October is National Women's Small Business Month |
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WBC Business Spotlight: Artisan’s Marketplace |
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This November, Artisan’s Marketplace in Plainville will celebrate its 40th anniversary in business. The community favorite was founded by Martha Couture (who, at 81, still puts in a day’s work from time to time), and it is now managed by her daughter, Cynthia Logan. They feature hand-made items like pottery, jewelry, glasswork, and woodwork from some of the country’s best craftspeople. It’s a business that, according to Cynthia, has depended largely on being able to serve customers face-to-face, allowing them to see and touch the items up close. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, that had to change.
Cynthia first turned to the Entrepreneurial Center & Women’s Business Center a few years ago, when she wanted to start using online tools to promote her business. “Computers are not my favorite thing,” she said, “It was a challenge. A friend told me I should try over there (the EC-WBC), because they are very supportive and could point me in the direction of good people who could help with the website.” While she initially resisted online selling, opting instead for an online presence designed to spotlight the crafts and publicize her store, selling via her website is now a core part of her COVID-19 recovery plan.
Christmas, of course, is a make-or-break time for almost all retailers, and that’s especially true for Artisan’s Marketplace this year. “We were closed for three months,” Cynthia recalled. “Honestly, I don’t believe we can recover what we lost before the end of the year. Our best chance is using online selling and curbside pickup, because we are limited to six customers in the store at a time.”
Getting up to speed with online selling will be vital to matching last year’s holiday sales numbers, a goal that Cynthia says would make her “super happy” to reach. “We have customers who have been with us for 30 years, so I think they’ll trust our website even if they can’t come in and see the items up close. And maybe we can reach even more new customers online. That would be a bonus!” |
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Women on the Move: 21 Years of Building, Evolving & Achieving Together |
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Wednesday, October 28; 11am-12:30pm Just one year ago, the Women’s Business Center celebrated 20 years. So much has changed since then! Join us for a lively discussion among local women business owners and the WBC Program Manager as they reflect upon the last year and share their challenges, successes, and lessons.
Moderator: Milena Erwin, WBC Program Manager Panelists: - Ashley Stone, Beauty Entourage
- Shanda Comeaux, Catherine's Heart Counseling Services
- Ellen Feldman Ornato & Jenny Drescher, The Bolder Company Inc.
- Qiana Coachman, Q the Beats Enterprise
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Grants for Small Businesses |
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Association Of Women's Business Centers |
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| Step 1- Apply Step 2- Once approved, conduct training Step 3- Submit reimbursement form Step 4- Receive award payment |
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Eligibility Requirements: - Small Business Clients of Women's Business Centers
- Training Reimbursement for Employees 50+, earning up to $16/hour
- Employer increases wages of Employee, post training:
- Up to $2,000 in training expenses reimbursed for wage increase of $1/hour
- Up to $2,500 in training expenses reimbursed for wage increase of $1.50/hour
- In House or 3rd Party Training
- Provide proof of training (including industry recognized credential or certificate)
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CT CARES Small Business Grant Program Opens 11/9 |
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The state has created the Connecticut CARES Small Business Grant Program to help small businesses and nonprofits that continue to be negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Small businesses and nonprofits in Connecticut with a 2019 payroll of less than $1.5 million OR 20 or fewer employees can apply for a one-time grant of $5,000. DECD will administer the program and online applications are estimated to begin the week of November 9. All funding will be disbursed by the end of the year.
Eligibility: - Business must have no more than 20 total FTEs in 2019 across all of their Connecticut locations, or have total 2019 payroll of less than $1.5 million (annualized). FTE and payroll include affiliated companies.
- Businesses must be able to demonstrate a 20% or more loss in revenue year to date as of September 30th, 2020 compared with the same period in 2019.
- Business must have been established by October 1, 2019 and still be active (as verified by DRS).
- Home-based businesses are eligible.
- Eligible entities: for-profit businesses that use any type of incorporation, as well as 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), 501(c)(7), and 501(c)(19) nonprofit organizations.
- The business must remain a viable business, be planning to reopen, and be planning to rehire any workers let go due to COVID as business conditions recover, and have a material financial need that cannot be overcome without the grant of emergency relief funds.
- Companies must be in good tax standing with DRS or current on a payment plan or consent to use a portion and/or all of their grant to remedy the delinquency.
- Sole proprietorships are eligible.
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Monday, October 26; 11am-12pm Presenter: Amanda Bedard, Marketing Atlas
The evolution of digital media has changed the way we think about, engage with, and respond to advertising and promotion. This workshop covers the basics of what you need to know when planning your communications. Learn how to align business objectives and digital media to engage your audience and achieve your goals.
Tuesday, October 27; 11am-12pm Presenter: Rebecca Tuttle, Grant Write Now LLC
Advance your grant writing skills and strategy by using market research to enhance your business plan, identifying your unique entrepreneurial skills, and drafting a compelling, persuasive business narrative to share your mission with funders. With a current 90% increase in grant funding for businesses, there has never been a better time to explore grant writing. |
| Thursday, October 29; 2-3pm Presenter: Samantha Williams, Sam’s Word LLC
Learn how to put your business on autopilot by using social media tools to increase productivity and efficiency. Productivity tools help create, schedule, and post content to your social media pages. Integration tools connect your social media pages to easily and seamlessly share content. In this fun and interactive workshop, we will review several tools to improve your social media presence while reducing the time you spend managing this essential marketing element for your business.
Thursday, November 5; 6-7pm Presenter: Jamie Sternberg, Saunders & Silverstein LLP
Learn about trademark use and enforcement on the Internet as it relates to domain names, social media platforms, e-commerce websites, and internet searches. We will also cover how you can properly use intellectual property owned by others on your website. |
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Need to meet with a business advisor? All EC-WBC Services Available Online |
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In response to concerns about COVID-19 and the need to minimize physical contact in order to control the spread of the disease, we now offer all services remotely:
- Business advising is offered as phone conferences, virtual appointments (e.g. Skype), or face-to-face when appropriate. Click below to schedule.
- Our main office is open for email (entrectr@hartford.edu) and phone calls (860.768.5681). We may not answer the phone directly, but you may leave a message and someone will follow up with you. We encourage you to email rather than call as email will be the faster way to communicate with us.
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| 222 Pitkin Street East Hartford, CT 06108
260 Girard Avenue Hartford, CT 06105 |
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