January Newsletter from the Maine Small Business Development Centers

Maine Small Business Development Centers January 2014 Meet with a  Business Counselor In This Issue Start the New Year Off Right Trade Show Seminars Emergency Preparedness Veterans in Business   Veteran Business Initiative  Service member or veteran business owner? Have a business question?  Contact: Gordon Platt 207-615-3294 Maine SBDC  Upcoming Workshops January 16  - Brunswick Starting a Small Business in Maine January 16 - Portland Pricing to Sell - Pricing, Credit & Shipping Policies for Wholesalers January 24 - Portland Introduction to Small Business Taxes for Sole Proprietorships January 24 - Portland Developing Sales Materials for Trade Shows January 25 - Portland Trade Show BOOTH Camp with Industry Expert Bruce Baker February 2014 - Portland Strategic Planning Basics for Small Business Wednesdays - 4 -6 pm Six Workshops! Attend on, or attend them all! MULTIPLE DATES Strategic Positioning & Risk Assessment - 2/5 & 3/19 Knowing Your Target Market & Competition - 2/12 & 3/26 Assessing Your Industry - Trends/Social Responsibility and Sustainability - 2/19 & 4/2 Solid Financials - Cash Flow Forecasting - 2/26 & 4/9 Solid Financials - Balance Sheet Management - 3/5 &  4/16 Growth Strategies & Setting Goals - 3/12 & 4/23 Cost: Any 1 session is $20, OR prepay for all 6 sessions for $100 For more information or to register, contact Chris Long at 780-4949 Join Our Mailing List HAPPY NEW YEAR! Start the Year Off Right Helpful resources to getting the most of 2014 Below are a few articles that you may find helpful in making 2014 your best year yet: 5 Tax and Financial Planning Actions for the New Year (Small Business Administration) Start 2014 Right With These Four Legal Tips for Your Small Business (Huffington Post) Top 5 Technology Secrets To Build Your Small Business in 2014 (Entrepreneur) 3 Important Ways to Prepare for 2014 (Inc.) If Your New Year's Resolution Is 'To Get More Done,' Here's The Best Way To Do It (Forbes)   Looking for a little extra help in the new year? There are numerous Maine organizations to support you (and your business), such as Maine Technology Institute (MTI), Maine International Trade Center (MITC), Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development (MCED), and, of course, the business counselors here at the Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC).  Trade Show Success Limited number of seats available Ready to stand out at trade shows? Three workshops to help set you apart from the competition!    Pricing to Sell - Pricing, Credit & Shipping Policies for Wholesalers  January 16th, 6-8 pm Workshop covers product-pricing, handling shipping costs, new customer accounts, obtaining credit references and getting paid.   Developing Sales Materials for Trade Shows January 24, 6-9 pm  Explore how to use creativity, descriptive language, graphics and photography to help increase the power of your trade show experience. Covers topics such as brochures, price lists, order forms, shipping policies and credit terms. Trade Show BOOTH Camp with industry expert Bruce Baker January 25, 9 am - 5 pm Covers proven ideas for displays including design, materials, color, lighting and environment. Practical tips on being a dynamic sales person without the 'hard sell', engaging booth visitors and discovering what they need.   A successful owner of art/handcraft and jewelry stores, Bruce Baker is a sought-after speaker brimming with boundless energy, expertise, humor, information and ideas.  Emergency Preparedness Resources to lessen the impact of a disaster It's officially winter in Maine, and with last month's ice storm, ithas us all a little shaken. Was your business prepared for an emergency?     The Small Business Administration (SBA) has compiled a list of things to think about before disaster hits. Included in these resources is a Winter Weather Preparedness Checklist and helpful tips on planning and preparing your business for winter emergencies.  Lessen the financial impact and re-open quickly! For additional information, click here.  Wishing you all a prosperous 2014!

Maine Small Business Development Centers | Website | 207-780-4420