SMALL BUSINESS
SATURDAY TARGETS LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS SHOPPING -- Building on Black
Friday when most retailers do a significant amount of business, Small
Business Saturday is a campaign to urge consumers to dedicate part of
their holiday shopping to local, independently-owned small businesses.
Small Business Saturday was started by American Express in 2010. For
more information go to:
facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.
And don’t forget the BuyLocalVolusia Expo at Daytona International
Speedway December 13.
ONLINE SHOPPING
REQUIRES PRECAUTIONS – While many consumers like the convenience of
the internet for holiday shopping, there is a need to take precautions
to protect your accounts. Here are some reminders: make sure the site
where you're entering your credit card or PayPal information is secure;
shop reputable online retailers; be aware of what the vendor will do to
safeguard your credit card and personal information; check return
policies; keep your receipts; never shop using a public Wi-Fi network;
and never leave your computer unattended.
SBA OFFERS
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS FORUMS – The Small Business Administration (SBA)
is offering a Young Entrepreneur Series that includes forums about SBA’s
microloans and business counseling and training for young entrepreneurs.
For more information or to watch the forums live go to:
sba.gov/youngentrepreneurs.
Participants also can follow on Twitter using the hashtag #SBAyes.
INTERNATIONAL
MARKETING PLAN HELP AVAILABLE -- Enterprise Florida is launching a
program to provide new and infrequent exporters with international
marketing plans. Gold Keys are available upon completion of a marketing
plan. Scholarships may be available from Volusia County Economic
Development. For information contact John Kizer at Volusia County
Economic Development. He can be reached by e-mail at:
jkizer@co.volusia.fl.us or
by telephone at 386-248-8048.
AMERICAN
STANDARD OF LIVING PLUNGES -- The U.S. standard of living has fallen
longer and more steeply the past three years than at any time since the
U.S. government began recording it five decades ago. The average
individual now has $1,315 less in disposable income than three years
ago, even though the recession technically ended in mid-2009. One factor
that has led to the drop in the U.S. standard of living is stagnant
incomes. Real median income is down 9.8 percent since the start of the
recession through this June. Another factor is falling net worth, and a
third factor is rising consumer prices, with inflation eroding people's
buying power 3.25 percent since mid-2008. For more information, go to:
csmonitor.com/Business/2011/1019/A-long-steep-drop-for-Americans-standard-of-living.
FLORIDA TREND’S
PULSE OFFERS DAILY UPDATES – Florida Trend’s Daily Pulse is a free
e-newsletter from Florida's only statewide business magazine that offers
a wide-ranging look at the day's top business and political headlines
and commentary of interest to Florida executives. It is delivered each
weekday by 9 a.m. To subscribe, go to:
floridatrend.com/enewsletters.
ARE YOU ONE OF
THE 7,000 SUBSCRIBERS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY? – More than
7,000 Volusians receive the Economic Development Quarterly, published by
the Volusia County Division of Economic Development in partnership with
the Daytona Beach News-Journal. The EDQ is mailed to subscribers and is
available at several locations. To get the latest information on
economic growth in the county, or to advertise to reach prospective
customers make sure you get your issue. To get on the mailing list for
this free publication, call 386-248-8048.
NEWS ITEMS
WANTED! – Please send your business news items to Dave Byron,
Volusia County Community Information Director, 123 W. Indiana Ave.,
DeLand, 32720-4612, by fax at (386) 822-5072 or by e-mail at
dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us.
