GROW Nebraska Opportunities
Norfolk Retail Store Closing To Make Way For New Opportunities
GROW Nebraska firmly believes that Nebraskan entrepreneurs have talents and ingenuity that need to be shared with the rest of the nation as well as the world. By expanding our reach, we can drive sales across the globe, bringing money into our state and boosting our local economy. This is why GROW Nebraska will be partially shifting our focus in 2012.
Often we get too wrapped up in local sales, marketing to our neighbors and friends but missing our target market as a whole. While it is important to sell locally, GROW sees greater potential in selling online. Our eCommerce and eBay platforms have steadily increasingly sales, and the cost to maintain these online platforms is significantly less. Hence, GROW will be closing our Norfolk retail training center as of Dec. 24 so that resources can be shifted to starting a new eCommerce platform by June 1.
This was not an easy decision. The Norfolk store has provided many of our members with new awareness in Northeast Nebraska, and we cherish the relationships we've gained. However, the low sales we've seen do not justify the cost of maintaining the store when we can achieve greater sales online for less.
If you would like to continue selling product in a physical location in Northeast Nebraska, please contact info@grownebraska.org for alternative options. Also, if you have product in the Norfolk store, please contact us to set up a time to pick up your product or to see if there is anyone available to grab your product for you.
Thanks for your understanding. We look forward to offering continued promotion and retail opportunities in the future.
Sign up here to pick up your product >>
3 Ways to get More Online Sales
If you want more online sales, YOU need to promote it when you are at craft shows or farmer's markets, demoing your products, anywhere you have an audience. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising – people NEED to know they can buy your product online. So:
1. Tell everyone where they can buy your product, including your web site, the GROW eCommerce site, stores, etc.
2. Give everyone a handout or sack stuffer that tells them where they can buy it online after you tell them.
3. GROW will make you a customized handout promoting your items on the GROW eCommerce web site at ShopGrowNebraska.org. Click here to view.
If you are interested in having a custom handout made for your business to print, promoting your items on the GROW eCommerce site, please e-mail info@grownebraska.org.
REVIEW SAMPLE HANDOUT >>
Toot Your Own Horn at a Travel and Trade Show
The Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism needs volunteers to work shows, hand out brochures and chat with tourists. They pay for the booth space and supplies booth furniture, booth displays, and state-wide brochure information.If you would like to volunteer at any of the following shows, please contact the person in charge of the show:
National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO Jan 7-22, 2012
Contact: Karen Kollars 308-249-3220 or karen.kollars@nebraska.gov
Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Kansas City, MO February 17-19, 2012
Contact: Shannon Peterson 402-471-3797 or shannon.j.peterson@nebraska.gov
Omaha Boat, Sports and Travel Show in Omaha, NE February 23-26, 2012
Contact: Shannon Peterson 402-471-3797 or shannon.j.peterson@nebraska.gov
Colorado RV, Sports, Boat and Travel Show in Denver, CO March 1-4, 2012
Contact: Tom Tabor 402-471-7755 or tom.tabor@nebraska.gov
Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis, MN March 28-April 1, 2012
Contact: Twyla Witt 308-645-9566 or twyla.witt@nebraska.gov
Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island, NE August 24-September 3, 2012
Contact: Heather Hogue 402-471-3796 or heather.hogue@nebraska.gov
Get Your Items on eCommerce
The GROW eCommerce and eBay stores are a great way to get MORE SALES at little or no additional cost! 109 of GROW's 362 members are on eCommerce. Are you? 70% of our orders on eCommerce and 90% of orders on eBay are from out of state. How many out-of-state sales do you have? We'll help you to increase your promotion with out-of-state customers!To find a full step-by-step instruction on how to get online please click here. We ask that you please fill out an online form to assist staff in adding the correct information. You know your product better than we do! We ask that you submit one form per product needing to be added. Please send any photographs for the item to info@grownebraska.org.
Don't wait! Items will be added on a first-come first-serve basis, so the sooner you sign up, the sooner your items will be added. Any forms filled out after October 1 are not guaranteed online for the holidays.
To find out if your products are online please click here and find your company. If your business is not in the drop down your items are not on the eCommerce site.
The eBay store can be found here. Only members who paid bundle can be on eBay for free. Any members who paid basic fee will be charged $6.25/month for the remainder of the year prior to items being added. To find out if you paid bundle, please click here.
Fill Out Form to Get Items Added >>
REAP Collaboration Opportunity for GROW Nebraska Members
We are very pleased to announce that REAP (Rural Enterprise Assistance Project), a project of the Center of Rural Affairs, would like to help GROW Nebraska members that do not have a business plan develop one or help members that have a business plan but would like it reviewed.
A business plan is a critical step to ensuring your business is profitable and provides the plan of where your business needs to go in the future. REAP has business specialists all across the state that are interested in meeting with you at your place of business. Please click here to sign up for this opportunity. REAP business counseling is personal and confidential.
REAP business specialists can also provide counseling on all topics for start-up and existing businesses. Finance questions, pricing and business plans are just a few of the many topics your business can receive personalized free training on.
Sign Up Now >>
Have Your Business Featured on Facebook
Promote your product or service for FREE to 5,000+ people who love Nebraska products. Sign up now to have your product or service featured on the GROW Nebraska Facebook Fan Page. This is a GREAT opportunity and all you have to do is sign up and then comment when your product or service is featured to help further promote your business. We want to make sure our fans have the opportunity to purchase your product or service. Do you want to build your company brand or increase your sales? Only a few spots left for 2011! Please note, we are booked into December so please keep that in mind when choosing what you would like to promote. Only one promotion per member per year. We ask that you please have a Facebook Fan page to sign up for this opportunity. If you need assistance doing this, please contact us at info@grownebraska.org.
Click here to sign up!
Promote Your Business through the GROW Getter!
As many of you have probably noticed, GROW Nebraska has been piloting a promotion called the GROW Getter. Each Wednesday at 11am, an e-mail is sent to all members, those who have signed up for our promotions list, and all of those who have purchased off of our eCommerce site promoting a GROW Nebraska item that is 40% off. The GROW Getter will promote an item at 40% off retail price. 20% of this is covered by GROW Nebraska's cut, and 20% is covered by the participating business. If you have any questions, please contact info@grownebraska.org. Quantities for sales are limited to 5 to 20 products depending on what it being featured.We are currently in a trial period. If you business has been selected by staff to be a part of the trial promotion, you will be contacted in the coming weeks as to when your product will be promoted. Those signing up for this opportunity will begin to be promoted the middle of October. The calendar will be set on a first-come-first-server basis, so be sure to sign up soon since we are fast approaching the holiday season.
We are opening up the promotion to all members. If you are interested in having your item added please fill out the form here.
To qualify, you must meet the below requirements.
- Item must be located in the Kearney retail store.
- We ask that the items promoted are worth at least $10 – if your item is lower priced, please bundle them (I.e. 5 seasonings).
-The item must be re-produceable, so if it is a "one-of-a-kind" you must be able to make similar reproductions . Reproductions do not need to be "exact" as they are handcrafted items.
- You must have a decent quantity on hand of the product so we can contact you in case we need more. If the items are one-of-a-kind they need to be able to be reproduced within 10 days of the promotion running. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up Now
