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4 Reasons to Shop Small Business Saturday

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When you think about holiday shopping, your mind probably goes to big-box retailers before your neighborhood bookstore or antique shop. But in a time marked by widespread supply chain disruptions and inflation, underdog small businesses deserve our attention.

Enter Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is an annual event created by American Express that encourages consumers to shop at small businesses during the busy holiday season. It takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which lands on Nov. 27 this year.

Here’s why you should consider shopping small for the holidays, and what to expect.

1. Main street businesses need support

The pandemic hit businesses hard. Roughly 200,000 additional establishments — mostly small ones — permanently closed between March 2020 and February 2021, according to a Federal Reserve report. That’s on top of the pre-pandemic rate of roughly 600,000 annual closures. Many surviving businesses are still at risk, due to factors like deferred rent payments and overdue credit card bills. Your patronage could give them a fighting chance.

“I think we have to ask ourselves as consumers, would we be sad if a retailer closed?” says Lauren Beitelspacher, associate professor and chair of the marketing division at Babson College in Massachusetts. “And if the answer is yes, then we have to find ways to shop and support there when we can.”

Shopping and dining on Small Business Saturday is one way to show appreciation for local businesses, especially those we’ve depended on during the pandemic, Beitelspacher adds.

Remember the restaurants you got takeout from during stay-at-home orders? Or the skin care boutique that supplied you with hand sanitizer? They were there for us when we needed them; let’s return the favor.

2. Communities and the environment benefit

“By doing their shopping at local small businesses, customers can directly support their neighbors and help benefit their local economies,” said Mark Madrid, associate administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration, in an email.

Shopping small for the holidays can also be environmentally friendly. When locally owned businesses locally source raw materials or manufactured products, it reduces the distance that goods travel, says Madhav Durbha, vice president of supply chain strategy at Coupa Software, a California-based business spend management platform.

“No shipping from across the globe and less packaging make for a smaller carbon footprint,” Durbha says.

3. It can offer a better shopping experience

“It’s basic economics, right? The supply is going to be lower, and so the demand is going to be higher, and so the prices are not going to drop like they have in the past. I’m not saying that there won’t be deals, but it might not be deals on the hot-ticket items that we want,” Beitelspacher says.

Flashy doorbuster deals that big-name retailers traditionally flaunt during holiday sales might be harder to come by. Shoppers can expect sold-out items and shipping delays in categories like toys, luxury goods and consumer electronics, Durbha says.

Small Business Saturday shoppers might fare better, depending on what they’re searching for. Shops that sell secondhand goods or items produced in the same community will be shielded from much of the supply chain disruption, Durbha says.

Shopping small for the holidays boasts other advantages, too. Shoppers can receive more personalized service and experience smaller crowds. Many small businesses also entice customers with exclusive discounts, promotions or freebies on Small Business Saturday — so saving money is still on the table.

4. You can find unique gifts

Shop at Target, Walmart or Best Buy and you’ll find little variation among their product selection.

“If you go to a big brand store, you can find that [inventory] in a thousand stores. But if you go to a small, locally owned business, you can find something very special and very unique for the holiday season,” Durbha says.

Maybe that’s handcrafted jewelry, a print made by a local artist, a vintage record player or a gift card for the best bakery in town. See what interesting, rare or one-of-a-kind gifts you can discover on Small Businesses Saturday.

TIPS FOR SHOPPING SMALL

Check your favorite local retailers’ websites and social media pages for store offerings, hours and event announcements in the days leading up to Small Business Saturday. You can also find participating businesses online using the American Express Shop Small map or by exploring hashtags like #shopsmall and #SmallBusinessSaturday.

Then, start gathering ideas for your gift list. You can get a sense of what might be in stock and within budget when Small Business Saturday arrives.

“Or get a head start on your shopping now,” Madrid said. “It’s never a bad time to support small businesses and to help boost your local economy.”

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.

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Oliver Construction Launches New Website and Continues to Provide Top-Quality Construction Services to Gillette, Wyoming

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Oliver Construction Launches New Website and Continues to Provide Top-Quality Construction Services to Gillette, Wyoming

Published on March 29, 2023

Oliver Construction launches a new website, providing an easy-to-use platform to learn about their high-quality construction services. Follow them on Facebook for updates on the latest construction trends and projects.

[Gillette, Wyoming, March 29, 2023] – Oliver Construction, a leading construction company in Gillette, Wyoming, is excited to announce the launch of its new website, https://www.oliverconstructionwy.com/. The new site offers customers an easy-to-use platform to learn about Oliver Construction’s range of services and to access information about the company’s commitment to quality and customer service.

“We’re thrilled to launch our new website,” says Liberty Coats, a skilled remodeler and partner at Oliver Construction. “Our goal is to provide customers with a seamless experience, from the initial consultation to the final walk-through, and we believe that our new website will help us achieve that.”

Oliver Construction’s website showcases the company’s portfolio of completed projects and provides customers with an in-depth look at the company’s range of services, including new construction, renovations, additions, and remodeling. 

“We understand that choosing a construction company can be a challenging decision,” says Liberty Coats. “That’s why we’ve made it our priority to provide our customers with exceptional service and workmanship. Our new website is designed to make it easy for customers to learn about our company, our services, and our commitment to quality.”

In addition to the new website, Oliver Construction continues to provide top-quality construction services to customers in Gillette and the surrounding areas. The company’s team of skilled professionals has the expertise and knowledge to tackle any project.

“At Oliver Construction, we take pride in our work and believe that our commitment to quality and customer service sets us apart from the competition,” says Liberty Coats. “We’re dedicated to ensuring that every project we undertake is completed to the highest standard.”

Oliver Construction’s commitment to using high-quality materials and the latest construction techniques has earned the company a reputation as one of the leading construction companies in the area.

“We believe that communication is key to any successful construction project,” says Liberty Coats. “That’s why we work closely with our customers to ensure that their vision is realized, from the initial consultation to the final walk-through. Our focus on customer service is what sets us apart from other construction companies in the area.”

Oliver Construction invites customers to visit the company’s new website, https://www.oliverconstructionwy.com/, and to follow the company on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OliverConst307 for updates on the latest construction projects and trends.

About Oliver Construction

Oliver Construction is a leading construction company based in Gillette, Wyoming. The company specializes in providing high-quality construction services, including new construction, renovations, additions, and remodeling, to residential and commercial customers throughout the area. Oliver Construction’s team of skilled professionals has the expertise and knowledge to tackle any project. The company is committed to using high-quality materials and the latest construction techniques to ensure that every project is completed to the highest standard. For more information, visit https://www.oliverconstructionwy.com/

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Vivian Garcia-Tunon, Founder of VGT People Advisory, Interviewed on the Influential Entrepreneurs Podcast

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Vivian Garcia-Tunon, Founder of VGT People Advisory, Interviewed on the Influential Entrepreneurs Podcast

Published on March 29, 2023

Vivian Garcia – Tunon discusses how organizations can benefit from improving their workforce.

Listen to the interview on the Business Innovators Radio Network: 

https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-vivian-garcia-tunon-founder-of-vgt-people-advisory/

Organizations that invest in their workforce can experience a range of benefits. Enhancing employee skills and knowledge helps to foster creativity, innovation, and problem-solving capabilities. This can lead to improved performance and greater productivity across the organization. Additionally, offering employees opportunities for development and advancement shows them that they are valued by the company, which can lead to increased motivation and morale throughout the team. Improved retention rates from investing in employees also reduce costly recruitment efforts in the long run. Ultimately, creating a highly skilled workforce is vital for any successful organization that wants to stay ahead of its competitors. 

Vivian explained: “By investing in coaching staff, employees become empowered with relevant tools needed to be successful both now and in the future. Coaching increases their fulfillment in the work they do and increases their self-confidence and overall life satisfaction by aligning with their career aspirations. These continuous learning environments help to create a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration. This can lead to enhanced problem-solving, innovation, and increased efficiency resulting in increased revenue and profits. Everyone wins!”

Investing in the workforce is key for any organization looking to progress and reach its goals. Organizations that invest in their workforce are more likely to experience success. By providing employees with the skills needed for long-term growth, organizations can create a motivated and productive team that can help drive future success. With a knowledgeable workforce, an organization will have the tools it needs to remain competitive in the market while also providing its customers with an exceptional experience.

 

About Vivian Garcia-Tunon

Vivian Garcia-Tunon founded VGT People Advisory to partner with aspiring leaders that create companies differently. She supports leaders to develop their authentic leadership style in becoming more human, compassionate, and intentional by doing so creating powerful and empowering cultures. She is best known by her clients for her passion, fierce optimism, and unwavering belief in supporting her clients to create life and businesses intentionally to achieve unprecedented results.

Now, Vivian works with senior executives and founders to create and design differently. She works with leaders, teams, and organizations individually and collectively to maximize impact and create sustainable change.

Vivian brings years of experience in executive coaching, as well as a successful career as a Human Resources leader within financial services, private equity, and investment banking. She’s an expert in all things related to talent (acquisition, performance, and teams), growth including mergers & acquisitions, and diversity. Throughout her career, she built high-performing teams in fast-paced growth organizations.

Vivian earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Fordham University. In addition, she has done extensive studying in Organizational Cultures & Design, Leadership, and Change Management. She also has received certifications in Applied Positive Psychology, Coaching, and various assessment tools.

Learn more: https://www.vgtpeopleadvisory.com/

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New “Storybooks Club” is Bringing the Magic of Books to All Children with Special Needs in the U.S.

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New “Storybooks Club” is Bringing the Magic of Books to All Children with Special Needs in the U.S.

Published on March 28, 2023

Imagination Storybooks (ISB) creates children’s books that enable all children to have a sensory experience, engaging all their senses, and increasing learning and development. ISB ensures their education is limitless by making books accessible, giving them the gift of communication in accessible language, and exploring what is possible.

Children ages 3-8 who are vision or hearing challenged or have a learning disability are limited by books not made for them. Children’s illustrated books like Winnie the Pooh have not been fully accessible to over 5 million children with special needs in the U.S., until now.

Richard Rieman founded the nonprofit, Imagination Storybooks, to bridge these gaps and support blind and deaf children. ISB ensures their education is limitless by making books accessible, giving them the gift of communication in accessible language, and exploring what is possible.

His team of narrators and interpreters—over a dozen of whom are visually or hearing-impaired themselves—combine digital picture books with audio descriptions of the illustrations and a digital braille file, as well as captions and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.

“Today, everything can be read in a robotic voice on a device, but we are trying to give children a performance, and teach them to love books even at three, four, and five years old,” Richard explains.

Imagination Storybooks partners with the nationally recognized Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP.org), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, so tens of thousands of blind children, their parents, and their teachers have free access.

“We created a portal into the magical world of children’s books for children who are blind, deaf, or neurodiverse with learning challenges such as autism or dyslexia,” says Richard Rieman, “The Storybook Wizard,” Founder and CEO of the award-winning Colorado Nonprofit Imagination Storybooks.

The new “Storybooks Club” is bringing the magic of books to all children in three different ways:

  • Videos include sign language and captions that include the picture descriptions for deaf children.
  • Both video and audiobooks have pictures being richly described, so children who are dyslexic, autistic, or have other learning challenges can understand the story.

Imagination Storybooks Club members receive access to a library of children’s illustrated books in three formats: videos with ASL (American Sign Language) and captions; videos with AD (Audio Description); and audio files with AD, as well as bonus content for parents and teachers.

Now that the 1926 edition of Winnie-the-Pooh by AA Milne is in the public domain, Imagination Storybooks is producing accessible video and audiobook adaptations of the classic to everyone. The finished project will be over two hours in length.

“Our accessible audiobook version of Winnie the Pooh debuted at #1 in Children’s Anthology books on Audible,” says Richard.

Richard adds, “we want all children to fall in love with Winnie-the-Pooh and the beloved characters of Hundred Acre Wood including children who are blind, deaf, and learning challenged.”

The American Council of the Blind awarded ISB its Special Recognition Award in 2021 for dedicating its mission to fostering early literacy for children who are blind or have low vision.

Imagination Storybooks also produces the weekly Illustrated Audiobooks podcast, winner of the 2022 Communicator Award for Excellence as “Best Storytelling Podcast.”

About Richard Rieman, “The Storybook Wizard.”

Richard is the Founder and CEO of “Imagination Storybooks” at ImaginationStorybooks.org. He has narrated and produced hundreds of Indie-published audiobooks and is the author of the award-winning book, “The Author’s Guide to Audiobook Creation.” Richard Rieman is gradually losing his own eyesight due to glaucoma, but not his vision to make illustrated books accessible to ALL children. Audio and Video clips of Winnie the Pooh and other accessible books are available for all media.

Contact Richard Rieman at Wizard@ImaginationStorybooks.org | 720-507-5970

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