Here is where you can learn more about the business insights, trends, and perspectives directly from the small business community’s leaders and changemakers. The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is proud to share the voice and expertise of our members. With new posts weekly, this blog is now your source to stay up-to-date and in-the-know on a variety of topics whether at home or at work. We invite you to read, share, and get to know these local expert contributors, support their work, and shop local whenever possible. Why? Because a strong local economy starts with the businesses in our own backyard.
We talk about performance like it's something we can manage into existence. Set the goals. Track the metrics. Hold people accountable. But if you've led people for any length of time, you already...
When I started Jeannie Cleaning ten years ago, I thought excellent customer service was enough. I quickly learned it went beyond that. Coming from a restaurant background, I assumed my leadership...
If you run a small or mid-sized business in Southwest Michigan, you’ve probably heard some version of this sentence lately: “AI is going to change everything.” That part is probably true. What’s...
Over the past few months, while meeting with business owners across Michigan, Northern Indiana, and the Chicago region, one comment keeps coming up: "We have a website… but we're not sure if it's...
As the Southwest Michigan housing market continues to grow and evolve, so does the role of property management. What was once viewed as a largely administrative function has become a strategic...
Google search results never stop evolving. And, as a small business, it can be a huge challenge to stay on top of new updates, understand new features, and explore the new opportunities they offer....
In the world of family business, there is a haunting proverb often whispered in boardrooms: “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”. The first generation builds the business through grit...
Introduction We’ve all been there: sitting across the table, or the screen, in a crucial business meeting, feeling the pressure to make a great impression. You have your pitch perfected, your slides...
Main Street businesses have long been the foundation of Kalamazoo’s economy. They provide stable jobs, long-standing customer relationships, and a sense of place that national chains are unable to...
When designing a space, window treatments are often thought of as a final detail—but in reality, they play a much bigger role. The right window treatments do more than frame a view; they influence...
ERP. CRM. WMS. PLM. HRMS. EMR. Pick your acronym. Add a polished demo. Stir in some magical thinking and a pint of unrealistic expectations. Marinate in a six or seven-figure budget. Sprinkle on an...
The Hidden Cost of "Just How We Do It" A local manufacturing client came to us frustrated. Every online order had to be hand-entered into their system. That meant hiring temp workers during busy...
Southwest Michigan First Chamber member OEO Energy is offering eligible organizations across the region no-cost LED tubes upgrades to replace existing fluorescent fixtures. The program is funded by...
From trusted connections to community impact, the Chamber has played a role in Jeannie Cleaning’s growth. For Jeannie Henderson, founder and CEO of Jeannie Cleaning, business has always been...
Southwest Michigan First Chamber welcomed a full house to the first-ever Chamber’s Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration on Thursday, September 18 at Western Michigan University’s Dalton...
OEO Energy Solutions is offering Southwest Michigan First Chamber members a unique opportunity to upgrade to energy-efficient LED lighting at no cost. This utility-funded program replaces your...