In The Kn
o
w
The Weekly Newsletter of The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
Friday, November 15, 2019
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This Week's Featured Video
Why You Should Shop at Your Local Farmers Market
Our video this week is a recent
TED Talk
from social entrepreneur Mohammad Modarres, who explains how little the average American farmer makes off produce sold at the grocery store. Modarres then gives several reasons why it's more beneficial for all of our communities if consumers buy their produce locally at farmers markets.
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Celebrating 50 Years of Vapor Jet Cleaning
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Fifty years ago, Steubenville-based Edward and Delores Pestian purchased the first steam carpet cleaner equipment east of the Mississippi River. Using steam to clean instead of scrubbing was a revolutionary idea at the time, and
Vapor Jet
soon became one of the area's most successful businesses. In 1971, their son, Tim, joined the company. He carries on his parents' legacy to this day.
Tim took time this week to answer via email a few questions we posed to him about Vapor Jet's past and future.
Chamber: Your parents took a chance 50 years ago when they founded Vapor Jet. For all of the entrepreneurs and small business folks in our audience, what are some of the lessons you've learned from the risks they took, and how do your parents continue to influence you a half-century later?
Tim:
Back in the day, some 50-plus years ago, my parents owned a company called “Clothes White Bleach." The business did well. Dad made door-to-door deliveries of household cleaning supplies, soaps, detergents, bleach, etc. at least four days a week. But with the advent of the “Grocery Stores,” consumers started purchasing their household cleaning supplies from Kroger, A & P, etc.
With my parents' market share dwindling, they knew that something had to be done. My Dad was the one who researched “steam carpet cleaning,” and they purchased the first steam carpet cleaning equipment east of the Mississippi River (the equipment was called Steam Genie).
Soon after, they became Steam Genie’s master equipment distributor of all states east of the Mississippi and Louisiana. So, with that said, I think of my parents literally back against the wall. With five sons and one daughter, they took a huge risk, and here we are some 50 years later.
I’ve learned just like back in '69, things will constantly change, so be prepared. My parents are both gone now, but there is not a day that goes by that I do not feel their presence, and I think of how we did things “back in the day.” And sure enough, it’s similar today.
Chamber: When you first joined the company, you brought it up to speed technologically, which seems to be something you've continued to do throughout the years. How do you think this goal of constantly being ahead of the curve has impacted your success?
Tim:
Technology is constantly changing. Back in the day, I would receive my assignments via telephone from an agent or an adjuster. Now, I get an email with the assignment information. Back in the day, I would use a tape measure to take field dimensions. Now, I use a laser ruler. I would sit at my desk (or at home at my kitchen table) with a calculator for hours on end to figure my bids. Now, it’s all done within just a short time over the Internet with my laptop . Now, especially with the Internet, I have been able to stay ahead of the curve.
Chamber: What are a few of the happiest memories you have of the past 50 years?
Tim:
Oh, without a doubt, marrying my high school sweetheart, the birth of our son, our son marrying the most wonderful daughter-in-law anyone could ask for, and then the birth of our 3.5-year-old grandson. I have been blessed with an awesome staff and personnel, and with all the technology that keeps us ahead of the curve, we are still “old school” and remember the customer always comes first.
Chamber: What are some of the obstacles you've overcome?
Tim:
Looking back, there have been “bumps in the road,” but the biggest obstacle was when my wife was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer. We were married 46 years – sweethearts 51 years. With my passions in life being my family and my business, I quickly realized my passion for my family was the greatest. With the awesome staff and personnel I have, I was able to become Gina’s caregiver, and although I checked into the office several times daily, I devoted my time to my wife. Unfortunately, the cancer took her from us this past June 3rd.
Chamber: What would you like to say to your clients on this anniversary? Is there anything else you'd like to communicate to our audience?
Tim:
I want to thank each and every client for allowing Vapor Jet to be of service to them. I promise to deliver the best services. All our clients can rest assured we will always be “old school." My only other communication would be to again say, "thank you."
Is your business celebrating a milestone? Share it with your fellow members.
Send your information to news@jeffersoncountychamber.com
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Very Quick Survey
Let us know if you are a female, minority or veteran-owned businesses
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One of the Chamber's newest committees is the female, minority and veteran-owned business committee. As this important group gets its feet under it, we need your input. Please take a moment to let us know if your business falls under on of the three categories above. Please email tmaple@jeffersoncountychamber.com with a quick response. Include business name and email address.
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Modern Marketing 101:
20 Email Marketing Dos and Don'ts for More Effective Email Campaigns
As we wrote last week, email marketing is still a common means of reaching one's customer base. However, there are dos and there are don'ts.
SocialMediaToday
has compiled 20 of these into a helpful infographic, which you can find
here
.
Their tips include: don’t buy an email list; send your welcome email immediately; segment your list; and use reporting to improve future emails.
From last week:
As you look ahead to your marketing plan for 2020, it's important to remember how traditional ways of reaching an audience are still viable. Social media platforms are crowded and noisy, and social media users are numb to this noise and even more selective about the content with which they choose to engage. Having a personal website and connecting with customers over email should not be taken for granted.
Business 2 Community
expounds
upon these ideas and provides much-needed perspective on social media marketing in 2020.
If you missed or want to re-read any of our previous Modern Marketing 101 installments, click
here
. We encourage you to print, save, share, and add these articles and resources to your business or organization's social media marketing manual.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Mark your calendars now for Small Business Saturday, November 30th, 2019. The Chamber's two small business stations will be at
M & M Hardware
and
A & B Sunset Pharmacy,
two of this year's "Shift Your Shopping" sponsors. Volunteers will be handing out coupons and treats to spread the word about buying locally this holiday season.
Make this the year that you pull out all the stops on your holiday marketing efforts and put your Chamber membership to work for you. We can help make it easy and fun. Watch your email for a complete holiday "toolkit" with printable signs, handy checklists, and information on how to best promote using Chamber programs and events.
Want to take the first step? Click
here
for a printable "Small Business Saturday" save the date sign for your door or window.
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You're invited!
2019 Holiday Open House
The Chamber is pleased to announce the date for its 2019 Holiday Open House along two new "Shift Your Shopping" sponsors. Join us to celebrate the season with fellow members and their employees on Wednesday, December 11th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
Apollo Professional Cleaning & Restoration
in Wintersville. Also on board as a major sponsor for this year's event and the complete slate of, "Shift Your Shopping" holiday programs and events is
The Holiday Open House is a tradition that dates back to the 1980s. The Jefferson County Historical Museum served as the location for many years. Then, other local businesses generously hosted, including the
IBEW Local #246
and Create-A-Room, now
Ferguson's House of Furniture
, in Wintersville.
There is no set program so stop by anytime for a snack, lunch, a hot or cold beverage, or just to say hello. And don't forget the annual "Ugly Get-Up" contest with the winner taking home a $50 gift card and the traveling trophy. There's no charge, but we do ask that you RSVP so we plan for food and drink accordingly. Watch "In The Know" and your email for details and your official invitation.
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C
hamber Committee Participation: All Welcome
Did you know the Chamber holds monthly meetings for its members on two very important topics for our community--oil & gas and workforce training & education?
These two new committees are looking for passionate, hardworking members. Meetings are free and are held in the conference room at the Chamber offices, 630 Market Street in Steubenville. If you are planning to attend, please park and enter in the rear of the building.
Oil & Gas Committee
Second Thursday of each month - 3 p.m.
Next meeting: January 16th.
Workforce Training & Education Committee
Third Monday of each month - 1 p.m. Ne
xt meeting: November 18th.
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Member Morsels
Remember to visit individual member websites by clicking on the business name or logo.
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Prodigal Daughter Treasures & Trinkets Anniversary Celebration
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Help downtown's most unique gift shop celebrate one year in business! Tomorrow from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. enjoy refreshments, scratch off discount cards and more. At 3 p.m., one lucky shopper will win a 40" flat screen television. Prodigal Daughter is located at 164 North 4th Street in downtown Steubenville. Get a jump on your holiday shopping with unique and personal gifts that show your local pride. Phone 740.314.5204 for more information and visit their Facebook page by clicking
here.
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Holidays are coming - Be ready!
Sending business Christmas cards might not be on your radar just yet, but the holidays are rapidly approaching and now’s the time to start planning. Whether you’ve sent Christmas cards in the past or are considering starting a new tradition, you might be wondering if they’re worth the time and money that could be better spent on something else.
Most businesses send Christmas cards as an act of goodwill. But many hesitate to send a card because they don’t want to come across as overly salesy or desperate for business. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Christmas cards (or gifts) are only salesy if you make them salesy.
When sending a Christmas card to your business customers, it’s best to believe that you will get nothing in return. It should be your way of saying thanks for their business during the past year, and nothing more.
Despite the fact that business Christmas cards should be based on offering a genuine thanks, that doesn’t mean they don’t offer any benefits in the marketing and branding department.
When you send a branded Christmas card, you’re creating an impression. You suddenly become top of mind to the recipient. Plus, you also get to see if you still have correct addresses and contact information. If a card is returned to you, you have an automatic “in” to reach out and clarify your information.
Let Tina help you grow your business.
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5th Annual Lions Club
Tailgate Party
Tickets are just $60 and include drawings for cash prizes, large screen TV viewing of the game, and food and beverages for two. Winner need not be present.
Proceeds benefit the Steubenville Lions Club charities.
For tickets, phone Domenick Mucci at 740.381.7928. For a flier detailing the raffles that will be held, please click
here
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Don't miss a very exciting and interesting auction tomorrow, Saturday, November 16th at the East Springfield Fire House. (9845 County Road 29). The late Gary W. Cain estate auction will feature hundreds of unique items ranging from animal mounts and gun cases to rifles, shotguns, hats, coins and more. Auction begins at 11 a.m. For a complete listing of items, click
here
or call Gary W. Cain Realtors & Auctioneers at 740.266.2246.
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On Friday, November 22nd, at 7 p.m.,
Cloak & Dagger On the Air
will present "Holmes & Watson: The Red-Headed League," at The Ashley Marie Performing Arts Center, located at 2850 Weir Avenue in Weirton, W.Va.
Cloak & Dagger On the Air
is an ongoing theatrical series that reimagines Old Time Radio for the modern ear. Each episode is recorded in front of a live studio audience and released as an installment of the podcast,
Midnight Scario
.
"Holmes & Watson" will feature brand-new adaptations of the classic 1891 Sherlock Holmes stories "The Red-Headed League" and "A Case of Identity" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Performed by our acting troupe The Wayward Saints, this production will star John E. Reilly as Sherlock Holmes and Robert Gaudio as Dr. John Watson. Classical musician Roberta Fedoush will provide a score comprised of Holmes' favorite pieces. The Holy Foley Molies will perform our live sound effects.
Admission for general audiences is $7 and $5 for seniors, students, and military members. No reservations are required.
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Local Book Club to Meet in December
Want to sharpen your leadership skills? Join the club--book club, that is!
How to Join:
1. Sign-up for one or all discussions by calling the Main Library at 740.282.9782.
2.Order a copy of the book - free from the library - by visiting in person or online at
steubenvillelibrary.org
(make sure you have a library card) OR purchase a copy for your personal library.
Here are the Details:
Date:
Wednesday, December 18th, 8 a.m.
Place:
Trinity West Cafeteria Conference Room (Ground Floor)
Book:
Dare to Lead
by Brene Brown
Sponsored by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and
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Feature your business or organization's news or events in "Member Morsels" by completing a quick online form. Click below.
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Around the State. Around the Country.
Up-to-Date Information from the Ohio and United States Chamber of Commerce
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Solving Surprise Billing Without
Raising Health Insurance Costs
Many employers are concerned about the burden that surprise medical bills — those costly, unexpected bills patients get after they receive care from an out-of-network provider they reasonably assumed was in their network — create for their employees. Surprise: out-of-of network charges are causing many Ohioans financial hardship.
Ohio lawmakers appear to be similarly concerned, and both the Senate and the House have legislation pending to address the issue.
Both Senate Bill 198 and House Bill 388 would hold patients harmless by banning balance billing by providers for out-of-network services. Unfortunately, that’s where the similarities between the two approaches ends.
On Wednesday, the Ohio Chamber provided testimony before the House Finance Committee in support of the House version of the legislation.
While not perfect, HB 388 is a workable approach to solving the problem of surprise billing.
Read the article in it
s entirety by clicking
here
.
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Bridging the Digital Divide
for Small Businesses
From an economic standpoint, we’ve yet to unlock the full potential of America’s small business sector. But we know just where to start – using technology to boost exports.
To help realize the commercial promise of growth-minded companies across the country, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – in partnership with Google – published a report detailing the impact of technology on small business exports. The report outlines strategies that will help small businesses harness digital tools to optimize their operations and reach new levels of success.
Based on a survey of more than 3,800 nonfarm small businesses, our study examines the economic contributions of small business exporters, obstacles they face in selling their products overseas, and the role technology can play in expanding their commercial reach. Here’s what we found:
Small business exports produce big results for our economy, generating $541 billion in output annually and supporting more than 6 million jobs.
Read the article in its entirety by clicking
here
.
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The Library Link
Great Books About Business With Just A Click
Your link to success begins at the library. Each week in "In The Know,"
you to a business book or magazine that will inspire, teach, inform, or elevate you, professionally and personally. This week:
Feedback (and Other Dirty Words)
by M. Tamra Chandler and Laura Dowling Grealish
A practical and irreverent guide to taking the sting out of feedback and reclaiming it as a motivating, empowering experience for everyone involved. Feedback: the mere mention of the word can make our blood pressure rise and our defenses go up. For many of us, it's a dirty word that we associate with bias, politics, resentment, and self-doubt. However, if we take a step back and think about its true intent, we realize that feedback needn't be a bad thing. After all, understanding how others experience us provides valuable opportunities to learn and grow. Authors M. Tamra Chandler and Laura Grealish explain how feedback got such a bad rap and how to recognize and minimize the negative physical and emotional responses that can erode trust and shut down communication.
View this book by clicking
here
.
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Today in History
- November 15, 1867 -
From History.com:
On November 15th, 1867, the first stock ticker is unveiled in New York City. The advent of the ticker ultimately revolutionized the stock market by making up-to-the-minute prices available to investors around the country. Prior to this development, information from the New York Stock Exchange, which has been around since 1792, traveled by mail or messenger.
The ticker was the brainchild of Edward Calahan, who configured a telegraph machine to print stock quotes on streams of paper tape (the same paper tape later used in ticker-tape parades). The ticker, which caught on quickly with investors, got its name from the sound its type wheel made.
The last mechanical stock ticker debuted in 1960 and was eventually replaced by computerized tickers with electronic displays. A ticker shows a stock’s symbol, how many shares have traded that day, and the price per share. It also tells how much the price has changed from the previous day’s closing price and whether it’s an up or down change. A common misconception is that there is one ticker used by everyone. In fact, private data companies run a variety of tickers; each provides information about a select mix of stocks.
For more events that took place on
November 15th, please click
here
.
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- 10,000,000+ -
The number of subscribers who signed up for Disney's new streaming service, Disney+, on its Tuesday, November 12th, 2019, launch day.
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Questions about Oil & Gas?
These non-profit organizations are here to help you stay up-to-date on the oil and gas industry
in Jefferson County:
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Get The Information You Need - The Chamber Staff Is Here To Help
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Janet McLaughlin
Investor Relations Coordinator
Janet will assist you with utilizing your membership benefits, answering questions about member programming or how to promote your business through the Chamber.
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Tricia Maple-Damewood
President
Contact Tricia with suggestions, input or feedback on member programming, how to get involved on a committee or special project or with questions or information about anything related to the Chamber.
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Cassie Balvin
Administrative & Accounting Assistant
Cassie will assist you with event registrations, updating your membership information, questions about your dues or event invoices and any other Chamber programming questions you may have.
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Contact Us
The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
630 Market Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
Phone: 740.282.6226
Fax: 740.282.6285
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