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In the News
Social Conscience Builds Better Bottom Lines

Environmental, social, and governance issues, the contemporary term for which is “sustainability”, are now playing a much more prominent role in Corporate America. Consumers are registering their concerns about how companies make their products. Talented millennial employees are voting with their feet by leaving laggard companies behind. Meanwhile, new technologies are making it easier for sustainability investments to pay off  in the middle to long term.

 The business case for sustainability is broad:

In the News
ARE YOU DERIVING ANY BENEFIT FROM YOUR COMPANY WEBSITE?

 Q: I have invested a lot of time and money developing our company website. However, to the best of my knowledge, I can’t attribute one sale to this marketing tool. How do I turn our website into one that generates sales?

 A:  Most small businesses have a website of some kind and many are relying more and more on the Internet to help their marketing and sales efforts. Having a website that strokes ones ego, yet doesn’t generate sales is an exercise in wasted time and money.

Press Release
Jeff Zalasky, SCORE Volunteer Named Volunteer of the Year by The Legal Aid Service of Collier County

Jeff Zalasky, Esq., a SCORE Naples mentor, is being honored by The Legal Aid Service of Collier County as its volunteer of the year at the 10th Annual Barrister’s Bash on April 26, 2018. Jeff practiced law in Minnesota for over 35 years. He became a resident of Naples in 2012. He has been with SCORE Naples since 2016 and has been volunteering with Legal Aid since 2017.

In the News
Thinking About Buying a Small Business?

Q: I am considering the purchase of a business. What information should I ask for from the current owner?

 A: What you are asking is commonly referred to as doing your “Due Diligence.” Or, to put it another way, look before you leap into a situation that could backfire and cost you a lot of money and heartache.

In the News
When is Failure Seen as an Option?

Interestingly, more and more articles in the business literature are embracing failure. Seems counterintuitive, right? So why is failure becoming so popular?

As Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon and one of the two the richest people in the world, has said "If you are going to take bold bets, they're going to be experiments, and if they are experiments, you don't know if they are going to work".

In the News
SCORE Naples Mentor Assists with Hurricane Relief

AJ Velazquez, a SCORE Naples Mentor, is on a meaningful mission providing hurricane Maria disaster assistance on his homeland island of Puerto Rico.  AJ moved away from Puerto Rico 32 years ago.  He says it has been a profoundly thoughtful experience seeing the island through new eyes, providing an empathetic ear, and supporting relief efforts there.

In the News
Need Advice? Ask your Employees!

Ask SCORE

By: Gray Poehler, Business Counselor

 

Q: I am working harder than ever but can’t seem to increase my sales. Other than cutting prices what can you suggest?

 A: I can’t give you specifics as you have not indicated if you sell a tangible product or deliver a service to your customers. As a general rule, if price is not a major consideration, falling sales numbers can be attributed to an inferior product or poor customer service.

In the News
Steps to Starting a Business in Collier County

Q: I am thinking about starting a business but don’t know what steps I should take. Can you give me some direction in this regard?

A: Whether your business is located in Collier County or elsewhere, the first thing you should do is construct a written business plan. I see too many entrepreneurs that invest a lot of money with start-up expenses, before doing the necessary due diligence.

A well-constructed business plan will address all of the necessary steps you must take in the formation of a new business including:

In the News
A Big Under-The-Radar Cost for Your Business

Some have labeled it "the worst problem in the retail industry". It may be a bit of hyperbole, but the costs of employee turnover are not to be discounted. One national study estimated the cost to find, hire, and train a single “minimum wage” employee to be approximately $3300, or 15% of annual salary. This does not even include the costs for onboarding, training, errors and lower productivity until the employee gets up to speed. Also the effect on other employees' productivity. When these are added in, some estimates range from $5-10,000.

In the News
Nothing Happens Until A Sale Is Made

Q:  I have developed a unique software package that will be a hit if I can just find a way to locate and convince the client of its value to their operation. However sales and marketing are not my strong suits. What can you suggest?

A: It was Thomas Watson, Sr. that first coined the phrase “Nothing happens until a sale is made.” He was president of International Business Machines (IBM) from 1914 to 1956.

In the News
Reflections on Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

Q: Given the disastrous effects of the two most recent hurricanes on both individuals and businesses, what can one do mitigate the financial impact of a natural disaster?

 A:  In addition to hurricanes, there are also tornados, floods, earthquakes, mudslides, and forest fires. Also man-made disasters like, riot, civil commotion and terrorists attacks.

 The most obvious way to mitigate the financial effects is to purchase insurance. However, most homeowner and business owner policies do not automatically cover all of these happenings.

In the News
Show me MORE than the Money

Q: I am experiencing a high volume of employee turnover. Our starting salary is at the upper end of our industry’s pay scale. What more should I offer to attract and retain good people?

A: “Show me the money”, the famous line from the movie “Jerry Maguire” rarely rings true today. Based on years of consulting, Semler Brossy, an independent executive compensation consulting firm, has concluded that a company's ability to get and keep top talent takes far more than money.


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