We need to connect local resources to the library – save our tax base, grow the local economy, provide new/more jobs. Small businesses create 80% of jobs in the US. Growing and starting small businesses is the key to restarting local economic growth.
What resources are most useful? Reference USA/Duns Demographic & spending data – Census Bureau, Business Decision Small Business Resource Center – esp Business Plans Handbook Business to business info ie Reference USA Demographics for city, county, state Entrepreneur press books – Start and Run A >>>>
Events out of the library Chamber of commerce – mixers, business referral networks Local trade fair or Chamber expo Other business associations – Downtown merchants, etc Rotary/Kiwanis/Lions/Elks Events in the library Traditional - SBDC workshops Interactive - Brown bag lunches/discussions Networking opportunity - Hold a Chamber mixer at the library Email blast Chamber newsletter Workshop schedule on website, business contact w/phone & email
Don’t be like the Swedish Chef! Recast your message in business language: “ Find competitors or potential partners in our local area using the library’s company directory” “ Save time keeping up with trends in your industry” “ Write your business plan in no time with sample business plans from the library’s database”
“ library has a company directory” Find B2B prospectsfind businesses w/in a 2 mile radius for marketing quickie market size Library has periodical database Find articles from business journals all in one place Search quickly and precisely for industry trends Librarians do good research Save you time by pointing you to the best 2 or 3 sources Ask about sources that you know – do these folks know about calgold? American factfinder? Trade associations? Trade shows?
![[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)