Hi Everybody,
We here at the Grassroots Business Association all run our own businesses so it's not unexpected that we're struggling to find time to keep this blog updated as much as it deserves. In the spirit of keeping a balance we've decided to stop posting here. We will see you at the meetings (we've got some great stuff planned) and you can always contact us via email at grassrootsseattle AT gmail DOT com or send us a comment or question through the Grassroots discussion boards over on our Meetup.com group site.
Talk with you soon,
- Megan, Andrea, Kristen, Marlo and Deborah
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
ZAAZ is looking for help
Hi All!
We’re working with the SMB (Small and Mid-Sized Business) Group at Microsoft to create 4 short videos (less than a minute long) for their portal. We are planning to start on filming NEXT WEEK which means we need to find some awesome small or medium sized businesses to feature.
This is where you come in since we desperately need your help!!! WHO DO YOU KNOW?! Please let me know if you know (or maybe you own one!) someone who would be interested in being featured. This would amount to national exposure on the SMB portal to other small business owners.
Keep in mind – these aren’t big “use Microsoft NOW” videos. We’re trying to tell 4 simple stories:
· Stick to the Basics
· Do More in Less Time
· Find and Manage Customers
· Simplify IT
We want to hear about their business, their passion, and a little bit about how technology helps them reach their goals.
The commitment is minimal – we’d like to shoot on location (i.e. in their offices/warehouses/kitchens/
Please reach out to your friends and family and let me know if they’d be interested. I can run with it from there!
Thanks so much!
Suzanne Sheldon
ZAAZ
Program Manager
Team Microsoft
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 19th- How important is branding to your business?
How important is a logo to your business?
How does it represent you and your company?
How can I find a good designer to create my logo and brand identity?
What other things are involved in branding?
Beth Bacon (Zoyo Branding), Corianton Hale (Zoyo Branbing) and Michael Ellsworth (Dumb Eyes) will come answer all your burning questions about branding!
Zoyo Branding is a Seattle-area company that helps organizations define, articulate, and visualize their brand identities. We look at companies’ current attributes and future goals and synthesize them into functional, concrete brands. The principal at Zoyo Branding is Beth Bacon whose clients have included some of today’s brand leaders including Apple Computer and Procter and Gamble. Beth a graduate of Harvard University (magna cum laude in Literature) and has a Master’s in Media Ecology from NYU. She recently returned from a year-long, 50-state trip in an RV. The designer at Zoyo Branding is Corianton Hale, whose work has been featured in six years worth of Print Magazine’s Regional Design Annual, as well as multiple graphic design anthologies in the USA and overseas. In addition to six years at the Seattle arts weekly The Stranger, Corianton has worked in France and the United Kingdom, and left his position as the Stranger's Art Director in 2006 to focus on his freelance career.
Dumb Eyes is a full service design studio that assists everyone from individuals to corporations in differentiating themselves from their competition.
As a creative team, Dumb Eyes excels at bringing their unique talents to bear on all projects. From branding to creating dynamic web applications to developing entire marketing campaigns, each project undertaken by Dumb Eyes is treated as an original work of art, and is executed with the attention and creativity it deserves.
If you are a member of GBA this is a free event. If you are not a member it is $5.00 at the door. Or you can become a member by signing up online.
Find out more here
How does it represent you and your company?
How can I find a good designer to create my logo and brand identity?
What other things are involved in branding?
Beth Bacon (Zoyo Branding), Corianton Hale (Zoyo Branbing) and Michael Ellsworth (Dumb Eyes) will come answer all your burning questions about branding!
Zoyo Branding is a Seattle-area company that helps organizations define, articulate, and visualize their brand identities. We look at companies’ current attributes and future goals and synthesize them into functional, concrete brands. The principal at Zoyo Branding is Beth Bacon whose clients have included some of today’s brand leaders including Apple Computer and Procter and Gamble. Beth a graduate of Harvard University (magna cum laude in Literature) and has a Master’s in Media Ecology from NYU. She recently returned from a year-long, 50-state trip in an RV. The designer at Zoyo Branding is Corianton Hale, whose work has been featured in six years worth of Print Magazine’s Regional Design Annual, as well as multiple graphic design anthologies in the USA and overseas. In addition to six years at the Seattle arts weekly The Stranger, Corianton has worked in France and the United Kingdom, and left his position as the Stranger's Art Director in 2006 to focus on his freelance career.
Dumb Eyes is a full service design studio that assists everyone from individuals to corporations in differentiating themselves from their competition.
As a creative team, Dumb Eyes excels at bringing their unique talents to bear on all projects. From branding to creating dynamic web applications to developing entire marketing campaigns, each project undertaken by Dumb Eyes is treated as an original work of art, and is executed with the attention and creativity it deserves.
If you are a member of GBA this is a free event. If you are not a member it is $5.00 at the door. Or you can become a member by signing up online.
Find out more here
Friday, March 26, 2010
Send out newsletters?
Here is a good article on things to think about when sending out newsletters. I use Constant Contact and really like it. I am not computer savvy so this is the perfect way to communicate with my customers without taking all day to make a newsletter look snappy.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Succession Planning Crisis
Good article on how to plan for your future as a small business owner. Read it here
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Review your goals from January!
We met back in January to start off the year right by setting goals for 2010. At this meeting we will review your goals and see if you met your challenge of attaining what you set out to accomplish by April!
We will continue to set new goals at this meeting, see where we might have fallen down if we did not meet our challenge and find new ways to meet goals for the remaining part of 2010.
If you did not attend our first meeting no worries you can still join us. Set a few goals now and work to attain them by April!
The beginning of this session we will have an open discussion on how to set some practical goals for yourself, some of the obstacles that might get in your way and how to overcome them to see your goals through. Then we will break up into smaller round table groups to have a more intimate discussion on what goals you sought to accomplish by April and if you attained these goals. Hearing each other and offering up tips to get things done can be very useful to succeeding in the items you set forth for yourself. We hope you can join us!
If you are a member of GBA this is a free event. If you are not a member it is $5.00 at the door. Or you can become a member by signing up online.
We will continue to set new goals at this meeting, see where we might have fallen down if we did not meet our challenge and find new ways to meet goals for the remaining part of 2010.
If you did not attend our first meeting no worries you can still join us. Set a few goals now and work to attain them by April!
The beginning of this session we will have an open discussion on how to set some practical goals for yourself, some of the obstacles that might get in your way and how to overcome them to see your goals through. Then we will break up into smaller round table groups to have a more intimate discussion on what goals you sought to accomplish by April and if you attained these goals. Hearing each other and offering up tips to get things done can be very useful to succeeding in the items you set forth for yourself. We hope you can join us!
If you are a member of GBA this is a free event. If you are not a member it is $5.00 at the door. Or you can become a member by signing up online.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Urban Craft Uprising Craft Show this weekend
Urban Craft Uprising's Fifth Annual Winter Show!!!
December 5th & 6th, 2009
11:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. both days
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
Be one of the first in the door each day and get a swag bag full of goodies!!
Urban Craft Uprising was started in 2004 to showcase the work of independent crafters, artists and designers - to provide a unique, high quality, hand-crafted alternative to "big box" stores and mass produced goods.
At Urban Craft Uprising's shows, fans can choose from a wide variety of hand-crafted goods including clothing of all types, jewelry, gifts, bags, wallets, buttons, accessories, aprons, children's goods, toys, housewares, paper goods, candles, journals, art, food & much, much more. Each Urban Craft Uprising show is carefully curated and juried to ensure the best mix of crafts and arts along with originality and uniqueness.
www.urbancraftuprising.com
Thursday, October 15, 2009
New Crafting Place in Cap Hill!
I just an email from a Kathy Hargrove a Capitol Hill local and she wanted to let us and our readers know about Metrix Create: Space.
Here is what she had to say:
Sounds good to me!
623A Broadway East, Seattle, WA 98102
Metric Create Space
Here is what she had to say:
They have all kinds of tools and a nice place to make things. It's not just for techy people. They also have sewing machines, and after talking to them an embroidery machine soon as well. I hope all kinds of people will use spaces like this and get to know each other and inspire all kinds of projects. My favorite part is that they are open until midnight, which I think could be a huge deal for many people. For instance I work until 7pm and have difficulty meeting other crafters/makers. Many craft groups meet too early for me to make it to them. I think lots of us night owls get a bit left out.
Sounds good to me!
623A Broadway East, Seattle, WA 98102
Metric Create Space
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Learn how to photograph your work
This will be a great class for anyone looking to phototgraph their work. It will teach you the basics and leave out all that extra crazy stuff most people never use!
Friday November 6, from 9 am - 4 pm
Lunch, snacks and coffee included
Graphic designers aren't the only ones who use Photoshop. So do fine artists, as an essential tool for cataloging and promoting their work. In this workshop, designed specifically for fine artists, we'll show you how to:
- Understand different file types so you can ask the photographer shooting your art for the appropriate file
- Make slides and Powerpoint files from Photoshop files
- Change a RAW file into a TIFF, JPG, and thumbnail
- Make the right size and resolution file so it will print properly in postcards and catalogs
- Change the size of images to specific requests from galleries, call for artists, or web sites
- Cropping, retouching, and color adjusting images
- Place two photos together into one image
- Add text to an image
- Add borders to your image and place your image on a canvas
- Change the background color or canvas
- Understanding the basics of color calibration between monitors and printers
- Overview of Giclee prints
- Creating a filing/cataloging system- renaming images, organizing them
Who should take this class?
This workshop is for fine artists and their assistants
Cost:
$265
Prerequisites:
You must know the basics of Photoshop. Please contact SVC if you need
to upgrade to Photoshop CS4.
Link to the class: http://www.svcseattle.com/classes/detail/290/
Friday November 6, from 9 am - 4 pm
Lunch, snacks and coffee included
Graphic designers aren't the only ones who use Photoshop. So do fine artists, as an essential tool for cataloging and promoting their work. In this workshop, designed specifically for fine artists, we'll show you how to:
- Understand different file types so you can ask the photographer shooting your art for the appropriate file
- Make slides and Powerpoint files from Photoshop files
- Change a RAW file into a TIFF, JPG, and thumbnail
- Make the right size and resolution file so it will print properly in postcards and catalogs
- Change the size of images to specific requests from galleries, call for artists, or web sites
- Cropping, retouching, and color adjusting images
- Place two photos together into one image
- Add text to an image
- Add borders to your image and place your image on a canvas
- Change the background color or canvas
- Understanding the basics of color calibration between monitors and printers
- Overview of Giclee prints
- Creating a filing/cataloging system- renaming images, organizing them
Who should take this class?
This workshop is for fine artists and their assistants
Cost:
$265
Prerequisites:
You must know the basics of Photoshop. Please contact SVC if you need
to upgrade to Photoshop CS4.
Link to the class: http://www.svcseattle.com/classes/detail/290/
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Digital Photography for Etsy Sellers -- Jewelry and Small Objects
To RSVP for this date, please go to:
http://www.meetup.com/EtsyRAIN/calendar/11614271/
When: Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where:
Marlo M's Studio
4020 Leary Way NW
Seattle, WA 98107
206-683-9744 (marlo cell)
Event fee: $30.00 Basic Members / $25.00 Premium Members
RSVP limit: 5 "Yes" RSVPs (3 spots left!)
You can always get in touch with me through the "Contact Organizer" link on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/EtsyRAIN/suggestion/
http://www.meetup.com/EtsyRAIN/calendar/11614271/
When: Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where:
Marlo M's Studio
4020 Leary Way NW
Seattle, WA 98107
206-683-9744 (marlo cell)
Event fee: $30.00 Basic Members / $25.00 Premium Members
RSVP limit: 5 "Yes" RSVPs (3 spots left!)
You can always get in touch with me through the "Contact Organizer" link on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/EtsyRAIN/suggestion/
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Sister Assocation in Vancouver
We are excited to announce that we now have a sister association in Vancouver, B.C.!
This is just the start as we hope to get some more firm ideas into place over the next few months about how other cities can set up their own Grassroots Association and be a part of the larger model we have created here. So check back here in the future for more details!
We are happy to introduce the founders of our first sister association our friends and speakers at one of our first events Lauren Bacon & Emira Mears, co-founders of Raised Eyebrow Web Studio, Inc. and co-authors of The Boss of You: Everything a Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run and Maintain Her Own Business. They are passionate about what they do and also love celebrating definitions of success that include the stuff money can’t buy.
If you live in Vancouver go check out their events up there!
Grassroots Business Association Vancouver
This is just the start as we hope to get some more firm ideas into place over the next few months about how other cities can set up their own Grassroots Association and be a part of the larger model we have created here. So check back here in the future for more details!
We are happy to introduce the founders of our first sister association our friends and speakers at one of our first events Lauren Bacon & Emira Mears, co-founders of Raised Eyebrow Web Studio, Inc. and co-authors of The Boss of You: Everything a Woman Needs to Know to Start, Run and Maintain Her Own Business. They are passionate about what they do and also love celebrating definitions of success that include the stuff money can’t buy.
If you live in Vancouver go check out their events up there!
Grassroots Business Association Vancouver
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Creating Conscious Businesses Free Event
Can entrepreneurs and business professionals commit themselves to socially responsible values and ethics while building profitable businesses? Jeff Klein, author of a new book called Working for Good: Making a Difference While Making a Living (Sounds True, September 2009) answers “yes” to that question, presenting a free interactive reading and workshop at East West Books on September 17. He will draw on the content from his how-to guidebook for becoming a conscious entrepreneur—one who addresses social issues while running a profitable business based on integrity and self-actualization.
Working for Good is a way of showing up for work, regardless of the organization’s structure or the products and services it produces. It is a philosophy, a way of conducting business and approaching work that orients readers on a path of personal growth, development, and service.
By cultivating the essential skills of Working for Good readers and participants will learn to unleash passion, shared purpose, great energy and deep engagement for themselves and the stakeholders in their business. Working for Good uses stories of successful conscious businesses to show that the approach does work. Participants and readers will learn how bring out the best in themselves and in others, increasing creativity, productivity, and sustainability.
WHEN: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 7:00 – 8:30pm
WHERE: East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way, NE, Seattle
WHAT: A Journey into Working for Good, Making a Difference While Making a Living with Author Jeff Klein
FREE!
More info
Working for Good is a way of showing up for work, regardless of the organization’s structure or the products and services it produces. It is a philosophy, a way of conducting business and approaching work that orients readers on a path of personal growth, development, and service.
By cultivating the essential skills of Working for Good readers and participants will learn to unleash passion, shared purpose, great energy and deep engagement for themselves and the stakeholders in their business. Working for Good uses stories of successful conscious businesses to show that the approach does work. Participants and readers will learn how bring out the best in themselves and in others, increasing creativity, productivity, and sustainability.
WHEN: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 7:00 – 8:30pm
WHERE: East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way, NE, Seattle
WHAT: A Journey into Working for Good, Making a Difference While Making a Living with Author Jeff Klein
FREE!
More info
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Small Business Owner Panel Discussion
When: September 16, 2009 7:00 PM
Where:
Richard Hugo House
1634 11th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
206-322-7030
Thinking of opening up a small business? Already have one and looking to expand? Want to be in the papers? Magazines? Don't know how to start your brick and mortar? Find out from some pros. We will have a small panel discussion with a variety of small business owners. The panel will include the owners of Vain, Yellow Leaf Cupcakes and Immortal Dog.
Owner of Immortal Dog, Nicole Bembry incorporated her passion for both pets and baking. After losing her job in corporate America she decided to follow her dreams and opened Immortal Dog pet supply and bakery. They specialize in pet nutrition - helping your pet live their best life. They also have all the toys, chews, treats, supplements, grooming products and other goodies you need for your canine and feline friends. Make sure you check out their biscuit bar - her fresh baked biscuits are sure to please the most discriminating pup.
Victoria Thomas Gentry is the owner and styledriver of VAIN, a hair salon, boutique, art gallery, and community space with locations in downtown Seattle and Ballard. After moving West from New York, Victoria opened VAIN in 1996 to foster the expression of personal style and a DIY philosophy. She is proud to be a champion of small businesses, the arts community, and self-expression everywhere.
In May 2009 The Yellow Leaf Cupcake Company opens its doors for the first time in Seattle, Washington. With a passion for baking and a labor of love the Yellow Leaf came to be. The story is short and sweet, do what makes you happy and life will be good! Owners Tony and Mike traveled America sampling many amazing and delicious cupcakes and baked goods. From Seattle to New York and many stops in between the two decided it was time to turn the dream (and passion) into a reality.
They have been given specific questions that we felt pertained to their success and specific niche and then there will be plenty of time for questions from the audience.
*This is a free event but we will be taking contributions to help pay for the space and to keep Grassroots going. Please bring a few dollars to help.
Sign up to attend:
http://www.meetup.com/Grassroots-Business-Association/calendar/11217299/
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Urban Craft Uprising Winter Applications Online
Thinking about doing a craft show in Seattle?
Check out Urban Craft Uprising they are at the forefront of the DIY art,craft and design scene!
Application Deadline is: Monday, Sept 14th.
www.urbancraftuprising.com
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Need some inspiration?
Here are two blogs I follow that offer really helpful small business advice. These blogs are fun and each post focuses on a particular aspect of small business which I enjoy as sometimes those web sites that have a millions links just overwhelms me!
Go get inspired!
Think Bakery
Modish Biz Tips
Go get inspired!
Think Bakery
Modish Biz Tips
Monday, August 10, 2009
Creating Loyal Customers with Social Media Marketing
When: Wednesday, August 19th at 7:00 pm
Where: Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Marketing a business can be more challenging than ever due to the wide array of ways to engage with your customers online. Today, search engines and YouTube have more to do with managing your organization’s reputation than traditional media. The way consumers learn about products has changed. They don’t just watch commercials. They explore, learn and redistribute information. Understanding how this phenomenon works can help you amplify your brand online and extend your reach in today’s video-fueled, instantly blogged, and hyper-networked world.
Cal McAllister and Brian Marr of Wexley School for Girls, a Seattle-based advertising agency, will take you through the basics of corporate blogging, social networks (Facebook, LinkedIn) and micro blogging tools (Twitter) through engaging case studies from the industry. McAllister and Marr will showcase how companies are using this medium successfully and share some common missteps many people make as they engage.
If you want to know where social media is headed and understand how to better prepare yourself or your business to get engaged, don’t miss out on this very informative evening.
This is a free event but we will be taking contributions to help pay for the space.
We hope to see you there!
Reserved spots are required sign up here
Saturday, July 25, 2009
A podcast for crafters
There are days here at work when I just can't listen to my same cds again so I turn to interesting podcasts and I just found a brilliant one!
www.craftsanity.com
Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood has such a natural way with her guest and gets beyond just the skills and tools needed for crafting she chats with her guests about how they make time in their life for craft, how they use craft in their profession, their challenges and success. I highly recommend a listen as it is really inspiring to hear from others and it gets your crafting juices going!
Oh and you can subscribe to her podcast on Itunes too!!
www.craftsanity.com
Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood has such a natural way with her guest and gets beyond just the skills and tools needed for crafting she chats with her guests about how they make time in their life for craft, how they use craft in their profession, their challenges and success. I highly recommend a listen as it is really inspiring to hear from others and it gets your crafting juices going!
Oh and you can subscribe to her podcast on Itunes too!!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Ice Cream Social
What: Ice Cream Social
When: July 15, 2009 7:00 PM
Where: Vermillion, 1508 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98144
If you haven't heard about Grassroots Business Association yet, here's the skinny. A few friends whom are small business owners got together in need of support and solidarity in these economic times. We formed our group as a way to help give other small business owners support and education in a laid back environment. Today we have over 130 members and continue to grow daily.
For all of us, attending our monthly meetings has not only given us perspective and motivation for our own businesses but it has helped lot's of people who are just starting out. With topics ranging from How to Approach Businesses to How to Get Press, Grassroots has been able to provide education to us all. And so far all these events have been FREE.
One downside for a lot of small businesses is isolation. If you work out of your own home or only talk to other people when a customer walks through your door, things can get a little boring. Grassroots has also been able to provide social hours with like minded people. Which brings us to our first major social event, an ice cream social sponsored by our friends at Molly Moon's. Join us on July 15th at Vermillion from 7-9 for free ice cream (while supplies last) and socialize with your fellow small business owners. Food and drinks are available at the bar.
We hope to see you there!
Learn more here:
Grassroots Meetup Site
When: July 15, 2009 7:00 PM
Where: Vermillion, 1508 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98144
If you haven't heard about Grassroots Business Association yet, here's the skinny. A few friends whom are small business owners got together in need of support and solidarity in these economic times. We formed our group as a way to help give other small business owners support and education in a laid back environment. Today we have over 130 members and continue to grow daily.
For all of us, attending our monthly meetings has not only given us perspective and motivation for our own businesses but it has helped lot's of people who are just starting out. With topics ranging from How to Approach Businesses to How to Get Press, Grassroots has been able to provide education to us all. And so far all these events have been FREE.
One downside for a lot of small businesses is isolation. If you work out of your own home or only talk to other people when a customer walks through your door, things can get a little boring. Grassroots has also been able to provide social hours with like minded people. Which brings us to our first major social event, an ice cream social sponsored by our friends at Molly Moon's. Join us on July 15th at Vermillion from 7-9 for free ice cream (while supplies last) and socialize with your fellow small business owners. Food and drinks are available at the bar.
We hope to see you there!
Learn more here:
Grassroots Meetup Site
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