How 2025 will be the same as any – and all – other years

Kingsford’s Prediction for what WON’T change in 2025

If your inbox is anything like ours, you will already be experiencing the annual deluge of trend predictions and forecasts for 2025 - all very interesting, but it can feel a bit like reading your horoscope. Sure, things are always changing — the economy shifts, technology evolves, new buzzwords emerge — but you can’t grow a business based on constant change.

What you want to know is what’s not changing. What are the things you can count on to create new revenue this year?

Amongst all the noise of impending change, there will also be a surprising amount of stability. Here are our observations, grouped into two key areas: The Business Environment and Business Leadership Essentials.

The Business Environment.

These factors will remain constant. Lean hard on them to grow your business:

Diverse Consumer Market. The vast and diverse consumer market will continue to present opportunities for SMEs. The growing demand for niche products and services, as well as an increasingly diverse population, will allow small businesses to serve specialized customer segments and reach a wide audience. While finding the right niche can be hard (we have helped many do this), it can be very lucrative.
Technology and Tools. The availability of affordable and powerful technology tools for SMEs will continue to empower businesses. Currently these tools include things such as cloud computing, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and business analytics and automation. Tools allow SMEs to scale efficiently and compete with larger players. Get onboard.
Digital Levels the playing field and Makes you Global. The continued expansion of online platforms, social media, and digital marketing will enable SMEs to reach global markets, offering flexibility and accessibility for small businesses to sell products and services online. Clients have easily engaged us from Latvia, Finland, Spain, and other places around the world.
Government Support. Governments recognize the crucial importance of SMEs to the economy and will continue to provide resources to help them thrive. Stay engaged with your local agents.
Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Governments may say various things to be elected but buyers remain genuinely concerned with environmental and social issues. Businesses with a clear and authentic stance on sustainability and CSR will continue to build trust and loyalty; make sure you have a position on this.

Business Leadership Essentials

Nothing new here… but that’s the point!

Clear Communication. While trends come and go, businesses that communicate well — internally and externally — always perform better. Customers, prospects, and staff just need to know where you are headed, what you believe in, and how they fit into that. In an increasingly noisy world, strong and simple messages stand out.
People Still Drive Success. Businesses thrive (or fail) based on people; the company staff and its clients are people! While tools, technology, and systems can enhance productivity, they can’t replace the creativity, problem-solving, and drive that come from people. Think different - embrace diversity in all its diverse forms. People often ask us for advice on critical team members.
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty. Every year brings different uncertainty - maybe it's economic concerns one year, geopolitical events the next — but the feeling is familiar. The tools for gathering data about the changing world might improve, but human judgement, initiative, and adaptability remain irreplaceable. A quick decision beats procrastination every time – Just Do It.
Customers Still Want Value and Trust. Economic and political uncertainty, or AI breakthroughs aside, customers (people) still buy from those they trust. They’ll stay loyal to businesses that deliver consistent value and make their lives easier, better, or more enjoyable. Make promises and keep them.
The Importance of Community and Networking. Building a local community and forming connections with other businesses, partners, and customers will remain an essential aspect of running a successful business. Networking will continue to be a valuable tool for collaboration, learning, and business development. Join something. Participate. You don’t know what you will learn - which is exactly the point😊

So What?

Yes, 2025 will have its surprises — just like 2024, 2023, and every year before. So, absolutely, spend some time looking at what will be different (we’ll leave that to the hundreds of ‘experts’ out there filling your inbox), and some of those differences may be important to some of you.

And while it is critical to keep an eye on those things and consider the potential impact (threat or opportunity), it's just as important to know what you can count on, and to be aware of your core strengths (and weaknesses) in order to be able to adapt to whatever comes your way. Those that neglect the basics will struggle.

For most businesses, it’s business as usual. So, build resilience, and create new revenue based on the enduring business environment and leadership success factors.

Happy 2025!

Andrew and Graham