Small and mid-sized businesses often struggle to achieve consistent and Sustainable growth. A typical SME sales pattern is a sudden flurry of sales – e.g. from seasonal demand or during a Marketing campaign – followed by extended periods of stagnation or decline. These ‘boom-and-bust’ cycles make it very difficult to manage cash flow effectively, retain staff, and make strategic investments. At worst, a sudden drop in demand can leave a Business with too much stock, unpaid suppliers, tax bills they can’t afford, and an inability to pay wages – a potent recipe for business failure.