Small businesses and Super Bowl strategies

VIDEO In Wednesday's ShopTalk: How local small businesses are using next week's big game to raise their profile.

Video: In Wednesday's ShopTalk

Learn how the small businesses along Selwyn Avenue work together, and more, in Wednesday's ShopTalk:

Small business center looking for speakers, contest competitors

The Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is looking for presenters who'd like to lead a seminar on a topic related to helping small businesses start and grow.

If interested, send an email to Barbara.hall@rccc.edu.

Here are other happenings at the center:

-The Cabarrus Business Network invites business owners in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties who have a written business plan to enter a local business plan competition for a prize package. The event will be in the format of the popular TV show Shark Tank. The entry deadline is January 31. Go here for an entry form.

-Small business counseling is available for free the second Tuesday of every month at the Gateway Building in downtown Salisbury. Make an appointment by calling 704-633-4221. Other counseling times are available in Kannapolis and Concord.

-There's a free, four-part "Agripreneur Workshop" beginning February 6 at the North Campus in Salisbury. Sign up at www.rccc.edu/sbc

'Sweet Joint' celebrates grand opening in Ayrsley on Saturday

Valerie Carrothers want anyone with a sweet tooth to come to the official grand opening of her store, Jaz-Jan The Sweet Joint, which sells an assortment of gourmet cupcakes, cakes and cookies.

The event begins 2 p.m. Saturday at 2026-A Ayrsley Town Blvd., near I-485 and South Tryon. There will be prizes, raffles, price specials and live music performed by Jaz-Jan’s own Sweet Joint jazz band.

Carrothers describes her desserts as bringing back the taste of the old days, "when Mom used to cook cakes and cookies at home."

Carrothers, who is 51, spent years in the corporate world as a contract manager and accounts receivable analyst.

"I've done many things, and now it's time for me to venture out on my own," she said. "If I'm going to work hard, I might as well work hard for myself."

(Photos courtesy of Jaz-Jan.)

Her business -- named after her 18-year-old twins, Jasmine and JaNey -- debuted in 2012 at a kiosk in Carolina Place Mall.

"I enjoyed it, but I figured I needed my own place to expand."

She picked Ayrsley because of the foot traffic generated by the hotels, apartments, small businesses and the movie theater nearby. Products are baked onsite daily, Carrothers said. Jaz-Jan's includes seating and free WiFi, and also serves coffee and Gastonia-based Tony's Ice Cream.

Learn more at www.jazjanthesweetjoint.com, or call 980-237-1223. And check out the assortment of treats at Jaz-Jan's photo gallery, here.

Need capital for your business idea? Check this out.

Hear from a group of successful investors and entrepreneurs at the annual event hosted by Business Innovation Growth on "Funding Startup and Early-Stage Companies" from 1-6 p.m. Jan. 14 at UNC Charlotte's center-city campus. 

This event is free, thanks to donations from event sponsors, says Terry Cox, president of BIG, an nonprofit for high-potential entrepreneurs. 

Here's the agenda for the event: 

 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.    Opening Remarks

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.    Pros and Cons of Bootstrapping      

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.     Practical Considerations for Deal Structures

3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.    Lessons Learned Raising Capital from our Prior Year Presenters

  

4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.    Successful Crowdfunding Raises

4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.    Making the Investor Pitch

Registration: Register here or email terry@bigcouncil.com. Dress is business casual. 

The address is 320 E. 9th Street. Event will be in the large auditorium on the second floor. 

Visit here for directions and a map. Parking details will be sent with the registration confirmation email. 

BlackBerry fans, take note

Bloomberg News reports that struggling smartphone-maker BlackBerry will return its focus to the physical keyboards that fueled its early success among customers in the business and government sectors.

These users find it easier to type out emails on keyboard-equipped phones, rather than touch screens, the story notes.

"I personally love the keyboards," chief executive officer John Chen said in an interview Monday with Bloomberg Television at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Read the full Bloomberg News story here.

What type of smartphone device do you prefer? If you don't use a BlackBerry, does this news make the device more appealing to you? Leave your opinion in the comments below.

(April 2013 file photo of a BlackBerry Q10 smartphone -- Associated Press)

In Wednesday's ShopTalk: Charlotte-based Bellaworks Web Design

Check out this video preview of what's coming up Jan. 8 in ShopTalk: