Plan. Start. Grow.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m in a Nancy Drew mystery. I just wish I had her little roadster.” Pam Hammond, owner of Paddington Station, the “eclectic emporium” in Ashland Oregon, certainly seems like she could be a grown-up version of the clever, perky girl sleuth, solving one challenging dilemma after another. Throughout my many years …
#AmexWelcomed Rhonda Abrams & Paddington Station—Ashland, ORRead More
Millennials: it’s time to start a small business. You know you want to be your own boss, and there’s lots of great small business ideas out there. Millennials—those born between 1982 and 2000’s (according to the US Census Bureau)—have good reason to consider striking out on their own and launching a business. Why? Because many …
When you hear the term “small business,” the first image is not likely to be a small farm. But, in fact, small farms are small businesses. August 6-12 has been declared “National Farmers Market Week,” by the US Department of Agriculture, and if you want to help small American farmers survive, one of the most …
Many small businesses involve food. The baker, the butcher, the coffeecake maker, and the farmer-in-the-dell are all likely to be small businesses. But as small businesses, most of these food-related companies have the same problem: how does their owner get the cash they need to buy supplies before they actually make sales? Now, there’s a …
Silicon Valley has a woman problem. Sexual harassment. Sex discrimination. Lack of funding for women. Men in Silicon Valley just can’t seem to figure out how to work with women, especially with female entrepreneurs. What can Silicon Valley, especially venture capitalists, do to level the playing field for women starting businesses? I’ve lived in Silicon …
How Silicon Valley Can Level the Playing Field for WomenRead More
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” That old saying is as true today as it ever was. When you want to get ahead, it helps to know people. So a key business skill every small business owner needs to master is “networking”–how to get out in the world and make lots of …
Paul Newman did it. Heidi Klum did it. Jimmy Dean did it. Ludacris did it. Many people dream of taking their favorite recipes and turning their love of food into their own business. Starting a food-oriented small business can be more than just a dream. If you want to package and sell your soup, jam, …
Woof! Allow me to introduce myself. I’m ZuZu, Rhonda Abrams’ dog. I know you’re looking for Rhonda’s small business advice, but for “Take Your Dog to Work Day,” happening on June 23, I’m taking over her column. Of course, in Rhonda’s company, every day is “Take Your Dog to Work Day,” as dogs are welcome …
Any customer is a good customer for your small business, right? After all, if someone wants to buy from you, what more can you want? Actually, lots. It turns out some customers are not worth having. And you have to learn how to get rid of them. Anyone whose been in business very long can …
