Published Feb. 21, 2013
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With little cash, and even less wine industry experience, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey launched Barefoot Wine in – where else – their laundry room. They built the brand and later sold it to wine giant E&J Gallo.
With little cash, and even less wine industry experience, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey launched Barefoot Wine in – where else – their laundry room. They built the brand and later sold it to wine giant E&J Gallo.
About the Author
Daniel Kehrer, Founder & Managing Director of BizBest Media Corp., is a nationally-known, award-winning expert on small and local business, start-ups, content marketing, entrepreneurship and social media, with an MBA from UCLA/Anderson. Read more of Daniel's tips at
www.BizBest.com, follow him at
www.twitter.com/140Main and connect on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/in/danielkehrer.
Sometimes the sales process seems like an endless rollercoaster. You find a good lead, get your hopes up, wait for a response, only to be rejected. It doesn’t always end that way, but it’s hard to stay positive when you never know how many leads will turn into real sales. Here are 5 steps to help you increase the percentage of leads you close and give your business a boost.
By Rieva Lesonsky
Sometimes the sales process seems like an endless rollercoaster. You find a good lead, get your hopes up, wait for a response, only to be rejected. It doesn’t always end that way, but it’s hard to stay positive when you never know how many leads will turn into real sales. Here are 5 steps to help you increase the percentage of leads you close and give your business a boost:
About the Author
Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a media company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Follow Rieva at twitter.com/rieva and visit her blog at SmallBizDaily.com.
Visit her website SmallBizTrendCast to get the scoop on business trends and sign up for Rieva’s free TrendCast reports.
Rich Wallace wanted to start his own business, but wasn’t sure where to start. At first, Wallace, 34, wanted to open a coffee shop, but his experience was in administration and information technology. So, he decided to explore franchising.
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“I always gave 100 percent no matter where I worked. For so many years I did it for everyone else, and I decided I was going to do it for myself,” said Stephens.
With the help of her family, SCORE, her accountant Darryl Vick, and a lot of prayer, she found a way to make her new dream a reality.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
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Published Feb. 18, 2013
SCORE ExpertAnswers
Len Fischer, founder of Benetrends, shares expert tips on obtaining financing to start or grow your business.
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Q: |
With the economy showing signs of continuing recovery, has it become easier for small businesses to get financing?
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About the Author
Len Fischer, a long-time expert in corporate financing issues founded Benetrends in 1983 to help entrepreneurs use their qualified retirement savings to purchase or recapitalize companies. Since then, more than 10,000 entrepreneurs have utilized his expertise to build successful businesses.
How SCORE Helped
Jim Wittenburg, SCORE mentor, helped client develop a business plan over a period of a year. See the video for more.
Small business owners are continuing to try social media as a marketing channel. But with so many options – and limited time and resources to use them – which ones are working best?
Small business owners are continuing to try social media as a marketing channel. But with so many options – and limited time and resources to use them – which ones are working best?
About the Author
Daniel Kehrer, Founder & Managing Director of BizBest Media Corp., is a nationally-known, award-winning expert on small and local business, start-ups, content marketing, entrepreneurship and social media, with an MBA from UCLA/Anderson. Read more of Daniel's tips at
www.BizBest.com, follow him at
www.twitter.com/140Main and connect on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/in/danielkehrer.
Squatty Potty started when Bobby Edwards designed a product that helped his mother address a health issue. The product fit a demand among a growing section of the population, and the Edwards family started Squatty Potty with limited resources. Initially the sales were brisk with only 3-5 units being moved per day. These sales were built on a sales plan that lead to being the foundation for the long term sales and marketing goals set out by Squatty Potty and their SCORE Mentor. Now with the guidance of their SCORE Mentor, Squatty Potty is shipping out over 200 units per day.
Visit www.squattypotty.com.
Owner/Founder
Robert, William, and Judy Edwards
1135 West 1130 North
St. George
UT
84770
United States
My Successes
The success of Squatty Potty has been tremendous. In just over a year the company has moved from a home based business, run out of the Edwards' garage, to a fully operational office and warehouse. The family was able to expand by hiring more full time employees and they look forward to creating more jobs in their community over the next year. From Q4 of 2011, when the business started, to the last quarter of 2012 Squatty Potty has seen daily sales grow by 4,000%. This is a very impressive growth for a first year business built from the ground up.
What's Great About My Mentor?
When asked about SCORE and their SCORE Mentors, the owners of Squatty Potty said this:
"Joe Stambaugh has been readily accessible and supportive during the past year. His enthusiasm and encouragement, with a little hand holding, helped give us the courage & confidence to grow our business much faster than we would have been inclined to do. It's been fun and rewarding.
Even with limited financial resources you don't have to wing it as a start-up or feel all alone. Seek help when you need it. SCORE mentors and their resources were a timely, cost-effective resource for Squatty Potty."
How SCORE Helped
The owners of Squatty Potty, Bobby Edwards and his parents Bill & Judy, came to SCORE in early 2012 after deciding to go into business. Squatty Potty had faced a variety of logistical, marketing, and on-line sales issues during start-up. Their SCORE mentor Joe Stambaugh quickly helped the family figure out ways to improve all these aspects of Squatty Potty, and the business instantly began to improve. This included assistance from fellow SCORE Mentor Paul Campbell, who helped the Edwards family figure out a way to secure necessary capital options when needed. Within their first year of working with SCORE, Squatty Potty has moved from the Edwards' home garage to a new 10,000 sq foot warehouse that has allowed the family to increase their workforce by 400% in 2012. They are planning to expand further in 2013.
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