Blog Posts

If you think of the holiday season as just Thanksgiving and Christmas, you could be missing out.

Experts estimate that most small retail businesses earn about 20% of their annual sales in December and even more if you factor in November as well. While Christmas has been the front runner in most people’s minds for decades, there’s now a lot more mainstream celebrating occurring in the last quarter of the year, and your business should be a part of it.

Inexpensive Sensory-friendly ideas for the holiday season

The holiday season can be overwhelming with the twinkling lights, music, and crowds under the best of circumstances. For about 16.5% of the US population, overstimulation can be torturous. Over the last decade, sensory-sensitivity condition diagnoses, such as autism, have increased. Taking this into consideration when preparing your business for the holiday season can make a huge difference in many lives. It doesn't require a huge monetary investment to make the shift in your small business either.

Do you find yourself wondering how you’re going to compete with larger, national stores with big marketing budgets and attractive loss leaders that bring in a crowd?

How will you capture the attention of local shoppers, dinner, or service users? Well, we’re here to equip you with a set of insightful questions to ask yourself, your employees, and your customers for big returns this holiday. By embracing these questions, you will not only position your business for the holiday rush (and revenue!) but also foster a stronger connection with your local audience.

According to the Wall Street Journal, sales could increase as much as 40% for stores that are welcoming and encourage relaxation and invitations to "stay a while."

It's the perfect time to capitalize on the festive spirit to attract customers and boost sales. As a small business you also want to invite people to linger, especially if you’re in retail. According to the Wall Street Journal, sales could increase as much as 40% for stores that are welcoming and encourage relaxation and invitations to “stay a while.” Holiday decorations and photo ops are great ways to do this.

Princeton Auto Parke wants you and your family to stay safe on the roads this winter. By following these tips and advice, you’ll be ready for winter driving. And don’t forget: Ice and Snow, Take it Slow!

Let’s explore the most common fears for business owners and the strategies for addressing them.

Starting and managing a business is no small feat. While you may feel empowered to start a business or work for yourself, it can be daunting. You may be facing a myriad of fears and uncertainties. Unfortunately, there’s no magical time that they go away. So, let’s explore the most common fears for business owners and the strategies for addressing them. One solution that can significantly ease these concerns is by working with the Chamber.

Delving into the concept of experiential selling to capture the attention and loyalty of your audience.

As costs rise and drive up the costs of goods, your customers are looking for value. Providing quality products or services is no longer enough. To truly stand out and succeed, you need to deliver unforgettable, engaging, and emotionally resonating experiences to your customers. This shift toward experiential selling has become increasingly vital, particularly in crowded and competitive niches.

What is Niche Marketing?

Do you have a limited marketing budget? Do you think what you can accomplish with your budget is less than ideal because you don’t have the money of a large company? While that may seem true, there is one thing you can do to really move the dial and maximize your small marketing budget.

Are you getting as much engagement from posts as you desire?

If not, it could be that you are missing one or more of these critical steps. Your business's social media pages are a major asset that needs to be maximized for engagement. These tips will help you get the engagement you are looking for.

With this Smart Content Marketing Tip

Content marketing has been around for a while now. It began when search engines like Google started ranking sites by—among other things—the quality of the content as perceived by the audience. This caused many marketers to increase the quality of their content.

Small mom & pop businesses with field workers stand to gain much more with Teams and Microsoft 365 than do larger organizations, and they can get that improvement in hours or days.

A Chamber Membership Is Worth a Lot More Than That.

When I speak to small businesses about the chamber, the businesses that have let their memberships lapse often make it sound like a gym membership. “I didn’t really use it.” What they’re missing when they make comments like that is the behind-the-scenes benefits of chamber membership. Just as your investment grows in a savings account in a bank, your business investment in chamber membership is growing even when you aren’t actively participating. Here’s what you’re getting that you may not even realize:

Ever notice how some offers are irresistible?

Ever notice how some offers are irresistible? You didn’t even know you needed the product or service. Then you saw the offer, and BANG!, you’re whipping out your credit card. This isn’t by accident. Someone down the line carefully created the offer that caused you to act with wild abandon. And you can do it too for your business. It just takes a little forethought.

Is Chamber Membership Worth it?

Have you ever attended a chamber event? If you’re not a member, you’re missing out. Before you think you don’t have the time to attend events, it’s important you know chamber life is not just mixers and ribbon cuttings. Chamber membership is one of the best-kept secrets for free or nearly free business resources like webinars, lunch & learns, and written collateral. Plus, a whole lot more. Chamber membership is one of the best business investments you can make for the money and return.

Like fire, Microsoft 365 is an awesome servant but a terrible master. Learn how to use 365 properly and you’ll have a business that is head and shoulders above the competition. Use it poorly, and you can seriously hurt your business.

You heard me right!

In the bustling world of small business, as entrepreneurs and professionals, we often find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of routines, habits, and attachments that no longer serve our growth, personally or professionally. In the pursuit of success, we accumulate emotional baggage, physical clutter, mental burdens, and antiquated processes that hinder us from experiencing the success we truly desire.

A Cheap & Easy Way to Improve Your Branding

Have you ever heard the phrase, "You are the company you keep?" It has good and bad ramifications, doesn't it? It's often applied to young people and their friends. But did you know this "Halo Effect" influences customers as well? And you could be using it in your business for amazing results.

Do you think of LinkedIn as something to be used solely by job seekers?

While the world's largest professional network is widely recognized as a platform for job seekers and recruiters to connect, that’s not all it can do. Its potential goes far beyond job hunting. For savvy business owners and professionals, LinkedIn offers a treasure trove of opportunities to find customers, strengthen their brand, and expand their network.

If you’re on Instagram, the answer is probably. And it’s easy to do.

Facebook err…Meta does it again. We have yet another social media platform to consider. Usually when advising businesses on whether they should participate on a social media platform, I ask them who their ideal client is and then we go by demographics. If your ideal customer is on the platform, go for it. If not, skip it—unless you just really enjoy being overextended in your posts and social media attention. But threads isn’t exactly a new platform. Well, it is technically. But if you have Instagram, it feels more like

Why is Shiny Bad for Business?

Have you ever seen the movie Up? In it, there’s a scene where a talking dog (he has a collar that translates his thoughts) is explaining his voice, only to be derailed by the passing of a squirrel. You may know this example as “shiny object syndrome.” Whatever you call it, it’s becoming a big problem for businesses and entrepreneurs. Here’s why and what you can do about it if it’s interfering with your success.

NFIB Small Business Optimism Index May Result Highlights

Recently, the May NFIB Small Business Optimism Index results came out. While thy were certainly not surprising, if you're feeling concerned about your business, you're not alone. Seeing what others are struggling with (and what they're doing in the face of these struggles) can be helpful.

How Business Owners Can Standout at Networking Events

"There is no one alive more youer than you" Dr. Seuss

Why is a Growth Mindset Important?

Why is a Growth Mindset Important? (Hint: over 50% of business professionals across all industries are succumbing to it)

If you’re looking to market specifically to seniors and other older demographics, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

It’s predicted that by 2040, 80.8 million residents of the US will be over the age of 65 (currently, we’re at 47 million). That’s more than double the number in 2000. With more people staying active longer, they’re more apt to make their own buying decisions. Many seniors are working longer. In some cases, this means more disposable income. Here are a few things you can do to be more appealing to an older demographic.

Are you Ready?

Changing your SEO Strategy to Meet the New World

Why small companies should get involved in workforce development

Access to a skilled workforce Enhanced competitiveness Talent retention & attraction Building stronger networks