Insights and experience: Lessons learned from three former small business owners

By Linda Segall    By viewing the old we learn the new — Chinese Proverb It has been said, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Jacksonville Small Business Advantage talked with three retired small business people who reside at Taylor Residences, a community of adults age 62 or older, to discover if that adage [...]

Insights and experience: Lessons learned from three former small business owners Insights and experience: Lessons learned from three former small business owners

Learning what you customers think

A focus group can give you insights about your products and services Businesses often declare in their mission statement they will “meet or exceed customer expectations.” But, how do businesses know if they are accomplishing what they have set out to do? It’s all a matter of understanding your customer, says Nancy Ulrich, owner of Ulrich Research [...]

Learning what you customers think Learning what you customers think

Plan your success with 7 proven strategies

The year 2009 was not the best year for most people. “Now is the time to refresh your thinking and get ‘unstuck,’ ” GinaMaria Jerome, CEO of The Leadership Guild, told a sold-out crowd in a recent Knowledge Is Power breakfast workshop, presented by Jacksonville Small Business Advantage. Jerome shared seven proven success strategies with [...]

Plan your success with 7 proven strategies Plan your success with 7 proven strategies

On the Street: Which leadership trait is most important to small business success?

What do you consider the most important leadership trait a small business owner must possess? We asked several Jacksonville business owners and asked them to describe how they develop that trait in their business operations. Vision: Key to growth Great small businesses are led by visionary leaders. Employees of visionary leaders have a clear picture of where [...]

On the Street: Which leadership trait is most important to small business success? On the Street: Which leadership trait is most important to small business success?

20 inexpensive marketing tips pull in customers

By Mary Fisher     When times get tough, the tough start marketing. That’s especially true in challenging economic times. If you don’t market now, the sad truth is that you may be out of business. But, marketing costs money, so it is critical to do it strategically by focusing on tactics that will strengthen your competitive advantage. Here [...]

20 inexpensive marketing tips pull in customers 20 inexpensive marketing tips pull in customers

3 steps to great cross-promotional marketing

Collaborating with another business can benefit both of you     By Paul Arrington     When Jacksonville consultant and motivational speaker Zelda Greenberg wanted a venue to launch her latest book, The Art of Bouncing Back, she approached Kris Chislette at The Grape, an establishment known for its wines and gourmet bistro. Together they developed a cross-promotional marketing strategy that [...]

3 steps to great cross-promotional marketing 3 steps to great cross-promotional marketing

Jacksonville's Small Business Resource Community

Through education we can build better businesses faster! We invite you engage and comment on what you see, make business connections and be educated on topics you need to know. Small businesses are a strong and resourceful group that makes a habit of doing more with less. We stick together and are committed to helping build more efficient and profitable companies. With Jacksonville Small Business Advantage, stay connected a variety of ways through our print publication, e-newsletters, in-person peer to peer groups, or even attend our professional development events.

Two new SBA initiatives announced

Two new SBA initiatives announced

08 February 2010

President Obama has announced two new small business lending initiatives to help increase access to capital and create jobs. These temporary Small Business Administration (SBA) initiatives include a refinancing program for small business owner-occupied commercial real estate and an expanded working capital loan program. At the same time, the President continued his call for a permanent [...]

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Davidson’s top lister, seller announced

Davidson’s top lister, seller announced

08 February 2010

Davidson Realty, Inc. (www.DavidsonRealtyinc.com) has announced its top listers, sellers and producers for January 2010. Jennifer Todd awas top lister, with the most seller listings sold; and Dottie Lay was top sales person, with most buyer sales as well as top producer, with most closed listings and closed buyer sales combined. Both Todd and Lay hold [...]

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IRS: Don’t use frivolous arguments to avoid taxes

05 February 2010

Do you believe paying taxes is voluntary? Or that you don’t have to comply with an administrative summons about your taxes? Think again. These beliefs—and many others—are erroneous, says the Internal Revenue Service, which has released the 2010 version of its discussion and rebuttal of many of the more common frivolous arguments made by individuals [...]

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Pet rehab facility opens in Mandarin

Pet rehab facility opens in Mandarin

04 February 2010

The first pet rehabilitation facility has been opened in Mandarin. The facility is part of Mandarin Landing Animal Hospital and is an expansion of the hospital’s pet resort, according to owner Ann Silverness, DVM. “A canine rehab facility is the veterinary equivalent to a human physical therapy office,” she explained. “There is a certified canine rehab [...]

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ULI names co-chairs for 2010

ULI names co-chairs for 2010

04 February 2010

The Urban Land Institute of North Florida (ULI) has announced its 2010 Young Leaders Group Steering  Committee. The executive committee will be led by co-chairs Amy Ogden, public relations manager for Clockwork Marketing, and Ryan Whitaker, assistant vice president of Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, LLC.  Together they will oversee the group’s programs and activities. Members of the [...]

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Florida small businesses more in touch with customers

04 February 2010

Florida small business owners are more concerned with keeping their current customers than the rest of U.S. small business owners, according to The Guardian Life Index: What Matters Most to America’s Small Business Owners. The Guardian Life Index is based on a proprietary 21-point scale (from +10 to -10) and measures the positive and negative intensity [...]

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SBDC announces upcoming workshops

SBDC announces upcoming workshops

03 February 2010

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of North Florida has announced  four upcoming workshops for small business owners. To register, call 904-265-4700. • IT Strategy: How to Write a Sustainable Technology Plan. Tuesday, Feb. 9, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost, $30. This workshop will stress the importance of planning to perform budgeting for [...]

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National poll: 41% of small business will not add jobs soon

01 February 2010

As small business decision-makers closed the books on 2009, 41% of polled small businesses say they won’t start hiring for 10 months, and nearly half (46%) said it would require more than 12 months for their businesses to return to pre-recession levels in terms of annual sales. The Small Business Opinion Poll, conducted by Opinion [...]

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Hubbard House wins ‘We Inspire’ grant

Hubbard House wins ‘We Inspire’ grant

01 February 2010

The “We Inspire” grant team has chosen Jacksonville’s Hubbard House as recipient of its national grant. Hubbard House has been providing shelter and outreach services for domestic violence victims and their families in Duval and Baker Counties since 1976, and will now receive up to $75,000 worth of creative marketing services including strategy development, a [...]

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Chamber names Bryan director of Beaches Division

Chamber names Bryan director of Beaches Division

29 January 2010

The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce has hired John Bryan as director of the Beaches Division and  Chamber Councils. In this role, Bryan is responsible for membership growth, one-on-one coaching with council officers, and ensuring each council has numerous networking opportunities to develop strong business relationships.  “I am delighted to be working with the Chamber of Commerce,” [...]

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Gather tax information now

The year has just begun, but now is the time to start gathering information for tax preparation. Most small business owners find organizing tax information more time-consuming than they anticipated. Do it now to do it right.

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