Small Business Resource Round-up

May 19, 2025

Since this is Small Business Month, we thought it would be the ideal time to call attention to some of the resources out there for the small business. With an increase in awareness of how important small businesses are to the local and national economies, large businesses are getting into the groove and pledging their support to help small businesses too.


TikTok Gives Ad Credits


TikTok has announced a $1 million advertising credit initiative to support U.S. small businesses during Small Business Month. This campaign aims to help entrepreneurs expand their reach and grow their businesses on the platform.


Campaign components include:


·        U.S.-based small businesses can apply for advertising credits to enhance their presence on TikTok.

·        Small Biz Fest TikTok Academy Webinars. Starting May 15, weekly webinars will provide expert advice on creating effective ad campaigns.

·        “100 Ways to Grow on TikTok” Video Podcast Series. This series shares success stories and insights from entrepreneurs who have leveraged TikTok for business growth.

·        Small Biz Fest Roadshows. In-person events in Los Angeles, New York City, and Austin will offer guidance on optimizing TikTok strategies.


Additionally, TikTok will highlight small businesses at state capitols in New York and Texas, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to engage with policymakers and discuss the platform's economic impact.


For more information and to participate in these initiatives, visit tiktoksmallbizfest.com.


Stamps.com Grant


Stamps.com has launched the Small Business Flexibility Grant, offering a $25,000 award to support U.S.-based service-oriented small businesses. This initiative aims to help businesses overcome operational challenges, particularly those related to manual processes like mailing and shipping.


Key Details


Eligibility:


·        U.S.-based service-oriented small businesses

·        Minimum of three employees

·        Operating for at least two years


Application Period: May 1–31, 2025


Announcement of Winner: June 2025


Use of Funds: No restrictions; businesses can allocate funds as needed to enhance flexibility and efficiency.


Applicants are required to answer questions about their business operations and how they plan to use the grant to address flexibility challenges. The grant is designed to empower small businesses to automate manual tasks and improve operational efficiency.


For more information and to apply, visit www.stamps.com/grant



Walmart’s “Grow with US” Program


Walmart has launched the Grow with US program, a comprehensive initiative designed to support U.S.-based small businesses in scaling their operations and gaining national exposure. This program is part of Walmart's broader commitment to invest $350 billion in American-made, grown, or assembled products by 2030, aiming to support over 750,000 jobs.


Program Overview


Grow with US is a voluntary, four-step program offering:


1. Education. Access to Walmart’s Supplier Academy, featuring 30 e-learning modules across four learning paths: Welcome to Walmart 101, Retail Ready Capabilities, Business Fundamentals, and Advanced Learning.


2. Product Discovery. Opportunities to showcase products through Walmart’s U.S. Open Call, RangeMe platform, and Walmart Marketplace.


3. Mentorship. Pairing with experienced Walmart mentors to navigate the retail landscape.


4. Financing. Access to financial support through Walmart’s Early Payment Program and Bridge Marketplace.


Participation Details


Eligibility: U.S.-based small businesses can participate by providing a voluntary Small Business Administration (SBA) certification or requesting verification through Walmart.


Open Call Event: Applications for Walmart’s annual Open Call event open on June 24, 2025. This event, scheduled for October 7–8 in Bentonville, Arkansas, allows small and medium-sized businesses to pitch their shelf-ready products directly to Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants.


Road to Open Call Events: In May and June, Walmart is hosting regional pop-up events in cities including Orlando, Kansas City, Baltimore, Austin, Columbus, and Atlanta. These events offer entrepreneurs the chance to meet with Walmart buyers, receive feedback, and potentially secure a fast pass to the main Open Call event.


Verizon’s Small Business Accelerator and Grant


Verizon has announced a commitment to support U.S. small businesses through a $5 billion investment over the next five years. This initiative includes the launch of the Small Business Supplier Accelerator, aimed at integrating small businesses, many veteran-owned, into Verizon's supply chain by offering training, mentorship, and flexible procurement terms.


Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program


In partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Verizon continues its Small Business Digital Ready program, offering:


·        Free online courses covering topics like digital marketing, finance, and operations.

·        Expert coaching sessions and community events to enhance business skills.

·        Access to $10,000 grants for eligible small businesses.


Grant Eligibility and Application


To qualify for the $10,000 grant businesses must:


·        Be a for-profit U.S.-based business.

·        Register on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready portal: https://digitalready.verizonwireless.com/onboarding

·        Complete two learning activities (courses, coaching sessions, or events) between January 1 and June 30, 2025.

·        Submit the grant application by June 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT.


Need a few more resources? Of course you do. You can never have enough. Check out this list from the US Chamber of Commerce.


PS: Be sure to check out:



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Christina Metcalf is a writer and speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is also the author of The Glinda Principle, rediscovering the magic within.

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Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor

LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Winning Back Lost Customers: Smart Strategies to Reignite Trust and Revenue

May 19, 2025
Reacquiring a customer is up to 5x cheaper than landing a new one. Personalized communication and data-driven offers rebuild loyalty. Solving past issues signals integrity and earns second chances. Consistent follow-ups turn past silence into renewed revenue. A structured win-back strategy boosts long-term retention and ROI. 622 words ~ 3 min. read Customer churn is inevitable—but it’s not irreversible. Former customers represent one of your most valuable and overlooked assets. Why? Because they already know your brand, your product, and your promise. With the right strategy, you can bring them back—and reignite both trust and revenue. Why Former Customers Are Your Best Leads Research from Harvard Business Review reveals it’s up to five times cheaper to win back a former customer than to acquire a new one. Even better? Reacquired customers often spend more and churn less. Yet most companies ignore this goldmine, focusing instead on top-of-funnel growth. Let’s change that. Step 1: Understand Why They Left Before launching any win-back campaign, diagnose the departure. Common causes include: A negative service experience Pricing or product fit concerns More enticing offers from competitors Life changes unrelated to your business Exit surveys, reviews, and support tickets are essential to uncovering these root causes. Step 2: Segment and Prioritize Not all lapsed customers are equal. Use your CRM to segment by: Time since last interaction Lifetime value Products purchased Loyalty status Prioritize those with high potential value or known dissatisfaction you can resolve. Step 3: Personalize Outreach Generic “We miss you!” emails don’t cut it. Instead: Use their name and reference past purchases. Acknowledge their absence (“We noticed you haven’t been back since January…”). Address known issues (“We’ve improved our shipping times significantly…”). Tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, and HubSpot make this scalable and automated. Step 4: Offer Meaningful Incentives Sweeten the invitation back with offers tailored to their preferences: 20% off their favorite item Early access to new features Complimentary consultation or VIP perks Pro Tip: Align incentives with why they left. If it was pricing, offer a discount. If it was service, offer personal support. Step 5: Build a Follow-Up Framework One message won’t do it. Develop a three-step campaign: Re-introduction email — Personalized with incentive Follow-up reminder — Share a testimonial or success story Final nudge — Include scarcity (e.g., “Offer expires in 48 hours”) Automate where possible, but stay human. Step 6: Repair and Retain When customers return, show them you’ve changed. Implement: Surveys asking what’s improved A loyalty program to encourage continued engagement Ongoing check-ins to stay top-of-mind Bottom Line: Lost customers aren’t truly lost—they’re waiting to be re-invited. With empathy, insight, and smart execution, you can win them back and strengthen your business for the long haul. The key is in personalization, resolution, and consistency. Start where others stop—and turn yesterday’s customers into tomorrow’s champions. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

New Member Spotlight: Trideum Corporation

May 16, 2025
About Trideum Corporation

Why Your Team Isn’t Getting It (Even When You Think You’re Crystal Clear)

May 13, 2025
Many leaders mistake communication for clarity—assuming once it’s said, it’s understood. Misalignment often stems from inconsistent messaging, assumptions, and cultural "static." True clarity requires shared understanding, structured communication, and leadership presence. Clear communication systems—not just repeated messages—drive alignment and trust. 615 words ~ 3 min. read You’ve said it in a meeting, sent it in an email, and even dropped it into a slide deck. The message seemed clear: here’s the direction, here’s what matters, and here’s how we’ll get there. So why does your team still seem misaligned?  This is one of the most persistent frustrations for leaders. Not because they aren’t communicating, but because they believe they are doing it well—and often, they are. The words are clear. The logic is sound. The intent is positive. But the outcome doesn’t match. Team members are unclear on priorities. Execution falters. Morale dips. And the leader wonders: what am I missing? The answer isn’t more communication. It’s deeper clarity. The Illusion of Communication Most breakdowns in alignment are not due to a lack of effort, but due to a false sense of completion. Leaders assume that once something is said, it’s been heard. That if it’s repeated, it’s been understood. And if no one asks questions, it must mean everyone’s on board. But communication isn’t a one-way act. It’s a shared experience—subject to the filters, biases, emotions, and workload of every individual on the receiving end. In many teams, what derails clarity isn't confusion, but collision: between different versions of the message, between unspoken assumptions, and between what’s emphasized and what’s actually practiced. When team members sense these gaps, they fill them with their own interpretations. That’s where misalignment begins. Where Leaders Lose the Thread There are some common patterns, though they may show up in subtle forms. A strategic shift is announced, but day-to-day processes remain unchanged. A new priority is introduced, but older metrics are still tracked more closely. A bold vision is shared, but frontline managers aren’t equipped to translate it into next steps. Over time, these inconsistencies create what might be called “cultural static”—background noise that makes even the clearest message hard to tune into. In some organizations, this leads to paralysis. In others, it leads to fragmented execution, where everyone is moving—just not together. What Clarity Actually Requires Clarity isn’t just about reducing confusion. It’s about aligning interpretation. That means leaders must think not only about what they say, but how it’s heard. It’s less about repeating a message, and more about shaping a shared understanding. This begins with structure. Communication that connects typically follows a clear arc: what’s happening, why it matters, what we’re doing, and how each person contributes. It continues with consistency—ensuring every leader and channel reinforces the same priorities. And it deepens with reflection—creating space for questions, doubts, and honest feedback. Importantly, clarity requires presence. It’s not enough to deliver a message and move on. Teams need to see that their leaders are still in it, still listening, still reinforcing what matters. Without that, even the best message fades quickly. The Leadership Opportunity The good news? Most communication gaps aren’t permanent—they’re just unexamined. When leaders become more intentional about clarity, alignment becomes more natural. It starts to show up not only in what’s said, but in how people behave, how they decide, and how they lead one another. At its best, communication isn’t a script—it’s a system. A shared rhythm that keeps everyone moving to the same beat, even as the tempo changes. And clarity, done right, isn’t just about being understood. It’s about being believed, trusted, and followed. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.