Independent We Stand Now Accepting Nominations for Indie Business Award VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The national small business movement Independent We Stand (IWS) is now accepting nominations from indie shoppers across the nation for this year's independent business of the year award, "The Indie." Nominations will be accepted at www.IndieBizAward.com from Oct. 7 - Nov. 27, the day fol ...

- PNC Survey Uncovers Short-Term Fears, Long-Term Optimism - PITTSBURGH, Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With weak sales as a major challenge, four out of five U.S. small business owners will maintain or reduce their number of full-time employees over the next six months, and they see little value in proposed Federal incentives to create jobs, according to the PNC Economic Outlook survey's newest findings. Onl ...

There are two kinds of businesses in the world. Those that are in sales and those that are not. Ok, well really there is also a subcategory, those that are still in business and those that are out of business. The fact of the matter is that every business is in the sales business. Yes, I hear you in the back of your mind saying, “I have no need for sales as long as I provide quality work”.  In fact, a lot s ...

-- 13% don't separate personal and professional social media activities -- 10% of micro small business owners don't achieve a good work/life balance NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from specialist insurer Hiscox shows that small business owners are flexible when it comes to managing their work/life balance – in order to spend time with the family and to maximize opportunities for their ...

Managing employees can be rough for a small business. Most likely you are team leader, department manager and CEO, not to mention head of HR and payroll. How does a small business manager find time to instruct, motivate and supervise while also having time to manage the books, customers and projects? More times than not small business owners begin to neglect their management duties as “more pressing” issues ...

When was the last time you bought something because of a really good sales pitch? I am constantly reviewing my sales processes looking for ways to improve my presentations and really capture people’s attention. But, it hit me today that I am wasting my time. Sales presentations don’t sell. The problem with the old idea of the traditional sales presentation is that in today’s market there is always something ...

                While the news is preaching doom and gloom and scaring us with political battles, I know a secret. Neither the newscasters, nor politics create jobs or wealth. The secret is that in America we are responsible for our own future. No matter what the headlines say or who shakes hands behind closed doors, the American economy is not built by such things. T ...

According to OECD report, US attitudes towards entrepreneurship are positive, though bankruptcy rates remain high. LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- According to new data released by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the US remains a very supportive environment for small businesses, though high failure rates represent a lasting concern. The report, Entrepreneurship ...

MOSES LAKE, Wash., July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- When it's a choice of getting the Good News or Bad News first, most people prefer to start with the Bad News. So here it is, the Bad News: US Unemployment rate for May 2011: 9.1%. For the unemployed, however, there is hope because 10,000,000 Baby Boomers are wanting to sell their businesses in the next 7 years! (Inc. Magazine, April 2008) John Loewen, Preside ...

Paychecks are not Managers Many businesses expect that an employee’s need to receive a paycheck will manage the employee’s behavior. This is simply not true. Compensation plans must reward behavior that creates success; pay is not the primary management tool. The proper training, coaching, support, and technology all need to be in place in order for employees to meet the organizational goals. If managers ar ...