Blogs

Health & Wellness Panel           Tuesday, July 21, 2014     4:00 pm – 6:00 pm The health and wellness industry is both diverse and expanding rapidly. Do you ever wonder how you make yourself not only stand out, but also thrive in the vast offering of services?  Please join our panel of health & wellness business experts for some peer networking with refreshments, followed by a panel discussion on topics such …

Inventory Control 101: Understanding Retail Cash Flow Tuesday, June 9th 8:00 am – 10:00 am Presented by Alyson MacMullan, Peak Retail Group Retail is a blend of art and science. As the store owner you understand your customers and what they want: you provide a point of view and a  taste level, the ART. The SCIENCE involves understanding how to maximize the merchandise you bring in to support your vision and your business. Inventory control is the …

Lending Panel: Show Me the Money! Tuesday, June 9 4:00 – 6:00 pm Are you seeking funding for your small business but are unsure of where to begin? With all the options available for small businesses today, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed! The Larimer SBDC and Innosphere are partnering to bring together several types of funding sources for you to ask questions and get answers. We will be discussing: In this unique event, we’ll have …

Story and Photos by: Kat Rico Some entrepreneurs wear the label of ‘serial entrepreneur’ proudly, and Diane Muno is no exception. She spent 15 years in healthcare management as part owner of a Chicago business that was successfully sold. She began looking for a business to buy when she found The Spruce House in Estes Park. “It had a cozy feel, like Grandma’s house, along with good financials.” In 2010, she celebrated the grand opening …

by Kat Rico Business plans have long been touted as the method for success if you are starting a new venture, but is the traditional business plan dead? Many entrepreneurs are intimidated by the idea of creating a document that can end up being in excess of 30 pages, let alone determining which sections they need and what goes in them. It’s also easy to assume that if you’re a small business (whatever your definition …

Guest blog by Don Overcash of Sandler Training Almost all salespeople will agree that the shorter the selling cycle, the better.  Why?  Because long selling cycles have two negative consequences:You’re less likely to be actively prospecting for new clients while you’re working on an existing opportunity. Consequently, your pipeline thins out, and if the deal you’re working on falls apart, you have fewer opportunities to fall back on.  The longer you work on an opportunity, …

by Kat Rico Little Bird Bakeshop Photo credit: Erin Bibeau Larimer County is a fantastic place for both restaurants and food product businesses. We sure do love some local flavor! Many businesses in this industry face three problems frequently, and if you’re planning to go into business in this area, you need to have a plan. According to our consultants who specialize in food products, here are three common issues you need to be ready …

Learn the Power of Google Analytics for your Business The Estes Valley Library and the Estes Park Economic Development Corporation (Estes Park EDC) are partnering with the Larimer Small Business Development Center (Larimer SBDC) for a special workshop titled “Google Analytics” to be held Wednesday, April 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Google offers a comprehensive package of analytics tools offered for free, but leveraging these tools for your business can be intimidating and overwhelming. …

Annual sales in Larimer County’s restaurant/food industry exceed $1B, and how well individual companies manage their costs in this highly-competitive business can mean the difference between success and failure.  If you’re in the restaurant or food product industry, some common questions you may have regarding cost control are:      • How do you control food portions?      • What best practices do you follow for managing your inventory?      • How do …

Maximizing your chances of getting that loan by understanding the 5 C’s by Mike O’Connell, SBDC Director At the SBDC we work with lots of clients who need capital.  They need capital to start businesses, buy businesses, expand businesses, launch new products, etc.  In my opinion, there is a lot of mystery and myth surrounding the issue of what it takes to get a loan.   A great tool to self-analyze your readiness as a potential …