Vote Now: Best of Delaware 2020!

Every year, Delaware Today Magazine issues the Best of Delaware edition to spotlight local Delaware businesses in a variety of categories, ranging from food & drink to retail & services, that leave a lasting impression on their patrons. Readers and editors vote to recognize their favorite local establishments for their top-notch service and high-quality products.

Voting is now open for Delaware Today’s 2020 Best of Delaware class! To vote for you favorite Downtown Wilmington businesses, visit delawaretoday.com/vote and follow these simple rules:

1) Please limit your votes to Delaware-based businesses—no national chains
2) Businesses cannot incentivize votes with discounts, etc.
3) Votes originating from identical IP addresses will not be counted.
4) Please fill in the name and town of the business.
5) Please fill out at least 5 categories.
6) The Ballot closes on Jan. 26 at 5 p.m.
7) A special series of run-off voting will take place for the top vote-getters in the Food & Drink and Health & Beauty categories starting Feb. 3 and going weekly through March 15.

The results will be published in the July 2020 issue of Delaware Today and will be celebrated during their annual Best of Delaware Party, happening July 23, 2020 at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

Last year, 18 Downtown Wilmington businesses were awarded the Best of Delaware title all thanks to locals like you who voted for them. Spread the word about all of the great places in Downtown Wilmington DE and vote now!

Downtown Wilmington, Delaware Merchant Meeting Recap

For those that were not able to attend our last merchant meeting here is what you missed.  We hope you can join us at our next meeting on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 9AM - The Living Room, (previously Jerry’s Artarama) 706 N. Market Street.

Speaker:

Denita L. Thomas: SBDC, Associate State Director

dlthomas@udel.edu 
302-831-077

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) https://delawaresbdc.org/

• SBDC is an organization that helps small businesses do an anything they need to grow and succeed.

• All services are FREE

• Goal is to promote job growth

• 500 employees or less is considered a small business

  • Only small businesses are eligible to use their resources

• Free 1 on 1 advising and technical assistance

• Provide loan packaging

• Provide help with business planning and help researching the market

  • Link to planning: https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/planning-and-financing/

• SBDC has access to data bases that most small business do not have that can be used in market research

  • Link to research: https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/business-info-and-research/

• Provide information and programs on cyber security  for small business

  • make sure business is prepared/map out a strategy

• Grow Delaware Fund is partnership organization that allows for business who use SBDC  programs to have longer loan terms, lower interest rates

  • https://growdelawarefund.org/

• Horn program- focused on staff and faculty

  • https://www.udel.edu/research-innovation/horn/

• SCORE- managing to succeed program(for established businesses)

  • Link to SCORE: https://www.score.org/

  • Fanatical analysis and review

  • Benchmark ratings

  • Key performance incentives

  • Idea is that SCORE is a launch pad for new business and new concepts

• Free resources available: SBDC, Women’s Business Center, SCORE 

  • https://www.score.org/

  • https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/business-info-and-research/

  • https://delawaresbdc.org/resources/planning-and-financing/

  • http://firststateloan.org/womens-business-center/

• Applications are now being accepted for Delaware Startup Launchpad 2018 

  • the four-week, four-session mini accelerator from the Delaware Founders Initiative, Delaware Small Business Development Center and the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship program — returns for the second time this October, and applications are now open.

  • https://www.tfaforms.com/4686422

Small Business Saturday: November 24, 2018

• https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/

• National Effort to promote Small Business Saturday and shopping small

• Learn about Small business Saturday: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/about?linknav=us-open-shopsmall-home-nationallanding-sbshistory

• You can connect directly to  Amex to help attract customers all year long

  • Marketing Materials: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/promote

• Send your Small Business Saturday deals & promotions to lschweiger@downtownvisions.org