Benchmarks 2010
- 70% of GROW Nebraska online sales came from out–of–state purchasers.
- 41% of GROW Nebraska members sold wholesale out–of-state.
- GROW Nebraska become a PowerSeller on eBay.
- All time high membership of 371 reached.
- GROW Nebraska Facebook page reached 4,532 fans.
- GROW Nebraska Twitter followers reached 773.
- Opened year-round store in downtown .
- Incorporated social media into FlavorsOfNebraska.org.
- Launched new ShopGrowNebraska.org.
Benchmarks 2009
Watch a video on what GROW Nebraska accomplished in 2009.
- GROW generated $418,768.37 in member product sales through market access service which is up 28.5% from 2008
- GROW served 323 Nebraska Small Businesses.
- GROW reached 2,836 Facebook Fans
- Launched Flavors Project
- Launched shop the cause pilot project
- Collaborated with the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball and organized and managed the general store and art show.
- Launched Social Media training throughout the state. Approximately 156 people attended. Workshops were held in Bassett, Chadron, Fremont, Kearney, Lincoln, McCook, Nebraska City, , North Platte, Omaha, Scottsbluff, Sidney and Valentine.
Benchmarks 2008
- Launched GROW eBay store in cooperation with UNL Extension.
- Generated $326,014.81 in member product sales through retail operations. Membership increased by 19% to 300 members.
- Invested in a dynamic database to keep the GROW web site up to date, effective and expandable.
- Established a GROW Nebraska member’s only web site, a blog, and social networking through Facebook and Twitter.
- Developed podcasts to promote the story behind member products.
- Reached a total of 300 members.
Benchmarks 2007
- For every $1 invested, $2.62 are returned to the local economy
- Reached an all-time high of 252 members, including 82 new members. Twenty-eight were the result of an existing member's referral.
- Membership sustained an 80% renewal rate.
- The eCommerce site, ShopGrowNebraska.org, was launched.
- A year round store and training center opened at Kearney's Hilltop Mall.
- Micro businesses who hadn't previously belonged to REAP could join that program at no additional charge.
- Total sales generated by GROW Nebraska's special retail opportunities were $258,950
- The GROW Book replaced the Gift Guide, profiling 177 members. Print copies were distributed through retail members, the web site and retail opportunities.
- A new database was developed to increase efficiency in tracking data and in the administration of the program's vital and growing web site.
- Staff participated in the Association for Enterprise Opportunity's Regional Flavor Learning Cluster. GROW works with Karen Kollars of the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism to increase promotion of agri-, eco-, and cultural tourism in the state.
- Launched the GROW Nebraska Art project. Alison Osborne of Ali-O Jewelry was retained as Coordinator and in May led a delegation of eight artists to the American Craft Retailers Expo in Las Vegas. A web site at GrowNebraskaArt.org was established to focus on fine art.
- Continued the summer intern program with three interns.
- Promoted Nebraska entrepreneurs and their products, services and art at a variety of public appearances.
- A new level of membership was introduced for Economic Development partners.
- GROW strives to partner with all organizations in the field and frequently refers members and inquiring parties to REAP, EDGE and other programs throughout the state.
- REAP presented their Women & Company® Microenterprise Boost Program awardees at GROW Nebraska's Spring Membership Meeting.
Benchmarks 2006
- In 2006, GROW Nebraska™ provided technical assistance on 347 occasions. Our membership reached 200.
- Forty-seven new businesses joined the program, twenty-one of these were the result of an existing member’s referral.
- Membership sustained an 86% renewal rate.
- Twenty-three businesses participated in the product evaluation in April
- Members continue as project leaders for services such as mall Holiday Stores, the Archway store, and the grocery store initiative, receiving a stipend for managing stores and projects. It is a win-win situation; the client gains experience and financial reward, and GROW Nebraska™ expands services without incurring large financial cost. These programs still require staff oversight and commitment, but at a lesser level.
- Launched a summer intern program with two interns; one organized and managed the web site critique, one organized and helped manage the State Fair store.
- Sixteen members participated in the web site critique.
- Thirty-six businesses participated in the General Store at the State Fair, with a 6% increase in sales over 2005.
- Forty-five individuals attended the GROW Marketing workshops held in Blue Hill, Nebraska City and McCook. Development of this workshop was funded through a grant from Nebraska Department of Economic Development and USDA Rural Community Development Initiative.
- Three businesses took out loans through the Direct GROW Loan program administered by the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) for a total of $11,000 under loan.
- Seventy-two businesses participated in the Holiday stores in Kearney, Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha, which generated $171,800 in sales in five weeks.
- Total sales generated by GROW Nebraska’s™ special retail opportunities were over $292,000, an increase of 107% over 2005. Total payout to members was $175,000.
- Featured in the Aspen Institute’s FIELD Funder Guide as a national leader in the drive for non-profit organizations to become more self-sustaining.
- Launched the Signature Series, a new service offering unique Nebraska products for the business and corporate gift buyer.
- Our discounted Web design program generated two basic sites which are hosted by the GROW Nebraska™ server; three custom-designed sites, all of which are shopping cart enabled.
- Seventeen GROW members participated in three cooperative ads in national publications.
- Seven GROW Nebraska™ members have been selected for the Affiliated Foods warehouse.
- A total of 1,121 gift baskets were sold off the GROW Nebraska™ web site, through Affiliated Foods, HyVee, Russ’s IGA and Supersaver grocery stores.
- GROW Nebraska was selected to participate in the Association for Enterprise Opportunity’s Regional Flavor Learning Cluster, which is devoted to establishing a best practice model for capitalizing on the unique character of Nebraska and its people.
