May is Small Business Success Month in the United States, and there’s a lot to celebrate. Small firms make up the majority (more than 99 percent) of all businesses in America and provide jobs for tens of millions of people (“half of all U.S. employees are employed by a small business,” notes a Forbes.com article.) Small businesses range from mom-and-pop corner stores to high-tech startups…
How well do you know your customers? What motivates them and why? The more you understand your customer, their needs, wants, challenges, and values, the better you can communicate with them. Marketing personas are highly detailed profiles of your ideal customer that will help provide clarity in your marketing strategy. A marketing persona, also known as a customer or buyer persona or customer avatar, is…
After being sold and then closed for renovations, Hearth Kitchen in the Shoppes at Longwood is open again. The interior has been reworked and the menu expanded to have something for a variety of tastes. Platinum Dining Group bought the restaurant at the end of last year. It’s been in the hospitality industry for almost 20 years and is owned by Carl and Lisa Georigi.…
With talk of some area hospitals closing or up for sale, a job fair is scheduled for this Thursday, which may help those seeking jobs in nursing or other health-related jobs. The job fair is scheduled for March 27, from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Springfield YMCA. More than 20 healthcare-related employers will be on-site looking for people who are interested in working…
It’s the end of a local era. H.G. Haskell, owner of Hillgirt Farm and the iconic SIW produce stand on Creek Road in Pennsbury Township, is calling it quits, retiring from farming. The announcement came via the SIW website on March 19. During a brief interview, Haskell only said, “I have mixed emotions about retiring, but I won’t miss the stress.” While Haskell didn’t go…
When was the last time you searched for your business online and analyzed what you found? Conducting an online visibility audit for your business is the first step in developing a strategy to help prospects find you. Search for your business as if you were a potential client looking to buy a product or service. Then experience the first impression others get when they click…
The Chadds Ford Business Association is calling it quits at the end of the year. CFBA President Joe Lafferty made the announcement at the group’s final meeting held at Antica on Dec. 12. “We are shutting down the association at the end of the year,” Lafferty said. “It’s unfortunate, bittersweet, and Mary [Marines, the CFBA secretary, and the only other board member] and I got…
Did you know that in 2023, more than 50 percent of all holiday sales from Black Friday through Christmas came directly from email marketing? This statistic is a testament to the power of email marketing. As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to gear up and set yourself up for email marketing success. For online retailers and small business owners, the holiday season can be…
The holiday season has been the shopping season for years. The reason the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday is because, traditionally at least, that’s when retailers start getting out of debt and into the black. However, the rise in online shopping has increased over the years to the detriment of small, local, brick-and-mortar retailers. Now those local retailers are looking for ways to…
Politicians — incumbents and challengers — addressed members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce during the chamber’s annual luncheon. Each speaker was limited to five minutes.Some, such as Elizabeth Moro who’s challenging state Rep. Craig Williams, and Christian Luna, challenging state Rep. John Lawrence, were invited but did not attend. Moro and Luna are both Democrats. Other politicians, state Sen. John Kane, stayed…
Imagine you are at a show or concert. You receive a simple text message. It’s from a nearby store offering a discount on show merchandise with your ticket stub. You glance at the text, smile, and decide to redeem the discount after the show. The message was quick, personal and timely. What Is SMS Marketing? SMS marketing, short for Short Message Service marketing, is a…