GROW News
April 25, 2012
Below is this week's news from GROW Nebraska. If you have questions, ideas or comments please e-mail
info@grownebraska.org. We LOVE hearing from our members.
New Texting Service
GROW Nebraska members have been asking how they can stay up-to-date on upcoming GROW Nebraska opportunities and events. GROW Nebraska is now offering a texting service! Simply text
growneb to
96362 and get signed up to receive information about upcoming opportunities. Message and data rates may apply. What are you waiting for? Get notified right on your phone so you don't miss out on the next big thing!
If you have any questions at all regarding this service, please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
MarkeTECH Success
Thank you to everyone who attended MarkeTECH 2012! The event was a huge success. Thank you once again to our sponsors, Constant Contact, REAP, Nebraska Enterprise Fund, LSWild Consulting, LLC,
Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation,
Mid-Plains Community College, and the
North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce. Also thank you to our advisory committee Roy Noren of Performance Group, Judy Pederson of Pro Printing and Graphics, and Kathy Haigler of Joyful Promotions. And, of course, we can't forget Joy Marshall with Performance Planners for getting everything together and organized. This event could not have been possible without all of you!
If you have not filled out the survey yet, please do so. We love hearing from our members so we can help improve the services we offer.
Take Short Survey >>
2012 GROW Books are In
Thank you to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Division of Tourism for assisting us in putting together the 2012 GROW Book. The books are in and will be available in all GROW Nebraska stores next week.
If you would like GROW Books to distribute at your retail location, farmers markets, or craft shows please sign up to receive some. Depending on your location someone will either drop off books or they will be mailed to you.
Along with distributing the GROW Books, your business will also be featured as a premier location to pick up books through a state-wide news release, blog, and Facebook and Twitter postings. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity. It is 100% free to you!
If you have any questions, please let us know at
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up To Receive GROW Books >>
Selling by the Case on GROW eCommerce
GROW Nebraska would like to begin selling food items by the case on our eCommerce site. Big Daddy's Salsa has sold two cases of salsa this year on our eCommerce sites. We've also had requests for some other products. If you are interested in selling your food item by the case please fill out the form below. In order to take advantage of this opportunity we would prefer that you can provide some sort of packing or box to ship the items in. If you have any questions please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up To Sell Items by the Case >>
Promotional Opportunity for Graduation and Mother’s Day Gifts
GROW Members, Janell will be on NTV Good Life Show on April 30 promoting graduation and Mother’s Day gifts. Please let us know if you would like her to promote your product and why by filling out the form below.
If you have questions, please e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up Now >>
GROW Nebraska Gift Basket Opportunity
GROW Nebraska is considering having a "gift basket of the month" promotion where people can purchase one gift basket a month as a gift or for themselves. We are looking for vendors who are interested in having their products in the baskets. If you are interested please fill out the form below. We will see how many people are interested to see if we should move forward with this idea.
Additionally, if your business offers a similar program and you would be interested in GROW Nebraska promoting it, please e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up Now >>
Book and Music Fair/Signing at GROW Nebraska
GROW Nebraska is trying to put together a second Book and Music Fair in the GROW Nebraska Grand Island, Kearney, and/or Omaha stores on Saturday, April 28. You may sign up to attend one or several stores for morning or afternoon times. We are asking authors and musicians to come to the event and speak to people about and sign copies of your books or music.
If you are interested in coming and having a booth in the stores that day please fill out the form below. We will be promoting this event to help drive sales. If you have any questions, please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up To Attend >>
Jewelry & Fine Art Promotion for Mother's Day
Jewelry and art is the perfect gift for Mother's Day! GROW Nebraska would like to have several jewelry and fine art vendors available in our store on Saturday, May 5 just in time for Mother's Day. If you are interested in having a small trunk show or table in our Kearney, Grand Island and/or Omaha stores that day please fill out the form below. If you have any questions please let us know at
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up for Jewelry & Art Promotion >>
Member Appreciation Day
The next Member Appreciation Day is May 1. On that day you can receive 25% off items at any GROW Nebraska retail location. You can also receive the discount online by calling (402)742-3121 and placing an order. For all of the member appreciation dates please visit our
online events calendar.
Upcoming Grand Island Events
There are a few events going on in the Grand Island mall including the GI Cruiser on May 19th (expecting 30–50 people) and A Day of Tribute for Veterans on May 26 (expecting 50-70 people). These would both be good days to come into the Grand Island store and sample your product or have a trunk show. If you are interested in coming one of these days please fill out the form below.
Sign Up to Sample >>
Spring Decorations Needed
Do you have items that you would like to donate to the GROW Nebraska stores? We are in need to spring decorations to liven up our retail stores. This may include flower, wall hangings - whatever you think may look nice. If so, e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org with what you have and we will be in touch with you.
Thanks For Helping our Omaha Store
Thank you to Karen of
Grandma K's Linen Closet for her donation of spring decorations. Also a special thank you to Clayton and the guys of
The Seward Cross Makers for their donation of a brand new vacuum in the Omaha Eppley store. We greatly appreciate your help! Also, we now have the phone up and running. You may contact the store at (402)933-3929.
Vendors Needed
Ashley from GROW Member The Country Loft in Milford is looking for GROW vendors to display their items for their 4th of July Sale taking place from July 4-7. Their neighbor, 'Gatherings on the Blue', also has a open house these same dates. She sales a variety of antiques and primitives.
The space for the vendors at Country Loft would be outdoors and the hours would be from 10am-4pm. There would be food and drinks available as well for vendors and customers. The fee for attending would be a flat rate for all days since this is the first time they are adding vendors. Roughly 1,500-2,000 people come through Country Loft from Lincoln and surrounding areas.
If you are interested in having your product available, please contact Ashley at (402)761-2727 or
ashsce@yahoo.com.
State Fair Workers Needed
GROW Nebraska is in need of part-time help in our Kearney store. We are also looking for help for our 2012 State Fair Store August 24-September 3 in Grand Island. This is a paid position.
The Omaha Eppley GROW Store is also now hiring staff for part-time positions. We are looking to fill these positions soon. Initial store hours will be 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. One weekend a month is required for this position.
We value your connections, so if you have anyone who is interested you can have them fill out the form below or you may have them e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Work In Our Store >>
New Members
Day Dreams (Cozad, NE) - Day Dreams provides
you with quality, professional & timely
handmade gifts or attire with your ideas
and designs in mind. They help you rethink the plan for gifts, custom decor and sewing. Alterations available by the batch or piece work. Quality craftsmanship and designs for the idealist. Learn more at
www.daydreemz.net.
Alotta Brownies (Fremont, NE) - Let Michelle design the perfect dessert for your occasion. Choose from any of their specialties, including in cakes, brownies, cookies, pastries, breads and cheesecakes. Learn more at
www.alottabrownies.com.
Do you have someone that you would like to refer to GROW Nebraska? Just e-mail their information to
info@grownebraska.org and if they join we'll give you a $25 referral check!
Do You Have Recipes for Pinterest?
GROW Nebraska is looking for recipes to be used with your food products to place on Pinterest. If you have recipes, please submit them with the form below. We are looking at utilizing these recipes on our eCommerce site, web site and Pinterest page. Teri with Ricky and Lucy's Greenhouse submitted one and within 12 hours it was repinned once and liked once. Only recipes submitted with photos can be used on Pinterest. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity!
Submit Recipe >>
"Groupon" Type Service Available Through GROW
You've heard of Groupon and Living Social, now there's going to be the GROW Social program.
This program is designed specifically for GROW Nebraska service members. This is how it will work:
- Up to six GROW Social coupons will be offered monthly.
- The information for these coupons will go out in the GROW Nebraska newsletter monthly (approximately 4,500 e-mails) and on GROW Nebraska Twitter (1,700 followers), Facebook (5,350 followers) and Google+ Social Media.
- Information will be sent each week to GROW Nebraska members in the GROW Nebraska Weekly Update (approximately 350 e-mails).
- As a service provider you must take at least 40% off (Groupon and Living Social require 50% off) of a service and a dollar amount must be attributed (for example, instead of "save 40% on first order, it must be get "$100 worth of services for $60").
- GROW Nebraska will have a form on their web site for people to purchase the coupon and will collect the money. You will receive a check for 60% of the sale (Groupon and Living Social take 50% of each sale). Purchasers will receive an electronic coupon to print out and present to you. We will notify you when there is a sale.
- There is only a cost if people purchase your coupon.
If you are interested in this opportunity please fill out the form below. If you have questions, please contact at
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up Now >>
May Membership Call
GROW Nebraska has scheduled monthly membership calls for 2012. These calls are a great way for you to get questions answered about your membership or anything GROW related.
The next call is set for Tuesday, May 1 at 12pm CT. GROW Nebraska staff will be available on each call to answer your questions and concerns. The calls will be held the first Tuesday of every month. Please be sure to sign up for the call so that you receive the call-in phone number.
Sign Up Now >>
Join GROW Nebraska on Google+ and Pinterest
GROW Nebraska recently added Google+ and Pinterest pages to our social media endeavors. Be sure to join our circle and follow us by visiting our pages.
Join GROW Nebraska's Google+ Circle >>
Follow GROW Nebraska on Pinterest >>
Member News
Do you have news about your business? Please let us know at info@grownebraska.org.
REAP Collaboration Opportunity for GROW Nebraska Members
REAP (Rural Enterprise Assistance Project), a project of the Center of Rural Affairs, would like to help GROW Nebraska members that do not have a business plan to develop one. They also help members that have a business plan but would like it reviewed.
Learn More and Sign Up Now >>
Google AdWords
GROW Nebraska received a Google Grant which allows us to use up to $330 per day in Google AdWord advertising. As of now, we are not using up our total daily budget, so we need your help. If you have products available on ShopGrowNebraska.org and would like FREE AdWords for them, please fill out the form here. This is a great opportunity to try Google AdWords for free before investing in them yourself.
Promote your Product or Art on NTV
If you have not been featured on NTV's The Good Life and are interested in doing so, please let us know so we can submit your information to the producers of NTV.
Learn More and Sign Up Now >>
