PowerLink September 2022, Blog: 4 Lessons Learned from the August PowerLink Advisory Board Meetings of 2022 (Selling through Channel) and a Sneak Preview of the September Sessions (Being a Great Leader)

 “The only way to predict the future is to create it.”  -Peter Drucker

This month, PowerLink worked with hundreds of small business owners who attended one of our 50+ Community Advisory Boards, Custom Advisory Boards or Private one-on-one mentoring sessions over Zoom. The topic was one that everyone has been dealing with: How to increase revenue by effectively selling through channel? All of our owners faced similar dilemmas this month. So, we shared our Zoom stage with our EIR’s and guest advisors to review four “indirect sales, channel strategies,” a way to create long term business for your company. 

In 90 minutes of talking, writing, sharing, laughing, and listening this month, here were a few of the Lessons Learned from August 2022 among Powerlink Small Business Owners across the United States:

1. “I had a very large target channel customer base that was seriously affected by COVID. My supply chain for raw materials was affected also. We had underpriced the products and about halfway through COVID I had to almost double my wholesale prices to channel. The net result is I needed to find new wholesale customers. Fortunately, I knew the targeted channel very well (how to talk to customers in this segment, why did they need my product?). I was able to launch a successful channel new business marketing campaign and picked up about 50 new channel customers who replaced the ones I lost and who ended up buying more.” 

2. “I successfully reached out to my twenty-six referral partners and narrowed my request. Did they have any minority-owned, woman-owned businesses that needed my help? I got at least 1 new referral from 5 referral customers. Those 5 new customers helped me achieve my target goals for August. I’m going to be more specific in the future with my Referral Partners. 

3. “I designed a totally new product and made a batch just to send to my wholesale customers as a free sample with a minimum order request of $500 as a minimum order (usual minimum is $250). To my surprise, 23% of my wholesale customers placed a minimum order with cash up front, giving me enough cash to produce more than 1000 orders for the new product. I had taken a big risk by producing 4000 samples, but the subsequent orders more than covered the initial investment.”   

4. “Channel Partner Strategies that Worked” created hundreds of great ideas this month! The discussion around this was lively! A big thumbs up to our Executives-in-Residence: Harry Edelman, Jan Davies, Sherry Jordan, Patricia DiVecchio, Doug Stone, Melanie Querry, Brian DeCelle, Jimmy Lourenco, Tia Baker, and Brenda Dare.

September Topics: September for PowerLink owners means the end of Q3 “Rocks” and a third quarter gut check. How am I doing, really? They will be asking themselves the toughest questions of the year: (1) Am I clear about where I want to take my business now that I’m nine months into 2022? (2) Am I clear about the top business challenge (“Rock”) I must overcome to build a solid 2023 plan (3) And what does it take for me to be a great leader of my company? Sharing is encouraged. 

September Topic for Succession Only CEO Circle: We have invited guest speaker, Laurie Barkman, Stony Hill Advisors, to help owners determine the four or five key numbers in their business that drive a business valuation. She will cover service businesses, retail businesses, technology businesses and manufacturing businesses. Any PowerLink business may join the meeting by texting the EIR, Harry Edelman, by Monday, September 10th. 

New…. September Community Advisory Board—Women Business Owners in Transition—this session is closed to new participants, but a second one will be starting in October. 

In March of 2019, a woman business owner in Pittsburgh suddenly lost her life partner after 44 years. Without warning, everything about business and life changed. Despite her involvement with PowerLink over the years, she didn’t feel she had anyone there to turn to. How did she keep putting one foot in front of her when her husband and business partner had suddenly died? She went into two years of indecision, resulting in a loss of customers and employees. Today she would tell you she didn’t just lose her old life; she had lost her confidence in her ability to get back on her feet. It took another year before she would start to feel whole again and able to think clearly. She also started to compare notes with other women business owners who had experienced loss of their spouse, divorce, serious illness, sudden realization of their mortality and the future of their business. Out of the three years of floundering and comparing notes with other women, the “Women Business Owners in Transition” PowerLink Community Advisory Board was formed. Our first group of women owners signed up for the program in less than 48 hours. That group is meeting this week for the first time. PowerLink has decided to begin a second group of “Women Business Owners in Transition” the second Thursday of each month from 8 – 9:30 am EST in October 2022. If this kind of Community Advisory Board interests you, please text our number (412.721.3186) with your contact information and we will send you registration information. 

October Topic Heads Up: “How to use digital media marketing to find new customers.” If you are selling to a unique market and are looking for new, low-cost ways to get in front of them, explore digital media marketing with us in October. Our guest presenters will be sharing case studies to get in front of corporate executives, pet owners, doctors, people getting married, women having babies, people renovating their homes and offices, people buying buildings, people buying a new home, people selling their businesses, people retiring, and 890 other specialty markets. 

Calendar of Events: PowerLink September 2022:

Here is the Calendar for September 2022 (Community Advisory Boards). If you are not already registered and interested in joining any group, just email or text us. The first few meetings are always complimentary if you qualify for one of our scholarship programs. Thanks to a multi-sponsor scholarship program through PNC Charitable Trust, Standard Bank Foundation, FNB Bank Foundation, Huntington Bank and Citizen’s Bank, we may be able to lower program fees to as low as $25 if you qualify.

If you are new to PowerLink or returning but not registered through the program, let us know if you want to register for any of the monthly meetings in September over our Zoom platform by texting your contact info to 412.721.3186: 

*Thursday, September 8th, 2022: 8:00-9:30 am PowerLink Community Advisory Board sponsored by FNB Bank to promote growth and new business strategy. Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to Jan Davies, 734.417.5745, PowerLink Regional Director with your email and location desired if you are new and interested. This is the Second Thursday PowerLink Advisory Board at 8 am. 

Monday, September 12, 2022, 4:30-6 PM Executive CEO Circle and Manufacturers and Makers --$1 million and more (open to our larger PowerLink companies, manufacturing companies and alums anywhere in the US with $1 to $10 million growth and income goals). Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to Harry Edelman, Regional Director at 412.389.5297 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

Tuesday, September 13, 2022: 8:30-10 am Succession Only CEO Circle—only for companies intending to sell their business, buy a business or pass it to their children or employees in the next 5 years (for our more mature PowerLink companies anywhere in the US. Topic is How to Use 5 Key Numbers to determine my Business Valuation…by Laurie Barkman, Stony Hill Advisors, to share valuation strategies for manufacturers, contractors, service businesses, retailers, and technology companies. By invitation only. Register by text to Harry Edelman, Regional Director at 412.389.5297 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested. Facilitated by an experienced Exit Planning specialist with a passion for helping smaller companies exit successfully.

Tuesday, September 13, 2022: 4-5:30 pm City of Pittsburgh Businesses sponsored by Citizen’s Bank—to promote growth and new business strategy. Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to Harry Edelman, Regional Director at 412.389.5297 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022: 11-12:30 am Pittsburgh East—PowerLink Without Walls II – Community Advisory Board to promote growth and new business strategy. Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to Patricia DiVecchio, Regional Director at 703.200.3447 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022: 2-3:30 pm: Westmoreland County CC Community Advisory Board sponsored by Standard Bank: to promote growth and new business strategy. Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to Harry Edelman, Regional Director at 412.389.5297 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

Thursday, September 15, 2022: 3:30-5 pm Washington County Businesses sponsored by the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce and Huntington Bank—to promote growth and innovative new business strategies. Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to Harry Edelman, Regional Director at 412.389.5297 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022: 8:30-10:30 am Purposeful Business Circle (for startups and micro-businesses generating $2000+ in annual revenue or working on testing and growing their new business concept). Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

(NEW) Tuesday, September 20, 2022: 11 am-12:30 pm: PowerLink without Walls I for Women Business Owners in Transition —to promote growth and innovative new business strategies regardless of your life transition. For owners doing $150,000+ in annual revenue wanting to hit $1M in the next 5 years). Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. THIS SESSION IS CLOSED TO NEW REGISTRANTS.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022: 3-4:30 pm: Penn State PowerLink Community Advisory Board for Contractors Only—if your business is connected in any way to facilities, construction, design, renovation or maintenance and you want to grow through private sector and government contracting, this group will limit its discussion to only construction/maintenance related marketing and new business strategies.  Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022: 5-6:15 pm Downtown Washington, PA Businesses sponsored by Huntington Bank and PCRG—to promote growth and innovative new business strategies in the urban/merchant areas of the City of Washington. Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested or you can contact Doug Stone at dougstone97@gmail.com. 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022: 8-9 am Retail Only Community Advisory Board (open to retailers and downtown/urban location businesses) to promote growth and new business strategies beyond bricks and mortar street traffic. Topic is How to Assess My Style as a Leader? Am I the Boss Who Can Build My Company to Greatness?” EIR advisors offering free DISC personality assessments, presentation, and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own leadership strategies. By invitation only. Facilitated by Doug Stone and Melanie Querry, Retail marketing and operations experts. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.

Also note that our September sessions will also let everyone share their key Thumbs Down update and let the group help “crush” that challenge with insight based on experience, lessons learned and mentoring. These meetings are private and confidential. You must register in advance to attend as a guest. 

Have a productive and prosperous Fall 2022! A. 

Anita Brattina, CEO and Board Chair, PowerLink

3367 Babcock Boulevard, Suite 101, Pittsburgh PA 15237, 412.721.3186 www.powerlink.org | anita@powerlink.org

“Helping small and emerging companies achieve their next level of success through access to executive and CEO advisors.” A Pennsylvania 501(c)3 corporation.