Sometimes you've got to accept that anything can happen in business. Surprises lurk around every corner, so expect the unexpected.

Most of the time it really doesn't matter and we manage to cope with whatever heads our way. As a small independent retailer, Modo certainly wouldn't be where it is today without the great service and quality products that we have received from the majority of the manufacturers we have worked with. It would, however, be unfair to say that there isn't the occasional hitch.

Life would be dull without some challenges though, and the odd curve ball never hurt anybody. But, as I patiently take my place in the supply chain, I can't help but think that life could be easier with a few tweaks here and there. So here's my own little manifesto for change:

Reasonable manufacturer price increases, perhaps on a yearly basis, are inevitable and are to be expected. But four price adjustments in one year - often 5% a quarter - can be challenging to pass on to customers. An indication by manufacturers at the beginning of the year of any anticipated cost increases would make life a lot easier for retailers. I still can't help getting annoyed every time there's a price increase. I do everything in my power to help reduce costs in my business. If that means finding other ways of doing things, then fine, that's what I'll try to do. That way I'll avoid passing on additional costs to my clients.

It's great when the customer loves your (fairly new) display. The problem arises when the manufacturer has discontinued the range - without letting you know - and it's only been in your showroom for six months. Yes, the client can always take the one in the showroom, but that's not the point. What happens after that? I welcome the opportunity to change displays over, but I do like to plan these things in advance. In smaller showrooms, that 'discontinued' range often forms a key part of the overall design layout.

Goods in flimsy packaging don't stand a chance. Hours can be wasted reordering through lack of care and attention to the packaging - something that could have been prevented at the outset.

Last on my wish list would be 'getting the order right' and an improvement in delivery times. Late deliveries can cause havoc for the timing of a job. Early deliveries can be equally challenging, presenting storage problems. My biggest bugbear of all, though, is orders arriving wrong. Surely checking and double-checking orders would be one way to prevent unnecessary secondary deliveries? What can you do, though? They are mostly human errors when it comes to checking orders and no one is perfect.Most of the time, things run smoothly and I guess it would be dull if everything ran like clockwork. Wouldn't it?