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Welcome New Chamber Members
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.
Danny Moore
2078 Hollywood Dr.
Jackson, Tn 38305
(731) 984-9912
danny.moore@kmbs.konicaminolta.us
www.kmbs.konicaminolta.us
 Melissa Rice
Melaleuca Health & Wellness Independent Marketing Representative
Melissa says, "It: allows me to work from home helping families achieve physical, financial, environmental, and personal wellness and is a great team oriented business that is suitable for anyone who is hard-working, has good people skills, and a desire to help others. Check out my website www.EcoMomTeamSouth.com
Phone: 731-446-2083
Security Finance
Beverly Ellington, Manager
707 S 1st St. Suite B
Union City, TN 38261
(7312) 885-7707
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Small Business Survival Training
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new online training website - Small Business Survival Training - which will be available starting tomorrow morning. You can access the training by visiting www.tsbdc.org and choosing View Available Training, then clicking the Small Business Survival Training button, or visit it directly at www.tsbdctraining.org.
This new training offers fourteen chapters. Each chapter features PDF documents with written content, voice-narrated PowerPoint presentations, and video segments by professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs from all over Tennessee. Each chapter also has a "Document Center" where you can download the full PDF documents and PowerPoint presentations for the chapter, a quiz which awards a certificate of completion, and an area to give us feedback and thoughts.
You will need to register for an account for this new online training system even if you have an existing TSBDC client account. Once you have logged in to the new training website, you can move about the chapters with no need to register for each individual class.
Please download the "Getting Started" guide (also available on the welcome page of the website) for detailed instructions about how to register for this new training and navigate the website.
You will still register for any in-class seminars at www.tsbdc.org.
If you have any questions or require assistance with the new training website, please feel free to contact me at the information below.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Jen Dangelo
Director, Online Counseling & Training Center
Tennessee Small Business Development Centers
jdangelo@tsbdc.org 931.372.3706
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Discovery Park of America-Opening 2013
Many people ask us what the status is of the emerging Discovery Park of America in Union City. The following newsletter should provide you with a solid update and also supply you with their website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. From there, if interested, you can sign-up and receive these e-mails directly.
We're expecting great progress this year toward completing this extraordinary educational and entertainment complex.
Construction is on schedule and you can anticipate seeing the night view (above) of Discovery Center by the spring of 2013. The photograph shows steel supports being installed on the entry (second) level of Discovery Center. The concrete core of the Tower has "topped out" at approximately 150'. Stairs are being installed around the core and the observation areas will soon be built on top. Lots of other activity is underway: adding historic building, constructing exhibits and acquiring artifacts....all for the purpose of providing you with an exciting and memorable experience in 2013.
Dr. Michael Gibson and a group of UTM geology students conducted a fossil dig in Kansas sponsored by The Kirkland Foundation. Their hard work resulted in the discovery of a Mosasaur (prehistoric marine lizard) fossil and two prehistoric fish fossils from the Cretaceous period. After further preparation, these fossils will be on display at Discovery Park. The full story of their trip can be found on the Discovery Park web site at: UTM Fossil Dig.
The excitement and interest in Discovery Park is growing. We're delighted with this interest and we want it to be even greater.
You can help us by sharing this newsletter or our Facebook page with your friends and family. Encourage them to follow our progress and help build a community of excitement and anticipation for a grand opening in 2013.
www.discoveryparkofamerica.com
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Join the Fun at Gibson Electric Membership Corporation Annual Meeting
Gibson Electric Membership Corporation invites everyone to its 76th annual members' meeting, Thursday evening, March 22, at South Gibson County High School in Medina.
Registration will begin at 6 p.m. Members who register will be eligible to win $75 electric bill credits awarded throughout the night. Customer-owners' children will be eligible to win a door prize, too!
Also at 6 p.m., vocalist and guitarist Scott Myatt and keyboardist Steve Short will perform a variety of contemporary folk and folk-rock selections of the singer-songwriter genre. Myatt and Short frequently entertain throughout West Tennessee and Missouri.
During the business meeting at 7 p.m., Gibson EMC's leaders will provide an update on the co-op's operation. They will present a financial report and talk about the significant activities that have taken place during the past fiscal year, as well as their expectations for Gibson EMC's future.
Free barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, soft drinks and bottled water will be served. So mark your calendar for Thursday, March 22 and come join the fun.
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Building Trust in Your Small Business
Small businesses may have a competitive advantage over their larger counterparts in at least one respect: trust. According to a 2007 Harris Interactive poll, 96 percent of people have either "a great deal of trust" or "some trust" in small business. No other private or public institution received this large a vote of confidence.
But what if you are just starting out? Here are some tips for building trust and courting customers whose patronage will give the numbers in your business finances software a boost:
Honesty
The quickest way to lose trust is through perceived dishonesty. You can help avoid this situation by emphasizing clarity in all communications. Be upfront about your pricing and policies regarding returns, changes to orders and other issues likely to raise questions. Steer clear of concealing extra charges in the fine print.
Consistency can also make a difference. It is your prerogative if you consult your business finances software and decide to give a particular customer a discount on a certain day. But make sure you are clear that this is a one-time offer or you risk offending them the next time they expect a similar price and don't receive it.
Accountability
A business whose employees always give out their names is more likely to build trust because this practice is recognized as a sign of accountability. Many customers prefer to deal with people rather than impersonal machines - and adding a name will further emphasize this individual relationship.
Small businesses will also gain people's trust if they have a strong guarantee behind their products and services. If a customer is hesitant about whether they should make a purchase, a guarantee can help supply the confidence needed to follow it through.
However, know that sometimes this guarantee may end up costing you a bit of money - for example, if you have to take back a damaged product - but earning a loyal customer will benefit the sales recorded in your business finances software in the long run.
Give face time
Many customers prefer to know more about the business they are dealing with, rather than less. Including a photograph of you and your team on the wall of your shop can help people feel as if they know you better.
This tactic can work particularly well for a web-based business. Pictures of you, your employees or even your family will humanize the process of buying online and help build trust.
If you enjoy writing, consider including a blog or other personal account on your web page to invite customers into the workings of your company. It's probably best to keep this interaction light-hearted, rather than business-focused.
Share your values
Perhaps you already have a company mission statement prepared when you were writing your business plan or for motivating employees. Why not share this vision with your customers as well?
Many people are drawn to socially aware and environmentally friendly companies. If these values are part of what your business stands for, make people aware by publishing the information on your website and in your store.
You can also get involved in the local community by sponsoring local events - a great way to increase name recognition while emphasizing your hometown values.
Referrals
If you want to find a good local school for your child, a dependable doctor or a trustworthy landlord, where do you start? Most people ask a friend, family member or colleague to recommend someone.
The same practice holds true for small businesses. Once a few people have developed a favorable opinion of your company, word will spread and you will notice a difference the next time you consult your business finances software. Make sure you are devoting adequate resources to keeping your existing customers happy - they can be your best advertising.
Meanwhile, there are always steps you can take to push the referral process along. For example, some firms offer incentives such as giving a customer a free gift or discount if their friend signs up for a service or purchases a product.
Engage in some self-promotion
In the absence of the direct referral of a friend, a potential customer may still respond to the positive words of a stranger. Solicit recommendations and testimonials from some of your current satisfied customers and place them prominently on your website or on the wall of your store.
Once you have these testimonials, feel free to excerpt these quotes for use in marketing materials and advertising - with the speaker's permission, of course.
One word of advice about testimonials - they should be authentic. Don't be tempted to create your own, using stock photos of smiling people. Today's savvy online customers are likely to see through this attempt to build trust, resulting in the opposite result.
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Obion County
Chamber of Commerce
Upcoming
Business Matters
Guest Speaker:
Jacklyn McKinney, GCDF
Career Counselor
Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc
"Bridging the Gap: Applicant to Employee"
Building Quality Applicants for Your Business
Sponsored by:
Commercial Bank
7:45am-9:00am
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the Obion County Public Library |
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Add Your Event to the Obion County Chamber Website
Got an event you would like to include on the chamber's website? Simply click here to see if your event can be published on our website! |
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CornFest 2012
Looking for volunteers that can make a differencein the quality of life in Obion County. Planning has begun for this year. If you'd like to volunteer, call, text or e-mail. Director Glenda Chrisp 731-431-8132 or gchrisp@obioncountycornfest.org
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2012 Tennessee Vacation Guide
The 2012 Official Tennessee Vacation Guide gives you the lowdown on all the wonders Tennessee has to offer. Request your FREE, printed vacation guide, or instantly download the eGuide. From mountains to music, home-cooking to history, nature to night-life, the 2012 Guide is the definitive resource for planning your perfect Tennessee Vacation.
We also encourage you to get off the beaten path by using the Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways as your guide. Discover local gems, historic main streets, scenic spots and so much more!
On the go? Visit our mobile site where thousands of attractions are right at your fingertips. It's all right here in Tennessee. We're playing your song.
Click here to download |
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List Your Available Commercial Property With Us
Let us help you spread the word about your available commercial property by listing it at www.obioncounty.org. If you have commercial property you would like to list, please contact Lindsay Frilling, Economic Development Director.
lfrilling@obioncounty.org
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Vote for Obion County FFA
Please go to www.FFAChapterChallenge.com and vote for Obion County Central FFA.
Deadline is February 29th!!!!
Monsanto is sponsoring a contest and awarding cash and prizes to the top 10 vote getting schools. Right now we only have 97 votes! Please take a minute to fill out the form, then check your email and click on the link to have your vote count. Our chapter could really use this money and it only takes a minute of your time. Please send out to everyone you know. Everyone in your house can vote. People can also vote by calling 1-800-293-2387.
Thank you,
Kim Crews, Secretary
OCCHS FFA Alumni Association
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New THDA Website
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) is proud to partner with you in the mission of creating safe, sound, affordable housing opportunities throughout the state. One of THDA's Values is to "treat our customers with respect, courtesy, and dignity, and foster a user-friendly environment". With that in mind, THDA is proud to announce that a new website layout for www.thda.org has been implemented. The new site offers a robust variety of features and will foster a more user-friendly environment through which customers and partners can interact with THDA.
We invite you to visit the website using the hyperlink: info@thda.org. If there is any website content you feel is missing or inaccurate, or to voice any other concerns or praises, please send your feedback to info@thda.org. Additionally, you will see opportunities to join us on Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you for partnering with THDA to ensure that every Tennessean lives in a safe, sound and affordable home in a sustainable community.
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UTM Infant Stimulation Program
The UT Martin Infant Stimulation Program, established in January 1976, provides educational assistance to young, children with developmental delays and their families in Northwest Tennessee. The purpose of the program is twofold: to provide children with developmental delays opportunities to realize their potentials at as early an age as possible* to provide ideas for growth within the frameworks of families The Infant Stimulation Program is an Early Intervention Resource Agency offered by The University of Tennessee at Martin, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Education. For information concerning the Infant Stimulation Program and the Child-Find Service is available by calling 731.881.7113 or 731.881.7915.
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SBA Working Capital Disaster Loans in Tennessee
ATLANTA -The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses that March 29 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans available in Crockett, Dyer, Haywood, Lauderdale and Tipton counties in Tennessee and Mississippi County in Arkansas. The SBA declared a disaster because of the severe storms with excessive rain and flooding that began on April 15, 2011.
Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Those affected by the disaster may also apply for loans electronically from SBA's website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than March 29, 2012.
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