Sterling Journal Advocate
Seminar provides tips for business survival during tough times
By Judy Debus (Contact) Monday, June 1, 2009
Photo by Judy Debus
Tim Edgar of the Small Business Development Center offered information on “Keeping Your Business Alive in Trying Times” Friday at a lunchtime seminar organized by the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. STERLING, Colo. — Tim Edgar, of the Small Business Development Center in Fort Morgan, urged those attending the business seminar on Friday to go out and be their best. The seminar was sponsored by the SBDC, (Small Business Development Center), Morgan County Community College and the Logan County Chamber of Commerce and Shop the “L.” Costs for the lunchtime training event were underwritten by sponsors MV Equipment of Sterling and the Sterling Journal Advocate. With his program entitled “Keeping Your Business Alive in Trying Times,” Edgar provided a guide to customer and workforce retention through 10 strategies. He addressed developing a marketing plan; understanding strengths and weaknesses; knowing your business; having the necessary tools to conduct your business; the 80/20 rule in business; testing to see if it is working; appreciating existing clients and customers; networking; having a business plan; and reviewing financials. Edgar provided tips on using business cards, Web sites and newsletters as important tools in marketing a business. He also advised to not try to be everything to everyone, but to know what your mission and vision statement is and to focus on what will work to get those accomplished. Business owners were urged to make sure that their front line or those who greet and know their customers also be given a part in helping to define who that customer is.
“It is 85 percent easier to re-garner or get a customer to return than it is to get a new customer,” Edgar said. That is why good customer service is so vital to any business. You need to remind your customers that you are still there be it through advertising, personal calls or contacts. Remember that you can lose 10 percent of your customers for every month that they don’t hear from your business, Edgar said. To accomplish that, a specific method of measurement should be used to track the progress of any business. When a business stops measuring, the business will stop growing, he said. The workshop is part of continuing effort of the local Chamber and businesses to offer training on a local basis and to make it affordable to everyone. “It is good that the Chamber puts these events together,” said Cal West of MV Equipment. “But it would be great if more people could have attended. I think it is sad with all our business, if we can’t take off for a noon luncheon and training that only costs $8, to help our small businesses.” West also said that Edgar did a good job in the presentation and even though some have heard or may already know some of it, it is always good to have a refresher. “There is something that everyone can get from a presentation like this,” West said. “Our company will