December Newsletter from GRC NAWBO

December 2009

National Assoc. of Women Business Owners
Greater Rochester Chapter Newsletter

In This Issue

November's Calendar

This Year's Board of Directors

Thanks to Our Annual Sponors!

Kelly Olczak President's Letter

Well, That went fast! Holy Cow! Where did 2009 go? This year has been full of excitement for sure, but now is the time to plan for 2010. I always enjoy taking stock this time of the year. My kids are one year older (or almost, in my son's case), my business is one year older and I hope I am a little wiser for it. But after I try and get my arms around what happened, I look to what can be. I find it very comforting to speak with my fellow NAWBO members. I enjoy learning what they will be working on this year to tweek their business - will it be work flow, office efficiencies or will it be just plain "sales 101". I always try to come away with at least one little nugget of gold that may work for my practice. But, as always, I remember that when you are perfect, it's time do die!

2009 has been eventful, and even though it's tough to realize this sometimes with all the spin and hype from the media, there is a lot of good things going on!

According to the article in our National Chapter's Monthly Magazine, Weathering the Storm "The realities of business for today's women entrepreneurs are starkly different. NAWBO members are facing challenges at every turn, and yet despite it all, our members and women business owners in general have remained resilient, making an impact even during a downturn...While markets are slowly but surely beginning to make a rebound, smart business strategies are still essential to long-term growth for women entrepreneurs. Sharing best practices at chapter meetings, access to corporate partners and local chambers of commerce are all NAWBO member benefits that will help women business owners in the long run."

Within our membership we have remarkable women business owners. I am so glad to know many of you and I wish all of you a very happy and health New Year in 2010.

From all of us on the GRC NAWBO Board of Directors, Happy Holidays!

Kelly

Mark

Your Calendar

NAWBO Guest Speaker Luncheon, January 19

Location: Mario's Italian Steakhouse, Monroe Avenue

Time: 11.30am to 1.30pm
Cost: $20.00 (members) and $25.00 (non-members)

Please join us for our January Luncheon featuring Donna Shultz, President and CEO of Mirror Show Management. Donna will be speaking about how innovative thinking and a strong company culture have helped her organization grow and why they are important recession beating tools for any business.

Come and network with local businesses, enjoy a buffet lunch and after listening to our great speaker, explore the ideas further with Donna and the group.

A little about Donna Shultz: Donna is the 'woman' in the women-owned business, Mirror Show Management. As the President and CEO of a fast-growing premier exhibit design and tradeshow management company, she sets the tenor for MSM, charts its course and still gets her fingernails dirty. From its start 16 years ago, Donna has established MSM as a company that Exhibits Greatness for its employees and for its customers. As she says, "With a team of great people in place, you can sit back and watch as their passion to succeed spreads like wildfire. Our employees focus on the customers, the customers tell other customers and those new customers come to us.

E-mail grcnawbo@gmail.com to get your registration form.

NAWBO Power Lunch, January 27

Please join us for a conversation with Vicki M. James, Business Development Specialist, Thaney & Associates, CPAs, P.C. while we discuss "Perceived Indifference Disease Are You Suffering From It?" Most business owners will say that their customers' key concern is price - that customers will only buy if the price is right - and in fact actually inquire about price first before anything else. However research continually shows that the single most common reason a customer leaves a business for a competitor is Perceived Indifference. Which is when customers have the impression that you couldn't care less if they buy from you or not. Almost 7 out of 10 of the customers you lose walk away because they feel you are indifferent towards them. They felt that you didn't care enough, didn't take time for them, and really didn't make a difference. This topic looks at how much perceived indifference could be costing your business. It reviews the 19-point checklist of common areas where perceived indifference occurs and discusses ways these can be improved.

KEY DATES FOR OUR FEBRUARY EVENTS

Feb 3 - New Year Networking at You Rock Academy

Feb 11 - E&R, Bonadios

Feb 17 Power lunch

Feb 25 - E&R Special - International Trade Seminar and Panel with IBC Rochester