THE CLOUD! ITS BIG EFFECT ON SMALL
BUSINESSES!
~ Winners in Ready
For Work Contest Receive Year-Long Subscription to Office
365, $50,000 in Advertising and Business Services, and
a Microsoft Executive for a Day Who Will Work at the
Winner’s Business or Charity of Choice ~
September 2011
(Redmond, WA) - What do a
customized wheelchair, an all-natural bar of soap, and
a calming yoga class for kids all have in common? These
innovative products and services are all delivered by
small businesses, to the delight of each company’s devoted
and growing customer base. Each of these small businesses
also happens to be one of the finalists in the Microsoft
Office 365: Ready for Work Contest. The owners have
several striking traits in common, including a passion
for their work, a strong desire to help people, and
a deep resolve to approach challenges with unique products
and services.
Selected from a pool of hundreds
of applicants who entered the contest April 18 through
June 18, the winners shared their small business stories
on Microsoft’s Office 365 Facebook page. They described
their aspirations and challenges, including the desire
to grow their business, make a difference in the lives
of others, and to use technology to communicate better
with employees, customers and business partners, while
balancing family life and hectic work schedules.
Winners include: Imagination
Yoga in Portland, OR where their mission is to inspire
kids to MOVE!; Independence on Wheels of Tennessee which
specializes in custom wheel chairs; Naturally Me in
Durham, NC which manufactures natural, vegan-certified
products for body, home and pets; and Showcase Magazine
in Danville, VA which is a FREE public magazine that
highlights the local area.
The winners receive Microsoft
Office 365 free for a year for up to 25 employees, to
help them transform the way they work. In addition,
the winners will each receive $50,000 USD in advertising
and business services, and a Microsoft executive for
a day – who will work at the winner’s business or charity
of choice. Until now, only large businesses were able
to take advantage of modern, enterprise-caliber IT solutions.
Each winner has a technology hurdle that Office 365
can help address allowing them to stay on the “same
page” with their employees and customers, using instant
messaging and virtual meetings with colleagues who are
just down the hall or across the world.
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