Archive for December, 2008
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
Hopeful Predictions for 2009
Because today is New Year’s Eve, I thought it only appropriate to share with you a post I read recently on a blog called Small Business Labs. The post gives you a run down of the top 10 predictions for the small business industry in 2009. The focus is primarily on the economy for obvious […]
No Comments » - Posted in Small Business by Megan Dorn
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
Fighting Stress in Stressful Times
Times are tough for small business owners. They’re being pinched and squeezed in every region of the country. With declining sales and disappearing profits and following one of the worst holiday shopping seasons many of us have ever seen, small business owners are feeling the psychological, emotional and physical effects that go hand-in-hand with high […]
No Comments » - Posted in Entrepreneurship, Small Business by Megan Dorn
Monday, December 29th, 2008
Small Business Tip of the Week
Most consumers would put more trust in the words of other consumers than in the words of a sales person pitching them on a product or service. That’s why testimonials are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools out there. A good testimonial can convince even your toughest critics that what you have […]
No Comments » - Posted in Small Business by Megan Dorn
Friday, December 19th, 2008
Second-Rate Wrapping as a Service
Many online retailers offer complementary gift wrapping this time of year as an added bonus to the products they provide. Sometimes they come complete with a beautiful bow and ribbon, but at the very least the wrapping itself is done in a very precise, pristine manner…usually.
This year, however, one small company will be providing an […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Random thoughts by Megan Dorn
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
Small Retailers Feeling the Sting
Small businesses across the country are hurting right now. The retail industry in particular, because it depends so heavily on holiday sales, is experiencing the extreme pain of economic turmoil.
Sageworks Inc., which develops financial analysis tools for private companies, identified five sectors of small (less than $10 million in annual sales) retailers being hit particularly […]
No Comments » - Posted in Small Business by Megan Dorn
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
Haggling Small Businesses
I read an article in the Wall Street Journal’s Independent Street last week on the idea of haggling—negotiating prices with prospective buyers—in a down economy. The article highlights how many small businesses are afraid to haggle with their customers, but haggling could give money-conscious potential customers the incentive they need to purchase a product or […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Small Business by Megan Dorn
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
Rhode Island Announces Its Own Small Business Stimulus
As many states wait patiently for President-elect Obama’s stimulus package to come next year, Rhode Island governor Donald Carcieri is taking matters into his own hands. Carcieri recently announced a stimulus package that will be aimed specifically at Rhode Island small businesses.
“Our small business community represents 90 percent of the businesses in Rhode Island and […]
No Comments » - Posted in Small Business, Financing by Megan Dorn
Monday, December 15th, 2008
Small Business Tip of the Week
We live in a litigious society. It’s not difficult to find a lawyer or customer out there just waiting for you to trip up and make even the slightest mistake. When it comes to legal protection for your small business, it pays to invest before the fact to avoid costly lawsuits further down the road. […]
