Follow the rules for device disposal
Question: My small firm is buying new equipment. What should we do with our old computers?
Answer: There are three things to think about when you discard used computers, cellphones and other electronic devices: protecting proprietary data, complying with environmental regulations and being cost-effective.
Any disposal process you choose should ensure that your company’s sensitive data would not be at risk; that your equipment would not be sent to a landfill or exported to a foreign country; and that you would not be liable for improper disposal if your equipment was sold or transferred to a third party.
Many small firms donate their old equipment, sell it or allow employees to purchase it, said Chris Adam, director of NextPhase Services, an information technology asset disposal firm in Peabody, Mass.
“In preparation for these activities, companies will typically reformat or overwrite their hard drives in an attempt to protect their company’s data, and assume that liability is transferred once the old IT equipment is resold,” Adam said.
Unfortunately, many business owners are unaware that electronics disposal is governed by federal and state laws and that noncompliance often leads to large fines, negative public relations and potentially even imprisonment.
“Educate yourself about the regulations and the compliance issues regarding the secure safekeeping of company data and the transfer of liability when disposing of old IT equipment,” Adam said.
Once you understand what’s required, you can make an informed decision about how to dispose of your equipment responsibly. California maintains a website dedicated to the issue: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/electronics.
Use the slow periods to improve your business
Q: There are periods when our company has more clients than we can handle, followed by times when we find ourselves waiting for the next job. What can we do with the downtime?
A: Many businesses are heavily cyclical. Successful entrepreneurs use the dips in activity to develop a delicate balance between working “in” their businesses and working “on” their businesses.
Use the downtime to research your industry and improve your marketing strategy. Not only will these activities better position your company for growth during busy times, but you also will bring in more customers and, in general, reduce your downtime.
“Marketing is the constant positioning of your business for the next sale,” said Frank Stokes, an entrepreneurial consultant with Stokes Pacifique Associates in Los Angeles. “It’s important to research, research, research ... until you reach a point of knowledge about your trade, service, product or specialty such that you feel the pulse of your industry.”
Research will help protect you from being blindsided by a shift in customers’ tastes during a downturn. It also can help you develop a complement of new products or services to fill in the gaps in your core business.
Stokes recommends that you read books and trade publications related to your industry; subscribe to Internet newsletters and check out blogs specific to your industry; talk to your customers about what is new in their business and what helps them meet new challenges; and scan the media for trade shows, conferences, forums and other business events you can attend.
“When you are aware of your business environment, you are also aware of the shifts in buyers’ and users’ taste; the economic indicators that foreshadow market trends; and ... you learn to hear the buzz in your business,” Stokes said. “Once you have done your due diligence, you will become an agent of change, ready to embrace that change to adapt to the shifts in buying patterns, and to meet your customers’ immediate needs.”
Got a question? E-mail it to karen.e.klein@latimes.com or mail it to In Box, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
