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Struggles Can Bring Out Our Best and Bring Us Together

Published: April 22, 2021 | By Jeff Nicely

Has life taken it’s toll on you and your business the last few months? Do you feel overwhelmed, stuck and exhausted trying to keep your business going?

You’re not alone. Your struggle is real. Yet our struggles can bring us together.

And yet there’s great news.

As humans, we are made to work with each other. We are wired to look out for each other and to help each other. And when we do, we are more likely to get things done.

By ourselves we cannot lift heavy loads and by ourselves, we cannot solve complex problems. But when we work together, we are remarkable.

If you’re struggling, you do not have to struggle alone. If you have business problems that need to be solved, you do not have to solve them alone.

Our team of experts is ready and available to work with you at no cost. We can work together to solve complex problems and be remarkable with you!One local business owner reached out to our team and had this to say:

“Thank you so much to such a great organization and an amazing community! This feels more like home than anything ever has, for I know my voice and needs are not just heard, but also fulfilled.”

If you haven’t felt pressure in your business, you may.

Some small businesses are going to feel the impact of the Virginia Minimum Wage increase that goes into effect May 1, 2021.

Minimum Wage will increase from $7.25 per hour to $9.50 per hour on May 1, 2021 then on Jan 1, 2022 it will increase to $11.00 per hour. Wages will continue to increase until it reaches $15.00 per hour on Jan 1, 2026.

Let’s make sure you’re prepared with a strategy in place. Our team can help you prepare, at no cost to you. We are funded by state and local Economic Development Centers, not by you the small business owner.

Together, we want to solve complex problems and be remarkable. This is why we exist. We’re here for you!

GO Virginia Grant Brings Lasting Change to Local Small Businesses

Published: March 26, 2021 | By Jeff Nicely

The Small Business Resiliency Training (SBRT) has been working in partnership with the Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity (GO Virginia).

The SBRT Team is made up of members of the Shenandoah Valley and Laurel Ridge Small Business Development Centers.

Thanks to GO Virginia, small business grants were made available and those grants are having a lasting impact on small businesses throughout the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

When the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center partnered with Jon Henry General Store in New Market, VA change was quite noticeable. The impact is still being felt.

When Jon Henry came into the SBRT program, he was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Without systems and tools and place to keep his inventory as organized as he’d like, the SBRT program was his solution.

Thanks to the GO Virginia grant, Jon’s small business got a much needed boost.

Listen in as Jon tells about the impact this program had on his small business.

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The Small Business Resiliency Training (SBRT) was made possible by a grant from the Virginia Initiative for Growth and Opportunity (GO Virginia). This is a business-led initiative formed to foster private sector business growth along with the Small Business Administration and the Virginia Small Business Development Centers. Participating localities include: Augusta County, City of Harrisonburg, City of Waynesboro, City of Winchester, Clarke County, Frederick County, Rockbridge County, Rockingham County and Shenandoah County, VA.

If It’s Free, There Must Be A Catch, Right?

Published: March 26, 2021 | By Jeff Nicely

Have you ever said it? Have you heard others say it?

Many people say it all the time. “If it’s FREE, there’s got to be a catch.”

Look, I know a ton of small business owners that say the very same thing.

But does every small business owner who gets free, personalized business coaching fail to grow their business? Of course not.

Just ask Jon Henry, owner of Jon Henry General Store in New Market, VA.

Jon thought that because our services were free there had to be a catch.

After a year of working with our Small Business Development Counselors free of charge, he has implemented new tools and processes into his business that have given him back his time, lowered his stress, and helped him stay more organized which is making him more money.

Jon says that after a year of working with our counselors for free he feels like he should be paying us money, but he isn’t because we are funded by local Economic Development Administrations, not small business owners.

Now you have a choice to make.

You can keep working hard to figure out what to do to grow your small business, or you can do what Jon Henry did.

Reach out to one of our experienced small business counselors who can partner with you to take away the stress of running your business alone.

Give us a call: 540-868-7093

How Jon Henry General Store Made Advancements During the Pandemic

Published: March 11, 2021 | By Jeff Nicely

Small Business Resiliency Team (SBRT) Program Helps Jon Henry General Store Implement Changes Needed to Respond to Pandemic

When the Jon Henry General Store opened in New Market in 2018, owner and proprietor Jon Henry could never have guessed that in less than two years he would have to drastically overhaul the way he did business due to a global pandemic. Henry’s vision was to revive the historic Abbie Henkel House (1802) to its past use as a general store and build on his family’s longtime history of Shenandoah Valley farming (and recent pastime of produce peddling along Virginia’s Route 11).

The business quickly made a name for itself by carrying a wide range of products from local makers, growers, and artisans from across the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a primary focus on items from the Shenandoah Valley and a growing number of women and minority-owned companies. Jon Henry’s is also known for actively partnering with local churches, schools and sports teams as sponsor, donor, and participant. This commitment to the local community and the principles of shopping small garnered the company a Future of Shopping Small Grant from Main Street America in partnership with American Express.

But when the pandemic hit in early 2020, Jon Henry needed to quickly make major changes in order to meet customer needs. The store shifted to a touchless point of sale and inventory system to ensure the safety of customers and reduce contamination, and added Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) services so that more people could access the fresh, nutritious foods the store provides. But the store’s team still faced significant challenges with upgrading outdated software, training employees on new systems, and accomplishing increased accounting tasks.

In late 2020, Jon Henry heard that the Shenandoah Valley and Laurel Ridge Small Business Development Centers had been funded to form a special team that could help. The Small Business Resiliency Team (SBRT) program was created through a grant from GO Virginia and the support of the Cities of Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, and Winchester and Counties of Frederick, Clarke, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Augusta, and Rockbridge. The program deploys Business Resiliency Navigators to guide growth-oriented businesses towards incremental and sustainable growth. SBRT is designed to assist with financial management, eCommerce, and marketing needs for businesses in the tourism, retail, professional services, and healthcare sectors.

Henry applied for help with upgrading the business to QuickBooks Online and extending the services of his bookkeeper to complete the system migration and fully train employees for best practices on the new systems. Henry talked about how the process played out once he had been approved for the SBRT program:

“Helen spent good time with me on demos and wrote up new closing process for staff etc. with our new systems. It was a bit of a hog on time to convert and [reconcile] with Clover [his POS system]. [It has been] very helpful to finally have the inventory all aligned with our new POS and QuickBooks.”

After a few weeks with the new systems, he said: “I am loving it [QuickBooks online] already. The cellphone app allows me to snap invoice pics, which is great with our on-farm pick-ups.”

Henry went on to say that the SBRT program provided the time and expertise needed to work the kinks out of the new procedures, review the added services for cost effectiveness, and gauge how well they were being adopted in the community. He hopes to use this information to tweak the systems going forward.

Jon Henry’s work with the SBRT Navigators also led to being connected with James Madison University’s BizLab, a digital services group matching JMU students with small businesses and non-profits to help companies strengthen their online presence. Students work with customers to create websites, design logos and other graphics both for online and print. “I am loving the website, and it’s amazing the commerce that we’ve already run through it!” Henry said about the collaboration.

“The process of applying for the SBRT program is really simple, and the SBDC can usually engage locally-available providers for the services our clients need. We hope that more businesses in the counties of Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Rockbridge, Rockingham, and Shenandoah; and the cities of Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, and Winchester will apply to take advantage of this program,” said Joyce Krech, Director of the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center.

If the walls of the Abbie Henkel House could talk, they would probably agree. Making good use of your local community resources, especially during times of crisis, are an important part of resiliency and longevity. What could SBRT do for your business during these tough times?

For more information on the Small Business Resiliency Teams, visit the SBDC websites: www.ValleySBDC.org or www.laurelridgesbdc.org, or contact Joyce Krech, (540)568-3227, [email protected] or Christine Kriz, (540)868-7094, [email protected].

For more information on GO Virginia, visit the Shenandoah Valley Partnership (https://theshenandoahvalley.com/) or Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/gova).

About Small Business Development Centers. The SV and LF SBDCs are two of 29 Small Business Development Centers across Virginia providing professional business advice, training, and information resources to help grow and strengthen local businesses and Virginia’s economy. They are hosted respectively by James Madison University and Laurel Ridge Community College in partnership with George Mason University and funded in part by SBA and local governments. The Virginia SBDC Network (www.VirginiaSBDC.org) is the most extensive business development program in the Commonwealth and part of America’s SBDC – the nation’s proven, cost-effective, and accredited infrastructure focused on small businesses – America’s job creators.

Give Your Social Media Engagement A Boost

Published: February 8, 2021 | By Jeff Nicely

Do you make social media posts for your business? Ever get stuck and wonder what to post next? Think it’s time to give your social media engagement a boost?

Try National Days. They have proven to increase engagement and shares.

And to make it super easy for you, we’ve put together a list of February National Days. And we have a lot more ideas.

SEND ME MORE SOCIAL MEDIA POST IDEAS

Small Business Consultants - Feb National Days

Small Business Consultants - February National Days

Small Business Consultants - February National Days 3

If you or someone you know has a business challenge that our team can help with, please reach out to us here.

Our services are always FREE. We’re here to help and our team is ready to go!

Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Published: July 6, 2020 | By Jeff Nicely

Eligibility Restored For Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance

Small Businesses are now eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) just announced that the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance is available to small businesses.

This advance can give your business much needed financial relief.

What You Need To Know

Your business is now eligible to receive $1,000 per employee up to a maximum of $10,000.
You do not need to repay this loan advance.
Your business does not need to qualify for this loan advance.

Questions Your Business Should Consider

Has my business received a Paycheck Protection Program loan (PPP)?
Did I complete my original EIDL application correctly?

Yes, I received a PPP. Therefore, your EIDL Advance amount will be subtracted from your PPP loan. That amount will not be eligible for forgiveness.

The Small Business Administration will verify and validate the information in your EIDL application. After that, your advance will auto deposit into your bank.

If there are issues verifying your banking or business information you will receive an email. The email will ask you to update any missing business information.

If there is an issue with your bank information, you will be asked to update your banking information as well.

If you have questions about EIDL or need help navigating the loan process, please contact our office: (540) 868-7093

Our director Christine Kriz is available to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.

In addition, we have created a frequently asked questions page to help you navigate the loan process.

Supreme Court rules LGBTQ people protected on the job

Published: June 15, 2020 | By Jeff Nicely

For our friends in the LGBTQ community, today’s Supreme Court ruling is a landmark moment.

To fire an employee simply for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) is now a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Supreme Court ruled that federal anti-discrimination laws protect LGBTQ employees

This decision was written by one the court’s most conservative justices, Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s first nominee to the court.

The court made this decision by a 6-3 vote with Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas voting against the decision.

“An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the court.

“The Court tries to convince readers that it is merely enforcing the terms of the statute, but that is preposterous. Even as understood today, the concept of discrimination because of ‘sex’ is different from discrimination because of ‘sexual orientation’ or ‘gender identity,'” Alito wrote in a dissent that was joined by Thomas.

“The court has previously stated, and I fully agree, that gay and lesbian Americans ‘cannot be treated as social outcasts or as inferior in dignity and worth,’ ” Kavanaugh wrote, quoting a previous case.

Kavanaugh added, “Our role is not to make or amend the law. As written, Title VII does not prohibit employment discrimination because of sexual orientation.”

Court’s first cases on LGBTQ rights since 2015

Today’s cases were the court’s first on LGBTQ rights since Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement and replacement by Kavanaugh. Kennedy was author of the landmark ruling in 2015 that made same-sex marriage legal throughout the United States.

In recent years, some lower courts have ruled that discrimination against LGBTQ employees is prohibited by federal law.

So far, Congress has not been able to change the law.

Two of the three cases today involved gay men fired by their employers — Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, and Altitude Express v. Zarda.

The third case heard by the high court on October 8 and argued separately — R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC — involves a transgender Michigan woman, Aimee Stephens, dismissed from her job as a funeral director after she announced plans to transition. Tragically, Stephens, who was 59, died on May 12, just weeks before the ruling came down.

Today’s Supreme Court ruling will impact federal civil rights laws pertaining to sex discrimination in education, health care, housing and financial credit. Lawsuits currently pending in lower courts are required to follow Supreme Court precedent.

As our country moves forward, there are an estimated 8.1 million LGBTQ workers across the country impacted by today’s decision. And while most states have not provided workplace protection in the past, Virginia is a most recent state to enact full protection against employment discrimination for LGBTQ people.

According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA law school, there are an estimated 13 million LGBTQ people ages 13+ living in the U.S.

(Excerpts from AP, Washington Post and USA Today)

Managing Cashflow Post Quarantine

Published: June 15, 2020 | By Jeff Nicely

Here we are coming up on 13 weeks of quarantine and you, like many other business owners in Virginia are trying to navigate the path of reopening and trying to get that cashflow back to some sense of normalcy. The bills, for those that got some reprieve, will begin again and may even have a deficit to make up rather quickly in order to prevent utilities from being shut off or getting kicked out of your place. A lot of people are dealing with these challenges with both the business expenses as well as personally, so obviously you have a lot on your mind.

Let’s look at some things you can do to help put yourself on the right track. By now you have gone through the exercise of looking through your expenses and cutting anything that you deemed unnecessary, which hey, it was probably time to do that anyhow. In any event, let’s evaluate what you are still spending money on, what you cut, and what might make sense to bring back or add into the mix. Before doing this, it is a good idea to have a cashflow forecast of what the next 3-6 months will look like as well as understanding what your break even is now and what it will be by adding certain things back in.

You are almost at a point of being able to create a new business plan, which some are doing, to get things back up to speed. Again, it may have been time to do this and this pandemic has given you the need and time to do it. Anything that you were unsure if it made sense to be doing within your business, this is a great time to evaluate it and make a decision. If something is profitable or adds value to the business, it may make sense. If it wasn’t profitable and didn’t add value to the business, this may be the time to get rid of it. Evaluate, analyze, plan, and act!

Being a big fan of silver linings, here are a couple that this challenge has presented:

You were probably due to analyze your current business model
This is a great time to review your cashflow forecast or create one
Challenges are when we grow the most, making it through this will make you a better business owner
You have probably gained additional target audiences through this that will continue

We are here to help you through this process and the time to do this is now! The great thing is, if you are reading this right after it was posted or a year after, the previous statement is correct. No time like the present right?

Actions:

Do a cashflow forecast
Analyze your spending
Do a new business plan
Define your target audiences

**Thanks to SBDC Team Member Cort Maddox for these insightful tips.