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Great article about the Stimulus Package 2008 Economic Stimulus Package: What It Means for Small Business

This is from the NFIB magazine. It is a fantastic organization for small business

Here is the link

http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36302.html

2008 Economic Stimulus Package: What It Means for Small Business
02/07/2008

"The economic stimulus package will give me the opportunity to spend and invest in my business this year when I otherwise would not have been able to. Now I will be able to buy that additional truck and invest in new technology for my business. In this day in age, it is important my business has the technological resources required to stay competitive. In the long run, this package will make my business stronger." - Linda Brown, Globe Furniture

"The accelerated depreciation condition in the package will help my business increase its productivity levels by enabling me to buy new equipment." - James Hoon, Hoon Inc.

Jim Barnard, Barnard Manufacturing

"Our bottom line will benefit. This means that we can offer our employees additional bonus opportunities during the year that will make for happier and more productive employees." - Thalia Hutter, Hutter Racing Engines

"The stimulus plan gives us the confidence to expand our facilities immediately. With these tax incentives, our business can move forward quickly with plans to invest in new equipment and hire new workers." - Bob McCutcheon, McCutcheon Apple Products

President George W. Bush recently signed the Economic Stimulus Package for the American People Act of 2008 into law. During the debate in Congress, NFIB's federal lobbying team led the efforts to ensure that the package contained incentives designed to spur small business investment during what is expected to be a period of slowed economic growth. Given that small businesses are America's No. 1 job creators, NFIB's team was relentless in its efforts to make certain this package would help small business owners grow and expand their businesses.

Like many bills passed by Congress, the economic stimulus bill is full of complex and specialized language that can be difficult to understand. As a result, we have outlined in plain language below the two key provisions that small business owners should be fully aware and knowledgeable of moving forward:

   1. The economic stimulus package doubles the current small business expensing limit from $125,000 to $250,000. This provides small business owners with an immediate deduction for the entire cost of certain investments made in their business, such as purchasing new equipment. This applies only to small business owners who invest less than $800,000 in their business this year. NFIB has long supported immediate expensing as an incentive for owners to make investments in their businesses and hire new employees.
   2. The economic stimulus package also provides for a 50 percent bonus depreciation for certain investments in business. This means a business can take an immediate deduction of 50 percent of the investment, rather than deducting the value over a number of years. Unlike expensing, the bonus depreciation deduction would apply to investments that exceed the $800,000 limit.

The bottom line is that both of these provisions put money back in the hands of small business owners so they can grow their businesses this year. Please contact us if you have any questions about this legislation at kristina.blair@nfib.org.

Remember that NFIB continues to fight for small business interests in Washington, D.C., and in your state.



Why your Garden Center, Landscaping Company, or Wholesale Nursery needs a Website

So you own a Garden Center, Landscape Business or Wholesale Nursery and you’re wondering why do I need a website? "I never go on the Internet, Don’t use e-mail. Heck, I barely have time to check the fax machine". I hear this from my fellow nurserymen all the time.

The fact of the matter is your customers are surfing the web like never before.

Even the yellow pages have figured it out.
They now put more effort into their online yellow pages than getting books distributed. There are numerous reasons for our industry to be online. Due to time constraints I am going to highlight a few of the more important ones.

1: We are an industry of quite variable products. When someone says they have a Japanese maple in their inventory that is 5-6’ at $75.00 wholesale. Customers have no idea if this is a good or bad deal. How full it is? How big is the ball? And so on. With a website you now have a way of showing them.
Or you are a Garden Center,how do you show you have a better plant than the chain store down the road? With a website they can see for themselves.( You won't see many chain store ads with actual pictures of their plant material)
You can have your landscape portfolio displayed for very little expense for potential customers to see 24 hours a day.

2. I am amazed how impatient everyone is getting these days. When they want an inventory they want it now. From my website you can get instant information. The younger buyers don’t want to talk to anyone. They want to find out if you have the plants and order now!
The only way to present your product 24 hours a day seven days a week is through a website.I get inquiries at amazing times. There are alot of insomniacs in our business!

New Business
People could be very close to you geographically and never know you exist. With today’s search engines you are a mouse click away. I use it to find new nurseries all the time. Type in Oregon nurseries

3. Get the customer to come to you for information. This makes you an instant expert. You then win their trust and in turn their business.

4. You get their info by asking them to sign up for newsletters online coupons and so on.
Email them with specials ands sales.

5. CREDIBILITY!
There are actually people who are hesitant to do much business with companies with out a website. It is the new front door to your business. It is also a great way to show your landscape jobs and new product.

These are but a few reasons. I have more. But I know most of us have more work to do and less time to do it in. It goes along with this great nursery business we chose to be a part of.



Winplant Tool

For you Winplant Users
We have built a tool where you can upload from winplant
to your website with one click of your mouse!


How your Garden Center can compete with the box stores!
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