Jennifer Shelton, the new director of the Western Washington University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), relates the story of a young Jewish man who had a great idea for a business. Provide Jews living in the United States with soil from the Holy Land for burials. It is a tradition for Jews to sprinkle dirt on the coffin, so what better than actual soil from the Holy Land? What he didn’t realize is soil is considered an agricultural product, and therefore requires an inspection by the USDA. This, and other nagging details, made this great idea not so great.
The lesson, says Shelton, is “Never fail to ask ‘Why is no one else doing this?’”
Shelton hopes that her business advising can help business owners avoid such pitfalls as well as get a handle on their business plan and their larger goals for doing business – helping them to find “their definition of success for the long term.”
Shelton leads the revived SBDC, which was on hiatus for about a year when the center changed its name and its focus. The Center for Economic Vitality (the former SBDC) now serves larger businesses in the three-to-five year range; the SBDC typically serves small businesses around the two-year mark.
Typically, the SBDC works with businesses that are ready to grow and/or preparing a proposal for financing. Shelton focuses her advising on seven core areas:
1. Management
2. Operations
3. Marketing/Sales
4. Human Resources
5. Bookkeeping
6. Financing
7. Technology
Shelton is also plugged in to a number of resources on the local, state and national level that may be of assistance to small business owners, such as sources for market research or workshops on a number of business topics. “The SBDC program is a place for businesses to get resources and support for growth and success,” Shelton said in an email.
“We like to work with motivated business owners who want to create a business that meets their quality of life and financial goals.”
Shelton will be conducting meetings for small business owners to learn more about her services from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, May 3, and Monday, June 7, at the SBDC/Northwest Economic Council offices at 115 Unity Street in Bellingham.
Tags: business consulting, SBDC, Whatcom County