Letter from the Editor

The Business Alliance Business Expo is rapidly approaching, please mark your calendars: August 27th from 6-8 p.m., $10 for guests at the Cardinal Club. Please call Vickie Nelligan should you require any additional information!

After twelve years of being a Triangle resident I have made the decision to move to Nags Head, NC during this fine month of August - the ocean, national travel and a change of pace calls. I have enjoyed being a part of the BA and working with the great and capable staff at the Capital City Club. Lee Heinrich has been a constant supporter and friend. I have met some wonderful people during my participation with the club, thank you for your friendship. But in lieu of this new development we are now seeking a new BAG Editor. Interested parties lease contact Lee Heinrich at leeheinrich@nc.rr.com.

BAG Editor

Parameters: the BAG is published 6 times a year: February, April, June, August, October and December. Our BAG publisher, Daniel Trimpey, will continue as publisher in 2009.

Skill Set: organization, content editing, collaborating

Editorial Duties: Work directly with the publisher to publish 6 newsletters a year.

• option to include a letter from the editor or editorial column in each/some BAG issues
• current BAG format includes
  • by-line columns (submitted by Associate Editors)
  • 4 assistant editors alternate to provide 2 columns per issue
  • up coming BA events (submitted by BA chair or designee)
  • updates on Futures for Kids (our community service project)
  • Partner announcements (achievements, celebrations submitted by Partners to Editor)
  • a list of new Partners/Associates (submitted by Vickie Nelligan)

Publisher maintains Distribution List (with assistance of Vickie Nelligan) and posts the completed newsletters.

I'd like to finish with a few shout-outs. Cathy Butler, you have been a pleasure to work with. Your compassion and attentiveness is a true gift to those who come to know you. Vickie, thank you for your capable follow through and positive attitude. Karl, I've enjoyed our exchanges - wishing you and the club continued success. Daniel Trimpey, I've appreciated our working relationship and your consistent dependability and perseverance.

Best wishes to everyone.

Warm Regards,
Jean Wiley
Editor in Chief

Become a coach now!

August Issue 2008

View Past Issues Here

View the BA Directory

Send your company announcements to Jean Wiley to go in the next Grapevine!

Happenings

Business Connection Expo

Spa services, jewelry, men’s and women’s custom tailored clothing, amazing gifts, travel and leisure, health and beauty products, fashion eye wear, home décor, professional photography…sports, business consulting, business services including printing, IT, financial, insurance, and real estate.

Take advantage of this opportunity to see, hear about and even buy great products and advantageous business services in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Remember Business Alliance Partners offer preferred customer pricing to Club Members!

• Great Door Prizes
• Hors d’oeurves & soft drinks (cash bar)

Survivor’s Murder Mystery Night – a Charity Mystery Event

Pirates, Mean Girls, Moonshiners, Wall Streeters – you never know who just might be at the Business Alliance Fall Social! There will be a ‘murder’ to be solved, a sprinkling of ‘reporters’ to capture the news, Trivial Pursuit to be won with accumulated investigation clues and a charity to help. Don’t miss the adventure! Complimentary hors d’oeurves and wine.

Please bring non-perishable food items for the Food Bank of North Carolina.

If it’s so Simple, Why Don’t I Just Do It?

Have you ever noticed that the longer we are in business the less there is we haven’t heard or read before about growing and managing our business? But for some reason we don’t do all the things we know to do to gain the business success we desire. Bill Davis of Team Nimbus will explore a few simple principles of success to help us breakthrough our procrastination and get in action for the success we want. Bill says there is seldom a “Silver Bullet”, but everyone should discover at least one thing in this presentation that will make a difference for them.

BA Member Announcements

Vickie Nelligan announces that Whisperingdove Creations has launched its brand new web site at www.whisperingdovecreations.com. Vickie creates beautiful and unique airbrush painted glass ornaments for the Holidays. Single ornaments nestled in special holiday gift boxes make a wonderful gift for a hostess, teacher, or co-worker. Or if you choose a 6 or 12 ornament package, the ornaments are housed in a handcrafted hardwood keepsake chest with velvet or satin sleeves to cradle each ornament. Please visit the Whisperingdove Creations web site to see examples of her craft. And Vickie says if you like what you see, please share the site with others! www.whisperingdovecreations.com

Charlie Fortune owner of The Tailored Look is training to run the Nike Marathon, a 26.2 mile endurance event on October 19,2 008 (San Francisco, CA) Join his team to raise funds for research, cure and patient support for leukemia and other blood cancer. Thank you for your support and encouragement!http://pages.teamintraining.org/nce/mikesf08/cfortune

Dr. Gail Hayes, "The Success and Empowerment Strategist" has founded the "Handle Your Business Girl Empowerment Network," which meets the third Saturday of every month. For more information - http://www.handleyourbusinessgirl.com. Dr. Hayes has also been asked to be an official blogger for the NC 17 website. http://www.drgailhayes.com / drgail@drgailhayes.com.

Sarah M. Place, President & CEO of Place Trade Financial, Inc., [Member FINRA, SIPC], (www.placetrade.com), a full service financial services and online trading firm, announced that Krista Giles has joined the firm in the new downtown Raleigh branch office. In this position, Ms. Giles will work closely with Financial Advisors, oversee client service issues and handle special projects for senior management while participating in Place Trade’s internship program. A native of Havelock, NC, Ms. Giles currently resides in Raleigh, NC where she is an honors student at Meredith College and will receive her bachelor’s degree in Accounting in May 2009. krista@placetrade.com

BP Studios, a leading provider of marketing and web technology services, is pleased to announce the opening of a satellite office in Wilmington, NC. This new sales office will focus on promoting a portfolio of services geared toward nearby and local, small to midsized businesses, non-profits and entrepreneurs by offering such services as identity branding, websites, application development, marketing collateral and interactive media. The firm’s new office is in addition to their existing headquarters in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Their portfolio boasts a diverse client base and they are well recognized in the Research Triangle area having won both the Cary Chamber and Raleigh Chamber Small Business of the Year awards. www.bpstudios.com

Jean Wiley, Trainer, Speaker and Coach, signed a publishing contract with PublishAmerica. Her second book, "Sweet Dreams for Sydney," is a book to help children dissipate nightmares. Anticipated publish date is December 2008. Jean is also teaching a number of "Flawless Consulting" programs based on Peter Block's book, in Irvine, CA and Topeka, KS this Fall. She will also be teaching Customer Service Communications at Virginia Tech during the Fall and Spring semesters. www.jeanwiley.com / 919.601.2420

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Attention All Business Alliance Members!

Here's your chance to support a great event and promote your services too.

Delores McNair, owner of Married and Complete and DPM Solutions is speaking at the GCW Conference 2008 which is just around the corner and limited sponsorship and vendor opportunities remain. The purpose of this event is to enrich the lives of women. Sponsorship info Business Alliance members receive full sponsor benefits with a 20% discount off listed rates! Calling all ladies to meet me at the Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh, NC on August 16, 2008. For sponsorship information - http://www.marriedandcomplete.com/pb/wp_3c8c9ef0/wp_3c8c9ef0.html

Delores McNair owner of Married and Complete and DPM Solutions, would like to invite the ladies for a refreshing, enriching and anointed time of fellowship. The theme is "Tea For Me"- You've been serving everyone else, when will you serve yourself? The day includes an all you can eat buffet, games, empowerment information and a life-changing message. Plus combined prize giveaways valued at over $1000. And ladies be ready to shop. You'll have the opportunity to browse a variety of products and services. Registration is just $35 MC/Visa, check, MO accepted. Register online and save $5! Call (919) 620-6747 to register or click here to register online. Location: Brier Creek Country Club, Raleigh NC. When: Saturday, August 16, 2008 11am to 4pm.
To register - http://www.marriedandcomplete.com/pb/wp_f3b9238e/wp_f3b9238e.html

Our Newest Members…

• Moddition, Inc - Barry Collin (Consulting)
• Healing Waters - Med Spa Kelli Todd (Spa Services)
• The Perfect Purse - Lynn Morris Carter (Gifts)
• Prudential Carolinas Realty - Justin Mascho Associate Partner (Real Estate)
• Eolus Inc. - Phyllis Weldon (Consulting)
• Arts Artum LLC - Phyllis Weldon (Art, Music, Entertainment)
• Wearever - Janine Scurfield (Clothier)
• Dragonfly Designs - Dawn Shaw (Jewelry)
• Redd Lady Design - Kay Parks (Interior Decorating & Design)
• Take Shape For Life - Athena K. Delmontie (Health / Counseling)

Featured Articles

Bridging Ideas Into Solutions

Our favorite non-religious holiday is Independence Day, celebrating the Declaration of Independence, which declared freedom from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

In 1776, America was an agricultural economy, with levels of productivity that lagged significantly behind most of Western Europe. Since then, on a very consistent basis, the United States has increased living standards and wealth. Today, US GDP is more than double the next largest country (Japan), and no country is as powerful – economically or militarily.

This nation is blessed with abundant natural resources, ports and an agreeable climate. But, the number one attribute of economic success is freedom, which allows people to find and exploit their own God-given talents. This freedom creates a sense of adventurism and entrepreneurship that many other societies strive to emulate. It also breeds optimism, which has been consistently reinforced by more than two centuries of success.

Despite this history, Pouting Pundits of Pessimism refuse to let go of their doom and gloom. And rarely has this pessimism been as widespread or unrepentant as it is currently. It’s as if the longer the pessimists are wrong, the more they are convinced they are about to be right.

It is true that this can also be said of optimists. They also tend to dig in their heels and fight against bad news when it comes. But the big difference, at least when it comes to America, is that the optimists have been right.

The past ten months are a perfect test case. At the beginning of the so-called “sub-prime crisis,” forecasts of recession (even depression) became commonplace. Housing was supposed to drag the consumer into the abyss, credit problems were supposed to undermine small businesses, the financial markets were supposed to seize up, and to top it off, energy prices have climbed sharply.

But the economy has not cooperated. Excluding home building (which is now roughly 4% of the economy); real GDP has expanded at a 3.3% annualized rate in the past three quarters. Including the effects of housing, total real GDP grew 0.6% at an annual rate in Q4-2007 and 1.0% in Q1-2008. Moreover, Q2-2008 real GDP growth will likely accelerate to a 2%+ growth rate. Never in history has a recession been declared with GDP data like this.

And despite collapsing consumer confidence, real consumption is up at a 3.1% annual rate in the past three months, while shipments of “core” capital goods (which exclude defense and aircraft) are up at a 9.4% rate. Meanwhile, at long last, home sales appear to be bottoming.

One would think that this data would end some of the more intense pessimism, but not so. In just the past few days, Washington Post’s Steven Pearlstein, and the Bank for International Settlements released a very pessimistic outlooks on the US economy. But, monetary policy is easy, tax rates are still low, and productivity is strong. These conditions create growth, not contraction.

Branding for Small Businesses

A teacher of mine once proposed this question to the class, “When you are in the car, and the vehicle that pulls up next to you is a shiny, white, brand new Lexus, who do you assume is the driver?” My entire class agreed on a wealthy woman.

That was the day I learned about stereotyping. Why is it that a group of 11 and 12 year old students are already making preconceived notions based on brand name alone? It all has to do with branding. Our society functions in a way that we can’t help but to link brand names with the quality of the product or service.

Wikipedia defines this idea of branding, or a brand, as, “a symbolic embodiment of all the information connected to a company, product or service. A brand serves to create associations and expectations among products made by a producer.”

Obviously, correlating vehicle makers with one’s economic class is a far fetched scenario when dealing with businesses that are not exactly known world-wide or nationally for that matter. This is why brand recognition and company name association, even at a local level, can play a huge part in running a successful business.

It may seem like making a name for your locally-owned, small business is impossible, but it’s really not. The idea of branding a small business is as easy as having one satisfied customer or client. Yes, one. Word of mouth plays a huge role in this concept.

If one customer leaves your business completely happy and satisfied with the product or service provided, he or she may recommend you to a friend. With the buzz circulating around about the quality of your company, it’s likely that this could lead to a boost in sales. Happy clients equal brand loyalty, which leads to people who act as brand ambassadors for your company or product.

In branding, it’s also very important to recognize and be aware of your clients’ requests. In understanding your clients and letting them know you do, you are successfully building a positive business-client relationship. These encouraging relationships will build onto your company’s image. Creating and maintaining these relationships with clients will eventually establish credibility for your company.

These relationships will build trust among your company. Having the word “trust-worthy” linked to your business’ name doesn’t seem like a bad start, does it? While it may not be “Lexus” associated with “wealthy,” trusting is an excellent start for a small business.

Naturally, there will always be competitors out there selling the exact same product or service, however, if it’s your company that has established and maintained a good reputation, who do you think will get the business?

Of course it’s not just about getting a customer or client to choose your business over the competitors. Within this concept, the idea is to ultimately get your clients to think of your business as the only resolution for their problems. If the presumed relationships with clients and the brand name affiliation is carried on from one satisfied customer to another, it becomes likely that your business will seem better than the others. Therefore, attaching an uplifting word to the name of your business is a great start in creating a brand for your company.

Most recently, Lorana was named an Impact Woman Business Owner by Business Leader magazine. She sat on the board of directors for the AAF - Raleigh Durham as the public service co-chair and is currently on the advisory board for the Achievement Academy of Durham.

Prior to founding Holy Cow Branding, Lorana Price attended NCSU, where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in public and interpersonal communication. She lives in Cary, NC with her husband, two sons and pet parrot. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening and taking in the occasional nap.