June 2009 - Posts
A year ago, Micki Clark had no time to enjoy her Colorado horse ranch. She was too busy commuting 60 miles to Denver to the office of Communiqué, her family owned real estate and marketing firm. When the housing market collapsed, much of Communiqué's business dried up. Clark was forced to take drastic measures to save the business. She got rid of her office space and set up a teleworking system with her employees. Clark is now saving thousands of dollars on overhead as Communiqué's staff communicates via teleconferencing, VoIP, and monthly meetings at a local restaurants. Find out how telecommuting can work for your business.
Panelists
Robert Walsh, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services
Kimberly Weisul, editor of BusinessWeek Smallbiz
Dollars & Sense: Productive Meetings
Kim Zoller, President & founder of Image Dynamics, a total-solution outsourced training and development resource company, provides some tips for having productive meetings.
Elevator Pitch
Rosemarie Monaco, founder of CarTatts, designers of vinyl adhesive vehicle graphics for consumers, organizations, and corporations, is looking for capital to license art and pop culture logos, obtain original art, and expand her marketing efforts.
The
National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse is a great source of information for Hispanic entrepreneurs. You can check out the latest small business headlines, take a look at interesting training videos, and browse various networking events around the country. Most of the site's content is also available in Spanish.
1. Higher education
-SmallBusinessInstitute
2. Online focus groups
-Twitter
-LinkedIn
3. Scout the competition
4. Hit the library
5. Telemarketing and phone surveys
Source: USA Today
When Kara Underwood and Kirstin Martin opened separate wedding consulting businesses within blocks of eachother in Chicago's West Loop, they knew they had their work cut out for them. The weakening economy only made matters worse. Underwood and Martin decided to merge their businesses into a single location. While their businesses aren't identical, they are complementary and in this way they help each other generate income and share common costs. Find out how a merger may be the best strategy for survival in these difficult economic times.
Panelists
--Scott Reardon, founder and General Partner of Dakota Ventures LLC., an early-stage venture capital firm focusing on emerging opportunities in communications and information technology
--Steve Strauss, small business columnist for USA Today, and author of "The Small Business Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Succeed in Your Small Business"
Dollars & Sense: Cost-Effective Business Travel
Travel prices always seem to go up in the summer, and this can be problematic for entrepreneurs working on a tight budget. Janet Libert, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Executive Travel, provides tips on how business owners can book cost-effective travel plans.
oDesk connects employers with freelancers around the world. Users can browse through listings for hundreds of different positions, or you can post a specific job you're looking to fill. Secure payments can be made through the site based on hours worked or the number of projects completed.
5. Child care
4. Painting and wall covering contractors
3. Personal care
2. Consulting
1. Computer systems design
Source: Sageworks, Inc.
Mike Enos is an avid outdoorsman. In the winter he struggled to cover his boat with tarps and bungee cords. When he saw a truckload of new boats shrink wrapped, he called the company and asked if they could shrink wrap his boat. Their answer was "no," and that inspired Enos, a serial entrepreneur, to find the materials and do it himself. After years of running some unusual businesses -- he was a taxidermist and owner of "Johnny on the Spot," a port a potty business -- Enos found himself in early retirement after selling his port a potty business for $5 million. But like most entrepreneurs, the urge to start a new business tugged at him. In just two years, Fast Wrap has grown into a successful business with 11 franchises.
Panelists
Michael Port, author of "The Think Big Manifesto: Think You Can't Change Your Life (and the World)? Think Again," and creator of Book Yourself Solid, a small business coaching program
Rieva Lesonsky, CEO of SMB Connects, a provider of information, data, decision support tools and research for and about America's small and midsize businesses
A Father's Business
In honor of Father's Day, we'll catch up the founders of DadLabs, a company dedicated to providing creative media content and information products to a new generation of dads. Despite the economomic downturn, they are still projecting a profitable quarter. See how Brad Powell, Clay Nichols, and Troy Lanier combined their own parenting experiences with emerging Internet technologies to create an entertaining brand of parenting advice for the 21st century.
Elevator Pitch
Deborah Brenner pitches her company Women of the Vine Cellars, sellers of wine made exclusively by award making women winemakers from around the world. She is looking for capital to increase inventory and staff.
1. Will It Fly? How To Know If Your New Business Ideas Has Wings…Before You Take the Leap
By Thomas K. McKnight
2. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Business Don't Work and What to Do About It
By Michael E. Gerber
3. Guerilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business
By Jay Conrad Levinson
4. The Business Planning Guide
By David H. Bangs
5. Start Run & Grow a Successful Small Business
By Toolkit Media Group Editors
Source: Entrepreneur.com
Small Biz Newsmakers
For entrepreneurs managing a tight budget, one lawsuit from a disgruntled customer can cripple their business. The Chamber of Commerce is now producing videos that are designed to raise awareness about these lawsuits. Lisa Rickard, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform, and Joanne Doroshow, Executive Director of the Center for Justice & Democracy debate the impacts of frivolous lawsuits on small businesses.
A Restaurant Reinvention
When Kevin Moore purchased the Brooklyn based Red Hook's Finest Deli & Catering, he envisioned updating the existing menu and attracting a larger customer base. Moore found that the market was saturated with delis, but saw the need for a more formal restaurant in this growing Brooklyn community. See how he decided to shut down the business, refurbish the location and the menu, and re-open as Kevin's, a bistro that's filling a much needed void in the neighborhood.
Panelists
--Matthew J. Weiss, President of the New York Chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, a business organization dedicated to helping grow through peer-to-peer learning and expert business learning
--Kimberly Weisul, editor of BusinessWeek Smallbiz
Say Yes: The Power of "Because"
Steve Martin, business consultant and author of "Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive," presents some unique tips on how using the word "because" can help you enhance your powers of persuasion.
LoyaltyWorks can help you manage rewards programs for your staff and clients. You can use the site to develop a program, monitor goals, and reward people as necessary. You can choose from more than 10,000 rewards ranging from books and movies to lavish shopping sprees.
1. Stay informed on latest health news
2. Telecommuting policies
3. Keep your office clean
4. Communicate with staff
5. Establish a contingency plan
Source: Businsessonmain.msn.com
I'm terrible at remembering names.
I was never great. After having my children, my pregnancy brain did not completely go away (for those of you who have never been pregnant, when you are, your memory is shot!).
So I've gotten used to writing a person's name down after meeting them.
CONTINUED >>
Dayton, Ohio based Square One Salon & Spa has taken customer service to the extreme in an effort to hold on to customers in the economic downturn. Clients are offered free coffee upon their arrival and an associate takes their coat when they arrive. The owners and employees alike have been known to feed parking meters, warm up cars for clients and even move cars to parking spots closer to the business. In addition, every new customer receives a personal follow-up call two days after their visit to ask about their experience. The spa owners say the economic climate dictates that customer service is their number one priority. Find out how extreme customer service can help your business.
Panelists
Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO of SBTV.com, an interactive television network for small business, and author of "The Girls' Guide to Building a Million Dollar Business"
Jeffrey A. Carr, Executive Director of the NYU Stern Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Business War Chest: The Name Game
With all of the networking small business owners have to do, it can be difficult to remember the name of every person you meet. Ron White, author of "Memory in a Month," provides a unique set of tips to help you remember the names of everyone you come in to contact with.
Learning From The Pros: Stew Leonard, Jr.
Stew Leonard's started out as a small dairy store in 1969 with seven employees. Since then, the business grown to nearly $300 million in annual sales, while successfully maintaining it's unique image. Stew Leonard, Jr., CEO of this family owned business, provides some of the strategies he employs to guide the company.
1. iGoogle
2. Vlingo
3. iXpenseIt
4. Jott
5. SugarSync
Source: PCWorld.com
CopyBlogger.com provides helpful tips on how to use blogging to market your business. On the site, you'll find topics such as how to write a compelling blog post in under 20 minutes and how to use search engine optimization.
