| If you're the owner of a small business
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| | exposure) for each member.Co-ops are also
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| and have limited resources, use
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| | helpful when you would like to join
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| the power of numbers to obtain more
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| | professional
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| customers or clients. Create an
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| | organizations but can't afford the dues
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| informal co-op.Creating such a co-op is
| |
| | by yourself. Join as a co-op and
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| simple. First, make a list of other small
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| | you'll probably get membership benefits
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|
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| | for at least several of your
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| business owners you know personally,
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| | members. Join several different
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| trust, and respect. On your list,
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| | organizations so that each co-op
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| include some businesses that have
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| | member can enjoy membership in at least
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| products or services similar to yours
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| | one organization of his or
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| and others that provide very different
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| | her choice.Here are some examples of the
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| ones.All of these small business owners
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| | types of businesses that would make
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| probably have limited resources, too.
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| | good co-ops:Car dealerships - car washes
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| Arrange a meeting with several of these
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| | - auto parts storesChildcare centers -
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| owners and sit down together at
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| | children's bookstores - children's
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| a relaxing location (like a coffee shop
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| | clothing storesGraphic designers -
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| or bookstore) to discuss how you
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| | freelance writers - small printing
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| could all benefit from an informal
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| | companiesAnimal clinics - pet stores -
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| cooperative (co-op, for short).For
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| | pet grooming centersAdvertising agencies
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| example, do you all attend trade shows
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| | - specialty food stores - gift basket
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| for your businesses? Could
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| | companiesFreelance writers - gift stores
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| you share a booth with one or two of
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| | - day spasAre you beginning to get some
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| these other small business owners
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| | ideas?Start thinking about creating a
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| to cut the cost of a booth? Do all of
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| | business co-op and you'll probably think
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| you have web sites for your
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| | of many other cost-saving and
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| companies? If so, it would be easy to
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| | service-sharing ways to fit your
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| create a blog for your co-op, with
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| | particular
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| links to the web site of each co-op
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| | needs.Create an informal co-op, then sit
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| member. Then, each member could
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| | back and watch your business
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| take a turn updating the blog, which
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| | grow.Suzanne Lieurance is a freelance
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| should result in increased web site
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| | writer, children's author, writing
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| traffic (or at least more publicity or
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| | coach, and small business owner.
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