The Conference Coach™

Alycia Maier-Turner

Not far from Copper Conferencing’s office in Broomfield, Colorado, are several farming communities.  I recently found myself in and around Longmont, Colorado and several farms in the area.  When one lives in suburbia or with close access to the conveniences of a large population center, one tends to forget that a very large portion of the United States is sparsely populated and that earning a living in those areas is often challenging — albeit very rewarding for those that are successful.

All over the rural America, there are many small and family-owned farms and ranches that are struggling to not only stay a float but also turn a profit.   Some of these farms and ranches have turned to tourism and others have opened their livelihoods to arrangements where “guests” pay to work on the farm or ranch as part of a vacation.  It’s almost ridiculous and at the same time somewhat disturbing that many small farmers and ranchers in America have already or are seriously considering a business model that includes such arrangements.  Perhaps, though, it’s not so ridiculous but rather an evolution of farming and ranching in 21st century America.

“We don’t throw anything away that can be reused or recycled.”

Last summer I visited a local berry farm, as I have many times since their peppers are key to the some of the salsas I make and home can.  In the course of my visit, I struck up a conversation with one of the owners, a lovely woman who indulged my questions with pleasant frankness.  Her farm is a “you pick” farm that specializes in berries and other fruit but also grows a good amount of vegetables as well.  They have a small farm market and education program which schools from all over the Denver metro area see fit to put on their curricula as field trips to the farm.  Theirs is a successful venture that employs great business sense and technology to ensure best business practices.  Often to communicate with their various suppliers, school liaisons, and so on they use audio conferencing.  As she put it, using audio conferencing helps them cut costs traveling to meetings and the time they are off the farm which can translate into lost revenue.

Big business on 400 acres

Over the years, I’ve met many people who have wanted to live on “their own place” where the noise, crowds and neighbors were more manageable.  One such person is an entrepreneur who runs a boutique business that buys and sells Barbie memorabilia.  You may not think Barbie is big business, but she is.  This woman started her online Barbie business in her garage and it grew to the point in just two years that she and her family were literally living with Barbie paraphernalia in every room of their home.  Her big business decision was whether to buy or rent warehouse space or get a bigger living space.  She opted for the latter and bought a parcel of land in the middle of America where property taxes and land costs are cheap and where she was able to turn a large shop into her warehouse for a fraction of the cost of renting or buying warehouse space in the Denver metro area.  She regularly uses audio and web conferencing to communicate with business associates and sometimes family.  Using web and audio conferencing has been a way for her to continue to grow her business, keep costs to a minimum and still stay connected to those suppliers, vendors and customers that help her make “the Barbie business” a big success.

Go or no go

The best time to start a small business or to keep one a float is now.  There are so many great tools – both financial and technological – available that starting a small business now may be the best business decision you can make.  Copper Conferencing started on a dining room table but now has two offices in different states with many fantastic employees.  And one of the reasons we are able to continue to grow and thrive are our core competencies — web conferencing and audio conferencing services.  We’re one tool that all businesses – large or small – should have in the business plan.

So as you look for ways to start your business, improve your bottom line or implement better business practices, let Copper Conferencing show you how audio and web conferencing can and will work in your business — regardless of size or location.  For more information, contact a Conference Coach today.