The Oswego Network of Entrepreneurs invites you to join them as they begin the new year in a new location. The ONE group will begin meeting this Wednesday, January 5th at our usual time - 8:00am at our new location - the Oswego Tea Company at 157 E First Street. This move will allow us to be more visible and easier to find. The ONE group is very grateful to the Oswego branch of HSBC for their many years of hosting the ONE group. It has been a very good partnership and the ONE group invites any HSBC lender, relationship manager or customer service representative to join us at any time.
If you are a local entrepreneur and wish to talk about the business climate, new initiatives, and network with other local business people please consider joining the ONE group. There are no dues, we meet to discuss topics of interest to local business and how we best can help each other succeed. The Oswego Network of Entrepreneurs has the mission to Network, Support, Promote & Educate local entrepreneurs. For more information contact the City of Oswego Community Development Office at 343-3795.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, November 15, 2010
Buy Local this Holiday Season
On Saturday, November 20th we invite you to “unchain” your spending by participating in Oswego County Unchained! Join us as we come together in support of our local, independently owned businesses. Oswego County Unchained! is an opportunity for us to demonstrate how our personal spending decisions can positively affect the whole community, both now and in the future.
If every citizen does their planned business, shopping and dining out on November 20th with locally-owned businesses we can make a significant contribution to our local economy. Shopping local benefits us all. By keeping our dollars local we strengthen our community and improve our quality of life. Money spent at locally owned businesses is reinvested locally to create jobs, support community events, enhance the aesthetics of our downtowns and our neighborhoods, encourage others to visit our communities, and much more.
Oswego County Unchained! also allows us to thank our local business owners for their contributions to the community. We rely on our local businesses for more than just providing products and services. Our local businesses sponsor our children’s sports teams, community events and donate their time to many community organizations. They are critical parts of our community’s social, cultural and economic health.
Earlier this year we introduced our business owners and our community members to the 350 Project. An innovative concept that demonstrates the economic impact that’s possible if everyone chose to spend just $50 a month in each of their three favorite local businesses. With the holiday season upon us, now would be the perfect time for all of us to start the 350 Project in our own communities.
We hope you join us and participate in Oswego County Unchained! not only on November 20th, but every day throughout the holiday shopping season and beyond as we strengthen our local businesses and our communities. Unchain yourself, and support our local business. It’s good for us personally and it’s good for our community!
Sincerely,
Beth A. Hilton
Executive Director
Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Linda M Goodness
Assistant Director
City of Oswego Community Development Office
If every citizen does their planned business, shopping and dining out on November 20th with locally-owned businesses we can make a significant contribution to our local economy. Shopping local benefits us all. By keeping our dollars local we strengthen our community and improve our quality of life. Money spent at locally owned businesses is reinvested locally to create jobs, support community events, enhance the aesthetics of our downtowns and our neighborhoods, encourage others to visit our communities, and much more.
Oswego County Unchained! also allows us to thank our local business owners for their contributions to the community. We rely on our local businesses for more than just providing products and services. Our local businesses sponsor our children’s sports teams, community events and donate their time to many community organizations. They are critical parts of our community’s social, cultural and economic health.
Earlier this year we introduced our business owners and our community members to the 350 Project. An innovative concept that demonstrates the economic impact that’s possible if everyone chose to spend just $50 a month in each of their three favorite local businesses. With the holiday season upon us, now would be the perfect time for all of us to start the 350 Project in our own communities.
We hope you join us and participate in Oswego County Unchained! not only on November 20th, but every day throughout the holiday shopping season and beyond as we strengthen our local businesses and our communities. Unchain yourself, and support our local business. It’s good for us personally and it’s good for our community!
Sincerely,
Beth A. Hilton
Executive Director
Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce
Linda M Goodness
Assistant Director
City of Oswego Community Development Office
Friday, October 22, 2010
An after hours event - to help you market your business
The Oswego Network of Entrepreneurs
Invites you
To
An
After Hours Event
Janet Clerkin of Oswego County Tourism
Will share a simple and inexpensive way to extend your business marketing beyond the local market!
Wednesday, October 27th
6:00pm
McCrobie Civic Center
Lake Street
Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to lgoodness@oswegony.org or 343-3795 by Monday, October 25
Invites you
To
An
After Hours Event
Janet Clerkin of Oswego County Tourism
Will share a simple and inexpensive way to extend your business marketing beyond the local market!
Wednesday, October 27th
6:00pm
McCrobie Civic Center
Lake Street
Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to lgoodness@oswegony.org or 343-3795 by Monday, October 25
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Building a Business? - Build Relationships
As we discuss customer service, working together to improve our local economy and community - we know it requires well-built relationships. We know who to talk to about what. We know who will lend a hand or have a better idea. We know these things because we have built relationships with one another. We have consistently seen who does what and we trust them to do what they say they will do.
In businesss it should be the same. Why do I go to Burke's Lumber? I've said it many times - because I like they way they treat me. If I have a question, they answer it - first they have the answer and second they treat my simple question with respect and without attitude. Yes, I go there for specific products, but I go back because I like the way I am treated.
In this week's SuccessNet eletter - Brian Tracy addresses building relationships for your business. This is an excellent and brief read we all need to keep in mind. You can find his article at: http://successnet.czcommunity.com/words-of-wisdom/relationships-are-everything/6424/
Happy building,
Linda
In businesss it should be the same. Why do I go to Burke's Lumber? I've said it many times - because I like they way they treat me. If I have a question, they answer it - first they have the answer and second they treat my simple question with respect and without attitude. Yes, I go there for specific products, but I go back because I like the way I am treated.
In this week's SuccessNet eletter - Brian Tracy addresses building relationships for your business. This is an excellent and brief read we all need to keep in mind. You can find his article at: http://successnet.czcommunity.com/words-of-wisdom/relationships-are-everything/6424/
Happy building,
Linda
Friday, September 17, 2010
2020 Vision Update - Design Session
Come be part of the process. Join us at the Design Session and let us know how you envision the City of Oswego. Meeting information is below, if you have any questions, please contact the Community Development Office at 343-3795.
Design Charette for 2020 Vision Update
OCTOBER 13th & 14th - McCrobie Civic Center, Lake St.
OCTOBER 13TH – 5:00pm Informal public meeting & walking tour
6:00pm Presentation and introduction of Design session
7:00pm Pencil to paper design session
OCTOBER 14th – 6:00pm Public Meeting with design session results
Design Charette for 2020 Vision Update
OCTOBER 13th & 14th - McCrobie Civic Center, Lake St.
OCTOBER 13TH – 5:00pm Informal public meeting & walking tour
6:00pm Presentation and introduction of Design session
7:00pm Pencil to paper design session
OCTOBER 14th – 6:00pm Public Meeting with design session results
Monday, August 9, 2010
Next Micro Enterprise Class - September
For those interested in expanding or starting a small business in Oswego County, the next Micro-Enterprise Program small business training class is scheduled to begin Saturday, Sept. 18 and run each Saturday until Oct. 16. The classes will be held at the SUNY Oswego Phoenix Center, Oswego County Industrial Park (off of exit 14 on 481), Phoenix, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The program is coordinated by the City of Fulton Community Development Agency, City of Oswego Community Development Office, SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations (OBCR) and Operation Oswego County to provide guidance and support to people interested in starting or expanding a small business.
The program provides a 24-hour small-business training class that covers such topics as how to write a business plan, how to obtain financing, accounting and tax issues, business insurance, legalities, marketing, and other basic business start-up issues. Classroom training is provided by OBCR small business advisors Larry Perras and John Halleron, as well as other area business professionals.
Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in low-interest financing to expand or start their business in Oswego County. Similar programs are available for businesses located within the City of Oswego or within the City of Fulton as well.
Tuition for the program is $200 and includes all materials. Scholarships are available for households within low to moderate income guidelines as established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
For more information, or to register for a class, call 312-3492. To download a program or scholarship application, visit www.oswegocounty.org/micro.html.
The program is coordinated by the City of Fulton Community Development Agency, City of Oswego Community Development Office, SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations (OBCR) and Operation Oswego County to provide guidance and support to people interested in starting or expanding a small business.
The program provides a 24-hour small-business training class that covers such topics as how to write a business plan, how to obtain financing, accounting and tax issues, business insurance, legalities, marketing, and other basic business start-up issues. Classroom training is provided by OBCR small business advisors Larry Perras and John Halleron, as well as other area business professionals.
Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in low-interest financing to expand or start their business in Oswego County. Similar programs are available for businesses located within the City of Oswego or within the City of Fulton as well.
Tuition for the program is $200 and includes all materials. Scholarships are available for households within low to moderate income guidelines as established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
For more information, or to register for a class, call 312-3492. To download a program or scholarship application, visit www.oswegocounty.org/micro.html.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Customer Service
In light of our recent conversations about customer service I was interested when Tracey Higgenbotham of WomenTies wrote about this same subject. She had just experienced the uncaring and uncooperative customer service of a large corporation and she has this advice:
"When you work hard to create a high quality company - complete with quality products, quality service, quality staff - and an expectation by the consumer that you back everything you promise, it is unbelievable, and at times, unnerving to deal with companies where quality and service aren't a priority. No matter what type of company a person is running, the quality of their customer service can matter much more than the quality of their products.
Today's Wednesday Wisdom is to remind you to think about your customer service policies. When faced with customer complaints, do you have procedures to remedy problems immediately? Does every employee understand those procedures? If you are a sole proprietor have you thought about how you would handle a client crisis personally and corporately? Are you prepared?
Before you have an upset client calling you on a hot summer day to complain about a major problem, consider the cool options you have in handling a tough situation before the call is made. Everything rests on corporate image and many times that means handling of customer problems. Resolving a customer complaint effectively and quickly can secure a client for life or send them packing...."
Very good advice, it's always better to be prepared than to be taken by surprise when a customer complains. It shows you're prepared, you have a faster reaction time and that you really care about your customer.
If you would like to learn more about WomenTies or see more of Tracey's Wednesday Wisdom visit: http://womenties.wordpress.com/
"When you work hard to create a high quality company - complete with quality products, quality service, quality staff - and an expectation by the consumer that you back everything you promise, it is unbelievable, and at times, unnerving to deal with companies where quality and service aren't a priority. No matter what type of company a person is running, the quality of their customer service can matter much more than the quality of their products.
Today's Wednesday Wisdom is to remind you to think about your customer service policies. When faced with customer complaints, do you have procedures to remedy problems immediately? Does every employee understand those procedures? If you are a sole proprietor have you thought about how you would handle a client crisis personally and corporately? Are you prepared?
Before you have an upset client calling you on a hot summer day to complain about a major problem, consider the cool options you have in handling a tough situation before the call is made. Everything rests on corporate image and many times that means handling of customer problems. Resolving a customer complaint effectively and quickly can secure a client for life or send them packing...."
Very good advice, it's always better to be prepared than to be taken by surprise when a customer complains. It shows you're prepared, you have a faster reaction time and that you really care about your customer.
If you would like to learn more about WomenTies or see more of Tracey's Wednesday Wisdom visit: http://womenties.wordpress.com/
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