Summer Time is Fun Time Even for Business

I can remember counting down the days until school let out and summer began. The excitement grew every day we marked another day off the calendar with a big bold X. I was a Florida girl then.  Summer meant long days at the beach, swimming in every pool in the neighborhood like musical chairs, and movies every Saturday in the cool, dark of the downtown theatre. It was there I met the likes of Cornelius, ZIra, Dr. Zaius and the others from the Planet of the Apes.

I was raised on the tourism teat, nurtured by the master marketer, Walt Disney World. I watched Orlando burst from a cow-town of 100,000 to one of the top visited destinations in the world. I’m glad I live in Arkansas.

This year the U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow was held in my old stomping grounds, Orlando, Florida. The event gathers travel pundits and travel journalists in a trade-show conference that’s considered the largest generator of “Visit USA” travel. The event drew close to 5,000 travel buyers from more than 70 countries.

Arkansas’ tribe was represented at the Pow Wow by Arkansas Parks and Tourism. One goal, of course, was to catch the eye and cast it toward The Natural State. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the business of tourism puts about $5.7 Billion in Arkansas’ pockets every year, creating nearly 63,000 jobs with a $1.1 billion payroll.  (Florida generates $70.5 billion!)

Suffice it to say, tourism is big business. But all I really want to do is count down the days to summer vacation.  In this month’s issue of Biz2Biz we premier our “Downtime Destinations” travel section.

Our launch explores the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, one of the top “must-see” destinations, and a truly one-of-a-kind wonder of the world.

Every quarter, we plan to give you an inside, up close look at a vacation destination, in the hopes of encouraging you to use all your vacation days.

Studies show that we are all better for the downtime we take from work. That includes small business owners who think time off is impossible. Studies show that vacations are just downright good for us. We return to work feeling more productive, rested and rejuvenated, closer to our families and filled with life-long memories.

It’s summer, kids. Get out and go! 

Janie Clark, Publisher, Biz2Biz NWA Digest

Better stock up on 1099s

A business peer read our articles on Health Care Reform in the May Biz2Biz and was prompted to share news she'd uncovered. What she shared blew me away. Here's the 411:

Hidden in the HCR Bill is a teeny weeny section that says that beginning in 2012 all companies will be required to issue 1099 tax forms to any individual or corporation from which they buy more than $600 in goods or services in a tax year.

So let's put this is perspective.  You buy an iMac from the Apple store for $1,000. Now you have to send Apple a 1099. Buy $650 worth of paper towels from a B2B distributor? You'll send them a 1099, too. Shop at Office Depot for your office supplies? You'll have to send them a 1099.  Spend more than $600 on your merchant services? Yep, put them on your list, too. All those B2B luncheons you attend, you'll be sending both the Chamber and the hotel 1099s.

The story was reported in CNNMoney.com and went on to say that one of the reasons this tax code revision landed in the HCR was government's way of recapturing unreported income -- and maybe that will offset the cost of the health bill.

We reported in the Money Issue of Biz2Biz in February about the IRS looking at "tax gaps." The Feds believe there is $345 billion in unreported income going untaxed.  They also surmise that if small business is going to get health care tax cuts, we're going to have to make it up for it somewhere else.

There are so many ways to peel this peach I don't know where to begin.  Aside from the sheer nightmare of adding reams of paperwork we, as small business owners, don't need this tops my list of the most ridiculous things people think of.  There's a TV show on True TV that this would fit right into-- "America's most stupid rules."

Is government securing its own destiny by giving itself more work? Will it cost more to administrate this code than they will gain in tax revenue? Is government in the throes of a black hole, about to collapse upon itself and suck everything with it?

OMG! What do we do about this?

Read the full article at CNN Money.

Health Care Reform and Small Business

Raise your hand if you have health insurance. Raise your other hand if your employer provides part of it. 

If your hands are still at your sides you are a member of some 45 million Americans without health insurance. Of those without insurance, an estimated 63 percent are either self-employed or work for a small business, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

If your hands are still in the air you are probably one of 177 million people who have employer-provided insurance.  However, as President Obama said, “all it takes is one stroke of bad luck – an accident or an illness, a divorce, a lost job – to become one of the nearly 46 million uninsured.”

It’s not all about budgeting. An estimated 17-plus million uninsured are making more than $75,000 a year, and are part of the fastest growing segment of the uninsured population.

In this issue we look at the health in the workplace. Many say the theory behind the healthcare reform is a move to national health care, which we wouldn’t be pioneering. England is trying to get out from under theirs.  Canada has states getting out from under theirs. Meanwhile Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Australia are thrilled with their health care systems comparable to the level of care in the U.S. at half the cost.

Will the health care reform bill help or hurt small businesses? Some say it will help. Others say not. Some say we need a national health care system. Some say we don’t need another inefficient government-run program.

Time will tell. In the meantime, stay tight with your insurance provider and eat at least one apple a day.

What kind of a shopper are you anyway?

Money. It’s on the minds of many of us. In business everything we do impacts our bottom line in some way. And so does our personal relationship with money, finances and budgets. What kind of relationship do you have with money? Brent Kessel, author of It’s Not About the Money and co-founder of Abacus, a sustainable investing and financial planning firm, says there are eight broad categories we fall into:

1. The Guardian is always alert and careful.
2. The Pleasure Seeker prioritizes pleasure and enjoyment in the here and now.
3. The Idealist places the greatest value on creativity, compassion, social justice or spiritual growth.
4. The Saver seeks security and abundance by accumulating more financial assets.
5. The Star spends, invests or gives away money to be recognized, feel hip or classy and increase self-esteem.
6. The Innocent avoids paying significant attention to money, believing (or hoping) that life will work out for the best.
7. The Caretaker gives and lends money to express compassion and generosity.
8. The Empire Builder thrives on power and innovation to create something of enduring value.
What type are you? We found two quizzes to help you rate your dollar sense and sensibilities. http://bit.ly/MoneyQuiz1 and http://bit.ly/MoneyQuiz2

Adding the Green Hat in Small Business

As a small business owner I wear a lot of hats. You, too, I suspect. So now along with our role as CEO, CFO, and COO – I say we need to add one more. That’s CSO – Chief Sustainability Officer.

CSO is a relatively new role for the business world and brand spanking new for small business. So new, in fact, that industry is struggling to define a job description and who would be best suited to fill it.

It’s been my opinion that the way to a greener, cleaner planet is through the consumer and her wallet. And for once I don’t think I’m standing alone. Evidence in every sector shows advances in energy-efficiency and sustainable practices. Big business is looking at sustainability initiatives to squeeze in more profit, and small business needs them to survive.

The World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability back in 1987 as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  As you consider how to add CSO to your rack-stand of bowlers and ball caps, here are six steps to help get you started.

• Take a leadership role in sustainability and inspire your team to dial in on the job. Ask yourself to lead with higher standards.

• Find ways to tie in sustainability issues that already exist in your company. Look for ways to accelerate your own green innovations.

• Find the most supportive employees, customers and business allies, and engage them first. Encourage smart new policies that reward sustainability performance.

• Gather your team to brainstorm and create your company’s sustainability and business social responsibility policies. These can be tremendous assets in attracting new employees and customers.

• Create open-door policies that engage conversation and encourage transparency.

• Take advantage of partnerships. Look outside your company for experts, organizations and academics who can give you a fresh perspective and move your initiatives further, faster.

Biz2Biz NWA

The Sustainable Divide

I spent two days at the Walmart Sustainability Packaging Expo this week.  A client asked if I could help (wo)man his booth and so I did. I felt a bit like a fish out of water --  flopping around in a world I know nothing about:  Consumer packaging.  Little did I know there are thousands of companies that make something so another company can put something in it.

Yes, a fish on the flop. But, that doesn't mean I came away with a cold blank stare. I learned more about my role as a consumer than I thought I would. And I met some interesting folks doing fascinating things.

Here's my take on the event from my fish bowl.

I had no idea it took so many companies to put one item on the shelf in my home. That yogurt you're slurping down? The lid, the container, the printing on the container, the printing plate for that message,  the pull-back cover, the photo of your favorite fruit -- all shipped in to your favorite yogurt brand from another company that just makes that item. 

And we haven't yet mentioned the cow. 

They call it the supply chain. Wikipedia spells it out: "A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer."

How many companies are involved in getting product to your home? I've tried but lost count. Let's just say a bunch.


Here's my second takeaway:


There's a lot of sustainability going on behind the scenes.

Did you know your detergent bottle was probably recycled from your last one? Not directly, mind you, but all those bottles you've been putting to the curb are really coming full circle in post consumer waste recycling.

Did you know the Burt's Bee's "paper" soap wrapper was made from rock dust and marble chips?

Did you know there are paper cups and take out containers that can go in your garden compost bin? 

Did you know $40 billion is spent building cardboard boxes every year? And that all these items get shipped in and shipped out in one?


So, here's my final thought. Why aren't companies being more vocal in helping the consumer make better (read greener) choices? If I knew one milk jug had 15% less plastic than the other sitting beside it at the same price, you can bet I would choose it. If I knew McDonald's was buying compostable cups, wouldn't I be loving it a little more? If I knew a supply chain for a product was conscientiously sustainable wouldn't I want to be their friend on Facebook?

I hear Walmart's Sustainability Index will help us with our choices. In the meantime, get on your readers and peruse those labels, folks. The tiny print matters.



Read Biz2Biz NWA.

The Greening of Small Business

By Janie Pritchett-Clark

As a small business owner I wear a lot of hats. You, too, I suspect. So now along with our role as CEO, CFO, and COO – I say we need to add one more. That’s CSO – Chief Sustainability Officer.

CSO is a relatively new role for the business world and brand spanking new for small business. So new, in fact, the industry is struggling to define a job description and who would be best suited to fill it.

It’s been my opinion the way to a greener, cleaner planet is through the consumer and her wallet. Evidence in every sector shows advances in energy-efficiency and sustainable practices. Big business is looking at sustainability initiatives to squeeze in more profit. Small business needs it to survive.

The World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability back in 1987 as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  As you consider how to add CSO to your hat rack of bowlers and ball caps, here are six steps to help get you started.

• Take a leadership role in sustainability and inspire your team to dial in on the job. Ask yourself to lead with higher standards.

• Find ways to tie in sustainability issues that already exist in your company. Look for ways to accelerate your own green innovations.

• Find the most supportive employees, customers, and business allies and engage them first. Encourage smart new policies that reward sustainability performance.

• Gather your team to brainstorm and create your company’s sustainability and business social responsibility policies. These can be tremendous assets in attracting new employees and customers.

• Create open-door policies that engage conversation and encourage transparency.

 • Take advantage of partnerships. Look outside your company for experts, organizations and academics who can give you a fresh perspective and move your initiatives further, faster.

Read the April Green Issue of Biz2Biz NWA!