Do you love your job but hate your boss? Is your organization doing great things, but you feel like you’re just a cog in the machine? Maybe you don’t care either way what your day-to-day entrails, as long as you can continue to work with the people around you. We all have a reason we get up and go to work every day. And yes, a paycheck may be one of those reasons, but as renowned leadership expert Pete Blank shared on October 12, we continue to go to work because of at least one of four reasons: our job, our organization, our boss, or our squad. Pete encouraged attendees to consider why their team comes to work every day, and how to make all four reasons relevant. This was the second Signature Event in our annual Pursuit of Excellence Series, a program the Chamber developed and brought to life in 2019 as a way for business owners and managers to learn – or brush up on – the basics of business. In just one hour every month, attendees hear from an industry expert on a topic relevant to their business: everything from financial statements to business insurance to social media strategy.
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Starting with 3 machines and a small tool shop, IEG Plastics was founded in 2004 with a vision to supply customers with high quality plastic injection molds. Initially, the company started supplying customers with plastic injection molds that were built offshore and then brought back to the United States for production. In addition, IEG chrome plated parts out of Korea, China and Taiwan. This practice gave the company a chance to diversify their services and ultimately open their Bellefontaine injection molding facility in 2015, located at 223 Lock and Load Drive. This was done in an effort to re-shore work and to better support their customer base. Selecting the Bellefontaine location was a strategic decision for IEG. After sitting down with community leaders and discussing many options, the local support and the promising manufacturing labor pool made Logan County a favorable choice for the company. Jim Moore, Owner, boasts about what a great team and staff he is privileged to have. This can be attributed to the fact that the team “lives and dies by their core values.” Those core values are: Positive Thinking is Powerful Thinking; Lock & Load; Individual Commitment to the Group Effect; Do the Right Thing; Aim for the Highest Peak. IEG’s experienced team of professionals operates on the Traction Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). This EOS is built around accountability, both to the team members at IEG and to their customers. Using the tools and key components of Traction (Vision, Data, Process, Traction, Issues & People) fuels IEG’s business approach of providing customers with top notch service, impeccable quality, and unparalleled partnership with clients.
Not only does the IEG team strive to exceed expectations in their business, but they also focus on being positive community members. They actively share their time and talents in support of causes to help improve and bring measurable change to the community. IEG has been a Chamber member since shortly after opening their Bellefontaine location. They believe their Chamber membership is beneficial in many ways, but especially in the areas of networking and keeping up to date on what’s happening around Logan County. This greatly affects the company, as IEG thrives on word of mouth.
The continuous success and expansion also brings along the need for more employees. IEG Plastics is currently hiring for Production Associates, as well as a Process Technician, Process Engineer and Tool Room Associate. You can find more information on their website: https://ieg-llc.com/career/, where you can also find their core values and some key descriptions of a quality employee. You can find more information about IEG products on their website, as well as on Facebook.
Please join us in congratulating IEG Plastics on being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce October 2023 Business of the Month! Congratulations to Lutheran Community Services on their ribbon cutting and grand opening of their new building at 820 W. Sandusky Ave., Bellefontaine! This beautiful building was built by Link Construction and now holds the Thrift Store, Our Daily Bread (serving lunch & dinner) and Bridges Community Action. The Chamber and community celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon cutting on September 21. You can find more information on their website: https://www.becomebettertogether.org/
2. Loyalty Programs and Referral Incentives
Rewarding your existing customers for their loyalty can drive repeat business and customer retention. Implement a loyalty program that offers discounts, exclusive offers, or even free products/services to customers who make repeat purchases. Additionally, create referral incentives where customers receive rewards for referring new clients to your business. This word-of-mouth marketing can significantly expand your customer base. 3. Limited-Time Offers Create a sense of urgency and excitement with limited-time offers. Whether it's a flash sale, a seasonal discount, or a special promotion tied to a specific event, these time-sensitive deals can encourage potential customers to make a purchase sooner rather than later. Make sure to effectively communicate the urgency through your marketing materials. 4. Collaborations and Partnerships Teaming up with complementary businesses can be a win-win situation for all parties involved. Collaborations and partnerships can expose your business to new audiences and broaden your reach. 5. Email Marketing Campaigns Email marketing is far from obsolete. Building an email list of interested customers gives you a direct line of communication. Send out regular newsletters with updates, promotions, and valuable content. Personalization is key – tailor your emails to individual preferences for better engagement. Promoting a small business requires creativity, consistency, and a strategic approach. By mastering the art of content marketing, loyalty programs, limited-time offers, collaborations, and email campaigns, you can effectively reach your target audience, build a loyal customer base, and ultimately drive your small business toward lasting success. Remember, the best strategy may vary depending on your industry and target audience, so don't hesitate to experiment and refine your approach based on what works best for your unique business.
2. Leverage the Power of SEO:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a powerful tool to increase your website's visibility on search engines. Conduct keyword research to understand what terms potential customers are using to find products like yours. Incorporate these keywords into your product descriptions, meta titles, and headings to improve your chances of appearing in search results. 3. Implement a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Every page on your website should have a clear and compelling call-to-action. Whether it's "Shop Now," "Add to Cart," or "Subscribe," a well-placed CTA guides visitors toward making a purchase or taking the desired action. 5. Offer Special Promotions: Everyone loves a good deal. Implementing special promotions, such as discounts, buy-one-get-one offers, or limited-time sales, can create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to make a purchase sooner rather than later. 6. Leverage Social Media: Social media platforms offer a valuable opportunity to connect with your target audience and showcase your products. Regularly post engaging content, including product highlights, behind-the-scenes looks, customer testimonials, and educational posts related to your industry. 7. Utilize Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested customers and regularly send out newsletters, product updates, and exclusive offers. Personalize your emails to cater to each customer's preferences and shopping behavior. 8. Invest in Paid Advertising: Consider using paid advertising channels such as Google Ads or social media ads to target potential customers based on demographics, interests, and online behavior. These platforms offer advanced targeting options to reach your ideal audience. 9. Implement Abandoned Cart Recovery: Many online shoppers abandon their carts before completing a purchase. Implement an abandoned cart recovery strategy by sending follow-up emails to remind customers about the items they left behind and offering incentives to complete their purchase. Increasing online sales requires a combination of strategic planning, consistent effort, and a deep understanding of your target audience. By implementing these strategies and adapting to changing market dynamics, you can drive meaningful growth and establish a strong online presence for your business.
With a clearer understanding of your business's strengths and weaknesses, consider refining your strategy. Are there new markets to tap into? Could you expand your product or service offerings? Use this period to brainstorm and plan for growth.
2. Invest in Training and Development: Enhance the skills of your team members during the slow season. Offer training sessions, workshops, or online courses that can help them become more proficient in their roles. This investment not only improves your team's capabilities but also boosts morale and job satisfaction. 3. Update Your Marketing Materials: Revamp your marketing materials, both digital and physical. Update your website, refresh your social media profiles, create new content, and brainstorm innovative marketing campaigns. such as blog posts or videos. Consider offering special promotions, discounts, or loyalty programs that can attract new customers and incentivize repeat business. These efforts can help maintain your brand's relevance and visibility, even during slower periods. 4. Conduct Research and Development: Use this time to explore new product or service ideas. Gather feedback from your team and customers, and begin prototyping or planning for future launches. Innovation can set your business apart and generate excitement. 5. Perform a Financial Checkup: Review your financial statements, budgets, and projections. Identify areas where you can cut costs, allocate resources more effectively, or invest in growth opportunities. 6. Take Care of Yourself: Lastly, don't forget about your own well-being. The slow season can be stressful, but it's also a chance to recharge. Use the extra time to focus on your health, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones. A business's slow season doesn't have to be a period of stagnation. It can be transformed into an opportunity for growth, innovation, and preparation for busier times ahead. By strategically investing your time and resources, you can position your business for success and come out stronger on the other side.
To surpass your competition, you must first understand them. Conduct thorough competitor research to identify their strengths, weaknesses, marketing strategies, and product offerings. Analyze their online presence, customer reviews, and social media engagements. This knowledge will help you position your brand strategically and capitalize on gaps in the market.
2. Differentiate Your Brand: Discover what makes your brand unique and emphasize it in your marketing efforts. Whether it's superior customer service, innovative technology, or a distinctive brand personality, highlight these aspects to set your business apart from competitors. Differentiation builds a strong brand identity and fosters customer loyalty. 3. Prioritize Innovation: Continuously innovate your products or services to meet evolving customer needs and preferences. Stay updated with industry trends and incorporate cutting-edge technologies to offer a competitive advantage. Customers are drawn to businesses that consistently provide fresh and inventive solutions. 4. Deliver Exceptional Customer Experience: Exceeding customer expectations is a powerful way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Focus on delivering personalized experiences, addressing customer pain points, and promptly resolving issues. A satisfied customer is more likely to become a loyal advocate for your brand, positively impacting your reputation. 5. Embrace Digital Marketing: Digital marketing is a cost-effective and far-reaching way to connect with your target audience. Leverage social media, content marketing, email campaigns, and search engine optimization to increase brand visibility and engagement. Utilize data analytics to refine your strategies for maximum impact. 6. Foster a High-Performance Culture: Your employees play a pivotal role in gaining a competitive edge. Create a positive and inclusive work environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and professional growth. Invest in training and development to equip your team with the skills needed to outperform competitors. 7. Monitor Industry Trends: Stay ahead of the curve by closely monitoring industry trends and emerging technologies. Anticipate changes in customer preferences and adjust your business strategies accordingly. Early adoption of innovative trends can position your business as an industry leader. 8. Partner and Collaborate: Collaborating with complementary businesses can open new avenues for growth. Seek partnerships that add value to your offerings and expand your reach. Collaborative efforts can lead to cross-promotion, shared resources, and access to a broader customer base. 9. Optimize Operations: Streamline your internal processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Invest in technologies that automate tasks, improve data analysis, and enhance decision-making. Smooth operations can give you a competitive edge by allowing you to deliver better products or services faster. Gaining a competitive edge requires a proactive and innovative approach to business. By understanding your competitors, differentiating your brand, prioritizing innovation, and focusing on customer experience, you can outperform your competition and thrive in the market. Embrace digital marketing, foster a high-performance culture, and monitor industry trends to stay ahead of the curve. Most importantly, continuous improvement and adaptability are essential for sustained success in today's ever-changing business environment.
Prescription Bliss began in 2018 when Andrew Brewer stumbled across Prescription Assistance Programs while working on a project that was reviewing healthcare options. He quickly understood that many people were facing a tough situation – prescription costs were high, and insurance wasn’t always covering the bills. Digging a little deeper, he also recognized how complex the process was to obtain help. Feeling the need to raise awareness and advocate for individuals when, in many cases, they did not have anyone else to do it for them – Prescription Bliss was launched. While continuing with their full-time jobs, Andrew, and wife Jennifer, began to benchmark the industry to understand how to best serve their members. With support and assistance from family, everyone involved made it their mission to start connecting as many people as possible with resources to save on their medications. Shortly after, Andrew made the decision to leave his full-time position to focus on growing the business. Just a few months later, they were able to move their home-based business to an office space in Downtown Bellefontaine. In March 2020, just as the country was shutting down and despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the first Prescription Bliss office opened, and Jennifer left her employer to come on board full time. At this time, they were serving only 5 members. Today, just a short 5 years later – Prescription Bliss has 8 employees, has served over 2,000 members, and has saved members an estimated $24 million in prescription costs. A large population of members are from Logan County and across Ohio, with a current reach of 49 states! option for them. They help educate and advise individuals on ways to reduce prescription costs, all while being transparent. Members join Prescription Bliss through referral sources, such as their doctor, insurance agent, family, or friends. Their team brings a combined 45 years of experience to the table, with direct experience in grants, pharmaceutical programs, and internationally sourced medications. Prescription Bliss’ connection to Logan County is deep-rooted. They’re not just about business, they’re about building a community. The Brewers’ ties to the area and their commitment to meaningful employment opportunities led them to keep their business near home. Their involvement in community events and various recognitions underscore their dedication. Recently, they were awarded Female-Owned Business certification and were chosen for the Logan County Chamber of Commerce 2022 Emerging Business Award. Bliss exists to provide options to those that did not know they had one. You can join the celebration and meet the team by attending their Open House on Friday, September 8 from 3:30-5:30pm, located at 111 W. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine. In addition, the Chamber team will hold a ribbon cutting at 4:30pm to commemorate Prescription Bliss’ new office.
For more information about Prescription Bliss and their valuable services, you can visit their website: prescriptionbliss.com. You can also find them on Facebook and LinkedIn. Please join us in congratulating Prescription Bliss on being the Logan County Chamber of Commerce September 2023 Business of the Month!
The foundation of any successful email marketing campaign lies in having a quality email list. Focus on growing your list organically by offering valuable content and incentives to your website visitors, customers, and social media followers. Implement clear and transparent opt-in forms, ensuring that subscribers know what to expect in terms of content and frequency.
2. Personalization and Segmentation: Personalization is the key to making your subscribers feel valued and understood. Use the data you have collected to segment your email list based on demographics, behavior, and preferences. By sending targeted and relevant content to specific groups, you can significantly improve open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement. 3. Compelling Content Creation: Your email content should be engaging, valuable, and align with your audience's interests. Craft attention-grabbing subject lines that entice subscribers to open your emails. Use a mix of informative articles, promotional offers, product updates, and exclusive content to keep subscribers interested and eager to hear from you. 4. Mobile Optimization: With the majority of emails now being opened on mobile devices, it's crucial to ensure that your emails are mobile-friendly. Optimize your email templates for various screen sizes, and keep your content concise. Test your emails across different devices and email clients to ensure a seamless user experience. 5. A/B Testing for Optimization: To continuously improve your email marketing efforts, conduct A/B tests on various elements of your emails. Test different subject lines, call-to-action buttons, images, and content layouts to identify what resonates best with your audience. Use the insights gained from these tests to refine your email campaigns and boost their effectiveness. 6. Automation and Drip Campaigns: Save time and increase efficiency by leveraging automation and drip campaigns. Set up automated welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups to nurture leads and maintain customer engagement. Automation allows you to deliver timely and relevant messages without constant manual intervention. 7. Monitor and Analyze Performance: Regularly monitor the performance of your email campaigns using analytics. Key metrics to track include open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates. Use this data to identify patterns, understand subscriber behavior, and refine your strategies to achieve better results. 8. Compliance and Privacy: Maintain a strong focus on compliance with email marketing regulations, ensure that your subscribers have given explicit consent to receive emails from you and provide a clear option to unsubscribe in every email. Email marketing remains a powerful and cost-effective tool for businesses to engage with their audience and drive results. By building a quality email list, personalizing content, optimizing for mobile, and using data-driven insights, you can create compelling email campaigns that resonate with your subscribers. Embrace automation to streamline your efforts and always prioritize compliance and user privacy. With dedication and a strategic approach, email marketing can become a key driver of success for your business, nurturing relationships and driving revenue for the long term.
As a business owner, it's crucial to understand that mistakes are inevitable and an essential aspect of the learning curve. Rather than beating yourself up for errors, embrace them as opportunities for growth. Each mistake offers valuable insights and lessons that can help you refine your strategies and make better-informed decisions in the future. As a leader of your business, creating a culture that embraces mistakes as stepping stones to success encourages creativity in your team.
2. Set Realistic Expectations: One of the main reasons entrepreneurs tend to be hard on themselves is setting unrealistic expectations. While ambition is essential, striving for unattainable goals can lead to disappointment and burnout. Instead, break down your long-term vision into smaller, achievable milestones. Celebrate each accomplishment along the way, appreciating the progress made rather than focusing solely on the destination. 3. Practice Self-Compassion: Running a business requires tremendous effort, and sometimes things might not go as planned. During these challenging moments, it's crucial to be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding you would offer to a friend facing similar struggles. Acknowledge your efforts, strengths, and the dedication you invest in your business. Remember that it's normal to encounter setbacks and difficulties along the way. 4. Seek Support and Build a Network: Entrepreneurship can be a solitary journey, and the weight of responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Surround yourself with a supportive network of fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, or industry peers. Sharing experiences, challenges, and triumphs with others who understand your journey can be incredibly cathartic and inspiring. Additionally, seeking guidance from experienced individuals can offer valuable insights and help you gain perspective on your business challenges. 5. Celebrate Your Wins: In the pursuit of growth, we often overlook the significance of celebrating our achievements. No matter how big or small, every win deserves recognition. Taking the time to celebrate milestones not only boosts team morale but also reminds you of your progress and capabilities. Celebrations act as fuel, motivating you and your team to keep pushing forward during challenging times. 6. Embrace Flexibility: As a business owner, you need to be adaptable to the ever-changing marketplace. Embrace flexibility and be open to adjusting your strategies as needed. Understand that not every decision will yield immediate success, but each one is a stepping stone towards a stronger, more resilient business. Being flexible allows you to pivot when required, which is often essential for long-term sustainability. As a business owner, it's essential to recognize that not being hard on yourself doesn't equate to complacency or lack of ambition. Instead, it's about acknowledging your humanity, accepting imperfections, and viewing failures as valuable learning experiences. Embrace self-compassion, set realistic expectations, and build a support network that helps you navigate the entrepreneurial journey with resilience and determination. By fostering a positive and understanding mindset, you'll find the strength to overcome challenges, unlock your true potential, and truly enjoy the fulfillment of your entrepreneurial dreams. |
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