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July 28, 2010

By LISA SIMPSON STRANGE Glasgow Daily Times The Glasgow Daily Times Wed Jul 28, 2010, 10:31 AM CDT

GLASGOW — Small business owners who are struggling to make it in the “Great Recession” can find help and advice through the local chamber of commerce.

“Small businesses seem to be getting into a cash crunch,” said Adam Brownlee with the Western Kentucky University Small Business Development Center. “With a drop in retail sales and a tighter cash flow, it’s harder to pay the bills.”

Brownlee, who has free consultations with local businesses the third Tuesday of each month at the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce, said he’s hearing from owners that they need money and “things are not going as well as needed.”

Encouraging men and women who run small businesses to learn how to use all available resources rather than just throwing money at a problem is one way Brownlee tries to help them.

“We look at business fundamentals – opportunities to right the ship. Money will plug the hole, but it will not fix the problem. In some cases, money could actually make it worse because they aren’t fixing the problem and a year down the road it’s still there,” he said.

There’s no crystal ball to know when recovery will happen, he said, so businesses must have a strong marketing strategy to be successful. Owners should use print media, coupons, TV and radio to get their business into the public eye, but there are also many other sources to take advantage of such as online Facebook, which is free, Google and Twitter.

“They need to utilize as many different avenues as possible,” he said.

Brownlee gave the example of the hundreds of restaurants in Bowling Green and how very competitive they are.

“Those with really strong marketing programs and strong product do better,” he said.

People thinking about starting new businesses need to really evaluate what they’re getting into because seven out of every 10 businesses fail within the first five years, according to Brownlee.

“Do market research as insurance. Make sure there is a demand. Talk to customers and ask, ‘Will you buy from me?’” he said. “It’s a risky proposition even with planning. It can still fail. Even people who know what they’re doing still fail.”

Utilizing every available measure and planning extensively gives business the greatest chance for success, he said.

Several business owners have used the free service Brownlee offers through the chamber each month.

“We normally have two to five people who come in and take advantage of that. It’s a good deal. Free is always good,” said Ernie Myers, chamber executive vice president.

To schedule an appointment for a business consultation with Brownlee in Glasgow the third Tuesday of the month, call the chamber, Buffy Carter, 651-3161, or the WKU SBDC at (270) 745-1905, wkusmallbiz. com website, registration form online.

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