Great Ideas for your Small Business: Create a Fad People used to stand in front of dave kapell’s refrigerator for hours, even when they weren’t hungry. They were mesmerized by his collection of hand- made magnetized words—-an idea that evolved into a major 1990s fad: the Magnetic Poetry kit. Kapell, a songwriter and cab driver, … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Get Certified as a Minority Supplier Marguerite thompson browne, director of special projects for San Francisco–based Washington Sportswear Inc., was among the 4,000 people attending the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s (NMSDC) twenty-fifth annual conference in New York City. “This conference gives you access,” said Thompson Browne, whose sportswear … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Think BIG – It Doesn’t Cost Any More than Thinking Small I learned an important lesson from all the entrepreneurs I profiled for my “Succeeding in Small Business” column before starting my own multimedia communications business: It doesn’t cost any more to think big than it does to think … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Send Pizza to Potential Clients Everybody loves pizza. it’s not just hot, gooey, and delicious—it’s also a business opportunity. You probably never thought of pizza as a powerful business tool, but it is. Scott Jackson, founder of the Jackson Design Group in Orlando, Florida, has used pizza as an … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Consider Multilevel Marketing Fran lyles-harper was a physicist working on the Space Shuttle’s main engines when she attended an in-home art party. “The art really touched my soul,” said Lyles-Harper. “It wasn’t only beautiful, but it was quality art at affordable prices.” Lyles-Harper didn’t buy anything that night, but … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Become a Government Contractor The federal government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services, so why not get in line? The Federal Marketplace should be your first stop. The site is rich with information on how to market and sell products and services to Uncle Sam. The … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Really Work a Trade Show Hedy ratner, founder and copresident of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) in Chicago, really knows how to work a room. A consummate networker, she has devoted years to helping women entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Here are some of her great tips … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Invite Associates to a Trade Show If exhibiting at or attending a trade show is on your calendar this year, turn it into a valuable business trip by inviting business associates to meet you there. As soon as you sign up to attend, go through your database or business … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Know the Difference between Marketing, Advertising, and PR Too many entrepreneurs use a scattershot approach to marketing, advertising, and public relations, primarily because they don’t understand the subtle differences between the three. But knowing which to use, and when, can save you time, aggravation, and money. Marketing encompasses a … Read more
Great Ideas for your Small Business: Give Away a Seminar Seat Karen tate, president of the griffin tate Group in Cincinnati, teaches employees of big and small companies how to manage complex projects. Although she earns most of her money conducting group seminars for big corporations, she attracts new individual clients by raffling off a … Read more
