Anyone get veggie boxes from local farmers?
Why not an assortment of ice creams from Mollie Moos? Milk Made does it. They have a Manhattan members club for artisanal ice cream.
The principle? —food produced in small batches and delivered locally to pre-paying customers is better for you and the community. Kind of like the old time market square, right to your door.
Dulcinea is a young baked-goods company, also based in New York; they deliver ‘a wholesome indulgence’ every Wednesday. Customers subscribe per month, paying USD 28 per week.
Past deliveries include half dozen jumbo rhubarb muffins, a blueberry lemon pound cake, and a half dozen strawberry scones. Dulcinea uses produce from local farms, choosing organic and sustainably produced ingredients as much as possible.
Like the new trend in roaming restaurants Seattle is seeing, the subscription/members model used by Dulcinea and Milk Made is a great way for fledgling entrepreneurs to get a foothold in the food business, creating a steady income and a client base for other parts of their business (Dulcinea, for example, also does catering). Entrepreneurial foodies in other cities—what are you waiting for?! 
Websites:
Filed under: Small Biz Trends | Leave a Comment
Tags: artisnal, bakery items, business models, creative business models, dulcineabaking, making money, milk made, mobile businesses, outside the box, skillet street food, small business, think creative
Small Business Profile: Lead411
Tom founded Lead411 in the summer of 2001 and is mainly focused on marketing and management of the overall business. Prior to Lead411, he co-founded BlueChip Resources, a tech recruiting firm serving Silicon Valley and Southern California. Follow him on Twitter!
Tom uses several components to create his online strategy:
Public Relations: Twitter and blogging to be part of the greater community connect with other bloggers/columnists about topics he cares about. In particular, Tom has taken a lesson from the Zappos CEO (who several years ago resolved a customer support issue through his blog and won a lot of free press); Tom resolves several support requests via twitter and enjoys the close contact with customers.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) highlighting a “Freemium” business model à where part of our content is free so that search engine and people can find them more easily, AND part of their content is behind a paid subscription. Using Search Engine Optimization (SEO), the BTS411 blog is able to get traffic into their site which brings in more awareness of their products/services.
The Challenge?
The idea for starting his business come came to Tom when he ran a recruiting company. He was in charge of finding partners to work with and instead of cold calling, Tom went to press releases and business articles to find companies that had just got venture capital funding, announced they were hiring, or opened a new office.
The Opportunity?
After that he found the right executive to contact and connected with them to see if they were interested in recruiting services. He knew that other sales people were doing the same thing in different industries in order to find new business so in 2001 he built a website which provides all of this data in one place.
Here is a little more from my conversation with Tom.
What do you do?
I am the CEO/Founder of Lead411 so I basically oversee all operations. I also handle a lot of marketing efforts.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to start your business?
The biggest challenge was not having any money when I started. That was the toughest time. But it has huge benefits. This is when I learned the most and it is also forced us to be profitable immediately which is definitely a “great” thing. I knew within 4 months whether or not we had a viable business. Venture funded companies are flying blind. Also, I never considered venture capital financing at that time. I didn’t want anyone controlling where my company was headed and I knew I could make it on my own. That might have made it harder, but I learned so much from it and I still own the company. I think the other “challenges” have to do with me personally. I needed to learn how to move faster and make quicker & better decisions.
What’s the most satisfying thing about running your business?
Knowing that I provide a quality service at an inexpensive price. Users need our service which makes me and my company desirable.
How do you define success?
Being extremely good at what you are responsible for. That is for me though… The definition of success is personal.
What are your sources of inspiration?
Other bootstrappers. I love hearing stories of other businesses that came from zero starting capital.
What’s the worst thing about running your own business?
You can never pass the buck. You cannot leave on a vacation and expect people to run the company just as you do.
Has running your business been what you expected it would be? How?
For the most part. The only difference is that when I was younger and was just about to start my company I had so many doubts. I thought it was going to be much harder than it was.
How did you fund your business in the beginning?
I had about 3 month’s pay saved up so that is how I funded it. After that I needed it to be profitable.
What’s the biggest dream you have for your business?
I would like to own multiple web properties. Lead411 should be the primary business, but I plan on starting a number of other sites/companies that will be subsidiaries of Lead411. We should be able to fund them internally.
What’s the happiest moment you’ve ever had in your business?
Probably the first payment we ever received. I felt like it was actually going to work.
What’s the darkest moment you’ve had?
Overextending myself financially the second year. This lead to very little cash and some self reflection.
Do you think of yourself as an entrepreneur?
I used to hear that entrepreneurs were born not made. I don’t believe that. I had some qualities that gave me a head start, but most was learned. Yes, I think I am an entrepreneur now.
What can large businesses learn from a small business like yours?
Accountability. If every middle manager had more accountability there would be so much less waste. I think that so many times expend
Where will your business be in a year? In 10 years?
Who knows? I would really like to keep Lead411 forever and just have it grow and fund other businesses, but you never know if someone comes in and offers you something in which you should not refuse…
If someone who was about to start a business asked you for advice, what would you say?
This is a loaded question, but here are a couple suggestions. 1. Start as early as possible. The younger you are the more risk you can take. If it isn’t a success you are still young enough to get another job or start another company. 2. Just keep trucking. Like any job, you are going to make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up or spend too much time thinking about the “correct” decision. Just make up your mind and keep going.
What makes you get up in the morning?
The ability to make 1% improvement in my company that day. Over a year period that will improve a company 250%.
When or how did you know that this is what you wanted to do?
Pretty early in college. That is why I majored in Entrpreneurship at USC.
Have you ever failed?
Of course. Too many times to note here.
What have you learned from failure?
It is really true that the more you fail the better you become. You definite learn from these experiences. That being said, I have learned just about everything from failure. Every time we add a new feature and our customers hate it they tell us. From there we know more of what they like and what to avoid in the future.
Filed under: Company Profiles | Leave a Comment
Tags: blogging, BTS411, entrepreneur, Lead411, Public Relations, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, small business, twitter
To follow up on a previous post requesting feedback on topics and offering to highlight members of the community, I learned of Guideposts.com—a site devoted to helping people find and reach their potential. This site interested me not so much from an entrepreneurial standpoint, but because of its history.
The nonprofit organization was founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale. GUIDEPOSTS is involved in a number of activities including award-winning magazines, best-selling books, websites and outreach services such as free distribution of GUIDEPOSTS materials to hospitals, the military and families in need; comfort kits for children in hospitals; and coordination of the Knit for Kids project that has sent over 600,000 sweaters to needy children abroad.
Primarily a print medium, GUIDEPOSTS is enjoying their foray into technology and social media, which has expanded its audience and enabled direct dialogue with their customers.
Being able to build a site that truly can and does inspire people is a great part of my job. — Philip Charles-Pierre, VP Digital Media
The biggest challenge their VP of digital media is dealing with right now is incorporating all the new technologies. Having roots in print and adding in new things (online publishing, social media can be quite the cold shower for many organizations). Charles-Pierre says that social media and online initiatives have allowed his publication to reach a broader audience.
“There are still a lot of people in our target audience that don’t quite understand why Guideposts and Guideposts.com are relevant to them. We are merely using the tools they use to let them know about relevant content,” Charles-Pierre says, including such tools as Facebook, Twitter, and widgets.
He adds that it is important to reach readers wherever they are gathering online.
Charles-Pierre enjoys the challenge of helping to reshape the business at a time when publishers are struggling. Guideposts continues to adapt its approach to ensure it is serving key audiences while attracting new pockets of readers. “We fundamentally believe our content appeals to both the devout and those who do not consider themselves spiritual, in nature. Good advice and guidance – as well as compelling content – appeals to all people, and we strive to make that case to the public at large.”
A little bit about the original founders:
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
One of the foremost motivational speakers of the 20th century, Dr. Peale wrote 46 books, including the inspirational best-seller The Power of Positive Thinking, which was on the New York Times best-seller list for 186 consecutive weeks. Still available today, the book has sold more than 20 million copies in 42 languages.
For more than five decades, Dr. Peale was the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. He spoke to an average of 100 groups a year until he was 93, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan.
Ruth Stafford Peale
The daughter of a minister, Ruth Stafford graduated from Syracuse University and taught mathematics before her marriage in 1930. Although she worked closely with her husband in all aspects of his ministry, she also established a separate identity as a religious leader, public speaker and author. She was cofounder, publisher and chairman of the board of GUIDEPOSTS and a member of the board of directors of American Bible Society, Interchurch Center, Blanton-Peale Institute and Laymen’s National Bible Committee.
Filed under: Company Profiles | Leave a Comment
Tags: Community, community driven content, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, GUIDEPOSTS, Guideposts.com, ideas, positive content, Ruth Stafford Peale, small business advice, social networking
Finding all the links you need to get your paperwork can be a pain and sometimes a little intimidating. Here are some things to keep in mind when filling out the form.
Forming an LLC in Washington State: Filling out the Form
1. Make sure the name you want is available.
Use the Washington Secretary of State’s corporations search form at:
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/
Enter the name you want to use in the search box. You can’t use a name that is similar to another existing LLC’s name.
2. Download the Application to Form an LLC from the Washington Secretary of State’s Forms web site, and then print it.
Link to PDF:
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/forms/llc.pdf
Link to online form from the Secretary of State’s web site: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/eforms_notice.aspx
3. Provide your name and phone number to the Secretary of State’s office.
At the top of the application form, you can see boxes to enter your name and telephone number. The box you enter your name in is labeled, “Important – Person to Contract About This Filing.” The box you enter your telephone number in is labeled, “Day Phone Number (With Area Code)”. The state may call you about your application, and you want to be easily reached by them in case there’s a question or two about your application.
4. Identify the name you want to use for your new LLC.
Enter your business or investment name into box labeled, “Name of Limited Liability Company (LLC)…” As this box’s label indicates, the name must include one of the phrases or acronyms, “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Liability Co.,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” For example, all of the following names should be acceptable:
- Acme Baking Limited Liability Company
- Acme Baking Limited Liability Co.
- Acme Baking LLC
- Acme Baking L.L.C.
5. Give the LLC’s Street Address
In the area, beneath the Name of Limited Liability Company (LLC) box, enter the street address and, if appropriate, the mailing address of the LLC.
6. Specify the Effective Formation Date.
Use the Effective Date of the LLC box to specify whether the LLC should be formed on some future date or when the Secretary of State files the LLC application. Usually, you just want to form the LLC as soon as possible and so mark the Upon Filing by the Secretary of State box.
7. Indicate how your LLC will be managed.
LLCs can be managed either by all of their members, or owners. Or they can be managed by only one or some of their members, who are in this case called managers or manager members.
To indicate how your LLC will be managed, mark the appropriate checkbox in box labeled “Management of LLC is Vested in One or More Members: Yes or No.”
Note:
- If you have multiple members or managers, you’ll absolutely want to have an attorney draft an operating agreement. This operating agreement should describe who the manager is or who the managers are if you’re setting up a manager-managed LLC.
- If you’re a single member LLC, you should probably also have an operating agreement because having an operating agreement and honoring its terms improves your liability protection. You can find simple free operating agreements on the web by googling.
8. Identify the Registered Agent.
Washington State needs the name and contact information for a real person within the state of Washington that the state can contact if it has questions or concerns about an LLC’s operation. You can pay someone else to be this registered agent, but it’s really easiest and cheapest to just be your own registered agent.
Accordingly, enter your name and address information into boxes labeled “Name and Address of Washington State Registered Agent.” Then sign on the line labeled “Signature of Agent.”
9. Identify the People Forming the LLC
Washington state also wants to know the names and contact information for the person or people organizing the LLC. To provide this information, enter the names and addresses of the organizer or organizers into the boxes labeled, “Names Addresses of Each Person Existing This Certificate.”
10. Mail it in!
After you complete the Application to Form a Limited Liability Company, mail the completed form and a check for $175 to:
Corporations Division
801 Capital Way South
P.O. Box 40234
Olympia WA 98504-0234
Processing lead times vary, but in general, it takes several weeks to get your LLC certificate back from the Secretary of State’s office.
Filed under: How To's | Leave a Comment
Tags: creating an llc, LLC in Washington State, sba, small business association llc form, small business how to's
To follow up on a previous post requesting feedback on topics and offering to highlight members of the community, I learned of NightHelpWatchers.com.—a company based on an invention by Lisa Charleston. Lisa started NightHelpWatchers.com in 2004 after being laid off from a nursing job in a home-hospice facility. She transitioned into being a stay at home mom working on a mission – to keep beds dry. Together with her husband Carl, Lisa invented the Night Helper Watch Time Pieces.
Lisa believes that the Night Helper Watch is the answer that millions of sufferers need now more than ever, since it is the only device like it in the world. Worn like a watch, the wearer can set the alarm for multiple times during the day and night, not just once or twice, but as many times as needed. This design patented ability is important as it draws the wearer’s attention. When the alarm goes off, a special customized tune can be programmed to play. It also vibrates, while the multi-colored display lights up the watch face. The Night Helper Watch isn’t just for children and adults who suffer from Nocturnal Enuresis.
| The Challenge? | The Opportunity? |
| In America, seven million school aged children and four million adults suffer daily from Nocturnal Enuresis or what is otherwise known as bed-wetting. These numbers alone do not cover adults who experience Nocturnal Enuresis because of disease, psychological disorders, age, war trauma, physical trauma and/or mental disorders. This brief overlay describes about thirteen million people in the United States alone. | Lisa Charleston, a lifelong health care worker, mother of three and a grandmother as well, has created an ingenious yet simple solution to help those afflicted by this embarrassing condition: the Night Helper Watch, referred to as the Potty Watch. |
The Night Helper Watch gives back the user’s dignity, peace of mind, self sufficiency and control over bed-wetting problems. Used as a training medium, Nocturnal Enuresis can be completely eliminated. That is Lisa’s and Carl’s vision, to free sufferers from a life of worry and indignity. As a long time health care worker and a caring individual, Lisa Charleston has a strong desire to aid and support sufferers from a disturbingly frequent malady (that will become more widespread as the LIS population grows). More than seven million children are born every year and with Americans living longer than ever before the need for a real solution is now, and the answer is the Night Helper Watch Time Pieces, for both Medication Reminders and the Potty Watch system.
Two asks Lisa has of the community:
- Marketing How To’s
- Funding How To’s
o She is currently accepting donations through paypal
EMAIL: charleston@netzero.net
WEB: www.nighthelperwatches.com
BLOG: www.nighthelper.blogspot.com/
Here is a bit from my interview with Lisa from NightHelpWatchers.com….
How do you define success?
Setting up goals and achieving them would be defining success.
How did you fund your business in the beginning?
Seeking funding help now.
What’s the happiest moment you’ve ever had in your business?
Seeing my business reach certain goals. Websites, CAD drawings , product animations etc.
Do you ever think about giving up and getting a job?
Never…giving up would be to easy… You see A Dream Is Only As Big As The Dreamer, I’m A Big Dreamer!
Are you happy?
Yes, Even when days look bad I still carry a positive attitude for having positive energy helps to bring positive results.
Where will your business be in a year? In 10 years?
In many retail stores serving all the millions of users who suffers from incontinence.
If someone who was about to start a business asked you for advice, what would you say?
Never give up no matter what the challenges may be, always seek professional advice from many sources.
What makes you get up in the morning?
Determination and the Grace of God!
Tell me about a time when what you do made a difference in someone’s life?
When many parents email me seeking advice about bed wetting and I’m able to help.
What’s important about that to YOU?
Well knowing that I can give a parent and a child a little comfort about bed wetting is Priceless to me!
When or how did you know that this is what you wanted to do?
I knew this business was what I wanted to do after I became disabled from a serve back injury. As they say God may close one door but he always opens up another!
What have you learned from failure?
To just get back up and start again seeking better ways to improve in my life and business.
Filed under: Company Profiles | 4 Comments
Tags: carl charleston, lisa charleston, night help watch, Nocturnal Enuresis
Christine Haskell
Recent Entries
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