Small Business Center at Carteret Community College

🔔 Friendly Roundtable Reminder! 🔔 📍 Location: Bryant Student Center, Room 3125 📅 Date: October 9, 2024 🕒 Time: 8:00 - 9:00 am

Roundtable Recap: Navigating Interest Rates, Inflation, and Productivity in Today’s Economy Today's discussion centered on how interest rates, inflation, and productivity drive the economy, with a strong focus on one critical factor: meeting your customer’s needs. Understanding what your customers truly need is key to maintaining and increasing productivity. But do you really know what those needs are? And, more importantly, have you asked? Key Takeaways: Needs vs. Wants: What a customer thinks they need isn't always what's truly necessary. Understanding the difference is essential. Ask for Feedback: Regularly ask your customers for their input. You often learn more from negative feedback than positive. Beyond the Transaction: Are you focusing solely on the transaction, or are you creating a long-lasting relationship with your customers? Company Culture: Create a culture that encourages development and continuous improvement. Seek Improvement: Don’t be afraid to ask, “How can I do better?” Feedback Channels: Whether through in-person conversations or online surveys, it’s about understanding your customer’s preference for communication. Engage: Ask open-ended questions to really listen and understand what your customers are saying. Service Sells: A focus on customer service can set you apart from your competition. Be Honest & Transparent: Always follow through on your promises and set clear expectations from the start. Active Listening: Don’t listen just to respond; listen to truly understand your customer’s perspective. Be Solution-Oriented: Problems are inevitable, but it’s how you approach solutions that will define your success. Remember, customer feedback is gold, and knowing how to listen and act on it can make all the difference in growing your business! What steps are you taking to ensure you're addressing your customer’s true needs?

Recap of Wednesday’s Roundtable: Workforce Development & Small Business Support This week, Erik Heck from the East Carolina Workforce Development Board, Inc. led our discussion. His focus is on ensuring that local workforce development systems are responsive to the needs of both job seekers and employers. We explored the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), specifically the small business work-based learning grant—a valuable resource for businesses looking to train and retain employees. Key Takeaways: START NOW Strategies Tools And Resources To Navigate Opportunities at Work Recruiting: Screen and identify prospective candidates with matching skills and pair them with open positions. Training: On-the-job training resources and funding for certifications are available to help small businesses train new hires, prevent layoffs, and improve retention. Incumbent Worker Training: Focused on developing existing staff to increase productivity and skills. Ice House Entrepreneurial Training: A mindset-based approach to entrepreneurial development. Targeted Businesses: Special focus on supporting certified HUBs, minority-owned, female-owned, veteran-owned, and disability-owned businesses. Questions to Consider: What strategies are you currently using for employee training? What barriers are there to implementing effective training for your team? What can be done to remove those barriers? Pro Tip: Remember, train to retain! Investing in your employees is investing in your business’s future. You can also post open positions at NCWorks to tap into a local talent pool. For more details, contact: Erik Heck – Business Services Representative Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board [email protected]

🔔 Friendly Roundtable Reminder! 🔔 📍 Location: Bryant Student Center, Room 3226 - Carteret CC 📅 Date: September 25, 2024 🕒 Time: 8:00 - 9:00 am