Category: Business

Local businesses benefit from Small Business Saturday

For many holiday shoppers, Black Friday marks the official kickoff to the gift-buying season. But the following day, Nov. 28, is Small Business Saturday, and can be a more satisfying way to shop for gifts for loved ones.

At a time of year where big box retailers offer deep discounts, this annual opportunity to show local businesses your support is also a great way to score unique items while benefitting the local economy.

Here are some retail trends and other things to consider as you shop at your favorite small businesses.

The local economy

By supporting small businesses, you are supporting local job creation. In fact, small firms accounted for over three-fifths of the new jobs created between 1993 and mid-2013, according to government statistics. With the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and American Express reporting that $14.3 billion was spent with independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday in 2014, spending your holiday shopping budget locally strengthens Main Street and can help your community’s economy thrive.

New technologies

A common stereotype of mom and pop stores are that they are antiquated and overpriced, but many small businesses are adopting new technologies to streamline their operations; which can be an important consideration for shoppers in a hurry or on a budget.

For example, new Android based point of sale terminals, such as the ergonomically designed V-R7000 and V-R7100 from Casio have widescreen LCD touch panels, and an intuitive, high-resolution interface for faster sales and fewer transactional snafus. For instance, these terminals come equipped with a battery to protect memory data in the event of a power failure, and offer efficient store operations by eliminating common hardware problems experienced with PC based hardware.

Such information terminals are helping to transform retail management by offering small businesses a chance to better compete against their big box counterparts.


Exclusive items

Make a splash with one-of-a-kind and unforgettable gifts this season. From the gift shop with handmade crafts made by neighborhood artisans to the bookshop selling the works of local authors, shopping at small businesses means encountering items on sale that you won’t find elsewhere.

If you are shopping for someone who seemingly has everything, going local can help you get inspired.

Consider doing your holiday shopping a bit differently this year, by making a point of supporting small, local businesses on Small Business Saturday and beyond.

– from StatePoint

Residents get preview of new improvements for Central Avenue

by William Crum

Bethany Community Center in Kansas City, Kan., was the location of an open house held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, between 3 and 7 p.m., that was sponsored by the Unified Government.

At this open house, the UG showed the new improvements that are getting ready to go on Central Avenue.

“We are planning to repave the road from Interstate 70 to 17th Street and replace the traffic signal at 10th and Central in Kansas City, Kan.,” said Eric Nobart, member of the staff of the Unified Government engineering department.

At this open house, residents were encouraged to make comments. An estimated 75 people attended this open house.

Central Avenue, like other parts of Wyandotte County, is going through a lot of renovation. Central Avenue businesses are hoping that other businesses and corporations will look at the area as their new home.

KCKCC Innovation Center launches ‘100 Local Garages’

KCKCC received a Certificate of Recognition from Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback for its “100 Local Garages” program. From left to right: Board of Trustees member Mary Ann Flunder; Alicia Hooks, director of entrepreneurship at KCKCC; Marisa Gray, director of workforce development at KCKCC; KCKCC President Doris Givens and Gov. Sam Brownback. (Photo provided by KCKCC)
KCKCC received a Certificate of Recognition from Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback for its “100 Local Garages” program. From left to right: Board of Trustees member Mary Ann Flunder; Alicia Hooks, director of entrepreneurship at KCKCC; Marisa Gray, director of workforce development at KCKCC; KCKCC President Doris Givens and Gov. Sam Brownback. (Photo provided by KCKCC)

by Kelly Rogge

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at Kansas City Kansas Community College as the college’s Innovation Center works to turn dreams into reality through the “100 Local Garages” program.

Alicia Hooks, director of entrepreneurship at KCKCC, said the goal of the “100 Local Garages” program is to “connect fabbers and makers with those having ideas and dreams in order to create realities.”

“Shifting the emphasis to local production, ‘100 Local Garages’ is a way to support local makers who have skills and/or equipment that can be used to assist those with ideas and inventions and help the creation and small level manufacturing through their work areas which in many cases is their basement or garage,” Hooks said. “It assists makers in finding each other as well as students, retirees, etc., who can offer their skills and services utilizing the tools they already have.”

The “100 Local Garages” program is the second initiative the KCKCC Innovation Center has announced in the last few weeks. KCKCC will also be participating in the InventYES program, which helps to get entrepreneurs excited about getting their ideas through the licensing and patent process. Students participate in the program by asking questions, completing short assignments and working their way through the 10-step InventYES system.

The program was developed by Stephen Key who has been mentoring up and coming entrepreneurs and inventors for almost 15 years. The class began Oct. 29 with the course, “What is Licensing?” Subsequent courses will happen every two weeks focusing on subjects such as Inventing the Marketplace and prototyping ideas, among many others.

Hooks said this support of inventors, makers, business owner and innovators additionally supports the manufacturing arena and economic development as a whole.

“Entrepreneurialism is live and vibrant in Kansas,” she said. “This helps us to grow local and eventually expand to transition services into our local manufacturing firms.”

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas also recognized KCKCC during a recent Congressional session for its efforts in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation through the launch of “100 Local Garages.” Hooks, along with KCKCC President Doris Givens, Marisa Gray, director of Workforce Development at KCKCC and Board of Trustee member Mary Ann Flunder, also met with Gov. Sam Brownback Oct. 30 to discuss the initiative.

“The story of America is a story of entrepreneurs, individuals who took great risks to pursue their dreams. These entrepreneurs built the foundation of the American economy from its earliest days by pushing forward innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” he said. “I commend KCKCC for its efforts to promote innovation and the spirit of entrepreneurship in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, the state of Kansas and the region.”

Other supporters of the “100 Local Garages” program include Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland; State Sen. David Haley; U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder; Shopbot Tools and MidAmerica Manufacturing and Technology Center.

For more information about the “100 Local Garages” program or InventYES, visit the Innovation Center or send an email to ahooks@kckcc.edu. Information is also available by calling 913-288-7572.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.