NFIB Releases March Survey Outlining Small Business Trends
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its March Report. Small Business owners were surveyed as recently as February. The report is quite extensive and shows charts outlining the trends effecting sales, profits, credit availability and more.
For information visit: www.nfib.com/page/researchFoundation (Scroll down page and click onto the "Small Business Economic Trends - March 2009" link)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
What Every Business Owner Needs to Know Before Asking for a Loan:
Next Economic Survivor Business Series Seminar
April 1st - 7:30am-9:30am - Alliance Free Enterprise Center
Guest Speaker: Jeff Burda, Modesto Commerce Bank
The seminar is designed to give attendees key information on how to best prepare and be successful in securing Small Business Funding. This includes: knowing what's important to a banker, how "fundable" are you?, preparing financial statements, 5 "C's" of credit, preparing
a good proposal, and much more.
Register online at http://www.alliancesbdc.com/ or call 209-567-4910 to find out more information.
Next Economic Survivor Business Series Seminar
April 1st - 7:30am-9:30am - Alliance Free Enterprise Center
Guest Speaker: Jeff Burda, Modesto Commerce Bank
The seminar is designed to give attendees key information on how to best prepare and be successful in securing Small Business Funding. This includes: knowing what's important to a banker, how "fundable" are you?, preparing financial statements, 5 "C's" of credit, preparing
a good proposal, and much more.
Register online at http://www.alliancesbdc.com/ or call 209-567-4910 to find out more information.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Farmer's Market returning to Ceres
A new Ceres Farmer Market will be offered in downtown Ceres on Wednesdays beginning on April 1.
The push for a regular Farmers Market was made by the Ceres Partnership for Healthy Children and the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program. The agency heard concerns from parents that they couldn't find fresh fruits and vegetables and with childhood obesity being a concern in Ceres, decided to initiate the farm-to-market outlet. The local farmers will be accepting WIC and EBT coupons.
For the rest of the story: http://www.cerescourier.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=55768&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=2
The push for a regular Farmers Market was made by the Ceres Partnership for Healthy Children and the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program. The agency heard concerns from parents that they couldn't find fresh fruits and vegetables and with childhood obesity being a concern in Ceres, decided to initiate the farm-to-market outlet. The local farmers will be accepting WIC and EBT coupons.
For the rest of the story: http://www.cerescourier.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=55768&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=2
Turlock to net $4.9 million minimum in stimulus funds
The federal government may just be starting to dole out the dollars allocated in the Feb. 17 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but Turlock has already penciled in this year's stimulus checks. The city is guaranteed at least $4.9 million in formula-driven AARA grants to benefit such areas as street improvements, public safety, and economic development, while as much as $328 million more in competitive grants could find its way into Turlock's coffers.
To read the rest of the story: http://www.cerescourier.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=55768&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=2
To read the rest of the story: http://www.cerescourier.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=55768&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=2
Friday, March 20, 2009
Area home prices a mixed bag...Stanislaus & Merced, Down...San Joaquin & Tuolumne, Up
Home prices continued to slip in Stanislaus and Merced counties last month, a real estate research firm reported Thursday, but they perked up a little in San Joaquin and Tuolumne.
The median price in Stanislaus County was $136,250, the report from MDA DataQuick said. That was down 2.7 percent from the $140,000 median in January and 66 percent off the market's $396,000 peak in late 2005.
For the rest of the story: http://www.modbee.com/business/story/637105.html
The median price in Stanislaus County was $136,250, the report from MDA DataQuick said. That was down 2.7 percent from the $140,000 median in January and 66 percent off the market's $396,000 peak in late 2005.
For the rest of the story: http://www.modbee.com/business/story/637105.html
ALLIANCE ECONOMIC SURVIVOR SERIES GAINING IN POPULARITY: MARKETING SEMINAR A HIT
Modesto, CA-
“The popularity of the Economic Survivor Business Seminars is growing quickly,” said Kurtis Clark, Director of the Alliance Small Business Development Center. “Yesterday we hosted the second in a series of nine. The event was very well attended. Doubling our last event.” David Boring, Julie Orona, and Courtney Considine, from Never Boring (www.neverboring.com) provided the audience with information on "Marketing Ideas That Bring In Customers". The surveys collected at the end of the session gave the seminar and its presenter’s high marks.
Boring opened the session by describing the difference between advertising and marketing. “Advertising is how you spend your money,” he explained. “Marketing is your basic plan and branding is a big part of marketing.”
"Why continue marketing in an economy like this?" Considine asked the audience. "If you stop telling your existing and new customers you are there, then they will stop coming in the door." She stressed the importance of keeping your name and brand in front of your customers.
"Your brand is not what you say it is, it is what your customer says it is,” said Orona. “First impressions are key.” Customer service, word of mouth, tone of message and consistency all form a brand. According to Orona, bad experiences have a larger effect on a brand than good ones and anything a business hands out forms their brand.
Signage is another form of branding. “Keep signage looking fresh,” states Boring. “If you are “The Discount Barn, but your sign reads The Discount Bar, you may get a whole other clientele.”
Boring also told attendees how critical a strategic plan is for a business. “It is how you go forward”, he said.
Social marketing, website design and advertising were all covered. In fact, when time ran out, the majority of participants stayed to hear more and speak to the presenters one-on-one.
"People ask me all the time, what is the magic bullet and where is the best place to spend my advertising money?" According to Boring, there is not just one magic bullet. And, how much money should you devote to marketing? “Budget is a tough one,” said Considine. “It is what you can realistically devote, and then maximize.”
It has been estimated that the return on investment is $46 for every $1 spent on advertising. I guess the big question for any business is, is it worth it?
The next Economic Survivor seminar is set for April 1st from 7:30-9:30 am at the Alliance Free Enterprise Center. “What Every Business Owner Needs to Know Before Asking for a Loan” will be the topic. This seminar is designed to give attendees key information on how to best prepare and be successful in securing Small Business Funding. This includes: knowing what’s important to a banker, how “fundable” are you, preparing financial statements, 5 “C’s” of credit, preparing a good proposal, and much more. Register online at www.alliancesbdc.com or call
209-567-4910. Seating is limited, so advanced registration is recommended.
The “Economic Survivor Business Seminars” is sponsored by the Alliance Small Business Development Center and Citibank.
Boring opened the session by describing the difference between advertising and marketing. “Advertising is how you spend your money,” he explained. “Marketing is your basic plan and branding is a big part of marketing.”
"Why continue marketing in an economy like this?" Considine asked the audience. "If you stop telling your existing and new customers you are there, then they will stop coming in the door." She stressed the importance of keeping your name and brand in front of your customers.
"Your brand is not what you say it is, it is what your customer says it is,” said Orona. “First impressions are key.” Customer service, word of mouth, tone of message and consistency all form a brand. According to Orona, bad experiences have a larger effect on a brand than good ones and anything a business hands out forms their brand.
Signage is another form of branding. “Keep signage looking fresh,” states Boring. “If you are “The Discount Barn, but your sign reads The Discount Bar, you may get a whole other clientele.”
Boring also told attendees how critical a strategic plan is for a business. “It is how you go forward”, he said.
Social marketing, website design and advertising were all covered. In fact, when time ran out, the majority of participants stayed to hear more and speak to the presenters one-on-one.
"People ask me all the time, what is the magic bullet and where is the best place to spend my advertising money?" According to Boring, there is not just one magic bullet. And, how much money should you devote to marketing? “Budget is a tough one,” said Considine. “It is what you can realistically devote, and then maximize.”
It has been estimated that the return on investment is $46 for every $1 spent on advertising. I guess the big question for any business is, is it worth it?
The next Economic Survivor seminar is set for April 1st from 7:30-9:30 am at the Alliance Free Enterprise Center. “What Every Business Owner Needs to Know Before Asking for a Loan” will be the topic. This seminar is designed to give attendees key information on how to best prepare and be successful in securing Small Business Funding. This includes: knowing what’s important to a banker, how “fundable” are you, preparing financial statements, 5 “C’s” of credit, preparing a good proposal, and much more. Register online at www.alliancesbdc.com or call
209-567-4910. Seating is limited, so advanced registration is recommended.
The “Economic Survivor Business Seminars” is sponsored by the Alliance Small Business Development Center and Citibank.
The Stanislaus Economic Development and Workforce Alliance www.stanalliance.com oversees both economic development and workforce training activities countywide. The Alliance is committed to creating a blueprint for success, which can make the Stanislaus River Valley (Stanislaus County) the strategic business choice for existing and expanding businesses by focusing on job creation, business assistance and workforce preparation activities.
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