City: Small firms push product research

1	Invite the owner of a small business to talk to your group. Use the 			information in the articles to help you decide what questions you will ask.  
	Find out:
	a) how the business started

	b) what problems it has faced in the past, and what problems it 
	currently faces

	c) what the owner thinks will affect the business over the next year.
	Remember that the owner may not want to give answers to everything 
	and you should respect this.
	
	After the talk, write a report on the business and suggest how it can 
	adapt over the next 12 months.

2	Carry out research into one of Britain's leading retail companies. Find out:
	a) how it started

	b) what helped it to grow

	c) its size and value today.

	You may be able to get information from in-store leaflets, company 
	histories and press advertisements for example. 
	Write a report on the company's development.