Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Post

📋I know, I know, it’s on the to-do list. And that to-do list is looooooong! 😀Because I know just how busy you are, this is your polite public service broadcast that you’ve got LESS THAN ONE WEEK to go until entries close. 🤔You don’t have to be an FSB member to enter and it’s free. And there are 12 categories to choose from, from franchisee to family business, sustainability to start-up and everything in between. So, what are you waiting for (apart from the ability to find another hour in the day to tackle that to-do list)? #FSBawards

Just can’t get enough of the Awards appreciation!! Here’s a wee story about what Legacy means to us. "The thing you have to remember is, without helping them, without feeling compelled to serve, we're nothing without them. We need our customers to believe in us, because every customer we have today, they make the new customer we have tomorrow." - John Mackay This is something that Founding Director John Mackay said at the last G&M Board Meeting when I was questioned about how much I was spending (time and money), making old customers happy. John wanted to praise me for thinking about the G&M reputation, his reputation. He was proud of me, his daughter, for doing the right thing. There is a line between customer service and making a profit, most big businesses will choose profit first. My most recent interactions with BT for example, reminded me of everything I do not want my business to become. And that's something that's felt across the whole of Gillies and Mackay, my team see themselves in every customer we work for and they feel it when they take the time to get it right for them. We're different for a reason. There's a moral code within a small business like ours that tells us why we started. It's a passion and in that passion there's a special reserve to take pride in what we do and protect our service and product. Our reward? Customer validation. Something fills my soul when I know you're happy and if for whatever reason you are not, I genuinely care to make it better.

When it comes to entering Business Awards, many businesses fall prey to the fallacy that they’re not up to scratch. They believe their achievements, while commendable, simply aren’t award-worthy, overshadowed by seemingly more impressive competitors. This, however, is more often than not a misconception. In our experience, most businesses underestimate their achievements, not the other way around. What businesses may consider to simply be “good enough” is often exactly what awards judges are looking for. Taking that leap of faith to submit your nomination could be the key to unlocking a win. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g9TGZ5Su

🌱 Growing a business organically is a rewarding journey, but it's not without its challenges. I know first hand, that unlike businesses that grow through aggressive funding and rapid scaling, organic growth requires a slower, more methodical approach. One of the toughest hurdles? Tracking success. 📈 That is why moments like this from The HR Booth are so precious, for all involved but particularly the owners of the business. Despite the challenges, the benefits of growing organically are substantial. Owners build a solid foundation based on real demand and genuine customer relationships. Having worked with The HR Booth since 2020, myself and the eCom Learning Solutions team have enjoyed watching the growth of this business. Well done to Alistair Booth and his fabulous team on an excellent win and growth story! 👏 #Entrepreneur #BusinessSuccess

Did we get it wrong...? This year we set up Small Business Heroes to give tiny but powerful businesses their own awards. It seemed it's a group that doesn't get many chances, usually with just one award at most events, which is aimed at micro businesses. We're excited to have our fabulous venue and sponsors onboard. The awards are free and not-too-much-work to enter. It's all looking great, except... I'll be honest with you, right now I'm concerned about having enough entrants! Thank you to those who have already entered but where are the rest of you? Maybe I'm panicking too soon, the deadline date is still 2 weeks away. We want a room full of fabulous small businesses and we know you're out there. What is it, are we smaller business too humble/shy to put ourselves up for an award? Please tell me your thoughts, I'd really love to get your feedback. And if you do love the idea of these awards, please share them and enter ;-) #smallbusinessheroes #awards #scotland www.smallbusinessheroes.uk

Supporting Small Business 💕 I'd love your vote for the local Northern Business District awards. It takes 30 seconds to complete and I'd really appreciate your support. The link is below - https://lnkd.in/gqmH2hNQ If you have any questions 💃 or if I can support your business in a similar way reach out to me #supportsmallbusiness #businessawards

Working on your Loudoun Small Business Award Application this weekend? Here are some key tips for applying to the 30th Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards: ✏️Start early and plan ahead. Mark your calendar for August 22nd and give yourself plenty of time to prepare a strong application. ✏️Focus on telling a compelling story about your business. Highlight what makes you unique, your journey, and key achievements. ✏️Carefully read and answer all parts of each question. Make sure you're addressing exactly what the judges are looking for. ✏️Include specific metrics, statistics, and results to back up your claims. More Info + Event Tickets: https://lnkd.in/eRwgshEC

To apply for the Award or not, this is the dilemma! What are the benefits of applying for business awards? Is it worth it? Find our list of pros and cons in our latest blog. (https://lnkd.in/gv6V_bu7).

This 🤯every time I see the numbers. Are you pulling your hair out trying to grow your membership? Watch this short video for some insights. Thanks for positing Matt Appenzeller #memberforcast #joinsoca #chambersofcommerce

To apply for the Award or not, this is the dilemma! What are the benefits of applying for business awards? Is it worth it? Find our list of pros and cons in our latest blog. (https://lnkd.in/gWW6D3GS).