Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned: Expert Advice for Women Who Have or Are Starting Their Own Business Including Marketing Research, Planning, Governm [Paperback]

Janet W. Christy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2006

This is the best time ever to be a Woman Business Owner! And Capitalizing On Being Woman Owned will show you why.

Government agencies need you in order to meet their vendor diversity goals. See where to find them.

The Federal Government requires its contractors to use Woman Owned Businesses as subcontractors. Learn how to let them know you exist.

Commercial enterprises are looking for businesses owned by women. Find out where they are looking.

Capitalizing On Being Woman Owned provides practical information and guidance on:
- Knowing the advantages of being woman owned.
- Identifying, qualifying and marketing to all types of government, educational and business entities.
- Understanding the reasons and benefits of "certification"
- Finding real resources and using them effectively.
- Using research and analysis tools, including web site addresses.

This book is also beneficial for anyone who works with Woman Owned Businesses, including accountants, attorneys, marketing or PR firms and ad agencies.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

This book is based on my years of working with women business owners and their prospects, clients and customers through consulting, research, workshops and interviews.  Making the most of your woman-owned status is complex, but well worth the effort. Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned provides practical guidance, examples and explanations that simplify the process. --Author --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Back Cover

"Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned is just the ticket to taking the first step out of your neighborhood and into the broader world of business opportunity. It motivates and informs."
--Susan Phillips Bari, President, Women's Business Enterprise National Council and author of Breaking Through: Creating Opportunities for America's Women and Minority Owned Business

"This book is a reference guide and resource tool not only for women who own businesses, but also for persons involved in certifying, assisting and buying from Woman Owned Businesses. It provides a well-rounded understanding of the entire issue."
--Elizabeth Nesbitt Miller, site inspector for the National Women Business Owners Corporation

"This is the definitive 'how to' guide to help women-owned businesses capture Federal, state, and local government contracts."
--Jason J. Friedman, Director of WEB Consulting Services, Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Career Press; 1 edition (September 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564148904
• ISBN-13: 978-1564148902
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Janet Christy has spent the majority of her professional career in marketing, sales and public relations positions. She has also worked on several economic development and technology initiatives in the Southeast.

In 2003 Janet formed Leverage & Development, LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping Small, Disadvantaged and Woman/Minority Owned businesses and the agencies and organizations that work with them. The firm has several service offerings that assist businesses and governments in evaluating their assets and then developing plans to improve them and/or use them to accomplish specific goals -- such as increasing revenue opportunities or obtaining grants.

Since early 2000, Janet has aided several East Coast municipalities and counties determine strategies and develop plans for improving the entrepreneurial culture and services as part of their Economic Development efforts. Janet has served as a 'customer advocate' in vendor and contract negotiation for municipalities, counties, property developers and businesses.

Janet also conducts seminars for Small and Woman/Minority Owned Businesses. She conducts the seminars for Chamber of Commerce memberships, private businesses, education institutions and municipal/county governments. These workshops provide attendees with practical instruction, resources and experience-based advice.

Janet currently works with Small, Disadvantaged and Woman/Minority Owned Businesses to develop plans that will help them maximize their small or ownership status. She prepares a customized manual that includes: Market Assessment, Key Prospects, Prospecting Strategy, and a Step-by-Step Marketing Plan.

Janet is the author of "101 Winning Marketing Actions" and "Capitalizing On Being Woman Owned." Janet has also written articles for several magazines and blogs including 'Home Business Magazine.' She often appears on radio business programs to discuss the advantages and opportunities for Small, Disadvantaged and Woman/Minority Owned Businesses. She continues to speak and conduct workshops related to Small Business and Marketing.

Janet has worked on both sides of the procurement process. Her experience includes both preparing RFPs (Request for Proposal) and RFIs (Request for Information) and responding to them. She currently works as a consultant for Small and Woman/Minority Owned Businesses to aid them in responding to RFPs. She also assists government and education entities in the development of RFPs and the evaluation of responses. Janet's firm, Leverage & Development, LLC offers a workshop to help businesses understand the culture behind government purchasing titles 'I Want A Government Contract ' I think.'

She has aided several government and education entities successfully apply for grants related to technology use and deployment and entrepreneur development and support. She continues to work with clients to identify and apply for grant and funding opportunities.

Janet spent more than 25 years in the telecommunications industry. In late 1999, Janet, along with several partners, formulated, raised angel and bank financing, and implemented the business plan for a telecommunications company specializing in back-office and consulting services for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Virtual ISPs and Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs). The group launched the telecommunications company and within less than a year sold the ISP portion to a publicly traded company. Janet served as Executive Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Woman Owned? Minority Owned? A Primer on Getting Government Contracts!, September 17, 2006

By 

Jeff Lippincott "JLIPPIN" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned: Expert Advice for Women Who Have or Are Starting Their Own Business Including Marketing Research, Planning, Governm (Paperback)

I currently work for a Woman Owned business. When I get emails from my boss the signature line includes a reference to the organization that certifies the company as woman owned. I am also a SCORE volunteer counselor who regularly counsels women who want to start their own businesses. Having said this, when I saw the instant book at the bookstore I figured I had to have a copy to learn more about the subject.

I think the concept of the book is great. And I think the book is full of content and well worth the price it sells for. Unfortunately its organization and writing style did not satisfy me. Normally I can read a book from cover to cover in a couple of hours and have a good idea what the main thrust of the book is all about. This book was a bit of a struggle for me to read. I was confused as to whether this book was about marketing advantages shared by businesses owned by women, marketing advantages shared by businesses owned by minorities, how to be a business that relies on government contracting, or being a woman owned business and getting recognized as such. There just were too many messages being sent. Even now, I am not sure if the title fairly represents the contents of the book on the whole.

The book has an introduction and 11 chapters as follows:

0. Introduction

1. Advantages

2. Approach

3. Government Contracts: Federal

4. Government Contracts: State

5. Government Contracts: Local

6. State Universities

7. Private Universities

8. Local Public Schools: K-12

9. Business to Business (B2B)

10. Certification Basics

11. Marketing Strategy

I found chapters 3 through 6 and 8 to be incredibly repetitive. They all had to do with how a contractor, subcontractor, or vendor to government entities or agencies find jobs or sell to the government. I would have appreciated having been told how to do the research once and then move on to something new. I recommend the book be rewritten in its second edition as follows:

0. Introduction

1. Approach

2. Advantages to being Woman Owned (or Minority Owned)

3. Marketing Strategy

4. Certification Basics

5. Government Contracting Overview (NEW CHAPTER)

6. Government Contracts: Federal (MUCH SHORTER CHAPTER)

7. Government Contracts: State (MUCH SHORTER CHAPTER)

8. Government Contracts: Local (MUCH SHORTER CHAPTER)

9. State Universities (MUCH SHORTER CHAPTER)

10. Local Public Schools: K-12 (MUCH SHORTER CHAPTER)

11. Private Schools

12. Private Sector Business

I would have very much enjoyed a chapter about SBA's 8(a) Program similar to Chapter 8 in The Complete Startup Guide for the Black Entrepreneur (ISBN: 156414724X) by Bill Boudreaux.

And I think the title should be changed to "If You are a Woman or a Minority and Own a Business, Then Exploit this In Order to Get Government Contracts."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned, October 20, 2006

By 

Susan Linsley "Head Creative Thinker" (Powdersville SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned: Expert Advice for Women Who Have or Are Starting Their Own Business Including Marketing Research, Planning, Governm (Paperback)

This book is one of the best reference books a Women Owned Business could own. I keep mine on the shelf next to the Dictionary and Thesaurus. Easy to read and apply to your particular business. If you are serious about Women Owned Business and how to maximize yourself, this book is a must read

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and Easy To Use!, October 20, 2006

By 

Jacqueline A. Rogers "The Little Black Book f... (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitalizing on Being Woman Owned: Expert Advice for Women Who Have or Are Starting Their Own Business Including Marketing Research, Planning, Governm (Paperback)

So many "helpful" books are only helpful if you read them cover-to-cover. This book is so well designed as a RESOURCE, which is what I loved. It was easy to find the areas pertaining to my situation, which allowed me to skip the parts I didn't need.

I'd recommend this book to everyone from those who are curious as to whether they could benefit from being woman-owned to those who just want to fully capitalize on this status.