Chamber news: Detroit: America’s Emerging Market - How the city can teach us to reinvest the rest of the U.S. economy
In August, a year after I wrote a TIME cover story on Detroit’s bankruptcy, I
visited Motown again. This time I found myself reporting on a remarkable
economic resurgence that could become a model for other beleaguered American communities.
Even as Detroit continues to struggle with blight and decline–more than 70,500
properties were foreclosed on in the past four years, and basic public services
like streetlights and running water are still spotty in some areas–its downtown
is booming, full of bustling restaurants, luxury lofts, edgy boutiques and
newly renovated office buildings.
The
city struck me as a template for much of the postcrisis U.S. economy–thriftier, more
entrepreneurial and nimble. Many emerging-market cities, from Istanbul
to Lagos to
Mumbai, share similar characteristics, good and bad. The water might be off on Detroit’s perimeter, but
migrants are flooding into its center, drawn by lower-cost housing and a
creative-hive effect that’s spawned a host of new businesses. Read more: Time MagazineMichigan Chamber of Commerce will be launching a statewide private health insurance marketplace
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce will be launching a
statewide private health insurance marketplace – Michigan's Insurance Marketplace at www.MiChamberMarketplace.org – on
September 1, 2014. The marketplace was created to meet the growing needs
of employers as they try to comply with health care reform and offer the best
coverage available for their employees.
"Starting September 1st, individuals
and employers across Michigan, who can work with their licensed insurance agent
of choice, will have a single source, multi-carrier, insurance solution for
comparing and accessing available medical, dental, vision and supplemental
insurance plans, as well as a wide range of other non-insurance related
products," said Barry Robinson, Vice President of Chamber Services &
Membership Development for the Michigan Chamber. "Also available in the
marketplace are calculators to help determine federal subsidy eligibility and
potential tax consequences for failing to enroll in qualified health
plans." For more information: Michigan's Insurance Marketplace
Ferndale Chamber of Commerce gets new executive director
Seven people interviewed to become the new executive director of the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce, but after Marina Glagolev showed up it was a done deal.“She walked out of the room and we all said, She’s it,” said Carol Jackson, interim executive director. “She’s a very powerful yet genuine person. She can talk to anyone from a blue collar person up to a CEO.”
Glagolev, a Birmingham resident, steps into the job Monday. Read more: Oakland Daily Tribune
Tweet of the month: Michigan Chamber Rich Studley
MI taxpayers have a lot to celebrate on Labor Day: state deficit eliminated, budget balanced, $500M rainy day fund. Detroit News
"Know Your Numbers" Workshop September 16, 2014 - Battle Creek, MI
Five Keys to Using Financial Statements to Maximize Cash Flow and Increase Access to Capital
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Experienced business owners and key staff who want to have a better understanding of how to use their financial statements in business decisions.
TOPICS INCLUDE: Identify opportunities and challenges with your balance sheet and income statement Discuss the proven ways to increase your company’s cash flow Apply breakeven analysis to improve decision making Understand and plan the working capital to support your growth Strengthen the partnership with your lender
Date/Time: September 16, 9:00 am to 12
noon.
Location: Battle Creek
Unlimited, 4950 West Dickman
Rd. Battle
Creek, MI 49037
Cost: Free
Register online: Know
Your Numbers For more information call 269-387-6004
Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: "Worth Every Penny - Build a Business That Thrills Your Customers and Still Charge What You're Worth" by Erin Verbeck and Sarah Petty
A revelation for small business owners: creating a profitable business is possible without getting into a slash-and-burn price war with your competitors. Many small business owners feel pressure to discount their products and services, especially when times are tough. After all, how else will they keep up with the low prices offered by their discounting competitors? What they don't realize is that discounting is the last thing they should be doing if they want to win big. Sarah Petty and Erin Verbeck are here to show you that there's a radically different way to run a small business-- one in which the owners focus on creating specialized offerings and an over-the-top customer experience, not on matching the prices of their competition. Worth Every Penny encourages you to explore and use this model, which is designed to maximize your advantages over the big-box stores and other discounting competitors.
You'll
learn how to:
--Build
a brand that lays the foundation for you to charge what your offerings are
worth.
--Create
products, services and high-touch customer experiences to achieve healthy
margins and an outspokenly happy and loyal client base.
--Understand
how to use a pricing strategy that allows you to create demand and attract the
right customers instead of discounting.
--Throw
traditional advertising to the wind and implement a boutique way of marketing
to excel in this competitive business environment.
--Learn
the relationship-based sales skills needed to close every sale and have your
clients clamoring for more.
The
authors' strategies are enhanced by real-life business experiences and vivid
anecdotes from all types of business owners--restaurateurs to contractors to
professional service providers and photographers. With the advice in Worth Every Penny, you will be inspired to
live your passion and pass your enthusiasm on to your customers. The result: a
profitable business that avoids succumbing to the pressure to discount. Source:
Barnes & Noble
Michigan Chamber: Job Providers Win Big on Primary Election Day!
We started the election season by telling you, "It’s a New
Day in Michigan."
We're pleased to report Primary Election results that will continue to move Michigan forward. Tuesday’s Primary Election was a very good for
job providers and the Michigan Chamber. Across the state, voters cast
ballots for common sense conservatives who are in favor of limited government
and will be fighters for free enterprise. Michigan
Chamber
Detroit Chamber Tweet Contest: "What are some of your favorite businesses
in Detroit?"
Description: Starting Monday, August 4, the
Chamber will begin accepting responses to the question: “What are some of your
favorite businesses in Detroit?
Why? Enter to win a $5 @GiftDetroit313 gift card.” How to Enter: Tweet at the Detroit Regional Chamber
(@detroitchamber) the answer to the question in 140 characters or less.
For example, “@detroitchamber Lafayette Coney Island because they have the
world’s best coney!”
On Friday, August 29, at 5 p.m., five tweets will be
randomly chosen to receive $5 Gift Detroit certificates that can be redeemed at
any of the 50 local businesses participating in the program. Winners will be
direct messaged and will have 48 hours to respond. Prizes will be mailed to the
lucky winners. Prizes: $5 Gift
Detroit certificates to 5 winners - To learn more about Gift Detroit or to
purchase Gift Detroit certificates, click here.
Michigan economic development group used 'secret shopper' and fake company to
evaluate Michigan
cities
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation used a
professional site selector and a fake business for a "secret shopper"
survey of Michigan
cities this summer.
"In an effort to continuously improve service to
our business clients, we engaged in a secret siting activity to objectively
look at how well we navigate and respond to inquiries from clients looking to
locate in Michigan,"
MEDC CEO Michael Finney said in a written statement Thursday, Aug. 28. Read
more: M
Live
South Lyon,
Michigan Chamber best practices: Photographer keeps her eye, lens on community
Even if you don’t know Jane Purslow, you’ve probably
seen her snapping pictures at a festival, parade, Kensington Metropark or any
number of places in western Oakland
County.
In all, the Lyon
resident said she’s taken more than 1 million photos. At the Lyon Township Kite
Festival this summer, she and her husband, Jack, shot more than 10,000 images.
Read more: Hometown
Life
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