NAWBO® National

UPS Takes Its Commitments to Women Business Owners to the Next Level

nawbonational — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:15:08 +0000

Louisville is home to a thriving business community of both large and local companies.

NAWBO® corporate partner UPS is among them with its world port in the heart of Louisville. Today I am proud to announce that UPS will be the presenting sponsor of the NAWBO® Women’s Business Conference 2012. UPS has been a great partner of NAWBO® over the years and this year’s commitment to be the presenting sponsor of NAWBO®’s annual Women’s Business Conference shows the commitment UPS has to women business owners. Those who attend the October conference will have the opportunity to see just how UPS can put the power of logistics to work for them in this largest fully automated package handling facility in the world when they have the opportunity to visit! It’s really a once in a lifetime opportunity to see UPS logistics at work.

For the complete video announcement on UPS as the presenting sponsor of this year’s conference, click here.

Meanwhile, it’s a New Year and that means fresh opportunities for our members and partners. UPS has already taken advantage of the opportunity to serve as presenting sponsor of the NAWBO® Women’s Business Conference 2012, but there are plenty of other sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities for companies large and small. For more information, download the conference sponsorship prospectus here.

The year is already off to a tremendous start—thank you again, UPS, for your commitment to women business owners and to NAWBO®! I hope all of you will join me in taking advantage of the many opportunities that come your way to make 2012 the best year yet!

Happy New Year!

—Diane Tomb, President and CEO

The Excitement and Opportunities Have Only Just Begun

nawbonational — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:48:33 +0000

If you’ve ever moved (and we all have!) you know that after all the boxes are carefully packed and then unpacked, you’re left with a new energy and excitement about the opportunities that lie ahead. There are new places to explore, new relationships to build, a new mark to make. It’s a lot like how our NAWBO® National leadership feels about our organization’s move back to Washington, DC—where NAWBO® was founded and where public policy is shaped and action begins—right in time for the 2012 elections.

While I have spent most of my career in the DC political and business landscapes, I have gained a new energy and excitement as I have focused on furthering NAWBO®’s vision and mission as the voice of thousands of women entrepreneurs nationwide. Your unique needs, challenges, concerns and success as women business owners are NAWBO®’s priorities in the conversations we are having with political, business and organizational leaders. They will no doubt be key to helping us to drive changes to create opportunities for ourselves, and for the overall economy, in the coming year.

These conversations have already resulted in some exciting news. NAWBO® is partnering in 2012 with two organizations with a shared commitment to women and small business owners—the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Latino Coalition. The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. The Latino Coalition is a national organization that represents Latino interests with senior executives of many Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, both federal and local. Together, we will provide you with an unparalleled opportunity to connect with more than 600 women and small business owners and local chamber and association leaders from across the country at America’s Small Business Summit on May 21-23, 2012 in Washington, DC.

You will read more about the Small Business Summit in this issue of Focus with more details to come in the weeks ahead. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow NAWBO® National on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and check for Happening Now news updates at www.nawbo.org where you’ll hear many of these announcements first. We will be using these same online communication platforms in January to reveal the theme, sponsor news and opportunities and more for the NAWBO® Women’s Business Conference 2012, October 4-5 in Louisville, Kentucky. So stay tuned!

Meanwhile, I recently had the opportunity to travel to Indianapolis with NAWBO® Chair Evelyn Strange to take part in the local NAWBO® holiday luncheon. The turnout was impressive at 1,200 and included Governor Mitch Daniels and Olympic medal-winning athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee. It reminded me of NAWBO®’s strong presence and impact throughout the United States. A special thanks for the warm welcome we received and to NAWBO® Indianapolis President Sally Stephens and NAWBO® National Board member Billie Dragoo for inviting us to attend! Also, congratulations to event co-chairs Melissa Brown and Janet South for putting together such an amazing event.

Lastly, on behalf of the entire NAWBO® National Board of Directors and staff, I’d like to wish you a happy and healthy holiday and New Year. The excitement and opportunities for all of us in 2012 have only just begun!

—Diane Tomb, NAWBO® President & CEO

Continue to Support Small Businesses and the Companies That Support Us

nawbonational — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:49:11 +0000

As women business owners, many of us own and operate small businesses. To us, it’s no secret that we are the backbone of the U.S. economy—from mom-and-pop storefronts that anchor Main Street and define neighborhoods to high-tech start-ups that keep America on the cutting edge in this global economy. We are the powerful force that is creating two out of every three new jobs in America, helping spur economic development in communities across our country and giving millions of families and individuals the opportunity to achieve the “American dream.”

Two days after Thanksgiving marked the 2^nd annual Small Business Saturday—the day between the Black Friday (for big box sales) and Cyber Monday (for online deals) where Americans are encouraged to shop local and small to give these businesses and the local economy a boost this holiday season. NAWBO® was proud to lend support to this grassroots effort by spreading the word to our stakeholders. President Obama stepped up, too, encouraging Americans to visit or shop at local small businesses. He was seen visiting Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café in downtown Washington’s Du Pont Circle area for holiday shopping with his daughters, Sasha and Malia.

While millions of people turned out to shop small for big results on this Small Business Saturday, I’d like to encourage you to continue this support of small businesses throughout the holiday season and beyond. Additionally, I encourage you to support the companies that support us, from American Express who first introduced Small Business Saturday to the many other NAWBO® corporate partners who are tremendous resources for women and small business owners year-round—from Ameriprise Financial and Sam’s Club to UPS, Wells Fargo and Southwest Airlines. These companies know first-hand that you have to start small to grow big. (See our complete list of partners at http://www.nawbo.org/section_116.cfm. Also, check out the companies and organizations that supported Small Business Saturday at http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/)

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than 27 million small businesses are currently operating in the U.S. Your favorite restaurant is among them. Take a client to a holiday lunch there. So is our favorite gift shop. Buy something small and meaningful there for someone who referred you business this year. Even better, look for opportunities to support and refer friends and family to small businesses owned by NAWBO® members!

—Diane Tomb, President and CEO

Give Thanks for Progress and Opportunity

nawbonational — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:25:16 +0000

Earlier this year, NAWBO surveyed its members to take their pulse on the overall economy, business growth and optimism around both. While economists have said the recession is over, our members showed cautious optimism and uncertainty. At the same time, however, they were optimistic about business growth. A 62% majority believed the health of their businesses would be better and 72% believed their revenues would be higher by year-end.

As we approach the end of the year, and during this week of giving thanks, it is heartening to see that although our members have remained cautious, it has not stopped them from moving forward—from taking the necessary risks and leaps of faith to grow their business. I have heard from women who are investing in marketing, tapping into social media, innovating products, emphasizing networking and resource building, increasing efficiencies and getting more in touch with critical areas of their business. Albeit slower in most cases than in the past, they are growing.

The bigger picture tells a similar story. On Friday, I attended a briefing at the White House on women and the economy. Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Marie Johns were among the speakers. According to the Secretary of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women-owned businesses are the silver lining of today’s economy. We account for just 16 percent of total U.S. employment, however, we are the fastest-growing segment and on pace to significantly increase. In fact, there are now an estimated 8.1 million women-owned businesses, generating nearly $1.3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7.7 million people. Between 1997 and 2011, when the number of businesses in the U.S. increased by 34%, the number of women-owned firms increased by 50%—a rate 11⁄2 times the national average

Moreover, last year, a report from The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute indicated women-owned businesses are poised to become the economic job-creator for this decade—estimated to generate more than half of the 9.72 million new small business jobs expected to be created between now and 2018, as well as nearly one-third of the projected 15.3 million total new jobs.

It’s a historical time to be a woman business owner. Our progress, combined with so many exciting opportunities that still lie ahead, give us so much for which to be thankful.

—Diane Tomb, NAWBO president & CEO

Marketing Through a Recession

nawbonational — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:31:11 +0000

As a woman business owner, I know the predicament you are facing: Pull back marketing dollars and save at a time when resources are tight or stay the course to hopefully capture more market share when the economy recovers.

I was excited to share some of my thoughts on the topic this past Friday at the 5^th annual NAWBO® Day 2011 “Think Ginormous! Market Your Business” in Greater Pittsburgh. (Thank you to those local chapter leaders who invited me to be there!) That’s because even though it might seem counterintuitive at times, marketing through a recession makes good business sense.

In fact, research of past recessions in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s shows companies that spend money on marketing during a recession come out ahead as the economy rebounds. The key is to know what your customers want in this new economic frontier, how they define value and how they are responding to the recession, and then to adjust your product, pricing and marketing accordingly.

For instance, customers are more willing to postpone purchases, trade down or buy less, and must-have features of yesterday are today’s can-live-without. They want good value, reliability, durability, safety and performance. For this reason, focus on maintaining quality and servicing existing customers rather than cutting corners. Remember you can’t be all things to all people.

Economic uncertainty has also brought families and friends closer together as we realize what’s important, and this has resulted in a shift in marketing focus. Out are appeals that focus on zany humor, fear, extreme sports and rugged individualism. In are cozy hearth-and-home family scenes that make us feel connected.

Here at NAWBO®, while the economy has definitely impacted the way we think and act, we have been creative in our marketing efforts to have maximum impact at the highest value. We have identified new audiences, including women of color, younger generation and international, to expand our reach. We have taken advantage of social media platforms that are much more cost effective and can translate into increased engagement, awareness and impact. We have looked for ways to provide our chapters and members with increased value, too.

It’s exciting to think how these efforts will pay off as we, as women business owners, drive the economic change. I’d love to hear how your company is marketing through this recession. Share your comments here!

—Diane Tomb, NAWBO® President and CEO

Women Entrepreneurs, and Companies That Support Them, Continue to Innovate

nawbonational — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:03:16 +0000

At NAWBO®, we see it every day: women who are innovating to remain a step ahead of the competition, grow their businesses and make an impact in their local and state and the national economy—ultimately putting more people to work at a time when job creation so critical.

The result is a powerful and influential economic engine. According to the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, in 2011, there are an estimated 8.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., which accounts for 29% of all enterprises in the country. Nationally, the number of women-owned businesses has increased by 50% since 1997. Women-owned businesses generate $1.3 trillion in revenues and employ 7.7 million people in the U.S.

As I look around at corporations that support our women’s entrepreneurial community, it’s inspiring to see the ways in which they are innovating as well—giving even more power to women entrepreneurs as today’s economic engine.

AT&T, for example, announced last week at the Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) annual meeting in Washington, DC that its leasing subsidiary—AT&T Capital Services, Inc.—is offering small businesses interest rates as low as 5.9 percent on equipment leases, well below bank loans, which average nearly 10 percent. In addition, the company committed to doubling its small business leasing capacity over the next 18 months and tripling it over the next three years—allowing more companies to deploy new technology solutions or upgrade existing ones.

Additionally, Walmart, the parent company of NAWBO® corporate partner Sam’s Club, recently launched a Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative. By 2016, it aims to increase sourcing from women-owned businesses; empower women on farms and in factories through training, market access and career opportunities; empower women through job training and education; increase gender diversity among major supplier; and make significant philanthropic giving toward women’s economic empowerment.

Economic issues remain the No. 1 concern for Americans, but women business owners have the power and influence to impact change through innovation, growth and job creation. We at NAWBO® applaud these organizations for their support of women entrepreneurs.

—Diane Tomb, NAWBO® President and CEO

Excitement and Possibilities of a New Beginning

nawbonational — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:07:32 +0000

It’s said that excitement is contagious and I feel like since I have stepped into this position of NAWBO® President & CEO just over two weeks ago, I’ve been energized by the excitement of chapter leaders and members who have reached out to me, and sponsor partners and public policy decision makers who I’ve had the privilege of meeting. I am thankful for the gifts and notes from many of you and those of you who reached out to personally welcome me, and those of you who embraced the opportunity to meet, whether it was here in Washington, DC or on the phone from across the nation. If we haven’t yet connected, I look forward to it in the weeks and months ahead!

What’s also exciting is to see how far NAWBO® has come since it was founded in 1975, and to visualize the possibilities that lie ahead for us all. There is tremendous opportunity in so many regards. I have been so impressed with our members, women business owners’ ability to navigate through these tough economic times, and I am anxious to work with our chapters to increase resources and value to our members. In addition, I am anxious to address public policy issues that directly affect business owners and to continue to position NAWBO® as a thought leader for the women’s entrepreneurial community on a wide range of issues, including access to capital and federal procurement opportunities. I am also eager to continue to grow NAWBO®’s reach and depth of relationships with existing and new partners. The possibilities are truly endless.

I am honored to be working with this group of entrepreneurial women and our talented and dedicated NAWBO® staff and National Board members to make the very best strategic decisions for this world-class organization and set the course for unparalleled success for every one of us.

—Diane Tomb, NAWBO® President and CEO

The TIME IS NOW for us to thrive as women business owners

nawbonational — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:56:16 +0000

The Women’s Business Conference 2011 that took place in beautiful San Diego just a few short weeks ago celebrated anything but “business as usual,” as owners took advantage of the customizable, interactive format to access, influence and grow their businesses. Many women connected with NAWBO® sponsors and potential customers while learning ways to enhance service and profitability among the clients they already have. All of us were inspired by notable speakers, and other women business owners who have overcome challenges to achieve success. Now that the conference has come to a close, it’s up to all of us to implement those lessons and pass on that inspiration in our companies, communities and our life. The TIME IS NOW for us to thrive as women business owners.

This year’s conference was also groundbreaking in the forward evolution of NAWBO® as we officially introduced our incoming President and CEO Diane Tomb. Diane’s official start date is today—and I invite you to learn more about her in the official press release linked to this issue. I am sure that you will agree with me that Diane’s formidable background, diverse expertise and connections to the DC private and public arenas will enable her to take NAWBO® to its next level of success.

During the next few weeks, the National staff and I will be busy transitioning Diane into the organization. Personally, I am excited about this leadership transition, as this was one of the key priority objectives in NAWBO®’s multi-year strategic plan that we developed at the Board level. As women business owners, you certainly understand the satisfaction of turning a vision into an actionable outcome that will deliver sustainable results. Together, we have managed to transform NAWBO® to solid ground during one of the most challenging economic times in our country’s history. The result is that NAWBO® is poised for unparalleled success and growth into the future. Diane—welcome to NAWBO®!

—Helen Han, outgoing President & CEO

Behind the Lens at This Year’s Women’s Business Conference Plus, Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with One Hall of Fame Winner

nawbonational — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:37:28 +0000

This year’s NAWBO® Women’s Business Conference at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in beautiful San Diego, California, was amazing from start to finish. A very special thank you to all our sponsor partners, speakers, exhibitors and vendors who showed their unwavering commitment to women-owned businesses…and to each and every one of you who attended to tailor your conference experience and get the resources, connections and inspiration you need to grow your business to the next level. Together, I believe we are on the cusp of positively impacting this economy through growth and job creation. In fact, our conference theme really says it all: ACCESS. INFLUENCE. GROW. OUR TIME IS NOW!

For those of you who could not join us for the NAWBO® Women’s Business Conference, and for those who would like to look back at highlights, we are sharing this link to a video tour created by Kimberly A. Porrazzo, a respected Southern California-based journalist who is President of Wobwire.com and who blogged throughout the conference to share the experience with an even greater audience of women entrepreneurs.

Click here.

Also, National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15^th-October 15^th. Be sure to take this month’s opinion poll to tell us how your organization values and celebrates diversity. Plus, learn more in the article link below about Orange County, California, woman entrepreneur Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, who was honored along with three other California trailblazing women in the inaugural NAWBO® Hall of Fame Awards presented at this year’s conference, and is ranked among the top 500 Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States.

Click here.

—Helen Han, NAWBO® President and CEO

WBC Comes at Right Time When Majority Are Focused on Growth

nawbonational — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:04:55 +0000

This week, I received an additional report from the NAWBO® membership survey, sponsored by Deluxe Corporation and conducted earlier this year. It was really the right thing at the right time as our NAWBO® National team works to put the finishing touches on our Women’s Business Conference, August 31-September 1 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, California.

The report shows women business owners are ready and eager to grow their businesses. Thirty-seven percent plan to grow through expansion into new markets; 33% through increased efficiency or profitability; and 3% through a merger or acquisition. In fact, for 73 percent, business growth is their primary goal in the next three years.

Those with the strongest appetite for growth are women business owners who:

Have been in business for five years or less (82%)
Are under age 45 (81%)
Have 10 or more employees (85%)

Look for an e-blast this week with more details on the report All Systems Grow: The Growth Orientation, Leadership Focus and Social Media Marketing Practices of NAWBO® members. Meanwhile, special thanks to past NAWBO® National Board member Julie R. Weeks and her firm, Womenable, for a tremendous job of conducting the survey and analyzing the data.

The exciting news for NAWBO® members who participated in the survey—and all entrepreneurs—is this year’s conference is designed to deliver business growth opportunities at every turn in a condensed day-and-a-half format that makes it easy to take time away from your business.

From facilitated small business roundtable discussions on topics like Financial Planning For Growth, Women’s Lending Program and Logistics of Going Global to procurement roundtables on Access to Government Contracting and How to Maximize New Technologies For Your Business, we have built a conference agenda that has something for everyone—no matter your stage of and plans for future business growth. Plus, NAWBO®’s incoming President and CEO will be on hand for you to meet.

Click here to view the full conference agenda and begin planning your experience.

I am excited to share these things and more with you in just a little over two weeks. If you haven’t yet registered for the conference, I hope you’ll make the decision to join us. If you are in California, and especially in San Diego, this year’s conference is particularly accessible and affordable—be sure to invite a friend or colleague who would benefit, too!

—Helen Han, NAWBO® President and CEO