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3 Ways to Spread Cheer with Holiday Marketing

November 14, 2016
By Maxym Martineau

The holidays are right around the corner, and people everywhere are hitting stores in search of the perfect present. Competing with big box retailers is tough regardless of the season, but with more shoppers on the prowl for the perfect gift, you’ll need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Here are three things you can do to boost engagement with your customers and remind them to add your wares to their shopping lists.

Holiday Marketing

1. Create a fun holiday newsletter

Never underestimate the power of well-crafted newsletter. Seventy-three percent of millennials prefer email communications — that’s a huge market you can target with holiday-specific information.

You don’t have to toss your product spotlights and blog recaps to the side, but now’s your chance to add some holiday-themed festivity to the mix. Use language that represents the holidays without excluding any of your readership:  (more…)

A Dream Becomes Reality Through a Franchise Partnership

November 7, 2016
Success Story: Idaho

As Derek & Sophia Bates began seriously talking about their long-imagined dream of owning a bakery, a memory of a visit to the Great Harvest Bread Co. in Logan came back to them. They sent for an information packet and decided Great Harvest was a good fit.

Twin Falls, Idaho Great Harvest Bread Co.

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Three Surprises When You Apply for a Small Business Loan

November 1, 2016

Applying for a loanApplying for small business financing can be time-consuming and frustrating. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows the average small business owner spends more than half a standard work week (26 hours) researching and applying for financing.

Unfortunately, putting in that time and effort doesn’t always pay off. The Nav American Dream Gap Report survey found that 45% of small business owners whose applications for financing were declined said they were turned down more than once. And research from the 2014 Joint Small Business Credit Survey found that in the first half of 2013, a quarter of firms with employees and nearly a third (31%) of those without employees didn’t even bother to apply because they didn’t believe their applications would be approved.

While no one wants to be rejected when they apply for credit, small business owners are at a particular disadvantage because major consumer protection laws don’t always apply to entrepreneurs seeking financing for their ventures.

Here are three things that may come as a surprise when they apply:  (more…)

‘Tis the Small Biz Season

October 25, 2016

Shoppers rely on small businesses to make their holidays special. From the perfect gift, to the best catering, consumers turn to the internet to connect with these local spots. To help businesses prepare, we’re teaming up with the U.S. Small Business Administration and partners across America to host a livestream event October 26th at 1:00pm ET to give small businesses the boost they need to reach more customers this #SmallBizSeason. Is your small business ready?

During the workshop, small businesses will learn how to create a free business listing on Google, optimize their website for mobile, advertise online, and more. There will be a Q&A at the end so be sure to submit your holiday questions using the hashtag #SmallBizSeason on Twitter.  (more…)

NJ SBDC Serves Military Service Members and Spouses with “Boots to Business”

October 18, 2016

NJ SBDC "Boots to Business"The New Jersey SBDC at the Rutgers School of Business in Camden, New Jersey, has been conducting the “Boots to Business” Entrepreneurial Program at the Fort Dix/McGuire Air Force Base in Lakehurst, New Jersey for the past two years. Partnering with the Small Business Administration Office of Veterans Business Development, Americas SBDC and the New Jersey SBDC, the Rutgers Camden SBDC has lectured hundreds of returning soldiers seeking to start their own businesses.

“Boots to Business” enables military service members and their spouses to explore careers in business ownership and self-employment, by showing them how to apply their military skills to start and grow a business. It helps them evaluate the feasibility of their business concepts and connects them to SBDCs and other SBA resource partners. (more…)