GROW News
February 3, 2010
Promote Your Business with a Large GROW Ad
In addition to the listing received with membership,the GROW Book is a great way to promote your business with an additional ad. The prices are:
1/8 Page: $75
1/4 Page: $125
1/2 Page: $250
1 Page: $500
If you are interested, please e-mail
info@grownebraska.org.
Who Sold Online This Week?
GROW Nebraska is now highlighting what sold online for the week. If your item sells the most for the week, it will be the featured picture for this section of the weekly update!
If you don't see your products on your list, consider updating your photography or your description to help entice more buyers. For your convenience, we have linked each product to their listing on the eCommerce or eBay sites so you can see what that member has done to help sell their product.
We encourage you to look at the photography and descriptions for each of these items to see how you can make improvements to your listing. Remember, you know more about your business and product than we do, so we really need your help to make your listing the best it can be! To easily find your products on the eCommerce store please
click here.
If you would like to make edits to your listing, please e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
January 27 - February 3
GROW Shop the Cause
Have you checked out the Shop the Cause on the GROW Facebook page? GROW has been featuring each member involved with the project. This week, we featured Davis Gourmet Seasoning. See more at
facebook.com/growneb.
Want to be Noticed
Want to get your business noticed on Google? Would you like your company to have the opportunity to get higher on the search engine ranking? Well, if you answered yes to any of those questions you need to take advantage of the NEW service from GROW. It’s the GROW Blog Services.
Click here, provide the information requested and GROW will develop a blog for your business. Sandra Hilsabeck of Sandra Hilsabeck Books already took advantage of this great opportunity. Read her blog by
clicking here. Become a blogger today with the easy NEW service from GROW Nebraska.
Check Out GROW Social Media
Have you checked out GROW social media lately? GROW Nebraska's goal is to have 5,000 fans by June 1, and we need your help. If you would like to recommend your friends become fans of GROW, simply visit
facebook.com/growneb and click the "suggest to friends" link on the left side under the picture. Once you do this a box will pop up where you can choose the friends you would like to suggest the page to. Thanks in advance for your help!
You can also visit our
YouTube page and view all the videos about our members. Want to know when a new video is uploaded? Just create a YouTube account and follow GROW.
GROW Food Business Members – Would you like to export your product?
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture will be hosting meetings March 15 and 16, 2010 with Dennis Lynch from the Food Export Helpline. During his visit, they will be traveling to meet one-on-one with Nebraska food companies. If your company is interested in learning more about exporting, please contact Laura Linden, Agricultural Trade Representative at 402-471-6804 or e-mail
laura.linden@nebraska.gov.
Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program Seminar
The Food Processing Center is offering a one-day seminar for all individuals interested in exploring the idea of starting a food manufacturing business. The “From Recipe to Reality” seminar will be offered on April 10, 2010. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration deadline is April 1, 2010. Contact Jill Gifford at 402-472-2819 or
jgifford1@unl.edu for an information packet.
Grand Island Store is Moving
The GROW Nebraska Grand Island store is moving February 15-19, so any member who would like to help with the move please contact
info@grownebraska.org.
CHANGE THE WORLD with GROW: Glass Reuse for Our World
We are inviting you to help us GO GREEN and make a small step in changing the world. We are piloting a glass reuse program at the Kearney store. This project was suggested by a member.
What is the project?
Consumers will be encouraged to bring their empty glass jars of GROW Nebraska products to the Kearney store where participating members will re-sanitize and reuse the glass containers.
Why be involved?
- FREE glass container because you will be able to reuse the returned empty jars
- Environmentally conscientious consumers will want to buy your product because it is recyclable
- You will get additional product promotion
- It’s simple.
How to be involved in this project:
- Sign up here
- Agree to put a small label on your participating products that says it is returnable for recycling
- Pick up empty glass containers at the Kearney Store
- Re-sterilize the glass containers
- Reuse them!
If you have any questions about this project, don't hesitate to contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Save the Date for MarkeTech Conference
The GROW Nebraska Annual Meeting is now called the GROW Nebraska Marke
Tech Conference. This year's conference will be held in Lincoln on April 22 from 8am-4pm. We will once again also be offering the pre-conference for members only on April 21.
The conference will also feature the annual product evaluation, a service business trade show, a wonderful meal and many great speakers.
Details will be coming soon regarding specifics.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 888.476.9632 or e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Renewals Due February 5
The deadline to be in the 2010-2011 GROW Book is to
renew and pay by February 5, 2010. Our designer is taking a leave of absence. Remember, if you joined after September 2009 you do not need to renew. If you have any questions or concerns, or did not receive a renewal, please contact us at 888.476.9632 or e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
MarketPlace 2010 Conference and Store
GROW Nebraska will once again be running the MarketPlace Store. We strongly encourage those involved with the store to sign up for the MarketPlace conference. For more information please visit their web site at
www.cfra.org/marketplace/home/.
Please note your business is responsible for a display for your product (table top displays are fine). Displays can be brought Tuesday, February 23 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Product delivery will be Wednesday, February 24 from 7:00 am to 9:00 am. Please be sure to be on time so the store can open at 9 am.
Commission fees for all items sold in the store are 25%. If you are interested please sign up
here.
New Members
George Paul Vinegar - Cody, NE
George Paul Vinegar is Nebraska's only vinegar maker. They are one of the few companies in the U.S. that makes vinegar in the traditional Old World method. They are the only vinegar company in the U.S. that makes wine vinegar from the French-American hybrid grapes grown in the colder lattitudes of the world. Because of their method of production their vinegars have concentrated color, flavor, and aromas not found in all but the rare expensive goumet vinegars, and of course are made from 100% Nebraska produced fruit.
Fine Furniture Care Secrets - Columbus, NE
Fine Furniture Care Secrets sell a lemon oil beeswax product.
Celebrating Design - Columbus, NE
Tracy Buzynski is a graphic artist and also makes custom personalized bookmarks, agenda markers, locker/desk posters and other tools for kids to use in school. They reinforce various positive values on them and empower kids to become all that they can be.
Creative Scents by Autumn - Kearney, NE
Autumn Casey sells high quality, triple scented soy candles and gifts. She also has wax dipped bears. They make great gifts for moms, dads, teachers, baby showers, Valentines day, Christmas, or everyday gifts. They can be custom made to fit any special day.
Valentino's of America - Lincoln, NE
Not only known for their great pizza, they also market their gourmet sauce.
Half Pint Concepts - Lincoln, NE
Half Pint Concepts is committed to providing parents, children and families with smart products that make life easier.
Member News
Garden Fresh Vegetables, LLC, was awarded $30,421 to provide daily access to locally grown/produced food at an indoor farmer’s market. Grant funds will provide materials for remodeling and support for other project expenses.
An award of $15,500 was made to Wingsets Aromatherapy of Lincoln. The company has a value-added business offering Nebraskans an opportunity to turn yucca plants into income. Grant funds will be used to purchase equipment and assist with product marketing.
Nibbly Jibbits has been awarded $13,100 in value added grants to purchase equipment allowing the business to expand production and add staff. Nibbly Jibbits produces horse and dog treats from local grains.
GROW staff will soon have a new addition with baby Malzer coming soon. Erin will be out of the office for the next month. If you are needing assistance, please e-mail info@grownebraska.org.
Marketing Workshops
Twitter Tense? Facebook Frets? Social Media Stressing You Out? We Can Help!
GROW Nebraska has teamed up with the University of Nebraska Extension Specialists to help you reduce your anxiety in keeping up with the social media marketing craze.
Social media marketing is essential to increasing brand awareness and expanding your online business presence. However, if you don’t understand how it works, thinking about posting tweets, updating your Facebook page and incorporating your blog into the media mix seems overwhelming.
Not only will we teach you how to save time by being more efficient when using social media, but we are bringing the "Get Social Sessions" to you. Spots are filling quickly! Price is $10/person. If you have questions, call us at 888.GROW.NEB or e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, please sign up
HERE.
- Lincoln - TBA
- March 18 - Kearney - 9-12 at IntelliCom
