We attended Amy’s Baking Company’s grand reopening on Tuesday night, in light of their recent PR nightmare, to get a firsthand account of whether or not a local business can rebound from overwhelmingly bad press.

Walking up to Amy’s Baking Company last night, the first thing I noticed were the rent-a-cops, about three or four of them, standing guard outside their front door.

Clearly, Samy and Amy Bouzaglo were expecting some sort of confrontation from all the “haters” they so publicly blamed for bullying them online.

But, they needn’t have worried because there were only a few curious onlookers calmly watching from a safe distance, undoubtedly hoping to see a meltdown, or at least hear one coming from within the restaurant’s walls.

My co-worker Kendra Hillman and I initially did have a legitimate 5:15 p.m. reservation for Amy’s Baking Company’s grand reopening, which had been confirmed twice by Jason Rose’s PR firm, Rose+Moser+Allyn.

Then, in a twist on Tuesday night that we were not too happy about, we were told “all media-related persons, including bloggers,” were not allowed at the grand reopening and our reservation had been canceled.

Banning all media from your “grand reopening?” We couldn’t believe it. Nothing says, “We stand behind our food” like trying to prevent reviews of it.

Since we’d promoted our attendance heavily on Twitter, even making up our very own hashtag for the event, (#livefromamys), we thought we’d at least live tweet from next door to the scene at Pita Jungle, (which meant we had to change our hashtag to #livefromnextdoortoamys). After a glass of wine at Pita Jungle, however, we decided that live tweeting from next door to Amy’s was just not good enough. 

No Release Form, No Table

Instead, we thought, why not play dumb and act like we thought our 5:15 reservation was still good? That would never work, of course… but there’s no harm in trying, right?

The PR girl, Sara, who was handling the reservations at the door, seemed a little confused as to why we weren’t on the list. But when we showed her an email confirming our reservation, she didn’t question it at all and ushered us right in. (We ever-so-slyly didn’t show her the other email we had canceling that reservation.)

We did have to sign a release form before we were seated that granted Amy’s Baking Company the right to film us for “marketing material” that they plan to use on social media. They had a video crew there filming us as we ate, drank, and looked at desserts. They were also snapping pictures of people with Samy.

For a grand reopening, I have to say, it was very controlled. Some might say contrived. We were the first customers in there and only one of seven tables for at least an hour and a half. At max, I think 12-13 tables were filled, and there were always at least one or two tables open.

They could have used this night as an opportunity to show their customers who they truly are as small business owners, chefs, and, ultimately, people. Instead, they unfortunately wanted to keep their reopening very small, private, unpublicized, and, potentially, full of “PR plants” as people on Twitter were surmising.

The Food: No Special Orders!

But enough about the ambiance, let’s talk about the food. Kendra and I ordered the white pizza with goat cheese and we tried (unsuccessfully) to order the infamous red pepper ravioli that Gordon Ramsay said was the most confusing ravioli dish he had ever tasted.

But, since Kendra and I were sharing the dish, I asked if the bacon that came on top of the ravioli could be placed on the side. (I’m a vegetarian and she is not.) Our server went to give Samy our order (yes, he still inputs all orders), and we quickly watched (in, admittedly excited delight) as Amy came out of the kitchen looking just a little too upset about my bacon-on-the-side request.

Were we about to watch one of Amy’s epic explosions? Not exactly. But I did hear her say, looking pretty irritated, “No special orders!” to both Samy and the server. Is this because she didn’t want to accommodate a special request or because the sauce was pre-made with bacon, making any special requests impossible?

Samy and the server then both came over to me and said that they cannot do the red pepper ravioli without the bacon because it would affect the “sweet and spiciness” of the dish, but could they interest me in the spinach ravioli instead?

So that’s what we went with and the food came out in a normal amount of time – there was no insane wait like we all saw on Kitchen Nightmares. We both thought that the pizza was pretty darn good. If we wanted to be hyper-critical, we could say that the crust was very thin (no, it wasn’t soggy) and the cheese was very thick – but we both happen to be big cheese fans, so we were happy with it.

The ravioli, on the other hand, was another story. They tasted like a store-bought item. They reminded me of something you’d get from the frozen section at Trader Joe’s – and if that were the case, you’d be perfectly happy with them. But it doesn’t quite work when they’re supposed to be homemade and don’t come with an affordable Trader Joe’s price tag. For $15, we were incredibly underwhelmed.

Of course, we had to get dessert, especially since it was the only thing Gordon Ramsay praised Amy for. All of her desserts on display looked nothing less than amazing and were beautifully presented. It was very hard to choose.

I went with the “candy bar” dessert and found it to be absolutely delicious. Kendra thought the same of her white chocolate coconut dessert. We asked Samy specifically if all of Amy’s desserts were homemade, and he replied simply with, “Of course!” If that’s the truth, desserts are an area in which Amy not only does well, but excels.

Samy: A Gracious Gangster 

Samy, I must say, worked the room hard last night. He was a great host. Polite, nice, and always on top of what was going on. He even bought Kendra and I a glass of wine “on the house.” It was hard to believe, and almost sad, that this was the same Samy who pushed a customer for complaining about his pizza taking over an hour to be served.

The only possible hint of the Samy we saw on television came when the bell rang a few times (which means an order is up), and the server didn’t get to it fast enough. “You, you!!” he yelled, “The bell is ringing!” Which prompted the server to run over and take the order to the table.

Another interesting moment came when we (allegedly) saw a server or bus boy get fired mid-shift. We think we heard Samy complaining about a few things the guy had done wrong, then after a quick chat with him, the server walked out still wearing his apron.

We watched him walk to his car and he never returned during the nearly three hours we were there. We asked our server if he had gotten fired and she told us that he went home to take a shower and would be returning. That didn’t quite make sense to us… but, like I said, it was hard to hear in the restaurant, so we can’t say with 100% certainty that he got fired. Perhaps he truly did feel the sudden urge to bathe mid-shift and returned to the restaurant fresh and clean some point after we’d gone home.

The Tips… What About the Tips!

You know we had to ask our server (before tipping her) if she would be the one keeping it. She told us yes, that she absolutely does get to keep her tips, but that she would have to share a portion of it with the bus boys. She said she was head (and only) server working. The bus boys were there to refill water glasses and clear plates.

Overall, the new servers and bus boys were very nice, but very nervous. This could have been because it was their first night, or because the camera crew was constantly filming, or because of all the drama that has gone down at Amy’s in the last couple of weeks. Regardless, we have no complaints about them, as they were great and we hope they truly did receive the tip we left.

The Verdict

Overall, Amy’s Baking Company’s grand reopening went well, but did seem very controlled by not only Samy, but the PR firm that represented them up until last night. (Rose+Moser+Allyn represented Amy’s for about five days total.)

The pizza was good, the dessert amazing, and Amy and Samy were on their best behavior (aside from Amy’s mild bacon tantrum.)

It was interesting that they banned media to try to prevent people from reviewing the opening, yet had their own camera crew there to document the night. It’s clear they wanted to tell their story on their own terms, and didn’t want any personal accounts out.

One of the PR girls even thanked us for not live-tweeting from the restaurant as one of the other diners had been. (We’d planned on it but didn’t want to risk getting kicked out.)

She even pointed the “live-tweeter” out to us as if he had been doing something wrong. It was a strange moment because, not only were they clearly monitoring Twitter for comments, but they were actually irritated that someone would be trying to let the world know what they were experiencing at the reopening.

I think if you’re ready to have a “grand reopening,” you should be ready to face everything, the good and the bad, and that includes all the tweets, Facebook posts, news articles, and blog posts that come along with it.

As we all know, Amy and Samy were very vocal about the “online bullies” who “bashed” their restaurant and food for what they claim are unjustifiable reasons. They even went as far to donate 10% of the proceeds of last night’s reopening to an organization that helps prevent online bullying, giving the impression that they were the victims in all of this, not the customers or the waitstaff.

But, didn’t Amy and Samy, in some way, become online bullies themselves by trying to prevent real reviews of their restaurant from hitting the internet?

Attending the grand reopening was fun and interesting – and we got a great meal out of it – but, overall, it was unsettling. If you didn’t know the story behind Amy’s Baking Company, Amy and Samy would appear to be extremely passionate small business owners who work very hard at what they do.

Yet, with such negative publicity coming at them from all angles from their crazy past behavior, I have no idea if their restaurant can be salvaged. Will the public be able to forgive them enough to continue coming to their restaurant long after the curiosity seekers have moved on? More importantly: Do they deserve to be forgiven?

These are questions I can’t answer. For myself, though, I know I wouldn’t go again simply because I don’t want to support people who could treat their customers and staff that way. I wanted to attend the opening so I could report on it for our blog, which probably makes me reprehensible in some way as well.

I will admit, though, that the thought of never having that candy bar dessert again makes me die a little inside. Thankfully, half of it is still waiting for me in my fridge at home, a deliciously bittersweet testament to Amy’s talent, sadly overshadowed by her temperament.

Share: Would you have attended Amy’s Baking Company’s grand reopening?

Related articles

• The Amy’s Baking Company Saga Is Only Going to Get Weirder
• Amy’s Baking Company Reopens Tuesday to a Sold Out Crowd
• Fired waitress ‘dishes’ on Amy’s Baking Company
• Amy’s Baking Company Cancels Press Conference Under Lawsuit Threat From Gordon Ramsay’s Production Company
• Amy’s Epic Meltdown Part Two: Grand Reopening of Amy’s Baking Company!
• Proving You Can Never Have Too Much Crazy, Amy’s Baking Company Reopening Is Sold Out

Great news! For the first time in over a year, small businesses feel positive about their current situation, says The Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, a quarterly survey of U.S. small business owners. [Tweet this]

The report found that 53% of small business owners expect their cash flow to be good or somewhat good over the next 12 months. [Tweet this] This is a significant improvement from last January, when only 41% said they expected cash flow to be good or somewhat good.

Marc Bernstein, Wells Fargo head of small business, had even more positive news to share: “Small business owners now have stronger cash flow than at any time since the start of the Great Recession,” he said. [Tweet this]

Marc went on to say, “While we are seeing measured signs of recovery, and businesses in general continue to improve their balance sheets, small business owners are still uncertain about the future.”

The report shows that the majority of small business owners worry most about attracting new customers and business, which keeps them from expanding or making upgrades. “They’re focused on generating more steady sales and many are holding off making investments in their business until that happens,” Marc says.

Let’s Keep Those Numbers Rising!

With small business owners feeling cautiously optimistic about their profit this year, it makes us wonder (and hope) if the shop local movement is gaining traction.

Could it be that more and more people are not only realizing the importance of keeping their dollars local, but doing something about it?

Whether people are just shopping more in general or if there’s a concentrated movement to support local businesses, let’s keep it going!

Follow these seven steps to help keep your profit on the rise this year — and beyond!

1. Establish a strong presence on both Facebook and Twitter if you haven’t already. Consider also looking into other sites that would be beneficial to your business, like Pinterest, Instagram, and Foursquare.
2. Tweet the stats above to help educate your customers and social media followers on why it’s so important for them to choose local over big-box retailers.
3. Use the images and tweetable stats in this link to show those in your community what a huge difference their dollars can make.
4. Join a local association in your area, like Local First, for great networking opportunities, small business support and resources, and much more!
5. Make it your goal to try a new marketing technique this year, whether it’s blogging for your business, trying your hand at email marketing, or direct mail marketing.
6. Give your customers a way to purchase your products online so you’re able to sell 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
7. Hire local vendors for your small business needs and choose local businesses for your personal purchases.

Following these steps will help you gain new customers, increase your online and offline exposure, make valuable connections, and become more ingrained in your local community overall.

Small business owners: How is 2013 looking for you?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Entrepreneurs See Brighter Days for Their Business, Not the Economy
• The Perks of Being a Small Business Owner, In Pictures
• Join the Ultimate Local Business Directory
• Small Businesses: They Do a Body Good
• Wal-Mart: Bringing Poverty to a City Near You

I hate to be the one to have to say it, but Kermit the Frog is a liar.

A liar who has been spreading his environmentally unfriendly message of eco hate since the early 70s.

Well, guess what, Kermie? It IS easy being green.

And with a few simple changes, going green can help small business owners reduce costs and maximize resources regardless of whether they work from home, a store, or an office.

What’s the lesson here? Never trust a talking frog with a beer belly.

(What? You really thought he got that gut from eating inchworms?)

Read on to learn why your small business should make going green a priority and get some great energy-saving tips while you’re at it!

Going Green = Saving Money

You’ve probably spent a lifetime believing going green is a bad thing thanks to a frog who sang and danced his lies right into your subconscious.

Not anymore.

Being green is actually more than a good thing; it’s a great, money-saving thing… and guess what? It’s easy! (According to a source that is slightly more credible than a Muppet.)

Forbes says, “One of the best ways to streamline small business costs throughout the supply chain is to go green.”

So how do you get started? Forbes suggests using tools provided by the Small Business Administration to calculate energy savings in the following categories: lighting, heating, cooling, and office equipment.

Using these tools and following their energy-saving tips will help you quickly turn your small business into a green-friendly establishment.

Kermie Will Pay for His Lies

Now that you know you can save money and the environment by becoming energy efficient, it’s time to really stick it to the frog.

Here are four EASY energy-saving tips for your small business:

1. Use energy-saving light bulbs in your office (home offices count!) to save a little cash. According to the Energy Star website, “[An Energy Star-qualified light bulb] uses about 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and lasts at least 6 times longer.”
2. Install caulking and weather-stripping to save a significant amount of money. “According to the Energy Star program, most people could save about 20% on their heating and cooling costs by sealing up air leaks,” says Mother Earth News. Don’t know how? Here’s a tutorial.
3. Have air conditioning and heating units tuned regularly. Yes, having an inspection done on your AC unit will cost you a little upfront, (local contractors often offer affordable yearly plans) but it could end up saving you a substantial amount in the long run. Why? Potential issues will be identified before they can turn into costly problems.
4. Turn off lights and unplug appliances to save energy and lower costs. Every night before you leave the office, make sure all lights are off and any appliances (like printers, computers, TVs, coffee makers, and lamps) have been unplugged. If you don’t want your office going completely dark for the entire night, Energy.gov suggests using sensors, timers, and other automatic lighting controls.

See? Being green is easy — and it doesn’t cost much either! Now see if you can listen to Kermie sing his message of eco hate without being brainwashed again:

What are your favorite energy-savings tips for the office?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Seven sustainable fun facts
• Energy-savings appliances and electronics for Earth Day
• 10 Things You Should Be Doing to Significantly Lower Your Business’ Utilities Bills
• No More No-Shows: Get People to Keep Appointments
• Join the Ultimate Local Business Directory

There’s a new study out proving that behind every good man in your target market is a woman – and she’s the one who most likely holds the purchasing power for both sexes.

According to the second annual SheSpeaks/Lippe Taylor Women’s Buying Behavior Index online shopping study, which polled 2,152 women about their buying habits and future purchasing plans, men aren’t the ones making their own purchases a (strangely large) portion of the time.

Women are the primary shoppers for their husband or boyfriend in the following categories:

• 71% apparel
• 69% grooming products
• 51% travel
• 39% technology products
• 29% financial products and services
• 18% cars

Wait. What? 71% of men cannot buy their own clothes? 69% of men can’t buy their own grooming products?

Am I the only one who is a little bit concerned that without women to buy these items, men would never get dressed again, let alone bathe with anything other than water?

If anything, at least we can now say it’s a scientific fact that women wear the pants in a relationship. And let’s be honest, they’re the ones who probably bought them too.

Should You Market to the Ladies (Who Are Buying for the Men)?

For local business owners, loving the ladies should be all in a day’s work. In other (non-misconstruable) words, having a female-friendly marketing message can help you reach the women who are buying products not only for themselves, but men too.

Grow Smart Biz says, “Even if you sell products and services for men, you need to take women into account, since women are buying just about everything for men (and, if not actually buying, most likely having input into the decision). When you picture your target customer, picture his wife or girlfriend, too, and target specific marketing messages to her.”

What Else Are the Ladies Doing These Days?

Another finding in the study, which may not come as a surprise, is that most women are doing their product research online.

What did come as a surprise, though, were the stats that revealed brick-and-mortar stores no longer have the stronghold on purchases.

When it comes to researching products:

• 71% of women said they use their desktop/laptop
• 18% of women chose a mobile phone or tablet
• 6% of women said they research by actually browsing in a physical store
• 5% of women said they ask friends and family

When it comes to making an actual purchase:

• 47% of women say they most often buy via desktop/laptop
• 45% of women most often go to the store
• 8% of women say they most often buy via mobile phone or tablet

While mobile devices aren’t women’s top choice for making the purchase, they are heavily used for other types of shopping behavior:

• 53% of women use phones and other devices to find store locations and hours
• 49% of women use mobile devices in-store to look up and compare prices
• 46% of women use them to search for coupons
• 41% of women use them to get detailed product information
• 24% of women use them to make purchases

What Does All of This Mean To You?

The findings in this study all lead to one conclusion (and no, it’s not that most men are made up of about 70% lazy slob). Kidding, of course.

It’s that selling your products online is no longer an option — it’s a necessity. 

Almost 50% of women are now choosing to shop online rather than at a physical location, making it very clear that without an e-commerce site, you’re going to miss out on profit.

This is probably due to the fact that online shopping offers a level of convenience brick-and-mortar locations just can’t match. And while it’s great if you can have both – you can’t ignore the power of an e-commerce site any longer. And if you do, you might be limiting your business’ success.

An e-commerce site is an investment for local business owners, yes, but it’s also something that’ll help you reach your goals, while allowing you to embracing ever-evolving shopping trends. This leads us to the question: Your customers are online, why aren’t you?

What do you think of the results of this online shopping study?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Join the Ultimate Local Business Directory
• Direct Mail Marketing: Get Your Goods in Their Mailbox
• Small Businesses: They Do a Body Good
• Bow Down, Bitches: How Local Businesses Can Beat Big-Box Stores

Being a small business owner like I am is exciting and liberating, but it’s also hard work.

To sum it up in a word? Pressure.

It’s up to you to keep the momentum going, be focused 100% of the time, and motivate your employees.

So how do successful people, entrepreneurs, and other small businesses keep themselves going?

Well, they put themselves first. They know they are their number one asset and, as a result, they consistently invest in themselves.

This is what I’ve been doing and it’s helped me tremendously to find balance in my life and in my career — something all business owners must do to stay sane and passionate about their line of work.

Ready to be your best self in business too? It starts with spending at least 20 minutes every day doing something that’ll help you improve yourself, resulting in overall success, positivity, and happiness in life. Here are my top ten tips for entrepreneurs, which I try to employ every day.

1. Rise and shine. Wake up and start the day with three minutes of light meditation or a quiet thought or affirmation. It helps cleanse the mind, focus and create a warm glow within. You are now charged with positive energy for the day!
2. Don’t let fear take control of you; just go with it! It may sound crazy but fear is nothing but energy; a fuel you can use to your advantage to focus on and move forward. We have all been pre-conditioned to see fear as a negative, which makes us resist it. And by resisting, we let the fear paralyze us and take control. Think of fear as excitement with the brakes on — if you just go with it, and take the brakes off, so to speak, you will feel the shift and move forward stronger!
3. Gain clarity of your goals. Any list of tips for entrepreneurs wouldn’t be complete without calling out your goals. They may be small or big, but dive in and really understand the what, why, and when of them. These goals help you identify your passion and purpose in life. The more you understand your goals, the more your purpose in life will become palpable. You must write your goals down and check them daily as a constant reminder of your direction and why you need to stay focused.
4. Count your wins every day. No matter how small or big, wins are wins. Write them down and review and focus on how many wins you have achieved each day. It keeps you positive and focused.
5. Move. Exercise is so important in keeping your mind and body connected. In fact, it helps flush the constant conversation in your head. It could be a brisk walk or a run. Find what you enjoy and do it daily.
6. They say knowledge is power. I say implementation is power. You can know everything in the world but it is pointless unless you act on it, implement it, and gain the results of the knowledge. When you seek knowledge, make sure you learn and understand it and then apply it to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
7. Give yourself downtime. Spend time with your family. Grab a cup of coffee with a friend. Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while just to chat and catch up. When you give yourself downtime, you help avoid burning out. This allows you to stay healthy and happy in both your personal and professional life.
8. Use resources around you to help you improve yourself. Look for personal development/ongoing study courses that provide tips, guidance, techniques, activities, and motivation to know yourself, improve yourself, and achieve success in all areas of your life. These encourage you to work on yourself daily unlike the flash-in-the-pan two-day seminars that hype you up for two weeks before all is forgotten! These help you make real, permanent changes for the better.
9. Journal your thoughts, your activities, your progress. Do this for 15 minutes at the end of the day. Reflect and do not judge. Go to sleep with your worries and thoughts on the page and not on your mind so you can rest easy!
10. Look for a mentor and/or networking opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or have already achieved success as an entrepreneur, there’s always more to learn. And finding a mentor is the perfect way to help you grow as a small business owner. Networking is also great as you can learn from other small business owners and get to talk with people who share the same struggles as you.

What are your favorite tips for entrepreneurs?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Infographic: The Evolution of the Entrepreneur
• What Would-Be Entrepreneurs Fear Most About Starting Up
• What are the Characteristics of Successful Business Owners?
• Defend Your Reputation Like a Knight: Tips from Sir Richard
• Join the Ultimate Local Business Directory

Who better than Richard Branson, a self-made billionaire, to offer tips on how to keep your online reputation positive?

OK, so he may be known for being a little outspoken and wild, yet it hasn’t affected his reputation when it comes to business — or the profit his companies make.

Regardless of what you may think about him personally, you can’t deny that his natural knack for business has brought him an insane amount of success. (Not to mention two private islands.)

Oh, and how about the fact that he was knighted due to his outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship?

If that doesn’t earn the man some business cred, I’m not sure what will.

Ready to get some sound online reputation advice from a knight? (He may not be a real knight, but we can pretend!)

Check out what Sir Richard has to say below, courtesy of Entrepreneur!

Stand Watch

Would a knight ignore his surroundings? Of course not! It’s a knight’s duty to know what’s going on around him and slacking off could mean losing his head. Literally.

While life as a small business owner is, hopefully, not quite as dangerous as a knight’s, attacks (albeit virtually) are still something to be concerned about.

Sir Richard advises, “You need to keep a close eye on all the chatter about your business on social media channels and online — Twitter, Facebook, and [any other applicable sites].”

By doing this, you’ll be able to learn what people truly think about your business. Including all the things they’d never have the nerve to say to your face. (Well, most people anyway.) But, it’ll also allow you to fend off any virtual attacks on your business before they’re able to do any real damage to your online reputation.

Of course, you may need to take some comments with a grain of salt. But the ones that have real, valid points are the ones you need to take to heart. Learn from your mistakes so you — and your small business — can grow.

Defend Your Honor

Any knight worth his sword knows that running away from battle isn’t going to solve the underlying issue of conflict.

Sir Richard agrees that you shouldn’t even attempt to prevent people from saying bad things about your business — or delete their comments. Doing so will only make it look like you’ve got something to hide.

Instead, respond to those people directly so they know you’ve heard their feedback. If they have a valid complaint, genuinely tell them that you’re sorry they’ve had a negative experience and that you’d like to make it right.

If someone is unfairly bashing your business, however, don’t be afraid to defend your company’s honor. Just do it in a way that’ll have you taking the high road, while still getting your point across.

Whatever you do, though, don’t leave comments unaddressed, especially the negative ones. Doing this can make your company look shady… and the last thing you want is to lose business due to a false impression.

Conversely, positive comments need responses too. A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way and shows you appreciate their business. Plus, it can help you stand out from the competition, which can only lead to more business for you in the future.

Fight Gallantly

When a knight fights gallantly, but fairly, he gets respect. Fight unfairly and he might win, but a bad reputation will proceed him for the rest of his dirty, thieving days.

Your business’ reputation is a direct reflection of not only how you treat your customers, but your employees. And if you don’t want people talking badly about you online, you’ll need to fight fair every time.

“Some entrepreneurs launching their first startups may try to mimic the stereotype of the tough businessman and bully who gets his way. I don’t think that this leads to lasting success. You need to treat people as you would wish to be treated in order to gain respect,” says Sir Richard.

Whether you’re considering bringing on your first employee or already have a few, Sir Richard notes that the way you treat them can change how people view your brand as well as affect how loyal your employees are to your business. “If you develop a company culture based on mutual understanding and respect, your employees are more likely to enjoy their jobs and become ambassadors for your brand and reputation, he says.”

Bottom line? When you’re respected, it shows – and the effects of that respect can be seen in every aspect of your small business, including how people are talking about you online. And if you follow Sir Richard’s advice for keeping your online reputation strong, who knows, one day, you just might be knighted too!

Tell us: How do you manage your online reputation?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Richard Branson photo courtesy of Jedimentat44 via Flickr Creative Commons

Related articles

• 11 Outstanding Quotes From Sir Richard Branson
• 27 Simple Social Media Reputation Management Tips for Business
• Join the Ultimate Local Business Directory

By now, you’ve heard a few hundred times that buying local is, as Martha would say, a good thing. But it’s not just for consumers to take heed. Businesses who seek out local suppliers can have an equally significant impact.

How, you ask, can we be so sure? Is this just another feel-good thing we tell each other, like ‘it’s the thought that counts’ or ‘you’re just as pretty as your sister’?

Well, for those of you who refuse to believe everything you read on the internet, we’re going to put on our glasses and talk numbers for a minute. An economic study was commissioned by Local First Arizona and carried out by Applied Economics to study SCF Arizona, a worker’s compensation insurance company, and their fiscal impact on the State of Arizona in 2009.

As it turns out, when local businesses stay in-state with their vendor purchases, the effects are staggeringly positive.

The Results

According to Applied Economics, “The findings of this analysis show that locally owned companies with a vested interest in the community, in fact, do create a greater economic impact, indirectly supporting more jobs, payroll and output locally.”

The study, which was released in 2010, looks at the overall impact to the state during 2009, and finds that the impact can be seen in a few outlets, most significantly in employee spending, claims payments made to local medical providers, and vender purchases.

In fact, 82 percent of SCF Arizona’s total vendor purchases were from in-state vendors, which is high even for a locally based company, according to the study. The study finds, “SCF’s local vendor purchases support an annual economic impact of $68.2 million statewide and support about 620 jobs at local vendors and their suppliers.”

Source Local

Kimber Lanning, President of Local First Arizona, said the study was commissioned to show the impact one business could have when they make a commitment to utilizing local suppliers first.

“I can do studies all day long that show bad economic development, or show poor results for Arizona’s purchasing power. That would be really easy for me to do,” she said.

“But what we set out to do was to show what one company could do when they put their minds to it, in terms of good. As opposed to brow beating people who weren’t doing good, I’d rather show them what could be done and inspire them to do better.”

While Lanning says they were expecting some level of positive results, they were really surprised by amount of jobs created beyond primary employees through their choice to ‘source local.’

“They [SCF] employed 518 people, but they indirectly support 3,600 Arizona jobs. That number is much larger than I anticipated,” she said

After the study was complete, Local First AZ representatives hand-delivered it to over 200 large companies and institutions throughout the state, including energy provider APS, to show them what they could be doing to impact the local economy.

“Arizona consumers spend hundreds of millions of dollars, and if we just shifted small percentages, even ten percent of our spending, that could make a huge difference in Arizona’s economy.”

There is it folks, hard evidence that when local businesses support and purchase from other local businesses, everyone wins.

Ready to make the switch to local suppliers? The best way to meet other local businesses is through local associations! Here’s a list of some of our favorites across the country. Join a new one or add to our list:

Does your small business utilize local suppliers?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Supporting Small Business Is Good Business
• SCF Arizona, Sundt Construction honored as ‘healthiest companies’
• How Giving Back Helped a Small Business Shine
• Small Business Saturday 2013: Are You Ready?

Does Wal-Mart, with its rock-bottom prices and reputation for rolling over every small business in its path, perpetuate poverty? The answer is yes, says Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Stacy writes, “Wal-Mart extracts wealth and pushes down incomes in every community it touches, from the rural areas that produce food for its shelves to the neighborhoods that host its stores.” [Tweet this]

You might be thinking this can’t be true… If anything, Wal-Mart, a store that offers the cheapest prices on everything from food to furniture, can’t possibly make poverty any worse, right? Wrong.

Here are some eye-opening stats and information courtesy of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance:

• In a study of 3,000 Wal-Mart openings, each store caused a net decline of about 150 jobs (as competing retailers downsized & closed) & lowered total wages paid to retail workers. [Tweet this]

• When locally owned businesses are replaced by big-box stores, dollars that once circulated in the community, supporting other businesses and jobs, leak out. [Tweet this]

• Neighborhoods where Wal-Mart opens end up with higher poverty rates and more food-stamp usage than places where the retailer does not expand. [Tweet this]

These stats clearly indicate that Wal-Mart brings poverty, but it also raises the question: Are you assisting them by shopping in their stores? Hey, we’re not exactly pointing fingers here. We’ve all been guilty of choosing chains over local businesses at some point, right? But with troubling statistics like the ones above, how long can we continue to ignore them?

Fight Back Against Wal-Mart

So what can we do about it? It might seem like we’re powerless against a giant like Wal-Mart, but in actuality, we, as consumers, hold the power in our pocketbooks. Why not make it your goal, starting today, to avoid Wal-Mart – and other chain stores – and give your business to a local store instead?

As a small business owner yourself, you can help the small businesses in your community thrive by keeping your dollars local.

Even if you can’t shop local every day, some is always better than none. Local First Arizona urges people to shift 10% of their spending to local businesses. Doing this, they note, “can help support and improve the quality of life for everyone.”

Keep in mind, this doesn’t only apply to personal purchases. Shift 10% of your business’ spending (or more) – office supplies, accounting, etc. – and help other local providers not only stay in business but remain profitable.

Spreading the shop local message will help bring in customers to your own small business and empower your community as a whole. There’s strength in numbers, which is something eLocal, a directory that helps connect consumers with local businesses, promotes.

They found that if the people of an average America city were to shift 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235 million per year to the community’s economy. [Tweet this]

It’s Time to Break the Cycle

“This year, Wal-Mart plans to open between 220 and 240 stores in the U.S., as it marches steadily on in its quest to further control the grocery market,” Stacy warns. Wal-Mart may be trying to dominate with low prices and the lure of all-in-one convenience, but that doesn’t mean we have to let them.

Whether you already have a Wal-Mart around every corner or your city is about to get its first one, isn’t it time you started choosing local over chains? We have plenty of reasons to shop locally – and we have the stats that back up the negative influence chains have on our communities. Doesn’t it make sense, then, that we put our money where are homes, businesses, and families are?

Keep it local and keep our communities’ ability to prosper where it belongs: in the hands of local residents who know, and value, the immense power our money has to make a real, viable difference.

Share: Will you support local businesses over chains?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Another anti-Wal Mart rally in Bel Air
• Greed Kills: Why McDonalds and Wal-Mart Don’t Deserve Your Business
• Small Businesses: They Do a Body Good
• Small Business Saturday 2013: Are You Ready?

Want to be skinnier, healthier, and happier? Don’t live near a Wal-Mart. We’re kidding… kind of. But suspiciously cheap junk food and forced labor claims aside, you now have even more reasons to support small business.

There’s a study out that proves it isn’t just good for your community; it’s good for your health. Including your body. And if you live in a city that’s full of small businesses, your bod is much more likely to be smokin’ than if you were surrounded by chains.

Don’t believe me? I don’t blame you. I make things up quite often. But Charles Tolbert, of Baylor University, doesn’t. And his research revealed some very interesting benefits of having a bountiful amount of small businesses in your community.

Check them out below courtesy of Small Business Trends!

Small businesses are associated with:

• Better health
• Lower levels of obesity
• Less instances of diabetes
• Lower rates of death
• Higher average income
• Less income inequality
• Lower poverty levels
• Lower unemployment levels
• Less crime

Large businesses showed no such association.

Pretty great, right? But why would this be? Baylor University says, “Some sociologists argue that small businesses — unlike chain retail big-box stores and large manufacturing plants — have a greater investment in the community and thus have more at stake when it comes to the well-being of employees, customers and other local citizens.” Basically, the more small businesses your community has, the healthier the population will be. [Tweet this]

We always knew that small businesses brought charm, local economic growth, and stability to communities, but who knew they also brought better health? Exciting news for sure and just another reason for you, as a small business owner yourself, to spread the shop local message every chance you get.

Know any other unexpected benefits of small businesses? Share below!

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Bow Down, Bitches: How Local Businesses Can Beat Big-Box Stores
• Is Your Small Business Website Keeping Up with the Times?
• Cast Your Vote for the Best Small Business Book…

Beyonce just released a new song in which she sings the phrase ‘bow down, bitches’ repeatedly. It’s making headlines (both good and bad) because she’s not normally so… uhm… in-your-face aggressive.

Want to know why we like it? (Let’s be clear, the song itself sucks. It’s bad. Like really bad.) But the phrase, ‘bow down, bitches’ just resonates with us. And we think, when it comes to your local business, it should resonate with you too.

After all, this is your livelihood. You’ve put your sweat and tears into your business. You’re not just going to bow down and let big-box stores take all your customers, are you?

Stop passively letting your competition have all the success. It’s time to channel your inner Beyonce and go straight HAM on all those bullying chains that think they can just swoop in and crush the “little guy.”

Agree? Here are 3 ways local businesses can fight back against big-box stores:

Tip 1: React to Their Slack

If you really want to show chain stores who’s boss, you’re going to have to get to know them well. And we’re talking real well. You’d be surprised at how many local business owners overlook doing a little research on the competition because they feel national chains are too big, too powerful, and have too many resources to ever take down. But if you’re really going to go all Beyonce on their ass, you’ve got to stop letting them intimidate you.

When you arm yourself with knowledge, you’ll be able to put a serious dent in that national chain’s armor — no matter what their size — and have a damn good time doing so.

Set aside some time on a regular basis to look up your competitors online (and even visit their stores in person). Read sites like Yelp.com where customers can leave personal reviews — it’s okay if the negative ones make you happy — and scour social media sites (you can do a search on Twitter to find all mentions of a company’s name and you can go directly to your competitors’ Facebook page to read customer comments) to learn about your competitors.

Are they bad at customer service? Do they charge an arm and a leg for shipping? Is their product substandard because they offer rock-bottom prices? You may be the “little guy” to a national chain, but once you’ve identified the areas in which your competition is lacking, you can make it a point to excel where they fail. Remember, a national chain may have more money, but you have more moxie. Show them — and your customers — the true difference between the two.

Tip 2: Check Your Ego at the Door

“But they’re bigger, better, and have thousands of dollars to put toward marketing and I don’t!” Waa, waa, waa, we get it! Yes, you may naturally be the underdog in some areas, but that doesn’t mean you can give yourself a free pass as to why your local business hasn’t seen the type of success you were hoping for. Would Beyonce just lie back and let her competition walk all over her? Nope. She’d tell them to bow down, (bitch), and we think you should too.

You can’t fight the mighty by being meek. Instead, take a long, hard look at the way you’ve managed your business, the employees you’ve hired, the products you offer, and the ways you’ve chosen to promote your business. What is your local business doing right? What is it doing wrong? What can it do better?

When you can answer these questions, you’ll be well on your way to showing those big-box stores your local business ain’t nothin’ to mess with — and you’re not going to take their slick city ways sitting down. (Kidding — but you get the idea.)

Here’s how you do it: Audit your local business by going through your website (is it user-friendly, persuasive, and call-to-action oriented?). Do you have a strong, well-maintained social media presence? Do you offer great customer service? If you have a brick-and-mortar location, do your customers feel welcomed and appreciated?

Once you’ve graded yourself on all of the areas above, (be honest!) you can determine which changes or innovations you need to make to ensure your product or service is not only more useful to your customers, but more memorable and enjoyable. Offer your customers an experience they can’t get at, say, Wal-Mart, and they’ll be much more likely to see the benefits of shopping local.

Tip 3: Show ‘Em Why Local is Best

Here’s what we don’t want to happen to you: A chain sets up shop in your community and suddenly becomes the It company in your industry, taking all of your customers and profit with them as they ride arrogantly down the road to success.

Dammit. Those were supposed to be your customers. Your profit. Your arrogant ride to success. What, exactly, is it going to take for you to transform from sassy Beyonce into the take-no-bullshit Sasha Fierce? (Beyonce’s self-proclaimed baddass on-stage alter-ego if you didn’t know.)

It’s going to be a battle, that’s for sure, but big-box stores don’t have to win. You might not have as much money to spend on marketing or manpower, but what you do have is passion and drive – two crucial characteristics most chain employees simply do not possess. Think about it: When you go to chains, you’re often not-so-enthusiastically greeted by some bored employee who could care less if you find what you’re looking for.

Chains don’t need your business — and it shows. You may never be able to offer your customers the hottest, newest products at the cheapest prices, but what you can offer is outstanding, personal customer service, and a true, transparent appreciation of their business that they’ll never be able to get at a chain.

In an article about how local businesses can compete with chains, CTS Wholesale Sunglasses advises, “Returning customers want to feel like they are part of the community and getting to know them on a first name basis can be very important. Overall, you want to leave your customers with a lasting impression of how great it is to shop at your store.”

The Time Has Come

We hope this blog post helps you realize that, sometimes, it’s okay to let your inner Beyonce (or Sasha Fierce) out. In fact, we think it’s high time you took your rightful place as the local leader in your industry.

Chains don’t have to win… fight for what is yours (or what you want to be yours) and hopefully, you’ll become the successful, dynamic entrepreneur you’ve always dreamed of. (And if you make some of those big-box bitches bow down on your way to the top, well, all the better!)

Bonus tip: Spreading the shop local message is going to be another crucial weapon in your war against chains. If your community doesn’t realize – or remember – just how important it is to choose local over national, it’s up to you to enlighten them. You can start by reading this blog post — it’s full of tweetable stats and great shop local images you can share with your social media followers.

We want to know: How do you fight back against big-box stores?

Like this blog post? Subscribe to Scott’s Local Business Corner to receive local business marketing advice right to your inbox.

Related articles

• Beyonce’s ‘Bow Down’ Not Very Deep, Just Lame
• How Well Do You Know Your Competitors?
• Consumers cutting big-box stores down to size one online purchase at a time