Mentoring

Yo Ho Ho and a Barrel of Rum: North Hampton Startup Making Drink the Old-Fashioned Way - Katie Fiegenbaum

Date
Tue, 2013-01-08 10:36

Yo Ho Ho and a Barrel of Rum: North Hampton Startup Making Drink the Old-Fashioned Way

Starting a business brewing artisan rum in an industrial park in North Hampton with little previous experience may sound like a crazy idea. However, Heather Hughes started her own microdistillery, Sea Hagg Distillery, in North Hampton a little over six months ago and business is still going strong.

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Pizza-flavored Healthy Candy Invented by Doctor Being Made in Philadelphia - Kelly Roncace

Date
Fri, 2013-01-04 09:25

Approximately two years ago, Dr. Rita DiCarlo, now of Palm Desert, Calif., who has a doctorate degree in chiropractic medicine and is also an RN, was inspired to create something that’s fun to eat for those who have a restricted diet.  “I was sitting there thinking about all the patients who want to eat pizza and can’t,” she said. “I thought, there has to be a substitute or a way to make something.”

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Preparing For Life’s Second Act - James A. Fitts and John Weeks

Date
Thu, 2013-01-03 12:42

It’s a situation that every family business owner will eventually face: What will I do when I no longer own and run my business?

Becoming a mentor, angel investor, SCORE volunteer, board member, or advisor to another business can provide new meaning to a person whose life was previously defined by their business accomplishments.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

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Footloose: Entrepreneur dances to success

Date
Thu, 2012-12-27 16:07

When Evelyn Squires launched her dance studio five years ago in partnership with her mother-in-law, Heather Squires, she made one crucial, yet common, misstep.  She focused too much on the passion, and not enough on the business basics. “I was a dancer,” Evelyn Squires tells Coffee Talk. “I thought as long as I offered dance lessons, the studio would thrive.”

But the studio, after five years of trial and error, in addition to significant assistance from nonprofit business counseling service Manasota SCORE, is now flourishing.

 

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Gardens 4 Education

Every year we all shell out exorbitant amounts of money for unnecessary items like cookie dough, candy and giftwrap in an attempt to support our local schools.  But most of that money ends up going to the fundraising company instead!  One parent, Jeannie Williams, had had enough.  She decided to turn this grievance into a business opportunity and utilize her organic farming skills all at the same time.  Soon, Gardens 4 Educations, an ingenious fundraising program that both fosters healthy habits and results in more profits for schools, was born.

www.gardens4education.com

Owner/Founder
Jeannie Williams
My Location
Hanford CA
United States
Year Company Formed
2011
My Successes

The Gardens 4 Education fundraiser started as an easy to use garden kit in a disposable six-pack carrier. Jeannie first tested out the practical use of her concept in her daughter’s classroom during the Spring of 2011. The fundraiser was a hit. That Fall, she sought the help of SCORE and her mentor, Harley Roberts, helped her work through many of the questions and issues she faced as a new business owner. Harley connected Jeannie with ABLE Industries, an assembler and distributor committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities by creating opportunities to maximize their independence.

The garden kits have now evolved into a four-pack of large plants in a reusable garden tote with advertising space sold on the side. This advertising opportunity increases even further the significant profit potential of the fundraiser for schools; while most fundraising programs offer 20-40% of profits to the school, Gardens 4 Education offers 50% plus the advertising potential.

In 2013 the Gardens 4 Education fundraiser will be available to all schools in the Kings and Tulare counties of California.

What's Great About My Mentor?

Jeannie reflects on her mentor’s influence saying, “I feel very fortunate to have Harley Roberts as my SCORE mentor.  He has helped me realize opportunities that I didn’t even know existed.  His suggestion to contract assembly and shipping through Able Industries ultimately changed the direction of my distribution model to one that can grow and reach more schools.  I don’t think he realizes just how instrumental he has been in helping me develop Gardens 4 Education into a viable business.”

How SCORE Helped

Jeannie plans to continue working with SCORE as Gardens 4 Education continues to grow.  She say, “We have come a long way but there’s still a long way to go.  It gives me confidence to know that I have a resource where I can get help from people who have been there.”

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