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HOW ARE WE DOING?
MADE IN MUSKINGUM
Check out our latest post about our community's assets and accomplishments at the "Bright Spots" website. This illustrated list focuses on products made in Muskingum County. We regularly post lists like this on our social media accounts.
ECONOMIC DASHBOARD
The latest Economic Dashboard for Muskingum County has been posted. You can use this to stay in touch with the current state of the local economy. It provides recent measures like:
- Unemployment rate
- Real estate sales
- Building permits
- Auto sales
- And more.
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT MARIJUANA ISSUE
Issue 3 is a constitutional amendment that Ohio voters will consider at the ballot box on November 3rd that would legalize marijuana use for both medical and recreational purposes. The measure also sets up a monopolistic system where only certain individuals and groups can produce and sell the drug. The Board of Directors of the Chamber has voted to oppose Issue 3. Here is more information about this issue and about the Chamber's reasons for taking this stance. This website is a great resource for information about the proposal, and it is information you can easily share with your workforce and others. It includes videos on topics such as:
- Do you know what Issue 3 says?
- 10 Things Your Employees (as Parents, Taxpayers & Voters) Should Know About Issue 3
- Marijuana & Your Business: Workforce Readiness
- Marijuana & Your Business: Workplace Operations
- What Should Employers Be Asking About Legalized Marijuana
DON'T MISS OUT ON BWC CREDIT
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) has recently transitioned to its new prospective premium payment system. The BWC is providing a 'Transition Credit' in place of your January through June 2015 premium payment. In order to receive the credit, businesses needed to file a payroll report for the January - June, 2015 period with BWC by August, 31, 2015. Businesses that did not file the payroll report were invoiced by BWC on October 1 for an estimated amount. If you did not report your payroll there is still time to resolve the issue. You can use the BWC website (www.bwc.ohio.gov and click on 'Report & Pay') to report the actual payroll for the referenced period. If done by October 30, you will not need to make a premium payment for that payroll period. It is imperative that you report this actual payroll by October 30th. Businesses that do not resolve this reporting issue:
- Are subject to certification to the Ohio Attorney General for final collection of the outstanding premium.
- May jeopardize their eligibility for Group & Alternative Programs for Policy Year 2016.
- May lose the transition credit for the January through June 2015 reporting period and be required to pay the premium in full.
HOT DEALS IS A FREE MEMBER SERVICE
Hot Deals is a service the Chamber provides to help members post special offers, sales or promotions on our website.
- It's totally online and it's completely free as part of your membership.
- When you create a Hot Deal - which is easy and takes only a minute - it also automatically posts to the Chamber's Facebook and Twitter accounts. This is a great way to get your name in front of potential new customers.
- Anyone visiting the Chamber site will be able to view and take advantage of your offer, and you can also drive people to the offer yourself by posting it on your social media accounts, including it in your emails, and by telling your existing customers about it.
- You can promote both products and services through Hot Deals, and any restrictions on the offer are completely up to you.
To offer a Hot Deal visit www.zmchamber.com/hot-deals.html and follow the simple instructions.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
SOCIAL MARKETING IMPORTANT
- "Every post you make on a social media platform is an opportunity for customers to convert. When you build a following, you'll simultaneously have access to new customers, recent customers, and old customers, and you'll be able to interact with all of them. Every blog post, image, video, or comment you share is a chance for someone to react, and every reaction could lead to a site visit, and eventually a conversion."
- "According to a report published by Texas Tech University, brands who engage on social media channels enjoy higher loyalty from their customers. Another study published by Convince&Convert found that 53% of Americans who follow brands in social are more loyal to those brands."
- "According to Hubspot, 84% of marketers found as little as six hours of effort per week was enough to generate increased traffic. Six hours is not a significant investment for a channel as large as social media. If you can lend just one hour a day to developing your content and syndication strategy, you could start seeing the results of your efforts."
WHY FESTIVAL OF TREES?
The Chamber organizes the annual Festival of Trees event as a community holiday celebration, a promotional opportunity for members, and a fundraiser for the Chamber organization.
- Visiting the festival display, which features about 200 decorated trees, wreath and other items, has become a holiday tradition for many local residents. It's a beautiful and enjoyable place to gather with friends, take in the creativity of local people, and generally celebrate the season.
- The festival is a way for businesses and organizations to gain visibility and shine a light on their products and services. Providing an entry or incentive gets your name in the display, online, on the air, in print and more. And coming up with a creative entry that represents your products or services - or donating an incentive that does so - provides you with even greater brand awareness and name recognition.
- Finally, the resources generated by the festival auction are put right back into Chamber programs that promote the community, support area employers, and grow the economy. The auction of all the entries will be held on December 4. The auction proceeds are an essential source of income for the Chamber and help keep it operating each year.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT UPDATE
Employers: If health insurance and the Affordable Care Act are somewhat murky topics to you, come to a free seminar on November 11 at 6:30 at the John McIntire Library.
- Quality Care Partners (QCP) is sponsoring a presentation by a national expert, Chris Goff, who is CEO and General Counsel for Employers Health Coalition. Mr. Goff will break down the Affordable Care Act into understandable pieces, bring you up to date on its implementation schedule, and help you understand what you need to do to comply with its provisions.
- Bring your questions and feel free to ask them.
- There is no cost to attend but reservations are recommended since seating is limited.
SELLING ON AMAZON
Join us to hear from two successful Amazon marketers who will share their experiences and advice on how to set up shop and sell on Amazon.
- Mike and Britni Ross are a husband and wife team who make a full-time living selling products on Amazon.com. Their online business started in 2002, as a small eBay store, selling antiques and collectibles. After nearly 10 years on eBay, they made the move to Amazon in late 2011. In 2014 they had their best year, selling more than 30,000 units for an annual revenue of $1M.
- This workshop will be held on Thursday, November 12 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Muskingum County Business Incubator (MCBI), 2725 Pinkerton Road.
- Make a reservation by emailing chumphreys@mcbi.info and make payment by sending a check to MCBI, 2725 Pinkerton Road, Zanesville, OH 43701, or send payment via your PayPal account to familytree-llc@hotmail.com. The fee is $35 per person, or just $25 if you are a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
This program is presented by MCBI, FoodWorks Alliance, and the Chamber.
DISTRACTED DRIVING TRAINING
On November 11, AT&T and the local Safety Council are partnering to provide area business people the chance to try out a virtual reality driving simulator and hear a presentation called "It Can Wait".
PREVENTING FIRES
The Safety Council meeting on October 28 features a presentation about preventing fires as we approach the winter heating season.
- Assistant Chief Doug Hobson from the Zanesville Fire Department will be the presenter.
- Practical information on how to reduce the risk of fires will be discussed, as well as the "Safe & Sound" campaign launched earlier this month by the state in an effort to reduce fires and fire deaths in Ohio.
- So far in 2015, 97 people have been killed in fires in Ohio.
- The meeting is open to any chamber member and it will be held from 8-9 am at the Zanesville Country Club.
- Please RSVP to tpoorman@zmchamber.copm if you plan to attend.
- The fee is $10 and includes the breakfast buffet.
FOR THIS WEEK'S MEETINGS AND EVENTS! You can also add your own event by clicking the submit event button at zmchamber.com.
Goss Supply & Rental
Longaberger Country Club
Norvell Hearing Aid Center
Partyland Supply Co.
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