SCORE and Sam’s Club’s American Small Business Championship

 Heard about the American Small Business Championship? Hosted by Sam’s Club and SCORE, it awards small business owners for their sacrifices & dedication to their business. The Championship launched on Jan. 12 & winners were announced on Feb. 24. With 102 winners from 47 states, each winner received a $1,000 Sam’s Club gift card, expense-paid attendance at a regional Championship Celebration and Symposium, SCORE mentoring for one year and significant national publicity.

Don’t know what SCORE is? They’re a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 10 million aspiring entrepreneurs. And Sam’s Club? Sam’s Club works to connect small business owners with the training, resources and capital they need to grow and succeed. Invest in programs that connect existing small business owners – especially women, minorities and veterans.

Meet several champions. They know what it takes to work smarter and market their small businesses the right way.

Veronica Jacobsen, Owner of Baby Love :: Baby Love is an independent childbirth education center where the focus is on education and support. It’s reinventing childbirth education, creating a happy balance between the consistency and affordability of hospital classes and the flexibility and excellence of independent classes, all in a warm and inviting space that’s only ours. In the last year, Baby Love expanded twice to larger building spaces and Veronica’s goal is to continue expansion in community. Her challenge as a business owner? To ensure that customer service is perfect every single time, since customer interaction is at a sensitive time for parents. Since becoming a champion, she’s energized in order to move forward with business.

Tabitha Birdsong, Co-owner of Miss Birdsong’s Sweet Tooth :: Miss Birdsong’s Sweet Tooth was created as a partnership between Tabitha Birdsong and Pamela Collins, two college friends who both share a love for sweets. They began their business in Memphis, TN, and now ship their delicious candy apples across the United States. They make candy apples as party favors for numerous birthday parties, weddings, festivals, fundraisers and much more. Their challenges? Maintaining working capital and cash flow. Since becoming a champion, they’ve taken steps such as budgeting and working on consistency and details.

There are three more regional training programs coming up! You can go to www.championship.score.org to find out when and where those are. Sam’s Club is such a great partner alongside SCORE; they’re here to help you grow your business, too.