GROW News
November 9, 2011
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.
You're Invited to the Ribbon Cutting at the Lincoln Holiday Store
On Nov. 10 at 11 a.m., GROW Nebraska and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the opening of GROW's Lincoln holiday training center and store with a ribbon cutting. Nebraska entrepreneurs from across the state will be sampling and demonstrating products, and GROW staff will be on hand. The public is invited to attend.
Read Entire Story >>
It's Time For Renewals!
2011 is quickly coming to a close; don't miss out on renewing your GROW membership so that you continue to have access to the wonderful opportunities we offer. Watch your e-mail for information on the services you took advantage of and the returns you got from your membership.
If you'd like to go ahead and renew now, select one of these options:
Renew and Pay Now >>
Renew and Be Invoiced >>
3 Ways to get More Online Sales
If you want more online sales, YOU need to promote it when you are at craft shows or farmer's markets, demoing your products ... anywhere you have an audience. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising – people NEED to know they can buy your product online. So…
1. Tell everyone where they can buy your product, including your web site, the GROW eCommerce site, stores, etc.
2. Give everyone a handout or sack stuffer that tells them where they can buy it online after you tell them.
3.GROW will make you a customized handout promoting your items on the GROW eCommerce web site at ShopGrowNebraska.org. Click
here to view.
If you are interested in having a custom handout made for your business to print, promoting your items on the GROW eCommerce site, please e-mail
info@grownebraska.org.
REVIEW SAMPLE HANDOUT >>
Promote Your Business through the GROW Getter Or Just Save Big!
As many of you have probably noticed, GROW Nebraska has been piloting a promotion called the 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.
We are opening up the promotion to all product members. This is first come, first served. If you are interested in having your item added please fill out the form
here.
Check out this week's GROW Getter: FREE Shipping on our eComm sites.
Connect with GROWnections!
GROWnections is an opportunity for current and potential members to meet GROW staff and learn more about the GROW Nebraska program. It is a great way to learn how to get the most value out of your membership, learn about membership, and network with other businesses.
NEW MEMBERS: This is a great way to start your membership.
We've already had one successful GROWnections event at Nebraska at the Market in Omaha, and we would like to invite you to an upcoming one! Join us on Friday, November 18 in North Platte at Da Buzz Coffee House from 2-4pm or via phone on Thursday, November 10 or Thursday, December 8 from 12pm-1pm to learn more about how you can make the most out of your GROW Nebraska Membership. If you are interested in attending, please sign up
here to participate.
If you have any questions, please e-mail
info@grownebraska.org or call 1.402.742.3121. Thanks!
Do you have University of Nebraska or Husker Items?
The Nebraska Book Store is opening two new retail locations in Lincoln called Neebo. One location is across the street from Southpointe Pavilions, and the other is in the Westfield Gateway Mall. They are currently accepting vendor applications for
licensed Husker and University of Nebraska items. If you are interested in being considered, you can fill out the form at
vendor.neebo.com.
Possible Money Order Scam
Members be aware GROW received an online order and the customer wanted to pay with a money order. However, it is an international money order, which makes it impossible to verify if is a real money order or scam until it is processed. GROW Nebraska recommends you do NOT accept international money orders. Questions? Please e-mail
info@grownebraska.org or call 308-493-5394.
Are you a Blogger? Want to increase your traffic?
If you blog, GROW Nebraska would like to give you the opportunity to submit your blog to be a feature on the GROW Nebraska
Blog,
Facebook page,
Twitter account and
LinkedIn group. If your blog is selected, you will also receive $10.00 worth of GROW bucks that can be used to purchase product or can be applied to services at GROW Nebraska. If you are interested, please fill out the form below. Questions? E-mail
info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up Now >>
'Tis the Season to Promote Your Store Front
Does your business have a store front? If yes, we have a bonus to your GROW Nebraska membership! If you have a retail location, GROW will promote it as a location to purchase locally made products for the holidays. Check out the link below to see if your business is currently listed. If you need to be added to the list, please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Check Listed Locations >>
Job Opening
We are currently accepting applications in our Kearney Store location. If you are interested in applying, please contact Michael at
michael@grownebraska.org.
Pickles, Pop, and Pie! Oh My!
GROW Nebraska is going to be running a few promotions now through the end of the year. Do you have items that fit into these categories? If so, please consider signing up to do a tasting or sampling in one of our retail locations, including Kearney, Grand Island, Norfolk or Lincoln. Please contact the stores directly or e-mail
info@grownebraska.org to set up a time.
National Pickle Day – Nov 14
National Carbonated Beverage Day – Nov 17
National Pie Day – Dec 1
Have Your Business Featured in Video
Are you interested in exposing your business to over 4,000 people? GROW Nebraska would like to feature 3-6 GROW Nebraska members in videos for this year's capital campaign. The videos will be featured in e-mails sent to our e-mail list of over 4,000 people. You must be available to come to the Lincoln office in the Haymarket to have the video shot. If you are interested in this opportunity, please sign up
here. If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Do You Have Shipping Supplies You Don't Need? Any old Packing Peanuts?
As the holiday season approaches, the sales on GROW Nebraska's eCommerce and eBay stores increase. If you have any boxes, bubble wrap, peanuts, or other packing materials that you would like to recycle please let us know by contacting us at
info@grownebraska.org. We would be more than happy to use it for our holiday shipping.
Want to save money on Shipping Supplies?
The Kearney Store is in need of packing peanuts in bulk for eCommerce operations. If you have extra shipping peanuts your business is willing to sell to GROW Nebraska or if your business would like to place a cooperative order with GROW, please let us know by e-mailing
info@grownebraska.org.
Don't Miss Calls or E-mails!
Has your physical address, e-mail address or phone number changed? We can't promote your business without the correct information. If you have any changes please e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
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
LA Graphics - Need that professional yet creative flare for all your business and personal sign needs? LA Graphics from Norfolk has you covered! They specialize in custom lettering and signage, but they're expanding into home decor too.
Jewelry By Andrea - This family business from Lincoln offers quality, diversified jewelry at affordable prices so that you can freshen your look without blowing the budget.
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 >>
Are You Getting The Most Out Of Facebook?
Thank you to everyone who regularly posts on the
GROW Nebraska facebook page! This is an excellent way to promote your product or service for FREE to 5,000+ people who love Nebraska business. Sign up now to have your product or service featured on the GROW Nebraska Facebook Fan Page, and remember that you can always post pictures or information about your products, services, upcoming events, and sales on our page.
Learn More and Sign Up Now >>
Member News
Congrats A to Z Printing - Congrats, A to Z Printing! They are celebrating their 25 year in business and launching a new web site at
atozprint.com.
HomeSpun wins contest - Congrats, Sarah Risenhoover of HomeSpun! She won the Hormel Business Plan Competition, so she will receive a $25,000 investment in her company in return for a minority stake in the business.
Nebraska Entrepreneur features Contemporary Analysis - Congrats, Grant Stanley of Contemporary Analysis! He was recently featured by Nebraska Entrepreneur, and you can view the video
here.
Do you have news about your business? Please let us know at
info@grownebraska.org.
Get Reviews on your Beauty Products
Lucy Hollander, a self-proclaimed beauty guru on YouTube, has requested beauty products to feature on
her channel. If you are interested, you can e-mail her at
cliqueluver96@aol.com.
B. Wold's Retail & Consumer Tips
Do you need more information on tourism and business? The Dept. of Travel and Tourism shared a great newsletter with GROW, and we'd like to pass it on to you. To subscribe, e-mail
bwold@ix.netcom.com.
Want More Sales in Norfolk?
The Norfolk Daily News is offering affordable advertising for Nebraska businesses. Highlight your holiday products by providing a picture of the items (one item per space purchased), a brief description, the price, your logo, and your contact information. Each space costs $30, but you can get them for $25 each if you have two or more items listed. Publication dates are Nov. 14, Nov. 21, and Dec. 12. For more information or to purchase spaces, contact Denise Webbert at 402.644.2023 or
dwebbert@norfolkdailynews.com.
Opportunity Knocks
Want to turn ideas and granite into a lucrative business? For sale at a deep discount: $100,000 wholesale value in upright monuments and markers, flat markers and misc. bases. Some have designs carved on them waiting for names and dates but lots are blank. Different colors, shapes and sizes from reputable quarries. Many could be used as yard or business signs, benches, pet markers or garden markers. Your imagination and skill are your only barriers. Please contact
graniteforsale@yahoo.com. Ask questions, arrange to see and make an offer.
Better Process Control School for Acidified & Low Acid Canned Foods
The Food Processing Center has designed their three-day Better Process Control School for Acidified & Low Acid Canned Foods specifically for individuals with little or no food science or food safety background. It will run April 16-18, 2012 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
It is suitable for anyone requiring this certification, however, it has been designed for small food processors and those selling products at Farmer’s Markets and other local events.* The school includes hands-on basic training in laboratory techniques and skills. This unique addition to the school provides attendees with the opportunity to learn and practice basic lab skills, under the supervision of a trained food scientist, in a food laboratory.
For more information or to register please visit their web site:
fpc.unl.edu/workshops or contact Jill Gifford 402-472-2819 or email:
jgifford1@unl.edu.
*This school DOES NOT satisfy retort processing requirements. Individuals requiring this certification should attend the Better Process Control School offered by the University of Nebraska, October 30 – November 2, 2012.
Taste of NE wants You to Sample
The Nebraska Lions Club would like to invite you to donate samples of your products for their 2nd Annual Taste of Nebraska Event on Nov. 18, 2011. It will run from 6 - 9 p.m. For more information, contact Debbie Bennet at 1.402.504.3311 or e-mail
boreyb@cox.net.
