
Small Business Tips
And Resources
Starting a business or growing a business is often a matter of basic survival issues. With that in mind we want to give you some resources, ideas and strategies that will cost you little or nothing to use and will definitely improve your business.
- The National Craft Association is an information & resource center for artists and crafters from beginner to seasoned professional. To receive free information on how to turn your arts or crafts into CASH...Call 1-800-715-9594 or Fax 1-800-318-9410
E-mail Your mailing address to NCA.
Business Planning and Growth:
- Start with the Small Business
Administration at 800-827-5722 or on the Web at
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov to get numbers for your local SBA
office or Small Business Development Center. They provide
information on starting, financing, or growing your business.
Some agencies offer free individual counseling. There are also
special programs for women, minorities, and veterans. At the web
site you can download useful publications or order them from
your local office.
- Need to develop a thorough business plan cheap, many local
colleges or universities offer this service as student MBA
programs. The Small Business Advancement Center is a clearing
house for schools that offer this program call 501-450-5300 or
on the Web http://www.sbanet.uca.edu.
- For on-line business information, use Yahoo's Business Resources Search (http://www.yahoo.com) . Go to the Business and Economy section for a list to link to many other business resources.
Sales and Marketing:
- If you don't get your message out, who
will know you have a product to sell. No matter what size your
business is you need to create a marketing plan. Here are some
ways to get results with spending very little money.
- To obtain market demographics for your area request media kits
from all the local newspapers, TV and radio stations in your
area. Knowing more about the population size, income levels,
professional, non-professional work force, single, married etc.
helps you to build a product mix that fits with your selling
area. Also, check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if
they publish figures or offer a free brochure.
- If you have an area where your products sell extremely well,
consider passing out leaflets or sales flyers in that area. A
leaflet can be produced for pennies. You can distribute them
yourself on bulletin boards, cars or at private homes. For a
free brochure on how to use bulletin boards for advertising Call
the Thumbtack Bugle at 510-653-8063.
- Interested in magazine advertising but think it is far to
expensive for you. Call 3M Media Magazine Network at
800-225-3457 for a free brochure on buying remnant ad space.
- Make sure your phone message says something promotional, even
when you are not there you could be telling a customer about a
new product or the next craft show you will be at.
- Try network marketing by teaming up with another related, but
non-competing business to do joint marketing. You can each
provide information to your customers for each other in outgoing
orders, or display brochures at your show booth or store
counter.
- Read Jay Conrad Levinson's latest book Guerrilla Marketing for
the Home-Based Business (Houghton Mifflin). You can visit his
Web site at http://www.gmarketing.com. Here you will find his
guerrilla marketing strategies and a free weekly newsletter on
low-cost marketing strategies.
- Need some consulting? For a small fee based on the amount of
time you are on the phone the National Marketing Federation
(800-2-SOLVE-IT) is the place to call. You can mail or fax your
questions and information about your company, in advance, which
they review for free.
- Designing good sales material is important. The Corporate Design
Foundation, offers a free quarterly newsletter called @ issue
that is written specifically for business owners to raise
awareness of good design techniques. Fax a subscription request
to 617-451-6355.
- Don't forget to do your own public relations like offer to write
an article for a local newspaper or teach a class.
Business Finances and Cost Cutting:
- Check out the economic development programs in your state, which
may offer grants to start-up businesses. Your nearest Small
Business Development Center should know about these programs and
can help you prepare an application. Call the Association of
Small Business Development Centers at 703-448-6124 for the
office nearest you.
- Don't overlook credit cards as quick cash option for your
business. Many entrepreneurs suggest applying for several new
cards, all at once, when starting a business to maximize your
available credit line. Bartering is another way to obtain things
you need for your business. Call 212-289-2900 to request a
brochure on how to barter from Barter Advantage in New York City.
- Get the 800 ordering number for all your suppliers. Make sure
you ask if they have one, because they won't always publicize
it. Calling before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. your time for business
calls to areas in different time zones will save you money on
your regular long distance calls. Send your faxes after 5 p.m.,
by saving them until the end of the day.
- If you are doing business mailing to your customers call your
nearest Postal Business Center and they will send you a free
book on third-class mail preparation. Send your mail early in
the day. You can often ensure one or two-day delivery with a
first class stamp, as three-quarters of all mail arrives at the
post office after 3 p.m.
- Consider buying alliances with other business people. Group your
orders together to buy a larger quantity and everyone benefits
from the lower bulk price. This technique also works when buying
from a wholesaler who has great prices but the minimum order
amount or the minimum quantity is more than you can handle.
- Need more staff? Try student interns. Many schools and colleges
offer a program where they place the student with you and
provide credit in lieu of payment. It is a good idea to
interview a few before choosing one, as interns' skills vary
widely. You will want one compatible with the job you have.
- The National Craft Association is an information & resource center for artists and crafters from beginner to seasoned professional. To receive free information on how to turn your arts or crafts into CASH...Call 1-800-715-9594 or Fax 1-800-318-9410
E-mail Your mailing address to NCA.


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National Craft Association, 1945 E. Ridge Rd., Suite 5178, Rochester, NY 14622-2467, 1-800-715-9594 or (716) 266-5472, Fax (716) 785-3231. Send Comments & Questions to the National Craft Association nca@craftassoc.com
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