Good morning!
Today we want to continue on the theme of agriculture in New York. There are some very interesting initiatives/projects in the works, which could help boost this segment of the economy (other than corn that is). One of the most interesting aspects, is the idea of integrating e-commerce with the agriculture industry.
One example, is The New York Farmer's Market (http://www.newyorkfarmersmarket.com/ ), a joint project being worked on by Morrisville State College and the New York Farm Viability Institute. The project seeks to expand the customer base of New York State Farmers, by allowing various agriculture producers to sell their products via the web, at a central location and at a low cost to the producers. While dairy products are yet to hit the web here, they do sell the following types of products:
Baskets
Cheese
Fruit
Grains
Herbs
Honey
Jam & Jelly
Maple
Nuts
Pickles
Prepared Foods
Sauces
Besides providing a great marketplace for products, these type of mixtures between Internet technologies and agriculture, also help to reduce the need for technical knowledge and may reduce marketing expenditures for NYS agriculture producers. It really is a win-win situation which should be looked at seriously by all of those in the agriculture/farming industry, if not today, then yesterday. While I am kind of partial to the project above, finding a reputable e-commerce solution, that YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, should be the top priority. Obviously doing your research will play a huge role in this process, but I believe the potential rewards, largely outweigh any potential investment of time.
As always, hope this helps, and have a great, profitable day!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tools for Tuesday - Week of July 28, 2008
Good morning! Hope you have had a profitable month so far.
This week we want to shed some light on funding opportunities available only to New York State Farmers (or those moving/starting a farm in New York). We all know that despite, the recent push in corn, farmers and those looking to start farms, can use all of the capital they can get. Our tool for today is actually a website for the Grow New York's Enterprise program. This program distributes grants and low interest loans to New York State Farmers in what are typically considered "rural areas" for, as the site states, "Emerging or expanding businesses that are focused on producing, processing, marketing or expanding New York produced agricultural products." The state puts aside 3 million a year for this program, but there are a number of qualifications which will need to be meet. The full list and program details (as well as program application) can be viewed at:
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/GNYRFP.html
As always, hope this helps, and see you on Wed. !
This week we want to shed some light on funding opportunities available only to New York State Farmers (or those moving/starting a farm in New York). We all know that despite, the recent push in corn, farmers and those looking to start farms, can use all of the capital they can get. Our tool for today is actually a website for the Grow New York's Enterprise program. This program distributes grants and low interest loans to New York State Farmers in what are typically considered "rural areas" for, as the site states, "Emerging or expanding businesses that are focused on producing, processing, marketing or expanding New York produced agricultural products." The state puts aside 3 million a year for this program, but there are a number of qualifications which will need to be meet. The full list and program details (as well as program application) can be viewed at:
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/GNYRFP.html
As always, hope this helps, and see you on Wed. !
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wednesday Wake-up - The Week of July 21st, 2008
Good morning! (Good evening if you are cheating and reading this early)
As stated in the "Tools for Tuesday" column for this week, visibility seems to be a significant issue affecting the success of small businesses. Our Wake-Up column seeks to expand on this issue, by suggesting some alternatives to paid advertising, which may be able to increase your company's visibility:
One alternative is holding workshops. Depending on your product, this gives you the opportunity to put your product in the hands of potential customers (or demonstrate a service), gain free media advertising (such as community calendars), and help promote your ties to your local community. This has paid large dividends for bigger companies, such as Home Depot, whose in-store seminars have helped to build a loyal customer base.
Another alternative is writing editorials to media. This suggestion is a little more tricky particularly if you take on a politically or socially "touchy" subject. However, if you are professional in your critique and make suggestions based on your experience (on a subject you are an expert in) on a problem, you may find that your company will gain credibility and free exposure. Some smaller media outlets may also be looking for resident "experts" to field questions in your area of expertise. If you prepare yourself, these can be very rewarding opportunities.
Finally, and as stated in our Tools for Tuesday column, press releases are an excellent method of gaining exposure. Press releases can be put out for any change in your business: the hiring of a new employee, business expansion, new product or service lines, etc. Always make sure your press releases are professional in nature(grammar and spell checked) and you may find yourself gaining exposure you would not have thought possible.
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you out a bit. I am sure we will be expanding on this topic in future columns, such as discussing exchanging advertising services. One thing we would like to add though, is to recommend keeping a database of media contacts. This will save you a lot of time and effort (and headaches) when you decide to send out your second press release, and will aid you in remembering names/contact information when you are trying to form relationships with the local media. You want these people to cover your business, so make them your friends!
As always, have a great, profitable day!
As stated in the "Tools for Tuesday" column for this week, visibility seems to be a significant issue affecting the success of small businesses. Our Wake-Up column seeks to expand on this issue, by suggesting some alternatives to paid advertising, which may be able to increase your company's visibility:
One alternative is holding workshops. Depending on your product, this gives you the opportunity to put your product in the hands of potential customers (or demonstrate a service), gain free media advertising (such as community calendars), and help promote your ties to your local community. This has paid large dividends for bigger companies, such as Home Depot, whose in-store seminars have helped to build a loyal customer base.
Another alternative is writing editorials to media. This suggestion is a little more tricky particularly if you take on a politically or socially "touchy" subject. However, if you are professional in your critique and make suggestions based on your experience (on a subject you are an expert in) on a problem, you may find that your company will gain credibility and free exposure. Some smaller media outlets may also be looking for resident "experts" to field questions in your area of expertise. If you prepare yourself, these can be very rewarding opportunities.
Finally, and as stated in our Tools for Tuesday column, press releases are an excellent method of gaining exposure. Press releases can be put out for any change in your business: the hiring of a new employee, business expansion, new product or service lines, etc. Always make sure your press releases are professional in nature(grammar and spell checked) and you may find yourself gaining exposure you would not have thought possible.
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you out a bit. I am sure we will be expanding on this topic in future columns, such as discussing exchanging advertising services. One thing we would like to add though, is to recommend keeping a database of media contacts. This will save you a lot of time and effort (and headaches) when you decide to send out your second press release, and will aid you in remembering names/contact information when you are trying to form relationships with the local media. You want these people to cover your business, so make them your friends!
As always, have a great, profitable day!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Tools for Tuesday - Week of July 21st, 2008
One of the most common issues affecting the success of small businesses, at least which we have noticed, is a lack of visibility. Many small business owners, lack the financial resources to invest in any sort of media advertising, let alone pay the rent. One way of gaining exposure, without investing loads of money, is to put out press releases. Press releases do not have to be significant events. They can be the launch of a new product, a hiring of a new employee, an expansion to your building, etc. Distributing these types of releases to local media, not only gives your business tons of free exposure, but shows a commitment on your part, to the local community/economy and may help to create a sense of customer loyalty.
Below we have assembled a number of links to press release templates, which can help you to easily assemble your press release. We highly recommend customizing these templates to create a standardized template, which includes your company logo, to create a sense of familiarity with local media.
Here are the links:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT101439021033.aspx (Microsoft Templates)
http://marketingpr.suite101.com/article.cfm/press_release_template (Suite 101)
http://www.publicityinsider.com/release.asp (Publicity Insider)
http://advertising.about.com/od/pressreleases/ss/prlayout.htm (About.com)
As always, have a great, profitable day!
Below we have assembled a number of links to press release templates, which can help you to easily assemble your press release. We highly recommend customizing these templates to create a standardized template, which includes your company logo, to create a sense of familiarity with local media.
Here are the links:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT101439021033.aspx (Microsoft Templates)
http://marketingpr.suite101.com/article.cfm/press_release_template (Suite 101)
http://www.publicityinsider.com/release.asp (Publicity Insider)
http://advertising.about.com/od/pressreleases/ss/prlayout.htm (About.com)
As always, have a great, profitable day!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wed. Wake-Up - Week of July 14th, 2008
Good morning!
I couldn't let this week go without addressing some form of technology considered essential for small business. So let's look at the Microsoft (MS) Office Packages for Windows. Many businesses and small business owners consider a program such as MS Excel, MS Access, MS Word, and even MS Powerpoint, "must-haves" for a business. While these are all great programs, they often have hefty price tags attached to them, which may put them out of reach. Today I wanted to alert you to an alternative called OpenOffice. OpenOffice is like a copy of the Microsoft Office suite, except it is what is called "open-source" (aka free and developed for that purpose) . You can learn more about the OpenOffice Suite by going to their website ( http://www.openoffice.org/ ). As stated on the OpenOffice website, " OpenOffice is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more." So if you need a program such as Powerpoint for making presentations, Excel for calculations, or Word for word processing, OpenOffice may be the solution you have been looking for, at a great price. All of their programs are also very similar to MS Office in look and feel, so it is a pretty easy transition if you have been using MS products all of your life. You also have the choice of downloading directly from them or ordering CDs from a distributor (where you will be charged for S+H). If you have a broadband connection, I'd just download it.
While you are at it though, I would still download MS Office Product Viewers. This will allow you to see a file which may be sent to you with "Microsoft-specific" formatting. These can be found at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/HA010449811033.aspx
As always, hope this helps, and have a great, profitable day!
I couldn't let this week go without addressing some form of technology considered essential for small business. So let's look at the Microsoft (MS) Office Packages for Windows. Many businesses and small business owners consider a program such as MS Excel, MS Access, MS Word, and even MS Powerpoint, "must-haves" for a business. While these are all great programs, they often have hefty price tags attached to them, which may put them out of reach. Today I wanted to alert you to an alternative called OpenOffice. OpenOffice is like a copy of the Microsoft Office suite, except it is what is called "open-source" (aka free and developed for that purpose) . You can learn more about the OpenOffice Suite by going to their website ( http://www.openoffice.org/ ). As stated on the OpenOffice website, " OpenOffice is the leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more." So if you need a program such as Powerpoint for making presentations, Excel for calculations, or Word for word processing, OpenOffice may be the solution you have been looking for, at a great price. All of their programs are also very similar to MS Office in look and feel, so it is a pretty easy transition if you have been using MS products all of your life. You also have the choice of downloading directly from them or ordering CDs from a distributor (where you will be charged for S+H). If you have a broadband connection, I'd just download it.
While you are at it though, I would still download MS Office Product Viewers. This will allow you to see a file which may be sent to you with "Microsoft-specific" formatting. These can be found at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/HA010449811033.aspx
As always, hope this helps, and have a great, profitable day!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Tools for Tuesday - Week of July 14th, 2008
One of the most essential tools any small business owner can have, is the SBA Small Business Resource Guide. Even if you DO NOT WANT AN SBA LOAN, this guide is essential because it contains information on all of the SBA's local contacts, government contracting, the Small Business Innovation Research Program, and perhaps most importantly, on the local SBDC (Small Business Development Center) and SCORE contacts. The Resource Guide can be downloaded as a PDF from here:
http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/ny_syracuse/sba_022848.pdf
Even if you choose to download the resource guide from here, if you do not already have a small business packet from the SBA, give them a call at (315)471-9393. The packet will include a wealth of information, other than just the resource guide, and it will be sent to you completely free of charge. As always, have a great, profitable day!
http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/ny_syracuse/sba_022848.pdf
Even if you choose to download the resource guide from here, if you do not already have a small business packet from the SBA, give them a call at (315)471-9393. The packet will include a wealth of information, other than just the resource guide, and it will be sent to you completely free of charge. As always, have a great, profitable day!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
When should I expect new posts?
Right now, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Weds. We want to build this project up slowly, posting the information which is most helpful to our readers. So over the next six months to a year, we will be trying out new columns, slowly adding those which work, until we have a write-up at least once a day. We want to have just more than content, we want to publish content which makes a difference. So come back every Tuesday and Wed, and check in to see the new columns whenever you can! Notifying you of this was a concern to us, as we realize just how important time is to any small business owner. Have a great, profitable day!
-Dale
-Dale
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Wed. Wake-Up
Good morning!
Welcome to the first Wed. Wake-Up column (on a Tuesday no less). This may or may not become a bi-weekly post, but the idea is to generate new ideas that you or your business may not have thought of, which could possibly increase your profitability.
For this week, I wanted to alert you to NYSEG's economic development programs (Yes, even NYSEG has their own economic development program). I have to give credit to Joe Moody (Town of Union, Economic Development) for alerting me to this last year. NYSEG has a variety of programs including, jobs for power, reduced rates, economic development grants, agriculture investment, etc. for small business, which to my understanding are not used nearly often enough. I highly recommend checking them out at :
http://www.nyseg.com/YourBusiness/economicdev/progandincentives.html
As always, hope this helps!
-Dale
Welcome to the first Wed. Wake-Up column (on a Tuesday no less). This may or may not become a bi-weekly post, but the idea is to generate new ideas that you or your business may not have thought of, which could possibly increase your profitability.
For this week, I wanted to alert you to NYSEG's economic development programs (Yes, even NYSEG has their own economic development program). I have to give credit to Joe Moody (Town of Union, Economic Development) for alerting me to this last year. NYSEG has a variety of programs including, jobs for power, reduced rates, economic development grants, agriculture investment, etc. for small business, which to my understanding are not used nearly often enough. I highly recommend checking them out at :
http://www.nyseg.com/YourBusiness/economicdev/progandincentives.html
As always, hope this helps!
-Dale
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Tools for Tuesday
I know it is a bit early to post this for this week, but hey isn't it always better to be ahead?
This tool is from Marketing Today and it is an ROI (Return on Investment) calculator for those of you that invest in Direct Mail or Email advertising:
http://www.marketingtoday.com/tools/roi_calculator.htm
If you have a tool you need, let me know and we will design it or find it for you! (If it's possible :))
-Dale
This tool is from Marketing Today and it is an ROI (Return on Investment) calculator for those of you that invest in Direct Mail or Email advertising:
http://www.marketingtoday.com/tools/roi_calculator.htm
If you have a tool you need, let me know and we will design it or find it for you! (If it's possible :))
-Dale
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Are you or do you want to be a small business owner?
Then this blog is for you. This is an extension of the constantly progressing CNY Small Biz project, which seeks to help those individuals or groups with small business interests by providing them; tools, advice, and contacts which will hopefully increase their chances of succeeding in what can be a very challenging New York business environment.
My name is Dale Sturdevant, and I am a former member and Director of Marketing of MSCEI, as well as an EDA with the US Small Business Administration. I have a a deep appreciation for the challenges and rewards that come with small business, as both myself and my family are currently involved with, or own small businesses, and have been for most of our lives. I would like nothing more than to see New York (especially Central New York) become a legitimate stronghold for attracting and retaining small businesses. Not in the political sense that develops at election time, but every day of the year. Hopefully this site will do some good in this sense. If you have questions, concerns, or something you would like to see covered feel free to ask!
Regards,
Dale Sturdevant
sturde37@gmail.com
My name is Dale Sturdevant, and I am a former member and Director of Marketing of MSCEI, as well as an EDA with the US Small Business Administration. I have a a deep appreciation for the challenges and rewards that come with small business, as both myself and my family are currently involved with, or own small businesses, and have been for most of our lives. I would like nothing more than to see New York (especially Central New York) become a legitimate stronghold for attracting and retaining small businesses. Not in the political sense that develops at election time, but every day of the year. Hopefully this site will do some good in this sense. If you have questions, concerns, or something you would like to see covered feel free to ask!
Regards,
Dale Sturdevant
sturde37@gmail.com
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