Free business training opportunities in June from the GROW Nebraska Foundation

Free business training opportunities in June from the GROW Nebraska Foundation

Free Business Training Opportunities in June from the GROW Nebraska Foundation

Free business training opportunities in June from the GROW Nebraska Foundation 

As a small business owner, it can be challenging to navigate the various aspects of running a successful business. From marketing to finance to operations, there are many areas that require expertise and knowledge. This is where training comes in, and GROW Nebraska is filling this need by offering free training options to businesses.

During the month of June, GROW Nebraska will offer three FREE training courses that are open to the public and will cover the Basics of Google Ads, Maximize Marketing ROI, and Budgeting Tips for Small Businesses.

June 7, 2023, | Learn the Basics of Google Ads with Maria Elena Duron

Learn how to reach more customers and grow your business with Google Ads. Take practical tips, best practices, and real-world examples to illustrate the concepts. By the end of this session, you will have a solid understanding of how to utilize Google Ads to reach more customers and drive business growth.

 

June 15, 2023, | Cut Fat and Maximize ROI: Stop Lighting Your Marketing Dollars on Fire with Steve Maly

Learn what really matters in marketing! This presentation will provide insights into the trends that consistently drive growth in your business, as well as the metrics and insights that Maly personally uses to measure the success of his own marketing. Get to the bottom of what works and leave the rest of the shiny but unproven objects behind!

 

June 22, 2023, | Show Me the Money: Budgeting Tips for Small Businesses with Kiley Phelps

Explore the financial side of running a business and understand how to bring order to chaos. Learn how to develop a budget and how it can be utilized to help save your business money. A budget is an important tool that will answer the questions of, “Is my business making money?,” this question will be answered during this presentation!

 

We are so excited about this opportunity for small business owners! Again, to participate attendees are not required to be a GROW Nebraska Member, these are open to the public! We hope you will take advantage of our free training sessions and learn something new that will help you grow your business.

The GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded with the idea of expanding resources to businesses and entrepreneurs alike to make a sustainable living anywhere within the state of Nebraska. As a 501(c) 3 educational foundation, the GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded in 1998 and now works to extend resources, training, a brick and mortar store, as well as an eCommerce site full of Nebraska products to help elevate Nebraska-based businesses and connect Nebraska entrepreneurs to the global marketplace. Support or join GROW Nebraska Foundation’s efforts by visiting www.grownebraska.org.  

The GROW Nebraska Team is GROWing

The GROW Nebraska Team is GROWing

The GROW Nebraska Team is GROWing

Hello and welcome to GROW Nebraska! As the years have gone by, we have seen a lot of things change, but one thing has always been tried and true: our love for Nebraska, our wonderful members, and our amazing community members. Here at GN we are always looking to expand and continue to add more talent to our ever- growing team.   

As you may be aware our mission here at GROW is to offer training and marketing assistance to your new or ever-growing business. We are proud to say we are the only non-profit organization offering you assistance with your marketing needs. Here at GROW it is extremely important to our founder, Janell, to set a strong foundation to keep GN strong as we continue to expand. We are proud of our commitment to you, our valued members, as well as our potential members and the foundation we have built and continue to make strong.  
 
Please help us welcome Jean Castaneda and Jodi Bronson to our GN team. Not only does Jean make sure our shipping is quick and efficient, but she also has an eye to detail, adding that extra special touch making sure all our packages have a unique look!  
 
Also, please help us welcome Jodi Bronson to our team! Jodi comes to us with a wide range of expertise including Business Development and Recruitment. Jodi will be leading our Business Development efforts and assisting the team with our recruitment and retention of our valued members. We are excited to welcome her and know she will be a great asset to our GN family!  
 
Finally, we would like to congratulate Lauren Kantaras on celebrating her one-year anniversary with GN! Lauren just celebrated her high school graduation and will be attending UNK in the fall. Do not worry, she is staying with the GN family and will be helping you find the perfect gift for yourself or someone special.  
 
We look forward to serving you, and the growth of the GN team. We are excited to see what the future holds as our family continues to grow.  

The GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded with the idea of expanding resources to businesses and entrepreneurs alike to make a sustainable living anywhere within the state of Nebraska. As a 501(c) 3 educational foundation, the GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded in 1998 and now works to extend resources, training, a brick and mortar store, as well as an eCommerce site full of Nebraska products to help elevate Nebraska-based businesses and connect Nebraska entrepreneurs to the global marketplace. Support or join GROW Nebraska Foundation’s efforts by visiting www.grownebraska.org.  

Anthologie Soap Company Joins GROW Nebraska Foundation

Anthologie Soap Company Joins GROW Nebraska Foundation

Anthologie Soap Company Joins GROW Nebraska Foundation

Image by Anthologie Soap Company via https://anthologiesoap.com/pages/about-us

Picured is The Jordan Family

We are super excited to have Anthologie Soap Co. as a new member! Dana Jordan is based out of Wahoo Nebraska she was recently featured in the Wahoo Newspaper. The article written by Suzi Nelson talks all about Jordan and her growth in the town. Check it out below!  

“WAHOO – After life in the corporate world took a downturn, Dana Jordan stepped into the world of entrepreneurship.

She left her job as director of claims for a small insurance company to open a bath boutique in downtown Wahoo last November.

Anthologie Soap Co. is located at 417 North Linden Street, in a small strip mall tucked next to the former Wahoo Super grocery store and FirstBank Nebraska.

The small shop features handmade soaps and other products created by Jordan at her rural home five miles south of Wahoo. A native of Brainard, Jordan and her family moved to Wahoo from Lincoln eight years ago, seeking a more rustic lifestyle. 

Jordan began making soap about seven years ago, and started selling her products at shows in 2019, including events in Wahoo.

Initially, she made her own soap because she had developed very sensitive skin in her 30s. But eventually, the soap making also became a way to bring some creativity into her life.

“Making soap and going to craft shows on the weekends was king of my outlet,” Jordan said.

Soap went from a part-time hobby to a full-time job after the atmosphere at her insurance job became “ugly, toxic and borderline abusive,” Jordan said.

“I loved my job, but things took a drastic turn last summer,” she said.

Now, Jordan couldn’t be happier making soap and selling her wares in her cozy boutique, which opened on Nov. 1.

“I knew if I didn’t take a chance on myself, I’d regret it,” she said.

The store is open Wednesday through Friday, 12 to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s been very well received by the community,” she said. “The support has been absolutely wonderful.”

She was recently celebrated by the local business community. The Wahoo Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 27. After she cut the ribbon, she was gifted a framed $1 bill to symbolize the first dollar she made in her boutique.

Jordan creates “soap collections” that are based on a theme or an artistic idea.

“My designs come from everyday life experience,” she said.

For example, her collections are named cottage, prairie, sod and homesteaders.

It is a tie in to her home life, where she and her husband have a goal to live a self-sustainable lifestyle.

They raise their own chickens, ducks and hogs and have two big gardens they share with a neighbor. Jordan cans and freezes the fruits and vegetables. They also reuse, repurpose or recycle as much as possible.

“We don’t call it farming because it’s not grand scale,” she said. “We call it homesteading, like traditional pioneers.”

She uses natural ingredients like essential oils and soap-safe fragrance oils to add scent to her soaps. But the process of making soap is not only time consuming, it is also a little dangerous because it includes lye, or sodium hydroxide.

“Soap is a chemical process,” Jordan said. “Sometimes it can go off the rails.”

On her website, anthologiesoap.com, Jordan describes the process of making soap.

“The science of alchemy of soap making turns lye, liquids, fats and oils into soap through a process known as saponification,” she wrote.

The lye is not present in the finished soap, Jordan also wrote. Just pure ingredients for a natural clean.

“Handmade soap in general is just simply a better alternative for all skin types,” she said.

These handmade soaps are created in Jordan’s studio. Her husband remodeled half of their home’s basement to serve as a dedicated place where she can create her soaps and other products.

She also makes shower steamers, bath milk, shampoo bars, body butter and beard products like oils and balms.

The name Anthologie Soap Co. marries the artistic ideas she uses to create her soaps and her love of storytelling.

“My product is unique because it tells a story,” she said.

Jordan considers her soap as art, and an anthology is a collection of art. She chose the French spelling to set her boutique apart.

She sees the relationship between herself – as the creator – and the consumer as symbiotic.

“My designs come from life, and we’re doing life together,” she said.

Jordan said she feels art is not complete until the user finishes the story. Storytelling has been a part of Jordan’s life since her childhood.

“I was a kid who liked to write,” she said.

Now, she uses her storytelling skills in her blog, where she writes about soap (of course) and its ingredients, as well as her lifestyle, entrepreneurship and leaving the corporate world.

“I really like to write about anything and everything,” she said.

She sees the relationship between herself – as the creator – and the consumer as symbiotic.

“My designs come from life, and we’re doing life together,” she said.

Jordan said she feels art is not complete until the user finishes the story. Storytelling has been a part of Jordan’s life since her childhood.

“I was a kid who liked to write,” she said.

Now, she uses her storytelling skills in her blog, where she writes about soap (of course) and its ingredients, as well as her lifestyle, entrepreneurship and leaving the corporate world.

“I really like to write about anything and everything,” she said.

For more articles like this one visit https://wahoo-ashland-waverly.com/.

The GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded with the idea of expanding resources to businesses and entrepreneurs alike to make a sustainable living anywhere within the state of Nebraska. As a 501(c) 3 educational foundation, the GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded in 1998 and now works to extend resources, training, a brick and mortar store, as well as an eCommerce site full of Nebraska products to help elevate Nebraska-based businesses and connect Nebraska entrepreneurs to the global marketplace. Support or join GROW Nebraska Foundation’s efforts by visiting www.grownebraska.org.  

Ogallala Bay Rum Transfers Owners After Almost Two Decades in Business

Ogallala Bay Rum Transfers Owners After Almost Two Decades in Business

Ogallala Bay Rum Transfers Owners After Almost Two Decades in Business

Transitions are underway, with a company many have come to know and love across the nation and the world. After almost two decades in business Ogallala Bay Rum owner Jon Marquis has officially transferred ownership to Rachel Ervin and her husband Brian. Rachel has been looking for an online business and Ogallala has been home to her for most of her life. Her and her husband and two kids now live there and are very active members of the community. She found this transition an easy decision to make.

Rachel states, “I knew that he had grown it into a successful business over the years and that he had done such a great job of creating the brand. Our children are getting older, and life is changing for my husband and I, so I was looking for the ‘next thing’.” She states the last part in quotes. As her passions aligned perfectly.

Rachel follows up with, “I knew business ownership was in my future I just hadn’t settled on anything yet. Brian and I were talking about a few things when I saw the advertisement that the business was for sale. I had a feeling that this was what was next for me and my family. It was exactly what I had prayed for. A business that still allows me the ability to go to my kid’s activities.”

For those that may not know, Ogallala Bay Rum has always been a small but steadily growing one stop shop for all Nostalgic Bay Rum Scented hair and skin care. With this being a family-owned business, it started in the basement of John Marquis back in 2006. They outgrew that as the orders started coming in and eventually transitioned to national catalogs and forty countries through their online platform.

It’s a bittersweet transition. Because although we are sad to see John Marquis go since he has been a GROW Nebraska member even before his brand was established in 2003, we are so excited to continue our partnership with Rachel as the owner.

She has some new ideas coming up in the future hoping to expand the brand Rachel states “I want to keep the roots of Ogallala Bay Rum. I like the history of it and I’m a bit of a nostalgic person. I do have plans to expand things in the future offering a line of feminine scented products and private soap labels for other wholesalers as well as expanding with travel sizes in all the soaps and lotions that are current favorites.”

Rachel is most excited that she gets to work with a brand that has already been established and can continue to grow the legacy. She states, “I am excited about partnering with GROW Nebraska! You are the best at promoting Nebraska based businesses and helping business owners be successful. You offer so many tools and assist in a variety of ways that we businesses can’t help but benefit from.”

GROW Nebraska would like to congratulate Rachel on this incredible new adventure and wish John Marquis a happy retirement!

By Katee Daly

The GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded with the idea of expanding resources to businesses and entrepreneurs alike to make a sustainable living anywhere within the state of Nebraska. As a 501(c) 3 educational foundation, the GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded in 1998 and now works to extend resources, training, a brick and mortar store, as well as an eCommerce site full of Nebraska products to help elevate Nebraska-based businesses and connect Nebraska entrepreneurs to the global marketplace. Support or join GROW Nebraska Foundation’s efforts by visiting www.grownebraska.org.  

2023 Business Plan: Snap and Boost Program Holds First Graduation

2023 Business Plan: Snap and Boost Program Holds First Graduation

2023 Business Plan: Snap and Boost Program Holds First Graduation

Omaha, Nebraska- On March 28th GROW Nebraska Women’s Business Center celebrated an amazing group of Entrepreneurs as the first graduating Class of Business Plan: Snap & Boost 2023 and the organization couldn’t be prouder!

This year, Cohort 1 was made up of individuals representing businesses in the industries of Transportation, Technology, Home Care, Childcare and Food Services. Each Entrepreneur completed this 6-week training program not only gaining knowledge and tools but also completed Business Plans.

The program also went through and recognized many students, with awards such as Best Student of The Cohort, Trail Blazer Award – First Male in Snap & Boost, and Team Lead The Justice League Award.

The winner of The Best Student Award Alecia Steed with Busy Vegan states, ” Busy Vegan started as an idea formulated in my mind that I continue to strive each day to make a reality. Snap & Boost was another steppingstone to help me accomplish that, by completing my business plan with the help of this class, it will help me get funding to grow my business.”

We also heard from Kodjovi Zounon with Crowned Warrior LLC who won The Trailblazer Award. He states, ” Business Plan: Snap & Boost was a great program that really helped me understand the basics of business strategies and creating a success business plan.”

There were four winners of The Team Lead Award; Tierra Nesbit: IAM Curvy Red, Maria Correa: 3PHAS3 Media LLC, Marcella Dial: Dial’s Creative Customs LLC, Glennasha Walker: 50 Shades of Bundles. All of these participants stated similar things, such as Business Plan Snap and Boost is a Must!

Business Plans are an ESSENTIAL part of business growth, and now 22 more business owners are ready to advance to their next level of growth with an empowered vision. Thank you to our many sponsors, guest speakers, trainers, and collaborative partners in helping build something special and impactful for our collective community.

GNWBC is proud to continue supporting these Entrepreneurs in their quest of excellence and success on their business journeys. To learn more about Snap & Boost visit the link below!

https://gnwbc.org/business-plan-snap-and-boost/

By Katee Daly

The GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded with the idea of expanding resources to businesses and entrepreneurs alike to make a sustainable living anywhere within the state of Nebraska. As a 501(c) 3 educational foundation, the GROW Nebraska® Foundation was founded in 1998 and now works to extend resources, training, a brick and mortar store, as well as an eCommerce site full of Nebraska products to help elevate Nebraska-based businesses and connect Nebraska entrepreneurs to the global marketplace. Support or join GROW Nebraska Foundation’s efforts by visiting www.grownebraska.org.