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Small Business Connections                                    March 2012 

Welcome to Small Business Connections! 

 

The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Waubonsee Community College is here to serve your small business needs. We offer free business counseling to entrepreneurs and business owners, as well as a variety of small business workshops.

 

Call us today at (630) 906-4143 to learn how we can help you start or grow your business.
Small Business Spotlight

Mik's Bake Shop

 

If you've been to the Oswego or Downer's Grove  farmer's market, you probably know Jack.  Or at least you know his mini-donuts.  Jack Mikolay, owner of Mik's Bake Shop, has built quite a following with his mini donuts and smoothies.  Jack was an inventory and account manager for a company in Glenview.  He and his family moved to Oswego to be closer to his wife's teaching job, and telecommuted until 2009, when new management no longer supported telecommuting.

 

A school event attended by his wife and kids proved to be a career-changing moment for Jack. His wife brought home a bag of delicious little donuts that she wanted him to try.  One delicious bite of Lil' Orbits mini donuts was all it took to get Jack interested in launching his own mini-donut business.   A few months later,  Jack decided to trade in his desk job and go the entrepreneur route and launched Mik's Tasty Bites, Delicious Mini-Donuts. 

 

After three years and 300,000+ donuts, and having added delicious natural fruit smoothies in 2010, Mik's Tasty Bites has built a loyal customer base. There was so much demand for his product after the farmer's market season ended that he decided to open his own bake shop in Oswego.  "People love watching the donut machine.  They love getting fresh, warm donuts that are made right in front of them.  Our store front will allow our mini-donut lovers to come and pick up their delicious, hot donuts anytime, not just during the summer months, and in addition we will be adding a line of full size donuts as well, in addition to other sweets baked on site like gourmet cupcakes and cookies."    

 

Jack met with the IL SBDC at Waubonsee Community College for help with his business plan, and to look for help setting up an accounting system for his business.  The SBDC also hooked him up with the Food Network for consideration in a new series they are planning on up-and-coming food entrepreneurs.  "Starting a business involves making quite a few initial decisions.  Harriet Parker of the SBDC has been an invaluable resource;  from giving me professional advice, to providing me with resources for developing a business plan, to giving me an unbiased list of references for people and suppliers in the food service industry, the SBDC has helped to point me in the right direction.  Very quickly, I was able to get in touch with the right people to get my business plan on paper, and in action.  Through Waubonsee and the SBDC, I was also able to sign up for seminars in several business disciplines where I needed to shore up some basics as they relate to starting my business."

 

Barring inspection delays, Mik's Tasty Bites will open as Mik's Bake Shop on March 9, 2012 at 4025A Rte. 34 in Oswego.  Look for the log cabin just east of the intersection of Rte. 34 and Rte. 71.  In addition to Jack's famous mini donuts and smoothies, you will find an expanded menu of goodies including fresh baked cookies, gourmet cupcakes, pies and locally roasted coffee.  You can find more information on their website or Facebook.  

  

Come and taste at your own risk - you'll be hooked forever!

  

Biz Buzz

Resources for Retailers   

 

Retail businesses and wholesalers have special needs when it comes to small business resources.  From social media to POS and payment systems to merchandising, the world of retail is constantly changing.  For example, The Journal Gazette reports that over 600 small merchants in Fort Wayne, IN, are now using Square to take credit card payments to help lower swipe fees.    

 

Retail Systems Research's annual Merchandising Benchmark Report mentions peer groups as a valuable way to stay on top of trends and technology.

 

The IL SBDC at Waubonsee Community College is offering a variety of resources to help retailers and wholesalers stay on top of trends, many of which involve connecting with your peers.  Here are a few ways to get support, ideas, and new information to help your retail or wholesale business thrive.

 

1.  Sign up for our Step Into Retail workshop.  If you are relatively new to retail (or thinking about starting) you'll learn lots from the owners at Geneva's Shoppes at 127, while connecting with other new retailers.  March 6, 6-9 p.m. Cost: $30.

 

2.  Attend our Retail Roundtable event on April 30, 8-9:30 a.m.  Retail Consultant, Nicole Reyhle, owner of Retail Minded, will be speaking, and we will have several breakout discussion sessions.  More information will be coming soon.  Mark your calendars and Save the Date!

 

3.  Speaking of Retail Minded, Nicole just launched her new print publication, also titled Retail Minded.  Her debut issue features Geneva, IL, of course.  Check out her website for a subscription as well as for an expansive library of retail articles, including this excellent article for wholesalers on how to create a Buyer's Packet.

 

4.  If you have a Facebook page for your business, but don't feel like you are making the most of it, take a lunch break with our webinar Facebook For Business - Secrets of Success.  April 25, 12-1 p.m.  Cost: $30.

 

5.  Need help with QuickBooks or forecasting?  We offer one-on-one assistance to help you manage the financial aspect of your business.

 

To set up an appointment, or register for one of the classes or events listed above, call us at (630) 906-4143 or email [email protected].  

 

 

Biz Bitz

Waubonsee and OSHA Host Safety Day 
Waubonsee's Workforce Development department, working in partnership with the North Aurora office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), presents Safety Day, an all-day workers' safety seminar on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Over 30 OSHA speakers will present information on safety issues including OSHA's Top 10 Violations, Accident Investigations, OSHA Training Requirements and Mock Inspections.

 

Affirm your commitment to a safe working environment. Send your employees to this informative, invaluable day. If you are paying the fee for one or more of your employees, and want to be billed directly, a letter from your company, including the contact name and company address (on company letterhead), is required at the time of registration. List the names of all employees for whom you are paying, and mail the letter and all registration forms together. For more information and to register see Waubonsee's Website.

 

Is Your Small Business Pinteresting?

 

How can Pinterest benefit your small business?  Pinterest is a uniquely designed website that allows users to "pin" and "like" photos and images.  These images are put on their virtual pin boards in which people share recipes, products, and photos of art among other things.   Conveniently for the loved brands, both big and small, Pinterest users have voluntarily agreed to promote products and services for free.

 

The professional possibilities for a Pinterest profile are promising - especially for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Graphic and interior designers, photographers and illustrators have already begun pinning their work to craft sample boards that display their products and services. When presented like a portfolio, Pinterest is a great tool for potential clients and referrals to check out a vendor prior to contacting them for work. To read more on this topic click here

              

Get Smart: Small Business Workshops at Waubonsee
Starting Your Business in IllinoisWorkshops

Thursday, March 22, 6- 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

Tuesday, April 17, 6-9 p.m., $30 (Sugar Grove)

Wednesday, May 9, 6-9 p.m., $30 (Aurora) 

     

Marketing for Small Business

Tuesday, March 27, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Sugar Grove)

 

Social Media Marketing for Business

Wednesday, April 11, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Sugar Grove) 

 

Step Into Retail

Tuesday, March 6, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

 

Is Franchising Right for You?

Wednesday, March 7, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Aurora)

 

Facebook for Business: Secrets to Success

Wednesday, April 25, 12 - 1 p.m., $30 (Online Webinar)   

 

Google for Business

Thursday, Apr. 5, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)

 

Check seminar details for the full list, class descriptions, locations, ticket numbers, and pricing. To sign up, complete and submit the registration form. For additional  information call the Illinois SBDC office at (630) 906-4143.   

 

QuickBooks and Excel

A variety of QuickBooks and Excel classes are available to meet your small business accounting needs. Click here for complete class descriptions, locations, dates, times and costs. 

Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College  

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or DCEO.

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