Browsing Tag
main street
16 posts
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Sole Proprietors Suffered The Most During The Pandemic (Episode 272)
On today's Business Beat, Jeff discusses how sole proprietorships, the smallest of small businesses, suffered the most during the pandemic. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, to learn more about the impact of the pandemic on sole proprietorships: Tune in to News/Talk 760 AM WJR weekday mornings at 7:11 a.m. for the WJR Business...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Supporting Local Business (Episode 45)
On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares uplifting news about the desire to return to small, local business. A new study just released from MomentFeed indicates that consumers intend to return to local shopping more than ever before. Of those consumers polled, 91 percent indicated that not only are they going to return to...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Main Street Merchants (Episode 36)
Did you know that roughly 70 cents of every dollar spent at a local merchant stays right in your community to improve schools, sidewalks, parks and more? On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff offers tips for helping your local Main Street merchants through the current pandemic. Listen in for Jeff's tips below: "Help spread the...
Main Street Entrepreneurship is Thriving: Here’s Why
There’s no denying that venture-backed companies located in big cities tend to get noticed. But Michael Glauser, a business professor and consultant, realized that so-called “Main Street entrepreneurs,” or those businesses located in smaller towns that are a staple of their communities, represent a largely unsung segment of America’s landscape. Glauser biked 4,000 miles, from...
The Keys That Separate Thriving Businesses From Those That Fail
Nobody ever said that starting a business was easy. It’s not. Starting a business, then growing it and keeping it vital so everyone involved thrives – that is what organizational effectiveness looks like. I think that’s what most of us are looking for when we start a business. What separates thriving businesses from those that...
The State of Independent Bookstores Today [Radio]
On this edition of StartupNation Radio, your host, Jeff Sloan, chats with local bookstore owners to find out how and why independent bookstores are thriving today, against all odds in the Amazon environment. Our guests include Carolyn Sweeney of Squirreled Away Books in Armada, MI, and Cary Loren and Colleen Kammer of The Book Beat...
Riffraff Uses Google AdWords to Grow Main Street Boutique
When she founded Riffraff in 2009 as a senior at the University of Arkansas, Kirsten Blowers shared her unique eye for design with the city she loved. “We're very community-based. We absolutely love Fayetteville,” Kirsten says. Riffraff is a home-grown Arkansas fashion boutique, designed for women by women. Her vision has since blossomed from a...
The Small Business Owner’s Guide to Making Your Storefront Work for You
As the face of your business and the first snapshot of personality that potential customers see, the storefront of your brick-and-mortar sets the tone for every further interaction—including whether or not there will be any. From coffee shops to consulting firms, dental offices to dance studios, every aspect of a storefront's branding impacts how many...
El Dorado, AR: The New A&E Capital of the South? [Radio]
El Dorado, with a long A (like tornado), is not only unique in how you say it, it's unique in what they are doing. Jeff Sloan and Kristi Trevarrow go deep into how El Dorado, Arkansas has overcome many of the obstacles that many Main Streets face. Economic downturn, population shrinkage and decreasing revenue are...
Branding Your Main Street: Find Your Unique Characteristic
Do you think branding is just for mega-corporations? Jeff, Kristi and this week's panel of experts tell you how important it is to not only brand your business, but how to brand your Main Street. What are you known for? We all know that Virginia is for lovers and what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,...
Main Street Revitalization [Radio]
Jeff and Kristi interview the experts to give you the secrets to successful Main Streets. Matt Wagner is vice president of revitalization programs, National Main Street Conference. Matt has more than 20 years of nonprofit management experience in downtown development, entrepreneurship and tech-based economic development. At NMSC, Matt is leading the launch of the renewed and...
The Importance of Craft Beer on your Main Street [Radio]
Did you know that craft beer makes up 20 percent of all beer sales? Surely the craft beer industry couldn’t have succeeded so wildly without the support from businesses on Main Street. Guests Michael Plesz and Eric Briggeman from Rochester Beer Company and founders of the Michigan Brewer’s Guild discuss the tremendous impact craft beers have on the...
Making Memories on Main Streets
Jeff and Kristi check out what’s happening on Main Streets across the USA on this weeks Main Street Nation. Let's make memories on Main Street, as we begin in Rochester, Michigan with Kristi Trevarrow, then to Orlando’s Thorton Park District to hear Lisa Cuatt talk about SantaCon. Jacqueline Wolven gives us a virtual tour of...
Support Your Local Businesses
Shopping local isn’t just a cool catchphrase, but a true movement that is driving the economy in downtowns and business districts across the country. It is crucial to support local business. Our guests include Bill Brunelle, co-founder of Independent We Stand, Mary Liz Curtin, owner of Leon and Lulu in Clawson, Michigan and Bob Donohue,...
Just to lighten things up a bit,
Reprinted from tensionbreaker.com: How the Recession Affects Sesame Street After its expenses come under increased government oversight, the number 4 pulls its sponsorship. Cookie Monster being replaced by his cousin, Ramen Noodle Monster. Elmo's World downsized to Elmo's Corner. Bob finally forced into retirement. Zoe replaced with an orange sock from the Dollar Store. Grover...
Friendly Advice From George Will
3 Pieces of Life Advice from George Will on this week's Roundtable Don't play poker with a man named Slim. Don't buy a Rolex from a guy out of breath. Don't take advice from someone who is screaming.* *context: he was referring to the panic being felt on Wall Street. What life advice do you...