|
NASE Staff Blog NASE on Micro-Business 
-
Friday, July 30, 2010
Posted by Rosemary Hambright - My, my, my…where did July go? If you’re wondering the same thing, take this moment to pause and reflect on the past week. Better yet, peruse through this week’s line-up of hot small business links!
While last week Senate appeared on the verge of implementing the Small Business Lending Fund, yesterday they rejected the bill 58-42. NASE’s own Kristie Arslan provides more details on our Staff Blog. She was on CNBC earlier this week supporting the bill. If this news comes as a blow, there might be some consolation for you. ...
-
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Posted by Kristie Arslan - Members of the Senate decided today to put politics over progress by blocking movement on the Small Business Jobs Act (H.R. 5297) when it came up for a crucial procedural vote. Unless an agreement can be reached, the bill is likely to languish in the Senate. The debate on the Senate floor consisted of the usual acrimonious banter with lots of finger pointing about the unfairness of the majority and the obstructionism of the minority. What is truly unfair is that Main Street will likely be left out in the cold again to ...
-
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Posted by Molly Nelson - Yesterday's New York Times shared the story of Amanda Keppert, the owner of Mandy's Korner, a hot dog stand in San Jose, California. With people eating out less, Keppert was worried that her business wouldn't survive the economic downturn. She applied for loans, but was rejected by numerous banks - until she found a local microlender working with well-known international microlender Kiva. Keppert obtained a $6,500 loan through Kiva, allowing her to purchase needed equipment for her business.
Although many people associate the concept of microlending and microlenders like Kiva with the developing world, ...
-
Friday, July 23, 2010
Posted by Rosemary Hambright – Once again, it’s time to share the scoop on the world of small business. On Monday, Entrepreneur.com weighed in on the implications of the Wall Street Reform for small business which President Obama signed into law on Wednesday. The New York Times explained the changing demographic of SBA loan recipients, and Small Business Trends reported that TARP is not living up to expectations on Tuesday. That same day Bloomsberg Businessweek reported that start-ups are at an all-time low. However, in a positive display of optimism Businessweek also featured 10 success stories of nationally ...
-
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Posted by Molly Nelson -While vacation is a necessary and important break for small business owners, it may also be a good time to do some thinking about the big picture of your business.
Just as that song title you were searching for only pops into your head when you've moved on to thinking about something else, vacation offers the distance from which you can look at your business and think about making changes. OPEN Forum suggests six topics to get you thinking while you're searching for seashells by the shore.
[6 Things to Think About on Your Summer ...
-
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Posted by Rosemary Hambright - Has your small business ever been ripped off or conned? Scams pose an unfortunate but real threat for small businesses. Misleading telephone book ads, deceitful websites and other types of fraud can cost the self-employed dearly. Last July, the Office of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray developed a complaint resolution program to help small businesses and NPOs in Ohio recover funds lost to deception. In the year since its inception, the initiative has rescued upwards of $115,000 with an average of $1,500 per small business. If you’re based in Ohio and are the victim of ...
-
Monday, July 19, 2010
Posted by Molly Nelson - As you may have noticed, the Old Spice Man has been all over Twitter and YouTube lately. A few experts have even culled some lessons for small businesses from the viral success of the Old Spice campaign. If you weren't a loyal Old Spice customer, did this campaign prompt you to give the brand a second look? Has the success of the campaign inspired you to create YouTube videos about your product or business?
[Old Spice is New Again – The Power of an Integrated Marketing Approach]
[Lessons From the Old Spice ...
-
Monday, July 19, 2010
Posted by Rosemary Hambright - Small business was a hot topic in national news last week! Senate passed the Wall Street reform 60-39 on Thursday afternoon. CNN Money reported on the nature of the relationship between credit cards and small business credit, and Seth Goldman explained why his small company Honest Tea stood their ground against their investor Coca-Cola to the NY Times. Entrepreneur.com offered advice on how self-employed people can improve their finance IQ, and Small Biz Daily assembled a list of helpful websites for female entrepreneurs. And if you’re looking for a family ...
-
Friday, July 16, 2010
Posted by Kristie Arslan - The Obama Administration can add another notch to their "win" column with the final passage this week of the financial regulatory reform bill. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by the President next week. "From now on, every American will be empowered with the clear and concise information you need to make financial decisions that are best for you. This bill will crack down on abusive practices and unscrupulous mortgage lenders. It will reinforce the new credit card law we passed banning unfair rate hikes, and ensure that folks aren’t unwittingly caught by overdraft ...
-
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Posted by Molly Nelson - Over at EGO blog, Brett Owens wrote an interesting post about new entrepreneurs waiting for the perfect moment to start their business. Instead of waiting for the stars to align, Owens suggests simply starting your business, and dealing with problems as they arise. When did you decide to start your business? Were you waiting for "the opportune moment," or did you jump right in? Share your story in the comments!
[Why Aspiring Entrepreneurs Should Stop Planning And Start Doing]
|
Meet the NASE Staff Bloggers 
Keith Hall - My official title at the NASE is COO, which I think is Latin for “do what everyone tells me to do.” I’m also behind the NASE TaxTalk program,
although I often feel like I’m under the NASE TaxTalk program. One of
my favorite things to do is laugh, second only to making a difference.
 Keith on Twitter
 Keith on LinkedIn
Molly Nelson - I help out with the NASE’s legislative advocacy, communications, and
public relations. From attending hearings on the Hill to helping select
the cover design for the member magazine, I’ve always got something new
going on. I like practicing yoga, running through different parts of
the city, and I’m an admitted etymology/grammar nerd.
Molly on Twitter
Molly on LinkedIn
Kristin Oberlander - In public affairs, my job is to serve as a link between the
association, micro-businesses and the media. When I have down time, I
enjoy drinking large quantities of coffee, contemplating how I will
cram one more pair of (un)needed shoes into my closet and finding
creative ways to remove my dog’s hair from my clothes, car, own hair
and food. My biggest pet peeve is drivers who don’t understand 4-way
stops.
Kristin on Twitter
Kristin on LinkedIn
Maureen Petron - I cover communications for the NASE, which means everything from the
member magazine to programs like our achievement award and college
scholarships (yes, I actually get to show up like Ed McMahon with a big
check twice a year!). In my fantasy world, I’d be a master chef, wine
snob and fast runner.
Maureen on Twitter
Maureen on LinkedIn
Kristie Arslan - I head up the advocacy efforts for the NASE, thus I spend most of my time on Capitol Hill educating legislators on how key issues such as health care, tax, and the lagging economy affect the self-employed. When I am not running around trying to convince policymakers to pay attention to micro-business, I spend my time singing nursery rhymes to my daughter and helping my husband with his small business.
Kristie on Twitter
Kristie on LinkedIn
|