Amy Simmons of Amy’s Ice Cream has grown an iconic chain of ice cream parlors in Austin, Texas. Her career in the business began at Tufts University, where she was a pre-medical student and working at Steve’s Ice Cream.
Tricia Fox on the Huffington Post writes that –
Jessie Thomas of Forbes.com interviewed Ekaterina Walter, Intel’s Social Media Strategist, and surprisingly the topic was about how small businesses could leverage social media given their limited resources. A fascinating interview and Ekaterina drops some helpful resources as well.
>> Check out the Forbes post here.
In an industry crowded by giants like Starbucks and Peets, Phil Jaber of Philz Coffee has garnered a loyal and growing base of fans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Watch the inspiring story of how one small business owner turned his passion into a brand.
Finally! The U.S. Treasury announced it has given $123 Million as part of the first phase of capital provided by the SBLF (Small Business Lending Fund).
“Expanding access to credit for small businesses will provide a powerful spark for growth and job creation,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “These funds will help ensure that more Main Street entrepreneurs have the opportunity to expand their businesses, invest in their local communities, and create new jobs.”
So far, however, the only bank to lend any money to a small business is Community Trust Financial Corporation of Ruston, Louisiana. Come on folks, small businesses are the cornerstone of turning our recession around, let’s get lending!
Some businesses are eternal (florists, attorneys, doctors) yet others are timely in that they have to wait for the right moment in society and economics (and Government) for their businesses to be in a position to thrive. Randy Kaufman of Next Energy is such a man in such a business.
In our second review of our 3 part series of how small business owners can accomplish start-up development tasks affordably, we take a look at mechanicalturk.com.
Hire on the fly!
Have an idea for an iPhone or Android app? Need to take your web marketing to the next level but can’t afford an army of bloggers and webmasters? How about surfing the web to collect data for the next useful widget on your website?
With the talent wars for geeks heating up (the number of billboards in San Francisco asking software engineers to come work for them hasn’t escaped us) it’s getting harder and harder for small business owners to get into the “app dev” game. Even the folks on Craigslist are advertising $100 an hour minimums again. It’s like the dot com craze all over again. What gives?
In its 6th year, the New York Times Small Business Summit – sponsored by American Express – will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on June 13th.
While most of our readers won’t be able to fly to NYC, the admission fee for those close to Manhattan is a very reasonable $99, and anyone that wants to can register for the small business conference here. While I don’t doubt that there will be plenty of networking opportunities for small business owners, having the CEOs of large tech companies like the Gilt Group and Living Social don’t really strike me as small business “counterparts,” but possibly a chance to pitch your small business partnership idea with such companies? Check out their speaker lineup this year.
* Photo taken from NYTsmallbusinesssummit.com
Fred opens a new Subway every 8 hours!
With $10,000 as a loan from a family friend (a retired physician) Fred skipped college to start a sub sandwich shop. The journey – filled with small victories, near disasters and tireless hours of toil – is not only an entertaining read but a great lesson(s) in what it is, and how it is, to be a small business owner.
Sandy from her blog summarizes it better than I could, so in her words – the book’s principles can be put into 15 snippets of wisdom. We know you don’t have time to read!
1. Start Small. It’s better than never starting at all.
2. Earn a Few Pennies. It’s good practice before you earn those dollars.
3. Begin With an Idea. There’s probably a good one right under your nose.
4. Think Like a Visionary. Always look for the Big Picture.
5. Keep the Faith. Believe in yourself and your business, even when others don’t.
6. Ready, Fire, Aim! If you think too much about it, you may never start.
7. Profit or Perish. Increase sales, decrease costs. Anything less and your business will perish.
8. Be Positive. The School of Hard Knocks will beat you down, but not if you keep a positive attitude.
9. Continuously Improve Your Business. It’s the best way to attract customers, and generate sales and profits.
10. Believe in Your People. Or they may get even with you!
11. Never Run Out of Money. It’s the most important lesson in business.
12. Attract New Customers Every Day. Awareness, Trail, and Usage work every time.
13. Be Persistent: Don’t Give Up. You only fail if you quit.
14. Build a Brand Name! Earn your reputation.
15. Opportunity Waits for No One. Good or bad, breaks are what you make them.
Congrats Fred. It’s your world, we’re just living in it. A great article on Fred here.
