What is Mystery Shopping?
Some retailers hire companies to evaluate the quality of service in their stores; they often use mystery shoppers to get the information. They instruct a mystery shopper to make a particular purchase in a store or restaurant, and then report on the experience. As a small business owner you want to know how well your…
Brian ByramsNetworking
Small businesses that support each other do better. Are you active in your local Chamber of Commerce? The Chamber of Commerce is also a goldmine of information about local economic development, trends, and policies. If you have the space to accommodate the meeting, offer to host a meeting so the members get to see your…
Point of Sale
Invented in the 1870s, the cash register was the very first “point-of-sale system” mechanizing the transfer of money. Today, small business owners are opting for something more portable: smartphones, tablets and other mobile terminals, equipped with point-of-sale apps. There are many such systems marketed to small businesses, the most popular of which include Square, LevelUp…
Small Business Highlight: Fish Scale
The Williams family – Henry, Kristal, and Brandon – wanted to offer affordable, healthy alternatives to traditional burger and fries to residents in D.C.’s historic Shaw community. Having developed several creative tasty recipes for fishburgers, and possessing backgrounds in food, health and medicine, the Williams’ had some of the ingredients for an exceptional restaurant. Nevertheless, what they lacked – a sound business strategy and funding which would prove critical to the establishment and growth of their business. How the DCSBDC…
Grow your business by teaming up with a high-profile talent or local celebrity
Joining forces with a celebrity or other high-profile individual to help promote products or services is an attractive choice for small business owners looking to break into new markets or dig deeper into their existing niches. Celebrity is, in fact, a very powerful currency. Being famous for fame’s sake has value in today’s society. Even…