Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
Beth Woodward believes that all owners should find their own ways to market their businesses, one that inspires them and feels comfortable to them. She’s always looking for innovative ways in which people market their companies.
To that end, she put out the call via e-mail earlier this year, inviting business owners to tell her their stories about how they market their companies. By the end of this year she hopes to publish the best of the tales in an e-book, price yet to be determined.
For people who shared their marketing stories, she’ll include contact information about their company and a link to their Web site.
“I absolutely love stories. That’s how we learn,” Woodward says. “And it’s one of my passions to help other women-owned businesses. I like to put out fun and interesting ideas for companies about marketing.”
One of her favorites: Suzanne McGann, president of Voyageur I.T. in St. Paul, enjoys canoeing. She hosts an annual event in which she invites women on a guided canoe trip. Her company’s marketing includes the voyageur theme; for example, she sends packets of wild rice with her staff’s favorite recipes to clients and contacts.
Another favorite story: a person who developed her business not from a master plan written in advance, but from requests she received. Woodward likes to encourage people to do marketing in ways that are comfortable for them, regardless of the “rules” of business.
“There are a lot of people around who will follow what comes up to them,” Woodward says, noting that going with the flow is frowned upon by experts. “It’s our ‘shoulds’ that we put on ourselves” that keep people from finding their own comfort zone in marketing.
Woodward started her coaching business in 2000. She offers three programs: Marketing on the Playground, in which people get together to “find their comfort zone in marketing and stand in it”; Women’s Brainstorming on the Playground, a half-day monthly idea-generating session; and Marketing Success Teams, to keep clients focused on the marketing plan of action.
The book, to be published electronically at first to keep costs down, and perhaps in a hard copy later, is tentatively titled “Marketing on the Playground Storybook.” She’s still looking for stories to add, so send them in.
Beth Woodward, Marketing on the Playground: 612.861.7519; be**@**********************nd.com; www.marketingontheplayground.com
