How Small

How Small Businesses are Mastering the Art of Selling Online

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | June 2019 21 Consumer buying habits have changed dramatically over the years. With the rise of online shopping, many small and medium-sized businesses find it difficult to reach customers in the vast ocean of the internet. To succeed online, businesses need a partner to help them reach a national - or even global - customer base, and to support them throughout the process of building their business and fulfilling increasing demand for their products or services. An amazing variety of small and medium-sized businesses now boost online sales by selling in Amazon’s stores, reaching more customers and bringing their business to a whole new level. More than half of the items sold in Amazon’s stores worldwide are from small and medium-sized businesses. And the number of small and medium-sized businesses exceeding $1 million in sales in Amazon’s stores worldwide grew by 20 percent last year, to more than 25,000. When Tara Darnley, co-founder of lifestyle baby brand Darlyng & Co., started selling online in 2015, she initially hesitated to sell in Amazon’s stores, despite being an Amazon customer. However, she changed her mind when she noticed a reseller offering one of their popular products for three times the retail value on Amazon - and selling out.

“We knew then that we were leaving money behind by not establishing our brand ourselves on Amazon,” Darnley says. Once Darlyng & Co. moved their business to Amazon, their sales increased instantly.

Darnley explains that their products appeal to “parents who are up late in the night with a cranky teething baby and the only time they get a chance to browse the internet is late at night. We actually could not keep up with the demand from Amazon in the beginning. We were getting 100 orders a day.”

Darlyng & Co. turned to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to help handle their influx of orders. With FBA, businesses store their products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers, so Amazon can pack, ship, and provide customer service for them. Using FBA also makes products Prime eligible, providing members with free shipping and other benefits.

The success of Darlyng & Co. is booming, according to Darnley: “As a result of selling on Amazon we’ve been able to grow our brand globally without the need for a middle person or distributor. We sell on Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and recently Amazon. au, and now our products are more accessible to customers worldwide.”

Small businesses are also finding success with Amazon Handmade, where artisans from all 50 states and more than 80 countries offer genuinely handcrafted goods.

The owner of John Leslie Studios started selling his handmade jewelry and personalized gifts made from reclaimed wood online in 2014, with moderate success. The Amazon Handmade team approached Leslie in 2015 about being among the first sellers to join the new store.

“I hesitated because of the time and effort involved in creating all new listings but, after serious thought, put the work in to create my Amazon Handmade storefront. Best decision I’ve ever made,” says Leslie. His first year in the new store, sales doubled and continue to grow.

Leslie describes how quickly things changed: “I saw sales almost immediately since I started at the beginning of the Christmas season. It got so busy that Amazon contacted me because they wanted to make sure I could keep up with the sales volume.” That was the best thing about the online store for him - the personalized support from the Amazon team. Leslie explains, “The greatest thing is that you can request a phone call from the help desk and in minutes you are speaking with a real person who can walk you through your issue.”

Leslie recommends Amazon to any small business, saying, “My sales have steadily increased on Amazon year after year. Last year my sales on Amazon alone were over $150,000. Simply being on Amazon is a huge visibility boost because Amazon is often the first place people go when seeking to purchase almost anything.”—

Men’s Health Month in June: A time to take action Good Health for Men Often Depends on Wellness Awareness and Early Screenings

The statistics for men’s health are alarming. For men, life expectancy is 76.3 years; for women, it’s 81.2 years. The Kaiser Family Foundation points out that nearly 71 percent of men are at risk of being overweight or obese, compared to 59 percent for women. Far more women than men are likely to go to a physician office visit, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

These statistics may be worrisome for men and their loved ones, but many of the health risks men face can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle and getting recommended and timely preventive health screenings.

“It’s important for men to take charge of their health,” said Dr. Chad E. Bittner, a chief medical officer of OptumCare. “And there are a number of things men can do to get and stay healthy.”

Bittner offers the following tips to help men improve their health and well-being:

Physical activity: Regardless of gender, Bittner said he gives people the same general health advice, although men often need more reminders. One focus area for patients is physical activity. Regular physical activity can control weight, reduce risks of developing heart disease and some cancers, and can improve overall mental health and mood.

Nutrition: Another important priority is nutrition. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day, and limit foods and drinks high in sugar, salt, saturated fat and alcohol.

He points out other important reminders for men: Sunscreen: Don’t overlook the importance of using sunscreen. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States.

Prescriptions: All patients need to work with their doctors to get a full understanding of the purpose and side effects of the prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and supplements they take.

Depression: It’s important for men and those close to them to be aware of the warning signs for depression.

If you or the men in your life are not making positive health choices, now is the perfect time to take charge of your health.

More information is available at optumcare.com/ menshealth. Editors Note: June is Menal Health Month, a perfect reminder for men to make wellness a priority.—

Small Businesses are Looking Beyond Banks for Loans Growing a business requires strategy, persistence and money. Even the most successful business owners occasionally need extra cash to expand their operations. However, getting this funding through a bank can be an uphill battle.

That was the case for Kate Lester, owner of Kate Lester Interiors, a luxury design firm based in Southern California. After Lester’s business took off, she set her sights on opening a retail space to attract even more clients.

“When the perfect space became available on the Pacific Coast Highway,” she said, “we didn’t have all that capital in the bank.” After reviewing her finances, she decided to apply for a bank loan. Despite being a longtime customer, and having excellent credit and zero debt, she was denied.

Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence for small-business owners across the country. According to a 2018 Fed Small Business Survey, nearly one in two small-business owners struggle to get the financing they need to expand and pursue new opportunities.

That’s largely because banks are still ignoring small businesses, despite their contribution to the economy.

A new report from Oxford Economics shows that: * Small businesses are responsible for 60% of all jobs in industrialized countries

* And yet, in the United States, loans to small businesses make up only 0.7% of banks’ balance sheets * Only 13% of business owners who applied for a commercial loan of $25,000 to $100,000 from a bank received at least half the money they asked for Continued neglect from big banks is leading small-business owners to seek alternatives. After being rejected by her bank, Lester called Funding Circle, an online small-business loans platform that connects business owners who need capital with investors willing to provide it.

“We thought it would be a longer process because of what happened when we went to our bank,” she said. “I spent eight hours on the phone with my bank just trying to get someone to talk to me.”

Banks are notorious for having tedious loan application processes and lengthy turnaround times. Compiling paperwork for an application can take multiple days, and business owners often have to wait another several weeks or months just to receive a response.

Online credit providers, on the other hand, pride themselves on offering faster, simpler financing to small businesses without sacrificing on affordability. For business owners like Lester, maximizing time and resources is crucial.

“Time is something that’s super valuable to me,” she said. “For me to go to a bank, and maybe get one or two points difference in the interest rate, wasn’t worth all the back and forth it would have required.” Today, Lester’s sales are up 150% after receiving a loan from Funding Circle in 2017. Her story, while remarkable, isn’t exceptional.

Online providers are driving growth and profits for millions of small businesses in the U.S., in turn creating more jobs and boosting the economy. In 2018, businesses borrowing from Funding Circle supported 38,000 jobs and contributed $2.8 billion to the American economy (measured in gross value added).—