Just some of the people behind LA's first non-profit food truck, Cart for a Cause

First came Kogi, the irreverent Korean taco purveyor that started the whole food-truck phenomenon. Within a few months, the streets of Los Angeles were buzzing with all manner of culinary vehicles – the Grilled Cheese Truck, Indian wraps from the Dosa Truck, and a mobile version of the brick-and-mortar restaurant Border Grill, to name just a few. Each truck tried to top the next, with World Fare going so far as to convert a double-decker bus into a movable feast.

But no matter how original the menu, they’re all just a take on a concept that (more…)

Good morning, Lynda,

Greetings from beautiful Australia. I am a Canadian ex-pat who lives in Bendigo, Victoria. We have the only regional ice rink in Victoria, and I am a volunteer with the rink. We offer figure skating, ice hockey, curling, and recreational skating at the rink. Last year, we started a new under-13-year-old ice hockey team called the Wildcats. We are organising to host the first (more…)

Do you know a business that is doing well despite the recession? Does your small business use a company or service that has helped you compete with the big guys? If so, then Lynda wants to hear from you. “Ruby Tuesday” is accepting nominations for companies to profile in the now bi-weekly column, where Lynda Resnick and the executive of the week share their insights into marketing and business solutions for the new economy. Submit your candidate for consideration in an upcoming column.

Need business advice? In “Ask Lynda,” the POM Queen answers your marketing and entrepreneurial questions. Submit your question today.

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Shmaltz Brewing Company
Why It’s a Gem: Creating a story – with humor – that appeals to all faiths gave an added boost to a craft beer of divine quality

Even before the Great Recession, small businesses knew that if they were to compete against the big guys, they had to stand out. One way to do so was by telling their story – of the company’s creation, their philanthropic ties, their unique ingredients – in order to appeal to an audience that might otherwise have been lured away by the big-budget marketing campaigns of larger competitors.

That’s precisely what Shmaltz Brewing Company did. By creating a brand tied to a heritage, Jeremy Cowan’s brainchild tapped into a ready-made tale thousands of years in the making – and they do it all with a hearty dose of humor.
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Sometimes it takes more than a good product to be successful. Twitter is outstandingly popular, but the powers that be have yet to develop a viable revenue stream, which is the core to any successful business plan. (You can follow me on Twitter @LyndaResnick.)

In today’s Ask Lynda, a budding entrepreneur gets some advice on different angles for selling his gadget in the niche museum market. (more…)

Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: Climb On!
Why It’s a Gem:  What began as a niche product proves valuable to a much larger population

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Dear Lynda,

I’m an adult ed teacher for Photoshop and photo classes. If we don’t get a minimum number of students, we’ll get a vacation instead. Curious if you might have suggestions for promoting my classes. (more…)

You’ve been doing steady business. But how to make it grow? A solo entrepreneur gets some advice on improving her line of personalized products. (more…)

As part of her mission to save small businesses, Lynda Resnick, author of the national best-seller Rubies in the Orchard, fields questions from entrepreneurs and non-profits and shares her business and marketing know-how.

In the first of her new series of Ask Lynda columns, Resnick responds to a letter from Ellen Parcell, who runs the non-profit Heart to Heart, a non-profit organization that supports homeless and abused women and children. (more…)

We all know times are so tough that a lot of SMBs – and even large ones – are packing it in. But there is a determined group out there that’s not only surviving but thriving in today’s economy. As I’ve said before, now is the time to make a difference with your business, to promote your Unique Selling Proposition while the rest of your competition is floundering to make sense of the chaos around them.

Each Tuesday, henceforth to be known as Ruby Tuesday, I will choose a small- to medium-sized business that is doing something different to set itself apart from the flock, whether that’s by making the most of its USP, tapping into new Internet tools, or simply (more…)