Spring Cleaning? Teachers Need Your Office Supplies
Spring cleaning your office? Downsizing? Going fully remote? Don’t toss those supplies—donate them to WakeEd Partnership’s free classroom supply store Tools4Schools and help Wake County Public Schools teachers stock their classrooms. Tools4Schools is looking for items like staplers, tape dispensers, hole punchers, and paper cutters—new or gently used. Our big Summer Supply Drive kicks off in July—but teachers need supplies now to finish the school year
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 National Grant Now Accepting Applications
&##128680; Small Business Owners — Don’t Miss This! &##128680; Apply once in 2026 for a chance to receive a $10,000 grant through Verizon Digital Ready How to apply:✅ Register here: Verizon Digital Ready ✅ Complete any 2 eligible courses or events in your Verizon Digital Ready account you just registered for to unlock the grant application (Registration to Verizon Digital Ready has no cost) Who’s eligible?✔️ For-profit small business owners (U.S., Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands)✔️ 18+
We Need Your Input for the Future of Wake County's Workforce: Regional Skills Analysis Survey
The quality of our current and future workforce is increasingly seen as the most important factor in our region’s economic growth and vitality. To address this and improve the employment pipeline, we are partnering with the Greater Raleigh Chamber and Capital Area Workforce Development Board to better understand skills gaps and employer needs. https://raleigh-wake.org/talentsurvey We are seeking business owners and HR professionals to participate in the 2026 iteration of the Regional Skills Analysis. The
Refresh Your Brand Without Breaking the Bank: A Guide for Zebulon Small Businesses
A brand refresh doesn't require a five-figure agency retainer. For small businesses in Zebulon and the surrounding Wake County area, the most impactful updates — from tightening your visuals to strengthening your digital presence — can be done affordably, and many tools cost nothing at all. The stakes are real: research shows that brand consistency drives revenue — 68% of organizations say it contributed at least 10% to their growth — meaning this isn't just a cosmetic exercise. If cost concerns have
From Message to Momentum: Public Speaking for Business Growth
Small business owners often serve as the public face of their companies. Whether you’re pitching investors, leading team meetings, hosting webinars, or speaking at community events, your ability to communicate clearly and confidently directly affects growth. Strong public speaking is not about sounding perfect. It’s about conveying ideas in a way that builds trust, drives action, and strengthens your brand.Key Takeaways Public speaking is a revenue-driving skill, not just a confidence booster. Clear,
The ROI Advantage of Direct Mail for Community-Focused Businesses
Zebulon Chamber of Commerce members know the challenge well: customers are buried under emails, ads, and notifications. Direct mail offers a different path — quieter, more tangible, and surprisingly effective for businesses trying to create real, measurable connections. In brief: Direct mail routinely outperforms many digital-only campaigns in response rate and recall Physical mail is harder to ignore and easier to trust Integrating mail with digital channels strengthens ROI through multi-touch
How to Use AI to Boost Your Personal Brand and Grow Online
Source: ZenBusiness | ConsultingBuilding a strong personal brand used to mean shaking hands, showing up at local events, and sharing your story in person. Those things still matter—but now, AI gives business owners and professionals in Zebulon a new way to amplify those same strengths online. With a few smart tools and a bit of creativity, AI can help you tell your story, connect with customers, and stand out in a crowded digital world.TL;DR Use AI to refine your message, not replace your
Create Pro Graphics Without a Designer: A Guide for Busy Business Owners
You’re launching a seasonal campaign, refreshing your brand, or promoting an event — but hiring a designer feels out of reach. Sound familiar? For many small business owners, graphic design becomes a time-consuming bottleneck. Thankfully, there are fast, simple ways to create visuals that work without needing a design degree or expensive software. Whether you're managing marketing on your own or delegating it to a lean team, these do-it-yourself design strategies can help you stay consistent, look
Crossing Borders: How SMBs Can Navigate the Leap into Global Markets
Cracking international markets isn’t just the realm of giants anymore. As cross-border commerce becomes more accessible, small and medium-sized businesses are eyeing the world stage with real intent—and rightly so. Digital platforms, diversified supply chains, and global e-commerce have lowered the bar for entry, but they’ve also raised the stakes. The path to international expansion may be promising, but it demands more than ambition and a translation tool. Don’t Lead With the Product—Lead With Local
