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Environmental Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
Michael Shonka, owner of Solar Heat & Electric (Omaha, NE), shares his ideas on upcoming green entrepreneurial opportunities. If you are considering growing green, look for a niche market that has a revenue stream with long-term potential. New federal legislation will open opportunities. Possible businesses include: Energy consultant – assess how companies use energy and how they can reduce consumption and costs. A “sustainability coordinator” — company-wide evaluation of energy costs and long-term impacts of processes. Other green demands will be in reconstruction, engineering, and research. (http://www.solaromaha.com) View Video
Two Steps to Developing a Customer Base
Angela Graham, owner Graham Gallery (Hastings, NE), shares two keys steps to growing a niche retail business. Step one – interact with the community and establish your brand and reputation. Get involved in community activities to showcase your reliability and talents. The results will add value to the business and your products. Step two – develop a high degree of personal customization. Go beyond the routine sale to make the customer feel unique and valued. (http://www.graham-gallery.com) View Video
Produce Measurement Regulations at Farmers’ Markets
Steve Malone, Administrator of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures Division, shares the “how-to” on correctly packaging produce for a farmers’ market. If selling products by weight, the producer must have an authorized scale. Contact the Department of Ag for approved scales. Two options for selling produce: (1) sell from bulk, no packaging required. Customers select the product they want which is then weighed and priced according to the weight. (2) pre-packaged by weight. The packaging must have a label or placard that states the quality and price. Only one method can be selected for each product sold. For more information contact 402.471.4292 or http://www.agr.ne.gov/division/wam/wam.htm. A University of Nebraska publication on Weights and Measures is also available here. View Video
Community Networking Revitalizes Business
Angela Graham, owner Graham Gallery (Hastings, NE), explains how a developing a network of local artists and supporters has kept her business growing over the past 12-years. Now boasting 80 artists, Angela sees the benefit of continuing to facilitate her artist, customer and business networks. Each month, Graham Gallery features local artists and heavily promotes the gallery and their works. Artistic diversity also helps to expand the networks by drawing in additional customers. Downtown businesses, including a coffee shop, bread store, and bookstore, share the same customer base and work to develop a community culture, one that is creating a downtown resurgence. (http://www.graham-gallery.com) View Video
Art, Design and Business
Sally Buss, owner of Sally Buss Sculpture and Art (Heartwell, NE), is a creative person who specializes in transforming mundane farm implements into treasured works of art. Art, like innovation, is an experiment that requires flexibility in the original plan. Flexible planning is also required when owning an artisan business. Sally developed a business plan to help guide her and keep her finances on track. Having went through the NebraskaEDGE business training, Sally developed greater confidence in how she was managing her business operations. (http://www.sculpturesbysally.com) View Video
Expanding Capacity with Interns
Dan Shundoff, Owner/President of Intellicom, Inc. (Kearney, NE) expands the capacity of his business through internships. By working with the nearby University, Dan developed an internship program that works for his business. More than 50% of the current staff had, at one time in their career, participated in the internship program. It’s hard work to provide a high quality experience for the students. First step is to build a job description with a start and end point. Once the task is completed and the credit hours reached, the internship is over. Interns with exceptional quality are then identified and hired as staff within the company. (http://www.intellicominc.com) View Video
Nebraska Business Development Center Overview
NBDC is a hidden treasure to many Nebraska business owners according to Odee Ingersoll, Director of the Nebraska Business Development Center at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. NBDC is a one-stop shop for new, expanding and exiting business owners. Most services are free and include services such as loan packaging, premium market research, and business planning. Fee-based premium services include business valuations, manufacturing efficiency, and exit strategies. Read more
Economic Benefits of a Rural Community
Kevin Wilkins, Certified Economic Developer located at the Greater Fremont Development Council (Fremont, NE) highlights the reasons businesses should locate in rural communities. Business owners should look at their “fatal flaws” and see how a rural community can help them overcome these issues. http://www.gfdc.net/ View Video
