At Xpress, we're getting ready for our Big Small Business Issue, which is slated for April 14, and we want your help. Send us your tips and stories of what works to keep a small business thriving or even surviving in Western North Carolina during tough economic times. What lessons, straight from the source, should small-business owners utilize to stay in the black — or start rolling in the green?
Have you made any big changes to your business strategy?
Have you identified an as-yet untapped market?
Have you jumped into the social-networking scene to drum up fans or banded together with other local businesses to stay strong?
Or do you know someone who has?
Send your tips to {encode="business@mountainx.com" title="business@mountainx.com"}, or post them below. Thanks!
— Xpress editorial staff
Have you made any big changes to your business strategy?
Have you identified an as-yet untapped market?
Have you jumped into the social-networking scene to drum up fans or banded together with other local businesses to stay strong?
Or do you know someone who has?
Send your tips to {encode="business@mountainx.com" title="business@mountainx.com"}, or post them below. Thanks!
— Xpress editorial staff
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Have we lost our imagination?
By francois Manavit
02/17/2010
revpictures is a local video production company (and supporter of local business) that is offering a very special opportunity for local businesses: a produced 60 second promo video for your website with no upfront costs/obligations.
For more information visit:
http://www.revpictures.com/offer.html
By revpictures
02/17/2010
Personally, joining up in the social network scene and banding together with other businesses is just plain dumb. Take the Asheville Chamber of Commerce or even CIBO. You are basically paying a fee or a portion of your net worth to be wine and dined at social meetings. You are wasting time hanging out and being seen with other business owners when you should be out drumming up new customers and going by and seeing your current customers face to face.
I think alot of these people that attend these things are living on credit or are non profits that suck up to the bankers and politicians that also attend. It's kiss ass and I don't kiss ass.
The Obama administration and the Democrats have left small business owners wondering what is going to hit them next. Am I going to get hit with this new health care thing, new taxes, permits, fees, and licenses? Will I have to go up on my customers or lay people off because of unforeseen items of this current political administration? Should I just hold what I have or take a gamble and venture into something that could help my business in different ways? Are voters waking up and realizing they should vote pro business?
I'm in the service industry and I don't like loosing employees. Over the years you get to know them on a personal level and their families. So when everybody is at a holding pattern I take the gamble and add another service that I know my competitors are scared to do.
I contact my current customers first and let them know of the new service. I want to see how many of them need and can afford (in this economy), the new service I have to offer.
If there is a big demand, I will go buy the equipment needed to perform the job.
If there is some what of a demand, I will rent the equipment to do the job, add the cost of the rental in the job quote, and buy the equipment as the economy gets better.
Either way, I am ahead of the game.
The bottom line is - Don't wine and dine.
Get off your ass and make it happen!
By Chad Nesbitt
02/17/2010
Hey Chad, Won't find much sympathy on these boards, unless you are carrying the flag of the new 'grass roots progressives'. So, just wait, there are more taxes and other legalized seizures coming so they can put GPS systems on the bus, or use increased health insurance to push forth the gay agenda that has begun to surface, all on our dime. Please do not say anything about that or you too will be called out as a bigot and hater. Oh, then there is Cecil's concept of Asheville becoming a sanctuary city. You and I who pay employees and the other bills will be footing a whole new mass of people. Tell all you know that Asheville has been hijacked..
By Butterflies & Puppies & Common Sense
02/17/2010
All the small businesses in Reynolds Mountain Shopping Center in Woodfin suffered not only from the economic turndown but were forced to move to new locations when the retail space was sold. BlueRidge Ballroom (us) changed our business format. The Hair Salon moved into space provided by Reynolds, Sister's McMullen moved up the road. I hope the florist is doing OK. She has had a tripple whammy. These are all long term businesses that are determined to remain open. These business have been part of Woodfin for a long time. It would be interesting to see how their dispersion is affecting the local community.
By Linda Schlensker
02/18/2010
Chad said: I’m in the service industry and I don’t like loosing employees.
Chad, I believe that physically restraining your employees has been against the law for at least 15 - 20 years in North Carolina.
By Barry Summers
02/18/2010