GROW News
October 7, 2009
Need some extra cash for the holidays? Why not work at a GROW Nebraska Store!
GROW Nebraska is currently interested in hiring GROW members to work at the Kearney and Grand Island retail locations and the Lincoln Holiday store.
If you or someone you know may be interested, please send resumes to
info@grownebraska.org. Please specify which store you are interested in working in.
SIGN UP TO WORK NOW >>
Do you have holiday items or new items? Send them to us!
Do you have new items or holiday items you'd like to sell this holiday season? If you have new products that aren't in our retail locations yet, now is the time to get them to us so we can get them in our system. Please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org for more information.
2010 Special Olympics Opportunity
Put your products on a national platform by becoming involved with the world’s largest sporting event in 2010!
The Special Olympics 2010 USA National Games will be coming to Nebraska July 18-23, 2010. This will be the largest event ever held in the state of Nebraska, and one of the biggest sporting events to take place in the country in 2010.
Special Olympics offers individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to compete in thirteen Olympic-style sporting events. In addition, Signature Events include Healthy Athletes, the Athlete Leadership Program, and the Sports Experience.
For an entire week, 3,000 athletes, 1,000 coaches, and 15,000 friends and family members will take advantage of Nebraska’s hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers.
The economic impact on Nebraska is expected to be up to $40 million, and we estimate $5 million in tax revenue to the state.
The Games present a once in a lifetime opportunity for Nebraska producers to gain national recognition. Numerous opportunities exist to feature your products on a national scale, including product inclusion in 3,000 athlete gift bags, 1,000 coach gift bags, and 15,000 friend and family gift bags. Additional opportunities include product inclusion with sponsor, celebrity, and special guest gifts.
The 2010 USA National Games will change Nebraska forever and leave a lasting legacy of education, awareness, and inclusion. Join in the efforts to make the 2010 USA National Games something the world will remember by donating your local products. To learn more about the Special Olympics 2010 USA National Games, please visit
2010specialolympics.org.
For more information or to donate, please contact Sarah Leeth at (402) 981-4862.
Sarah Leeth
Special Olympics 2010 USA National Games
7600 North 70th Street | Lincoln, NE 68517
(402) 981-4862
leeth@2010specialolympics.org
Marketing Workshops
GROW Nebraska is offering Marketing Workshops throughout the state this fall. The workshops, titled
Enhance Your Online Marketing Strategy, are a great opportunity to learn more about marketing your business online.
Reaching your target market and customer base today has become more challenging! There are so many ways to reach your target market with all the online applications and tools available today - Facebook, Delicious, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, Friendfeed to just name a few!
As part of your online presence learn how to enhance your chances of effective customer communication with search engine optimization and incorporate these online tools into your marketing strategy. It’s all about making sure your web site is search engine and customer friendly.
Below are the locations and times of our workshops. They $10 each and are open to both members and non-members of GROW Nebraska. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, please sign up
HERE.
- October 28 - Fremont - 9-12 at First State Bank and Trust
- October 28 - Omaha - 3-6 at New Development Corporation
- October 29 - Nebraska City 9-12 at Kimmel Research and
Education Center
- November 17 - Valentine - 9-12 at Niobrara Lodge
- November 17 - Bassett - 3-6 at North Central Nebraska RC&D
- November 18 - Norfolk - 9-12 at Northeast Community College
- January 26 - North Platte - 3-6 at West Central Research and Extension Center - NEW!
- January 27 - Chadron – 3-6 at Chadron State College Student Center
- January 28 - Scottsbluff - 8:30-11:30 at UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center
- January 29 - Sidney- 9-12 at Western Nebraska Community College - Room 112
Get Your Products on the GROW eCommerce Site
GROW Nebraska is calling all members to submit their products to be on the eCommerce site! To qualify, all you need is for your product to be in the Kearney retail store.
Sales on
ShopGrowNebraska.org are up 133% from last year, and we anticipate this trend to continue through the holiday season. Additionally, GROW Nebraska is currently re-designing their eCommerce site to offer better functionality! These changes are anticipated to be done prior to the busy Christmas season.
Did you know that 60% of GROW Nebraska eCommerce orders are from outside of Nebraska to people who have no prior connection to our state? What a great way to expand the market of your product!
To find out which of your products are currently for sale, please visit
growneb.com/store/manufacturers.php and find your business name, then click on the link.
To have your products added to the eCommerce site, please fill out the online form
HERE. Once you have submitted the form, be sure to send pictures of your products to
erin@grownebraska.org. Without pictures we cannot post your product for sale! Pictures must be on a solid white background. If you need pictures taken of your products, please contact Erin at
erin@grownebraska.org.
Merchandising, Marketing, and Window Display Design on Main Street
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
5:30pm-8:30pm
Chances ‘R’
124 W. 5th Street
York, Nebraska
Are you looking to spruce up sales, polish your bottom line, or give a new spin to existing inventory?
Join us for this live interactive workshop that will teach you how to:
- Develop floor plans that introduce new products to your customers
- Learn how to create impulse sales and develop merchandise relationships so you have more add on sales
- Find out how to create customer circulation within your store
- Improve the visual appeal of your business through merchandise presentation
- Determine what makes effective merchandising end caps, plan-o-grams, and window displays
- Learn how to measure successful merchandising in dollars
- Understand sales per square foot versus customer counts and ticket prices
- Learn how to capture customers before, during, and after downtown events
The presenter for this workshop is Scott Day. Scott regularly works with Heritage Nebraska Main Street Communities across the state. He started his own firm specializing in design management and retail economics for commercial revitalization in 2005. Urban Development Services grew naturally out of Scott’s 17 years of experience with the National Trust's Main Street Center as well as a background in retail and design. Scott has a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has worked for the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Agency, and was a former Executive Director for Bluffton Revitalization Inc, in Bluffton, IN.
Pre-Registration for this seminar is required by October 23 and space is limited. Cost includes meal and materials.
For information on how to sign up, please contact Sally Ruben in York at (402) 362-5531 or Elizabeth Chase with the Heritage Nebraska Main Street Program at (402) 323-7337.
From Recipe to Reality
The Food Processing Center offers 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 the following dates in 2010:
Monday, January 11
Saturday, April 10
Friday, June 4
Friday, August 20
Saturday, October 23
Need Training Dollars?
Join us for breakfast and learn from the Pros about financial incentives available to eligible Nebraska businesses.
Representatives from Nebraska Workforce Development and the Department of Economic Development will show you how you can tap into state grant money or use tax incentives to help your business grow.
Free Informational Workshop
(Continental breakfast provided)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
8 – 10:30 a.m.
(Check-in begins at 7:45 am)
SCC Continuing Education Center - Room 302
301 S. 68th Street Place • Lincoln, NE
Reservations are required due to limited seating.
Call or e-mail reservations by October 28 to Marguerite Himmelberg at 402-323-3388 • 1-800-828-0072, ext. 3388 •
mhimmelberg@southeast.edu.
Hands-on Business Plan Writing
Workshop
Topics in this workshop:
- Why it is important to have a business plan
- Elements of a complete business plan
- How to start writing a business plan
- Resources and tools to develop a business plan
- Presenting your business
WHERE: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Nebraska Union (14th and 'R' Street) Room Number posted in Lobby
WHEN: October 23th, 2009
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION: Starts at 7:45 am
COST: $10.00 fee (Cash or check at the door)
To register click here
Member News
Congrats to Dano's Specialty Salsa for the referral of new member Otoe Steakhouse. They will be receiving a $25 referral check from GROW Nebraska!
Harold Adams has a display at Graham Gallery called “North Winds” from October 3-24. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and see his work!
