Each May is World Trade Month, which makes now the perfect time to explore the role global trade plays in the economy. Given 95% of the world’s population and 75% of consumers reside outside the US, global trade is responsible for a significant number of jobs as well as business stability and growth. This isn’t restricted to major corporations either; small businesses actually have a lot to gain from exporting. Today’s post will highlight some of the reasons and the ways Oregon small businesses can get involved.

What is encore entrepreneurship?

If you haven’t heard of it yet, you will soon. Encore entrepreneurship is on the rise!

Digital marketing is a fact of life in the business world today. The term refers to any type of marketing done online, including your website and social media, and brings with it the advantage of enabling marketers to track and analyze the success of campaigns to understand what’s working and what isn’t. Before you invest in digital marketing for your business, however, consider these 10 questions.

As an artist, writer, design or creative entrepreneur, you have the skills to create great work, but do you have the business skills to get great work? When starting your own creative business, you will need to do some digging into business topics and getting to know your market. Though it might take some trial and error, by doing your homework, you can run an effective business.

Lauren Rosenstein is the owner of The Green Schoolhouse. Lauren tells her story of working with the PCC Small Business Development Center below.

Starting a restaurant has many working parts all moving simultaneously, and if left unattended, could cause speed bumps in your start up process and success. Choosing the correct location (and getting the proper permitting), managing food and beverage inventory, and handling the employees, are just a few of the moving parts.

Sam F. Taylor, IV, A.S.I.D. is a guest instructor in Restaurant Business Builders in the session "Designing Your Restaurant and Kitchen," in which he will be sharing his expertise of over 35 years in designing and planning spaces in the hospitality industry. 

If you’re looking to up your small business’s social media game, you’ll need advice from the pros. Instead of haphazardly trying out new tactics, you can do some free research online to learn how to make Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social channels work for you.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life?” If you’re a creative person, you may have wondered whether you can really make a living doing what you love. The answer is  “yes!” The creative sector is a leader in worldwide economic growth. These days, lots of people are starting their own businesses and are successful at turning their passion into profit. But to become an effective business owner, it’s important to learn the skills required to manage your business effectively.

In the United States, food manufacturers are responsible for the proper labeling of their products. The labels must meet all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other legal requirements, including nutrition information. The labels cannot be misleading or deceptive. Proper labeling, including nutrition and allergen information, is required for most packaged or prepared foods.