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Wow! What a trip. Nine cities in four states in five days. 1,750+ miles. 14 – 16 hour days. Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver, Portland, Medford, Ashford, Ukiah, Oakland and Reno. And would do it all again in a heart beat. It was hard work and a grueling travel schedule, but we would do it all again because it was inspiring to get out into this great country and talk to business…read more →
It seems as if a new social platform pops up every week, and as a small business owner, it can feel overwhelming. So how can you establish yourself on social media when users are bouncing from one network to the other, and the next hot network may have no reliable messaging for your business?
Talk about the luck o’ the Irish – St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year and will likely bring with it a boost in retail sales and celebrations across the country. Although St. Patrick’s Day is the smallest of all the consumer holidays in terms of how much consumers will spend, it’s still of tremendous importance for the industry. For many consumers, St. Patrick’s Day is the official kick-off to Spring – typically a time when many people start stocking up on warm weather apparel, patio and garden merchandise and even home accents, like candles, throw pillows and new bed sets. And with spring-like weather currently blanketing much of the country, consumers are already indicating they are in the mood for a bit o’ fun as well.
My wife does most of the weekly shopping and most always seeks the best selection along with price. Like many smart shoppers, she frequents businesses that feature sales as well as used clothing and furniture. Always sharing with me what a great deal she got on this or that. She is a very frugal shopper and consumer. I on the other hand shop based on convenience or on the way home, again because I live with a professional shopper.
THE economic recovery that has followed the end of the 2007-9 recession may be properly named the private enterprise bounce. While the overall recovery is comparable to recoveries after the two previous recessions, this one has been pushed higher by rising private investment and hiring, and held back by cuts in government spending and hiring.
When Stephanie Irish met Scott, their connection was instantaneous. They were both in the Marine Corps and while they spent a lot of time apart, they were constantly thinking of ways to say, “I love you.” For Stephanie, she turned to chocolate. After all, what’s more romantic than made-from-scratch, hand-poured chocolates?
So you’ve got a budding business with a good old-fashioned brick-and-mortar location, and now you want to expand into the wild world of the Internet—a task that is admittedly easier said than done. Even if you offer in-demand goods or excellent services, establishing your presence on the web can be quite a challenge. Success in this endeavor depends heavily on the design of your website: its structure, its content, and its whole character down to the itty-bitty details.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and I can’t think of a better time to show our local businesses some love. This V-Day, show that you care not only about your sweetheart but about your community – visit your locally owned jewelers, chocolatiers and florists like Good Old Days Eco-Florist in New Windsor, New York.
President Obama announced Friday that he is elevating the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Karen Mills, to become a Cabinet member.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – it’s businesses like these that inspire us at Independent We Stand to do what we do. Mrs. G TV and Appliance has been a staple of central New Jersey for 77 years. The third-generation, family owned retail store is continuing to live up to the exceptional reputation it has garnered over the past seven decades.
