Saturday, November 25, 2017

Never Let Obstacles Get In the Way of Starting Your Dream Business

For a person with a disability, it can be very hard to get a job or take care of others.  That's what prompted Hattie Allen to start Helping Hands For Homemaking And Companionship. Hattie is blind and takes care of her ailing husband and elderly mother. She also watches her grandkids on an as-needed basis.

So far, Allen has one employee at her business, but she hopes to expand. Her goal is to hire other people with disabilities because she knows how difficult it can be for them to find work.

Allen says:  “I do not let any obstacles get in my way or stop me from doing what I have to do.” She goes on to say:  “I keep on pressing.”

Good advice for all of us.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

I Wanted You to be the First To Know: I Am Launching an E-Commerce Site

Like you, I've been contemplating whether to start a new business, this one e-commerce.  I hosted an amazing Global Small Business Forum in Chicago in October and the theme was e-commerce.  I was so inspired by the stories business owners shared about running successful e-commerce businesses that I decided to start one myself.

So, again like you, I must take it one step at a time, minimize risks and only focus on upside potential.  First, I had to come up with a name that makes sense for what I am about to do, and second, I had to reserve a domain name.  I've done both today (11/18/17).

I figure if Tory Burch and Rebecca Minkoff can do it.  So can I!

I'll keep you posted on developments because I want you to be the first to see the site when it's all done.  Wish me luck!

Saturday, November 11, 2017

How to Maintain and Surpass Your Dad's Legacy Running a Business

The West Philadelphia-based minority business enterprise, Watts Facility Solutions, specializes in providing commercial janitorial services, window cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning and post construction cleaning. The company serves corporations, educational institutions, government agencies and medical facilities.

Theartis Watts started the business in 1956 by offering window cleaning services.  Yvette Watts (pictured) Theartis's daughter, joined the company in 1989 as a part-time supervisor while she was in college and subsequently took on advanced managerial duties.

Watts and her father worked together for 10 years and when he passed in 1999 she assumed the responsibility of becoming CEO and running the business.
Watts said networking through entities such as The Enterprise Center, the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and the Women’s Business Enterprise Council has been a key aspect of helping expand her client base.
Learn more about what else has propelled her to the top of her game in running a business.

Saturday, November 04, 2017

Leverage Social Media to Grow Your Business

I use LinkedIn to strategically connect with people who can help me grow my business and I write articles every once in a while about importing and exporting.  I use Twitter to post events, articles and helpful tips about anything to do with taking a business global (oh, and on the weekend, when I run, I post pictures of areas I run by).  On Facebook, it depends on my mood, but I typically post fabulous Chicago pictures, Like a lot of other friend's Pages and post an occasional article or event I am hosting on international trade.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  My goal when I post on social media, is to create value for people in the global trade space.  See what other social media platforms I leverage to become a savvy global marketer.  I even share a few tools for monitoring your competitors.

Here you go ... access a few tools and tips for savvy global marketers.