In this issue
	Kutztown SBDC News Beanie's of Lancaster: Carefully Crafted Specialty Foods - by Dawn Wivell The View from Main Street How to Start an Online Business Using a Proven Process - by Lynn VanDyke Insights to Success

Beanie's of Lancaster: Carefully Crafted Specialty Foods - by Dawn Wivell

Upon entering Beanie's of Lancaster, customers are greeted by the phrase, "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. - Proverbs 16:24" on the wall. This seems to represent the philosophy of David S. Esh, president and owner of the commercial food business. It seems like it's only a coincidence that it also describes many of the products the small company produces. The story of Beanies of Lancaster started many years ago when Esh, a building contractor at the time, started a soft pretzel stand at his brother's farmer's market. Esh made it look like a wagon and called it "Beanies Chuck Wagon," named after his wife. He hired a very competent manager Anne Beiler who quickly learned the business and after a year decided to start her own soft pretzel stand at another market. She continued purchasing several gallons a week of Mrs. Esh's homemade mustard dip for her new stand, which she eventually franchised into more than 800 Auntie Anne's stores. Beanies still supplies Auntie Anne's with their mustard dip and several other products. In the early 90's the Eshes started committing more time to Beanies Chuck Wagon. Using many of the Pennsylvania Dutch recipes that have been used in family kitchens for generations, Beanies began producing jellies and preserves. Recently, Esh changed the name to Beanies of Lancaster to make the most of his ties with Lancaster County and its reputation. Today Beanies makes a variety of unique products - such as Apple Butter BBQ sauce (one of Esh's favorites), Bacon Dressing, and hot sauces. They've also just added a line of all natural products under the label "Amish Heritage: A taste of Pennsylvania." Click here for the complete article. »

The View from Main Street

Revitalizing a downtown is not easy or quick but it can happen with a concerted effort. There are a number of key factors that make revitalization work and perhaps one of the best summaries I found comes from a book by William H. Hudnut titled Halfway to Everywhere: A Portrait of America's First-Tier Suburbs. In this book he lists ten principles necessary for urban revitalization. Mr. Hudnut is associated with the Urban Land Institute. Encourage Local Leadership. Encourage community dialogue and grass-roots involvement in decision making, forging coalitions and partnerships among for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors, building leadership and consensus through local neighborhood-based organizations, having a stated and shared goal and creating a rational and exciting vision of the future; provide dramatic and extensive visual, physical, and verbal portrayals of the future. Be Competitive. Build on "location, location, location" as a key asset, remodel aging housing stock, and make your community clean and safe. Click here for the complete story. »

How to Start an Online Business Using a Proven Process - by Lynn VanDyke

Starting an online business appeals to many budding business owners. At first glance an online business seems easier to start, lower risk and less costly compared to opening a physical business. These assumptions may be true for the most part, but building an online business has many pitfalls that most hopeful business owners are not aware of. For example, many people who dream of starting an online business think about making a profit before anything else. They build a website that has several products and the ability to take customer orders. Then they sit back and wait for the customers and money to roll in. The problem is that does not happen. The customers and the profits never materialize. This leads to frustration. Starting an online business suddenly becomes difficult. It suddenly becomes a money-sucking venture that typically leads to failure. Click here for the complete story. »

Insights to Success

is a monthly article sharing challenges/learning opportunities encountered by our clients every month relative to their day-to-day business activities. All Insights to Success articles come from our clients' submittals. The format for the piece consists of a brief introduction, the respective challenge, and the solution. Creating Creative Ideas by Jerry Bullard One of the questions that I am most asked is, "how do you come up with ideas?" Coming up with ideas for copywriting is definitely challenging, but like everything else, there are some tried and tested methods for getting the creative juices flowing. Questions are probably the most creative approach to coming up with a framework for your copywriting project. Ask the questions, "why?" or "why not?" Why would the consumer want to use your product? Why not use your product? Consider the slogan "It's because I'm worth it" - used for L'Oreal Hair Products and Makeup. The slogan is in response to the question, "Why L'Oreal Hair Products? Why use Michelin tires? And the answer is, "Because so much is riding on your tires.' Why choose a Timex watch?" "Because it takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'." Another question to ask is "how?" How will the consumer use this product or service? How will they benefit? How can you showcase your product for them to use? Think of the ad, "How does the wireless industry make you feel?" used by Sprint. The question, "How many bars do you have?" was successfully used by AT&T Wireless in 2004. Click here for the complete story. Cash Stash Strategy By Merra Lee Moffitt Money rules are changing. Your business checking account and savings account can no longer remain the sluggish cash participants in your emergency funds arsenal. For too long your emergency cash has sat there earning little or no interest just waiting for an emergency to happen. Would you let any employee stand around when they could be doing something useful? Here's a way to strategically structure your cash so you can 1) get to it quickly when you need it, 2) earn as much interest as possible while you're waiting for an emergency, 3) get tax-free benefits until a catastrophe and finally, 4) make sure your cash works as hard as you do at making your business and family thrive. Click here for the complete story. Please Email your Insight to Success articles to the Success Connection Editor Dawn Wivell at wive0634@kutztown.edu. The Productive Office Environment What is your ideal office? Close your eyes and picture the office that appeals to you. Do you envision a large work area with a wall of windows draped with eye-popping fabric and furnished in rich wood furniture? Are you surrounded with lush plants and expensive art work? Do you have soft calming music piped in? Do you see a functional space with all the necessary office tools and supplies close at hand, clean and clear work surfaces, neatly arranged and labeled files, adequate lighting, and a comfortable desk chair? Both visions are attainable. However, many times décor takes precedence over functionality and business productivity suffers. If your aim is a successful business, the second vision should be part of your business plan and pursued with a vengeance. Developing a productive environment should not be an afterthought in any business. Click here for the complete story.