In order to better meet the needs of our attendees Seattle International Textile Expo is posting this open call for speakers to present on topics related to the textile industry. Our attendees are independent fashion designers, small manufacturers, over the counter fabric retailers, and other small business owners that use or resell textiles and related products.

Key topics of interest to our attendees who responded to our survey include:
•Marketing
•Trend Forecasting
•Small Business Finance
•Business Management

To be considered, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities email us a description of your 45 minute to one hour speaking topic to SITE@seattlefashionincubator.org.

Want to contribute your ideas and thoughts on how to make Washington a better place for small businesses? Then attend Washington Policy Center’s half-day Small Business Conference on Thursday, September 15th at Bellevue College.

In addition to hearing from legislators during a morning breakfast panel, breakout sessions will focus on

• Health care reform — what’s next for businesses in Washington?
• Workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance reform
• Transportation (including discussion on tolls and new gas taxes)
• Regulatory reform
• Small business tax simplification
• Technology and social media for your business
• Human resource issues — mandatory paid sick leave
• Export/import and immigration

Washington Policy Center will compile the top recommendations from each of these breakout sessions and present them to the legislature in 2012. Your ideas will help shape the debate in Olympia next year and drive legislation. Make sure to be a part of the solution, sign up today.

Find out more information and sign up (only $25 for breakfast, lunch and conference materials) at www.smallbusinessconference.org or call 206.937.9691.

For start-ups, companies less than two years old, and others who have not sold government agencies.

Learn How, Who, When and Where at the Matchmaking Procurement Workshop
August 2, 2011 | Bell Harbor International Conference Center- Seattle, WA

Small business owners, managers, and marketing associates are invited. This is a unique opportunity to network and open new doors to Federal, State, and local government agencies and major corporate buyers and explore opportunities to sell products and services. We will provide new information about access to capital and changing small business laws. This no-cost event and luncheon will also provide SCORE and SBDC counseling.

This is the most successful public-private program of its kind with some 80,000 productive meetings and several billions of dollars in contracts awarded. Meet with procurement representatives, network with other small businesses and learn about the benefits of teaming for contracts at this one day, no cost workshop.

• Federal agencies buy everything from technology to janitorial supplies
• Local government agencies are looking for new small business suppliers
• Major corporations are searching for women, minority, and veteran owned firms
• Many small businesses are looking for teaming partners

Registration and lunch are complimentary. Learn about the Federal government’s Central Contractor Registry (CCR) for selling to the government and begin securing your listing with a Dun & Bradstreet number.

Visit our website here to learn more information!

Seattle Fashion Incubator is pleased to introduce our newest Preferred Vendor Program member Georgetown Cut-and-Sew!  The demand for locally produced garments in the greater Seattle area is high and will only continue to grow. As programs such as Seattle Pacific University and Seattle Central Community College graduate young designers with the skills to create clothing lines with local and national potential, a great need exists in providing these young entrepeneurs with quality sample-making and small-lot production services.

Georgetown Cut-and-Sew (GCaS) aims to establish themselves as the leader in local garment production and manufacturing. By providing patternmaking, grading, marking, sample-making and production services, GCaS can assist these designers in building ready-to-wear lines that can be sold on the highest local and national levels.

GCaS will serve as an entry and mid-level factory that has the resources for small-lot production but can also assist in prepping clients for large-scale production. Led by Matt Noren, a master sample maker with extensive experience working with both the design and production side of garment manufacturing, GCaS can quickly become the local leader in providing all stages of local garment manufacturing.

GCaS believes its core strength exists in the Pacific Northwest’s desire to provide local customers with locally-made goods. Currently, a great need exists in providing customers with a direct and easily navigable, local manufacturer and GCaS believes its relationships with local designers and educational institutions such as Seattle Central Community College and the Seattle Fashion Incubator will allow it to quickly and efficiently fill this gap in the marketplace.

Click here to learn more about Seattle Fashion Incubator.
Press & Media inquiries email: press@seattlefashionincubator.org

FiberCloud Announces the Launch of Cloud City Hosting to Serve Small Businesses

SEATTLE, April 20, 2011 – FiberCloud Inc. announces today the launch of Cloud City Hosting, a new website that will make it easier for small businesses to gain access to cloud computing services. The new platform integrates web based provisioning and offers many of FiberCloud’s cloud computing products to small businesses. Services are available now for purchase online at www.cloudcityhosting.com.

FiberCloud offers cloud computing services from best-in-class software providers. FiberCloud’s products sold through Cloud City Hosting are scalable to fit changes in business or staffing needs. Providing customers with simple terms, Cloud City Hosting offers products without yearly service contracts.

Products include Microsoft Exchange® Email, Secure File Transfer, Disaster Recovery, Online Backup and mobility solutions. Managed in FiberCloud’s high quality data centers on a cloud computing platform, FiberCloud, through its Cloud City Hosting website, provides software without hardware purchases, software installation, IT staff assistance or large capital investments.

“Small businesses have a lot to gain from affordable cloud computing. Our goal was to build a site that small businesses can use to put technology to work for them,” said Sue DeFlorio, COO of FiberCloud. “Our Cloud City Hosting site makes it easy for businesses to get tools they need to keep them organized and looking professional, without costing a lot of time or money, and best of all doesn’t require a lot of technology know-how.”

FiberCloud has launched Cloud City Hosting to serve businesses nationwide and continues to rollout new products and update technology to maintain leading-edge cloud based services that solve common business challenges.

About FiberCloud

FiberCloud, Inc. is an IP solutions company, headquartered in Seattle, WA. FiberCloud has been providing high quality colocation and cloud services to companies nationwide since 2001. Built on the backbone of FiberCloud Matrix Technology™, FiberCloud’s Cloud-Hosted products are stored for high availability on a network that features multiple layers of physical and virtual security and managed by experienced staff to maintain high data security standards.

Come sign up and support Useadeal.com as we kick off the launch of our new website. Useadeal is a group buying platform bringing the best daily deals to consumers in their city at 50% to 90% off on restaurants, spas, salons, city attractions, events, travel and more. Each day we’ll feature a new deal which will last anywhere from 24 to 48 hours and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Hands down…the best deals at the hottest spots and undiscovered places. Seattle will be the first major market we launch with a national expansion to follow. Also, when you sign up and refer 3 friends who join, we’ll give you a $25 Gift Card to the SkyCity Restaurant atop the Space Needle.

Useadeal is a contender to the collective buying fray giving consumers the opportunity to discover their city for 50%-90% off with the local deal of the day. Headquartered in Renton, Washington and originally launched in November 2008 as a digital coupon platform; Useadeal was retooled and rebranded to offer consumers competitive hyper-local deals and local businesses of all sizes, a set of performance based marketing tools utilizing social commerce. Useadeal’s proprietary platform combines deals, digital coupons, ecommerce and social media to help drive more sales and customers for businesses and to give consumers more options on deals.

To get your deal of the day in your city, join us by subscribing at www.useadeal.com

To have your business featured on Useadeal, contact us at merchants@useadeal.com so that we can create an effective deal of the day campaign.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY THURSDAYS

Learn How to Modernize Your Business PCs

Join us for an informative look at how to make the most of your current and future technology investments!

Modern PCs and current software can help you get the most value from your technology by providing:

• Fast, reliable and highly secure experiences for users
• Diagnostics and troubleshooting tools that help you solve problems yourself
• Easy navigation to find and use built-in features
• High performance so you spend less time waiting for your computer to catch up with you

At this event you’ll also get a firsthand look at Microsoft Office 2010 and Windows 7. We’ll have live demos, and a chance to win a great door prize.

Plus, event attendees and members will receive a certificate that will allow them to register for complimentary online software training when they purchase Office 2010 and/or Windows 7.

Don’t miss this fun and exciting event. Space is limited so be sure to register today!

About Our Presenter

Gareth Tomlinson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economic Science from the University of the Witwatersrand. He received his Post Graduate Certificate in Education (FET) in Mathematics from the University of South Africa.

Tomlinson’s 5+ years of teaching experience and his passion for teaching help bring excitement, fun and effectiveness to the classroom.

Since joining TLG Learning in early 2009, Tomlinson has quickly become one of their most popular instructors. He teaches desktop applications such as Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, SharePoint and Word. He also teaches Project as well as Windows Operating System end-user courses including Vista and Windows 7.

Work Smarter with Technology Thursdays!

At Technology Thursdays’ monthly sessions, you’ll gain hands-on experience with the latest technology solutions to manage and grow your business. Sessions are informal and interactive, with plenty of time for Q&A with technology pros and your peers.

Be sure to bring your questions and plenty of business cards for networking with fellow Chamber members. Attendees will be eligible for some great Microsoft prizes!

Click here to download your free trial of Microsoft Office 2007.

This session of Technology Thursdays is open to all. For information on Chamber membership click here. For more information on Technology Thursdays, contact Nikki Balcerak at (206) 389-7338.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

Microsoft

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Rainier Square Conference Center

Rainier Square Atrium, 1333 5th Avenue, Seattle 98101

From I-5 Northbound:

Take the Seneca St. Exit (#165) and turn right onto 6th Ave. Travel 2 blocks north and turn left on Union St. The Rainier Square Atrium is next to Rainier Tower in the block bounded by 4th and 5th Avenues and Union and University Streets.

From I-5 Southbound:

Take the Union Street Exit (#165B). Drive 2 blocks west on Union St. The Rainier Square Atrium is next to Rainier Tower in the block bounded by 4th and 5th Avenues and Union and University Streets.

Parking

Entrance to the Rainier Square Parking Garage is on the south (left) side of Union St. between 4th and 5th Avenues. There are several other parking structures nearby, including one next to KeyBank on the south side of Union St. between 3rd and 4th Avenues. For additional parking information, click here.

Transit Options

Plan your trip using Regional Trip Planner.

Access to the Rainier Square Atrium and the Conference Center

From the Rainier Square Garage: Take the elevator (not visible, but located behind the valet desk) to level 3 (Third Level Shops/Fifth Avenue). After exiting the elevator walk across the Atrium to the Conference Center.

From 5th Avenue: 1333 5th Avenue Entrance: Walk up one flight of stairs to the Conference Center. 1301 5th Avenue Entrance: Enter Rainier Tower near the Rock Bottom Brewery and continue past the bank of elevators and past the escalators. As you approach the security desk, turn right and walk up one flight of stairs. The Conference Center is on this level (level 3) in the north west corner.

From University Street: Walk up the stairs and proceed past the security desk. Walk up one more flight of stairs. The Conference Center is on this level (level 3) in the north west corner.

From 4th Avenue: Locate the elevator that is accessible without taking the escalator and proceed to level 3 (Third Level Shops/Fifth Avenue). After exiting the elevator walk across the Atrium to the Conference Center.

By UEC Executive Director Dr. Skip Rowland

The Urban Enterprise Center (UEC) continues to work hard to represent the “United Nations of Business” in the Puget Sound Region. Our membership includes ethnic chambers, business resources and diverse community groups. We are focused in our belief that small and culturally diverse businesses have an important role to play in regional economic recovery. Over the last year, we have demonstrated how in our differences, there is strength. Below are a few examples:

• In Public Policy the UEC forged a multicultural coalition that joined the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce in support of the Bored Tunnel. We contributed to the Chamber’s 2010 Regional Leadership Conference and supported its Public Officials Reception. We also co-produced a Candidates and Issues Forum with SeaBeez, a capacity building organization for local ethnic media.
• In Business Development, we continued to promote the concepts of the “Entrepreneurial Mindset” and the “Primacy of Business” throughout our culturally diverse region. We designed, produced and offered at no cost  to our members eleven Herman L. McKinney Sales and Marketing Forums, ten Minority Business Roundtables, and four Regional Advisory Board meetings. We helped market, attended and reported back to our members on Africa Business Day, produced by the African Chamber of Commerce. We helped market, attended and reported back to our members on the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s Intercity Study Mission to Boston, International Study Mission to South Korea, Annual Trade Show, and Professional Development Programs, such as “Technology Thursday’s” and “Chamber After Hours.”
• In order to help promote closing the academic achievement gap, in Education, we joined the Our Schools Coalition, led by our Affiliate the Alliance4Education. We co-sponsored a Regional Education Summit with the King County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Kent School District. We also promoted the idea that K-12 education is integral to the Regional Economic Development Plan and must be included in it.
• In Community Engagement, we were joined this year by the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, the Eastern European-American Chamber of Commerce, Salam Business Group, SeaBeez, the Greater Seattle Business Association, and the Martin Luther King Business Association. We supported the Muckleshoot Tribe’s Community Picnic and Public Officials Reception. We co-sponsored Hungarian Culture Day with the Eastern European-American Chamber of Commerce and supported cultural events in the Hispanic, Asian, Filipino, African, and Gay and Lesbian Communities.

In closing, 2010 was an exciting year. The UEC provided a forum that leverages the resources of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and its Affiliates in order to enhance opportunities for micro, small, minority, and historically under-utilized businesses. We no longer inhabit the backwaters of economic development in Puget Sound; in 2010 we joined the mainstream. We demonstrated to the region that we are all in this economic recovery together. We are facilitating trust and breaking down silos that traditionally isolate our business communities.

As we look forward to 2011, we will continue to support the concept of building a United Nations of Business in our Region. We will build on the strengths that come from our differences by institutionalizing Multicultural Entrepreneurship, engaging our communities, and educating ourselves and our children to enhance regional recovery.

Our thanks go out to our volunteers, funders, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, as well as Chamber Affiliates without whose help and support this year’s achievements could not have been accomplished. We especially, thank our advisory Board Chair, Glenn Gregory; Committee Chairs and Advisory Board members for volunteering their time, talents and treasure in pursuit of our 2010 goals.

In 2011, Multicultural Entrepreneurship will be our vehicle for articulating our rallying cry:

“Small Business is Big Business with Strategic partners!”

By Donald King

The Good News – Small businesses across Washington, regardless of the race or ethnicity of the owner, continue to struggle as a result of the recent economic downturn. However, growth in small and multicultural businesses may be significantly more robust in the recovery. The Washington Minority Small Business Survey, released in April, 2010 by the University of Washington Business and Economic Development Center, found that 36 percent of minority-owned businesses expect to hire over the next three months, compared with 20 percent of Caucasian-owned businesses. The recent Jobs Survey, published by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce finds that 48 percent of these businesses plan growth and staff increases in the coming months.

There may be several reasons for this phenomenon and relative success story. Many small and multicultural businesses are naturally prudent and cautious with spending and taking on debt. Coincidentally, the limited availability of large loans prevented these businesses from loading up on the debt burden and high capitalization costs of larger, majority-owned businesses. Smaller firms are more agile and adjust more quickly in response to a downturn through staff hour reductions and quickly adding recession-resistant business activities and customers.

The Gap - Regardless of the rate of growth in revenues and profits, small and multicultural businesses still struggle with issues that larger established businesses don’t have. The gap in revenues and profits is so large between large and small that it can’t be perceived from the vantage point of many of the Urban Enterprise Center constituent businesses. Even in our region of highly innovative business ventures, only a few super-sized businesses can provide the financial might to influence economic policy. It is only when you have a modicum of financial success do you get close enough to the precipice of the gap to actually see the magnitude of the divide.

Why Does This Matter? – The recent, positive information on small and multicultural businesses validates the oft-stated economic platitude that small businesses are the engine of our economic system and provide most of the new jobs. If this is true, shouldn’t your business benefit from your contribution to the economic recovery? Is your voice heard in the places of influence? Do you have a lobbyist to help influence laws, regulations and tax policy in your favor? Probably not, but you do not stand alone and you are not too small to get the notice of your political representative when you act collectively under a banner that can represent your collective strength and the importance to the economy. The UEC can help support your collective interest.

What the UEC can do for you – The UEC has four major commitments:

• Growing businesses through multicultural relationships and world-class knowledge and skills
• Strengthening collaboration through cross-cultural business organizations
• Unifying voice for a business-friendly climate on the local, regional and state level
• Fostering international connections in the global economy.

The UEC advances its objectives through strategic alliances with gateway organizations and resource providers, outreach efforts that create cross-cultural business connections, and action committees focused on specific initiatives.
The UEC hosts a variety of informational programs, social network opportunities and access to some of the most influential business and political leaders in our region. The calendar of monthly, quarterly and annual events are powerful tools available to your business.

The Strategic Alliance with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce – The 2010 Regional Leadership Conference was a sold-out event of over 260 regional leaders representing labor, business, environmental groups, government, the education community and multicultural businesses was a sea change for the annual Chamber event. The purpose of the conference was to develop a common agenda to grow sustainable jobs and rebuild the regional economy. Leaders explored how they can better work together to nurture our strengths, cultivate new opportunities, and invest in education and the workforce in ways that help drive our prosperity and ensure our quality of life during this economic cycle and for decades to come. They discussed how regional leaders can successfully overcome the obstacles to getting there, and they committed to putting their ideas into action. The Conference leaders tackled the challenge of job creation.

Conquering the jobs crisis in America is key to sustainable prosperity and is in everyone’s best interest. An economy of high employment is a stronger economy and the benefits of a stronger economy are good for everyone. The Regional Leadership Conference enlarged its tent to seek and utilize an expansive and diverse set of views on this specific problem of job growth and its associated potential solutions.
The UEC supported the Chamber to provide fellowship opportunities for six participants that
would find it difficult to attend the Conference without this help. It was the largest attendance yet by multicultural businesses in its 23-year history and we expect the participation to grow in 2011.

How Can You Get Involved – Several actions were outcomes of the Conference that should be of particular interest to multicultural businesses.

• Nurture our region’s strengths — One of the best ways to grow sustainable jobs is to appreciate and support the ones we’ve already got. The regions diversity of small and multicultural businesses is a major strength in that effort.
• Cultivate new opportunities — Our region is already a hub for some of the most innovative research and award-winning achievements in emerging sectors like clean energy, global health and social media, and we stand to gain many benefits from being an even bigger leader in these sustainable industries. We need to grow jobs in these sectors through coordinated promotion, accelerated investment and results-driven policy. It’s important that we support increased access to capital and economic opportunities for small and multicultural businesses.
• Invest in education and job training — We live in a state where less than one in five ninth-graders finish high school and graduate from college on time. Consequently, we face a shortage of skilled workers that is one of the greatest impediments to our long-term economic recovery and competitiveness. Multicultural communities can benefit the most from improvements in basic adult education, job skills improvements and greater access to higher education.

For decades, the Chamber has sponsored out of town and international study missions to learn more about innovative and successful metropolitan regions. In June of 2011, the Chamber is planning a major intra-city study mission of our own metro area to highlight the businesses that make our region envious to the rest of the world but rarely appreciated by ourselves.

The UEC leadership will contribute to the planning of the Intra-City Study Mission to ensure that small and multicultural businesses are part of the highlights of the tours, business presentations and participants. The Intra-City Study Mission will exhibit working examples of the “Manifesto” presented at the 2010 Regional Leadership Conference and carry the lessons learned from the event to the 2011 Conference.

2011 UEC Diversity Forums will expand opportunities for your businesses to connect to the resource network in our region and broaden the exchange of communication and influence of small and multicultural businesses. It will be a very good year!

Donald I. King, FAIA
President/CEO of DKA Architecture
Member of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees and Executive Committee

Make the Most of Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Nov 29, 2010 -

Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce? If so, are you getting your money’s worth? If not, what are you missing out on?

Chambers exist to serve their members and help them to be more successful. They are supported by membership dues, which are usually based on the size of your business. Your dues are tax deductible as a business expense.

Most businesses benefit in some way from membership, and small businesses often benefit dramatically from the power of joining together with their peers in this way. Here are some of the things that local Chambers do for the business community, along with a few suggestions for getting the most from your membership.

Government Relations

Chambers represent the viewpoints of their members in front of governments and advocate for their business interests when necessary. Your dues support the efforts that the Chamber makes on your behalf to make your community a better place to do business. This alone is a reason to become a member! If you’re interested in getting more involved, most chambers have a Governmental Affairs committee that members can join.

Be sure to attend Chamber forums and events featuring political candidates and elected officials. You’ll often have an opportunity to meet them, ask questions, and perhaps even give them your opinion about important decisions that impact your business.

Networking

For many of us, it’s important to be visible. Chambers sponsor social events and networking groups that are designed for members to meet and do business together. If your business depends on local-business generation, this is an opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up. Even if your customer base is not local, the connections you make can be an invaluable source of local goods and services for your business needs.

Also, check out your Chamber’s Ambassador Committee if you’d like to have a built-in opportunity to welcome and meet new members.

Advertising

When you’re a member, you’ll be listed in the Chamber directory, but your opportunities for promoting your business don’t stop there. Chambers have websites, newsletters, newspapers, brochures, and more. They sell advertising in most of these, and you have to be a member to advertise. The costs are generally modest, and if your target market includes other Chamber members, the ROI can be fantastic.

Education

Many Chambers really shine in this department. Training yourself and your staff can be expensive, but it’s important to keep up with new developments and continue improving everyone’s business skills. Chambers offer classes, workshops, and seminars, taught by member professionals, at a low cost to members. These professionals go out of their way to do a great job since their community reputation is at stake. Recent topics I’ve seen include social media training, patents and trademarks, OSHA regulations, sexual harassment training, human resource issues, tax law changes, etc.

Referrals

Businesses and residents that are new to a community frequently call the local Chamber of Commerce for referrals for the goods and services they need. Guess what? If you’re not a member, Chamber staff can’t refer you. Take the time to get to know the staff of your local Chamber, and make sure that they have the information they need to send business your way.

Committee Membership

Volunteering to serve on a Chamber committee that fits your interests or expertise creates leadership opportunities, helps you become better known in the community, and can help position you as an expert in your field. For example, I served for many years on my local Chamber’s Business Resource committee, which was a great source for business leads and ultimately led to a seat on the Chamber Board of Directors. In addition to the Governmental Affairs, Ambassador, and Business Committees, many Chambers have Education Committees, and if you’re interested in green business techniques, many Chambers are now forming Green or Sustainability Committees.

Every Chamber is different, and there may be other opportunities in yours that I haven’t mentioned here. If you’re not already a member, I encourage you to find out more, and if you are a member, take another look at what your Chamber offers. You may be pleasantly surprised!

JoAnne Berg is a trusted business advisor with over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, CFO/COO, and CPA/advisor to closely held businesses. Read her blogs at The Art of Small Business. Her newest venture is Peer Coaching Network, Inc., which provides affordable training and peer based group coaching to small business owners. Follow her on Twitter @JoAnneBerg and Facebook.

Photo credit: DoctorKan