South Haven Region Business Hub

Helping small businesses grow.

Category: Marketing and Advertising

The Dos and Don’ts of Pricing for Profit

There are a lot of different ways to approach pricing services in your small business. Some methods work better than others and I’m going to show you which is which.

Greater Kalamazoo Business Resources Network Awarded $50,000 Grant for “Scale Kalamazoo”

Greater Kalamazoo Business Resources Network (GKBRN) has been awarded a Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds grant from the United Way of the Battle Creek

What are Four Things Marketers are Doing Wrong?

What are Four Things Marketers are Doing Wrong? Cheri Bales, Hannah/Gold Communications I got a call last month to pitch 3-4 marketing-related topics for a virtual annual conference next year.

10 Ways To Get Leads On Social Media

Mindy CookSterling Rose Marketing and Communication This can be a pretty in-depth topic, so for this post, I‘ll share a few tips I have learned along my entrepreneurial journey. ONE.

2021 Workplace Vaccine Mandates

Navigating Medical and Religious Exemptions President Biden announced vaccination requirements for the federal government in July and called on the private sector to do more to encourage vaccination as well.

How to set up a Google My Business (GBM) Business Profile

Find it Claim it Verify it Get more search results Sounds perfect, right…whoa buddy, not so fast. Many small businesses haven’t even HEARD of google my business (GMB), let alone

10 Things you Need to Know About Your Marketing: The Short List

You may have started your business based on the school of hard knocks experience. You didn’t study marketing. You got in to business to run a business. Working with a

Freelancer's working place at home decorated for Christmas holiday. Cat sitting on the table.

Last Minute Holiday Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

If you’re like many business owners, this time of the year can be one of your best revenue-generating period. Whatever you do, don’t give up! Keep trying new things until you find the one that works.

Team of business people discussing digital marketing metrics report and return on investment strategy for advertisement campaign, data analytics dashboard on computer screen in office

Why Does a Small Business Need Analytics?

Know your numbers and know what your numbers mean! Business analytics examines large and different types of data to uncover hidden patterns, correlations, and other insights. What business decisions can

What Can a Marketing Plan Do For You?

Don’t fly by the seat of your pants when it comes to marketing. Cheri Bales explains why having a solid plan helps ensure a great return on investment.

Sponsored by the City of South Haven, South Haven Chamber of Commerce, and Lake Michigan College.

Congratulations to Gregory Shelton of Grand Unique Laundry for receiving his first loan through Northern Initiatives. With help from his SCORE mentor, Cheri Bales, Gregory did a fantastic job on developing his business plan and showing real entrepreneurial spirit. We wish you much success, and look forward to your upward movement. You are a wonderful role model.

—Gregory Shelton of Grand Unique Laundry

I appreciate your ears for listening, your eyes that see my vision and your heart that makes you who you are. I thank you for your time. You are making a difference.

—Shawntel Lindsey, Director, The Artbor Community Connections Center

The WMed Innovation Center is a perfect environment for innovation to grow and become a successful commercial enterprise.

—Client

Whether you are seeking a research partner or want to enlist the help of student groups in developing business plans, or just looking for ways to engage with WMU, the Business Connection office can find the resource to help move your business forward.

—Mentor

A loan (from Local Initiatives Support Corporation) helped expand our cafe to triple our seating, add a kids space, increase much needed staff work areas, and make other improvements to the space.

—Krystal

The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) is the State of Michigan’s digital library. It has excellent resources available to Michigan residents at no cost.

—Owner

Western Michigan University’s Starting Gate helped me take an idea and transform it into a much more attainable reality. Whether providing talks with investors and business owners or accountability, the ultimate goal is helping your business succeed.

—Peter Shutt

The Kalamazoo Land Bank did robust community engagement around the vision and gave us something to work with that was solidly desired by people in the neighborhood. Having a vision meant we had to protect it. That’s something I thank the Land Bank for. It was difficult. It didn’t make anything faster or easier, but we got a better project in the end as a result of it.

—Matt Hollander

Buy Local Greater Kalamazoo is a hard working grassroots group focused on the greater Kalamazoo community and its small businesses. Their events and networking opportunities are the best!

—Cheri Bales

Michigan SBDC is a great company providing top notch service to local businesses all over Michigan. The consultants are professional and the student workers contribute with excellent work!