The SBA Wyoming District Office celebrated National Small Business Week by presenting awards to two deserving Wyoming small businesses. The awards presented were:

• Wyoming Small Business Person of the Year (pictured), Lena Dirck, Owner and Executive Chef, The Aspen House Restaurant (Rawlins)
• Spirit of Wyoming Award, Drs. Alicia Ruiz and Kyle Cardel, Ohana Chiropractic (Cheyenne)

Small Business Person of the Year awards are presented annually to business owners in each of the 50 states and U.S. territories. Wyoming’s winner, Lena Dirck, has operated The Aspen House Restaurant for over 27 years. Despite flood damage in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after, the restaurant remains open and continues to serve its loyal patrons from Rawlins and beyond. 

The Spirit of Wyoming award is presented annually to a Wyoming small business that demonstrates potential for growth, resiliency and a dedication to community service. Drs. Alicia Ruiz and Kyle Cardel continue to operate a successful practice in Cheyenne, support several non-profit organizations and work with other providers to better highlight suicide awareness and mental health education.

For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. SBA Wyoming District Office Director Amy Lea presented each of the awards and reaffirmed SBA’s commitment to helping small businesses start, grow, expand and recover.

Representatives from the Wyoming Business Council, the Wyoming SBDC Network and other organizations were also in attendance to help celebrate. Josh Dorrell, CEO, Wyoming Business Council read Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon’s NSBW proclamation in Cheyenne, and Rawlins Mayor Terry Weickum read his NSBW proclamation in Rawlins. 

To learn more about National Small Business Week, including how to nominate a business for next year’s awards, please visit www.sba.gov/nsbw. 

SBA Disaster Loans Available to Wyoming Small Businesses

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Small nonfarm businesses in 14 Wyoming counties and neighboring counties in Idaho and Montana are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following primary counties that began May 1, 2022.

Primary Wyoming counties: Campbell, Johnson, Sheridan and Teton;
Neighboring Wyoming counties: Big Horn, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sublette, Washakie and Weston

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said.

Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 2.935 percent for businesses and 1.875 percent for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Garfield said.

By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The Secretary declared this disaster on May 2, 2022.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance in drought disasters.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to apply for economic injury is Jan. 3, 2023.

Export Regulations

By: Patty Brewer, Export Finance Manager, SBA Office of International Trade

What is the biggest challenge your small business faces today?  For some exporters understanding and implementing Export Regulations creates a discouraging mix of anxiety and doubt.  Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from taking advantage of an opportunity.  There are resources you can tap into for counseling, training, and assistance.     

A good first step is the International Trade Administration’s website on U.S. Export Regulations where you can access informational videos, training schedules, and details on U.S. Export Controls, Reporting Export Sales, Obtaining an Export License, and other legal requirements.  Depending on the product you export, your governing agency might be the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Bureau of Industry & Security. 

As you determine which export regulations apply to your product, you should also confirm your buyer is not a prohibited party.  Check the Consolidated Screening List to help you screen potential buyers that may be restricted due to sanctions or other illegal activities.  Additionally, U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, (Office of Foreign Assets Control – Sanctions Programs and Information | U.S. Department of the Treasury) also lists “persons, entities and corporation subject to trade restrictions.” Examples include sanctions on various governments, such as North Korea, and certain organizations like the Iraqi Republican Guard under Saddam Hussein.

You have two other resources you can go to for answers.  The first is the U.S. Commercial Service (Colorado Denver (trade.gov) whose international trade specialists can help you find answers and maneuver through export policies.  If you think you might need legal assistance, contact the Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN), “a nationwide group of experienced international trade attorneys who volunteer their time to provide initial legal consultations to individuals and businesses that are new exporters or importers and/or are seeking legal advice on international trade issues.”    

Export regulations might seem overwhelming and cumbersome, but don’t avoid asking the questions that could save you costly mistakes.  Call the experts, get some answers, sign up for training, and learn the processes. 

Patty Brewer is an Export Finance Manager with the SBA’s Office of International Trade.  Her territory includes Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.  She can be reached at 720-556-4664 or patricia.brewer@sba.gov.

Creating a Customer Experience the WISER Way

“Customer Experience” is one of the biggest buzz phrases in business today. Some large companies have even installed a Chief Experience Officer in the executive suite. But providing a complete customer experience is not limited to large businesses; small businesses can play in the arena as well.

What is a Customer Experience?

Customer experience goes beyond service; a customer experience is the complete experience you can give your customer from the design and delivery of your product or service, the physical atmosphere of your workplace, the way you communicate with your customers, and how you handle resolving problems. The end goal is to create a completely positive image in the mind of your customer who will then recommend you to others.

What is WISER?

Dan Gingiss, in his book The Experience Maker, suggests using a WISER approach to designing and delivering a complete customer experience:

Witty

Although humor is subjective, the human mind is designed to respond to novelty. Create messages that catch your customers off-guard, tickle their brains, or stand out from your competitors. While walking into Chicago’s Wrigley Field on a 100-plus degree day in July, a vendor’s come-on was, “Ice-cold peanuts. Get your ice-cold peanuts here.” That’s a witty attention getter.

Immersive

Just as our brains respond to novelty, they also crave pleasurable sensory experiences. How can you address multiple senses when interacting with customers? Your favorite bakery or restaurant has this one nailed, but have you noticed that clothing retailers put their most touchable fabrics out front? Home service businesses often insist on neat, clean uniforms for their staff. Virtually any business can create an immersive experience.

Shareable

A previous Biz Tip addressed the issue of how to get customers to share your social media messages with others. Customers are more likely to share excellent experiences and disappointing ones, but rarely share mediocre interactions. And if you are designing visual messages, remember the trinity of images people are most likely to share: kids, animals, and food. If your business wouldn’t naturally share images of those types, remember that photos of people in action (not just vehicles and equipment) are more shareable.

Extraordinary

Being extraordinary does not mean spending a lot of money. It’s about truly solving your customers’ problems better than anyone else can. Examine everything your business does from designing your website to delivering your product or service to billing and invoicing. Are you doing everything you can in every corner of your business to make it easier for your customer to transact business with you?

Responsive

What happens when a problem arises? How you respond to a dissatisfied customer is a crucial part of the customer experience. If you solve it quickly, completely, and in an extraordinary way, you likely have a customer for life and one who will recommend you to others. If you make customers jump through hoops, call you when they prefer email, or fail to respond immediately, you risk negative word of mouth and loss of business. We can’t please everyone always, but honest, swift efforts are what most customers appreciate.

A positive customer experience doesn’t necessarily require all the WISER elements to be in place, but the more you can address, the more likely your customers are to have a positive attitude toward your business.

Help is Available

If you’d like tips for creating a complete customer experience, your local Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network advisor is ready to provide no-cost, confidential assistance anywhere in the state. Click here to sign up and find your local advisor.