Remaking an old-school B2B company into an e-commerce success story would not have been possible without a lot of hustle and the power of a knowledgeable network. In 2017, after Dan and Kim Hannon moved to Palm Beach County, they acquired Aabaco Environmental Industries, a spill containment and safety supply […]
Networking
2021 Florida International Trade Expo is going virtual
COVID-19 shut trade shows down, closing off one of small businesses’ largest marketing and networking channels. Even so, the shows have gone on – albeit virtually. One small business owner told me this week he was supposed to be at his industry’s largest trade show but instead he is on […]
10,000 Small Businesses: Now 526 companies strong and growing to help South Florida entrepreneurs
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at Miami Dade College program has been helping small businesses grow since the first of its 16-week training programs launched in early 2014. In late August, the entrepreneurship program kicked off its 20th cohort. So far, 526 companies have graduated from the local […]
Grit, pivots and a rallying cry: How MBF and its small business clients navigate this crisis
Michael Sellinger of Miami Bayside Foundation recalls the early days of the COVID-19 crisis checking in on small business clients and offering MBF’s help. Bayside is a nonprofit organization that mentors, holds training programs, and facilitates loans for small businesses in Miami’s underserved communities. His message: “There is nothing you can […]
Enterprise Florida to award grants for virtual international trade shows
International trade shows have gone virtual, too, and the state wants to help small businesses access the resource. Enterprise Florida announced this week that it is launching a resource to help Florida’s small and medium-sized companies safely build their international business connections. The Virtual Trade Show Grants Program will allow companies to […]
How digital marketing is helping South Florida small businesses grow
By Dan Grech / Guest Contributor Antonio Otero, D.D.S., has grown his family-owned dental practice to seven locations throughout South Florida. Like any businessperson, he was always on the lookout for ways to attract new customers. “I had joined business networking groups, advertised on radio and TV, but I still […]
Doing business with local and state governments: the pros and cons
Many small businesses that have no experience contracting with government at any level often begin with the federal market. No so fast. Federal Government Contracting Officers will look for contractors that have past experience with either state or local government contracts, said Luis Batista, procurement specialist with Florida PTAC at […]
Fewer young veterans are opening small businesses. These programs can help.
After World War II, 49.7% of returning veterans owned and operated a business. After the Korean War, that number fell to 40%. It’s been falling ever since – in 1996, just 12.3% of young veterans were small business owners. And today, only 5.6% of post-9/11 veterans have taken the entrepreneurial […]
Get out from behind the screen and start connecting IRL: Double tap if you agree
GrowBiz host’s note: GrowBiz has run a number of articles on growing a customer base, finding partners and public relations. Many of the experts cited old-fashioned networking as critical to success in all these areas of growing a small business. I reached out to an expert in this for her […]
Everyone wants to hire veterans but are they doing it?
Most small business want to hire veterans, but few are actively trying to do it. Those are the findings of a large small business survey out this week. This quarter, the MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index surveyed small businesses about their experience in hiring and retaining […]