GROW News
September 9, 2009
GROW Holiday Store
The GROW Nebraska Lincoln Holiday Store will be open this year from mid-October through mid-January and will be in the same location as last year in Westfield Gateway Mall. More information on how to get your product in the store will be coming soon. If you'll need more inventory to prepare remember that October is just around the corner!
Buy Local Celebrations
October 1-4, GROW Nebraska will be celebrating in the Kearney and Grand Island stores with Buy Local Celebrations! We plan to do sampling and door prizes.
If you would like to be a part of this please sign up
here. We would like to offer our members the opportunity to sample at one or both stores and to donate a door prize. This is an exciting chance to create a buzz about your business right before the holiday shopping season begins! If you have any questions about it contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
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.
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.
- September 22 - Chadron (TBA)
- September 23 - Scottsbluff - 8:30-11:30 at UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center
- September 23 - Sidney (TBA)
- 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
Would you like your product featured on TV?
GROW Nebraska has a great opportunity with NTV to have your business/products featured on the noon show. GROW members will have the chance to show off their products during a special trial TV segment. NTV would like to promote unique entrepreneurial businesses. If you are interested in having your business featured please let us know. You must be willing to go on TV and talk about your business. This is a wonderful time to get your business in the spot light!
Sign up here by September 15 to be a part of this wonderful opportunity. If you have any questions please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Berries for Sale
For sale elderberries, wild chokecherries, wild plums. Please call Travis Tjeerdsma at 605-286-3809 if you are interested.
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 October 24 in Scottsbluff. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration deadline is October 12. Please encourage potential entrepreneurs to contact Jill Gifford at 402-472-2819 or
jgifford1@unl.edu for an information packet.
New Venture Competition
Southeast Nebraska is pleased to provide you an opportunity to submit your business plan to the New Venture Competition and if selected, to win up to $20,000 equity investment into your business!!
Attached is an Informational flyer, the Rules & Guidelines and the Application which explain the competition in detail. Hurry, the deadline to submit your application and business plan – to www.investnebraska.com – is Friday, September 25!! The top 6-8 plans will then be asked to be shared at an oral presentation at Peru State College on Friday, October 9th.
We hope you will consider applying and/or share this information with others you know who are looking to start or expand their business. If you have any questions, you may contact Stephanie Shrader at 402.297.3272 or at RCEDC@windstream.net. You can also reach our office at the number/e-mail below. For more information about the competition, you’re encouraged to visit www.InvestNebraska.com.
Grandparent's Day Opportunity
Lochland Country Club and GROW Nebraska are teaming up for the second annual Grandparent’s Day/Taste of Nebraska. This will be held on Sunday, September 13, at Lochland Country Club in Hastings. This is a great opportunity for promotion and awareness of your product.
We will set up at 10:00 and the event will last from approximately 11:00-2:00. Eight-foot tables will be available for you to use or you can bring your own displays.
You have the opportunity to sell items, there will be one checkout that GROW Nebraska will handle including all sales tax. The commission split will be 75%-25%. There is no charge to participate for GROW members.
If you are interested please sign up here. If you have additional questions please contact us at info@grownebraska.org.
Creative Capital Pitch Session
Thanks to the support we’ve received in Omaha, the Silicon Prairie News Pitch Session will be making a road trip to our state’s capital to award another aspiring entrepreneur Invest Nebraska Corporation’s $1,000 prize.
In partnership with the Lincoln Young Professionals Entrepreneurship Group, Creative Capital Pitch Session III will be held at Turbine Flats, a Lincoln idea community, Thursday, October 1st.
If you’re unfamiliar with the format, it’s three rounds, and the first begins today:
Round One: Individuals upload one-minute video pitch to YouTube and complete the submission form by 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, September 23rd; eight contestants will be notified of their acceptance Thursday, September 24th
Round Two: October 1st at Turbine Flats, each contestant receives five-minutes to pitch our panel of judges and audience
Round Three: Judges choose three finalist, conduct judge-finalist Q&A, and audience votes to determine our winner
Winner takes home $1,000, no strings attached. All this is possible thanks to the support of our sponsors: Invest Nebraska Corporation, Lincoln Young Professionals Entrepreneurship Group, Archrival, Turbine Flats, and Red Bull.
Here’s a few more details followed by an FAQ. If you have additional questions, please leave a comment and we’ll promptly answer it.
Date: Thursday, October 1st
Time: Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for DJ & drinks, competition starts at 8
Location: Turbine Flats, 2124 Y St, Lincoln (map)
FAQ
Can past contestants participate?
Yes. However, previous winners are not allowed to participate.
Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes. You can submit as many as you’d like.
Do I need to name my YouTube video anything specific?
No. Name it whatever you’d like. You just need to provide us with a link in the submission form.
I want to participate but I can’t be there October 1st. If I get selected, can I submit my five minute pitch by video?
No. You’ll need to be present October 1st to participate.
Can my friend join me in my video?
Yes. In fact, all your friends can join you in your video and, if you’re selected, your pitch on the 1st.
What’s the format October 1st?
Beginning at 8:00 p.m., contestants will pitch in reverse alphabetical order. Each contestant will receive a strict five minutes (beginning the moment you speak) with a one-minute warning. After all contestants have presented, our panel of three judges will select three finalists and conduct a judge-finalist Q&A. Lastly, the audience will vote to decide the winner.
What types of ideas are accepted?
All. Whether you have the plans for a better toaster or you think you have the formula to create the best airfare search engine, we want to hear about it.
If my idea is so good why should I tell the world about it?
In the end, it comes down to execution. Consider this your first step.
Here’s your chance, submit your pitch today!
Member News
Danielle Tegtman owner of Candles by Blazin' Saddles from Stamford, Nebraska has won Sublime Artistry's FREE Web site giveaway to a GROW Member. Congrats Danielle!
GROW Job Openings
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.
