When the National Basketball Association went into the lockout, it was evident that there were going to be a ton of people that were affected by it. The owners, the players, the staffs; however, there were more people affected than just those associated directly with the league.

When the NBA season is in full swing, a plethora of local businesses strive from the activity. For instance, daily night games are a big business for the local sports bars in any area. People will stay for hours, racking up big tabs watching the many games that the bar would display. A sports bar without the NBA was limited to weekend showings of football or the occasional night games on some weekdays. Now that the NBA lockout has ended, sports bars should see a rise in revenue starting Christmas day, when the season is set to begin.

Another industry directly affected by the NBA lockout was hotels. Hotels are a basketball player’s home away from home. Traveling months out of the year for over 82 games, players need a place to stay in multiple cities throughout North America (including Toronto). Hotels are one of the main beneficiaries of the NBA season, not just for the players, but for traveling fans as well. Fans of teams often travel to away games to see their teams, opting for a stay at a hotel, thus increasing the revenue of the hotel; all thanks to an NBA season.

As the NBA lockout was reaching the point of no return, local business everywhere were suffering. Before Saturday, the NBA season was almost lost for good. Thanks to the 15-hour meeting between players and owners, the local businesses can breathe an extra sigh of relief. Sports bars will once again flourish through the NBA season as rowdy fans cheer with drinks and food in their hands. Hotels can welcome all those guests entering with jerseys on, representing their favorite team. The NBA lockout didn’t affect just the players who love the game, or the owners who run the show, it was also about the small, local businesses that fight everyday just to survive.

In the end, the local business owners of establishments that thrive off the NBA season are the winners. They now get their draw back; the National Basketball Association. Local business owners of sports bars and hotels (as well as other establishments that sell basketball to a crowd) will be sure to flourish in what will be an exciting, albeit shortened, season.

Image credit: dennis on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our Small Business of the Week winner, Hooper Camera & Imaging! Located at 21902 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311, this establishment is your one-stop shop for all your photography needs!

Established back in 1951, Hooper Camera and Imaging steadily grew into one of California’s largest independently family-owned camera stores. It offers a wide selection of cameras, gear, and photo products for seasoned and amateur photographers alike. The store also sells digital accessories such as photo quality home printers and supplies.

Need a camera just for a couple of days? Check out Hooper’s Camera and Great Rentals! Hooper Camera and Imaging has teamed up with borrowlenses.com as a new satellite pick-up/drop-off location for rentals. Hooper rents out various cameras and accessories, including DSLRs, point and shoot cameras, tripods, flashes, and more. Be sure to visit the shop’s website for the full list of supplies and equipment. Renting out cameras and equipment is also a great way to try out products first, before deciding to make an actual purchase. All you have to do is select a product, choose which Hooper branch to pick it up from, and just drop it off when you’re done. The Hooper staff will ship it back for you.

Hooper Camera and Imaging has a lot of In-Store services. Whether you need to print, enlarge, restore, or recover photos, know that you can trust the Hooper staff to take care of it for you. Have a lot of old photos lying around in your house? Be sure to bring those photos to Hooper and ask about the “Fill the Box Print Scanning” service. The store will provide you with a large box that you can fill with every single photograph that you have, and the staff will scan all the photos that you can fit in the box for only $199. That translates to just 10 cents per print scan!

Do you want to see those precious memories on other merchandise such as T-shirts, calendars, and blankets? Check out the store’s photo lab services and personalized photos specialties. Hooper can print your photos on various materials and merchandise! Those who need promotional materials will also be pleased to find that Hooper also does banners, wall arts, collages, and more. Check out their printing services today!

Hooper isn’t just about photography products and services though. This awesome business also educates people. Check out the various Hooper Seminars that take place at several times year. You can also sign up for private lessons, photography classes, and online webinars. If you wish to inquire about these lessons, or if you’re simply looking for an awesome camera and imaging store in Chatsworth, CA, you can call 818-709-0014.

It’s that time of the year again. Consumers are about to run rampant through stores across the nation, swooping in on big time savings. With Thanksgiving dinner safely in their stomachs, individuals all over will take to the stores to find some of the best deals that you can get before the Christmas frenzy. The debacle is occurring; it’s Black Friday. Big screen televisions, laptops, desktops, toys, video games, movies, and even clothes; items will be on sale for low prices, prompting everyone to invade stores at midnight or 5 a.m. Friday. It’s inevitable that you’re going to run into a plethora of people rushing areas, sliding on floors, hanging from ceilings or doing pretty much whatever it takes to get that one last television (since stores don’t offer rain checks on Black Friday). There are, however, some tips and tricks to keep yourself from joining in on the insanity, remaining calm and collected to get what you want.

Before you even head out on this glorious day of shopping sprees, be sure to check out all of the ads. Some stores will have what you want, some won’t. Eliminate the ones that don’t have your item so you won’t have to even deal with those places. Knowing exactly what you want and focusing on getting those items will help you narrow down any kind of travel time. It also allows you to get straight to the area of choice when you get to each store. If you want a television and you know where they have the best deal, it’s evident you’re going to go straight to that spot. Going along with this tip, be sure to compare prices and take the ads with you. A lot of retailers will price match the cost of an item if the ad of a competing retailer shows a lower price. With this, you can in turn make two trips into one.

Here’s an interesting tip if you didn’t know; there are plenty of retailers who still allow for online orders to be picked up at the store on Black Friday. Beating the crowds is simpler with this method. Many retailers open there doors (and start their sales) earlier. For example, Wal-Mart will be open all night long, with sales starting at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving evening. As the night goes on, more sales will begin to start, adding even more to the madness. Some stores will wait till 5 a.m. on Friday to open, but a lot of retailers that are hoping to beat their competition will open at midnight. This is the situation where reading the ads from your local newspaper comes in handy. The ads will tell you what time the store starts the sales, giving you a head start on all the savings.

Finally, do your research. There are websites all over the internet that provide the deals for Black Friday at least days in advance. Finding these ads is very beneficial to planning your ‘shopping system’ for the day. Also, look for stores that aren’t often occupied. Some stores last year were packed and the majority of the big sale objects were gone within a few hours. Other retailers of the same company still had a good chunk of their Black Friday inventory after 10 a.m. Plan accordingly and get to shopping. Just don’t get caught in the madness of the people that go a little too crazy on this day.

Image credit: theNerdPatrol on flickr

When an individual, or group of individuals, makes the decision to start their own business, there are multiple reasons as to why they do so. It could be the freedom of being your own boss, or the ability to directly target a certain clientele. Regardless, the end results and major accomplishments of a small business company boil down to two things: making the customer happy and making money. Any business owner is satisfied knowing that people are happy and making good use of what they get from the company. Along with the happiness of the customer, comes the ability to make money on a consistent basis. After all, the primary objective of any business is to surely make money from their product. So, how do you continue to bring in a pay flow each week? Here are a few ideas depending on your type of business.

All too often, companies get ahead of themselves and start trying to please so many clients at one time. When you try to please more than you can handle, you’re effectively diluting your efforts of giving quality service because you can easily be in over your head. Focusing your attention on ideal clientele is one way to increasingly bring in a steady cash flow each week. Depending on what you’re business does, expanding with other companies internally is a much wiser decision than trying to open a brand new door right off the bat. Focus on your ideal client and provide to their needs. Assure that they will be coming back in the near future, and then continue to expand with them before branching to much more clienteles.

If you’re the type of company that provides a delivery service for your products to reach a customer, one of the tactics to earn more money is through ‘free shipping’ methods. Now, in order to successfully keep customers coming because of the free shipping, you must do it effectively without risking profit to your company. Some companies have included shipping costs in the product costs, allowing them to promote ‘free shipping’ to their customers. Deals and discounts like this will always give the customers the positive feel that they are saving money on your quality products. Essentially, you’re gaining customers, and weekly profits, without taking a hit to your wallet.

Finally, if you want to provide customers with the best product, ask them what they want. Social media marketing and research has become huge methods in the world of small business. Twitter, FaceBook; pretty much any form of online social media can be used as an advantage to your company. If you’re thinking of a new product for your company, it’s as simple as posing the question to your customers and testing the feedback on the idea. If you want to bring a new item to your clients and they give you a positive response for that product, odds are they’re going to buy it. Researching the wants and needs of your ideal clients, as well as providing those products, will go a long way to assuring they become loyal, longtime, great customers.
Image credit: allison.johnston on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce our Small Business of the Week winner, Creative Albuquerque! Located at 115 4th St NW Albuquerque NM 87102, this non-profit organization aims to grow the creative economy by showcasing various works of art of talented individuals. Creative Albuquerque also provides a number of services and support including developing and measuring strategic plans to drive the creative economy, educating people about local, national, and creative economy issues, developing and championing policies, organizing community events, and offering professional and youth development. In other words, Creative Albuquerque serves as creative and arts hub that’s doing its part to boost the economy, one creative endeavor at a time.

There’s never a dull moment in Creative Albuquerque, as its calendar is always full of wonderful events and exhibits. Today they’re having an ArtsCrawl event that will showcase several abstract works of Emerging Creatives, a digital media piece by Stephen Ausherman, and if you’re in the mood for some music, be sure to stick around the musical stylings of James Black, which you can enjoy with refreshing drinks from Marble Brewery. Be sure to stop by if you happen to be in the Albuquerque area!

Creative Albuquerque also paves the way for artists connect with numerous art organizations and venues. It doesn’t matter if you sing, paint, or act, as the organization’s directory offers a long list of entities and institutions consisting of art galleries, studios, museums and even theater guilds that artists can contact to promote their work. Entitles in search for talents can also register with Creative Albuquerque’s directory with just a few steps. Similarly, creative individuals can register an account online and fill out a profile to make it easier for entities and organizations to find them.

Creative Albuquerque’s website also serves as a great resource for students and artists looking for information about the art and cultural industry as well as the creative economy. The organization provides reports on the creative field of Albuquerque and other locations.

Indeed, Creative Albuquerque serves as a solid and valuable institution, not just in the creative sector, but in the economy as a whole. Art is an extremely important part of people’s lives, and we commend this organization for putting the spotlight on artists and brining creative efforts to the forefront. If you wish to contact the fine people in Creative Albuquerque to submit yourself as an artist, or a patron, of if you’re simply looking for a great art center in Albuquerque, NM, you may contact them at 505.268.1920 or email them at info@creativeabq.org.

Technology is today’s biggest hit. It’s essentially every single place you look. There are stores specifically designed to cater to those with an ‘itch’ to get in on all the electronics fun. Everybody loves their cell phones and laptops, sure; however, there is one technological idea that has been a major success and connected millions of people from all over the world: video games.

Yes, those systems that costs anywhere from $150 to $400 and costs countless people hours of their days. They have become a major staple in the electronics world and continue to grow bigger and bigger. It’s not exactly new technology, but lately it has become a worldwide phenomenon with a plethora of video game selections spanning across multiple console systems to enjoy the fun. With different categories of video games ranging from action to strategy, from family to sports, video games and video game consoles have opened up a door of entertainment that anyone can enjoy.

More so recently, the big business battle has come down to 3 companies: Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. These three constantly battle each year, supplying the world with games exclusive to their respective consoles, along with brand new consoles that further push the limits of technology. First, Nintendo has limited its crowd to those of the family variety, providing video games that everyone can enjoy. Each video game is given a rating upon release that signifies which age range the game is appropriate for and Nintendo rarely, if ever, touches anything past the ‘E’ rating which designates the game is for everyone.

Sony and Microsoft push the limits, expanding their video game collections from just the ‘E’ rating, all the way up to ‘M’ for mature, which gamers are unable to purchase unless they are over 17 years of age or accompanied by a guardian. The battle between these two behemoths have gone even further, prompting each company to continue to release new console after new console, pushing the bar further than has ever been expected. These three companies rake in billions of dollars with every new console, and some believe the lifespan of a console is 5 to 10 years before the next generation is released. That translates to a whole lot of money that has been collected since their first generation consoles were released. Seeing as though Nintendo is multiple consoles in, Sony is on its third installation of the Playstation, and Microsoft is 2 systems in, the revenue potential is huge for all three companies. It’s been about 5 years since each company has released their latest console, and it is expected that each will reveal their next console within the next year or 2.  

Console companies are not the only ones that are thriving on this advancement in technology, though. Video game developers and creators are continuing to push the envelope in order to create realistic game play that allows users all over the world to entertain themselves with online battles and adventures. One example that shows how popular video games have become is the yearly convention, Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3 held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This annual showcase of video games and consoles attracts millions of viewers online, television and in person to display the future of the video game world. Games alike strive from this type of exposure, and one of the biggest has been the Call of Duty franchise.

For example, on November 8, 2011, Call of Duty released its latest addition to the family with Modern Warfare 3. On the first day of release, the game sold over 6.5 million units in the United States and United Kingdom, totaling over $400 million in sales. The first day also saw 3.3 million users worldwide playing the game simultaneously. Over the course of the first 5 days upon its release, the game brought in over $775 million worldwide, a record for video game sales.

This is an industry that boasts the organization Major League Gaming, allowing players from all over to join tournaments and competitions with a chance to play for millions of dollars in prizes and cash. The video game business is booming now more than ever. When looking at the numbers, companies like Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are consistently profiting from the millions of people worldwide that have become fascinated with video games. The constant need for advancement is seen throughout the world of gaming and these companies, along with video game developers, are providing exactly what is needed to continue moving forward into the future.

To say this technology is advancing worldwide is an understatement. The evidence is there to declare video games as one of the biggest industries in the world and one of the biggest in technology ever. With further advancement allowing for controller-less gaming protocol, the video game technology world is continuing its push towards dominance.

Image credit: craigmdennis on flickr

As any small business owner knows, great customer service and a quality product will have people coming back for more. However, what is one of the most important ways in which someone will remember you and tell others about you? The answer is quite simple: your name.

When you have clients discussing your business, you don’t want them to stutter when thinking of what your business is called. If it isn’t memorable, it didn’t leave a very good impression on them. Coming up with a name that fits your business could be difficult, but it could also be very easy. Yet, this is the name that customers will tell their family and friends about when recommending they check out your company. Nobody wants to be known as “that one place”. It’s not attractive; it’s not good for business. Creating a catchy, relevant name is a step in starting your own small business that is crucial to how you will be remembered.

For example, Google is one of the most recognized names heard around the world. Anybody with a computer should know the name of the company that searches billions of pages on the internet. So, how does a company like that come up with their name? Well, it started as a joke about the amount of information the search engine can find, a ‘Googol’ of information (or the number 1 followed by 100 zeros). After their presentation pitching the idea, investors made the check out to ‘Google’, thus the legend was born. It could be as simple as that.

Whether it’s the initials of the owners forming a word, or a name about what you provide, coming up with a name people remember will go a long way in getting customers to talk about your company. Take this example: in Acton, California, there is a pizzeria simply titled “Pizza Place”. It is a simple title that gets straight to the point. When deciding your business’ name, always strive for the memorable, best name you can come up with. Remember, that name is the same exact one you want traveling through everyone’s minds when they think of the best quality products and the best service. Name accordingly.

Image credit: Alan O’Rourke on flickr

The LocalPAGES team is pleased to announce, our Business of the Week winner, The Cat & Fiddle Restaurant and Pub! Located at  6530 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028-7202, this long standing Hollywood pub and restaurant has been serving delectable British dishes since the 80’s!

About the Business and Location

Established in 1982, The Cat & Fiddle first opened its doors at Laurel Canyon Blvd. However, due to the pub’s overwhelming success, owners Kim and Paula Gardner decided to move to a larger and more commercial location on Sunset Blvd. At present, the business is still being run by the Gardner family, with twins Ashlee and Camille operating the restaurant.

The current premises of the restaurant were built in 1929 and have always been a pub in Hollywood. Various businesses have taken over, but the building never ceased to cater to various individuals in Hollywood. Not only did the premises once house makeup and wardrobe for nearby movie studios, it also served as a location where pieces of the classic movie “Casablanca” were filmed.

The Menu

The Cat & Fiddle’s rich menu is sure to satisfy anyone’s appetite. Whether you’re a carnivore, a vegetarian, or someone with a sweet tooth, you’ll certainly enjoy their dishes. The restaurant has one of the widest selections that we’ve seen, with choices ranging from salads, to sandwiches, and even steaks, soups, and various types of pasta.  They also have a Kids Menu that youngsters ages 12 and below can enjoy.

Heading to the restaurant right after work? Check out the Happy Hour Menu and enjoy $5.00 specials, and drinks for as low as $3.50!

Those eating healthy can breathe easily too, because all the dishes served at The Cat & Fiddle are made with fresh ingredients—some of the seasonal veggies or herbs even come from the Gardner’s organic garden! Additionally, they only serve hormone-free chicken and Angus beef and the oils that they use have zero trans fat.

Sporting Events and Entertainment

Sports fans will love this place. Along with the 4 TV monitors and 92” projector screen, The Cat & Fiddle proudly airs ESPN 1, ESPN 2, Fox Soccre Plus, and other sports and network channels. Diners can also enjoy live music every Sunday with Latin Jazz, Blues, Funk, and Soul music playing from 7-10 PM. The Cat & Fiddle also has a resident DJ that comes up every Thursday from 9:30-12:30.

Private Events

The Cat & Fiddle is available for private events, parties, and location rentals. If you wish to inquire about their events and other offers, or if you simply want to congratulate the Gardners for establish such an awesome pub in Los Angeles, CA, you may reach them at 323 468-3800.

Recently, I was intrigued by one of the locations that won our Business of the Week award and I had to take my own visit there. So off to White Rabbit Café I went. Understanding the actual back story behind this business was important as they are a small business with a rapid growth in a tough industry: food. Everywhere you look, every corner, there is bound to be a restaurant, a fast food restaurant, or some kind of eatery. The chance to make a name for your business is limited and an obstacle in its own right. So, how does one go about making that kind of impact on a community and stand out from the rest?

After learning that this business was able to transform from a food truck to a café with a permanent location within 4 months, I figured that they would be perfect to associate with a small business tips blog. Michael Dimaguila, the owner of White Rabbit Café, allowed me a quick interview in order to learn about how a small business goes into succeeding in the world. Michael and his crew started from scratch, first making the dishes at home to test what they would use and if people would like it. From there, the team started their own food truck, White Rabbit, and fed the masses with Filipino meats mixed with a Mexican and French twist. After 4 months on the road, the crew opened up White Rabbit Café, their very own building in Canoga Park, CA located at 8316 Winnetka Ave., with Roscoe Blvd. as a cross street. They combined with The Boba Truck, and it has been a match made in heaven ever since.

The transformation was just the beginning for Michael, the crew and White Rabbit. The sky is the limit for this small business, and they did it with strategic planning and the will to succeed. Here is what Michael had to say.

LocalPages.com: What was your business plan going into this venture? Was it your original goal to start with a truck and expand, or did the expansion come along after you saw your success?

Michael Dimaguila: The business plan was basically to be the most unique, loudest, and different truck out there. All our dishes haven’t been done before; which incorporates Filipino meats in Mexican & French influences. The idea started in our home kitchen experimenting with family and friends. Our partner chef, James Du, had truck/catering experience, so at the time we decided to start a Filipino truck because there were none out there. Once our truck hit the streets, we received unlimited support and positive reviews about our dishes and knew we had something special. We decided to open a brick and mortar in November 2010.

LP: How much does it help to have that truck, being able to market yourself outside of the cafe location?

Michael: The truck was our initial goal of getting our cuisine out the masses. The truck has a lot of positives and negatives about it, and some people think it’s easy to just open a truck and then many figure out the hardships that come along with them. Every week a new truck starts and every week a truck is out of business.

LP: What factors went into making the decision to team with The Boba Truck? Are you the owner of both?

Michael: The Boba Truck became our friends very quickly after teaming up with them on some dinner nights and festivals. Our cuisines and their drinks matched perfectly, so we decided to link up with them for our cafe. We only own White Rabbit.

LP: Did you expect the success you had? I mean, you were able to open your own permanent location just 4 months after opening your food truck.

Michael: We didn’t expect anything. All we wanted was to get a chance to showcase our cuisine and worked hard at everything we did. We spent 16-hour days and sleepless nights getting to where we are right now. The ride is just beginning and we can’t wait for our brand to get to the masses.

LP: How did you come up with the idea to take classic Filipino meats, and give them a Mexican/French twist?

Michael: We just wanted to be different in every aspect. We decided that since Filipino food isn’t too mainstream, like Thai, Japanese and even Korean now, due to stigma about being oily or not tasty, we wanted to infuse it with dishes Angelenos are accustomed to like burritos, tacos and more. So we decided to let Angelenos try our burritos and tacos with Filipino meats to give them a taste of our culture and cuisine.

LP: How do you ensure that customers come back to you for their Filipino food needs?

Michael: We always strive for the freshest foods and family customer service.

LP: Do you plan on continuing the expansion of your business to other permanent locations?

Michael: Our goal is to become the closest competitor to Chipotle.

LP: What advice would you give to other individuals looking to open a small business?

Michael: Expect long hours and dedication. High responsibility equals high reward. Never give up, always adjust to your market place. Being your own boss isn’t for everyone, not everyone is willing to sacrifice. Operate your business like this is your only shot.

What Michael demonstrates to succeed is smart planning and determination to be among the best. Anybody looking to open a small business of their own should strive for the same qualities and business characteristics.

I want to thank Michael Dimaguila and everyone at White Rabbit Café for allowing this interview and for pushing for their goals no matter what.

So, you have a business plan. You have good employees. You have your idea. Now you’ve started selling, what comes next? Getting customers will come with time, but it’s your ability to keep those customers that will define you and your business. A loyal customer is your best friend; they keep your business running. Customers that continue to come back to your business for their needs are the backbone of your business and what you’re trying to accomplish, but how do you turn prospects and customers into loyal customers? Well, it may be easier than you think.

First thing to keep in mind when dealing with customers, new or loyal, is they are people. Plain and simple, many businesses fail in this area because they neglect to realize that they are not just a ticket to big pay day, they are individuals with wants and needs. If a customer enters your business with a need and walks out feeling like you only wanted their money, that’s a good way to say goodbye to that customer forever. Simple gestures, like a thank you, can go a long way in showing the customers that you understand they’re people and their needs. Thank them for being a customer, for helping your business. It takes just seconds to make this gesture, and can be done in multiple ways. Say thank you, or give them a coupon or discount on their next visit for being a loyal customer. If they’re a new customer, you probably just got them to come back. Two words, less than two seconds; it goes a long way in showing your customers you truly appreciate them.

Customers love when an owner or employee is paying attention. With that said, one easy way to get customers to become loyal is to remember them. On their first visit, be polite and spark up a conversation. Be sure to make mental notes of what the customer says, from interests to pets to children. Remembering things like this will help you next time they come into the store. It allows the customer to feel like the business really interacts and treats their customers well. It can also pay off to keep in touch with your customers, not for anything specific, but just to keep your business fresh in their mind.

Finally, a quick and easy way to get loyal customers is to let everyone know how much your customers mean to you. Website testimonials and blog posts are two big ways to give them the spotlight they deserve. Let the world know how much you enjoyed getting to know each and every person who came to your sale. Better yet, let the world know how much your business has helped the customers buying from you. It is beneficial to you and your business if your customer feels they are special to you and your business. Remember to treat them as such.

These are just a few tips that a small business can use to keep loyal customers. Of course the number 1 way is to supply great quality products better than anyone else. These are just extra incentives for the customers. If they feel that can come to your business and feel completely comfortable, it will help you in the long run. Customers are the backbone of your business; if they go, so does your business.

Image credit: vistamommy on flickr