A Small Business Community Success Story
A Small Business Community Success Story
As a small business community in one of the nation’s major business centers, it’s clear that we are a vocal and expanding community. The Summit concept and community now has a life of its own. People tell us they look forward to attending each year and many ask what else we’re doing. Here’s a quick glimpse at how it happens and why it’s a success.
It all started in the Spring of 2005. I had read articles and posts by Ramon Ray, http://smallbiztechnology.com, for several months and finally decided to attend an event where he was speaking. I was impressed by his presentation and the fact that he focused on small business technology. It’s a critical element of any small business, but not really my strong suit. I wanted to know more about his work, so we decided to meet for coffee.
During the conversation we learned that both of us had visions of someday doing a large event that would bring together small business people interested in business and technology. We decided to do some research and learned that there were a few companies willing to sponsor such an event. We both became excited about the possibilities and were encouraged to put together our first Small Business Summit in February, 2006. I think we finally started working on it in October, 2005.
In starting to plan for the very first Summit we realized we needed some professional help . We hired Maria DeVito and Roy Bavaro of Corporate Experience, http://www.thecorporateexperience.com/, an event planning firm with experience in similar types of events. One of their main functions was finding and helping us negotiate for an appropriate and affordable venue….no easy feat. They’ve worked with us all three years. They’re great!
And, of course, we always need a website with information about the event and a way to register, someone to create banner ads and a layout for the printed program, which then had to be printed. What we didn’t realize was how much all of this would cost. Our planners gave us some guidelines, but it turned out things were always much more expensive than we had budgeted.
Running an event of this size is not for the faint hearted. There’s often not only a cash flow issue, but an issue of whether or not we can attract enough money from sponsors to cover our committed expenses. We keep the attendance fee low so as many as possible small businesses can afford it. Attendance fees, unfortunately, only cover a tiny fraction of the costs.
Like any small business, we faced technical and timing challenges . There were some scary moments when we didn’t have the answers we needed, but with perseverance and teamwork, it all got done.
With no marketing or PR budget, we looked to our small business colleagues and organizations to help us promote, primarily through e-mail, newsletters, blogs and websites. Every year these have been our main methods for reaching our audience. The size of the list continues to grow exponentially, so each year we’ve been able to attract more attendees.
In 2008 we had the benefit of some great media exposure and that helped us reach an even larger audience. Attendees came from across the country and even Canada.
This year we reached capacity for the venue we have used for the past two years. We’ve decided to cap the number next year so we don’t lose the congenial ambience and high-energy agenda that has become part of our brand.
I think the Small Business Summit has been a success for a variety of reasons.
First, and most important, is the support of great sponsors and organizations who believe in what we are doing and have been willing to contribute to make it happen. Without them, we couldn’t do it.
Second is the partnership between me and Ramon. We are both passionate about the Summit. We each have our own reasons, but the result is the same. Ramon is the sales and marketing (out front) guy and I’m more the operations and budget (behind the scenes) part of the team. We value each other’s perspective, experience and opinion. We talk over all decisions and reach agreement (and have to twist the other one’s arm a bit sometimes) on everything.
We could never put on an event the size of the Summit without a good team. Each year we’ve managed to find people who are as passionate as we are about what we were doing. This year our team consisted of Andrew (Andy) Shulkind, http://andigomedia.com (web designer), Gail Cramer, http://sol21.com (Advertising and Print Design), Beth Silver, http://doubetconsulting.com (media specialist) and Laura Leites, http://workstationbs.com, our first ever Summit Coordinator, who helped us with everything.
Here are some other reasons I think it was a success:
Involvement of the regional small business community in promoting
Interesting exhibits by both large and small businesses
Speakers who were, for the most part, a member of the small business community
Lots of time for networking in a congenial environment
Attendees can meet and talk with the speakers
Great volunteers and barter arrangements that served both parties.
It truly is a Summit of small businesses, coming together to focus on business and technology. Some people have attended each of the three years. And some sponsors have been with us that long also. We are continuing to involve the Summit community in planning for the future.
Honestly, I’m always amazed at how well things come together on the day of the Summit. We know, however, that success is only as good as the last event. We have our work cut out for us to continue listening and serving this amazing small business community.
Thanks to all who helped make this year’s Summit a success.
A Small Business Community Success Story - To learn more about this author, visit Marian Banker's Website.
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I’m still high from the energy and positive feedback we’ve had from the Third Annual Small Business Summit 2008 . Support and enthusiasm about making it happen was apparent from last year’s Summit, but we didn’t know we’d have a sell-out and fill the house. Last year we had 360 attendees and this year it was 450.
As a small business community in one of the nation’s major business centers, it’s clear that we are a vocal and expanding community. The Summit concept and community now has a life of its own. People tell us they look forward to attending each year and many ask what else we’re doing. Here’s a quick glimpse at how it happens and why it’s a success.
It all started in the Spring of 2005. I had read articles and posts by Ramon Ray, http://smallbiztechnology.com, for several months and finally decided to attend an event where he was speaking. I was impressed by his presentation and the fact that he focused on small business technology. It’s a critical element of any small business, but not really my strong suit. I wanted to know more about his work, so we decided to meet for coffee.
During the conversation we learned that both of us had visions of someday doing a large event that would bring together small business people interested in business and technology. We decided to do some research and learned that there were a few companies willing to sponsor such an event. We both became excited about the possibilities and were encouraged to put together our first Small Business Summit in February, 2006. I think we finally started working on it in October, 2005.
In starting to plan for the very first Summit we realized we needed some professional help . We hired Maria DeVito and Roy Bavaro of Corporate Experience, http://www.thecorporateexperience.com/, an event planning firm with experience in similar types of events. One of their main functions was finding and helping us negotiate for an appropriate and affordable venue….no easy feat. They’ve worked with us all three years. They’re great!
And, of course, we always need a website with information about the event and a way to register, someone to create banner ads and a layout for the printed program, which then had to be printed. What we didn’t realize was how much all of this would cost. Our planners gave us some guidelines, but it turned out things were always much more expensive than we had budgeted.
Running an event of this size is not for the faint hearted. There’s often not only a cash flow issue, but an issue of whether or not we can attract enough money from sponsors to cover our committed expenses. We keep the attendance fee low so as many as possible small businesses can afford it. Attendance fees, unfortunately, only cover a tiny fraction of the costs.
Like any small business, we faced technical and timing challenges . There were some scary moments when we didn’t have the answers we needed, but with perseverance and teamwork, it all got done.
With no marketing or PR budget, we looked to our small business colleagues and organizations to help us promote, primarily through e-mail, newsletters, blogs and websites. Every year these have been our main methods for reaching our audience. The size of the list continues to grow exponentially, so each year we’ve been able to attract more attendees.
In 2008 we had the benefit of some great media exposure and that helped us reach an even larger audience. Attendees came from across the country and even Canada.
This year we reached capacity for the venue we have used for the past two years. We’ve decided to cap the number next year so we don’t lose the congenial ambience and high-energy agenda that has become part of our brand.
I think the Small Business Summit has been a success for a variety of reasons.
First, and most important, is the support of great sponsors and organizations who believe in what we are doing and have been willing to contribute to make it happen. Without them, we couldn’t do it.
Second is the partnership between me and Ramon. We are both passionate about the Summit. We each have our own reasons, but the result is the same. Ramon is the sales and marketing (out front) guy and I’m more the operations and budget (behind the scenes) part of the team. We value each other’s perspective, experience and opinion. We talk over all decisions and reach agreement (and have to twist the other one’s arm a bit sometimes) on everything.
We could never put on an event the size of the Summit without a good team. Each year we’ve managed to find people who are as passionate as we are about what we were doing. This year our team consisted of Andrew (Andy) Shulkind, http://andigomedia.com (web designer), Gail Cramer, http://sol21.com (Advertising and Print Design), Beth Silver, http://doubetconsulting.com (media specialist) and Laura Leites, http://workstationbs.com, our first ever Summit Coordinator, who helped us with everything.
Here are some other reasons I think it was a success:
Involvement of the regional small business community in promoting
Interesting exhibits by both large and small businesses
Speakers who were, for the most part, a member of the small business community
Lots of time for networking in a congenial environment
Attendees can meet and talk with the speakers
Great volunteers and barter arrangements that served both parties.
It truly is a Summit of small businesses, coming together to focus on business and technology. Some people have attended each of the three years. And some sponsors have been with us that long also. We are continuing to involve the Summit community in planning for the future.
Honestly, I’m always amazed at how well things come together on the day of the Summit. We know, however, that success is only as good as the last event. We have our work cut out for us to continue listening and serving this amazing small business community.
Thanks to all who helped make this year’s Summit a success.
A Small Business Community Success Story - To learn more about this author, visit Marian Banker's Website.
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Cheryl MatthynssensCheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur. Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well. A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles. She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide- to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being. Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com - Visit Cheryl Matthynssens's Website |
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Dianne CramptonDianne Crampton is an executive leadership coach, team culture consultant, author and president of TIGERS Success Series, Inc. Dianne has been helping CEO's and Executives connect their employees to their core values and goals for over 20 years using the trademarked TIGERS team culture process, which stands for trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk and success. To download a free white paper on behaviors that build strong teams and behaviors that will predictably tear them down go here. Dianne's contribution to the 2010 Pfeiffer Consulting Journal (an imprint of John Wiley and Sons Publishers) entitled TIGERS Hearted Teams is available in November 2009. Her new book TIGERS Among Us: 5 Winning Business Team Cultures And Why, Three Creeks Publishing will release in March 2010. To receive publishing discounts, subscribe to the free TigerTracks Newsletter here. - Visit Dianne Crampton's Website |
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John BrennanJohn Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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