New York SBDC Research Network

Each year the  New York Small Business Development Center  recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the   Mohawk Valley SBDC  appears in our  2016 Annual Report .  Joe & Kelly Blazosky   Adirondack Barrel Cooperage Mohawk Valley SBDC Adirondack Barrel Cooperage, LLC, owned and operated by Joseph & Kelly Blazosky in Remsen, is one of only three cooperages in New York State. The work of a cooperage is the ancient art and craft of making barrels used by wineries and distilleries. At ABC, they artfully blend the precision of high tech European woodworking equipment with skillful hand-craftsmanship to build premium quality White Oak barrels. Adirondack Barrel Cooperage uses revolutionary charring and toasting technology. Extreme accuracy of temperature control allows for low temp toasting, releasing desirable flavor notes unique to each customer needs. Temperature profiles are stored for individual barrels and batches for data

From eMarketing : Despite the continued strength of the US economy, shoppers remain focused on prices, and that focus drives decisions about whether to shop online or in-store. According to a recent survey, nearly six in 10 US shoppers say they prefer to shop online instead of in-store because of several factors, one being price transparency. The study from e-commerce and supply chain solution provider Arvato, which surveyed 2,000 US adults in October 2017, revealed that 61% of respondents said it was easier to compare prices online vs. in-store—even when they were already shopping at a physical location. What’s more, roughly one in five (19%) respondents said they would abandon an in-store purchase if they found a lower-priced product while webrooming via their mobile device. But while price may be a big motivator for why consumers choose to shop online, it can also contribute to abandoned carts. Nearly a quarter (24%) of shoppers surveyed said they would abandon an online o

From  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Federal contractors and subcontractors with the E-Verify Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirement must enroll in and use E-Verify.  Beginning January 5, new federal contractors and subcontractors with a FAR requirement must provide their Data Universal Numbering System ( DUNS ) during the E-Verify enrollment process. Existing E-Verify employers designated as federal contractors with a FAR requirement do not have to provide their DUNS number, but will be prompted to enter it in E-Verify when they update their company profile.  To learn more about enrolling in E-Verify, use the E-Verify enrollment checklist and view the enrollment video . Subscribe to the mailing list and follow   @EVerify for the latest employment eligibility verification news.  

From the Federal Trade Commission : As a small business owner, you have a lot on your mind. You can’t afford to lose time or money to scammers or a compromised network. We can help you avoid scams, protect your computers and networks, keep your customers’ data safe – and protect your bottom line. You also can find out what the FTC is doing to protect small businesses. Stay connected by subscribing to the FTC’s Business Blog. Check out the article Computer Security Basics for Small Businesses . Also: Start with Security: how businesses can protect their computers and networks against threats . Develop a plan to protect your customers’ personal information. Learn what do if there is a data breach. Read the Stick with Security blog series . Scammers target small businesses. Learn to recognize those scams: Read the Small Business Scams publication. Report scams against small business at ftc.gov/complaint and let us know it affected a small business. Reporting it helps stop

From eMarketing : Returns are a big thing for consumers. So much so that many avoid shopping at retailers that have strict return policies in place. In fact, more than half of US internet users surveyed by coupon and discount website Promocodes.com last November agreed that they avoid such places, while over a quarter of respondents agreed strongly. When it comes to various return policy options, many consumers look for the same thing. For example, when shopping in-store, 37.9% of those polled said getting a full refund—not just an exchange or store credit—was their most important return-related concern. Almost as many consumers (33.6%) felt the same way with regard to digital shopping.

Each year the  New York Small Business Development Center  recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Mid-Hudson SBDC  appears in our  2016 Annual Report .  Chan Patel   Kingston Holiday Inn Express Mid-Hudson SBDC The Mid-Hudson region has long been a magnet for visitors from around the nation and the world. Yet it has been common knowledge that the local accommodations infrastructure was not able to keep up with demand, leaving travelers frustrated and the region missing out on a potentially lucrative and important economic development resource. Recognizing both the existing need and the untapped potential, a group of seasoned industry entrepreneurs lead by Chan Patel decided to invest in the development of a state-of-the-art 100-room Holiday Inn Express for the Kingston area.  SBDC Advisor Sam Kandel met with the group and started working on a funding strategy. He contacted the Ulster County Executive’s office and it’s Ind

From: Medium Communication matters. Here are a few ideas to help communicate product ideas effectively: Describe the problem you’re solving. Every product should have a reason for existence and a story for why people’s lives will be better after this product comes to the rescue. But before you can talk about the superior future you want to create, you should set the stage by describing the dismal present we currently living in. Envision the start of an infomercial, where people are stumbling around in black and white, wallowing in tears while cutting onions… because they don’t yet have the Slap Chop! Describe how many people have this problem. Now that you’ve broken it down to human terms, the next step is to expand this with market research to show just how large this problem is.