Lindquist scholarship concert April 4

The District 112 Music Department once again presents the Jean Lindquist Scholarship Benefit Concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 4.

Jean Lindquist was a District 112 music teacher in the 1990s, who was diagnosed with leukemia and lost her battle in 1997. Proceeds from the concert go to scholarships awarded to seniors at Chaska and Chanhassen high schools continuing their music education in college.

The concert ranges from serious to humorous performances and covers a wide spectrum of genres. "In the past, we have had classical vocal solos, brass ensembles, jazz groups, rock bands, boy bands, garbage can ensembles and much more," stated a press release.

This year, the event also features select students from the two District 112 high schools. Most of the 21 district music teachers will also be performing.

The concert is at Chanhassen High School, 2200 Lyman Boulevard. Tickets are $10 for the public and $6 for students at the door.

Source: http://www.chaskaherald.com

Attract Customers And Keep Them Coming Back

1. Location, Location, Location.

Everywhere you go everyone and anyone will tell you that one of the most important thing’s to making a successful business and to keep customers coming back is the location! And I’m not just talking about the correct demographic area, I also mean the exact location whether it’s on the right side of the street or by other store’s and so on. I can’t tell you how many time’s I have passed up going to a store because the side of the busy road it was on would be a pain to make a left turn out of when leaving the store, or making a left turn into the store. I’ve heard many people throughout the year’s complain about loving a certain store or place but they barely ever go there due to the traffic around the location and it being too much of a pain when entering and/or leaving the business.

2. Appearance.

It is very true what everyone say’s in terms of the first impression is a lasting impression! This is not just true in personal aspects but in business situations as well. If someone walk’s into a department store that has great prices but garbage on the floor, a bad smell in the air and items thrown all over the shelves and on the floor, what are the chances that they will return just based on the low prices? Very slim to none unless the prices are almost 100 % discounted which is highly unlikely.

3. Prices.

This is obviously one of the more important aspects of the business world. While you want to make a profit to stay a float in the business world, you also need to make sure you are still fairly competitive with other business of the same kind and maybe a little lower with more product to offer which will offset the lower prices. Nothing is more appealing then knowing if you drive down the road a mile you’ll find the same product for two dollars cheaper. Now this can be accomplished many way’s with specials, sales, coupons, buy one get one at half off or free and so on. And as I mentioned above, you can have lower prices but offer more product and more brands which should off set the lower prices and still bring in the amount of revenue your looking for.

4. Knowledge of the product you are selling.

It is very crucial that all employees have complete knowledge in the product or services being offered in a business. There is nothing worse then when you are asking questions regarding a product or service and the worker has to call someone, run and get someone else from the back, tells you wrong information or ask’s you to return on another day when someone with more knowledge will be there. Now yes there are certain extenuating circumstances such as employees going through training, but all too often in hopes of putting employees on their own quickly so there’s only one employee to pay a day, they are put on their own too early and don’t have full knowledge of what they are talking about. This will create room for people especially perfectionist’s and one’s in a hurry to leave and not want to return thinking that everyone just has poor knowledge of the business.

5. Friendliness.

All to often we hear complaints by word of mouth stating that an employee at a certain business was short, rude, callous, or uptight while servicing a customer. This creates a huge problem for the business. Word of mouth travels extremely fast and we all know that when we hear something, we take it to heart and usually stay clear of the business without even trying it out for ourselves. Talk to your customers, smile, make suggestion’s but don’t be overbearing at the same time. People like to chat, especially stay at home moms who don’t get out often. I recently went to a store to get one thing in particular, I left two hour’s later with something completely different from what I planned on getting. The owner of the store pointed me in a better direction, explained why it would be better and actually chatted with me about everything and anything, it gave me a sense of feeling that she got me, knew what I was about and was truly caring of my needs.

6. Advertising.

It is extremely important to get your business advertised in all the right places. This can be accomplished in so many different way’s, newspapers; magazines; internet; coupons; signs out of front; word of mouth and more. Choose something like a coupon or a two day sale, this will get the customers rolling in the door specifically for the sale but then once they see all the products offered and the prices that are available everyday and the excellent customer service that they will receive, it is almost a sure bet that everyone will be coming back over and over wether there is a sale or not.

Source: http://bizopy.com

What Is an Entrepreneur?

The textbook definition of an entrepreneur is someone who is willing to take the risk of starting and operating a business for a better life. In this short article, I am going to tell you who an entrepreneur is, what motivates them and what the drawbacks to becoming one are, so you can then decide if it's the right option for you.

Who is an entrepreneur?
Many people think that entrepreneurship is simply starting a business, but it's a lot more than that. An entrepreneur holds many key characteristics. Below, I have listed a few of the most important:
- Passion for the Product
- Determined, Motivated and Driven
- Willing to Take Risks
- Creative
- Hardworking
- Ambitious
- Able to Spot an Opportunity
- Organised

What motivates an entrepreneur?
Why would someone want to start a business? Is it just to become rich and famous? Here are some motivators entrepreneurs may have:
- Be their own boss. They can set their own working hours and are in control of their finances.
- Follow a passion.
- To prove to themselves and others that they can be successful.
- Pay the bills after losing a job.
- To help people and solve a problem
Very few people start businesses in order to become rich. Those who are focused on money are usually the ones who fail, as they haven't got any other motives. They are so focused on the money, they don't have enough passion for the product and cannot sell it.
Is it all fun and games?
Absolutely not! Running a business can be more stressful and involve more hours than a 9-5 job. As they say, businessman or women never stop working. If you're sick, you can't phone in for a day off. You can't blame someone else if something goes wrong, either. You are responsible for the business. If you don't make money, you go without food and further into debt. Also, if you don't get the right balance between work, play and family, you are going to become depressed, stressed and tired. It can be a real strain on the best of families.
But if you enjoy what you do, the drawbacks can be minimised or even eliminated. If you enjoy it, it feels less like work and you have the opportunity to surround yourself with many like-minded people that share your enthusiasm and want to make the business a success for the right reasons. If this sounds like you, then take action. No one became successful and happy in life without doing anything. If you want it, go get it.

Business is About Belonging – A Short Excerpt

The following is an excerpt from my new book, The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth, published by John C Wiley and Sons. The important concept I’m hoping to get across as a cornerstone for this book is that it’s important that one learns deeply about belonging:
Business is About Belonging

I’ve received compliments with a consistent theme over the past decade or so. People tell me, “You really do care about people,” and “I feel like you see me and understand me” and “I’ve really enjoyed meeting and getting to know the people you’ve gathered into your community.”

I’m proud of this, of course—but only because it continues to confirm a business tenet in which I believe strongly. Though you’ll rarely find it out there in the textbooks, if you listen and read closely, you’ll find in the works of many successful people: Business is about belonging.

It might seem strange that a book that encourages freaki-ness and the refusal to fit in praises the idea of belonging. But you can see how these two ideas are different, correct? “Fitting in” often means shaving off your unique edges, hiding and masking what defines you, discarding any behaviors or appearances or images that prompt others to question you or push away from you. “Belonging” is about finding that place where you finally let out a deep breath you had no idea you were holding and feeling with great certainty that the people around you understand you.

Raul Colon is a friend of mine and a successful business consultant, as well as one of the Spanish-language writers inside the pages of my magazine, Owner. Raul is also a vegan, which means that he doesn’t eat or use any animal products whatsoever. This is a challenge because Raul lives in Puerto Rico, where meat is a big part of the culture. He’s told me many stories of friends and relatives saying to him that they are vegetarian, and then watching them eat pork. When questioned, they say, “Well, it’s not beef.”

Restaurants everywhere face a challenge when considering whether and how to serve the vegetarian and vegan (and other dietary choice) communities. Raul wrote a piece for Owner where he com- mented on the big difference between a restaurant that grudgingly ensures that a salad has no animal products, and one that proudly displays a wide selection of dishes specifically targeted for vegans. The difference, of course, is that when Raul finds a restaurant that welcomes his business, he spends more of his money there. He feels that he belongs.

Harley Davidson might be one of the brands that is most famous for creating a sense of community. People who wear suits and dresses during work hours keep their Harley keychains and “My Other Car Is a Harley” bumper stickers handy to remind themselves and others that this is where they belong. Some books have looked at this kind of branding as tribal. What we’ve come to co-opt as the concept of tribes is built on belonging, as well.

http://www.chrisbrogan.com

Where to Promote Your Online Business in the Offline World

If you run an online business or conduct sales through the Internet, you may forget to market your business offline. While you may be search engine savvy, you'll miss many marketing opportunities if you fail to use off-line strategies to promote your online presence.

Don't miss the marketing potential of tried and true offline media and methods -- from business cards to bumper stickers -- to supplement your online strategy. After all, your customers live in the "real world" as well.

Follow these strategies to promote your online presence offline:

Business Cards
Your business card should have not only your email address but your company's full URL. Don't stop there -- make sure anything that goes out to your customers includes your website address: invoices, sales sheets, print advertising, business forms, direct mail, letterheads, fax cover sheets and product packaging and shipping. A good rule of thumb is if your phone number is on it, your website address should be on it as well.

Voicemail Greeting
You may have a lot of information on your voicemail greeting, but do you have "Don't forget to visit us at [www.yourcompanyweb.com]? If not, add it today.

Traditional Advertising
If you're advertising in any traditional media like print, TV, radio or billboards, make sure you slip in your web site URL in the ad. That goes for any classified ads you may place, business directory listings and Yellow Pages ads or listings.

Displays and Signage
Add your Web site URL to your logo and company name on signs and displays you create for events, trade shows or association gatherings. Have a brick-and-mortar location? Make sure that your URL is printed prominently in your window or directly on your sign. If you have company vehicles, get some tastefully designed car magnets with your company name and website on them.

Sponsorships and Events
If you sponsor any events or team sports, stick your website on any promotional materials like T-shirts, jerseys, hats, bumper stickers and beach or golf umbrellas.

Public Relations Materials
Use your website on any press releases, media kids and articles. If you are interviewed by the media, give them your website address along with your other contact information.

Source: http://www.nfib.com

Christmas in May Seeks Volunteers

Christmas in May-Chaska is seeking volunteers for Saturday, May 3.

The local nonprofit enlists volunteers and coordinates a one-day work project to repair and rehabilitate the homes of Chaska residents, at no cost to the homeowners.

The group needs both skilled and unskilled volunteers do the work, which can include painting, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, hauling, cleaning, landscaping, and energy audits.

The program began in 1996, when volunteers in Chaska decided to devote one day in May to repair and spruce up the homes of low-income, disabled, and elderly neighbors in the community. The program Christmas in May-Chaska is modeled after a national program.

To apply for the program, call Christmas in May–Chaska by March 7 at (952) 361-5350.

Source: http://www.chaskaherald.com

Small Business Marketing Strategies

Small business marketing strategies identify and implement the goals of the company. A sound marketing strategy is inevitable for the success of any business. The strategy helps to focus the marketing on the business target. Small business marketing strategies include market research, identification of customer groups and target competitors and efforts to tailor the product pricing. The success of the strategy relies on the proper implementation of the formulated methods. It also judges the effectiveness of the marketing plan. Small businesses have unique marketing strategies to meet customer needs, while offering maximum profitability with minimum investment. Attractive marketing materials and ambient after sales support are also a part of small business marketing strategy.

Small business marketing strategies consist of three basic steps. They are increase the number of customers, increase the average transaction amount and increase the frequency of repurchase. They start with client problems and demonstrate methods to rectify it. This will help to build a network of clients. Consistent after sales support also enhances the popularity and credibility of the product. Marketing strategies also assess the profitability of an approach before actual promotion, to avoid the pitfalls.

Small business marketing strategies include various options to increase business revenue. They try to acquire more customers, sell more expensive products, come up with more profitable products and persuade each customer to buy more. The marketing strategy is developed according to the nature of the product or service. The business concern will tailor the product option according to the target group. Thus there are premier versions for those who choose expensive goods, comprehensive plans for profit seeking customers and a few basic products. The quality and reliability of products ultimately determine customer satisfaction.

Small businesses also introduce unique marketing strategies to differentiate a company from its competitors. Cause-related marketing is an attractive strategy that helps to gain customer loyalty and media coverage. The association with an organization helps to profit from the situation without much financial burden. Referral marketing is the most powerful, cost-effective marketing strategy. Promotions and offers intimated to the existing database through regular newsletters or mail alerts will help.

Small business marketing strategies are a summary of the goals of marketing plans. They provide guidelines and motivate companies to achieve a competent sales record.

Source: http://www.e-smallbusinessopportunity.com/

How to Move a Business Abroad

Going global is a huge step for companies, especially for small businesses that run on restricted funding. That does not mean, however, that they should avoid this maneuver. It can turn out quite profitable, just like it has with businesses like Facility Cleaning International, Apple, Google, Amazon, and Hyundai. If entrepreneurs are still on the fence about which direction to go, it would be wise for them to consider these factors.

Facility Cleaning International on Expanding Abroad

-       Entrepreneurs should make sure that their business model and purpose match their approach. FCI states that business owners should ask themselves what they hope to accomplish by expanding. There can be multiple reasons for moving abroad such as acquiring new customers, lowering the costs of supply chain management, or improving operations. The answers to these questions will influence virtually every aspect of the arrangement, from office location to staffing.

-       It is crucial to do the necessary research before going international. Many aspects of expanding abroad will start to surface as entrepreneurs do their homework. Networking is vital during expansion, and business owners are encouraged to reach out to international partners to ease the transition.

-       Entrepreneurs have to keep researching until they know everything about the region they are moving to and how it can work for or against their businesses. Company-owners stress the importance of conducting thorough research in order to save money and to make a profit. Companies such as Facility Cleaning International, Nokia, Siemans, and Honeywell all followed a strict regimen of performing market research before they went global. They understood how critical it was to assess foreign markets before taking their business into new territories.

-       One of the most overlooked aspects of going abroad is maintaining a high level of awareness of an international brand. It is important to keep a central corporate identity and brand across all regions, but there has to be minor changes to suit different environments. Even the choice of colors in the brand can make a difference depending on the customs of the area. A color that means dominance and leadership in one company can mean the complete opposite in another.

“Finding out when to take your company global is only half the battle,” comments a representative from Facility Cleaning International. “The actual process itself is going to take the most time and effort. A lot of companies want to avoid this hassle and resolve to stay domestic. But there are so many advantages to expanding worldwide that it would be crazy not to go abroad.”

Some of the key benefits of going international with business expansion are as follows:

-       Companies can extend the sales life of their existing products and services by finding new demographics to target and new markets to sell them in. An example of this would be Nintendo, which expanded beyond Japan’s borders and has since become one of the most profitable multinational companies in the world.

-       Entrepreneurs can reduce their dependency on domestic markets by catering to outside sources. As previously mentioned, Nintendo has grown to encompass a larger, global market. A majority of its revenue comes from its international sales rather than from its domestic, Japanese market.

-       If a business is prone to destabilizing fluctuations in the markets due to seasonal changes or demand cycles, then the owners can even out their sales by tapping markets with different fluctuations thanks to overseas expansion.

-       Entering the global marketplace puts businesses at an advantage because they will learn how to compete against foreign companies and can even match their abilities in their own territories.

After the questions have been addressed and the final decision has been made about going abroad, a business is ready to take part in a six-step program. Companies should adhere to the following steps for their international expanding initiative.

-       Entrepreneurs should prepare an international business plan that evaluates their needs and sets their goals. It is essential to assess the company’s readiness and commitment to grow internationally before any other steps are taken.

-       The business should conduct the appropriate foreign market research and identify international markets. The Department of Commerce is one of the best resources for information on foreign markets regarding United States goods and services.

-       The next step is to evaluate and select efficient methods for distributing products abroad. Entrepreneurs can choose from a variety of means of distributing their product such as opening foreign subsidiaries or working with third-party distributors.

-       Every entrepreneur should know how to set prices, negotiate deals, and navigate the legal morass of exporting. Most of the challenges for business owners who are going abroad revolve around legal, social, cultural, and economic differences.

-       It is wise to tap government and private sources for financing. Entrepreneurs will want to make sure that they are getting paid during their international expansion. Financing is almost always going to be an issue, but government interest is making it easier for countries to export.

-       The final step is to move goods and services to the international market and ensure that they are packaged or labeled according to the selling market’s regulations. Globalization of transportation systems will benefit this venture, but there are still varying regulations in almost every individual region.

Many companies have benefited from taking their efforts to the global marketplace. Just like starting a domestic business, this endeavor comes with a large amount of risk. According to Facility Cleaning International, a janitorial management services company, the rewards that come with this venture are definitely worth any risk.

Source: http://dailyglobe.com

Twitter Took Home the Only Oscar That Matters

It was the selfie seen round the world.

In a seemingly unscripted moment, the host of the 86th Academy Awards, Ellen DeGeneres, gathered some of the film industry’s biggest stars for a selfie that broke Twitter — and that left little doubt about which social media platform won the night.

Whether by design or by accident, Twitter was a constant presence throughout the nearly four-hour Academy Awards show. DeGeneres promised she would be tweeting throughout the night. That turned out to be only seven tweets, two of which were photos that most of us would have deleted before pressing "tweet." Even so, most garnered between 26,000 and 170,000 retweets — all respectable numbers for a celebrity hosting a show watched by 1 billion people.

Then, about halfway through the show, DeGeneres walked into the audience (again) and started chatting up 18-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep.

Perceptions aside, Facebook appears to have run almost dead-even with Twitter when it comes to Oscars engagement. According to Facebook, the platform saw 11.3 million people engage in 25.4 million interactions about the show. That compares quite well to Twitter’s 14.7 million tweets.

However, reach isn't solely measured in Likes or tweets and for Twitter. Retweets represent a different, and perhaps even more important, facet of reach. According to Nielsen SocialGuide, 13.9 million people saw tweets about the Oscars, with a total of 1.04 billion Twitter TV impressions throughout the night. All those retweets may have even pulled more people from the general Twitter stream to Oscar-related tweets — and perhaps even back to their TV sets to watch the live show. Ad Age reported this telecast was the most-watched in a decade.

More evidence that Twitter won the evening.

The morning after Hollywood’s longest night, the selfie is still all anyone is talking about.

“I think that last night’s program was really embodied this idea that many people come to Twitter during live broadcasts to tweets about a program, but those tweets are seen by an even larger amount of people," Horwitz, the Twitter spokesperson, said. "So the power of Twitter as a public, widely distribute program was definitely on display last night."

DeGeneres’ stunt will likely encourage similar feats at other global media events like the Emmys, Golden Globes, the next Olympics and next year’s Oscars. However, that selfie was a one-time-only deal. Predicting what will take off and engineering record-breaking engagement is not science. It’s Hollywood magic.

Source: http://mashable.com/

Sunday to Break Cold Weather Records

Updated: 03/01/2014 9:05 PM
Created: 03/01/2014 10:23 AM KSTP.com
By: Cassie Hart

Sunday's expected high of 3 degrees could set a record for the coldest high on March 2, according to KSTP.com Meteorologist Jonathan Yuhas. The average high for the day is 35 degrees.

Jonathan says clear skies will accompany the cold. Sunrise temperatures are expected to be -14 with northwest winds at 5 to 10 mph. Wind-chills Sunday will be -5 to -10 during the day and -15 to -20 on Sunday night.

Expect record cold Sunday night. Jonathan says lows are expected to fall to -14 by Monday morning, beating the current record of -13 set in 1873.

We are now 48 days with subzero temperatures as of March 1. Of the last 90 days, only 19 were at or above 32 degrees, Jonathan says.

"The record for the most days below zero is 60 days and we are for sure going to get to 50 days," Jonathan says.

Average temperatures for this time of year are in the mid 30s.

Temps are expected to start warming up by Wednesday as we hit the 20s. The bright spot, for now, is Friday with a high of 32.

Another thing to look forward to, the days will start getting longer next weekend as we begin Day Light Saving Time. We spring clocks ahead at 2 a.m. next Sunday.

Source: http://kstp.com