THIS WEEK 

August 19, 2014 

BRIGHT SPOTS - Did you know that Zanesville based DMV Corporation manufactures and distributes contact lens removal and insertion devices? Learn about this and other bright spots in our community by visiting our This is Zanesville & Muskingum County, Ohio webpage, and check back frequently to see new content.

NEW MEMBERS - Thank you and welcome to these companies and organizations that joined the Chamber in recent weeks. You can find out more information about them at the online business directory at zmchamber.com. They join the more than 650 other Chamber member businesses that are also listed in the online directory.

Spartan Race, Inc.

Flow-Liner Systems, Ltd

Woodforest National Bank

Coulson's Lawn & Landscaping LLC

AAA Spa & Pool Services

Powerful Surrender Massage Therapy

Classic Body Shop

Lanning Consulting LLC

Partyland Supply Co.

Halliburton

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION - The quality of your customer relationships relates directly impacts your sales. Experts have long studied this fact and their surveys and statistics underscore some common beliefs:

• Customers of your business actively share both positive and negative experiences with others, and they are more likely to do so now than five years ago.
• Customers are more likely to share a bad experience with others, especially on social media.
• Customers are more likely to remember bad experiences, even two years later, than good ones.
• Good customer service leads customers to buy from you again, and bad service causes buyers to go elsewhere the next time.
• Source: http://www.zendesk.com/resources/the-impact-of-customer-service

That's why we are holding a live seminar titled "How You Can Create A Customer-Focused Culture In Your Organization." It will be held on Friday, September 12 at the John McIntire Library in Zanesville from 9 am to 12 noon. The presenter will be Dave Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Signature Worldwide in Dublin, Ohio. Signature Worldwide delivers sales and customer service training, marketing, and mystery shopping services to both front line personnel and managers in service-based industries. For more information or to make a reservation visit the Chamber website.      

 

GET AUDITED - Who wants audited? No, not the IRS kind of audit, but an independent assessment of your business. The Chamber and MCBI have teamed up to bring that service to you. MCBI is now providing confidential and objective business reviews, complete with a set of recommendations to improve your business practices and grow your sales. Chamber members can receive their assessment for the low price of $99 (non members pay $135). Contact Wendy Edgar at MCBI today to learn more about getting your business assessment.

GENERATING REVENUE - MCBI is holding the Generating Revenue Series of seminars, and the first installment will be on August 27 from 5:30 to 7 pm. The topic will be "Successfully Presenting Your Business," and MCBI manager Wendy Edgar will be reviewing best practices in presentation skills and how you can enhance your business as you talk with clients, customers, suppliers and employees. The next two seminars will be "Creating a Sales Engine" in September and "Marketing Do's and Don'ts" in October. For more information contact Jo White at jwhite@mcbi.info or 453-3649.

BILLION BACK - With the announcement of Another Billion Back from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, it is crucial that your payroll and premium get reported and paid on-time by the end of this month. Employers must be in an active, reinstated, combined or debtor in possession status as of September 5 to qualify for the rebate. This date provides 3 days following the premium due date (September 2) to come into compliance. 

ECONOMIC INDICATORS - The Zanesville Board of realtors reports that property listings were up 14.6% in July over June, but sales were down 26% from one month to the next. Year to date sales are down 4.5%.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING - The Division of Safety & Hygiene at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation offers more than 74 occupational safety, health and ergonomic courses for Ohio employees to attend. Classes are available online and held throughout the state at regional service offices. One of the benefits for employers with active workers' compensation coverage is there is no additional charge to register their employees for classes. Both the Pickerington and Cambridge Service Offices of BWC host training sessions that can easily be reached from Muskingum County. For more information visit the BWC website.

OIL & GAS - Petroleum Education Council (PEC) Core Compliance oil and gas industry training is coming up on September 23-25 at the Ohio BWC office in Cambridge. The free course includes: 1) Beyond awareness level information on more than 25 safety topics related to the onshore oil/gas industry; 2) Crucial information on more than 10 safety topics related to the onshore oil/ gas industry; 3) SafeLand USA compliance topics. Upon successful completion of this three-day PEC Core Compliance course students will receive an authorized PEC Card. Enroll today at www.bwclearningcenter.com .

ONLINE SERVICES - The Chamber offers a number of online services - which are included with your membership - that your business can use right now without leaving your office, store or plant:

Buyers Guide - Your listing in our online Buyer's Guide and Member Directory - which receives thousands of hits each month - can be customized and expanded to a whole page of information including photos, your logo, web link, and product or services descriptions.

Marketing Services - Chamber Marketing Packages bundle together several really valuable web based marketing and advertising services.

Workers' Comp - This section of zmchamber.com highlights services from the Chamber that save area companies more than $700,000 in premiums annually.

Online Job Ads - Submit your help-wanted ads and they run free of charge on the chamber website, zmchamber.com.
Email Newsletter - Weeklypublication sent to your inbox with how-to information, upcoming meetings, and valuable services.

Chamber Facebook Page - Postyour own news and opinions, and get updates and reminders about chamber services and activities.

Resources - A library of recorded audio presentations and reports from Chamber seminars and presentations on subjects like the economy, oil and gas, and more.

Sales Training - Through a partnership with national sales expert Jeffrey Gitomer, online sales training through Gitomer Virtual Training is available at a discount.

Business Webinars - Through a partnership with Business Expert Webinars online training on doszens of business topics is available at a member discount.

 THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS