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Read this week’s Let’s Talk Business column in The Emporia Gazette. Did you know that researchers now say there are five distinct kinds of workdays? A person’s productivity depends on which kind of day they’re having: ideal, toxic, disengaged, typical, or crisis days. The knowledge of what kind of day you or your employees are…
Read this week’s Let’s Talk Business column in The Emporia Gazette. Here in the United States, we are preparing to celebrate Independence Day this weekend on July 4. Now is a good time to reflect on what independence means, both individually and collectively in America. The Boston Tea Party, a political protest led by American…
The right tech tools can help any business operate more efficiently, but the costs can quickly add up. Here are six small business tech tools that offer free plans for small businesses. Slack is one of the best internal communication apps for small businesses. It allows you to communicate with your employees without getting caught…
Read this week’s column in The Emporia Gazette here. Proud to be an LGBTQ entrepreneur? Since June is Pride Month, it’s a great time to remind LGBTQ business owners that there are certifications and resources specifically designed for them. There are 1.4 million LGBTQ-owned businesses in the United States, and these companies bring in an…
Read this week’s Let’s Talk Business column in The Emporia Gazette. The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce is participating in a new association healthcare program that will help local businesses of all sizes potentially lower their health insurance costs. Chamber Blue of Kansas takes the buying power of more than 37 Chambers throughout the state…
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 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…
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…
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?…
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.…