Tips for Small Businesses
Recent winners of the AWS Image of Welding Small Business Award offer their advice Reprinted with permission: The AWS Welding Journal By Annik Babinski, assistant editor of the Welding Journal Let’s face it, running a small business is a real challenge when everything seems like it’s being supersized. According to a 2011 Business Insider report, there are 28 million small businesses in the United States, which outnumber corporations 1162 to 1. These small businesses employ 57% of the country’s private workforce, and pay 44% of U.S. payroll .So we salute all of you small business owners, and, because only 50% of these businesses survive five years, we’d like to help you out. Winners of the 2010–2014 Image of Welding (now Excellence in Welding) Small Business Awards were asked for their tips and tricks for running a small business in today’s economy. WEMCO, an AWS standing committee made up of welding equipment manufacturers, sponsors the awards. The industry leaders we spoke with were:- 2014 Winner George (Joe) Wernette III, co-owner, vice president, professional development, Tri Tool, Inc., Rancho Cordova, Calif.
- 2013 Winner Rick McCartney, president, Bay State Industrial Welding & Fabrication, Inc., Hudson, N.H.
- 2012 Winner Don Schwemmer, president, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technologies, Rexburg, Idaho
- 2011 Winner Douglas S. Phillips, director of product management, equipment, Nelson Stud Welding, Inc., Elyria, Ohio
- 2010 Winner Joe Fazzari, vice president, Colmac Coil Manufacturing, Inc., Colville, Wash.