Business Commons^™

Waste & Energy: The Orange Challenge, Rick Yoder

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A new waste management option called the Hefty® EnergyBagTM, a.k.a. “Orange Bag” program is rolling out in parts of the country, including Nebraska. The EnergyBag was a sponsor of the April 22 Omaha Earth Day and the April 30 Bellevue Earth Day activities in 2017. It was also present at the 2017 College World Series.

The Energy Bag program encourages people with non-recyclable plastics to collect them in an Orange Bag along with their recycling. The collected materials will then be shipped off to be “converted into energy to produce cement.” Is this a big environmental win? The short and …

Customer Service Through Incoterms, Josh Nichol-Caddy

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Settling for the "one size, fits all" shipping solutions typically offered by large logistics companies, small businesses miss out on customer service options that could help differentiate their products. This paper defines the terms and conditions of all the options Incoterms present.

Five Key Ways To Pitch Your Idea To Investors, Wei Jing

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Here are five key ways by which a startup can effectively pitch their ideas, focusing specifically on communicating financial information.

Eight Techniques For Favorable Negotiation Outcomes, Richard B. Uhing

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Before entering into negotiation, planning is essential. The person with the right mindset is more in control and will achieve the better outcome. These techniques will help you and your business negotiate successfully.

Job Shop Misconceptions: Making The Case For Lean, Renee Held

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In today's competitive business environment, a focus on continuous improvement through Lean can make a big difference in the financial success and growth of a business.

Is The Woman-Owned Federal Contracting Program A Good Choice For Your Business?, Mary L. Graff

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Set asides narrow the playing field and increase your chance of winning contracts. A contracting specialist explains the federal government set-aside program for woman-owned businesses and explores the advantages and disadvantages.

Perceptions Of Cause-Related Marketing Tactics, Robert Bernier

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Study of small business owners in Nebraska reveals reluctance to make judgements about tactics intended to manipulate customers and more certainty about genuine charitable actions.

Want To Sell To The Government? Do Your Market Research!, Veronica Doga

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How many times have you heard that government buys everything you can think of? In general, it is true. And, means a huge opportunity for small businesses.

Developing A Model To Identify Favorable Export Markets, Josh Nichol-Caddy

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Market research can help small business owners determine where to dedicate time and resources to expand their sales into foreign countries. NBDC uses a four-step process for surveying global demand.

Why Cash Flow Is More Important Than Profit, Aretha Boex

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While profits are good, they do not adequately represent the financial standing of a firm. It is quite possible for a company to report profits but be unable to grow, secure financing or attract investors.

Lean Case Studies: The Journey Starts With Awareness, Roger Mccollough

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Each company’s journey to a more Lean operation will begin in different ways with different projects. The first step to this journey is awareness. Awareness of the wastes that hinder us, awareness of the tools that are available to us and awareness of the great potential that Lean affords us in satisfying our customer’s needs

The Strengths Of Entrepreneurs In Nebraska, Zach Zimmerman

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Nebraska has an entrepreneurial spirit in its culture. This study of Nebraska university students using the Gallup Strengths Finder attempts to identify, articulate and analyze what exactly that means.

Small Business And Entrepreneurship In Nebraska, Robert Bernier

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How does small business and entrepreneurship in Nebraska compare to its counterparts in other regions of the U.S.? What determines the rates of business formation in a community? What are the significant characteristics of Nebraska small businesses?

Why Good Financial Records Are Worth The Effort, Sara Bennett

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Accounting. Taxes. Payroll. Recordkeeping. Necessary, but confusing at times. Thorough and accurate recordkeeping of all revenues and expenses related to your business is essential and goes beyond financial and tax reporting. Why you should seek help from the pros

Boomers Vs. Gen Y—The New Communication Gap, Sara Bennett

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A key issue between Baby Boomer managers and Generation Y employees is a difference of opinion on how often feedback regarding performance should be administered and the mode of feedback that is appropriate. Effective communication is essential for performance and productivity.

A Practical Guide To The Veterans Administration Small Business Program, Jason Bousquet

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In 2015, the Veterans Administration could spend as much as $12.6B of their $65.3B2 budget with verified (certified) veteran owned firms in both prime or subcontractor roles. Clear up confusion about the certification process.

Get Two For One—The Same Strategies Help You Go Green And Improve Wellness, Jean S. Waters

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Going green and losing weight may very well be two of the biggest ever lifestyle buzzwords. Both require conscious effort, planning and systematic changes and both yield beneficial results. Drawing comparisons between green and wellness campaigns, Jean Waters, environmental engineer, discusses costs, benefits and strategies of pursuing sustainability.

Pomodoro Technique For Time Management, Beth A. Giesbrecht

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Pomodoro means tomato in Italian, but for time management it refers to a technique developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s and re-discovered by today's project managers.

Growing Your Business By Selling To The Government, Roger Johnson

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Twenty-three percent of all prime contracts are set aside for small business. This has resulted in more than $83 billion dollars of revenue for small businesses. This is a lot of opportunity you could be missing out on for your business.

Saturation Points—Know Your Market Before You Jump, Sara Bennett

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What may appear at first glance as a growing industry in your area with substantial opportunity may in fact be an industry with too many players already in that market. How do you decide to take the plunge with your start up?

Brand Planning—It's More Than Jingles, Chuck Beck

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A strong brand is important selling to consumers and building customer loyalty. This is just as true when you are seeking business in the government marketplace. A brand plan gives your company the right kind of visibility to attract contracting agents.