Volume 1 – November 30th 2009

Upcoming Events

Southeast Wyoming's Economic Forecast 2010

The Wyoming Business Report has assembled a panel of experts to take a unique look at the Southeastern Wyoming economy for 2010. Manufacturing-Works will be sponsoring this event. It will be December 8, 2009 at the Holiday Inn in Cheyenne, WY. You can learn more and register here.

News and Articles

Manufacturing-Works and Partners Help Z4 Energy Receive Grant Money

Z4 Energy Systems LLC, a Wyoming-based research and development firm has raked in a total of five grants amounting to $569,276 over the past two years.

Read the full article on the Wyoming Business Report website.

H1N1 & Influenza Guidance for Businesses

Department of Labor announced a new guidance for businesses to plan for and respond to the upcoming flu season. (read more…)

McGuire Returns to Mudville (Tom Reilly's Sales Bytes)

Louis Cardinal, Mark McGwire, is returning to St. Louis as a batting coach. Notwithstanding the controversy, McGwire could hit a baseball. (read more…)

We Are Hope Merchants (Tom Reilly's Sales Bytes)

We have all stared into this economic abyss–the longest recession since the Great Depression–and it has stared back. (read more…)

High Visibility Warning Garments Required by OSHA

OSHA's new letter of interpretation requires that construction workers wear high-visibility warning garments (read more…)

Branding your Small Business for Success

No longer is branding only important for the Nike’s and Starbuck’s in the game. Strong branding is necessary for startups, small businesses, large businesses and everything in between!

Read the full article on the Small BizBlog.

Pro Tips

Keep your best workers

The top ten per cent of a workforce makes an organization world-class. They are also the most difficult to retain. They won't put up with frustration, and they can more easily move to another job than can average employees. They also can be the highest maintenance people in the organization, so just like a complex machine, they may require more attention.

Contact Barry Bruns to learn more about how to best relate to your workforce.

Are your benefits clear to your customers?

If you cannot convey the benefits of your product or service in writing then you have virtually no chance of selling your offering. Write your offering and benefits, and pass it by 3-5 people without explaining what your offering can do. Ask the people what is not clear, or what could be improved. Incorporate suggestions and continue until the people ‘get it’. This will cost you nothing other than your time. Fail fast-fail cheap-get rich.

Contact Rick Rothwell for more information on how to make your benefits clear to your customers.