“We took our business plan very seriously. We got on line with the Small Business Association on line, and printed out a template business plan,” said Beej Winskowski, owner of Wine 101.
“As I went through it, it asked some very important questions. I quickly realized if I can’t figure out who my competition is, what my competition is doing and how I need to conduct my business then I shouldn’t be in business,” she said. “You can’t just go in and guess your way.”
Another key element is connecting with the local chamber of commerce. “I didn’t understand what the chamber of commerce was, but I went ahead and accepted an invitation to attend a breakfast,” she said. “And now I can say that it’s one of the most crucial parts of our success.”
“You learn from other small business people, who want to help and support you,” she said. “The chamber is a strong networking organization, and when the members think of wine, they think of us,” she said.
"The customer is always going to be the focus of any of your activities," she said. "You need to really understand who your customer is, and how to get them to return and bring their friends.
"An item that should not be overlooked is your management philosophy," she said. "How will you manage employees? Do your employees buy into your philosophy, and how do you make them want to work and have fun so it’s not a drudgery? You need to build a pride in your employees so they want to share the same values as you."
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