Findings from a new study by the Kauffman Foundation on the Entrepreneurship Gender Gap reveal women only account for roughly one third of all new business launches.  Women entrepreneurs are also falling behind men when it comes to revenue generation.  Less than two percent of female-led small businesses have revenue exceeding $1 million.  In contrast, more than six percent of male-led firms reported revenue of over $1 million.

Keeping this data in mind, ForbesWoman decided to compile its first annual list of the top 20 cities for women in business.  Criteria that were taken into consideration when compiling the list included:

• What cities have seen the biggest growth in the number of female-led firm in recent years
• Where are the most SBA-backed loans going
• Where are women turning the SBA loans into million-dollar profits

At the top of the list were New York and San Francisco.  The study showed women have an easier time finding the funding and resources that can ultimately make their businesses succeed quicker.  Cities that also made the list include:  Tampa, Fla., Bethesda, Md. and Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, November 10, from 5-7 pm, channel your inner queen for a PRISCILLA: Queen of the Desert experience.  Interact with top Broadway Make-Up Artists to learn how the fabulous looks from PRISCILLA are created, join in a karaoke contest of your favorite pop tunes and mingle with cast members from the hit musical.

On Thursday, December 1, from 5-7 pm, get transported to the 60s with hit music and cast members from Jersey Boys. Sing and dance to such songs as “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and interact with the cast of the hit musical.

For details about the Karaoke with Broadway Stars, email info@studentslive.net.

Pulse Karaoke also offers a happy hour open bar every day from 6-7 pm for groups of 30 or more and 2 for 1 drinks every day from 6-8 pm for everyone else.

You need to call for reservations, so pick of the phone and dial 212-278-0090. Additional questions? Click here.

Researchers at Ohio State University and the National Institute of Mental Health studied white-collar workers at a government facility in the central U.S. and found varying levels of stress for workers who were placed in different environments.  After one year, the scientists found that individuals assigned to work in the older office building, rather than the newer renovated space, were significantly more stressed even when they weren’t at work.

Alternatively, a carefully planned, well-equipped workspace does help people focus and can encourage creativity.

At some point, businesses will go through the process of securing office space.  Here are some things to consider before signing a new agreement:

• Location:  What does the address say about your business?
• The building:  Does it enhance your image?
• Space:  Does the layout work for your business?  Can it be adapted as needs change.

Choosing the right office space is not a decision that should be taken lightly.  “Getting the right office space is so important because your business will have to live with it for the life of a lease,” says Paul Kelly, head of marketing for Morgan Lovell, a UK-based company that does office build outs and design.

Today’s businesses are dealing with so much uncertainty that a solid office plan will give them the competitive edge they need.

Save money with optimal space.

As budget battles rage on in Washington, D.C., The Treasury Department is doing its part to reduce its overhead expenses and improve the efficiency of their office space – finally.

To save money, workspace sizes are being trimmed.  In fact, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Dan Tangherlini relinquished his 700-square-foot corner office and is now working in a 100-square-foot workspace.

The average space per person is now 167 square feet down from 191 square feet.  The department says this reduction saved nearly $1.9 million annually in additional leased space costs.  The government is taking the right steps to improve workspace efficiencies, but the fact remains the traditional office model isn’t ideal for most businesses and government agencies.

The article also says while headcount is up at Treasury, a growing number of employees are telecommuting or are not in the office on a full time basis.  This point drives home one of biggest problems with traditional office space.  It is too rigid to accommodate today’s evolving work styles and space is often under utilized by workers.

What’s more important today than the large corner office is making sure workers have an environment that is productive, flexible and efficient.

The finding of the burial ground deeply impacted the descendant and broader community and, at the same time renewed awareness in cultural significance and historic preservation. In February 2006, the site, located at the corners of Duane and Elk Streets in lower Manhattan, was designated a National Monument known as The African Burial Ground.

The National Monument features a distinctive memorial that commemorates and communicates the story of the African Burial Ground – the single-most important, historic urban archaeological project undertaken in the United States.

The memorial is free to view and is open Monday through Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Get to know your City’s and your Country’s history and take a walk over to see The African Burial Ground. For more information, call (212)637-2019.

Looking for more space and flexibility in New York? Call OfficeLinks!

As history would point out, New York law firms have traditionally preferred East Side business addresses.  But that is now changing.  Manhattan-based firms are looking for office space that can accommodate their needs and are moving within the city to find the right environment.  Recent real estate deals suggest all areas of the city, especially the West Side, are up for consideration.

A New York Times article tracked the transactions of New York-based firms and found that since the beginning of last year, more than a dozen have crossed Fifth Avenue and have ventured as far west as Eighth Avenue.

In 2010, space occupied by firms west of Fifth Avenue grew by 3.1 million square feet.  Cushman & Wakefield numbers reveal that law firms occupied 10.3 million square feet in 2010.  A lot of this square footage is occupied along Sixth Avenue.

Like any other business, law firms are looking for cost savings and more flexibility.  In addition, their need for a neutral and confidential environment makes the availability of appropriate meeting space a top concern.

The rationale for moving to the West Side varies from firm to firm.  However, brokers in the market cite upgraded buildings, greener buildings and improved operational efficiencies as the top reasons firms are looking in this area.

21^st Century businesses are in need of office space that is modern, adaptable and efficient – and this shift confirms it.

A special (FREE!) resourse to businesses right here in NYC!

A free science, industry and business resource right here in NYC, less than a mile from OfficeLinks’ Grand Central West office location?  Could it be?  Yes, it could, and we’re going to tell you all about it!

Science, Industry and Business Library (or the SIBL as some of us New York bookworms may know it), located 188 Madison Avenue @ 34th Street, is a premier public business library with comprehensive print materials, e-resources, and services for start-ups and established businesses seeking expansion, and for job seekers from entry to executive levels. What’s more is that library staff provide roving assistance and consultations, and advisory services are offered on-site by experienced business owners, career coaches, and a financial specialist.

Want to get acquainted?  We recommend you do.  Take advantage of a free one-hour tour, offered Thursdays at 2 p.m. Just meet the tour group at the Reception Desk on the Street Level.

Just want to jump right in?  SIBL offers tons of free programs, including MS Word for Beginners at 3:15 pm on July 15, Book Discussion Group at 1 pm on Monday, July 18, We Got Jobs! Secrets of 5 Just Landed Job Seekers at 6 pm on Wednesday, July 20, Rapid Fire Tech & Business Bootcamp at 3:30 pm on Thursday, July 21, and Researching the 5 Ps of Your Marketing Plan: Product, People, Price, Plan, Promotion on Monday, July 25 at 3:15 pm.  There’s a ton of other free programs – check them out.

SIBL is open Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am – 6 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 am – 8 pm. SIBL is closed on Sundays. For information, call ASKNYPL (917-275-6975) or click here.

Get Dancin' on Saturday Mornings at Bryant Park - for FREE!

Every Saturday through September 10, you are invited to experience the joy of movement and dance on Bryant Park’s Lawn – for free.  The classes, held from 11 am to 12 pm just a block from OfficeLinks’ Bryant Park office space, are led by former and current members of the internationally renowned modern dance company, Limon Dance.  The classes are open to all levels of dance and all ages.

What kind of dancing will you be doing?  Modern dance. Limon Dance was founded in 1946 by Jose Limón, a crucial figure in the development of modern dance, and his teacher and mentor, Doris Humphrey, one of the founders of American modern dance.  Now led by Carla Maxwell, who worked closely with Limón before becoming Artistic Director in 1978, Limon Dance creates unique experiences for audiences around the world.

Get movin’ this summer at Bryant Park’s Free Dance Classes with Limon Dance.

Less than 1 mile from OfficeLinks' Chelsea office space, Chelsea Wine Vault offers various libation classes.

Less than 1 mile from OfficeLinks’ Chelsea office space is Chelsea Market, a fantastic local hub for everything you need, including Chelsea Wine Vault (specifically located at 75 Ninth Avenue at 16th Street).

June 2, 6:30-8 pm, you can enjoy a Wine and Cheese Pairing Class at Chelsea Wine Vault.  Enjoy and learn about the decadence of pairing wine with artisanal cheese. For this class, Chelsea Wine Vault will partner with Chelsea Market neighbor, Lucy’s Whey, purveyors of handmade cheeses from across the country. Tickets are $75 and can be bought by clicking here.

Wine and cheese not your thing?  Chelsea Wine Vault will host a Cider Class with Farnum Hill Cider on June 8, 6:30 to 8 pm. Summer is a great time to reach for a sparkling apple cider when celebrating. These carefully crafted ciders are truly more like wine made with a different fruit. Tickets are $35 and can be bought by clicking here.

With this local jewel offering fun classes and being literally steps from OfficeLinks’ Chelsea office space, what’s stopping you?

Brigitte Baron give insight into the importance of brand stories.

Does your brand have a story?  What does it tell your customers?  Is it telling a story you want heard?

The questions keep buzzing around my head after a recent conversation with Brigitte Baron, the New York Office Manager for Totem Brand Stories, an OfficeLinks client located in our Bryant Park, New York office and internationally awarded creative agency that originates branded content and custom-media programs for clients.

Totem creates branded content and custom-media programs by combining journalism and marketing talent to build meaningful customer relationships and drive clients’ business objectives. Totem’s North American client roster includes Procter & Gamble, The Home Depot, Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), Frito-Lay, Sears, Sobeys, The Principal Financial Group, Rexall, Mazda International, Aeroplan Group, Bank of America and more.

In speaking with Ms. Baron, I learned that telling a brand’s story has much to do with commanding the customers’ attention and building brand community.   Telling great brand stories starts by gaining an intimate understand of a brand and the customer. This, according to Ms. Baron, is where Totem shines. Totem’s team will sit down and talk with clients, finding out what the company’s goals are, what their initiatives are, what they are trying to accomplish, and then finding media solutions based on their priorities. And from there, they use the discipline of journalism and the creativity of storytelling to create a brand story.

How do you create a story?  Ms. Baron walked me through Totem’s strategy and process: Totem develops the “story” that is the consumer’s true brand experience by exploring and mapping out all of a customer’s touch points.  They develop a communication blueprint that involves identifying and tracing customers through their entire life cycle, from initial inspiration to post-purchase phases. Totem ensures that all creative and messaging – across all customer touch points – are grounded in business objectives. They plan content that maximizes consumer engagement with the brand and drives business objectives. Totem delivers media and advertising services and solutions to reach engaged, high-value brand communities – and this includes keeping a close eye on what’s happening with mobile apps, table media and digital solutions.

And this is imperative to business looking to thrive because connecting with consumers will keep them advocating for the brand – even after their purchase.

In the words bright and bold on Totem’s website: “Great brand stories are not merely written.  They are crafted.”  How well is yours crafted?

For more information about how Totem can help your brand story, and to view its portfolio, click here.