Wednesday, October 8th, 9:30-7:30 @ Clark Family Branch
Thursday, October 9th, 9:30-7:30 @ Clark Family Branch
Friday, October 10th, 9:30-5:00 @ Virtual
  
Join us for three days packed with actionable strategies, game-changing insights, and valuable connections. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a nonprofit leader, you'll find sessions tailored to help you start, strengthen and grow.
 
Registration requested for in-person programs and required for virtual programs at this link: https://www.slcl.org/events/small-business-and-nonprofit-conference
 
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Small Business Programs in October
 
Saturday, October 4, 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. @ Thornhill Branch
How to Start and Manage Your Own Business
Presented by SCORE
Do you have what it takes to start and run a successful business? If so, what are the first steps you should take? This workshop will help you assess your prospects, give you the initial direction you need, and inspire you to move forward to realize your dream.
 
Saturday, October 11, 9:15-10:30 a.m. @ Thornhill Branch
Cyber Security for Small Business
Presented by SCORE
Cyber attacks are a serious risk for any business. This session will increase your awareness of cyber risks involved with owning and operating a small business; and we will recommend actions that should be taken to mitigate those risks. 
 
Tuesday, October 28, 2:00 p.m. @ Clark Family Branch
More Time, Less Stress: Time Management Workshop
In this hands-on workshop you will explore practical tools, including library resources, and strategies for goal-setting, prioritizing tasks, overcoming procrastination, and creating a balanced routine. 
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On October 16, 1923, Walt and Roy Disney established the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, now known as The Walt Disney Company. This studio has profoundly impacted the entertainment industry and is currently one of the largest media companies globally.
While Disney is a massive, multi-billion dollar corporation, its core strategies are built on principles that can be adapted and applied by small businesses of any size. The magic of Disney's success isn't just about money; it's about a deep understanding of human psychology and the customer experience. 
Here are some key Disney strategies that small businesses can easily implement:
 
Master the Art of Storytelling
Disney's entire empire is built on stories. Small businesses can learn from this by:
  • Sharing your "why": Don't just sell a product or service; tell your brand's origin story. Why did you start your business? What problem are you solving? Sharing your passion and values creates an emotional connection with customers.
  • Creating a brand narrative: Your brand should have a consistent story across all touchpoints—your website, social media, packaging, and in-person interactions. This makes your brand feel cohesive and authentic.
  • Leveraging customer stories: Feature customer testimonials and stories about how your product or service has positively impacted their lives. This social proof is incredibly powerful and adds to your brand's narrative.
Prioritize the Customer Experience 
Disney doesn't have "customers" or "clients"—they have "guests." This language shift is intentional, and it informs every aspect of their service. Small businesses can adopt this mindset by:
  • Paying attention to every detail: From the moment a customer enters your store or lands on your website, every detail matters. Is your website easy to navigate? Is your store clean and well-organized? Are your employees friendly and helpful? A seamless, pleasant experience leaves a lasting impression.
  • Empowering your employees: Disney "cast members" are empowered to solve problems on the spot. Teach your employees to proactively address customer issues, even if it's a small gesture like offering a discount or a free product. A well-handled mistake can build more loyalty than a perfect transaction.
  • Engaging all the senses: Think about how you can use sight, sound, smell, and even touch to create a memorable experience. A coffee shop could play calming music and have the scent of fresh coffee; a retail store could have unique lighting and textures.
Create a Consistent and Powerful Brand Identity
Disney's brand is instantly recognizable. Small businesses can achieve a similar level of brand consistency by:
  • Defining your brand's personality: What are your brand's core values? Is it fun and playful, or professional and trustworthy? Once you've defined your brand's personality, ensure it's reflected in your logo, color palette, tone of voice, and visual style.
  • Using a "style guide": Even a simple guide can help you maintain brand consistency across all your marketing materials. This ensures your brand looks and feels the same everywhere.
  • Being a brand ambassador: The owner of a small business is often the most important brand ambassador. Your enthusiasm and dedication to your brand's values are infectious and will inspire both your employees and your customers.
Think Beyond Your Core Product (Synergy)
Disney's synergy model is its secret weapon. While you can't build a theme park, you can still apply the same principle on a smaller scale by:
  • Finding complementary products or services: If you sell handmade soap, could you also offer bath bombs, lotions, or gift sets? If you're a personal trainer, could you offer a digital workout guide or nutritional coaching?
  • Collaborating with other businesses: Partner with a local business that complements yours. A bakery could team up with a coffee shop for a joint promotion. A graphic designer could partner with a printing company to offer a full-service package.
  • Building a community: Create an online community (like a Facebook group) where your customers can connect with each other and with your brand. This not only builds loyalty but can also be a source of valuable feedback and new ideas.
Never Stop Innovating
Walt Disney's famous quote, "You can't top pigs with pigs," speaks to a philosophy of continuous improvement. Small businesses can learn from this by:
  • Asking for and listening to feedback: Regularly survey your customers and employees to understand what's working and what's not.
  • Staying on top of trends: Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing and what's new in your industry.
  • Being willing to experiment: Don't be afraid to try a new product, a new marketing channel, or a new way of doing business. Not every idea will be a success, but the process of trying and learning is essential for growth.
To delve deeper into Disney's style of customer service, leadership, branding, and customer engagement, check out these resources at your local library:
 
Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service
Learn how Disney creates its legendary customer service experience. It breaks down Disney's unique approach into practical principles, emphasizing the importance of detailed planning, meticulous execution, and the consistent training and empowerment of employees to deliver exceptional service that makes every customer feel like a valued "guest." The book aims to provide actionable strategies for any business to elevate its customer service to Disney-level standards.
Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell
Creating Magic distills four decades of leadership experience, including his time at Disney, into 10 common sense strategies. The book uses entertaining stories to show how infusing quality, character, courage, enthusiasm, and integrity into the workplace transforms leaders and their organizations.
From Idea to Disney: How Branding Made Disney a Household Name by Lowey Bundy Sichol
Explore the pivotal role of branding in Walt Disney's journey from a small animation studio to a global entertainment powerhouse. The book details how Disney meticulously crafted its image, cultivated strong emotional connections with its audience, and consistently applied its brand identity across various ventures, from films and characters to theme parks and merchandise, ultimately making it an instantly recognizable name worldwide.
How Does Disney Do That?: How Disney Makes Us Feel and Why It Matters by James Warda
Warda aims to deconstruct the specific methods and strategies Disney uses to create emotional connections and memorable experiences. While this involves highlighting Disney's effectiveness, the primary goal appears to be dissecting how they achieve it and why those methods are successful and impactful on consumer behavior and brand loyalty.
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For one-on-one assistance with your research needs or help navigating library databases, contact us through this form: Book a Librarian