have been in a position to monitor their performance to ensure they were meeting your expected standards. So when considering scaling up, you need to plan what training you will provide to staff and how updates can be communicated and ways of monitoring to retain the same quality control.

Your clients may have relied on your products and services because you offered quick and efficient delivery. If you are planning to expand, you may need to invest in warehousing and storage services. A professional warehousing and storage company will offer security, clean and dry storage facilities, and efficient systems for retrieving goods from the warehouse. They may also help with packaging and despatch, so you can continue to offer quick and efficient delivery on a larger scale.

Recommendations and referrals from your existing clients may have generated many of your new leads. When customers have received outstanding service or high quality goods, they are happy to tell others about your business and help you with marketing. If you are well established in your current location, you may have to put a lot of work into building up a similar team of supporters in a new location.

Bigger isn't always better, but expanding your business can reap rewards if you have a clear understanding of why your customers have helped your organisation to achieve success and explore ways to keep these at the core of future business planning.

If you are looking for professional warehousing and storage for your organisation, many companies offer a comprehensive service. They can provide high quality warehousing and storage facilities, along with specialist packaging, distribution, tracking of goods and managing returns. For more information on this, go to the Codex Contract Packers website.