December Celebrations

Best wishes for a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year! This month you’ll only see one WEV newsletter — and it’s a good one, full of exciting announcements and essential resources — so please enjoy!

-The WEV Staff

SET Graduation Tonight

Please join WEV in celebrating the accomplishments of the 92 women and men who are graduating from our most recent Self-Employment Training (SET) courses! You’ll be inspired by the dynamic class speakers and elevator speeches during the ceremony, followed by the client expo.

When: Tonight, Thursday, December 15th, 6-8pm
Where: Montecito County Club, 920 Summit Road, Montecito

Cake and coffee will be served following the ceremony. This event is free and RSVPs are not necessary!

Business Plan Intensive Graduates

This Fall, six dedicated individuals committed themselves to WEV’s rigorous Business Plan Intensive (BPI) course. After 6-weeks of conducting market research and crunching their financials, the entire class completed business plans and graduated with honors. To the six graduates of this truly “intensive” course, we commend your achievements!

Fall 2011 BPI Graduates:
Maria Carbonell
Joyce Carlisle
Matthew Carter
Lisa Danhi
Hilary Edwards
Breena Maggio

Client of the Month

Julie & Michael Crookston

BPI graduates Julia and Michael Crookston reworked a jam business to include a shared kitchen and café. The result? Goodland Kitchen and Market. The unique space was recently host to WEV’s December 8th ‘FoodStuff’ Event. Read more.

FoodStuff: Wrap-Up on a Great Event in Goleta

Over 30 guests attended the first-ever, SOLD OUT FoodStuff panel held at Goodland Market & Kitchen on December 8th. The panel was moderated by Melissa Gomez of Goodland Kitchen, and included Julia Crookston of Preserves Santa Barbara and Goodland Market & Kitchen (and current WEV Client of the Month), Gail Zannon of Santa Barbara Pistachios, Heidi Whitney of IxCacoa Brownies and Elizabeth Poett of Rancho San Julian Beef.

Audience members had the opportunity to ask questions of the experienced food business owners and sample delicious treats from panelists and audience members alike! Stay tuned for information about the upcoming FoodStuff panel in Ventura.

“You have to live up to where you’re going.”

-Elizabeth Poett, a quote from the event explaining how to scale up your food business

Attention WEV Graduates, Past & Present:
WEV Roundtables are open for enrollment!

How do they work?
Roundtables consist of a WEV Instructor as facilitator and 8-15 participants. Each session is structured to inform on a group-selected topic, as well as give each participant time to receive group feedback and accountability. Participants walk away from each session with action items to move forward with their business.

Schedule:
Roundtables begin in January and meet once a month. Click here for a detailed schedule in your area.
Price:
Four sessions are $125 – or only $100 if you’re a current SET or BPI client and enroll by December 22nd!
  

 Q: Five frogs are on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many frogs are left on the log?
A: Still five. It’s a lot easier to decide to do something than to actually do it!

Have you decided to take your business to the next level in 2012, but haven’t taken action because you’re just not sure how? Join Thrive in 5® now and we can help! You don’t want to miss our first Think Big session of 2012:

“Launch Into 2012”, Thursday, January 12th

We’ll help you set the stage to build your momentum for 2012! For more info on Thrive in 5® and Think Big, contact Lisa Minyard at lminyard@wevonline.org or 667.8004
  

Limoneira Gift Baskets

Looking for a holiday gift that will stand apart from the rest? Give the gift of great taste with one of Limoneira’s Orchard Fresh Gift Baskets or Lifestyle Gift Baskets.

Limoneira will donate $2.00 of each order to Women’s Economic Ventures. This could be the gift you were seeking for that client you want to thank or that family member that seems to have everything. And you’ll be supporting WEV with every purchase! More info.

Offer Ends: December 31st

Save money AND support WEV at the same time?! Let the savings begin. Get your Ventura or Santa Barbara Axxess card today through WEV. Each card costs $30 and $10 of that amount will be generously donated back to support WEV’s programs. Get yours today!

These Coupon Books Make Great Holiday Gifts!
  

 If you know someone who could benefit from WEV’s offerings, tell them to sign up for a WEV orientation. January is orientation season for WEV, which makes it the perfect time to attend. Orientations are free, one-hour informational sessions that explain our Spring 2012 programs like the Self-Employment Training (SET) and Business Plan Intensive (BPI) courses.
  

ParentClick.com is excited to be a Media Sponsor of Women’s Economic Ventures! ParentClick has been an online publisher for the past nine years providing centralized resources for parents within their own communities while creating affordable marketing packages so that both businesses and non profits can reach the family demographic. This online community and parenting resource has grown from a handful of parents to more than 40,000 parent members with more joining daily.

ADVERTISE & LIST YOUR BUSINESS ON PARENTCLICK.com – SPECIAL RATE FOR WEV CLIENTS

BASIC PACKAGE – $60/year
• contact information, website link, tagline
• ability to post on calendar, chatter, submit press releases, etc
• option to register for an exhibitor table at the annual ParentClick Kids Expo in March
• option to attend our annual Business Mixer in January
• WEV CLIENTS will receive [1] 180×150 NEWSLETTER AD with their BASIC Package [$100 value]

PREMIUM PACKAGE – $360/year
• all the benefits of the basic package PLUS
• increase visibility with a profile page that includes rotating images and logos
• display logo on all postings [chatter, perks, calendar, etc.]• invitations to use ParentClick tables when we host them at events throughout the year
• WEV CLIENTS will receive [2] 180×150 NEWSLETTER ADS with their PREMIUM Package [$200 value]

SBA Live Chat: Tax Essentials

On December 15th the SBA will hold an online, live chat on: Tax Essentials for Small Business Owners. With tax season around the corner, small business owners can prepare now with useful end of year tax tips. Join SBA and the AICPA web chat by posting your questions about year-end tax savings to help you prepare for the coming tax filing season. Participants can learn more about tax deductions and credits they can use to reduce their taxes, as well as other tax savings tips. More info.

Want to know more? Check out ‘Should I pursue government contracting?‘ to understand how government contracting opportunities are everywhere locally for your product or service.

The Story Exchange

WEV clients have an exciting opportunity to gain internet exposure through The Story Exchange, a forum for inspiration and encouragement with videos of women who have overcome tough odds and achieved success.

Fill out this brief survey and your story could appear on The Story Exchange. Each week one woman will be blogged about and all entries will be used to find candidates for future films.

• 500 Jobs Challenge
• SET Graduation
• Business Plan Intensive Graduates
• Client of the Month: Julia & Michael Crookston
• FoodStuff: Wrap-Up
• Roundtables, NOW Is the Time
• Five Frogs Are on a Log…
• Limoneira Gift Baskets
• Last Chance: Axxess Coupon Books
• Send a Friend to WEV

• Advertising Deals through ParentClick.com
• Live Chat: Tax Essentials
• DUNS, NAIC, SIC, Oh My!
• Story Exchange

A very exciting step for WEV alumni, Kim Brown, of Santa Ynez Lavender Company — Whole Foods Santa Barbara is now carrying Santa Ynez Lavender’s bath and body products! The lavender used is all grown on Kim’s local Santa Ynez farm, hand harvested and hand-distilled. 

We’re always on the lookout for a new Client of the Month, Success Story, Featured Artist or addition to the Client Achievements section of the newsletter. But don’t wait for us to find you… let us know how you’re doing now! Email news@wevonline.org.

This 16-week eCourse teaches you how to write kick-butt web copy and integrate with all your online marketing strategies. Only 10 seats left for the Beta Group which begins in late January. Learn more and apply to see if you’re right for this class.

Applications accepted through December 31st

Taught by former WEV Instructor and Staff, Tea Silvestre, aka The Word Chef. 

If you’ve got something for sale or rent – or a special deal to share with the WEV community – email news@wevonline.org