May is National Small Business Month, an annual opportunity to support the hard work of small business owners. The backbone of the country’s economy, small businesses employ 45.9% of the entire U.S. workforce and represent 99.9% of all American businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Unfortunately, some small businesses lack many resources and often struggle to keep their doors open and their cash reserves positive. Sometimes, however, the difference between success and failure lies in capital, marketing, and support.
A trusted provider of essential services for small businesses for over 40 years, The UPS Store can help entrepreneurs turn their big ideas into success. It is also the largest franchise system in the country in shipping retail centers, postal services, printing, and business solutions, which means many local store operators are small business owners themselves. In honor of National Small Business Month, the brand offers these three tips to entrepreneurs:
1. Stay top of mind: Keep a dialogue with your community and customers. Regularly update your social media channels with new content, maintain a newsletter, and, of course, don’t neglect traditional promotion. Save time by visiting a full-service store that can help you create, print, and ship your marketing materials.
2. Protect yourself: Data theft is more common than ever, with new threats emerging all the time. The Federal Trade Commission offers free resources for businesses to improve their cybersecurity awareness. And when it’s time to dispose of physical documents, make sure to use a reliable solution. You can securely shred unnecessary business documents at The UPS Store locations nationwide.
3. Get inspired: Need inspiration? Check out the Small Biz Challenge. This three-phase competition from The UPS Store and Inc. Business Media seeks the most unstoppable small business owners in the country. Among nearly 6,000 applicants, nine semifinalists were chosen and paired with a mentor to guide them through the competition. Coming from a wide variety of skill sets and backgrounds, the mentors include professional life coaches, brilliant business owners, podcast hosts, creative directors, and best-selling authors. During National Small Business Month, three semifinalists will be chosen to compete live in Miami, Florida, for a share of the grand prize of up to $35,000 and a feature in “Inc.”
“Every year, this competition presents exciting and interactive ways to support and highlight small business owners and entrepreneurs across the country,” said Michelle Van Slyke, senior vice president of marketing and sales at The UPS Store, Inc. “This year’s competition returns even bigger and better to help small business owners grow and enhance their skills, thus finding customized solutions for complex challenges.”
To learn more about the Small Biz Challenge competitors and vote for this year’s semifinalists, visit theupsstore.com/smallbizchallenge.
Being a small business owner in an ever-changing landscape can feel daunting. But with local support and resources, entrepreneurs can turn their vision into reality.
Source: StatePoint