WIZS – Business Spotlight

I was visiting one of our latest marketing partners the other day when I noticed a small building in the corner of the lot. I nosily drove over and discovered that a brand new embroidery place had opened. Their hours were unusual, so I knew there had to be a story. The next day I dropped in on Sew Goes It! Embroidery in Oxford, and met Kelly and Dawn Johnson. Kelly and Dawn both have day jobs, but also decided to do some embroidery work on the side at night. They did not seem to have been open long, and yet they also appeared to have a lot going on.

Asking about someone’s goals as a business owner is not exactly the easiest thing to do, but Kelly and Dawn were open with me. Henderson and Oxford are their primary focus, and we found a way to help each other.

Since I started at WIZS back in May of 2011, I have always wanted a 1450 WIZS polo (golf) shirt. I told them that, and Kelly and Dawn found a way to help. The next time you see a member of the WIZS staff there is no need to ask them where they got their golf shirt from because we all got them from Sew Goes It! Embroidery at 911 Williamsboro Street in Oxford.

To learn more about Sew Goes It! Embroidery log on to sewgoesit.com or call 919-691-5151.

June Employment Figures Released

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 95 of North Carolina’s counties in June, decreased in four counties, and remained unchanged in one county.

Graham County had the highest unemployment rate at 12.3 percent while Buncombe County had the lowest at 4.7 percent. All fifteen of the state’s metro areas experienced rate increases. Among the Metro areas, Rocky Mount at 8.9 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville had the lowest rate at 5.0 percent. The June not seasonally adjusted statewide rate was 6.1 percent.

The full release is available here.

Vance County has a labor force of 17,988 with 1,683 unemployed, giving you a rate of 9.4 percent.  Granville County has 28,513 workers with 1,563 out of work, giving you a rate of 5.5 percent.  Warren County employs 7,250 with 653 out of work, giving you an unemployment rate of 9.0 percent.  Just south in Franklin County, there are 29,134 in the labor force with 1,795 out of a job, giving you a rate of 6.2 percent.

Vance County’s unemployment rate increased .6 percent from May to June.  May’s figure was 8.8 percent, while June’s is 9.4.  The unemployment rate in June of 2014 was 9.6 percent, meaning a .2 percent decrease when compared to one year ago.

Vance County has the fifth worst unemployment rate in the state with Graham, Scotland, Edgecombe and Wilson Counties respectively being the four counties with the worst rates.

june unemployment state

Starting Your Own Small Business

Dos and Dont’s to be Considered

Have a Game Plan.

  • What is the product or service? Location, home or in a known shopping area?  Having access to the business is very important. Who are going to be the workers? The new business will be time consuming and usually stressful.  Are you ready for this?
  • What is your financial/business plan? Where is the money coming from, Savings-Family-Your friendly banker?  If family/friends/banker, they are now your partners.  Even if you did not intend for them to be involved, they will.business (calc key)
  • Your financial plan needs to be in writing and should have a line for each expenditure, including the Salaries to be paid and Advertising/Marketing/Web Site. A detailed financial plan will provide the break even point for the business also known as the “Nut”.  Once the “Nut” is covered, the business will start to throw off cash i.e. working capital.  Until that point is reached, the business owner(s) need to provide the needed working capital.
  • Who are the vendors that will provide the product you are going to sell? How many are there for you to choose from? What are their terms of payment?  Are the terms long enough for you to sell their product and for you to get paid, before they are to be paid? This is all about working capital, the life blood of any business.
  • Don’t forget about paying taxes. Who will do the financial reporting, a bookkeeper or accounting service?  They all cost money and need to be in your financial plan and are a part of the monthly “Nut”.  Do not forget attorneys and insurance, a necessary evil if you are to make it past your first year.  Pay strict attention to any lease or rental agreements that you sign.  Look for things like – Who pays if the AC goes out? Who is responsible for electric wiring-Mold-Cracked front steps? Removal of graffiti, flower beds and cutting the grass, snow and ice removal?
  • Further Dont’s – Never underestimate costs including monthly rent. Never over project sales. This just digs the hole deeper.  A business loan always takes longer than you expected. Let’s not forget the competition.  If you came up with a good idea, then others can too.  How can you distance your business from competitors?
  • Do not expect family and friends to be your first and best customers. History indicates that many of them do not want you to be a successful business owner. You being a success brings out the worst in many. It’s called jealously.

WIZS Shop Local Contest

Five & Under, Sam’s Furniture & Mattress Center, The Screen Master, Moody Brothers Jewelers, Postal Plus Business Center, City Tire, Dockside Seafood, Larry’s Service Company, Hometown Hardware, and WIZS Radio have teamed up to reward listeners in Vance County and the surrounding area for
spending their dollars locally.

These nine businesses have embarked on a marketing program that rewards their own customers.

Each week for 12 weeks, on Friday afternoons, WIZS staff members draw either a receipt or the back of a WIZS decal from a large blue bucket hidden safely somewhere inside the radio station.

You can get your decal from any of the nine participating businesses or WIZS Radio itself. All you need to do is put the information on the back of the decal, and apply the sticker on the back of your vehicle’s bumper or glass window. That way, there is no purchase necessary for you to enter.

However, when you shop at one of these nine locations simply drop your receipt in a sand bucket at the location. You can put as 11751186_10205867226132111_1008528664_nmany receipts in the bucket as you like, but you still need the decal on the back of your vehicle. Otherwise, we cannot hand you $145 cash.

Shop locally, and you could win $145. The odds are much better than playing the lottery.

Contest rules for the Shop Local Contest are in the top Menu under Contests.