NJSBDC, FDU, and Main Street Business Alliance Launch Hackensack Success Hub: Offering Free Consulting Services to Empower Local Small Businesses

Hackensack, NJ — August 12, 2024. A powerful new resource has come to Hackensack, New Jersey, designed to equip small businesses with the tools and guidance they need to thrive. The New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC), Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), and the Main Street Business Alliance (MSBA) are proud to announce the launch of the Hackensack Success Hub. This initiative provides no-cost, one-on-one expert consulting services to local small businesses, supporting them in key areas such as marketing, sales, finance, customer service, and social media.

Located at the MSBA office at 214 Main Street in Hackensack, the Hackensack Success Hub will serve as a satellite office for the NJSBDC. This strategic partnership will be a game-changer for the small business community, offering confidential, tailored guidance from experienced consultants. Additionally, FDU graduate and undergraduate students will play an active role in the program, bringing fresh perspectives as junior members of the consulting teams.

A Strategic Collaboration for Business Growth

“This partnership embodies the essence of collaboration,” said Kelly Brozyna, State Director & CEO of the NJSBDC. “By uniting the resources of FDU, the NJSBDC, federal support, and the private sector, we’re creating an unparalleled resource for the Hackensack business community. We’re very pleased to partner with the Main Street Business Alliance and are confident that this initiative will lead to greater success stories in the future.”

The Hackensack Success Hub is particularly committed to enhancing access and opportunities for all small businesses, including those that are women-owned, minority-owned,veteran-owned, and located in underserved communities. By offering free, hands-on consulting, the Hub is positioned to help businesses overcome the unique challenges they face and achieve lasting success.

John T. Peters, Executive Director of the MSBA, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “The Main Street Business Alliance is thrilled with this strategic alliance as it will benefit the small business on Main Street, all of Hackensack, and the surrounding areas. This will also benefit all the residents in the area since healthy, thriving businesses benefit everyone. Small businesses face unique hurdles as they work towards profitability, and partnering with the NJSBDC ensures that small businesses have access to professional consulting resources to position themselves for success.”

How Small Businesses Can Get Free Consulting Help

Small businesses interested in taking advantage of the free consulting services offered through the Hackensack Success Hub can visit www.downtownhackensack.org/successhub for more information and to complete a qualification form. Businesses can also email [email protected] with the subject line “Inquiry for Small Business Consulting Assistance Hackensack.” The Success Hub team will promptly follow up to confirm eligibility and schedule consultations.

On this episode of The Main Thing Show podcast, host John T. Peters is joined by guests Nancy Matthews Zwemmer and Paige Soltano, from Fairleigh Dickinson University. They talk with John about how the small business community can work with universities to get interns, develop promotional programs, and so much more.

THE MAIN THING SHOW is a video podcast guiding small businesses through the trials and tribulations of starting, running, operating, growing, and marketing their businesses. Episodes feature business owners of newly opened restaurants, bars, boutiques, tech shops, and many others. Guests also include experts in all these areas to help small businesses thrive on Main Street, USA.

John T. Peters is the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance, managing Downtown Hackensack's Special Improvement District with 375 businesses. He is also the Executive Director of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center. A serial entrepreneur since 1990, he has built and successfully sold two startups, including one international yacht cruise line and a travel technology company. John has also held senior executive roles, including President of USA Today’s Travel Media Group, and has been featured in major publications like the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, and many others. Known for his expertise in business marketing and strategic partnerships, he provides innovative guidance to businesses and startups. He authored "Marketing on Main Street - Winning Strategies to Grow Your Small Business" and was recognized as an industry “Innovator of the Year.” A frequent speaker at global conferences, John has driven numerous successful ventures and initiatives. He proudly says he knows first-hand the stress of making payroll on Fridays. Topics of the Podcast Include...

Using AI and GenAI

Strategic Partnerships

Branding

Traditional & Digital Marketing

Grants & Funding

Service Excellence

Customer service for small business is key. On this episode of The Main Thing Show podcast, host John T. Peters is joined by guest LeVar Thomas, owner of Iconic Coffee in Hackensack. LeVar talks with John about the true details of successful customer service and so much more.

THE MAIN THING SHOW is a video podcast guiding small businesses through the trials and tribulations of starting, running, operating, growing, and marketing their businesses. Episodes feature business owners of newly opened restaurants, bars, boutiques, tech shops, and many others. Guests also include experts in all these areas to help small businesses thrive on Main Street, USA.

John T. Peters is the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance, managing Downtown Hackensack's Special Improvement District with 375 businesses. He is also the Executive Director of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center. A serial entrepreneur since 1990, he has built and successfully sold two startups, including one international yacht cruise line and a travel technology company. John has also held senior executive roles, including President of USA Today’s Travel Media Group, and has been featured in major publications like the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and many others. Known for his expertise in business marketing and strategic partnerships, he provides innovative guidance to businesses and startups. He authored "Marketing on Main Street - Winning Strategies to Grow Your Small Business" and was recognized as an industry “Innovator of the Year.” A frequent speaker at global conferences, John has driven numerous successful ventures and initiatives. He proudly says he knows first-hand the stress of making payroll on Fridays. Topics of the Podcast Include...

Branding

Traditional & Digital Marketing

Strategic Partnerships

Grants & Funding

Service Excellence

Using AI and GenAI

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THE MAIN THING SHOW is a video podcast guiding small businesses through the trials and tribulations of starting, running, operating, growing, and marketing their businesses. Episodes feature business owners of newly opened restaurants, bars, boutiques, tech shops, and many others. Guests also include experts in all these areas to help small businesses thrive on Main Street, USA.

John T. Peters is the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance, managing Downtown Hackensack's Special Improvement District with 375 businesses. He is also the Executive Director of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center. A serial entrepreneur since 1990, he has built and successfully sold two startups, including one international yacht cruise line and a travel technology company. John has also held senior executive roles, including President of USA Today’s Travel Media Group, and has been featured in major publications like the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and many others. Known for his expertise in business marketing and strategic partnerships, he provides innovative guidance to businesses and startups. He authored "Marketing on Main Street - Winning Strategies to Grow Your Small Business" and was recognized as an industry “Innovator of the Year.” A frequent speaker at global conferences, John has driven numerous successful ventures and initiatives. He proudly says he knows first-hand the stress of making payroll on Fridays. Topics of the Podcast Include... Branding Traditional & Digital Marketing Strategic Partnerships Grants & Funding Service Excellence Using AI and GenAI

Welcome to The Main Thing Show Podcast! In this small business marketing episode, our host, John T. Peters, Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance and author of "Marketing on Main Street - Winning Solutions to Growing Your Small Business," sits down with Ken Lane of Hathaway and Lane. Ken is an expert data-driven marketer and business consultant. Join us as we dive deep into the world of data-driven marketing for small businesses. Learn how to leverage data to create effective marketing strategies, boost your business growth, and gain a competitive edge in the market.

🔍 In this episode, you will learn: - The importance of data in modern marketing - Practical tips for small businesses to use data effectively - Case studies and real-life examples of successful data-driven marketing - Tools and techniques for analyzing and interpreting marketing data

📖 About Our Host: John T. Peters is a seasoned entrepreneur, business consultant, and senior executive in travel, media, and travel technology. He is the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance in Hackensack, NJ, and the Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC). John is also the author of "Marketing on Main Street - Winning Solutions to Growing Your Small Business," a comprehensive guide for small business owners looking to enhance their marketing efforts.

👨‍💼 About Our Guest: Ken Lane is a partner at Hathaway and Lane, specializing in data-driven marketing and business consulting. With years of experience in the field, Ken helps businesses of all sizes harness the power of data to make informed decisions and drive growth.

🎥 Watch the full episode here: [ • Data-Driven Marketing for Small Busin... ]( • Data-Driven Marketing for Small Busin... )

📌 Don't forget to: - Like this video if you found it helpful - Subscribe to our channel for more insightful episodes - Share this episode with fellow business owners and marketers

🔔 Follow us on social media: - Instagram: @johntpeters - Instagram: @downtownhackensack - LinkedIn: / johntpeters - LinkedIn: / downtown-hackensack

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On this episode of The Main Thing Show podcast, host John T. Peters is joined by guest Roberto Cartagena from Sunmed in Hackensack. John watched Roberto and his fiance Toni do some incredible things to promote their business even BEFORE they opened. Roberto talks with John about making friends, embedding yourself in the community, partnerships, and so much more.

THE MAIN THING SHOW is a video podcast guiding small businesses through the trials and tribulations of starting, running, operating, growing, and marketing their businesses. Episodes feature business owners of newly opened restaurants, bars, boutiques, tech shops, and many others. Guests also include experts in all these areas to help small businesses thrive on Main Street, USA. John T. Peters is the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance, managing Downtown Hackensack's Special Improvement District with 375 businesses. He is also the Executive Director of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center. A serial entrepreneur since 1990, he has built and successfully sold two startups, including one international yacht cruise line and a travel technology company. John has also held senior executive roles, including President of USA Today’s Travel Media Group, and has been featured in major publications like the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and many others.

Known for his expertise in business marketing and strategic partnerships, he provides innovative guidance to businesses and startups. He authored "Marketing on Main Street - Winning Strategies to Grow Your Small Business" and was recognized as an industry “Innovator of the Year.” A frequent speaker at global conferences, John has driven numerous successful ventures and initiatives. He proudly says he knows first-hand the stress of making payroll on Fridays. Topics of the Podcast Include... Branding Traditional & Digital Marketing Strategic Partnerships Grants & Funding Service Excellence Using AI and GenAI

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THE MAIN THING SHOW is a video podcast guiding small businesses through the trials and tribulations of starting, running, operating, growing, and marketing their businesses. Episodes feature business owners of newly opened restaurants, bars, boutiques, tech shops, and many others. Guests also include experts in all these areas to help small businesses thrive on Main Street, USA. John T. Peters is the Executive Director of the Main Street Business Alliance, managing Downtown Hackensack's Special Improvement District with 375 businesses. He is also the Executive Director of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center. A serial entrepreneur since 1990, he has built and successfully sold two startups, including one international yacht cruise line and a travel technology company. John has also held senior executive roles, including President of USA Today’s Travel Media Group, and has been featured in major publications like the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal and many others.

Known for his expertise in business marketing and strategic partnerships, he provides innovative guidance to businesses and startups. He authored "Marketing on Main Street - Winning Strategies to Grow Your Small Business" and was recognized as an industry “Innovator of the Year.” A frequent speaker at global conferences, John has driven numerous successful ventures and initiatives. He proudly says he knows first-hand the stress of making payroll on Fridays. Topics of the Podcast Include... Branding Traditional & Digital Marketing Strategic Partnerships Grants & Funding Service Excellence Using AI and GenAI