When I started my business in 2004, (yes, I’m dating myself), the concept of having a website was a ‘nice idea’. Small businesses hadn’t fully embraced websites or understood their purpose, what to include, or frankly how to build one. This rapidly changed throughout the decade as all small business owners got to grapple with one [...]
We’ve all heard stories of small businesses these past many months, about how they’ve pivoted to offer new products and services as a result of the pandemic. Some accidentally stumbled upon entirely new product lines and market opportunities, that had it not been for the crisis, wouldn’t have been discovered. I heard a radio teaser about Dippin’ Dots this [...]
Greetings and Happy Holidays to you all from my dining room table. How our work environments have changed! In gathering my thoughts for our last newsletter of the year, the following phrase comes to mind: “If I knew then what I know now.” Who could have imagined last year at this time, what was about [...]
Small business owners are problem solvers. It’s an inherent skill set either learned or acquired as entrepreneurs who aren’t given a road map but must figure out their path through education, asking questions and simply trial and error. As small business educators, the staff at the Miller Business Resource Center teach small business owners [...]
Recently in our Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses 35 small business owners were asked by a show of hands how many had an advisory board. No one raised their hand. My perception is that small business owners perceive boards as something left to large corporations with fancy board rooms and high-powered connections. No matter the size of [...]
As we head into the final stretch before Christmas, I’d like to first thank you for being part of the Miller Business Resource Center and the programs and resources offered at Miller Campus. If you’re not as familiar with us as you’d like to be, please make it a point to stop by and visit [...]
As mentioned in prior articles, I’m always looking for new ideas or changes I can make to advance our MBRC programs. One of those ideas became a reality after months of grinding on a concept to help create small businesses quickly. After attending a seminar at a professional conference, I began iterating on the idea of [...]
First Money In If you’re looking to launch your own business, it’s important to know who will be your first money ‘in’. Your initial answer better be YOU. I’m still somewhat surprised when I meet a budding entrepreneur and having listened to their idea, ask them how they plan to initially fund their business. [...]
How often do you hear phrases from companies who tout ‘exemplary customer service’, ‘we value our customers’, ‘we take care of you’, ‘unmatched customer service’? Does your experience with these companies coincide with the company’s taglines? The true measure of customer service generally occurs when you have a problem or issue with the product [...]
By: Beth Colosimo Picture yourself as an entrepreneur sitting on the ground in a small village in Gulam, India, population 3,500, surrounded by brilliantly-clad women in their finest saris, who speak no English, struggle for reliable water, work in farming, raise families, make a family income of $2/day, yet have aspirations for improving their [...]
