Small Business Stories - Bluffstone Public Relations Video

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Small Business Stories - Bluffstone Public Relations

Alex Fees: I’m Alex Fees on Small Business Television. We are coming to you from Cleveland, Ohio at COSE 2008, the Small Business Conference. COSE, that is the Council of Smaller Enterprises and joining me here now is Jeanne Bluffstone. Jeanne, good to meet you. Jeanne Bluffstone: Hi, very nice to meet you. Alex Fees: I appreciate you being here. Jeanne Bluffstone: Thank you. Alex Fees: Jeanne owns a Public Relations firm, Bluffstone Public Relations. Jeanne Bluffstone: Good job. Alex Fees: And she is also a volunteer with COSE. She is with the COSE home based business network advisory board. Jeanne Bluffstone: You’ve got it and that’s my— Alex Fees: It barely fits on the car, Jeanne. Jeanne Bluffstone: I know. Alex Fees: Let’s talk about your business first. Jeanne Bluffstone: Okay. Alex Fees: Bluffstone Public Relations. Jeanne Bluffstone: Primarily, business to business, publicity. We do some other things but primarily publicity, get people in newspapers, get them on TV. Alex Fees: Yeah. Jeanne Bluffstone: Radio, television. Alex Fees: Okay. Jeanne Bluffstone: Magazines that kind of stuff. Alex Fees: How did they come about? Are you the owner, co-owner, what? Jeanne Bluffstone: I’m the owner. I was a news reporter and a columnist for our local paper. Our daily paper here which—are you familiar with the Plain Dealer? Alex Fees: Yes, yes. Jeanne Bluffstone: Okay, so I was a columnist for the Plain Dealer and then I decided I wanted to go into business and not knowing anything about business and not knowing what I was going to get into, I just did it. Alex Fees: Okay, what about your involvement with COSE, how long is that in the case? Jeanne Bluffstone: I’ve been in business almost 23 years and I’ve been a member of COSE for 22 of those 23 years. Alex Fees: Really, so almost since the very beginning? Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah. Alex Fees: So, what has it done for you? Jeanne Bluffstone: Well I went into business not knowing how to run a business. Not knowing very much about business, just publicity and marketing. And I’ve learned to run my business. I learned to network and met lots of wonderful people. I also made some wonderful contacts and I’ve got clients directly through COSE so I learned how to work with people. Alex Fees: Really? Jeanne Bluffstone: I learned how to solve problems. Oh yeah. Alex Fees: Wow. Jeanne Bluffstone: I don’t think I could have run my business at all without the help of COSE. Alex Fees: So, that worked very well for you. Jeanne Bluffstone: Oh absolutely. Alex Fees: Jeanne, what kind of changes have you seen in COSE in 22 years? Jeanne Bluffstone: COSE is very member-oriented and they always have been and for a while they had gotten very large and there wasn’t as much involvement from volunteers and now they come right back to their base. It’s what the members want and what the members need and—or just a wonderful job of that. Alex Fees: Now, you do volunteer work with the home-based business network advisory board, is that a new branch or any—COSE or? Jeanne Bluffstone: In ’06, COSE realized that the quarter of their membership was home-based businesses and so I was actually one of the founding members of the home-based business network and that ultimately became the chair and so what we’re doing is that big outreach to—we’re trying to not to say home-based businesses because it gets to too be—but home businesses. Alex Fees: Right. Okay. Jeanne Bluffstone: So, programming and networking, that kind of thing. Alex Fees: So, what kind of special needs do you find with that sub group of COSE if you will. Jeanne Bluffstone: You know, it’s, a home business is our small businesses so they are not a whole lot differences except that we’re isolated. We would buy ourselves for the most part. The biggest problem is our member says sales and marketing is what they want the most but another problem except that work like balance because you’re working where you live and so trying to separate that whole thing and that work 24/7 is really hard. Alex Fees: Yeah, absolutely because there is nobody to force you to go to work in the morning. Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah or to tear us away sometimes you can’t be turned away. Alex Fees: That’s very true. At 10:30 at night what have you. Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah, if you like what you’re doing. Alex Fees: Yeah. Okay. Well Jeanne, what do you see for the future? I mean I’m guessing that with small business owners and entrepreneurs, they are probably going to be more of those than to or less huh? Jeanne Bluffstone: Absolutely, absolutely. When I went into business in 1986, I could not work for my home, it was not a legitimate business if I did. And I stayed in my office actually too long. I stayed in my office, 16 years and but at about that time, I was working mostly at home and carrying my files back and forth and I sit and then I eventually moved, I’ve been in my home office now almost 7 years. And what I see is more of that where people are realizing they don’t need to have space even with the employees. With virtual employees and virtual assistance you don’t need, who needs, you don’t need to space outside of your home, you don’t need that rent, the drive time, the expenses. So, that’s why I see more of this. Alex Fees: Right. Jeanne, it’s time for a shameless plug now, okay? Jeanne Bluffstone: A shameless plug. Alex Fees: For you, yes. What about Bluffstone Public Relations? Do you have a website or? Jeanne Bluffstone: You know what, I cried myself, I’m being small but I’m planning, I can not get away with this no website any longer so I’m going to work on that. Alex Fees: All right. Jeanne Bluffstone: But what I would tell, companies is we make people famous and that’s really what we do, we specialize in making companies in their owners famous. Alex Fees: Here in the Cleveland area, where can people reach you? Jeanne Bluffstone: They can—you want my telephone number? Alex Fees: Sure. Jeanne Bluffstone: Oh good, okay. Alex Fees: For the viewing public here. Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah. Oh it’s not for you? Oh—330-467-3822. Alex Fees: Okay and if I go to cose.org, is there a special section on the home base business network advisory? Jeanne Bluffstone: Thank you for asking. There is a special section for home businesses. Alex Fees: Because if there is not, there should be. Jeanne Bluffstone: There is a special section for home base businesses and in addition to that on MindSpring which is a section of where we have editors who write on various things. Alex Fees: Right. Jeanne Bluffstone: I’m also a MindSpring editor under the home based business network. Alex Fees: Well, you’re busy. Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah. Alex Fees: Okay. Jeanne Bluffstone: I do a lot for COSE but COSE does a lot for me. Alex Fees: All right good deal. Jeanne Bluffstone, Jeanne thank you very much. Jeanne Bluffstone: My pleasure, thank you. It’s so nice to meet you. Alex Fees: Again, she is Jeanne Bluffstone with Bluffstone Public Relations and with COSE, a volunteer. I’m Alex Fees, you’re watching sbtv.com; Small Business Television from COSE, the Council of Smaller Enterprises and I must say small by name only.

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Alex Fees: I’m Alex Fees on Small Business Television. We are coming to you from Cleveland, Ohio at COSE 2008, the Small Business Conference. COSE, that is the Council of Smaller Enterprises and joining me here now is Jeanne Bluffstone. Jeanne, good to meet you.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Hi, very nice to meet you.

Alex Fees: I appreciate you being here.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Thank you.

Alex Fees: Jeanne owns a Public Relations firm, Bluffstone Public Relations.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Good job.

Alex Fees: And she is also a volunteer with COSE. She is with the COSE home based business network advisory board.

Jeanne Bluffstone: You’ve got it and that’s my—

Alex Fees: It barely fits on the car, Jeanne.

Jeanne Bluffstone: I know.

Alex Fees: Let’s talk about your business first.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Okay.

Alex Fees: Bluffstone Public Relations.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Primarily, business to business, publicity. We do some other things but primarily publicity, get people in newspapers, get them on TV.

Alex Fees: Yeah.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Radio, television.

Alex Fees: Okay.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Magazines that kind of stuff.

Alex Fees: How did they come about? Are you the owner, co-owner, what?

Jeanne Bluffstone: I’m the owner. I was a news reporter and a columnist for our local paper. Our daily paper here which—are you familiar with the Plain Dealer?

Alex Fees: Yes, yes.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Okay, so I was a columnist for the Plain Dealer and then I decided I wanted to go into business and not knowing anything about business and not knowing what I was going to get into, I just did it.

Alex Fees: Okay, what about your involvement with COSE, how long is that in the case?

Jeanne Bluffstone: I’ve been in business almost 23 years and I’ve been a member of COSE for 22 of those 23 years.

Alex Fees: Really, so almost since the very beginning?

Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah.

Alex Fees: So, what has it done for you?

Jeanne Bluffstone: Well I went into business not knowing how to run a business. Not knowing very much about business, just publicity and marketing. And I’ve learned to run my business. I learned to network and met lots of wonderful people. I also made some wonderful contacts and I’ve got clients directly through COSE so I learned how to work with people.

Alex Fees: Really?

Jeanne Bluffstone: I learned how to solve problems. Oh yeah.

Alex Fees: Wow.

Jeanne Bluffstone: I don’t think I could have run my business at all without the help of COSE.

Alex Fees: So, that worked very well for you.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Oh absolutely.

Alex Fees: Jeanne, what kind of changes have you seen in COSE in 22 years?

Jeanne Bluffstone: COSE is very member-oriented and they always have been and for a while they had gotten very large and there wasn’t as much involvement from volunteers and now they come right back to their base. It’s what the members want and what the members need and—or just a wonderful job of that.

Alex Fees: Now, you do volunteer work with the home-based business network advisory board, is that a new branch or any—COSE or?

Jeanne Bluffstone: In ’06, COSE realized that the quarter of their membership was home-based businesses and so I was actually one of the founding members of the home-based business network and that ultimately became the chair and so what we’re doing is that big outreach to—we’re trying to not to say home-based businesses because it gets to too be—but home businesses.

Alex Fees: Right. Okay.

Jeanne Bluffstone: So, programming and networking, that kind of thing.

Alex Fees: So, what kind of special needs do you find with that sub group of COSE if you will.

Jeanne Bluffstone: You know, it’s, a home business is our small businesses so they are not a whole lot differences except that we’re isolated. We would buy ourselves for the most part. The biggest problem is our member says sales and marketing is what they want the most but another problem except that work like balance because you’re working where you live and so trying to separate that whole thing and that work 24/7 is really hard.

Alex Fees: Yeah, absolutely because there is nobody to force you to go to work in the morning.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah or to tear us away sometimes you can’t be turned away.

Alex Fees: That’s very true. At 10:30 at night what have you.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah, if you like what you’re doing.

Alex Fees: Yeah. Okay. Well Jeanne, what do you see for the future? I mean I’m guessing that with small business owners and entrepreneurs, they are probably going to be more of those than to or less huh?

Jeanne Bluffstone: Absolutely, absolutely. When I went into business in 1986, I could not work for my home, it was not a legitimate business if I did. And I stayed in my office actually too long. I stayed in my office, 16 years and but at about that time, I was working mostly at home and carrying my files back and forth and I sit and then I eventually moved, I’ve been in my home office now almost 7 years. And what I see is more of that where people are realizing they don’t need to have space even with the employees. With virtual employees and virtual assistance you don’t need, who needs, you don’t need to space outside of your home, you don’t need that rent, the drive time, the expenses. So, that’s why I see more of this.

Alex Fees: Right. Jeanne, it’s time for a shameless plug now, okay?

Jeanne Bluffstone: A shameless plug.

Alex Fees: For you, yes. What about Bluffstone Public Relations? Do you have a website or?

Jeanne Bluffstone: You know what, I cried myself, I’m being small but I’m planning, I can not get away with this no website any longer so I’m going to work on that.

Alex Fees: All right.

Jeanne Bluffstone: But what I would tell, companies is we make people famous and that’s really what we do, we specialize in making companies in their owners famous.

Alex Fees: Here in the Cleveland area, where can people reach you?

Jeanne Bluffstone: They can—you want my telephone number?

Alex Fees: Sure.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Oh good, okay.

Alex Fees: For the viewing public here.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah. Oh it’s not for you? Oh—330-467-3822.

Alex Fees: Okay and if I go to cose.org, is there a special section on the home base business network advisory?

Jeanne Bluffstone: Thank you for asking. There is a special section for home businesses.

Alex Fees: Because if there is not, there should be.

Jeanne Bluffstone: There is a special section for home base businesses and in addition to that on MindSpring which is a section of where we have editors who write on various things.

Alex Fees: Right.

Jeanne Bluffstone: I’m also a MindSpring editor under the home based business network.

Alex Fees: Well, you’re busy.

Jeanne Bluffstone: Yeah.

Alex Fees: Okay.

Jeanne Bluffstone: I do a lot for COSE but COSE does a lot for me.

Alex Fees: All right good deal. Jeanne Bluffstone, Jeanne thank you very much.

Jeanne Bluffstone: My pleasure, thank you. It’s so nice to meet you.

Alex Fees: Again, she is Jeanne Bluffstone with Bluffstone Public Relations and with COSE, a volunteer. I’m Alex Fees, you’re watching sbtv.com; Small Business Television from COSE, the Council of Smaller Enterprises and I must say small by name only.

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