The WOB Report (6-29-12): Dell Women Entrepreneur Network Conference, NAWBO, The Workshop at Macy's

Woman-owned: The magazine

Feels a little self-serving, but here goes...

I'm trying to bring a decade of experience telling the stories of women business owners into a magazine called Woman-owned. This is the video I created for my project on www.kickstarter.com. Sharing it with you here.

** I personally invite you to subscribe to this blog by clicking on the "subscribe link," upper right. And check out our news hub for women-owned businesses at WOBmedia.com.

Entrepreneur tips from the pros, via DailyCandy

Had to share this video, produced by DailyCandy. I received their "daily" (obviously) email today and it included information on how to enter their "Start Small, Go Big." contest. The winners get a day in New York City, hosted by DailyCandy, in which they spend invaluable time with successful entrepreneurs who tell them how they did it and offer tips on how attendees can do the same.

The video below is a snapshot of what the experience was like for last year's winners. Very cool.

** I personally invite you to subscribe to this blog by clicking on the "subscribe link," upper right. And check out our news hub for women-owned businesses at WOBmedia.com.

Fast Company's 'League of Extraordinary Women'

One of my favorite magazines, Fast Company, has released its list of 60 women it claims are impacting our world through their work at their corporate jobs, nonprofits they have founded, or through their own companies. Some of the names will be familiar, others not so much. But they are all interesting and inspiring. Even though many don't own their own companies, their passion and strategies for success will resonate with any of us who do.  Enjoy the read.

** I personally invite you to subscribe to this blog by clicking on the "subscribe link," upper right. And check out our news hub for women-owned businesses at WOBmedia.com.

Women-owned firms now hiring

If you're in the job market, your next employment opportunity just might be working for a woman-led company. According to the recently released report, "Small Business: Lessons of the Recession," which analyzed how more than 500 woman-owned business weathered the Great Recession, more women-owned firms are now hiring staff, compared to those who are reducing headcount. Forty-five percent report that, compared to their lowest quarters during the recession, they are now increasing their staff size. Less than 10 percent say they are cutting jobs.

Source: http://www.nfib.com/wobstudy

During the recession, most women-owned firms employed cost-cutting measures to survive the turbulent economy (45 percent), while fewer opted for strategies to increase sales, according to the study. Of those focused on increased sales, more than half tapped into their current customer base to add revenue, rather than seeking new accounts. Today, however, most women business owners say their sales are still lower than prior to the start of the recession in 2007.

“During the recession, women-owned small businesses did the best they could with the few choices they had available to remain open for business, and they’re stronger today for it,” said Patricia Greene, Chairwoman of the Center for Women’s Business Research. “The real silver lining is that their resiliency provides valuable lessons on how today’s business owners can adapt to challenges.”

And what a difference a few years makes. Prior to the recession, just four percent of women-owned companies had implemented social media marketing, compared to the 56 percent today who claim the strategy is a very important part of their marketing.

Finally, women claim they are working harder than ever before, with 41 percent reporting they continue to work more than they did at the peak of the Great Recession.

The survey was a joint effort by Chase Card Services, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Center for Women's Business Research.

The WOB Report: June 13, 2012

Reporting live from "CrowdFundingLive" in L.A.

The first crowd-funded baby was born a few months ago, according to Dr. Latishia Wright, who is at this minute emceeing the first CrowdFundedLive conference taking place at the Radisson Hotel near LAX. About 100 people are gathered on the top floor of the hotel (with airplanes landing on runways on either side of us) to learn how to raise money for their businesses with crowd funding. The conference organizers, Aggie Kobrin and her two partners, are hosting the event which coincides with their new business launch, a crowd funding platform specifically for women-owned businesses.

A stellar panel is assembled.

"Crowd funding is grounded in our desire for social experiences," says Carl Esposito of crowdSourcing.org. The model for funding has changed dramatically, he says. We are no longer just passive consumers of content. The concept of group funding really took hold in the late 1990s. An example, one that my family participated in, was the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. (I remember my father sending a few dollars to Lee Iacocca for his foundation.)

The reasons for all the interest in this idea are the previous restrictions on the amount of money raised and the tons of expense involved in paying all the related fees. In April the Jobs Act was passed, which changes everything. You can now raise up to $1 million through crowd funding.

There are currently 452 CrowdFundingLive platforms, according to a study by crowd sourcing.org. The organization believes that by the end of the year there will be 530 portals you might select from to fund your venture. Esposito says there are four basic platforms: equity, lending, reward and donation.

Platform operators are now creating niche platforms such as Kobrin's, which will focus on women-owned ventures.

The Jobs Act requires you provide a business plan, background check, valuation analysis, tax returns, etc. in order to do it all legally.

I'll post another update soon.

CrowdFundingLive.com can help you fund your idea

So looking forward to attending a unique event tomorrow: CrowdFundingLIVE; (June 9 at the Radisson Hotel at LAX)

What is "crowd funding?" It's a new way to fund your project. In short, as CrowdFundingLive co-founder Aggie Kobrin explains in the video below, it's about asking for a little bit of money from a lot of people. Watch the video for a more complete explanation. Venture capital is hard to come by. An IPO is a lot of red tape. As a result, crowd funding is catching on like wildfire.

Carley Roney, co-founder of The Knot shares her story with Dell

I used to have a Dell, until I bought my new 21.5-inch iMac. While I love my Mac, I have to give Dell credit for talking to women business owners in their marketing, bringing them valuable insight into the success stories of some very notable female entrepreneurs and executives. Between hosting conferences and providing a microsite that is inspiring, the company is supporting a market they understand is important to them.

Listen to Carley Roney, co-founder of The Knot, talk to Ingrid Vanderveldt about her company's growth and dependence on technology.