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December 26, 2007

News for association and chamber leaders

Business Leadership

Communicating well can help workers meet expectations
Often, when the employees of a small business fail to finish a task the way a manager expected it to be done, the issue is poor communication, says Stephen L. Rosenstein of Baltimore SCORE. Small-business managers can get better results from staff by establishing a mantra that focuses positively on the work process, not the individual person. The Sun (Baltimore) (12/23)

How to secure a bank loan
A business plan worthy of gaining loan approval needs to thoroughly identify essential facets of a company, its competition and market for its products and services. Anticipated growth rate usually is determined by revenue and profit growth patterns. CNNMoney.com/Fortune Small Business (12/20)

Understanding values helps reach multicultural customers
Businesses wanting to broaden their appeal to cultural and ethnic groups need to understand what their target customers most value -- cost, convenience or quality, for example, says international marketing expert Liz Topete-Stonefield. Translating a traditional ad into another language may not work. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) (12/20)

Advice: Spend time at work more wisely next year
USA TODAY columnist Steve Strauss has suggestions on how to improve business operations next year. Two major improvements, he says, are getting a handle on e-mail and time management. USA TODAY (12/24)

Limited resources lead to marketing alternatives
Most entrepreneurs do not have the money nor the savvy to launch successful marketing campaigns. This primer looks at how internal structures affect marketing decisions and lays out several alternative marketing techniques startups might use to attract customers. Hyper Passionate Entrepreneurs (12/21)

Quick Poll

Poll: Will 2008 bring changes to your organization?
Look for the results from today's poll in the Editor's Note section of next week's U.S. Chamber SmartBrief.

	Yes, I plan to revamp several operations.
	It's hard to predict changes, but I plan to keep my operations fluid and up to date.
	No, I don't anticipate making any major changes to my organization in 2008.

CEO Update

CEO Update and U.S. Chamber SmartBrief partner to bring you exclusive association and other nonprofit reports and career listings.

CEO search
CEO searches under way at these organizations: Atlanta Urban League, International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition and Washington Education Association. More information at CEO Update.
Nonprofit Recruiting Fact: What are your chances as a senior staffer to become a CEO? Find out here.
New at the Top: Association of Defense Communities, Bank Information Center and International Association of Arson Investigators. Find out who they are and where they came from at CEO Update.

Chamber Spotlight

Manufacturers sell online, keep distributors and retailers in the mix
Online sales jumped 24% to $102.1 billion last year, while total sales grew only 5.6%, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Some manufacturers are taking advantage of online shopping growth by using software that allows them to sell directly to consumers, but to distribute the sales to retailers based on geographical proximity. STORES magazine (12/2007)

Judge rules in favor of Ga. Chamber in land dispute
A Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of the Oglethorpe County, Ga., Chamber of Commerce in a case brought against the group by the Crawford city government. Both groups have claimed ownership of a small city park that is the site of the Chamber headquarters. Athens Banner-Herald (Ga.) (12/26)

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Association Watch

Gift cards offer fun and ease this holiday season
This year's holiday season offers shoppers an easy, entertaining gift-buying option: gift cards that boast lights, sounds, smells and familiar faces. More stores are offering gift cards this year, including Dillons, Walgreens and independent businesses, causing gift card sales to rise 44% from 2003. The National Retail Federation predicts gift card sales to reach $26.3 billion this year, making the cards the third most popular gift behind clothing and CDs/DVDs. LJWorld.com/Detroit Free Press (12/24)

Judge upholds New York's passenger rights law
A federal judge on Thursday upheld a New York law requiring airlines to accommodate travelers who are delayed for more than three hours. The Air Transport Association filed the lawsuit challenging the law and is considering an appeal. The ATA maintains that the federal government, not the states, is responsible for regulating airlines. The Wall Street Journal/Associated Press (12/20) , The New York Times (12/21) , Reuters (12/20)

U.S. Chamber Member Benefits

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Editor's Note

Poll results: How important is having one hit product to your organization?
Last week's poll asked readers how important having one hit product was to their organization.
- 27% said very important -- a hit product is the key ingredient to success.
- 63% said somewhat important, but other aspects play a role as well.
- 10% said not important -- having a hit product only adds to the pressures of running my operation.

SmartQuote

Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands -- and then eat just one of the pieces."

--Judith Viorst,
author and journalist

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Editorial Team

Contributing Editor: Ashley McMaster


	Recent U.S. Chamber SmartBrief Issues: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 Wednesday, December 05, 2007 Wednesday, November 28, 2007 Wednesday, November 21, 2007			Distributed by: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005