Speakers from 17 states are converging on Kansas September 20, 2011, for a conversation about how high tech thrives outside Silicon Valley and all the usual big cities. This is not just a Kansas event. It’s not a local 140. It’s an international event that happens to be held in Kansas. And it’s the only…
Successful small town businesses keep it simple. Hart and Con Pekrul keep it simple.The secret to long-lasting success. Here’s what I noticed in the back room at a local winery, run by Con Pekrul. All the equipment is simple. Barrels and buckets, second hand tables, a used refrigerator. Here’s Con’s father Hart, filling bottles by hand….
Wondering what business to start? Looking for business ideas? Andy Hayes offers an excellent coaching package, two hours of one-on-one brainstorming and planning. He calls it Fireworks and Firebombs: Find a Business Idea that Gets You Excited and Will Pay the Bills. Disclosure: Andy Hayes is a friend. I am not an affiliate and do…
With small business lending incredibly tight, more innovative alternatives to financing are coming up. This one has a big string attached: a complete change in how you manage your business. Springfield Remanufacturing Company is a small city success, based in Springfield, Missouri. They got famous for using completely open book management, calling it the great…
Small towns change slowly, but they do change. Historic photographs and photo postcards show how your town used to look. But how do you share those with visitors? They’re on display in the museum, right? Well, young people aren’t going to your museum. So, let’s reach those young people where they live, right on their…
[Small town business is competitive, but we’re also cooperative. That’s why Shelby French’s presentation at the 140 Characters Conference in Central Sierra caught my attention. It’s her job to get local businesses cooperating even though they are nominal competitors. -Becky] Shelby French promotes “coopetition” at the Angels Camp Farmers Market. Being tasked with marketing the…
Matt About Business Weekly Link Roundup Each week, I collect the 10 best posts that I’ve read and share them with you here. These posts focus on small business solutions or resources online (or both!). Enjoy! Matt Mansfield How The New Facebook “Places” Feature Can Be Used As A Marketing ToolLink: http://www.jeffbullas.com/2010/11/25/how-the-new-facebook-places-feature-can-be-used-as-a-marketing-tool/My Take: Facebook expands…
Lots of people arrive here looking for rural business ideas. That’s why I keep coming up with more and more ideas you can use to start your own small town business. Here are three new ones to spur your thinking. My grandmother’s 1941 Kerr canning manual Teach canning classesIf you learned to can from your…
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