Western Dairyland
Women's Business Center
Newsletter
Your Business News January 2008
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Women's Business Network
Tax Time is Coming
Upcoming Events
WCM News and Tips
Featured Business
New Marketing Series
Area News and Events!
Quick Links
Greetings!
 
Our first newsletter was a success and we at Western Dairyland's Business Center would like to thank you all for the great feedback.  We have recently received emails from area resources about upcoming classes and events, so make sure you check that out below.  Our featured business this month is Ian's Nature Vision, owned by Ian Miller who is only 17 years old.  In this newsletter we also have lots of options for help to get ready for tax time, a new marketing series, and we have scheduled our next eBay Basics series. 
 
Western Dairyland's Business Center would like to congratulate Cindy George on her new position as a Business Development Specialist here at Western Dairyland.  She has a strong finance background and will be a huge asset to our program and clients.  She will mainly be working with our rural clients. 
 
Western Dairyland's Business Center would like to thank Toni Hudzina of Applied Interfaces for donating her time and expertise to our Women's Business Conference webpage.  Also, thanks to Michele Dalton of Digital Daisy for her donation of creative talent with the graphics for the Women's Business Conference and the design of print material for the event.
 
Please enjoy our newsletter and don't forget to reply to this email with your suggestions, comments, or business news each month.
 
Sincerely,
Sara Bates,
Western Dairyland's Business Center
TEAMWomen's Business Networking Meetings 
On Wednesday January 9th, 2008 Cheri Harrison of Evolve Wellness, LLC will present "Balancing Your Health and Your Business", an educational and inspirational session on keeping your health a priority in order to succeed in your business.  Join us in learning how to start the new year off on the right foot, and to make 2008 your best year yet.  Don't forget to bring a friend!   
On Wednesday February 13th, 2008 Evlyn Carlile of Simple Office Solutions will present "Taxes SO Simple".  This highly informative session will help women entrepreneurs understand what to keep track of through-out the year for tax purposes.  Evlyn will break down the Schedule C and make sure you are prepared for this year and next!  Don't forget to bring a friend.

These meetings are FREE for women entrepreneurs, and attendees are encouraged to bring their business cards to pass out and a lunch to eat during the meeting.  All Women's Networking meetings will be held at 418 Wisconsin Street in Eau Claire and are from 11:00-1:00pm, and future meetings will tentatively held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Mark your calendars!

Check out our training calendar for more details.
Don't Miss Out on the 2008 WOMEN'S BUSINESS CONFERENCE
Held on Thursday, April 17th at the Plaza Hotel!!
Our 5th Annual Women's Business Conference will feature a full day of resources to help you start or grow your business.  The event will be held in Eau Claire at the Plaza Hotel and Suites on April 17th 2008.  Our keynote speaker will be Peg Leinenkugel of Jacob Leinenkugal Brewing Company. 
We are currently seeking Sponsors and Exhibitors for this event.  If you are interested in getting involved, please email Sara at [email protected].   
Tax Time is Coming Around the Corner! 
 
SOS

Tax Ready Recordkeeping Series:

Evlyn Carlile, owner of Simple Office Solutions, presents a series of noon hour tax chats to help small businesses get ready for tax season.  Male and female business owners are welcome to attend.  There will be a short presentation of information on different topics, followed by a question and answer session. 

 

These chats will take place at Western Dairyland's Business Center, 418 Wisconsin Street in Eau Claire.  Click here to register online.  There will be a small fee of $5.00 per chat session which will include class materials, snacks, and beverages.  Please feel free to bring your own lunch to eat.  The remaining 4 chat sessions are as follows:

 

Wednesday, January 16th 2008 -  Home Office Deductions

Tuesday, January 29th 2008 - Mileage/Vehicle Expense   

Tuesday, February 19th 2008 -  Travel, Meals, and Gifts

Tuesday,  March 4th 2008 - Assets vs. Expenses

Free tax return assistance for qualifying individuals!
Starting on February 4th 2008, the UWEC accounting students, along with their professor, will be offering FREE business and tax filing for qualifying individuals on Monday nights through tax season.  This FREE assistance is made possible through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA, a special program of the Internal Revenue Service and Wisconsin Department of Revenue, provides free tax return assistance to taxpayers with adjusted gross annual incomes under $39,000.  This assistance will be available Monday's (starting Feb. 4th) from 4:00-7:00pm at Western Dairyland 418 Wisconsin Street in Eau Claire on a first come first serve basis.  Other days and times also available.
 
If you are a small business owner and need assistance understanding your Schedule C, please contact Western Dairyland's Business Center (715-836-7511 ext 171 or 1-800-782-1063) and you may schedule an appointment with one of our Business Development Specialists. 
Look for more details in our February newsletter.
Also, check out our new Tax Center located on our Business Center website.  It has a wealth of information to help answer those burning questions about Small Business Taxes.
Business Center Events for January & February: 
 
Western Dairyland will be hosting the following events in January and February in Eau Claire at 418 Wisconsin Street.  Click here to register online.
 
Women's Business Networking Meeting - FREE 11:00-1:00pm
Jan. 9th - Cheri Harrison "Balancing Your Health and Your Business"
Feb. 13th - Evlyn Carlile "Taxes SO Simple"
 
Tax Ready Recordkeeping Noon Chats
- $5.00 per chat  12-1pm
Jan. 16th - "Home Office Deductions"
Jan. 29th - "Mileage/Vehicle Expenses"
Feb. 19th - "Travel, Meals, and Gifts"
Mar. 4th - "Assets vs. Expenses"
 
"7 Steps to Starting a Business" - $25  6:00-9:00pm 
Jan. 24th - feasibility, market research, financials, etc.
 
eBay Basics Series - It is highly recommended to attend both classes.
Jan. 29th - "Intro to eBay" - 2:00-4:00pm  $20
Feb. 5th - "eBay Selling Basics" - 1:00-5:00pm  $50
**If you have no buying or selling experience with eBay, you must attend the "Intro to eBay" class before attending the "eBay Selling Basics" class.  When attending both classes the cost is $60 (savings of $10!)
 
"ABC's of Business Ownership" Workshop - $45   1:00-4:00pm all 3 sessions 
Feb. 14th - session 1 "Are You Ready?"
Feb. 21st - session 2 "Business Marketing"
Feb. 28th - session 3 "Cash Management"
 
Bulls-Eye Marketing Series - $10 per session, or $45 for all 6 sessions 7-9pm
Feb. 4th - "Customers, Products & Money, Oh My"
Feb. 11th - "The Wide, Wily World of Advertising"
Feb. 18th - "Aim for the Center"
Feb. 25th - "Baiting Your Pond"
Mar. 3rd - "It Ain't Over"
Mar. 10th - "Hitting the Mark with Technology"
 
FREE Tax Filing for Qualifying Individuals - first-come-first-serve basis
Monday nights in through tax season from 4:00-7:00pm
Feb. 11th, Feb. 18th, Feb. 25th...
Wisconsin Common Market News and Tips: 

Set Up Custom Shipping Calculations in PayPal�  

Anyone who uses PayPalfor online sales should learn how to create their own custom shipping calculations.  Determining how much to charge in advance for shipping and handling is never easy.  But, once you determine your fees, setting PayPal� to automatically calculate those fees based on either the number of items ordered or the sales subtotal is simple.  With your WisconsinCommonMarket.com web page, you have the option to set a flat shipping fee for each item you load or you can create a custom shipping calculation table in PayPal�.  Do not do both!!  Unless you sell large items one at a time, PayPal� is going to be the most effective method for you to calculate your shipping fees.  Here's how it works:
    1. Log in to your PayPal� account.
    2. Under the "My Account" tab, click on "Profile"
    3. In the far right column, click on "Set Up Shipping Calculations.""
    4. Under "Set up Domestic Shipping Methods," click the start button.  If you ship internationally, you can always repeat this process for setting up international shipping methods later.
    5. You have the option to set different shipping fees for each state to which you may ship.  If you want the same shipping fees for every state, just click the "add" button for all states and territories.  If you want different shipping fees for each state or group of states, pick one state or region for now and repeat this process later.  
    6. After you have selected your states, click the continue button.
    7. From here, you have the option to set up different shipping methods for various regular and expedited services.  Pick your most common shipping method.  If you have different shipping methods, you can repeat this process for alternate shipping methods later.
    8. After you select your shipping method, select the estimated delivery time. 
    9. Next, determine whether your shipping methods are going to be based on item quantity or order amount.  Because WCM does not gather information on item weight, that is not a viable option.  I recommend using the order amount.
    10. Finally, enter your shipping fees in the grid provided.  If you previously selected "order amount," you may want to consider offering free shipping for orders over $50 or some other amount.  Offering free shipping for customers who spend a certain amount of money tends to be a successful sales tactic.

After you have done all of this, I recommend that you clearly display your shipping fees directly in your member description and/or each product description.  People like to know this information up front - especially if you are offering free shipping.  And, of course, delete any shipping fees you may have entered in each product description on WCM.  One last thing, because shipping fees are also taxable, you will then want to use PayPal� to calculate your sales tax, as well

Karman Briggs, e-Commerce Site Manager
Wisconsin Common Market New Members:
Welcome Bog Baits Inc, which is a custom made fishing tackle business.

Technical Writing Assistance Available: 

If you would like help with improving the text of your WCM web page, please contact Karman Briggs at [email protected].  A new UWEC technical writing intern will be starting in January specifically to assist WCM vendors with better search engine placement that will hopefully result in more sales!  Because the intern's time is limited, preference will be given to vendors who have not yet been assisted by previous technical writing interns.

Please contact Karman Briggs, e-Commerce Site Manager, at [email protected] with questions, comments or suggestions for future tips and topics.

Ian's MothFeatured Business:
Ian's Nature Vision
 
Ian Miller, 17, recently turned his self described "out-of-control hobby" of raising moths into a business called Ian's Nature Vision.  He sells framed moths.  Ian raises moths in his backyard south of Eau Claire.  He started with cocoons of moths he found nearby, including Luna and Cecropia moths.  Ian now raises caterpillars under 100 sleeves each summer at his home and on neighbor's land. 
 
Forming a business has meant he recently started logging his hours.  "I never paid attention to the time because it's just what I like doing," he said.  Ian-an avid outdoorsman who enjoys duck hunting, fishing, and taxidermy- took a liking to moths because of his grandmother, a biology and chemistry teacher.  "She always would bring us into butterfly houses and that really sparked my interest," he said.  Ian has sold moth eggs and cocoons online to universities for a couple of years.  Within the past year, Ian started framing dried moths.  He pins strips of paper across their wings to dry the moths.  "There's no need for preservatives because there's not a lot of meat on their bodies," he said.  He uses bark in his frames.  He bakes or microwaves the bark to kill any bugs that might creep out inside the frame.
 
Ian recently started selling his frames at Mill Pond Market in Eleva and on the Wisconsin Common Market Web site.  Karman Briggs, of Western Dairyland, got Ian involved in the agency's Youth Entrepreneurship Program and assisted him in registering his business with the county, procuring a tax-identification number and a seller's permit. 
 
The Youth Entrepreneurship Club meets tentatively once a month at 4pm at Western Dairyland in Eau Claire. 

Originally published in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, September 14, 2007.  Reprinted with permission. 

You can visit Ian's Nature Vision at www.wisconsincommonmarket.com/IansNatureVision
bullseye  New marketing classes offered!
 
Michele Dalton of Digital Daisy Media is teaming up with Western Dairyland's Business Centers to offer a must-not-miss marketing series called "Bulls Eye Marketing".  This series will consist of 6 different sessions from 7:00-9:00pm on Monday nights starting in February.  Price includes a Bulls-Eye Marketing workbook.  When you register for all 6 sessions you will recieve an additional introduction portion of the workbook on setting goals and where to begin.  This will give you a head start for the series. 
 
Week I (Feb. 4th)- Customers, Products & Money, Oh My
Have you ever wondered why you don't have all the customers you need to make your business a success?  In week one we will discuss the who, what, where, when and how of finding your specific marketing bulls-eye.

 Week II (Feb. 11th) - The Wide, Wily World of Advertising

Marketing your business has many components, but for many small and start up companies the most intimidating part of the marketing equation is print, radio and television advertising.  In week two we will look at several broadcast style advertising mediums and how they can be incorporated into your overall marketing mix.

 Week III (Feb. 18th) - Aim for the Center

Now it is time to start tightening our aim on the center of the target with marketing methods that speak directly to the individuals we would like to call customers.  In week three we will use several planning tools and hands-on resources to explore direct mail advertising, canvassing ideas and telemarketing basics.

 Week IV (Feb. 25th) - Baiting Your Pond

Like fisherman catching fish with their nets, we find that as the circles of the marketing bulls-eye draw closer to center we have a more precise aim and a better possibility of "hitting" a customer.  In week four we will look at the tools that put customers "in our sight" - brochures, business cards, point of purchase displays, packaging and more.

 Week V - (Mar. 3rd) - It Ain't Over

You've hit the mark and made a sale!  But, it ain't over.  What you do after the sale is almost more important than everything that came before it.  In week five we will focus on several aspects of customer service, generating repeat business and creating word-of-mouth advertising/referrals.

 Week VI - (Mar. 10th) - Hitting the Mark with Technology

The past 10 years have seen phenomenal growth in personal computing and business technology, but many small business owners cringe when they contemplate tackling gizmos, gadgets and google-ese.  In week six we will explore several components of marketing with technology, including automated phone services , on-line resources and nanocasting.

Each session will cost $10, but bundle them together and get all 6 sessions for only $45!  All sessions will be on Monday nights from 7:00-9:00pm and will be held at Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin Street in Eau Claire.  For more details, or to register, contact Michele at 715-858-0315 or visit Digital Daisy Media.

Other Happenings you won't want to miss! 
 

EDUCATION: 

"Selling Your Products and Services to the Government" on January 10th, 2008 at the Chippewa Valley Technical College Gateway Campus from 8:30am-3:00pm only $45 in advance or $55 at the door.  Did you know that the Federal government spends over $350 BILLION in procurement each year? Did you know that the government buys virtually every type of product and service? Did you know there are preferential considerations given to small businesses?  To women owned businesses? Click here for more details.

"Breathing Life Into Your Company's Brand and Your Personal Brand" on Thursday, January 10, 2008 from 6:00-7:30 pm at the RCU Corporate Center (Eau Claire Conference Room) only $5.00.  Whether for your personal brand as a professional or a business person, or for your business, this seminar will show real world applications showing the "cause and effect" aspect of branding with the actual results so you gain an understanding of what works and what doesn't.  Click here for more details.

 

"Midwest Value-Added Conference, Local Food Summit, and Business Feasibility Course"  The 2nd annual Wisconsin Local Food Summit will be held in conjunction with the 10th annual Midwest Value Added Agriculture Conference on January 24th and 25th, 2008.  Making Connections is the theme for the upcoming Summit & Conference, which bring together value-added agricultural producers and advocates of local food.  One registration allows you to participate in both events, which will take place at the Plaza Hotel and Suites in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  Click here for more details.

ASSISTANCE: 

Got A Plan?  The Small Business Consulting class at UW-Eau Claire, taught by Assistant Professor Kristy Lauver, is seeking local businesses interested in receiving business plan assistance.  With 2008 right around the bend, you are likely taking stock of your business and considering your plan for the upcoming year.  Whether you need to hone your marketing efforts, streamline your operations or simply create a general business plan for your business, you may qualify to receive free business plan counseling.  Interested businesses must have been in existence for at least one year, have employees and be willing to meet four to five times throughout the spring semester with the students and their professor.  To apply, please contact Karman Briggs at [email protected] or (715)836-7511 x174 by January 11, 2008.

FOR SALE: 

Display cabinets.  A retail store closed it's doors and has some extra display cabinets to sell.  There are (3) cabinets at 4'Lx4'Tx2'W or (2) cabinets at 6'Lx4'Tx2'W.  They are all available for pick up in Eau Claire.

If you are interested, please contact Jason at [email protected]