The sixth annual Staples National Small Business Survey found that seven out of 10 small business owners are optimistic about the future. Further, 52 percent of small business owners revealed they would grow their business through advertising and direct marketing if they had a larger marketing budget.
To help address this need, Staples launched the Staples “Give Your Small Business the Push It Needs” contest to make it easy for five small businesses to win up to $50,000 each in free television advertising in their home market.
The Staples survey revealed that more small business owners are turning to social media with 35 percent increasing their social media presence in the past year. Small businesses can enter to win the “Give Your Small Business the Push It Needs” contest by submitting a 15-second video about their company on Facebook.com/Staples by March 14.
Of these submissions, five winning small businesses will be chosen to receive 15 seconds of advertising in a 30-second Staples television ad to run in their local market. The prize package is valued at up to $50,000 worth of local cable television airtime and includes $500 in Staples Copy and Print or Staples EasyTech services. Winners have a choice of either $50,000 in advertising or $40,000 in advertising plus $10,000 in cash.
“With more than 25 years of experience working with our core small business customers, we know that investing in marketing to grow a small business is essential, yet many do not have the money to do so,” said John Giusti, vice president of small business marketing at Staples. “Staples wanted to do something unique to support small businesses in their local markets. The ‘Give Your Small Business the Push It Needs’ contest will help small businesses achieve their business goals in 2012 by providing an advertising boost to help their bottom lines.”
“Successfully marketing your small business is the life blood of any company, but with limited budgets, entrepreneurs must be creative and resourceful,” said Rieva Lesonsky, CEO and president, Grow Biz Media/SmallBizDaily.com. “Any marketing boost that they receive from a program such as the Staples ‘Give Your Small Business the Push It Needs” can make all the difference in the world, especially in the current business climate.”
Additional survey results:
The Staples survey results also show a clear indicator of the current economic climate and need for additional marketing, including:
n Two-thirds (66 percent) of small business owners have some type of marketing and advertising budget for 2012. Among those small business owners, budgets average just over $2,000.
n Sixty percent of small business owners changed their sales and marketing efforts as a direct result of the U.S. economy. Results showed small business owners are using less traditional media (29 percent) and more viral marketing and word-of-mouth (33 percent) compared to last year.
The survey was developed by Staples and conducted by Decision Analyst Inc. in Arlington, Texas, which took a random sample of 500 owners and executives of American businesses having no more than 20 employees.
Business
Small businesses invited to enter ‘Push’ contest
- Business
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- RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: May 21, 2012
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EYE ON THE PIE: Use to be close tie between output, employment
Crusty Crawford joined our lunch table with a pronouncement. “We’ve always assumed a close tie between output and employment,” he said. No one responded.
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Employer opinions sought on students
A joint venture between Ready Indiana and the Indiana Department of Education is seeking employer input that will impact how Hoosier high school students are equipped for the workforce.
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Carlisle prison marks 20th anniversary
2012 marks the 20th year of service for the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, going on line with its first offenders Dec. 10, 1992.
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SOCIAL SECURITY: Why young workers should care about Social Security
Summer will be here before we know it.
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BUSINESS CENTS: Does your staff understand pricing?
Many companies feel as though their staff will follow instructions and implement price strategies as instructed.
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Valley Child Development Center receives grant
Valley Child Development Center has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Terre Haute Day Nursery Foundation through the Wabash Valley Community Foundation.
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Exec offers advice on becoming startup entrepreneur
Sam Clemens, chief product officer of Cambridge, Mass., startup company Insight Squared, gave Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students insight on how to develop a startup business.
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Newsmakers: May 20, 2012
Leland Phipps, family practice physician at Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center, has been re-elected to membership with the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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Alumna to serve as VP for Rose-Hulman Ventures
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology alumna Elizabeth M. Hagerman is returning to her alma mater to serve as vice president for Rose-Hulman Ventures, the institute’s successful innovation space that has spawned careers and entrepreneurial enterprises throughout Indiana.
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Summer Sidewalk Sale set
Marshall Main Street’s Downtown Summer Sidewalk Sale is planned from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9.
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Oil drops to lowest level in 6 months
The price of oil dropped to a six-month low Tuesday on concern that economic uncertainty in Europe could hurt demand for crude.
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Adidas initiative: ISU students develop business improvement process at facility
As Indiana State University students cruised Interstate 70 on Friday afternoons from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, they were looking forward to reaching their destination.
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BUSINESS BRIEFLY: May 13, 2012
An evening of networking and education for Clark, Crawford and Edgar counties regarding branding, marketing and tourism development opportunities is planned for 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the Heath Museum on the square in downtown Robinson.
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Wendy’s partners with Riley Hospital
For just $2, customers at participating Wendy’s restaurants in the Evansville/Terre Haute area can get free Jr. Frosty desserts through Dec. 31 while supporting Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.
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Marshall Chamber to stage annual golf outing
The Marshall (Ill.) Chamber of Commerce invites golfers to its annual golf outing scheduled for June 8 at the Marshall Golf Course.
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ON THE MOVE: May 13, 2012
McKenze Rogers has joined Williams Randall as an account supervisor.
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Seminar teaches seniors to fight fraud
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 25 million Americans are victims of consumer fraud each year.
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EYE ON THE PIE: Economic tools for consumers, workers, business owners, officials
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SOCIAL SECURITY: Potential Medicare savings for mom
Given the current economic climate, buying a nice gift for Mother’s Day may be more difficult than in years past.
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‘Best Places to Work’ honored at banquet
Companies raising the bar with their workplace practices were recognized on May 3 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
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NEWSMAKERS: May 13, 2012
Susi Willis, CPA and partner in Larsson Woodyard & Henson, LLP, was recently presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Indiana CPA Society at its annual CPA Celebration at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Rail Road wins Family-Friendly Award
The Indiana Rail Road Co. has won the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce’s “Family-Friendly Business Award” for 2012 based on the company’s highly successful employee wellness program.
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Government cuts summer gasoline price forecast
The government says gasoline will be cheaper this summer than previously expected thanks to a drop in the price of oil.
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Mall operator becomes biggest real estate company
The nation’s largest shopping mall operator is now also the country’s largest real estate company.
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Dealership to celebrate first year
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EYE ON THE PIE: Compensation levels did not cause the recession
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Old National begins year with strong first quarter
Old National Bancorp reported 1st quarter net income of $21.7 million, or $0.23 per share.
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Enroll in disaster preparedness class
The University of Illinois Extension is offering a disaster preparedness course on May 23 for Clark, Crawford and Edgar county businesses called Ready Business.
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Newsmakers: May 6, 2012
• Dr. Haytham Mansour
• Terre Haute Regional Hospital
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