GROW News
January 11, 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.
Grand Island Sidewalk Sales
The Grand Island sidewalk sales are this week - January 13-16 (they are including Monday because of the Martin Luther King holiday). If you are interested in sampling or reducing the price of your product please contact us ASAP so we can get the information changed in our system.
Participate in Sidewalk Sales >>
Build Your Brand with First Saturday Promotions
GROW Nebraska would like to feature samplers in all of our stores the first Saturday of each month. Are you interested in coming into one of the stores on Saturday, February 4? If so, please sign up below. This is a great way for people to learn about your product!
Sign Up for First Saturday Sampling >>
Benefits of GROW in 2012
Janell Anderson Ehrke discusses benefits of GROW in 2012.
Watch Now >>
Renewal Deadline is January 20
Thank you to those of you who have already renewed your membership. We are proud to announce that we marketed over half a million dollars in member products, and we hit a record of 82% of online sales going to out-of-state purchasers. Our online sales were up 100% over 2012. Our service members are also doing better than ever, with a lot of networking and member-to-member discounts.
Have you renewed? This year, the GROW Nebraska GROW Book deadline is January 20, so we need to know if you would like to renew your membership as soon as possible.
Remember, you are only up for renewal if you joined before April 1, 2011. If you’re not sure if you need to renew, please e-mail... info@grownebraska.org or call 888-476-9632.
If you'd like to go ahead and renew now, select one of these options:
Renew and Pay Now >>
Renew and Be Invoiced >>
If you don't plan to renew, please fill out this form:
Take Exit Survey >>
Monthly Membership Calls
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. 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 at 1pm CT. Dates are below. Please be sure to sign up for the call so that you receive the call in phone number.
- February 7
- March 6
- April 3
- May 1
- June 5
- July 3
- August 7
- September 4
- October 2
- November 6
- December 4
Sign Up Now >>
$50 Storage Fee for Product Not Picked Up
GROW Nebraska is lucky to have over 300 members' products in our retail stores in Kearney and Grand Island. Because of limited storage space, this year we are asking all members who are not renewing to remove their product by January 20. Any member who still has product in stock will be charged a $50 storage fee. If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org of call (888)476-9632.
GROW Product Sales Increase
GROW Nebraska is proud to announce that for 2011 our Kearney retail store was up 18%, Grand Island was up 16% and eCommerce/eBay sales were up 100%. Thank you to our store coordinators for the assistance, our eCommerce team, and of course our members for helping 2011 to be a successful year.
Thank you everyone for being actively involved in keeping your products stocked, but let's make 2012 even better. Please continue to get involved with GROW Nebraska retail stores by signing up to demo, have a tasting or hold a book signing.
We also love having members work in the stores. Also remember to promote the GROW stores on your web site and when you are at craft shows and farmers markets. By working together we can make a difference in your company's sales!
Join GROW Nebraska on Google+
GROW Nebraska recently added a Google+ page to our social media endeavors. Be sure to join our circle by visiting our page.
Join GROW Nebraska's Google+ Circle >>
2012 Nebraska Passport Program Deadline This Friday
Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Nebraska Department of Tourism Passport Program. The DED Travel & Tourism Division is expanding the program next year to include 72 stops featured within nine categories: wineries, golf, festivals, culture/history, water recreation/adventure, parks, unique accommodations, family fun and culinary. Deadline to sign up to participate is January 13.
If you are interested in applying to participate, please contact Shannon Peterson at 402-471-3797 or shannon.j.peterson@nebraska.gov for more information.
Download Participation Form >>
Are You Interested in Helping with MarkeTECH?
The GROW Nebraska MarkeTECH conference is just around the corner. This year, the event will take place on Thursday, April 19 in North Platte. We are currently working on setting up a steering committee to help pull the conference together, find speakers, and talk about ideas for how to make it our best conference yet. If you are interested in assisting us, please fill out the form below.
Join the Steering Committee >>
Are You Utilizing the GROW Facebook Page?
GROW Nebraska has over 5,200 followers on our Facebook page. Are you utilizing it? Please post information about your business, upcoming events, sales, or services to let over 5,000 people know about you! If you have questions about how to do this, please e-mail us at info@grownebraska.org for assistance.
Packing Materials Needed
GROW is in need for bubble wrap, especially that with larger bubbles. We will also take gently used or new boxes and other packing materials you don't want to throw away. If you have any that you are not using please let us know at info@grownebraska.org. Our online sales have been great creating a need for more!
How are you promoting your food product?
A great way to sell your food product is through e-mail marketing. One wonderful example of a good marketing campaign is the one here by Smuckers. Do you need help setting up a similar campaign? Visit our online catalog to find a GROW Nebraska member that can help!
Find a Vendor >>
Promote Your Events
Remember to let GROW Nebraska know if you have upcoming events. We'll be more than happy to add them to our online calendar and help you to promote them. If you have any upcoming events you would like featured, please fill out the form below.
Submit Your Event >>
Have Your Business Featured on Facebook
Promote your product or service for FREE to 5,200+ people who love Nebraska products. Sign up now to have your product or service featured on the GROW Nebraska Facebook Fan Page. This is a GREAT opportunity and all you have to do is sign up and then comment when your product or service is featured to help further promote your business. We want to make sure our fans have the opportunity to purchase your product or service. Do you want to build your company brand or increase your sales? We need participants for 2012! We ask that you please have a Facebook Fan page to sign up for this opportunity. If you need assistance doing this, please contact us at info@grownebraska.org.
Click here to sign up!
Be Our Next GROW Getter
Each Wednesday at 11 a.m., an e-mail is sent to all members, those who have signed up for our promotions list, and all of those who have purchased off of our eCommerce site. The GROW Getter will promote an item at 40% off retail price. 20% of this is covered by GROW Nebraska's cut, and 20% is covered by the participating business. If you have any questions, please contact info@grownebraska.org.
This week's GROW Getter features Heavenly Creations! Check it out here.
If you are interested in having your item added please fill out the form here.
Also, do you want your service business promoted with GROW Nebraska, including Facebook and Twitter promotion, e-mail promotion, and more? Contact us at info@grownebraska.org for more information on this new service.
Do you want to try Google AdWords?
GROW Nebraska recently 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.
New Members
Cooper's Best Flour - Based in Cozad, Nebraska, they manufacture pancake, biscuit and breading mixes. Learn more about them here.
Member News
Happy Anniversary! - GROW Member and Kearney Store Coordinator Michael Nickel and his wife recently celebrated 41 years of marriage. Congratulations!
Congratulations to The Beverage Butler! - The Beverage Butler just signed a contract with "As seen on TV" to appear on their web site. Visit the site at AsSeenOnTV.com.
Do you have news about your business? Please let us know at info@grownebraska.org.
Present Your Food to 200+ People
The seventh annual Nebraska’s Agri/Eco-Tourism Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 31- Feb.1, 2012, in North Platte at the Sandhills Convention Center. The “Taste of Nebraska Agritourism” networking event will be back by popular demand from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31. This event offers the perfect opportunity for GROW Nebraska members to showcase their quality homemade and homegrown products. The event also is an excellent venue for networking and visiting with possible partners to cross-market your products.
The event is organized similar to a farmers’ market. While there is no charge for booth space, we ask that vendors provide product samples for approximately 150-200 attendees. Businesses are welcome to sell packaged, non-alcoholic products during the event. Proper licensing and certification procedures for food and beverage sales need to be followed.
We are also encouraging members participating to attend the workshop as well. Information is available on the form. You may pay when signing up for the tasting for the workshop. Those participating receive a $25 discount on the workshop (normally $75).
Katrina with Heavenly Creations has signed up - who will join her?
Sign Up Now >>
MarketPlace Early Bird Registration
Sign up for the 6th Annual 2012 Nebraska MarketPlace conference at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Kearney, NE, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012.
Look for the Agenda, Featured Speakers, Exhibitor Packet, Mail-in registration hotel accommodations and more information on their web site at http://www.cfra.org/marketplace/ne-12. Registration is just $45 per person until January 25, then the price increases to $55 through February 6th.
Learn More and Sign Up Now >>
How Can Mentors Help?
Mentors are very important. Read more at the article here. Thank you to all of our members that have stepped up the plate and mentored new members of GROW Nebraska. Would you like to be a GROW Nebraska mentor member? Sign up at the link below.
Sign Up Now >>
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 >>
Promote your Product or Art on NTV
If you have not been featured on the 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 >>
