Hispanic Heritage Month – celebrating Mesa’s Latino-owned businesses
September 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month. There are nearly 5 million Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. that contribute more than $800 billion to the U.S. economy annually, according to Congress’s Joint Economic Committee (JEC). Nearly 1 in 4 new businesses in the U.S. today are Latin-owned, and they are major drivers of job-creation. Mesa has a robust variety of Latino-owned businesses. The charming Cielito Rosa Bakery & Café, located at 1720 W Southern Ave, is a new business offering a wide selection of ethnic and standard delicious confections. Shop local and support a Latino-owned business in support of Hispanic Heritage month.
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Would you like to compete in the 24-hour business plan challenge?
Ready, Set, Win! The annual 24-hour Business Plan Challenge is a lock-in competition to develop a business plan for a new or existing business in 24 hours. This event will take place on Friday, October 4, 2024 5:00 p.m. - Saturday, October 5, 2024 6:00 p.m. at Mesa Chamber of Commerce, 165 N. Centennial Way, Ste. 208, Mesa and is open to anyone with a business idea that would like help and guidance to prepare a business plan to join in and compete. Get ready for a fun and challenging event complete with meals, snacks, and beverages to fuel your creative energy. Plans will be judged by a panel of business and education professionals, and the winner will receive a cash prize!
Be a Competitor - Want a chance at the prize money? Reach out to Alan Beveridge at Mesa Community College to learn more about signing up!
Be a Mentor - We need energetic business professionals to help the competitors by providing mentoring and support. Times are flexible and we'd love to have you on site. Sign Up! Email Chamber Director of Communications Bob Nelson.
Be a Sponsor - Support the entrepreneurial spirit in Mesa by being a sponsor for the event. Sponsorships are flexible and a great way to support local. Email Chamber Director of Communications Bob Nelson.
All through this year's event, The Mesa Chamber Inside Business Podcast will be live online via our Mesa Chamber YouTube channel. We'll be visiting with sponsors and participants and celebrating the entrepreneur spirit. Watch it here.
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Preparing for the holiday season begins now!
It is not too soon to start planning to make the most of the season for your business! The holidays bring a time of year where small businesses can benefit from increased sales and develop new customers. Early planning will help you position your business for success. Well-thought-out strategies from products to promotions and employee engagement are critical for you to help your company stand out in the crowd. The How to Prepare Your Small Business for the Holiday Season blog post by GetBeyond.com, offers 12 actions you can take to get set up to achieve your goals.
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Local First Arizona offering three specialty boot camps to help you boost your business success
Retail Boot Camp - business owners will gain a comprehensive understanding of the retail landscape, including best practices, the latest trends, and real-world applications. This six-week virtual program begins on Tuesday, October 15 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. with optional virtual office hours after each class. Get ongoing mentorship, engagement with industry experts, and hands-on training. This boot camp equips business owners with the knowledge and skills to navigate challenges and identify opportunities in the Arizona marketplace. To apply visit: Arizona Retail Boot Camp — Local First Arizona
The award-winning Green Business Boot Camp is a complete planning series that teaches about cost-saving resources and unique opportunities to go green for locally owned and operated businesses. From collaboration to planning, financing, benchmarking, and implementation hear from experts in once per week virtual sessions over seven weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 10 from 4 – 5 p.m.
Sponsored by the State of Arizona, hear from experts.
To apply visit: Green Business Boot Camp - In Progress — Local First Arizona
Are you a food entrepreneurs interested in starting or growing a food-based business? The Good Food Boot Camp helps you jump-start and scale your business. Each food start-up accepted into the program will learn business planning, purchasing, and how to manage the day-to-day operations. Receive analysis, expertise, and mentorship to get started on a strong path to success. You will gain a deep understanding of what is needed to be successful and the guidance to execute your vision to establish a food business. A once per week, six-week virtual program the boot camp begins Thursday, October 17 from 8 – 10 a.m.
To apply visit: Restaurant Startup Boot Camp — Good Food Finder
**Important – Participants in the Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program will have their course fees paid by the program. To apply for the Small Business Assistance Program,
visit: Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program | City of Mesa
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Arizona’s only surf park is now hiring!
Attend the Revel Surf job fair to learn more and apply for open jobs at this one-of-a-kind experience park in Mesa.
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From Startup to Standout. How important is branding for your business?
Tuesdays, September 10, 17, and 24 | 5 – 6:30 p.m. | FREE | In-person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 2nd Floor | 59 E. First St., Downtown Mesa
Register!
A three-part deep dive into building a brand that gets noticed and grows your business. Garren Lofgreen, owner of Perspicuous Design a multi-faceted, award-winning design and marketing agency teaches you the ins and outs of branding. This indispensable workshop is valued at $5,000 per business. Seating is limited to 25 attendees, only a few seats remain. Course outline is below:
Tuesday, September 10: Part I - Understanding the concept of branding: Importance of branding for businesses, elements of a brand (e.g., logo, name, tagline, colors, typography), brand identity vs. brand image, brand equity and its significance.
Tuesday, September 17: Part II - Brand Strategy and Positioning: Defining brand strategy, identifying target audience and market segmentation, conducting a competitive analysis, unique selling proposition (USP) and differentiation, brand positioning and its role in the market, creating brand personas, developing brand messaging and voice.
Tuesday, September 24: Part III - Implementation and Brand Management - Translating brand strategy into action, brand guidelines and standards, the importance of consistency in branding, managing brand perception, brand extension and diversification, monitoring and measuring brand performance, crisis management, and brand reputation, evolving your brand over time, branding in the digital age: online presence and social media.
Highlighting Small Business Local Charm This Holiday Season
Tuesday, September 17 | 9 - 10 a.m. | FREE | Virtual
Register!
Join Thomas Barr, VP of Business Development for Local First Arizona, as he shares practical tips to help small businesses prepare for the holidays. Learn how to use local messaging to attract more customers, collaborate with other businesses, and maximize your marketing efforts. Get actionable strategies you can apply right away to boost your revenue this season.
Demystifying Microcredit
Tuesday, September 17 | 12 – 1 p.m. | FREE for HUUB Members | Virtual
Register!
Learn the basics of microcredit during a discussion of what it is and why it might be a good fit for your business. We will also highlight important considerations and share tips on how to successfully apply for small loans. This presentation will provide valuable insights to help you navigate the microcredit process with confidence. Presented by Rashi Duttagupta, Arizona Microcredit Initiative Executive Director.
Reely? Yes, You Too Can Make Fun Videos for Your Business
Tuesday, September 24 | 5:30 – 7 p.m. | FREE | In-person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 2nd Floor | 59 E. First St., Downtown Mesa
Register!
Are you eager to add some magic to your content creation? Learn from the Director of Retail Entrepreneurship at Local First Arizona and Content Creator, Sophia Lovasz, as she takes you through the basics of video editing on your phone using free tools provided within the social media platform of your choice. Meet other business owners who are looking for collaborations, learn how to create fun content for your business, and leave with a couple of videos ready to post on your platform. Bring your phone, a tripod if you have it, and your products to practice making content with us. In two hours you’ll walk away with the skills to keep creating, engaging, and growing your business with social media content.
Harnessing the Power of AI for Small Business - Network & Learn
Thursday, September 27 | 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. | FREE | In-person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 2nd Floor | 59 E. First St., Downtown Mesa
Register!
Dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence and discover how it can revolutionize your small business. Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your network. Mark your calendars and get ready to learn, network, and grow your business!
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