Chautauqua County Chamber Of Commerce
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Annual Insurance Open Enrollment To Begin
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce annual Open Enrollment period for the health and dental insurance programs will begin in November.
Open enrollment is an intense time for both employees and employers alike. Employees are given the opportunity to re-evaluate their current benefits and make changes for the coming year, while employers are looking to provide solid plans in order to continue to attract and retain their current employees. It is also the only time of year when current participants may make changes to their coverage and the only time of year when current chamber members previously not enrolled may do so.
For any first time chamber members enrolling into our insurance program there is a 60-day waiting period. For existing members not currently enrolled in our insurance program or making changes to current policies there is a 30 day waiting period.
Chamber members will be mailed information regarding Open Enrollment and coverage options in the next few weeks.
For more information contact the chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101.
JCC To Host Free Vision Rehabilitation Seminar
There will be a free Vision Rehabilitation Seminar on Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Jamestown Community College in the Lenna Theater (Hultquist Building). The seminar will cover understanding Low Vision and the services that are available in our community. Sponsored by: Chautauqua Blind Association, Chautauqua PT, OT & SLP Professionals, JCC: Occupational Therapy Department with special guest, Christopher Colburn, OD, FAAO Low Vision Specialist. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP to 488-2322.
Free Poetry Reading At Spencer Hotel With Lola Haskins
Lola Haskins, poet and two-time recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, will read from her work on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Spencer Hotel and Spa on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution. The reading is free and open to the public.
Ms. Haskins reads as part of her five-day residential workshop at the Hotel. Her books include Desire Lines: New and Selected Poems, Extranjera, The Rim Benders, Iowa Poetry Prize-winner Hunger, Forty-Four Ambitions for the Piano, and Castings.
A dinner with Ms. Haskins before the reading is also open to the public. Tickets for the dinner are $20 per person for a three-course meal. Reservations are required and may be made directly through the Hotel at 357-3785 or stay@thespencer.com.
Building A Successful
Marketing Plan
(Reprinted from uschamber.com)
Every business, small or large, is more successful with a business plan. And the key component of a business plan is the marketing plan. A good marketing plan summarizes the who, what, where, when, and how much questions of company marketing and sales activities for the planning year:
Who are our target buyers?
What sources of uniqueness or positioning in the market do we have?
Where will we implement our marketing spending plans?
When will marketing spending plans occur?
How much sales, spending, and profits will we achieve?
The financial projections contained in the business plan are based on the assumptions contained in the marketing plan. It is the marketing plan that details when expenditures will be made, what level of sales will be achieved, and how and when advertising and promotional expenditures will be made. The major elements of a marketing plan are:
The situation analysis: This describes the total marketing environment in which the company competes and the status of company products and distribution channels.
The opportunity and issue analysis: This analyzes the major external opportunities and threats to the company and the internal strengths and weaknesses of the company, along with a discussion of key issues facing the company.
The goals and objectives section: This outlines major company goals and the marketing and financial objectives.
The marketing strategy section: This provides the company's marketing strategy statement, summarizing the key target buyer description, competitive market segments the company will compete in, the unique positioning of the company and its products compared to the competition, the reasons why it is unique or compelling to buyers, price strategy versus the competition, marketing spending strategy with advertising and promotion, and possible R&D and market research expenditure strategies.
The sales and marketing plan outlines each specific marketing event or action plan to increase sales. For example, it may contain a summary of quarterly promotion and advertising plans, with spending, timing, and share or shipment goals for each program.
