Coffee Break Chat

On-line businesses can look for ways to cut costs

Some old and new entrepreneurs are deciding to do business completely online.  This 2009 article from the Arizona Small Business Development Center pinpoints some ways that those who sell online can cut their own costs and be more efficient. One recommendation for those thinking of going totally online is to learn how to design and build websites to avoid the cost of hiring web designers or developers. Other tips are to not buy in bulk, but to use a “drop shipper” to use when orders are to be fulfilled. Check the full article here.

Webcasts offered by NH-DRED for business owners

Want some professional development training without going anywhere?

New Hampshire’s Division of Economic Development is offering a new monthly series of free business-centered webcasts called NH BizCast.

  The upcoming webcasts are:

• Feb. 17, noon to 1 p.m., "New Mediums, New Messages - How Social Media is Transforming Communication," presented by Allen Voivod of Epiphanies, Inc.;
• March 17, noon to 1 p.m., "Best Business Practices for the Next Century," presented by Dr. Russ Ouellette of Sojourn Partners;
• Other webcasts will be announced on the NH BizCast web site.

To participate in the live audience at the Comfort Inn, pre-register with Leslie Sherman at 271-2591 or leslie.sherman@dred.state.nh.us.

Do you use your iPhone or iPod Touch for business? Tell us your favorite “apps”

Seems like everyone we know got an iPhone or an iPod touch for Christmas. Have you been using yours to discover applications (“apps”) that help you in your small business?

We’d love to hear about your favorites here.  Have you tried ones that really haven’t lived up to their hype? 

Drop us a line!  Whatever you’ve learned and can share will be helpful to your fellow New Hampshire small business owners. Just click onto "comments" just below to leave your opinions.