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| Western Dairyland Women's Business Center Newsletter |
May 2008 | |
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NOTICE: |
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We are looking for success stories of business owners in Wisconsin. Stories about overcoming obstacles, growing/expanding businesses, helpful assistance you recieved, etc. If you would like to submit your story, email it to us by replying to this email. | |
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Greetings!
Don't miss out on the deadlines for the 2 Eau Claire area Business Competitions. More information is under "Area Happenings". Also, check out our NEW monthly "Tuesday Tech Talks"! (more details below). We have scheduled MANY trainings for May and June all over, so make sure you look at our "Upcoming Events". Backing up your computers is very important, so check out "WCM News and Tips" on steps to do just that.
Western Dairyland would like to thank EVERYONE involved in our 2008 Women's Business Conference that was held on April 17th! We had attendees come from all over Wisconsin and we went from about 80 attendees last year to about 120 attendees this year. Mark your calendars for next year's conference on April 23rd 2009. Our planning meetings will be held on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 10am. If you are interested in being a part of the 2009 Planning Committee, simply reply to this email and let me know.
Please enjoy our newsletter and don't forget to reply to this email with your suggestions, comments, and/or concerns.
Western Dairyland Business Center |
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NEW "TUESDAY TECH TALK"
Monthly Hands-On Training Open to the Public!
Western Dairyland's Business Center and Women's Business Center is starting a "Tuesday Tech Talk" hands-on Technology Training once a month. These "Talks" will be held on the first Tuesday of the month in Eau Claire at Western Dairyland (418 Wisconsin Street), and another Tuesday in a rural location.
Western Dairyland has access to 20 new laptops to use for these trainings. Because of this, the trainings will be limited to 20 participants, so register early to get a spot! Each session will be 2 hours and will cost $20 with scholarships available to income eligible individuals.
"Tuesday Tech Talk" will cover many technology topics including:
- Digital Photography for Your Business
- Internet Marketing without a Website
- Domain Names and Web Hosting
- Internet Marketing with a Website
- Google Analytics
- PayPal and eCommerce
The first "Tuesday Tech Talk" will be June 3rd in Eau Claire from 7-9pm on Internet Marketing without a Website.
The first rural Tuesday Tech Talk this month will be held at the Black River Falls Chamber of Commerce on June 24th from 6:30-8:30 on Digital Photography.
for more details on these trainings. |
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS NEWS AND EVENTS!
Women's Business Networking FREE Monthly Meetings!
On Tuesday May 13th, 2008:
"Have Some Leads and Referrals? Then Stop Selling!!" with Dori Pulse of Brown and Bigelow. Attend this luncheon and discover a humorous and provocative way to think about your potential clients! Focusing on the sale rather than the client's need can often cripple the development of a beautiful relationship. Stop Selling and Start Something New!
These meetings are FREE for women entrepreneurs! Attendees are encouraged to bring their business cards, 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 11-1pm. Future meetings will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Mark your calendars!
The next Women's Business Networking meeting on June 10th will feature Julie Geigle from Heaven Sent Hypnotherapy. She will talk about how you can stay motivated in your business during the summertime.
New DVDs for Women Entrepreneurs!
The DVD series shows twenty-five women who are excelling in a variety of businesses. The DVDs are available from In Her Own Words, check out the website for more information. | |
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New Inventors & Entrepreneurs Clubs!
INVENTORS & ENTREPRENEURS CLUBS LAUNCHED IN JACKSON COUNTY & BUFFALO/TREMPEALEAU COUNTY
The Western Dairyland Business Center has started two new Inventors & Entrepreneurs (I&E) Clubs in Western Wisconsin. Both clubs are open to anyone who would like to start, grow or expand a business or get a product idea moving forward.
The clubs are open to anyone in Western Wisconsin who would like to learn from experienced professionals and discuss their ideas with other local inventors and entrepreneurs. Each meeting will feature a guest speaker who will share tips and techniques on topics ranging from market research and business planning to patents and trademarks. The goal of the club is to create a positive learning environment that will enable participants to successfully move forward with their plans. No registration is required to attend the monthly meetings and there are no fees to join.
- The Jackson County I&E Club will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 8th at Jackson Electric, N6868 County Road F, Black River Falls. The meetings will be held at 6:30pm on the second Thursday of the month. The guest speaker for the May meeting will be Betty Reinke, Program Director for the L.E. Phillips--Career Development Center (CDC) in Eau Claire, WI. Betty will discuss opportunities for manufacturing and outsourcing products.
- The new Buffalo/Trempealeau County I & E Club will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 15th. The meetings will be held at 6:30 on the Third Thursday of the month at at the Riverland Energy Cooperative (N28988 State Rd 93 in Arcadia). Guest speaker will be Dori Pulse of Brown and Bigelow who will talk about Sales and Social Networking Techniques.
For more information on either I & E Club call Karman Briggs at 800-782-1063 or 715-836-7511, ext. 174, or e-mail IandE@WesternDairyland.org. |
 UPCOMING BUSINESS CENTER EVENTS & TRAININGS for May and June
**all Eau Claire trainings are located at Western Dairyland (418 Wisconsin Street) unless otherwise noted.
- May 13th Tuesday - in Eau Claire from 6-9pm
- May 21st Wednesday - in Black River Falls from 6:30-9:30pm
- May 29th Thursday - in Arcadia from 6:30-9:30pm
- June 3rd Tuesday - in Eau Claire from 1:30-4:30pm
- June 10th Tuesday - in Alma from 1-4pm
- June 24th Tuesday - in Independence from 6:30-9:30pm
NEW "TUESDAY TECH TALK" 2 hr session for $20 - laptops provided & space is limited to 20.
- June 3rd in Eau Claire from 7-9pm on "Internet Marketing w/o a Website"
- June 24th in Black River Falls from 6:30-8:30pm on "Digital Photography"
"WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORKING MEETINGS" - FREE from 11-1pm in Eau Claire 2nd Tuesday of the month
JACKSON COUNTY - 2nd Thursday of the month at Jackson Electric
BUFFALO COUNTY - 3rd Thursday of the month at Riverland Energy Center
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May 15th - Dori Pulse from Brown and Bigelow on Sales and Social Networking Techniques
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OTHER - June 26th Thursday - I&E Rendezvous in La Crosse
**Keep an eye out for Linda Krysiak from the Wisconsin Procurement Institute. She will be in Eau Claire on June 19th for a special seminar. More information will be sent out when we have more details. Our training calendar will be updated weekly.** |
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Wisconsin Common Market News and Tips:
"Backing Up Your Computer"
Everyone knows that they should backup their computer, but few of us actually take the time to do this. In particular, if you depend on your computer to conduct business over the Internet, you need to plan for a potential disaster. Aside from viruses and spyware, you have to consider the random bolt of lightening or any other natural disaster that could put your data at risk and actually shut down your operation. There are a variety of software packages available to facilitate the backup process. And, in all honesty, if you are running a small network of computers and/or something with complex software data files, you will want to invest in something that will adequately meet your needs. However, for someone concerned about backing up simple documents and spreadsheets from one computer, running the Windows backup utility that came with your computer will work well. I have experienced some difficulties with setting a scheduled time for my laptop to automatically back itself up. But, when run manually, I have had no problems. I have set Microsoft Outlook to remind me to run these backups every Friday before I leave for lunch. It may seem like overkill. But, if you ever experience a hard drive failure like I did last year, you'll be glad you did it. Here's how it works in ten simple steps!
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Go to Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Backup
- Click the button for "Backup Wizard (Advanced)"
- Click "Next"
- Click "Backup selected files, drives or network data"
- Click "Next"
- Select the items you would like to back up. These will like be everything in your "My Documents" folder and various desktop items.
- Click "Next"
- Click "Browse__" to select a backup destination, such as a flash drive, CD, DVD, external hard drive or a networked file server - whichever works for you and the amount of data you have to backup.
- Click "Next"
- If you click the "Advanced" button, you will be guided through a series of options. One of these options allows you to append data to an existing backup or to replace an existing backup. This will be an important step with subsequent backups. However, if this is your first time, you may simply click "Finish."
Finally, make sure you store your backup in a secure location, separate from your original data. And, if the time comes, you can use the same backup utility to restore documents to your existing computer or a different computer.
Karman Briggs, e-Commerce Site Manager
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- Patti's Potions Natural Soaps, Ltd. your reliable source for natural, handcrafted, environmentally friendly, artisan soaps, lotions, lip balms, and home fragrance products.
- Expresso Boutique features the clothing brand MSW, which stands for Mustard Seed Wardrobe clothing.
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Neat Freaks offers professional residential and commercial cleaning, straightening up, uncluttering, and dejunking services.
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JC Uniforms is a custom boutique and uniform retail store. They have custom-made uniform tops, jackets, purses, mittens, jewelry, soy products, skull caps, bouffant hats, and so much more. |
FEATURED BUSINESS: 
U-Roast-Em supplies quality green coffee beans to enthusiasts around the world. Green beans are un-roasted coffee beans, and with an oven, skillet, or even a popcorn popper, anyone can roast flavorful coffee beans in their home. Since May 2007, Terry Wall and his wife Deborah have owned and operated U-Roast-Em in Hayward, WI.
"I was always interested in coffee, and when Jim [the previous owner] was selling the business, we saw it as a unique opportunity," Wall said. "Deborah and I took a chance, pursued it, and we love it," he added.
U-Roast-Em is dedicated to providing the best quality beans to home roasters. "We provide coffee beans from every coffee-producing country. We carry fair-trade organic beans, rainforest alliance beans, bird friendly beans, and many other different certified coffee beans," said Wall. "There are an awful lot of things to think about when purchasing beans," he said, chuckling.
"We want to keep the business small. There's potential for it to grow and we have grown a little, but we're not looking to make it a large business," Wall said. As small-business owners, Wall and his wife are involved with every aspect to make sure the coffee beans they sell are exactly what their customers want. "We know our wholesale buyers well and trust that they'll get us the best beans." The wholesale buyers travel all over the country testing beans and providing U-Roast-Em with quality-certified beans.
"Sometimes, if you're not careful, you can end up with a bad batch of beans, and then you're stuck with them. I don't believe in fooling people; that's why we buy only the top line," said Wall.
Home roasting has gained popularity over the years. Wall believes it's because of the difference in quality. Enthusiasts know and love the taste. Home-roasted coffee beans are far superior to any coffee found in stores; roasters can pick out a specific kind of coffee bean, flavor the coffee if they like or just enjoy the great taste, explained Wall. Home roasting is also quick, economical, and fun.
For those who are interested in home roasting but unsure of how to start, try the U-Roast-Em starter kit. The kit contains one pound of Costa Rica green coffee beans, home roasting instructions, and a discount coupon for your next order from U-Roast-Em. If you're serious about home roasting, Kenneth Davis' book, Home Coffee Roasting, gives insight into the history of home roasting, provides resources for equipment and techniques, and much more, and is also available at U-Roast-Em's website.
More information about green coffee beans, home roasting, and supplies can be found at U-Roast-Em's websites, http://www.wisconsincommonmarket.com/u-roast-em/index.cfm and http://www.u-roast-em.com/index.html. |
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Other Happenings you won't want to miss!
AREA HAPPENINGS:
UPCOMING BUSINESS COMPETITIONS:
"Jump-Start Downtown" business competition is for entrepreneurs interested in starting a business in downtown Eau Claire. This competition is open to any type of business from hi-tech office services to specialty gift shops. Business pans must be submitted by May 31st.
"Create Your Own Business" competition. This business plan competition is sponsored by the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Center. The businesses judged to have the best ideas, plans, management teams, and potential for success will receive a variety of awards. The 2008 application deadline will be in May 23, 2008. Business Plan due June 27, 2008
ARTICLES OF INTEREST:
The Small Business Guide for 2008, put out by the IRS, contains essential information any small-business owner needs in order to comply with federal tax laws and other business topics.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Idea Pathway: Moving Ideas Toward Reality through the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation. Got a great idea for a new product or innovative service, but not sure what to do with it? Look no further than the Idea Pathway to bring your new concept into reality. The pathway is an interactive tool that gives you the information you need to move your idea toward reality, whether you're in the development stage, or finalizing your business plan. Click here for more details.
The Basics of Selling on eBay student handbooks for sale. Learn to sell like a pro! These books were updated in 2007 and are version 4.1. They are $15 and if you are interested, please email jbdassist@westerndairyland.org
 Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Agreements for persons with disabilities will be made at all times in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 and associated amendments. Arrangements for persons with special needs will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
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