Idea Cafe talks to business expert Jim Tracy

Please tell us a bit about yourself. When did your passion for working with small businesses start? Jim Tracy, 43, married, two sons, President of America's Best Companies, educated with a degree in Chemistry from Loyola University.

The passion for working with small businesses started when I was nine or ten and my father started a small plumbing company. I watched him experience the highs and lows of building and maintaining a small business. I was destined in life to build my career around helping small businesses. It was easy for me to identify with their needs.

Jim Tracy-- The Man Behind the Mission

Jim Tracy is the President and Founder of ABC, which was established in 2006.

A graduate of Loyola University Chicago (1987), Jim served as senior vice president of National Translink Corporation and over a span of 10 years worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to grow their businesses and reach more customers.

Over the years Jim had witnessed countless small businesses going out of business as a result of heightened competition from big corporations and online retailers. This led to the inspiration in creating America's Best Companies. Jim strives to bring the issues of the small business owner to the forefront, while leading a dedicated and professional staff working to make a difference for the small business community.

Why did you create America's Best Companies? What are you working on at the moment, and what can we expect from ABC in the coming months?

I felt something was missing in America. There was a very good, specialized effort from associations and local chamber groups, but no single source for all small business needs. At ABC, we are constantly adding benefits. We are adding more discount programs, making improvements in our magazine, developing a better local search experience at ezlocal.com and adding health and dental benefits. In addition, we are creating a podcast, advertising on radio, and adding 2,000 salespeople through our new job website at work4abc.com.

In the video presentation on your website, you call small business owners "the heartbeat of America," and this, at least to me, implies a social role in addition to the economic aspects of small business. Would you agree with my interpretation?

Yes; without small businesses, there will be no sense of "community" in any town.

What are your thoughts on the importance of small businesses for the overall health of the economy?

Small business, in my opinion, is the key to a thriving economy. It keeps money in America and in the local communities which is the key to economic development. Besides, every big business started as a small one.

Where should entrepreneurs look for inspiration and the energy to continue pushing ahead every day?

There are countless success stories to look at for inspiration and within every community, there are business owners that have survived two or three recessions. I have always been a proponent of the creation of a "Mastermind Group" of business owners in every community. This group should meet once or twice a month to share concerns and ideas.

Do you have some practical advice about doing business in a slowing economy?

Service, service, service. I'll say it again; service your customers and they will remain loyal. Also, be creative in your marketing efforts.

Is the internet changing things for small businesses? What about social media?

Yes, a business owner must have a website regardless of their product or service. If they want to attract any new customers under the age of 30, they must be found on the internet. That's why we created myABCspace.com for our members. It's a simple, one page website, but it gets them found by new customers. Social media creates the opportunity to truly engage our audience like never before. We communicate and market now in ways that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. We're able to connect with consumers, give advice and even offer inspiration to the small business community.

Idea Cafe is currently running a cash grant campaign for the best small business idea. Do you think such an initiative is useful? What would you say to our participants, by way of encouragement?

Absolutely, we have been looking to offer some cash grants ourselves.

Anything worth having is worth working for!

Comments

Small businesses play an

Small businesses play an important role in this society, and Jim is sending the right message.

I would like read more

I would like read more information about this, is very interesting! Thanks for the information. A worth bookmarking blog. I would be reading your articles regularly from now on.
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I am agree with you ...each

I am agree with you ...each and every practice advice...thanks for sharing..I like the article very much. Keep updating with such interesting content, so that i can read more from you.

Jim has hit home with me. I

Jim has hit home with me. I also as a young boy of seven or eight watched my father start a small musical instrument repair and music teaching business out of our home. I watched him experience the highs and lows of trying to build and maintain a small business while also trying to be a father to 13 children. I was determined to have a small business of my own and have had a few. I also firmly believe in forming alliances to level the playing field and in interdependent strategic partnerships to grow small business without government intervention and that it is the key to economic growth in America .

Every great business has

Every great business has started somewhere so the small businesses we see today are the backbone of our economy.
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I always like your blog post

I always like your blog post because you always comes with different ideas and information. I always shared your site post with my friends. Keep posting and i will follow you..
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There are countless success

There are countless success stories to look at for inspiration and within every community, there are business owners that have survived two or three recessions. Thanks.
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Can I make a suggestion? I

Can I make a suggestion? I think youve got something good here. But what if you added a couple links to a page that backs up what youre saying? Or maybe you could give us something to look at, something that would connect what youre saying to something tangible? Just a suggestion.

What a great resource! Thank

What a great resource! Thank you! Anyone know if the list of sources are available as selectable text?It would really help speed up my research on this very topic if I didn’t have to re-type the link to each one! Just a thought…
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I totally enjoyed Jim`s

I totally enjoyed Jim`s interview. Thanks for sharing.

Jim explained everything so

Jim explained everything so nicely. Thanks

Jim Tracy is a valuable

Jim Tracy is a valuable expert for the business world. And we thank him.

There are countless success

There are countless success stories to look at for inspiration and within every community, there are business owners that have survived two or three recessions.Los Angeles

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I am totally agree with

I am totally agree with you!!! Every great business has started to small business and small business is always back one in our economy..So that's the great article i am read the each and every line and some topic are interesting.Thanks for shearing useful story.scrolling led sign

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