February 2018
Welcome To Our Monthly Newsletter
 
Over the course of this last year SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon has tried to tell the story of who we are, and what we do, by sharing the work of our mentors each month. We have also been happy to shine a spotlight on the small businesses and non-profits that we work with. We have visited with makers, bakers, printers, doctors, restaurant owners, inventors, and a magician. The one constant is a steady stream of dedicated SCORE volunteer mentors, who are deeply invested in their client’s success.
We hope that you will enjoy the look back at the story of this past year, and look forward for more to come in 2018!
SCORE Lancaster - Lebanon 2018 Chapter Meeting kicks off at The Candy Factory!
It was an exhilarating winter morning on  The Sixth Floor  at  The Candy Factory  for the January  SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon  Chapter Meeting. Mentors enjoyed the exciting event space, gorgeous snowy views of the City, and some hot refreshments care of  Perkup & Co.  Our speaker for the morning was Candy Factory founder,  Anne Kirby , who gave a fascinating presentation on the benefits of Coworking, from collaboration, to connections, to community. 'It’s how we come together to imagine, creative, thrive, connect and just be ourselves." Looking forward to the February SCORE Chapter Meeting when our speaker will be  Deborah Brandt , owner of  Fig Industries , and publisher of  Fig Lancaster ! Mark your calendars for that Chapter Meeting on Tuesday, February 20 th at Liberty Place , 313 W. Liberty Street, Room 273 at 9:30.
Important 2018 Tax Tip that could hit many of our clients!
The new tax law imposes a limit on the tax deductibility of interest expense on business debt, beginning in this year. This could certainly hit many of our clients in a tangible way. 
• Under the new tax law, a company can only deduct interest expense of up to 30% of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
• Any amount in interest expense beyond it will no longer be deductible.
• The most leveraged companies would feel this the most, but all profitable companies with significant debt levels will feel it. 
Learn all the details of this new tax code here .  
New SCORE Mentor, Bob Smith
We’d like to welcome Bob Smith , the newest mentor here at  SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon !
Shortly after moving to Lancaster last year, we were lucky enough to have Bob join the SCORE team. He has years of experience in strategy development and implementation, integrated digital and traditional marketing, social media and content marketing, eCommerce, and back office operations, including credit and customer service. Bob is now available for co-mentoring opportunities.
February Client Spotlight
Riding down the winding back roads to Joel Bare’s workshop takes you into the very heart of Lancaster County farmland. In fact, Joel Bare Woodworking is located on the family farm, and when you approach the stone barn where Joel works you expect to hear the sounds and smells of farm animals as you push open the door. Instead what greets you is the sight of a thoroughly modern woodworking shop and the distinct scent of fresh milled wood. Amid all the power tools, and projects, there is also the ever-present sight of Joel Bare and his welcome, engaging grin. This is a young man who is happy to say that he loves what he does, and the clients he works for.
Joel Bare Woodworking  works in connection with high-end kitchen companies, contractors, and designers to build fully functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen counter-tops, kitchen islands, and bar tops, as well as exquisite pieces of custom built furniture that reflect a long tradition of superb woodworking. Joel came to  SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon  with specific challenges and goals in mind for the future of his company. 
“My SCORE Lancaster - Lebanon mentor Eric Parker has been instrumental in helping us put our vision for business into practice; from developing manufacturing processes to marketing and financials, Eric's guidance, wisdom and encouragement has impacted every aspect of our business.”
  • Joel Bare, owner of Joel Bare Woodworking
SCORE Hosts it's Annual Volunteer Virtual Conference!
SCORE brings to you its Annual Volunteer Virtual Conference to help you build skills for your clients on Thursday, March 1 st !
This online event provides the look and feel of a conference/tradeshow (sessions, networking, and exhibit hall) with the benefit of attending from the comfort of your home or office.
Our goal is to provide exciting training opportunities for volunteers at SCORE . We hope to help volunteers at SCORE improve knowledge and tools for client success.
You can attend for 5 minutes or 5 hours. What do you need for your clients? It's up to you! More details on content and timing coming in February!
How will this virtual conference positively impact your clients? By offering sessions that will:
• Provide opportunities to improve your mentoring skills
• Familiarize you with the business topics that clients are grappling with most
• Connect you with SCORE National
• Allow you to network with other SCORE volunteers around the country and learn from their knowledge and experience
Interested? Pre-register Now HERE!
10 Bold Retail Predictions for 2018
Conversational Commerce Podcast by Corinne Ruff – the podcast that breaks down the biggest industry news & trends by talking shop with the Retail Dive team spot leaders and executives. It’s a brand-new year, but the slate isn’t exactly clear for retailers coming out of a transformational year. 2017 was tainted by a record number of bankruptcies, and a lot of store closures. On the show, retail futurist Doug Stephens envisions a year flush with acquisitions, innovations, and reinvention for retail.
Have a listen to Corinne’s full podcast here!  Thanks Larry Helicher for sharing this podcast!
The City of Lancaster Office of Promotion (LOOP) Hosts A Small Business Open House!

Open House for Small Business
Thursday, February 22nd
9am-4pm
Visitor Center
38 Penn Square
Lancaster PA 17603
MENTORS - BE SURE TO ADVISE YOUR CLIENTS OF THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE SIGNED UP FOR THE CITY GUIDE!!
The City of Lancaster Office of Promotion (LOOP) will host a Small Business Open House on Thursday, February 22. They will serve breakfast items in the morning and snacks in the afternoon.
Small business owners will get to meet the City of Lancaster LOOP staff and talk about their business. The more the staff at LOOP know, the easier it is for them to promote local business.
It will also be an opportunity to sign up for the City guide . Tourism will pick back up again in April and it would be great to hear from retailers about what they have going on this year.
Meet SCORE Mentor, Jennifer Bushey!
We are excited to introduce you to Jennifer Bushey , one of our newest volunteer mentors at SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon​.
Jennifer is the General Manager/Owner of Rettew's Catering​ located in Manheim. This award-winning catering success, is also a family owned business that spans over 30 years. Jennifer brings her years of experience from this family business to her role as a SCORE mentor, and is now available for co-mentoring opportunities. BONUS - Jennifer was a SCORE client and knows the ropes!
February 2018 Roundtable Schedule & Topics

Our Roundtable sessions are a space to gather, meet, and learn from other small business owners around the Lancaster and Lebanon counties. We have worked to create a cohesive brand and structure for our various Roundtables that will best benefit our members and visitors.
  • Palmyra Roundtable: February 1 - Topic: Risk Management and Insurance for Small Business Owners. Presenter: Jeff Edwards, President, Bowman's/Byerly Insurance Agency. Jeff will be leading a discussion about Risk Managment for Small Business and how insurance is a vital component in your strategy. Facilitator: SCORE mentor, Hugh McMaster
  • Elizabethtown Roundtable: February 15 - Topic: "It's OK to Say "No!" When, why and how to say "No" to a customer, an employee or a boss. How not to be pressured into "Yes."Presenter: Tom Burgum (Chamber Members Only)
  • Southern Lancaster County Chamber Roundtable: February 22
  • Contractors & Service Business Roundtable: February 27 - Special Open Forum Discussion. Facilitator: Dave Templeton

For more information on our  Roundtables  visit our  Roundtable Page  today and see the difference being a part of SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon can make for your small business. If you have additional questions feel free to contact the  SCORE office by calling (717) 397-3092.

Simple Steps Registration Is Now Open for
March & April Classes - Clients can register on our website using the Workshops tab.
 
Registration is now open for March & April Simple Steps workshops. Please contact your clients that might be interested in attending! Workshop dates are listed below.

DATES:  March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11
TIME:  6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
LOCATION:  SCORE Offices, 313 Liberty Street, Suite 231, Lancaster, PA 17603

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