Even for local, neighborhood businesses, an online presence is critical for new customers to find you. More than 97% of customers use the internet to find local businesses. This number has been growing steadily since smartphones have become more available and mainstream. Positive reviews make 73% of customers trust a local business more than no…
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Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) may have the flexibility to create new loan products to better serve their communities. Concessionary loan capital is one such type of new loan product. Concessionary loans are loans that offer more generous terms than market rate loans. These terms may be lower interest rates, a longer pay-back period,…
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This post was written by Steve Nicastro and originally appeared on NerdWallet on November 13, 2017. It is shared here with permission. Small Business Saturday has become a boon for local shops: Last year, 112 million consumers spent $15.4 million at such businesses, according to American Express, the company behind the shopping holiday founded in…
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Oakland Grown is a nonprofit membership organization that services Oakland’s independent businesses, artists, and makers. They promote buying, investing, and giving locally to build a sustain a more just and vibrant Oakland economy. Oakland Grown’s members receive significant benefits (click here for their membership kit): Promote Oakland Grown members Provide workshops and events to…
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With her parents’ values instilled in her as a very young child, Diana Wong has grown to model a similar successful business style when creating iCAFE San Francisco, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown. She wanted to create a “warm, caring, sense of coming home,” continuing to cater to loyal patrons, in addition…
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