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December 2011 |
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Announcing co-sponsored program with Kauffman FastTrac®
WBC & Kauffman pilot new version of FastTrac® New Venture
Kauffman FastTrac and the Women's Business Center (WBC) will be co-sponsoring a pilot of a new version of FastTrac® New Venture program targeted specifically for women. The WBC has been offering New Venture to a woman only audience for the past 10 years. They have found the dynamic generated during an all-woman class was advantageous to giving all the women in the class a voice.
In light of some of the recent research published by the Kauffman Foundation on the characteristics of women entrepreneurs, Kauffman FastTrac has been exploring additions to the core curriculum that would add further value to the participants experience and outcome. Using the established platform of the Women's Business Center program offers the FastTrac team the ability to pilot these additions locally while still offering the participants the ability to access the support services offered by the WBC following the completion of the class.
Dates & Location
The class will be held at the Kauffman Foundation each Wednesday beginning February 1st and concluding on April 4th. Click here for additional details or to register for the class. |
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Sales Seminar - January 24, 2012
Did 2011 bring the sales results you were hoping for? Was your pipeline full of opportunities coming into the new year to sustain solid 1st quarter business development? Does your business plan include your prospecting activity?
If you answered no to any of these questions, you must attend the Prospecting Workshop sponsored by the Women's Business Center. Prospecting Guru Breandan Filbert will be discussing strategies and will outline a process to develop your prospecting plan for 2012. You will learn up to date tactics on networking, Linked In, and referral prospecting that will lead you to opportunities with great prospects. You will walk away with an understanding of what has to happen each day, week and month to reach your business development goals in 2012. Don't miss this session!
January 24, 2012, 9:00 - 10:30 am, $20
Women's Business Center, 8527 Bluejacket Street, Lenexa, KS 66214
Register Online
Questions? Contact Dorothy Browning: 913-492-5922 |
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Internet Marketing Workshop Series
Internet Marketing in the Digital Age
Internet Marketing Primer (Wed, Jan. 18th)
Learn Internet Marketing trends, terms, and how a Comprehensive Internet Marketing Strategy will bring customers into your business.
Website Design, Development and Promotion (Wed, Jan. 25th)
A successful Internet Marketing Strategy starts with a great website. Learn how to ensure your website is the 'value hub' of your multidimensional marketing strategy.
SEO and Copywriting (Wed, Feb. 1st)
Learn how to ensure your words, messages, and the continuous flow of value, result in your customer 'tuning in' to your business. This is the essence of Pull Marketing and vital to the success of your Internet Marketing strategy.
Social Marketing / Networking / Engagement (Wed, Feb. 8th)
Discusses social engagement, so important to participating in the conversation your customers are either having about you - or your competitors. You need to be 'talked about'. Learn how to make that happen.
Using Google Analytics to Guide Your Strategy (Wed, Feb. 15th)
Know your customer and your market better using analytics and social listening systems. Your customer will tell you how to market to them - you just need to listen. We will teach you how.
All classes meet from 8:30 - 10:30 am
Women's Business Center, 8527 Bluejacket Street, Lenexa, KS 66214
Class fees are $20 per class or $80 for 5-class series.
Please register online at www.onekcforwomen.com/calendar/digital-marketing-workshops-winter-2012/.
Questions? Contact: Dorothy Browning, dbrowning@kansaswbc.com |
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Flourishing in Retail: Planning for Success
Introducing FastTrac® Growth Venture for individuals in the retail sector beginning in February 2012
The Women's Business Center is planning to offer a FastTrac® Growth Venture for individuals in the retail sector beginning in February 2012. Review the current state of your business and plan for sustainability and profitability. The primary intent of this course will not be to write a business plan, but rather to create a functional roadmap for your businesses future.
The program is customized to provide maximum benefit to the retail business owner. Speakers will be industry specific experts, additional topics specific to the industry will be introduced, and a free mystery shopper analysis will be included in the cost of the class. Owners are also offered the opportunity to have a free financial analysis completed prior to class, which will be used to determine the areas most critical for their continued success.
Contact Dorothy Browning at (913)-492-5922 for additional details or go to www.kansaswbc.com This class will be open to both men and women. |
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MicroLoan Program coming in January
January 18-19th will be the next opportunity for individuals wishing to determine if they can qualify for a microloan to start or expand their business. Microloans are for amounts between $500 and $50,000 dollars. Most typically microloans are in the range of $5,000 and $10,000. Microloans candidates generally have been unable to obtain business financing from a traditional bank.
If you are interested in either attending a one on one session to explore this opportunity further or would like to attend a general information session, contact Dorothy Browning at (913)-492-5922 for additional information. |
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NOTE:
If you are having trouble reading the small print in this newsletter, click to view as a web page (top of email).
Then, hold down the ctrl key while hitting the "+" key to increase the size as you need.
To return to normal viewing, hold ctrl key while hitting the "-" (left of the "+" key) |
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The Women's Business Center
The Women's Business Center offers mentoring, resources, and consulting to women in the Kansas City Metropolitan area who wish to become an entrepreneur or who are currently operating their own business. Through business consulting, classes, workshops, networking, and peer mentoring the WBC is the key to running a successful business for Kansas City's women.
Find out how the Women's Business Center can help you. Click here to learn more!
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Quote
"Men boast about their accomplishments - that's called selling. This is a deficiency in women. It's about selling, positioning, and communicating effectively."
- Vivek Wadhwa
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Join the WBC LinkedIn Group
All WBC FastTrac® Alumni, Roundtable participants (past and present) and graduates of previous mentoring programs are invited to join the Women's Business Center of Kansas City Alumni Group.
This group is designed to allow individuals to seek resources and advice from other alumni. This idea was generated by current clients during a recent Growth Roundtable and FastTrac® class when participants realized what a wealth of talent existed in their own groups. Sometimes this talent was related to their current business, but frequently was related to a past job or skill set.
Participants will be able to pose questions, ask for advice, and even ask for meeting time to discuss an issue (no direct selling please). Join in and share your talents. |
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Share the good news
Are you a Women's Business Center client or volunteer? Something exciting going on in your business? Let us know if you have added a major product or service line, expanded your territory or won an award. We will help you spread the word.
Email dbrowning@kansaswbc.com
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News from the Women's Business Center |
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Fall 2011 FastTrac® Graduation:
 The Fall 2011 FastTrac® class graduated on November 17th. Of the 18 graduates, six were already in business and took the class to develop a new product or service line, eight are intent on starting up in the next 6 months and four are either rethinking their idea or start up is planned for a later date. It was a great mix of women who brought a wealth of background skills and talents to the group. On the last evening, the PowerPoint presentations were insightful and the group was still brainstorming around each presentation.
Special thanks to Janet Nickel who provided mentoring and technical support throughout the program.
We are now in the process of matching interested graduates with advisory councils which will kick off in January. If you are interested in serving on an advisory council, please contact Dorothy to discuss this opportunity. |
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New Facilitator for WBC Growth Roundtable
 This fall Kate Hodel, long time facilitator of the Growth Roundtable at the WBC "retired" to her other two jobs and Lori Scott began facilitating the group. The Growth Roundtable is made up of women led businesses that have been in business for at least two years, have existing revenues of greater than 100,000 and who are in the process of growing their businesses.
These roundtables are peer-to-peer roundtables, with the facilitator's role being to direct conversations when appropriate, bring additional resources to the table, "teach" on a topic if requested by the group and assure the smooth operation of the roundtable.
 Lori brings a strong background in the advertising/marketing area, with an extensive background in retail. She started and owned H. Scott Petites, a successful specialty retail operation, for over 14 years. Gross profit margins and sales per square foot were consistently higher than retail industry average. The business was successfully sold in 1997. Being a serial entrepreneur, Lori soon started Clear Identity, a business focused on promotional ideas and programs for corporate identity using apparel, business gifts, logoed merchandise and premiums. Currently she consults to retail companies, working with the financial, purchasing, supplier relations, customer service and marketing components, always with a strong emphasis on profitability. Lori will also be facilitating our Flourishing in Retail class in February.
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Client Success Story: Jennifer Meent - AAA Screening Services
Jennifer grew up in an entrepreneurial family, and always wanted to be a business owner as well. She's a person who likes to know why things work the way they do, and how "all the pieces fit together" in a successful business.
Eight years ago, Jennifer bought AAA Screening Services, which provides background checks on tenants to property managers, as well as pre-employment screenings for prospective employers. Over the past eight years, AAA Screening Services has screened more than 400,000 tenants and employees, and has experienced significant growth under Jennifer's Guidance.
Jennifer took advantage of services offered by the Women's Business Center, such as the FastTrac® New Venture course and a peer-to-peer mentoring roundtable of which she's been a member for several years. She finds roundtable membership particularly beneficial, as they meet monthly and share their good business practices and ideas. Sh recently joined the Women's Capital Connection as an angel investor.
Her advice to other business owners - don't be afraid to tackle things you're not good at!
It appears that Jennifer has found out how a successful business works, and "how all the pieces fit together"! |
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CLIENT NEWS:
2011 KC Smart Companies to Watch
Thinking Bigger celebrated their 2011 Smart Companies to Watch with a networking event on December 1st. Each year the staff and contributors to Thinking Bigger identify companies who are on track to grow their businesses and the Kansas City economy. There were several current clients and alumni of the Women's Businesss Center on the list. We'd like to congratulate:
Jeri Bartunek, Bartunek Group
Kay Saunders and Jaimie Henry, Bellewether Global
Diane Seif, DVA Enterprises
Kandy Meehan, Home Rental Services
Trish Walker, Majictouch Cleaning, Inc.
Shelly Armato, My Smart Plans
Patrice Manuel, PStrada, LLC
Teri Rogers, T2 + Back Alley Films
Angela Brown, Workplace SPA
Marcie Olinger was named Franchisee of the Year by the Entrepreneur's Source, an organization that helps other individuals with purchasing and managing a franchise.
Gustie Creative won the top woman video during Global Entrepreneurship week in a contest Sponsored by KC Source Link. Congratulations, Gustie. |
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Finding the Right Commercial Property
Recap of Nov. 10th, "Finding the Right Location for Your Business" session held at the WBC
Making a smart decision on where to place your business is so important, but where do you start? Susan Smith, Vice President of Sales & Leasing at Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C., laid out the value of using a commercial realtor in her recent presentation at the Women's Business Center. If you don't know the difference between a full service lease and a triple net lease or what a holdover rate is, read additional details from her discussion. |
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Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA |
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