U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Homeownership Month on June 1. As part of this nationwide celebration, USDA is highlighting programs that help people in rural, Tribal, and underserved areas buy, build, and repair affordable homes and to pay their rent in America’s smallest towns and communities. Expanding opportunities for homeownership … Read more
Read this week’s Let’s Talk Business column in The Emporia Gazette. Social media is currently the number one channel used by marketers to attract new customers and engage with existing audiences. With each app’s unique intended functionality and use, business owners handling their organization’s social media need to understand how engagement differs by platform. On … Read more
Business owners, large and small, make hundreds of decisions every single week. How many of those decisions, though, are backed by hard data? Monthly reports like balance sheets and cash flow statements enable businesspeople to make data-driven decisions regarding growth and scale. A sometimes-overlooked report that should be consulted is customer loyalty. Customer loyalty is … Read more
It’s a touchy subject: price increases. Rising costs stemming from inflation, supply chain shortages, wage increases, or the cost of raw materials are forcing many businesses to raise prices. The way a price increase is communicated can make all the difference in how customers react. How do you determine if a price increase is necessary? … Read more
Childcare is a critical component of alleviating the worker shortage crisis. Childcare is also one of the key components of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce Ignite Emporia platform. Following are four things employers can do right now to help their employees access childcare, as well as information on relevant tax credits and benefits options. … Read more
Read this week’s Let’s Talk Business column in The Emporia Gazette. Today’s remote-first work climate supports entrepreneurs who want to start a business and work from home. Following are some options for startup businesses that don’t require physical office or warehouse space. Content creation services. Every business with an online presence–and that’s most businesses today–needs … Read more
Everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A succinct summation for the Earth Day 2022 theme of “Invest in Our Planet”. Earth Day 2022, on April 22, is focused on accelerating solutions to combat our greatest threat, climate change, and to activate businesses, citizens, and governments to do their part. Every year, EarthDay.org coordinates worldwide events … Read more
Is it time for a raise? Considering the current labor shortage, business owners naturally think about boosting pay in order to retain their best employees. But not so fast: before you start handing out raises, step back. It’s best to ensure you are assessing worker performance properly and distributing increases fairly. The first step is … Read more
There are plenty of affordable marketing tools and resources that can help build awareness of your business. But as your customers move through the sales funnel, it takes a little more effort–and a solid sales strategy–to close the final purchase. Integrating a sales strategy as you grow your business can help ensure you’re building strong … Read more
The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a new partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) and Chamber of Commerce Executives of Kansas (CCEKS). This partnership stitches together about 35 other local Chambers of Commerce across Kansas to offer an Association Health Plan called Chamber Blue of Kansas. The Emporia … Read more