Posted on May 10, 2019

Wabash Inspires Young Entrepreneurs

I read a study a while back that said millennials will be more likely to work for themselves than anyone else. They are a highly entrepreneurial group.

In our high schools around the country, groups like DECA and others are helping the next generation figure out ways to foster their entrepreneurial spirit, spurning new, potential small business owners into our economic futures. At Wabash High School, teacher Tyler Olson is encouraging the next generation right now.

Posted on May 9, 2019

Managing public complaints on social media

I hope you never use this blog. I hope all your reviews are five-star.

Okay, let’s be real. Probably, at some point, you are going to hear from an unhappy customer. Maybe they’ll keep it quiet by emailing or calling you. But you may find yourself dealing with an angry allegation on your social media pages for all to see. Yikes.

Posted on May 3, 2019

Shop Local, Support Small Business

Shop local. No, it doesn’t mean frequenting your local big box chain or mall to buy gifts for friends or family. When I think of shopping local, it means frequenting the gift store at the end of my block, or the independent coffee shop, and family-run restaurant.

Posted on April 29, 2019

Networking Yields Big Benefits to Small Businesses

Building your network and keeping those connections intact is integral to today’s business climate. And it is important for small businesses as well. Through networking, small business owners can not only find other like-minded people to connect with, but they can also leverage contacts to turn to for advice and mentorships.

Posted on April 23, 2019

Marketing Small Business in a Small Town: Neco Boutique

In our “Small Business Stories” series, we hit the road to interview small business owners about their unique journeys. Each story provides inspiration and insights, while shining a spotlight on the passionate small business owners who are so critical to our economies and our communities.

Posted on April 22, 2019

A Tale of Two Restaurants

Biddeford, Maine and Washington, North Carolina are separated by roughly 800 miles, yet both are defined by the Atlantic Ocean and river tributaries that meander near these communities.

Posted on April 15, 2019

Small Business Owners Offer Advice to Their Peers

What advice would you give to other small business owners? We asked that question as we traveled across the country in January, to the Top 10 towns as part of Season 4 of Small Business Revolution – Main Street.

Posted on April 13, 2019

Small Business Tips: Don’t lose your customers when you move

The sign in the window says your business has moved, but Google Maps is still sending your potential customers to your old location. More than once in the past few years a small business owner has told me they lost customers when they moved locations, and oftentimes it was because the internet didn’t get the news.

Posted on April 9, 2019

How a baby is like a brewery and other observations from Banded Brewing

Ian McConnell has a parent’s perspective on opening a small business. He is the owner of Banded Brewing in Biddeford, Maine, one of the towns the Small Business Revolution stopped at on the Top 10 Town Tour.

Posted on April 2, 2019

Small Business Owner Struggles

For the new “Small Business Tips” series, we met one-on-one with inspiring entrepreneurs all across America. Each one shares actionable insights and lessons to help other small business owners overcome some of their biggest (and most common) challenges.

Posted on April 1, 2019

Common questions: How do I get my small business on social media?

We talk to hundreds of businesses during each season of Small Business Revolution—Main Street, and we regularly hear confusion when they talk about social media. They know it can be powerful, but they are challenged to keep track of the various platforms and rules. It eats the precious resources of time and brainpower. Social media is especially overwhelming to start using professionally for people who don’t use it personally.

Posted on March 29, 2019

Mom and Pop Shops Can Make a Comeback, With Our Support

I grew up in a small town in Indiana. I remember my mom taking us to the local bakery for cookies, the flower shop to get our corsages and boutonnieres for high school formals, and the local grocery store to get our food for the week – always the ham salad for my dad.