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NYSBDC Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year – Mark Dyson, Spinland Studios

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The New York Small Business Development Center is pleased to recognize the boldest, brightest, and best small companies and enterprising individuals in New York State.  Eight small business owners were honored at the 2017 Client Awards ceremony on April 24, 2017.  Read all their stories here. Spinland Studios, LLC is a 3D-modeling and computer animation service started in 2010 by U.S. Air Force veteran Mark Dyson. The company’s primary focus is on broadcast media and advertising, but also supports areas such as instructional and/or educational messages. Over the past 15 years, he’s built & animated 3D aircraft models for the DoD Flight Simulator line, built real-time interactive data displays and controls for DoD clients using 3D gaming engines, built and animated 3D models for industrial firms, and provided VFX support for feature films. Mark began working with the Mohawk Valley SBDC in 2012 to support his transition from a full-time job to full-time focus on his g

NYSBDC Procurement Entrepreneur of the Year - Ben Primicias, School Daze

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The New York Small Business Development Center is pleased to recognize the boldest, brightest, and best small companies and enterprising individuals in New York State.  Eight small business owners were honored at the 2017 Client Awards ceremony on April 24, 2017.  Read all their stores here.  J. Ben Primicias has been in the school supply business for a long time. He opened his first store with the assistance of the Watertown SBDC in 1991, selling a variety of educational items for teachers and parents. In 1996 Ben returned to the SBDC for assistance in buying property and building a structure with more room for inventory. The expansion required that he add new employees. Most of Ben’s in-store business is from local teachers, schools and parents, but his catalog has generated sales from across the country and overseas and account for nearly half his total sales. In 2008, Ben added another aspect to his business, consulting the SBDC before building an attached seasonal

7 Words You Need to Eliminate If You Want to Be Successful

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From:  The Balance Becoming a successful  entrepreneur  is as much of a mental game, as it is one of finesse and expertise. You can be the most intelligent, talented, and respected person within your industry, but if you don't believe in yourself and continue to be brutally honest as you move through the extremely difficult stages of growing a business, your failure is all but inevitable. Everything from the way you feel about getting up to head into the office each morning, to the quality of relationships with your business partners, and the words you use on a daily basis, will have a long-term effect on whether or not you'll become successful. Whether you intend to or not, if you allow yourself to use  words and phrases that convey doubt , insecurity, and a lack of true belief in what you're saying, you'll eventually lose faith. Not only does this effect your own mental well-being, but the people you're communicating with will read into your word choice and pic

New FTC Website Helps Small Businesses Avoid Scams and Cyber Attacks

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From the Federal Trade Commission Attacks can be especially devastating to small businesses; Agency provides information on how they can protect themselves At the direction of Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen, the Federal Trade Commission has launched a new website –  ftc.gov/SmallBusiness  – with articles, videos, and other information aimed at helping small business owners avoid scams and protect their computers and networks from cyberattacks and other threats. “Small businesses are critical to our economic strength, building America's future, and helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace,” Acting Chairman Ohlhausen said. “This innovative new website is a one-stop shop where small businesses can find information to protect themselves from scammers and hackers, as well as resources they can use if they are hit with a cyberattack.” According to the  U.S.Small Business Administration (SBA) , there are more than 28 million small businesses nationwide,

NYSBDC Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Gloria Lovece, Infrastructure Unlimited Inc.

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The New York Small Business Development Center is pleased to recognize the boldest, brightest, and best small companies and enterprising individuals in New York State.  Eight small business owners were honored at the 2017 Client Awards ceremony on April 24, 2017.  Read all their stories here.  Gloria Lovece is President of Infrastructure Unlimited Inc., the construction company she started with her two brothers. The company specializes in the installation and remediation of public infrastructure - notably bridges, railroads and power lines. Her company is a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) in NY and NJ with certification pending in Ohio. In a male dominated industry, she has worked hard to overcome many obstacles. As a startup, Infrastructure Unlimited was awarded its first contract, sealing 28 bridge decks on interstate highways with heavy traffic and finished the project ahead of schedule. Gloria worked with the SBDC to find additional capital to fund

Fake News Means Fact-Checking Must Be Part of Your Content Strategy

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From MarketingProfs : Hillary Clinton wasn't the only loser in last year's elections. Facebook and the media were put on the defensive about their role in what has become known as "fake news," which has spread in a "post-truth" political climate. It looks like facts may have been the biggest casualty of the elections. And that has implications for brands that produce content: With the rise of fake news, content marketers eager to maintain their reputations must focus on making sure that their content is truthful. It's too easy to get duped by a false "news" story, which can have an adverse impact on your credibility in your industry and possibly even your site's rankings. Fortunately, you can ensure the accuracy of your content: Incorporating fact-checking into your editorial process will help you build confidence in the quality and authority of your brand-produced content. Here's what you need to know.

NYSBDC Minority Entrepreneur of the Year – Laura Cueva, Cueva Interior Innovations

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The New York Small Business Development Center is pleased to recognize the boldest, brightest, and best small companies and enterprising individuals in New York State.  Eight small business owners were honored at the 2017 Client Awards ceremony on April 24, 2017.  Read all their stories here.  At Cueva Interior Innovations they believe that space matters. Laura Cueva and her staff help businesses, educational facilities and medical facilities enhance employee productivity through creative space planning and cost-effective furniture solutions designed to promote employee well-being in the workplace. Laura first consulted the SBDC for assistance in starting her business, and later worked with SBDC to complete the paperwork required for MWBE certification and as approved in 2014. Most recently, Laura consulted with Roxanne Mutchler about marketing and procurement issues. With SBDC assistance, Laura submitted an application to the NYS MWBE Bridge-to-Success Loan Program to

NYSBDC Manufacturer of the Year – Jaime Sweet, Hartman Enterprises Inc.

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The New York Small Business Development Center is pleased to recognize the boldest, brightest, and best small companies and enterprising individuals in New York State.  Eight small business owners were honored at the 2017 Client Awards ceremony on Apri l 24, 2017.  Read all their stories here.  Hartman Enterprises Incorporated is a precision machine parts manufacturer located in Oneida that employs more than 45 people. The business’ facility consists of over 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Since taking over the family business, CEO Jaime Sweet has achieved her father’s dream of making the business woman-owned and certified. She worked closely with the Mohawk Valley SBDC to achieve this goal and to navigate the various federal and state certification programs. The company is now HUBZone and WOSB certified, and their MWBE certification application is pending review by New York State. Jaime has also worked tirelessly to garner the company various awards, grants, up

What the Reversal of Net Neutrality Means for Small Businesses

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From ImpactBnd The regulations against net neutrality have been moved back into the spotlight. On April 26th, Ajit Pai, FCC Chairman, gave a speech in Washington where he announced his move to undo an Obama-era FCC regulation against broadband internet providers. His proposal looks to undo the 2015 rules that implemented net neutrality with a Title II classification. But people on each side of the debate have varying concerns about altering the regulation and how it not only affects the big companies but the little guys as well. With an initial vote coming up on May 18th, many are looking to better understanding of net neutrality, review the proposed changes, and weigh the benefits and worries the changes may create. So, what do you need to know? In this article, we’ve outlined the key details about the current and proposed legislation, how it may affect small businesses and operations, and what the future may hold if it’s passed. *What is net neutrality anyways?* Net

4 Tips I Used to Find the Perfect Work/Life Balance

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From:  Impact Over the past several weeks, I've been really thinking about  balancing work and life . As one of IMPACT's Marketing Strategists, I'm often juggling 100 different things for clients any given week -- and as a mom of three under the age of 10, I'm juggling  a million  personal objectives and tasks on top of that. Balancing work and life, with or without kids, is probably the most challenging thing to figure out for anyone. Whether you are in marketing, a CEO, or heading off to college for the first time, we all deal with it daily, and honestly, I still don't know how the heck I do it.   But, the point of any blog from IMPACT is to provide value and help. Despite knowing I will spend the rest of my career fine-tuning my work/life balance, I'll let you know what works for me and for others I have spoken to over the last several weeks, and hopefully you'll be inspired to find your perfect work/life balance too. 

2015 Annual Retail Trade Survey

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From: The Census Bureau MARCH 6, 2017  — This  report  provides national estimates of total annual sales, e-commerce sales, end-of-year inventories, purchases, total operating expenses, inventories held outside the United States, gross margins, and end-of-year accounts receivable for retail businesses and annual sales, total operating expenses, and e-commerce sales for accommodation and food service firms located in the United States.   The  Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS)  sample covers employer businesses classified in retail trade sector and accommodation & food services sector located in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The ARTS excludes data for businesses located in the U.S. territories. The data are published on a  North American Industry Classification System   basis and the estimates are used to benchmark the monthly retail sales and inventories estimates each spring. 

United Untied: A PR 101 Lesson in Crisis Communications

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From MarketingProfs : By now, we've all seen the shocking viral videos. The rage-inducing photos. The fire-and-brimstone calls for a boycott, firings, and someone's head on a platter—preferably Oscar Munoz's, if George R.R. Martin has his way (you know it's bad when the guy that dreamed up with the world's most twisted wedding is outraged by your behavior). Oh, United. First, there was Leggingsgate. Then came the now-infamous denied-boarding fiasco. That was followed by scorpions on a plane, Grandmagate, and an Animal Farm-style story of a passenger downgrade, proving that, truly, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." And speaking of animals, let's not forget the bizarre death—and subsequent unsanctioned cremation—of the giant rabbit Simon. Oh, and if that weren't enough, it appears United has something against weddings and honeymoons, too. United, it seems, can't stop from shooting itself in its proverbi

National Small Business Week Events

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Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. Below are just some of the SBDC events occuring across New York State in recognition of Small Business Week: Pace University SBDC: Government Procurement Strategies Fri, May 5, 2017 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT Pace University 1 Pace Plaza Rm W512 New York, NY 10038 The Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is partnering with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) to help entrepreneurs identify and respond to government contract opportunities, as well as deliver on those contracts for which they are selected. The workshop will highlight contracting resources available for small busin

Canada Looks to Other Trade Regions Amid NAFTA Renegotiations

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From:  IBISWorld Canadian business uncertainty is high following the recent US election due to the Trump administration’s goal to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Canadian economy has relied on US markets for decades  with exports to the United States consistently comprising more than 70.0% of  Canada’s total over the past 10 years. Amid potential NAFTA renegotiations, Canada has pursued closer trade relationships with other regions including Europe and Asia, which will present both opportunities and challenges for the country.

How to Create Brand Recognition for Your Small Business

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From iMPACT : A brand is more than just a logo. It’s a tone of voice, a feeling, a set of expectations that arise when people hear your name. It’s the values and emotions that the thought of your business evokes. A logo or color palette are simply reflections of these larger ideas - but that doesn’t make them any less important. In fact, it actually makes them even more important. Regardless of what your business is, you should establish a brand and branding. Having a well-thought out, consistent brand creates a sense of professionalism and reliability and instills confidence in both prospective and existing customers . For owners of small businesses, this concept can be intimidating and seem expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. In the handy infographic below, Cooper House, an Oklahoma-based branding and design studio outlines a number of essential tips to help small-business owners establish and maintain a brand and as well as tactics for creating recognition.