Small Business

 Summer’s Here and the Time Is Right for Signs to Sell Your Beets

The Farmers’ Market is probably one of my favorite weekend destinations. I love fresh vegetables and fruit – not mention these days you can find farm-fresh eggs, fresh organic cheeses and dairy products, just-picked herbs, and some fantastic organic grass-fed meats if you’re really lucky. For a foodie like me it is absolute nirvana…a perfect state of peace, not the ‘90s Seattle grunge band!

Yet on my treks to various markets recently, I’ve noticed one thing that often could use some extra pizzazz – the signs many of these small businesses use to market their farm-fresh goodies. Whether you’re selling homemade crafts, grass-fed brisket or the oh-so-delectable banana-pineapple-macadamia nut salsa I can never resist, the signs you use to advertise your business and set you apart from the other vendors selling similar wares are critical! ...read more

Being a former manager of a FedEx Office center, I can tell you that the team members working behind the counters really know small businesses. And not just because our company once was a small business (did you know the first Kinko’s was just one copy machine located on the sidewalk next to a taco stand in California?). No, it’s because small businesses are in our centers each and every day, working with team members to find the solutions that help them build business. And for the last three years we’ve done a nationwide survey of entrepreneurs just like them to see how they’re feeling about things – their business, their customers, the economy and more. 

This year, the results told us that things are looking up for small businesses…that they feel poised to help drive the U.S. economy out of its rut. I thought that was great news, and definitely worth spreading the word about! ...read more

One of my favorite local cafés here in Dallas keeps me coming back for more with frightening regularity. It might be that the food and coffee is awesome when I’m in need of a quick pick-me-up, but I’m sure it also has something to do with the “buy five coffees, get one free” loyalty card they stamp for me every time I visit. And while there are certainly plenty of other eateries in the area I could visit, that one free meal sure is a good incentive to keep coming back to this one. And with that one simple punch card – and some great food – this café has built a seriously devoted, repeat customer.

So why aren’t more businesses doing it? Good question, I thought. And while I really don’t have the answer to it, I do know that these cards are just as easy to make as business cards. In fact, for most businesses I’ve seen use them, the cards double as both.  ...read more

Some years ago, my mom ran a home daycare out of her house. She really enjoyed working with kids and opening her home to them. She was not, however, great at marketing her business. She did everything by word of mouth. Though, occasionally she would try out some brochures and postcards to help drive business. Since I worked for FedEx Office (Kinko’s at the time), she was always asking for my help to make them look “nicer.” 

Don’t get me wrong I can do just about anything in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, but I have never fancied myself all that creative. Technically savvy? Yes, that’s me! But creative??? Umm…not so much. I recall I would spend a great deal of time just trying to decide what font to use. And I’m sure there are many budding entrepreneurs and small businesses that have or have had this same challenge at some point. ...read more