As of the end of December, Small Business Boomers will be closing as b5media discontinues Bizzia and the business blogs.  I’ve been writing this blog for the past several months, continuing the work of Jean Murray.

I hope I’ve brought you helpful information about being a boomer and operating a small business.  It has been enjoyable blogging here and getting to know so many of my readers.  As with  many opportunities in life, there comes a time to go on to something else.

I shall be activating two business blogs I established at Blogger some time ago and will publish future business tips there so that my readers will have information to refer to.  These are Baby Boomer Biz Notes and Blogging and Business.  Come join me there!

Winter image: sxc.hu

At the end of each month, I present a round-up of five posts that have been popular or have generated interest at Small Business Boomers. 

Here are 5 for December:

Develop a Business of Remembering Those Who Will Be Forgotten

Boomers, Take Care of Your Appearance

Christmas Cookie Journal – A Business Idea?

Preserving Family Memories as a Business

Online Shopping Appeals to Boomers & Those With Health Issues

Did you have a favorite post for December?

Image: sxc.hu

May you have a joyous Christmas Day and much success, health and happiness in 2010.

From Small Business Boomers!

In my family writing workshops (an offshoot of one of my small businesses), I often mention the importance of writing about the people in our lives who will be forgotten if we don’t do something about it. 

Memories image: sxc.hu

 I consider my aunt, who was divorced and had no children,  my uncle who was a bachelor, my brother who died young, and two other aunts and uncles who had no children.

Who in our family will remember them if I don’t write their stories, collect their memorabilia, and pass this along to my family? 

I thought of this again when I read the following in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency:  “His life [the main character's father] was unrecorded; who is there to write down the lives of ordinary people?” 

Yes, he is a fictional character in a book, but Mma Ramotswe   does write about him and how he helped shape her life and made it possible for her to establish her detective agency. 

Are you recording the lives of the people in your life?  Not necessarily for publication, but for your family.

Now can you think a step further and consider developing this into a business whereby you can do it for other people or at least help them?

Dream Catcher image: sxc.hu

It’s never too late to dream or set goals…and go for it!  As Boomers begin to reach retirement and Social Security age, they often give up on their dreams and feel there’s nothing to reach for in life.

However, they still can accomplish a great deal, operate a small business, influence grandchildren, travel, make new friends, develop careers and hobbies they only thought about fleetingly.  It’s time to explore the impossible!

So…make yourself a list of 100 dreams or goals you’d like to accomplish.  Some may be mundane while others are fleets of fancy.  Never mind.  Write them all down.  Then read them every morning. 

Remember…you’re never too old to dream AND act upon those dreams.

What are some of your dreams?

Recycling image: sxc.hu

In this age, when consumers are sensitive to going “green,” many look at the packaging of products, as well as the products themselves.  So you may need to consider the statement you’re making with your packaging. 

This doesn’t mean you have to be “green to the extreme,” so it’s totally illogical, as some people do.  However, it’s especially important, if you’re promoting the fact that your items are environmentally friendly, that you take a look at how you’re packaging.

You may find it interesting and informative to read my post, Organizing Your Packaging for “Green” Products, at My Organized Biz.  Here you’ll learn about my niece’s impression with the packaging of pencils she purchased made from recycled ingredients.

How are you packging your wares?

Often when we reach a “certain age,” we’re considered old and incapable, rather than mature and wise.  Part of this can be dispelled by taking care of our appearance so we appear professional and capable.

Even when we operate an online business, we’ll feel better and sound better if we crawl out of our jammies, do our hair, shave (if a man) and put on make-up (if a lady).  We don’t need to dress like a teen to give the impression of being younger, but dress as though we care about ourselves, our business and our appearance.  Thus we don’t give the impression of being feeble and forgetful.

It’s easier to give into aches and pains, which sometimes seem more numerous as the years advance.  But by looking our best, we tend to feel our best.  We have more energy in our voices and our step.

Think about whom you’d want to do business with.

Online businesses are ideal for boomers who live in areas of extremes in weather.  When you may not want to go outside into heat, cold and storms, being able to conduct your business inside your home fits in nicely.

• Snow rages outside, but I can still write and post.
• I can communicate with business colleagues and customers.
• I can receive orders.
• I can conduct online workshops.
• I can conduct Skype or ooVooo workshops and consultations.

What other advantages of businesses conducted entirely or partially online for boomers?

Many Boomers are stirring up cookies during these days before Christmas.  They may be making them with grandchildren, by themselves, or for cookie exchanges.

Christmas cookies image: sxc.hu

Cookie making usually brings back memories of these sessions in our childhood, with our children, with community groups, or with the entire family.  We may pull out recipes used throughout the generations.  We may try new recipes.

All of these activities create memories, especially if you take photos to accompany the cookie making sessions.  One of my favorite photos shows my then 2-year old daughter and me making cookies at the kitchen table.

So…why not start a Christmas Cookie Journal with photos, memories, current activities and recipes?  Then you can make copies for other family members. 

Or…you could develop this into a business and create Christmas Cookie Journals for others.

Have any of you done this?  Either for yourselves or as a business?

Social networking, blogging, and a knowledge of the “new” technology is imperative to advancing one’s small business, especially if it’s Internet based. More and more Boomers are uilizing computers, shopping on the Internet, using them for communication and to promote their businesses. 

Image: sxc.hu

 If they do have a business, they’re discovering it’s becoming difficult to operate efficiently and effectively without being involved with social media. 

Even so, there are some Boomers who seem proud that they’re social media ignorant.  That may be fine for some people, but generally even communication with family will be more frequent if one does explore e-mail, instant messaging, and features like Facebook. 

If Boomers are volunteering, in political, social, religious, and community organizations, they’ll find that these groups are becoming involved with the Internet world.  So you may need to be more “techie” informed.  In the political field, social media has become imperative. A major factor in Obama’s election to the US Presidency (whether you approve of him or not) was the use of blogging and social media, whereas his opponents were way behind in reaching the public in that way.

Many senior centers offer classes to enable Boomers and Seniors to learn more about computers, e-mail, blogging, and social media. You may find adult education classes in this topic.  er Our local library has offered classes.  I taught one there on blogging and how to set up a blog, whether for personal use and/or a small business.

How has the Internet and social media helped you with your small business?  How has it changed your life?