The Ultimate Resource for the LGBT Community
What advice do you have for LGBT businesses?
Wes Combs on gay businesses
In today’s economy, it is difficult for all businesses, regardless of if the owner is GLBT or not. It is important to understand that all business owners will be able to maximize their success in any economic situation if they know who their core customer is and how best to connect with them. Our research with Harris Interactive has consistently shown that GLBT consumers prefer to do business with companies that reach out to them with tailored messages, who give back to the GLBT community and whose workplace policies provide parity to their GLBT employees when compared to the benefits given to their non-GLBT employees.
As GLBT business owners, my business partner and I look for opportunities to support non-profits in the community that demonstrate our commitment to the community but also that will allow us to network with potential clients or participate in the event with existing clients. This is the advice I would give to other GLBT business owners. Also, leverage the GLBT Chamber of Commerce in your community by being a member and by participating in their networking events. People like to do business with people they know and like.
Finally, I urge all GLBT business owners to get certified by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce as a GLBT-owned business. This will allow the company to gain access to Fortune 1000 supplier diversity programs that have stated targets to hire a certain percentage of GLBT-owned vendors each year. These programs have been in place for years with African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American and women-owned businesses for years. Now corporate America is recognizing the importance of including GLBT-owned businesses to their supplier diversity initiatives. For more information, visit www.nglcc.org.
In today’s economy, it is difficult for all businesses, regardless of if the owner is GLBT or not. It is important to understand that all business owners will be able to maximize their success in any economic situation if they know who their core customer is and how best to connect with them. Our research with Harris Interactive has consistently shown that GLBT consumers prefer to do business with companies that reach out to them with tailored messages, who give back to the GLBT community and whose workplace policies provide parity to their GLBT employees when compared to the benefits given to their non-GLBT employees.
As GLBT business owners, my business partner and I look for opportunities to support non-profits in the community that demonstrate our commitment to the community but also that will allow us to network with potential clients or participate in the event with existing clients. This is the advice I would give to other GLBT business owners. Also, leverage the GLBT Chamber of Commerce in your community by being a member and by participating in their networking events. People like to do business with people they know and like.
Finally, I urge all GLBT business owners to get certified by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce as a GLBT-owned business. This will allow the company to gain access to Fortune 1000 supplier diversity programs that have stated targets to hire a certain percentage of GLBT-owned vendors each year. These programs have been in place for years with African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American and women-owned businesses for years. Now corporate America is recognizing the importance of including GLBT-owned businesses to their supplier diversity initiatives. For more information, visit www.nglcc.org.
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