Throughout 2013 Small Business Drives America™ - Colorado Edition will be shining the spotlight on some of the fabulous small businesses and small business owners in our state.  

Would you like more free visibility for your small business?  Would you like an opportunity to earn statewide peer recognition, as well as a suite of prizes that includes cash, technology and services designed for your business?

Small Business Drives America™ will be showcasing 100s of Colorado-owned businesses in the coming weeks and months.  Let us know why you are a great role model for other entrepreneurs to emulate? 

More details on specific visibility and prize opportunities will be announced soon.  Until then, go right ahead and nominate yourself.  Email us and tell us about you and your business - and what makes you unique.  Be sure to include all of your contact information.  Our email is: [email protected].

My bagging machine is an antique.  The new ones are digital and cost like $50,000.  But mine was still functional, I just didn't need it any more because I'm not bagging beads like I used to.

If I can find a buyer for my antique bagging machine, then my fellow business owners, you should know that you can find buyers for whatever surplus you have that is just sitting there.  

Okay, so here is how I found that one person in the world to sell my outdated bagging machine to. I called a guy in Oregon who still buys a lot of these bagging machines.  And he buys them used. So guess who he knows?  He knows the guy who sells him used bagging machines when he needs them.

So I networked with my contact in Oregon and he put me on to the guy who is in Dallas. I drove my bagging machine right up to his front door. I didn't wait for him to come to pick it up from me.

And he gave me money. 

Remember this, nobody is going to be able to appraise your unwanted items if the buyer doesn't get to inspect them firsthand and if you're not there in person to make the case.  Craigslist and eBay are nice.  But letting the customer "kick the tires" - or the bagging machine, is what seals the deal (if you'll excuse the bad bagging pun).  

When you look around your shop or you look around your office, you are going to find something that you need to sell. You need to hunt down the person or people who sell used products like that.

There is, if you'll make the effort, somebody in the world today looking for those products that absolutely no one else wants or knows what to do with.  I tell myself that each morning when my feet hit the floor.

Homer

Read the full column here.

Visit Homer's HHH Enterprises website here.

On Your Smartphone: Hear Homer talk about how and why he uses Facebook on a daily basis. Hint: It's his way of overcoming the isolation of working for himself. Homer is joined by B. Unconventional hosts David Biondo and Dean Rotbart. 

Small Business Drives America™ - Colorado Edition is the "community newspaper" of our state's small business community.  We're interested in hearing from you and about you, including:

• New product lines you are launching
• New management/hires
• New locations
• Awards won
• Upcoming speeches/presentations
• Special landmarks, including "years in business"