The success of your business will strongly depend on what price tag you attach to your products—and whether your customers are willing to pay this price. Hence your strategic marketing planning should include considerations about how to adequately price your products/services right at the start. After reading this publication, you...
“Quality is Job 1”—this slogan is familiar to many people because it was used by Ford Motor Company for nearly 20 years. All businesses know the importance of quality—with respect to quality of products and quality of service. However, knowing specifically how to manage for quality is another matter. Here...
By nature, most entrepreneurs are "doers" rather than "planners." At the same time, we know that successful organizations, regardless of their size, must plan for the future. High-level strategic planning such as establishing the long-term direction of the company is critical, but useless without a plan for implementation. This "implementation...
This document outlines types and sources of information you might use in your marketing planning. A variety of sources are cataloged on the Oregon Wood Innovation Center web site. A concrete example from the experience of a local entrepreneur is provided.
Foresters in Action was a radio program created and performed by students of the OSC School of Forestry. It was broadcast by KOAC radio station in Corvallis from 1936 until ca. 1943. The program offered snapshots of rural life in the Pacific Northwest, and sometimes beyond, told through a collegiate...
Improving existing and developing completely new products is an important part of maintaining a healthy business. This document outlines key principles of new product development, illustrated through the activities of a small sawmilling company.
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) has a wide distribution in North America and is one of the tree species most widely distributed outside its natural range. The species has been introduced to Europe, New Zealand, South America, and elsewhere around the world. At present, Douglas-fir is an accepted and integral part of...
Public relations is a key element of any company’s communications portfolio. For entrepreneurs, PR may be especially important because it comes at no direct cost and has a low total cost. This document outlines key principles of PR, illustrated by an example of a small sawmiller.
Effective and consistent communication with your customers is vital and should be approached in a holistic manner driven by customer needs, your marketing strategies, and key characteristics of your operation. This document outlines important principles of marketing communication, illustrated throughout with examples from two small, hypothetical companies. A worksheet is...