Apr 19, 2017 | Education, Small Business
Are you confused about the dizzying array of marketing options for your business?
Are you struggling with how to market your business on a tight budget?
You are not alone.
Albert Samuelian
At the upcoming Hawaii Small Business Conference, Albert Samuelian, Managing Director, OMD West and Strategy, will share his expertise on “Powerful Marketing Strategies with a Small Business Budget.” Samuelian will discuss how small businesses can use social media and marketing resources within their budgets to get the word out about their products and services. With more than 20 years of experience, including 6 years with the Hawaii Visitor’s Bureau, he specializes in combining marketing strategies using multi-media communication methods.
“My work focuses on strong integration across all forms of marketing that is consumer-focused and solution-oriented,” Samuelian explained. “I’m most excited about sharing utility-based marketing innovations that impact people’s lives in meaningful ways.”
Risk Management is another area that businesses need to consider. Drew Nagai, Assistant Vice President for Risk and Safety Management, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, will share the latest tools and strategies to assist business clients with managing their risk. “Every business is open to potential risks including the weather, fire, data loss, numerous types of theft, and a myriad of other damaging events,” said Nagai. “The goal during the session is to define, assess, and quantify what risks would most likely create an unrecoverable situation for your business.”
Hosted by Maui Economic Development Board and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, the Hawaii Small Business Conference (HSBC) on May 3-4 at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center is timed to coincide with the United States National Small Business Week. The conference will provide business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees with an opportunity to expand their expertise in numerous industry-related subjects.
First day sessions will involve a combination of renowned specialists, plenary panels, and case studies on specific subjects such as Bottom Line Change®, Dimensions of Marketing, Customer Service, Data Security, and Risk Management. The second day will consist of workshops that will dive deeper into some of the subjects, including one on Tax Strategies for Small Businesses.
For information and reservations visit www.HawaiiSmall.Biz , email smallbiz@medb.org, or call (808) 875-2300.
Guidance on integrated marketing strategies is key for all business owners and I’m excited to share these at Hawaii Small Business Conference.
Albert Samuelian, Managing Director, OMD West and Strategy
Apr 5, 2017 | Education, Small Business
On May 3–4, 2017, Maui Economic Development Board, in collaboration with Maui County’s Office of Economic Development, will present the first-ever Hawaii Small Business Conference. The theme, Design, Protect, Engage: Small Business Strategies for Success, aims to provide business stake-holders with a rare opportunity to sharpen their professional expertise and skills.
“This year’s theme aptly describes what attendees will gain from this empowering two-day event,” said Teena Rasmussen, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. “Not only will entrepreneurs, owners, and employees of new and established businesses learn how to take their business to the next level, but also they’ll gain insights on how to stay ahead of the competition.”
Maggie Bayless
Conference attendees will network face-to-face with innovative business leaders and hear their insights, best practices, and tricks of the trade on a variety of topics. They can also take advantage of workshops and exhibits while promoting their goods and services. The first keynote presenter, Maggie Bayless, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, ZingTrain, will explore the elements of leadership and employee behavior that improve the performance of an organization in some meaningful way. Bottom Line Change®, her company’s training framework for teaching key principles of business, is a simple and clear practice for creating change. “At ZingTrain, we show how to strengthen every aspect of the business, based on five key elements: teaching, defining, living, measuring, and rewarding. Then we show the steps to great customer service: find out what the customer wants; get it for them accurately, politely, and enthusiastically; and go the extra mile. Outstanding methods are central to our own businesses and are the template for much of our training work.”
You can’t over-communicate,” Bayless explained. “People need to hear something many times to really take it in. All this communication pays off when they understand what they need to do and are able to make good decisions based on new information. Since most of our businesses are hitting their goals, this tells me we’re doing at least a few things right.”
ZingTrain instruction begins with a long-term vision, defining where you are going, what success looks like, and how to get from here to there.
Maggie Bayless, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, ZingTrain
Mar 15, 2017 | Small Business
In February, Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) offered two power-packed workshops in preparation for its Pitch Bootcamp on May 16 and Startup Weekend Maui, May 19-21, 2017. Both workshops provided attendees with tips on how to launch successful ventures and strengthen their finances. Entrepreneurs and small business owners who were interested in learning how to run a business more profitably, build business skills, and avoid the mistakes that cause businesses to fail were drawn to MEDB’s first workshop, Pinching Your Pennies: Finance for Entrepreneurs.
“There’s method to the madness when it comes to running a business and a key component is understanding one’s financials,” said workshop presenter Gerry Smith, MEDB’s Director of Business Development. “This includes watching the bottom line. You should know all of your costs, both fixed and variable, and how these different components figure into the big picture. Only when you understand your costs can you begin to control them.”
Ian Elumba, co-founder of Kohola Brewery in Lahaina, noted that a strong financial awareness from the start builds a strong, growing business. “We’re a year-old business and appreciate MEDB’s workshops that teach us about profits, costs and the simple but important things to run a prosperous business.”
The second workshop, Business Model Canvas & Lean Startup Overview, was led by Omar Sultan, founder and managing partner of Sultan Ventures and XLR8UH. He touted the many benefits of the Lean Startup methodology, a scientific approach to creating and managing startups and growing businesses. “We hope participants benefit from the Lean Startup approach to help them think through the steps it takes to launch a successful business,” said Sultan. “With this method, new information can allow the entrepreneur to re-evaluate his original hypothesis and constantly learn to improve the business. The Lean Startup process is critical to establishing a strong foundation, providing tools to test a vision continuously, and helping to avoid wasting money, resources, and time.” For more information or to register for MEDB’s Pitch Bootcamp and Startup Weekend Maui in May, visit http://www.up.co/communitites/usa/maui/events.
The forthcoming Pitch Bootcamp and Startup Weekend Maui are part of a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs with various skill sets who are determined to learn the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures.
Gerry Smith, MEDB Director of Business Development
Mar 1, 2017 | Environment, Events, Small Business
Maui Economic Development Board, in collaboration with County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, invites you to the first-ever Hawaii Small Business Conference. Small business owners, startups and entrepreneurs interested in taking their business to the next level and sharpen their professional acumen and skills are encouraged to attend.
Network with movers and shakers in the business community and hear from experts on Customer Service, Marketing, Data Security, Risk Management, Tax Strategies and Human Resources. May 3-4 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
For more information, go to HawaiiSmall.biz.
Feb 22, 2017 | Environment, Events, Small Business
Experts from across the nation will explore new and innovative pathways to a vibrant and clean energy future.
Topics will include:
- How can we make our energy systems more resilient and sustainable?
- What types of rate structures and incentives will be necessary?
- What synergies across energy sectors are possible?
Join us March 22-24 for the fourth Maui Energy Conference and Exhibition and be a part of this important conversation!
Feb 1, 2017 | Events, Small Business
Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) proudly presents TWO power-packed workshops for entrepreneurs. As part of MEDB’s Startup Weekend Maui Series, these must-attend sessions will help you jumpstart your new business or fine-tune your existing business.
Pinching Your Pennies: Finance for Entrepreneurs
Thurs., February 9, 2017 • 5PM – 8PM
Learn how to run your business more profitably and avoid mistakes that cause businesses to fail.
Business Model Canvas & Lean Startup Overview
Wed., February 15, 2017 • 5PM – 8PM
The business model canvas is an important tool that people can use to help bring clarity to the question, “How will my business succeed?”
Details and registration
WHERE: MEDB’s Malcolm Center
1305 N. Holopono St., Suite 5, Kihei
COST: $25 per person per workshop
Dinner provided. Reservations required, space is limited.
To register for these workshops, visit http://bit.ly/SUWMaui2017
Workshops sponsored by:
Maui County Mayor’s Office of Economic Development
Sultan Ventures
XLR8UH
Oct 26, 2016 | Events, Small Business
Pua Canto, past MNHCoC president, and current president Teri Freitas Gorman
“Navigating Our Future Through Business” was this year’s theme at the 10th Annual Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce (MNHCoC) Business Fest. The MNHCoC created the Annual Business Fest in 2006 as a forum to highlight its mission “to promote and sustain Hawaiian values and culture, and enhance the socio-economic status of native Hawaiians in business and as individuals.” Featured speakers, as well as panels, with different business perspectives discussed the socio-economic status of Native Hawaiians in business and education.
“With the impending closure of HC&S, Maui’s economy is in between what it has been and what it will become,” said MNHCoC President Teri Freitas Gorman. “While tourism continues to drive our economy, we also acknowledge that our fragile island cannot survive unlimited growth. Nearly 30 percent of Maui’s residents have Native Hawaiian ancestry, so it’s important for the generations to work together toward a future that is in alignment with our cultural values.”
“Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is a proud supporter of the MNHCoC’s 10th Anniversary Hui Holomua Business Fest,” said Gerry Smith, MEDB Director of Business Development. “It is a fantastic opportunity to network with a wide variety of stakeholders in our business community, learn skills from successful local entrepreneurs and explore issues that are vital to our future economic prosperity.”
Besides sessions, Business Fest attendees visited the Exhibit area featuring displays by MNHCoC members who work in health and wellness, community and social services, food and beverage, as well as cultural practitioners, business consultants, designers, artists, and more.
As part of the MNHCoC’s commitment to the next generation of business leaders, 50 students from Kamehameha School Maui received scholarships to attend the event. “This was a great way for me and my peers to connect with the business world,” said Jasmine Koko Casey, Kamehameha Schools Maui 12th grader. I was inspired to see that our Hawaiian culture and values are an important part of Maui County’s future.”
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, MNHCoC honored its past presidents – Boyd Mossman, Howard Kihune, Jimmy Haynes, Chubby Vicens, Kai Pelayo and Doreen Pua Canto – during an extraordinary dawn protocol on Wailea Beach.
Teri Freitas Gorman, MNHCoC President
Oct 5, 2016 | Education, Small Business
Two workshops coming up this month will be invaluable to anyone thinking of starting a business on Lāna‘i: An evening “pitch bootcamp” next week, and a weekend workshop October 21-23. Both are free and include meals. Details and registration info below.
Maka Hou Lāna‘i
Maka Hou Lāna‘i Business Workshop: Starting a business from concept to creation
Make a fresh start by learning how to create a new business from the ground up in just one weekend. At Maka Hou Lāna‘i you will experience the spills and thrills, the disappointments and satisfactions of building a business from scratch. But you won’t be alone. Mentors, experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and other participants will be there to give you the confidence you need to power through this action-packed weekend.
PRIZE PACKAGE FOR THE WINNING PITCH!
October 21-23, 2016 at the Lāna‘i Senior Center. 5:00PM Friday-2:00PM Sunday. There is no charge for this workshop, but reservations are required. Meals are included!
Pitch Bootcamp Lāna‘i
Prepare. Warm up. Practice for Maka Hou Lāna‘i!
Learn to effectively promote yourself and your business idea to others comfortably and with confidence – anytime, anywhere. This Pitch Bootcamp is specifically designed to give you the knowledge and practice you need to craft and deliver your BIG IDEA in 60 seconds or less.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 5:00PM-8:00PM at the Lāna‘i Senior Center. This workshop is FREE, but reservations are required. Dinner is included!
Register now
To register online, visit www.medb.org/MAKA-HOU-LANAI
For more information, contact Annette at info@hightechmaui.com or (808)270-6811.
Sep 14, 2016 | Education, Small Business
Lanai residents interested in learning about how to run their businesses more profitably attended a free workshop and dinner, Pinching Your Pennies: Finance for Small Businesses at the Lanai Senior Center. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) as part of their Innovation Series, this workshop offered attendees helpful tips on how to run their business more profitably and avoid mistakes that cause failure. Anyone who’s ever bootstrapped a business knows all about the art of doing more with less. The Pinching Your Pennies workshop gave participants a chance to recognize the importance of possible short- and long-term effects of their decisions. For example, “Will it save my business money without negatively impacting profits later on?”
The workshop speaker, Gerry Smith, Director of Business Development at MEDB, covered numerous topics concerning the break-even analysis. “We discussed how to determine the selling price of a product, why cash flow is so important, what fixed versus variable costs are, and the difference between wholesale and retail,” said Smith. “It’s good to be frugal,” he explained. “However, it was important to talk about what will directly affect customers or compromise the ability to operate efficiently, so that efforts don’t backfire. It’s all about looking at a business as a whole, and deciding which costs are absolutely worth it and which can be reduced in an efficient way that still benefits your business.”
“The workshop answered some essential questions for me,” said Lanai resident Cory Labang. “I learned the importance of knowing what money is coming in and what money is going out, and to know whether a profit is being made or not. I’m going to go home and make fixed-cost and variable-cost analyses for all my items.” Lanai resident Matthew Posadas’s career goal is to be a private chef. “The workshop energized and excited me,” Posada said. “I have taken business finance before, but this workshop helped me clearly understand some very important basic concepts. Thank you MEDB!”
This workshop was fulfilling. I’m so grateful to MEDB for bringing helpful business workshops to Lanai. I look forward to future meetings in their Innovation Series.
Matthew Posada, Lanai Resident
