5th Annual Nebraska MarketPlace Overview

Transcription

1 5th Annual Nebraska MarketPlace Overview

2 ry a s er v i n ska n A ra ace h t 5 Neb tpl e rk a M

3 April 21, 2011 Executive Summary 2011 MarketPlace Conference Sponsors INVESTOR INNOVATOR Dave Buchholz PARTNER GROW Nebraska Ramada Convention Center - Kearney Nebraska Soybean Board Q Country FM -North Platte Triumph of Ag Expo SUPPORTER Community Economic Dev. Clinic - Creighton Law School Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Kearney Convention & Visitors Bureau Microsoft Corporation Nebraska State SARE Program Proforma Identity Marketing Group USDA NRCS USDA Rural Development has provided funding for the event to focus on Innovation, creating an atmosphere of new opportunities and possibilities for development of innovative new small rural business. EVENT PLANNERS Joy Marshall Center for Rural Affairs PO Box Omaha, NE joym@cfra.org Stephanie Fritz PO Box 522 Creighton, NE (402) stephanief@cfra.org On behalf of the Center for Rural Affairs, we are pleased to present you with a report for the 5th Annual Marketplace held on Tuesday, February 22nd and Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the Ramada Convention Center in Kearney, Nebraska. This training event was extremely intense in comparison to the past MarketPlace Conferences. A few of the additions to this year s event was: RZ Bounce Selected attendees were able to brainstorm ideas with a panel of five experts. This event took place the morning of the pre-conference and was well received by the six participants. Polling website Attendees were able to vote on several questions through various technologies including Internet or their cell phones. This was a tool for us to assist in bringing innovation into the event and to show small business owners they can utilize this type of technology to connect with customers to learn what services and products they are seeking. Keynote and Positively Nebraska Reception was an additional function added to the agenda. The event was well received and will be recommended for next year with several changes going to be implemented. This event featured Nebraska grown food from eight vendors. Social Networking Area offered in the Resource Zone included the opportunity for attendees to Twitter, write on their FaceBook and LinkedIn social networking sites. Development of Good Morning MarketPlace included rental and coordination of extensive Audio/Visual equipment. As a result of this equipment, we will be able to develop video to market future events. The team decided to offer a more extensive Pre-Conference event with seventeen trainings. Registration for the pre-conference increased by 79% from the previous year, however, the main conference day was down 25%. As a result of offering separate registration fees for the two days, it appears attendees selected what worked with their schedules or what appeared to be of more value to them. See the enclosed information for demographics. Attendees rated the most useful sections of the conference being the educational sessions with the Resource Zone coming in second. A total of 55 sessions were offered over the day and a half. Evaluations suggested we cut back the number of sessions offered; therefore this piece will be evaluated when designing the next event. The Resource Zone or commonly known as the Trade show had 23 booths being store front or home-based businesses, 14 were non-profits, 9 educational services and 5 government organizations all of which are instrumental in growing small businesses. As you can tell, this year was another busy year, yet a successful one for the state of Nebraska. You are to be commended for your efforts and continue to be a model nationally as other states are offering the same type of event. It is your determination which allows small business owners in the state to thrive and grow. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at I look forward to many more successful years with the Nebraska MarketPlace. Partners for Success, Joy L. Marshall Enclosure Presented by the CENTER for RURAL AFFAIRS The Center for Rural Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Provider, and Employer.

4 Attendees Demographics Legal Structure of Businesses Percentage of respondents indicating they are: SOLE Proprietors 35.1% Other 18.6% S Corporations 16.5% Limited Liability Company 14.4% C Corporations 11.3% Limited Liability Partnership 2.1% General Partnership 1% Cooperative 1% Attendees Percentage of attendees who are service providers assisting small business owners with growth and development: 23% Community economic developers advocating for small business development and entrepreneurial growth in their communities and regions: 11% Number of existing or potential small business owners including employees to improve their business knowledge and move to the next level of success: 48% High school and college students to include educators interested in increasing their entrepreneurial understanding: 18% 2011 Nebraska MarketPlace Attendees Yellow County Attendance Blue Conference Location White No County Attendance Attendees with a business transition strategy as they retire YES 25.7 % NO 74.3% ** 118 of the registered participants responded to this question

5 Overall Evaluation Results Most Useful Segments of the Conference Components of the Educational Event (Ratings options 1.0 to 5.0 with 1.0 being the best) Comment from Attendee "After attending this year's MarketPlace conference, I left with a whole new understanding of how to help grow my business. I left feeling empowered to grow my business and knowing that my purpose was not only to grow my business but to help grow others' businesses as well. This was, by far, the best conference I have ever attended and I am looking forward to next year's conference! Chris Braun Braun Computer Repair, Inc." More Attendee Comments It really was wonderful. I am in the process of starting a home based business and the information was very beneficial. I had a great time. It was very motivational and was able to bring ideas to my business. The networking was great. It was interesting to see what Nebraska has to offer and I made some great contacts to incorporate with my business! Fabulous turn out, agenda, workshops, and the planning committee out did themselves. I was very impressed with the buzz of what folks were saying, the engagement, the variety of activities...well planned. Great event. Way to go...thank you for all your hard work.

6 Educational Sessions Attendees per sessions ranged from: 3 to 48 Comments from Attendees: It was a wonderful experience and I would recommend anyone starting a business or owning a business attend! Always my favorite conference. The networking is invaluable and the classes have enough variety to fit most everyone s needs. Being my first time at the conference, I truly enjoyed myself. The many topics to choose from was perfect! In 2011, a total of 55 sessions were offered over the two-day period. The number of sessions offered on 2011 compared to 2010 was up by 10 and up by 25 from the first year the conference was offered. Evaluation comments have indicated the number of sessions offered should be lowered and more sessions should be offered more than one time. An addition to this years event was the opportunity for a keynote speaker on Tuesday evening. This session was extremely well received. As an opener for the main conference, the Good Morning MarketPlace was offered with a totally different twist from past events. Overall average number of attendees per session: 18 Evaluation results ranged from (4.0 being the highest): 4.0 to 2.8 Average evaluation of al sessions combined: 3.52 Number of Evaluations above average 30 Number of Sessions ranking below average: 25 Number of pre conference sessions offered 17 Main conference day sessions offered: 38

7 With the hurdles small businesses often encounter in trying to secure financing, I appreciated that MarketPlace offered us the chance to explain our loan programs and free resources for the benefit of guests throughout the conference. It s through events such as this that we can connect entrepreneurs to what we can provide to help them grow and succeed, and continue to strengthen Nebraska s economy. Michael Foutch, Business Development Specialist, Nebraska District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration Resources Zone (Commonly known as the Trade Show) I like to come to this event because the attendees are there to learn! They really want to know about your organization or program and what you have in the booth to share with them! Marian J. Beethe, Program Administrator Beginning Farmer Program Farm Mediation Service Nebraska Department of Agriculture Non-Profit Government Store Front / Home Based Business Educational Services The exhibitor area was renamed this year to better represent the goal of this section of the conference to Resource Zone. The Resource Zone is designed to enhance networking for increased learning opportunities with high impact exposure and one-onone encounters with a targeted audience. Attendees are encouraged to learn from resource zone professionals to grow their business, increase their bottom line and advance their business skills. This year the planning team offered a Positively Nebraska Reception. The reception was held in the resource zone giving the exhibitors the option to offer advise to a captive audience. The Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) staff enjoys the opportunity to exhibit and sponsor MarketPlace. The MarketPlace is a great place to meet entrepreneurs and small business owners, share information about NEF, and connect them to gap financing, training, and technical assistance services that they may need. Glennis McClure, Program Manager Nebraska Enterprise Fund

8 The MarketPlace Store & Nebraska Foods The MarketPlace Store is a retail store for a day giving an extra boost of marketing exposure to Nebraska artisans. GROW Nebraska offered a sponsorship to the MarketPlace Conference to market the retail store to potential vendors, provide expertise, staff and pay sales taxes incurred from store sales. See more of the Market- Place Store when you click on this short video produced by GROW Nebraska The following are the attendees who marketed their products at the Store. KK Enterprises Crete Glass Creations Cedar Hills Vineyard LLP 4 REAL* KIds Herbal Gatherings HomeSpun PurJava BrZ Online Buy Fresh Buy Local Doggone Clean Paws Giftwood of Nebraska George Paul Vinegar Sandhills Boot Company County Taste of Homemade I Bead Unique Rosewood Environmental Art The Beverage Butler Heavenly Creations GROW Nebraska reported a 31% increase in sales compared to the 2010 MarketPlace Store Creative Hand at the Red Shed Contact us to find out how you can showcase your products or food at MarketPlace BrZ Online Nebraska Foods Featured at MarketPlace: Opening Doors to Success were purchased from the following: Simply Soup Mix Minestrone & Vegetable Soups 4F Farms Flour Garden Fresh Vegetables Cucumbers George Paul Vinegar Vinegar Oakview Beef Hamburger Kathleen Timperly Squash Robert Bernt Variety of Cheeses Silver Hills Winery provided complimentary wines for the CFRA Banquet Homespun Cupcakes made with flour from Wauneta Roller Mills in Wauneta, NE and fresh local farm eggs

9 Sponsors Thank you to the entire MarketPlace: Opening Doors to Success Conference Sponsors for their collaborating effort to make this learning and networking opportunity a success. Innovator Investor Partner Q Country FM North Platte KELN Radio-Eagle Radio Kearney Ramada Convention Center Nebraska Soybean Board Triumph of Ag Expo GROW Nebraska Supporter Community Economic Development Clinic-Creighton Law School USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Kearney Convention & Visitors Bureau Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Proforma Identity Marketing Nebraska SARE Friend Microsoft Corporation Prairie Fire Newspaper UPS Store North Platte USDA Rural Development has provided funding for the 2011 MarketPlace that will focus on Innovation creating an atmosphere of new opportunities and possibilities for development of innovative new small rural businesses. Center for Rural Affairs and its many partners are Equal Opportunity Providers and Employers

10 Most Valuable Contacts For the second year, the team incorporated the Most Valuable Contacts (MVC) contest among attendees, exhibitors, presenters and sponsors. Attendees spent the day networking and learning from each other. Upon completion of the event, the MVP s were turned in by attendees for review. Following are a few examples of honored Most Valuable Contacts: Congratulations goes to Bridget Lynch Who was Voted the MOST Valuable Contact by 7 individuals. MVC: Graham Christensen Nominated by: Aaron Thiessen This contact was very helpful because after months of searching for contacts to start a business using Renewable energy, I found one. He also then led me to the USDA booth, which also gave me so much information. I'm so excited to continue my research! MVC: Scott Isaacson Nominated by: Valerie Miksch I need to protect my technology, computer, etc. because I have client medical information to protect. Scott knows his information and is willing to help network and find additional resources for my particular situation. 50 people submitted MOST Valuable Contacts 39 people were voted MOST Valuable Contact MVC: Bridget Lynch Nominated by: Kevin Anderson The impact she had on my students and the connections she made with them was over the top. Anyone who can impact high school students like this is invaluable! MVC: Jan Jantzen Karen Kollars Nominated by: Ryan Sexon Jan is an expert in the same field as our start-up business. Karen had lots of ideas on how to develop our business. Of the 39 people voted as a MOST Valuable Contact 8 received multiple votes

11 5 year Registration REPORT Nebraska County Attendees (All 5 years Combined) GREEN indicates County Attendance RED Indicates Conference Site NOTE: Counties shown in white have never been represented at MarketPlace. They include: 1) Banner 2) Blaine 3) Box Butte 4) Dixon 5) Dundy 6) Hayes 7) Kimball 8) Wheeler

12 For More Information MarketPlace Conference: Opening Doors to Success Joy Marshall, Event Planner Stephanie Fritz, Event Planner This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider, and Employer