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Latino Professionals in Southern California Compete for Grants to Launch and Grow Their Small Businesses

September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The entry period for the Third Annual Latino Small Business Awards presented by Verizon Wireless will continue through September 30, 2011. Established entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and working professionals can nominate themselves or others for cash and technology grants valued at over $70,000.  More information, including how to enter, is available at www.verizoninsider.com/negociosand at local networking events held throughout Southern California.

There are three entry categories: Outstanding Entrepreneur for established entrepreneurs whose businesses have been in business for over one year, Outstanding Aspiring Entrepreneur for professionals planning to start their own businesses within the next five years and Outstanding Business Professional for professionals who work for a small or large corporation and do not own their own businesses. The winners of the Outstanding Entrepreneur and Outstanding Aspiring Entrepreneur awards will each receive one Motorola Xoom, one 4G LTE Mobile HotSpot, three 4G LTE Samsung Charge devices and voice and data service one year or up to $7,000– and $10,000 in cash! The winner of the Outstanding Business Professional award will be awarded a $2,500 donation to a non-profit of his/her choice, one Motorola Xoom, one 4G LTE Mobile HotSpot, three 4G LTE Samsung Charge devices and voice and data service one year or up to $7,000.

Applicants must explain how a Verizon Wireless grant will help change and expand their businesses. Verizon Wireless will then choose contest winners on October 10, 2011 and announce grant recipients on October 14, 2011 during an intimate awards ceremony.

As part of the Latino Small Business Awards contest, Verizon Wireless will partner with several Latino business events throughout Southern California.  Updated times and addresses will be posted on www.verizoninsider.com/negocios

Mobile Technology Workshop, in partnership with El Clasificado Newspaper
September 28, 2011
7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
11205 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, CA 90650
2011 NAHREP Real Estate & Marketing Conference
September 17-20, 2011
JW Marriott LA Live Los Angeles, CA
Diversity Business Expo and Mixer
September 29, 2011
12:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The Double Tree Hotel – Airport
201 E. MacArthur Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92707
Latino Business Expo
September 29, 2011
4: 00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Four Points Sheraton
1050 Schooner Dr., Ventura, CA 93001
Last year’s grand prize winner, Araceli Padilla of Araceli Padilla Insurance Agency was awarded $2,500 in cash, ten Motorola Droid 2 smartphones and service for one year on these devices. “When my name was announced as the winner of Verizon’s Latino Small Business Award, I was in disbelief because I knew that my hard work and sacrifice was being acknowledged by someone else. Today, that award continues to help me move forward and motivates me to inspire others,” said Padilla.

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Websites now Free for Missouri Businesses

August 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Today Google is announcing Missouri Get Your Business Online. Designed with prominent local and national partners to help drive economic growth, the program provides businesses in Missouri the tools and resources to establish a website, find new customers, and grow their businesses.

Google is partnering with Intuit to provide its popular Intuit Websites offerings for free including an easy-to-build website, a customized domain name and web-hosting for one year. Participating businesses also receive a local business listing on Google Places and free tools, training and resources to succeed online.

Getting online represents an enormous economic opportunity for Missouri businesses. While 97% of Americans look online for local products and services, 63% of American small businesses do not have a website or online presence. That’s a lot of small businesses that are virtually invisible to potential customers looking online. The perception that getting online is complex, costly and time-consuming has prevented many small businesses from taking the first step.

“Small businesses in Missouri need to be online because that’s where their customers are. Now they have a chance to easily and quickly create their own web presence and grow their businesses online,” said Scott Levitan, Marketing Director for Google.

“As a leading provider of small business solutions, we have witnessed the growth small businesses have seen from getting online,” said Ralph Matlack, Group Product Manager at Intuit. “We are excited to offer Intuit Websites for free to all the wonderful small businesses in Missouri and to help them create a customized presence that represents their unique brands.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. By giving them the tools to get online we are opening doors to new customers and new markets, helping them grow and create jobs,” said United States Senator Claire McCaskill.

“We are committed to making Kansas City the center of America’s entrepreneurship. Our partnership with Google continues to put job creation first and foremost. Kansas City was recently cited as one of the nation’s top seven places to launch a start-up, and this project to help small businesses get online strengthens that position,” said Kansas City Mayor Sly James.

“Because more than 90 percent of our members are small businesses, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce understands the impact that small businesses have on the local economy, and we know that having a Web presence is becoming more and more important to the success of small businesses. Google’s free resources to help get Missouri businesses online represent a significant opportunity for our region. We are thrilled to be partnering with Google on the initiative,” said Jim Heeter, President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

“Small businesses today are truly operating in a global marketplace. A robust online presence is necessary for every small business to level the playing field and keep them competitive with the big companies with huge market share. The Small Business & Technology Development Centers are proud to partner with Google to help Missouri companies get their businesses online, making the ingenuity and creativity of Missouri’s entrepreneurs available to the world, day or night, 365 days a year,” said Chris Bouchard, Interim State Director for the Missouri Small Business &  Technology Development Centers.

Filed Under: Business Growth, Featured, News, Websites Tagged With: , , , ,

Women Business Owners Forecast Long-Term Growth, Won’t Abandon Ship Despite Stormy Economy

August 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

The long-term view among U.S. women business owners is positive as eight out of 10 foresee growth over the next two years compared to 7 percent who want to sell, a sign that rising costs and economic uncertainty will not deter one of the fastest growing segments of the nation’s small business sector.

The first-ever PNC Women Business Owners Outlook findings show these owners are managing through the current economy, holding the line on prices and employing new ideas and creative tactics to help endure the slow recovery.

“Creativity is paramount for a business to navigate through a down period,” said Beth Marcello, director of women’s business development at PNC Bank.  ”Our findings validate the value that women business owners place on creativity and innovation. Their willingness to try new ideas can result in new products or services, social media marketing tactics or even expansion into international markets.”

In July, PNC reported findings that showed women business owners feel squeezed by the economy: only 15 percent plan to hire new employees in the next six months while nearly three-quarters (72 percent) expect to reduce expenses. The second phase of findings focuses on business philosophy, and shows a quiet confidence about long-term prospects. PNC found that 80 percent aspire to grow their business substantially or moderately over the next two years. Besides the few who want to sell their businesses, only 1 percent plan to scale back and 3 percent expect to close.

Other Findings: Risky Business?

The survey, which seeks to gauge the outlook and philosophy of women business owners across the nation, found the majority are looking to avoid risk. Only four in 10 (39 percent) are willing to accept moderate risk to grow their businesses, compared to 60 percent who prefer a conservative or balanced approach.

Other survey findings include:

  • Try this: More than half (56 percent) of women business owners rely on trying new ways of doing things to make business decisions, compared to 44 percent who prefer to stick with what has worked in the past. Similarly, six out of 10 (62 percent) prefer to rely on their own ideas as opposed to others’.
  • Analyze this: When making decisions, they are split between analysis and intuition. Fifty-five percent say they opt to analyze the situation while 45 percent go with their own intuitions.
  • Who’s online? Views are mixed regarding social media, with only half (51 percent) of the respondents currently utilizing interactive online channels to promote their businesses. Facebook and related social networking sites are most popular (40 percent), followed by LinkedIn and related business networking sites (27 percent) then Twitter (13 percent).
  • It’s not about the money: Nearly half (45 percent) listed “passion for their business” as one of the top reasons they stay in business.  Only 22 percent cite “financial success” as a primary motivator.
  • Advice at home: When looking for professional advice, women owners consult their spouses most often (49 percent). Professional advisors (40 percent) and peers (30 percent) are also seen as valuable sources of information.
  • Who you know: Nearly seven out of 10 (68 percent) are affiliated with at least one industry group or business organization. Chambers of commerce and national industry groups are the most popular.

 

PNC provides education and certification curriculum to help its bankers to understand the challenges and opportunities for women in business. As a result, the bank has more than 500 PNC-Certified Women’s Business Advocates throughout its retail banking regions.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) (www.pnc.com) is one of the nation’s largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. Follow @PNCNews on Twitter for breaking news and announcements from PNC.

Methodology

The PNC Women Business Owners Outlook survey was conducted between March 30 and May 11, 2011, by telephone within the United States among 1,300 women owners or senior decision-makers of small and mid-sized businesses with annual revenues under $10 million. The results given in this release are based on interviews with 543 businesses nationally, while the remaining interviews were conducted among businesses within the states of Florida, Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Sampling error for the national results is +/- 4.3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted by Artemis Strategy Group (www.ArtemisSG.com), a communications strategy research firm specializing in brand positioning and policy issues. The firm, headquartered in Washington D.C., provides communications research and consulting to a range of public and private sector clients.

This report has been prepared for general informational purposes only and is not intended as specific advice or recommendations. Information has been gathered from third party sources and has not been independently verified or accepted by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. PNC makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the information, assumptions, analyses or conclusions presented in the report. PNC cannot be held responsible for any errors or misrepresentations contained in the report or in the information gathered from third party sources. Any reliance upon the information provided in the report is solely and exclusively at your own risk.

 

 

[SOURCE: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.]
Filed Under: Business Growth, News Tagged With: , , , ,

Lifetime Opportunity to Enter Career-Building Contest Runs Through August 5

August 1, 2011 By 1 Comment

DailyCandy, the insider’s, trend-setting email newsletter and popular website known to launch the newest and best designers, boutiques, restaurants, products, and personalities, announced today a roster of top industry experts who will mentor the winners of its second annual Start Small, Go Big contest. With only five days left to enter, burgeoning entrepreneurs need to race for the lifetime opportunity to win and meet with DailyCandy’s favorite luminaries who started small and went big. Visit www.startsmallgobig.comby August 5 at 10 a.m. to enter.

The DailyCandy Start Small, Go Big contest, sponsored by Ink from Chase, the small business credit card portfolio from Chase Card Services, brings DailyCandy’s favorite success stories — the country’s most prominent entrepreneurs — together with tomorrow’s innovators for a series of small business workshops at the DailyCandy Academy in New York City. Industry big wigs will mentor four lucky winners — one from each of the Fashion, Food & Drink, Beauty, and Home categories. Winners also receive a DailyCandy Dedicated email, visibility on the company’s website, and promotion to DailyCandy’s 800k+ Twitter followers and Facebook fans. They’ll also attend a blowout celebration with the movers and shakers from NYC’s digital media, tech, food, fashion, and beauty industries.

This year’s DailyCandy Start Small, Go Big top-notch list of mentors includes:

  • Jonathan Adler: Potter-turned-lifestyle guru Jonathan Adler makes home decor anything but stuffy; he’s successfully brought a whimsical touch to his 14+ stores while parlaying his groovy aesthetic into design books and a gig on Bravo TV.

 

  • Stacey Bendet, founder of Alice + Olivia: Designer Stacey Bendet started with one solid idea (to create the perfect pair of pants) in 2002 and translated it into a global collection of ready-to-wear dresses, yoga wear, shoes, menswear, and children’s clothing.

 

  • Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx: Millions of women have creative genius Sara Blakely to thank for ridding them of VPLs (visible panty lines); her Spanx shape wear line began with footless panty hose and now comprises more than 200 slimming products.

 

  • Andy Cohen: The face of Bravo TV, Cohen is the network’s executive vice president of original programming and development, overseeing popular shows like Top Chef and The Real Housewives series. He is also the energetic host of the network’s zany Watch What Happens Live.

 

  • Lev Glazman and Alina Rotyberg, founders of Fresh: With ingredients such as sugar, soy, milk, and rice, Fresh helped pioneer the natural beauty movement, using natural ingredients in its skin care and body care, cosmetics, and more.

 

  • Marcus Samuelsson: Owner of four restaurants, cookbook author, and TV regular, Marcus Samuelsson is the youngest chef to get two three-star reviews from The New York Times and was chosen to cook for President Barack Obama’s first state dinner.

 

  • John Sencion and Brad John, founders of Flight 001: With their multicity cyber boutique they have mastered the art of merchandising, and its modern stores brim with brightly colored luggage, in-air gadgets, and endless travel-size awesomeness.

 

  • Gail Simmons: Culinary expert, food journalist, and cookbook contributor Gail Simmons is the always-engaging host of Bravo TV’s Top Chef Just Desserts, as well as a regular judge on Top Chef and Top Chef Masters.

 

  • Kate Somerville: The best facialist in all of Melrose Place, Kate Somerville created an award-winning line of inventive skin care products (including exfoliating creams, repair treatments, on-the-go tanning wipes, and hydrating masks).

 

  • Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff, founders of Big Gay Ice Cream Truck: Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff served enough artisanal ice cream from their little food truck that could that they were able to open a storefront in New York City’s East Village this summer.

 

Last year’s contest winners, who were one year ago on the cusp of greatness, are today well on their way to success, thanks in part to the mentors they were paired with.

  • Nella Pasta founders Leigh Foster and Rachel Marshall from Boston were in desperate need of a new ravioli machine. Today, they are selling sustainably made pasta at eight retail locations, ten farmers markets, and soon Whole Foods in the North Atlantic region.
  • Dolly Pearl founder Vi Hoang of NYC went from personally sewing all of her dresses on the floor of her apartment to hiring a seamstress, working from a sewing studio, and entertaining numerous requests from boutiques hoping to sell her line.
  • Thursdays, the girls-only cooking and crafting website and weekly dinner party planners from Kentucky, have dramatically increased their social network following, regularly conduct media interviews, and most recently hired guest bloggers to expand their website’s content.

 

The key to winning Start Small, Go Big: Each product or service should make life a little sweeter, just like DailyCandy. To enter, winner wannabes should visit dailycandy.com/startsmallgobig by August 5 at 10 a.m. EST, fill out their key business info, select a category, and finish these three statements: 1) The world needs my business because …, 2) My big idea moment was …, and 3) My greatest challenge so far has been … . On August 22, DailyCandy editors will unveil 12 finalists (three from each category) and invite America to vote (daily!) for their favorites. On September 16, DailyCandy will announce one winner in each of the four categories.

In mid-October at the DailyCandy Academy, the winners will partake in a day specifically created to suit their entrepreneurial needs; they’ll have unprecedented access to industry leaders who’ll mentor and share their start-up stories and tips for success. The winners will also rub shoulders with top executives in the areas of PR, marketing, finance, and technology, and clink cocktails with DailyCandy’s favorite business owners who started small and went big.

Not only is the Start Small, Go Big microsite where the contest kicks off, the site also serves as a year-round resource for new business owners looking for insights, tips, and invaluable early-day resources. There, visitors can follow the continued growth of last year’s contest winners — and follow in the footsteps of industry experts who’ve blazed the trail to success. To learn more about DailyCandy’s Start Small, Go Big contest or the DailyCandy Academy and the mentors participating this year, visit www.startsmallgobig.com.

 

 

[SOURCE: DailyCandy]

Filed Under: Business Growth, Featured, News Tagged With: , , ,

CSN Stores Becomes Second-Largest Online Retailer of Home Goods in the U.S.

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

CSN Stores LLC (www.csnstores.com) is now the second-largest online retailer of housewares and home furnishings in the U.S., exceeding $380 million in 2010 sales. This ranking, which places CSN Stores ahead of Crate&Barrel for the first time, was recently released as part of Internet Retailer’s Top 500 Guide of the largest retail web sites.

Compared to all online retail sites, CSN is now ranked No. 51 out of the Top 500, advancing 10 spots from last year’s ranking. In addition, CSN jumped to the No. 10 spot on the list of retailers that operate solely on the web.

“We’re delighted with this year’s rankings,” said Niraj Shah, CSN Stores’ CEO and Co-Founder. “We chose to invest heavily in our expansion a few years ago, despite the recession. And those investments have really paid off for us. We’ve also hired a very talented group of 750+ people globally to fuel our growth now and in the years to come.”

CSN Stores also ranked as No. 24 on the list of the fastest-growing e-retailers, and No. 28 among those with the largest sales increases from 2009 to 2010. CSN sells more than 3 million items from 5,000+ brands.

“CSN has developed a very unique business model that demonstrates how an online retailing company can successfully grow in numerous niches,” said Mark Brohan, vice president of research for Internet Retailer and editor of the Top 500 Guide. “Their growth in the Top 500 rankings is a testament to their market staying power.”

CSN’s growth in 2011 is continuing at an even more rapid rate. Q1 performance is up by more than 56 percent. CSN also hired 250+ people last year and has added 100+ staffers so far in 2011.

Earlier this month, Boston-based CSN opened a second operations and distribution center located in Ogden, UT, offering customers in the Western U.S. expedited shipping and extended hours for customer service calls.

Internet Retailer’s definitive ranking and analysis of America’s 500 largest e-retailers is based on annual 2010 Internet sales, researched by Internet Retailer and confirmed by retailers. This report includes company financial, operational and performance data, as well as vendors in key categories.

Filed Under: Business Growth, eCommerce, News Tagged With: , , , , ,

SUBWAY® Makes it Easier for Veterans to Own and Operate Their Own Businesses

December 30, 2010 By 16 Comments

The SUBWAY® restaurant chain is proud to announce that it has introduced a new program for military Veterans designed to greatly reduce their costs associated with the purchase of a new SUBWAY® franchise.

The franchise fee of $15,000, already one of the most reasonable in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry, is now waived for any honorably discharged veteran who wishes to open a SUBWAY® restaurant on a government or military installation. In addition, the franchise fee will be reduced by 50-percent for any veteran opening a SUBWAY® restaurant at any non-military or non-government location.

“This is our way to honor the brave men and women who have served our country over the years by providing a viable option for their post-military careers,” says Don Fertman, Chief Development Officer for the SUBWAY® restaurant chain. “Veterans have put themselves in harm’s way while defending our nation.  We cannot thank them enough. This small gesture will make it easier for veterans to adjust to civilian life or help them follow their dream of owning and operating their own business.”

SUBWAY® franchisee John Pryor, a Vietnam Veteran who served five years in the U.S. Air Force, said the new policy targets a group of individuals who have proven that they have the dedication to get the job done and leadership skills necessary to open, operate and succeed in their own small business. John, who also holds a communications degree from the University of Central Florida, said he believes that his military background has helped him in all aspects of his business.

“If you are known by the company you keep, then this company is already blessed to have some of the greatest franchisees in the world operating Subway restaurants,” said John, who owns eight SUBWAY® stores located throughout Central Florida. “Now, as a token of appreciation for their commitment and service, Subway will recognize veterans for all they have done by making this special business opportunity available to them. I know the company will benefit from bringing even more veterans into the business and I applaud Subway for making this move for such a deserving group.”

Learn more at Subway

Filed Under: Business Growth, Featured, Franchise Tagged With: , , ,

TLC’s ‘HOMEMADE MILLIONAIRE’ Winner Sells Out of Innovative Product Bake Huggers

November 28, 2010 By 3 Comments

Debra Lee, the winner of last night’s episode of TLC’s HOMEMADE MILLIONAIRE reality show, proved the judges were right in selecting her invention Bake Huggers as the winner when she quickly sold out of the innovative product during her premiere on HSN.  The talented entrepreneur debuted on HSN Friday night (Nov 26) at 11 P.M. (EST), immediately after being announced the winner of the second of six episodes of the hour-long reality show.

HOMEMADE MILLIONAIRE offers aspiring female entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas and sell their products on HSN and www.hsn.com.  The show is produced by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos‘ production company Milojo Productions for TLC.

“I am thrilled that Bake Huggers sold out on its first HSN run,” said Debra Lee.  ”Perseverance and believing in your product is the key to the American dream.”

As a mother of 3, Lee found herself baking and decorating cupcakes often.  Frustrated by the time it took to get the results she wanted, she knew there had to be a better way.  Lee created a wrapper for cupcakes that was not only decorative, but also edible.  Her time-saving solution was fun, creative, and best of all, eliminated the mess of traditional paper cupcake liners.

Lee’s newly popular Bake Huggers sold out in less than five minutes during her HSN premiere at 7 A.M. EST on Saturday, November 27.

Each hour-long episode of HOMEMADE MILLIONAIRE follows the competitive journey of three women vying for a chance to sell their inventions on HSN. Open calls were held throughout the U.S., and thousands of women showed up with their unique products in hand, aspiring to become the next successful entrepreneur.

TUNE IN ON DECEMBER 3:  See who will become the next HOMEMADE MILLIONAIRE winner to present her innovative product on HSN by tuning in to TLC on Friday, December 3 at 10 P.M. and HSN immediately after at 11 P.M. to see the winner live on HSN, then watch her official HSN debut at 7 A.M. (EST) Saturday, December 4.

This could be your story………

Filed Under: Business Growth, Success Stories Tagged With: , , , ,

Internet Retailer 2010 Conference

April 8, 2010 By 10 Comments

You may want to attend this years Internet Retailer 2010 Conference & Exhibition on June 8-11 in Chicago as they review strategies for capitalizing on the next wave of double-digit e-commerce growth.

You will have the opportunity to meet many of the movers and shakers in the industry. They have an impressive line-up of speakers and workshops. You can visit their website HERE for more details.

Filed Under: Business Growth, Business Resources, IRCE, trade shows Tagged With: , , , ,

Forbes “America’s Most Promosing Companies”

July 6, 2009 By 1 Comment

If you have not heard by now, Forbes is search for “America’s Most Promising Young Companies”. This is a great opportunity for your company to shine and get the credit or assistance you may need at this time. Forbes is known for creating Top List of all categories. This is certainly worth your time to look into. The video below is Steve Forbes asking for you to tajke the survey. Deadline is fast approaching of July 17th.

Forbes:
“……Forbes.com is teaming with The Venture Alliance (TVA), a boutique investment adviser to early-stage companies, to identify America’s most promising companies……
………….We need as many entrepreneurs as possible to fill out the survey…………….”

Get the word out and let the world know how promising your company is. If you do not make it; at least you know someone at Forbes has you on a list … :)




Filed Under: Business Growth

Home Loans and your Business

May 25, 2009 By 71 Comments

Selling online usually requires a small investment but not always. For those of you not sure where to obtain the funds for inventory; you might consider a home loan. Home loans are always an option. I would always recommend that you start small and without a loan. Once your business picks up and you find you need a location, Team Members, Equipment and Inventory you may want to try a business loan or even credit cards. However, you can always obtain a home loan as back-up. The rates are usually a lot better and you can use the money towards home improvements as well. It is usually hard for Start-up business to obtain a business loan or line of credit.

Keep in mind that you can start selling online the items you have around your home. Selling your items around your home cost you nothing other than the occasional listing fees (varies on marketplace). You can also “drop ship”; the cost here is also minimal compared to stocking your own inventory. This is a great time to explore the possibilities. Sales online are doing a lot better and I know that soon you will experience the need to provide and stock larger inventory. Summer is here (almost) and this is a great time to start working on the Fall/Winter Sales Campaigns. Having inventory can give you an edge to the Holiday demand.

Have you started working on the Fall Campaigns? Do you usually stock up on the Hot Item?



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Filed Under: Business Growth, Home Based Business, Selling online Tagged With: , , , , ,