Torchlight - Summer 2025

TORCHLIGHT BBB® | Summer 2025

How your business can plan for uncertainty pg 4

Accredited Charities and Businesses drive tornado relief pg 8

New BBB study: Businesses lose billions to scams pg 11

Greg Kendall Commerce Bank The official magazine of Better Business Bureau® Serving Greater Missouri & Southern Illinois

THE SEAL ALWAYS SETS YOU APART One of St. Louis’ greatest sports icons is Hall of Fame New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra.

Berra, who would have turned 100 this May, was famous for his “Yogi-isms,” quotes that seemed nonsensical, but resonated with the public.

One of Yogi’s more famous sayings sums up where a lot of us are right now – “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

It wasn’t that long ago when business owners faced uncertainty in the marketplace thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those were rough times where businesses and consumers had to adjust quickly because of a changing landscape due to the pandemic.

Many industries are facing a changing landscape now thanks to tariff uncertainty. The effects tariffs may have on your business may vary by the day, meaning you have to constantly adjust your expectations. It’s a situation that mirrors what happened during the pandemic when change was the only constant.

Your customers are in the same situation. Is that item going to be the same price if they wait a week to buy it?

Or will the price go up? Will the business even be able to get them what they need if the supply chain is slowed?

Because of your Better Business Bureau Accreditation, you are set to tackle these challenges. During times of uncertainty, maintaining customer trust is critical. Your BBB Accreditation signals that you are ethical and trans-

parent, which can help ease customers’ fears during potential price fluctuations.

If your business is impacted by uncertainty, there is a chance you could run into upset customers. As an Accredited Business, you have access to many BBB resources, including toolkits, webinars, articles and insights, that can help you communicate with customers and maintain your business’ high ethical standards.

When times are the toughest, substandard actors can make the marketplace a challenge for everyone. Scammers love to take advantage of people in unpredictable times; they prey on consumer fears and try to leverage them. We saw this happen during the pandemic and it’s possible we could see some of the same things happen in the upcoming months.

As an Accredited Business, your Business Profile carries with it the trusted BBB Seal that shows you care about building trust in the marketplace. That Seal is a symbol that consumers trust. When they see that BBB torch logo associated with your business, they know their money is in good hands.

Not everyone who applies for BBB Accreditation receives it. You should be proud that your business made it through the rigorous vetting process before becoming part of our BBB family.

You made a commitment to adhere to the eight BBB Standards for Trust – Build Trust, Advertise Honestly, Tell the Truth, Be Transparent, Honor Promises, Be Responsive, Safeguard Privacy and Embody Integrity.

If you don’t already incorporate the BBB Seal in your marketing efforts, there is no better time than now to consider including it.

BBB TIPS, RIGHT IN YOUR INBOX. Scan to sign up for BBB’s weekly email newsletters for businesses and consumers!

← Business owners can get:

← Your employees can get:

• •

•

•

News, insights and exclusive BBB business tips Updates on BBB events Learning opportunities including webinars and courses

2 | BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

•

Consumer tips for safe shopping, cybersecurity and finding trusted businesses with BBB 1-minute polls to help make businesses better

Last year, BBB.org welcomed more than 150 million visitors. According to research done by the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, more than 80% of consumers would choose a BBB Accredited Business over a non-Accredited business with an A+ rating.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carolyn Beard

Tom Linhares

Don Brown

Lauren Marks

Angela Caputa

Meghan McClure

Angela Courtwright

Sean Nesbit

Terri DeMent

Brett Randoll

Joe Fisher

Stefan Sigurdson

Tom Gershman

Ben Stegmann

Callier & Thompson Kitchen Bath Appliance Don Brown Chevrolet

“More than 80% of consumers would choose a BBB Accredited Business over a non-Accredited Business.”

If you aren’t using the BBB Seal in your marketing, how are those consumers supposed to know that your business is different than others in your market?

When consumers see the Seal on your website or advertisement, they’re more likely to view your business as legitimate and reliable. Displaying the Seal can reassure hesitant customers, especially those shopping online, by showing that the business meets BBB’s Standards for Trust.

Displaying the Seal and referring to your BBB Accreditation can also help you with Search Engine Optimization and AI Answer Engine Optimization.

Search engines and AI tools value trust and authority, and having the BBB Seal and a link to your BBB Business Profile can contribute to improved rankings, especially in local searches.

During the pandemic, we were often reminded that “We’re all in this together.” The same applies today and fits BBB. For nearly 110 years, your Better Business Bureau has brought businesses and consumers together to foster a fair and ethical marketplace. The sailing hasn’t always been smooth, but with the help of Accredited Businesses like yours, BBB was able to persevere through many turbulent times.

By working together now, we’ll be able to make it through this, too, and we will all come out on the other side stronger and better.

Hoffman Brothers

More for Less Remodeling Nestlé Purina

DH Pace Company, Inc. Gershman Mortgage

Seth Goldkamp

Dodge Moving & Storage Co. Graybar

RubinBrown

Fence & Deck Depot McBride Homes

Allen Roofing & Siding Second Mile Service Company

Design Aire Heating & Cooling

Heidi Singleton***

Barry Grant

Todd Smith**

Katie Hopkins

Mary Schwartz Westerhold

Gonzalez Companies, LLC Truck Centers, Inc.

Schron Jackson Schnuck Markets

Greg Kendall* Commerce Bank

Sarah Kiefer Maritz

John Legens Drury Hotels

Ted Liebig

TREND Manufacturing Co.

New Honor Society

Waterway Carwash

Madison Communications

Launders Wince Ameren MO

Adriane Yates Spire

Michelle L. Corey**** Better Business Bureau

* Chairman of the Board ** Immediate Past Chair *** Advertising Club President **** President & CEO

Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Missouri & Southern Illinois 211 N. Broadway, Ste. 2060 St. Louis, MO 63102 Phone: (314) 645-3300 Fax: (314) 645-2666 Hannah Kloppenburg, Editor Email: hkloppenburg@stlouisbbb.org Cover photo by Carla Smith

Michelle L. Corey President & CEO, CAE

TORCHLIGHT

Torchlight (ISSN 1547-2043 USPS 053-540) is published quarterly

by Better Business Bureau, 211 N. Broadway, Ste. 2060, St. Louis, MO 63102. Subscriptions are available to BBB Accredited Businesses only. Periodicals Postage Paid at St. Louis, MO. Postmaster please send change of address to: Torchlight, Better Business Bureau, 211 N. Broadway, Ste. 2060, St. Louis, MO 63102.

SUMMER 2025 | 3

“A STABLE FORCE IN AN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT”

Greg Kendall at Commerce Bank’s headquarters in downtown Clayton, Mo.

Uncertainty hits all businesses hard – but it often hits small businesses, who run on tight margins, hardest. Throughout spring and summer 2025, economic policy has fluctuated, rattling businesses in many industries and impacting prices on imported goods, the supply chain and consumer sentiment. As of writing, trade deals are continuing to evolve. Accredited Business owners can’t control these factors – but sticking to what you CAN control can help your business stand strong when pricing and market conditions are difficult to predict.

REMEMBER THAT CHANGE IS A CONSTANT

ally when they figure the market can bear a price increase.

They’ll then run price promotions when they need surges in sales. But they’re delivering those surges in lower margin units, and so I think it’s hard for most small businesses.”

Supply chain issues, staffing challenges, remote work adjustments and the widespread adoption of AI have all shaken up the business world over the past few years. Recent price fluctuations add another item to the list.

Matt Bailey, COO of BP Builders, a commercial and residential construction company serving the Springfield, MO region, said that supply chain issues and inflation have stabilized in his industry over the past several years, but that changing tariffs may bring a new type of uncertainty.

The big-ticket question for businesses right now is how to adapt to the latest flavor of change.

“Commerce Bank is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year, and in that time, change has been a continual factor,” said Greg Kendall, Senior Vice President - Division Manager at Commerce Bank, which serves individuals and business clients of all kinds. “Our model for success includes remaining curious, which is something we strongly recommend to our customers as well.”

“In our business, we have not actually seen any [price] increases yet. But we are hearing it. There are products we have on boats coming across the ocean right now that will supposedly be hit with a 45% or 30% tariff depending on the product,” he explained at the time he was interviewed. “We just don’t know. So what we’ve had to do – this is for any industry – is try to help our clients understand what these market conditions are doing and keep very transparent.”

When a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and auto parts was announced, The Dave Mungenast Family of Dealerships saw increased demand as some customers tried to get ahead of pricing uncertainty.

Dr. Tim Keane is Chancellor of Webster University, and his career spans business and ethics academics as well as time in the private sector working for Anheuser-Busch and founding his own software business. He told BBB that historical context is important when facing uncertainty.

“This is one of many convulsive change periods that every market goes through, that the U.S. is going through, that the world goes through. It’s just taken on a different flavor,” Keane explained.

“It’s difficult to have a coherent pricing strategy in a volatile market,” he continued. “Most businesses follow an incremental pricing strategy, where they’ll raise prices margin-

4 | BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Dr. Tim Keane, Webster University

Vice President Jessica Mungenast said that they’ve been in constant communication with their partners at American Honda and haven’t expe-

rienced significant price changes as of the date of BBB’s interview, but they’re monitoring the situation.

Take an iterative approach to strategy

And keeping with themes, she said this kind of change isn’t necessarily new to the auto industry: “We have had some inventory fluctuations,” she said. “However, our employees have been through shortages, fluctuations and different challenges for the last few years and continue to preserve customer relationships and strong work ethics, and they are great at adapting.”

Keane said that small businesses may need to consider a new approach to strategic planning. Historically, he explained, many businesses created a five-year plan based on their offerings, environmental factors, and their company’s mission, vision and core values.

GO WITH THE FLOW, BUT KNOW WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL Businesses and experts recommended to BBB that Accredited Businesses should anticipate a need for flexibility and focus on factors they can control.

Plan for what you can Planning for the unknown is a headache, but it benefits your business and your customers to explore plenty of potential scenarios.

“No matter what changes occur in our clients’ business cycles, they may have more options than they realize,” said Kendall. “Having conversations with a trusted Jessica Mungenast, advisor is always a good step The Dave Mungenast for any business leader to Family of Dealerships take, particularly when working to identify ways in which their business can become more efficient so they’re better prepared for evolving market influences.”

Bailey said that the supply chain challenges of the past few years motivated his company to change their planning process. “We try to plan all the scenarios that we’ve seen in the last five years,” he said. He creates three or four budgets and schedules to discuss with clients before work begins, and for some projects they use a phased budget.

“Once we start, the owner already knows what could happen and what the worst-case scenario can look like,” he said. “I think there’s much more trust going into a project when you can be as transparent as possible before anything’s even on paper.”

Mungenast said that the dealership has been mitigating big impacts by keeping the team as informed as possible on potential new outcomes or planning changes.

“If training or process changes are necessary, we make sure those are complete,” she stated. “It’s important that everyone is on the same page and we adapt accordingly in the most effective way.”

TORCHLIGHT

Matt Bailey, BP Builders

“I would say to anybody today, throw that in the trash and don’t ever bring it out again.

Because the approach to strategic planning that used to be in place is pretty irrelevant with the rapid pace of change that we have. That’s been going on long before any of these current policy changes,” Keane said.

“What a small business especially ought to be thinking about is an iterative design approach to your planning, where you look at a window of perhaps 24 months and you assess what forces might impact you most. That requires you to do a very, very deep dive and a very honest reflection on what you’re good at,” he concluded.

Keane and Kendall both emphasized that a more flexible approach makes sense for any organization that wants to embrace innovation and new ideas while staying true to what makes them tick.

“The best advice is to stay flexible and agile, while at the same time using your core mission and principles as a guiding light. It’s critical to remain flexible to meet the ever-changing needs of all your stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, and customers, but that flexibility shouldn’t cause a business to stray from its core values, which often are what made it unique and successful in the first place,” said Kendall.

Optimize your cash flow and combat costs Keeping your cash flow tight and looking for opportunities to keep costs down can help your business absorb the impact of changing prices or demand. “[Optimizing cash flow] is always a priority,” said Keane. “If you’ve got ranges of margin expectations, that’s important because you know what your internal variable and fixed costs are. And if you can target ranges of net profit margin that are acceptable to you, that gives you some flexibility within which you can try to design a pricing strategy that’s coherent.”

Bailey emphasized that ever since the chaos of COVID-19, his company and industry have brought in strategies to keep costs down. “We’re already value engineering every job immediately to try to control those costs, whether it be finding products that are made in the United States or that have already been brought in ahead of tariffs,” he said.

SUMMER 2025 | 5

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS

TRUST ALWAYS MATTERS

Good customer communication has always been important, but right now, it’s critical.

No matter how external conditions change, having trusting relationships with your customers will always set you apart – and BBB Accreditation is a clear and timeless sign that your business is ethical and can be trusted.

As things change, be honest with your customers about how it may impact them and what you are doing to mitigate any price increases – even if you don’t have all the answers yet.

If you need to switch suppliers, have a transparent, respectful conversation about your needs.

“There’s a commitment that every organization makes to their values. And if their values are dictating their behavior and their relationships, then that should be consistent. It wouldn’t change no matter what the environment is,” Keane said.

“I recommend communicating early and often, and always in the most ethical manner. If you don’t know certain information, it’s okay to say so,” said Kendall. “I also believe that despite the many forms of communication available to us today, most people still appreciate hearing challenging news directly. An old-fashioned phone call or in-person visit is always meaningful.”

Kendall said that BBB has remained a symbol of trust throughout Commerce’s tenure as an Accredited Business.

“If we have to explain a price change to a customer, it shouldn’t be a tough topic, as long as it is justified,” said Mungenast. “If you maintain long term, strong relationships with your customers, treat them with respect, and are transparent with them from the start, that’s what’s important.”

According to Bailey, it’s all about transparency and educating your clients. Although he’s had tough conversations before, most clients appreciate honest expectation-setting and daily updates through project management software.

“Communication with owners has become so much more than it was in the past, just because of volatility in labor and products,” Bailey explained. “We’re very open. We want you to actually see what’s happening in real time so that you understand what we’re going through and what we’re doing to help you with those costs.”

Keane added that if you need to consider changing suppliers to lower costs, having a transparent conversation can help you preserve trusting relationships for the future. “You think about these relationships as being competitive, and I guess in some cases they are. But those commitments to ethics and each other, I think, are important too,” he said.

“At the end of the day, trust and ethics are paramount.”

- Greg Kendall, Commerce Bank

6 | BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

“There has been a Commerce team member on the BBB board for at least 17 years, and during that time we’ve closely observed how tirelessly the organization works to promote local businesses while also helping ensure they act with integrity,” he said. “At the end of the day, trust and ethics are paramount. Commerce has demonstrated the importance of those qualities for 160 years, and we live by them daily.”

Mungenast stated that in her experience, communication, a positive experience and a quality product are the most important aspects of maintaining trusting customer relationships.

“The Dave Mungenast Family of Dealerships chooses to be BBB Accredited because it signifies that we do business in an ethical manner,” she said. “The BBB has a well-established, positive reputation that the public depends on when looking for companies to do business with. For that reason, it is an honor to be accredited by them. We have always strived to do business in an honest, ethical and trustworthy way.”

“We joined [the BBB] originally because it was a symbol of credibility. And we felt that homeowners or business owners trusted that it wasn’t just us saying that we were a good contractor. We had a third-party endorsement,” Bailey said.

“Us joining showed we were committed to business ethics and resolving our disputes professionally, if we had any. I felt so strongly about it that when I was president, I made it part of our process of joining the local SBA,” he concluded.

At the end of the day, standing by your values and communicating them through avenues like BBB Accreditation can inspire customer loyalty in chaotic times.

Keane summed it up: “If you’re the stable force in an unstable environment to your customers, that is reassuring. And that builds intrinsic connections between you and your customers. That’s really what they’re looking for,” he said. “You know, you can imagine your customers are as confused about all this as you are, and that stability is what everybody is seeking. And if you’re one of those icons of consistency, that’s a big advantage.” BBB

HOW BBB CAN HELP YOU STAND OUT BBB Accreditation is one of the best tools you have to show customers and business partners that they can count on you even when things are uncertain. Here are a few ways you can use your Accreditation to stand out from the competition.

SHOW OFF YOUR BBB SEAL The BBB Seal is one of the most respected symbols in business.

If you aren’t using it, you’re missing out big time – it ties your business to BBB’s 100+ year reputation and shows customers that they can trust you.

Log in to your account at BBB.org/stlouis/login to download and start using the BBB Seal.

Places to use the BBB Seal: • •

Company vehicles Storefront or window • Websites or social media profiles • Email signatures • Business cards, estimates, invoices or contracts • Print or digital ads

TALK ABOUT YOUR BBB ACCREDITATION Your Accreditation is a selling point in conversations with potential new customers. This can be especially useful if you gain customers door-to-door, at events or over the phone. Put your BBB Seal on handouts or other leave-behind materials.

FILL OUT YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE Millions of customers visit BBB.org each week, and your Accreditation status is the first thing they’ll see. Over 80% of consumers said they would choose a BBB Accredited Business over a non-Accredited business with the same rating. Customers also search for businesses in search engines and AI tools that use BBB as an authoritative source.

Adding more information to your BBB Business Profile makes it easier for people to find you online. Only Accredited Businesses can personalize their profile with a company logo, photos and videos, which puts a friendly, trustworthy face to your business.

ASK CUSTOMERS TO LEAVE A BBB REVIEW Most potential customers read reviews – and they don’t necessarily need to be 100% positive for new customers to trust you. They’ll want to see that you are professional, responsive and willing to help. In fact, people spend up to 49% more money with businesses that reply to reviews.

Reviews may help your online visibility, too. Businesses with strong reviews and a track record of responding to customers have a better chance of coming up in AI-driven search results.

For more tips and resources for your business, visit BBB.org/all/your-business-HQ TORCHLIGHT

SUMMER 2025 | 7

the largest amount of residential destruction since the 2011 tornado in Joplin, MO. The Urban League has been a major organizer in a recovery effort that has allied nonprofits, businesses and volunteers.

Despite a lack of power, cell service and air conditioning at the headquarters, they immediately rolled out food, water and wellness checks, as well as emergency tarping to protect damaged homes from forecasted rain. Efforts then shifted to raising funds to house those who could not safely return to their homes, including a hotel voucher program.

Ameren played a key role in the initial response after the tornado cleared. They deployed over 2,000 resources to begin restoring power to hundreds of thousands of people.

Launders Wince, Senior Director Regional Operations with Ameren Missouri, said that with hundreds of huge, mature trees toppled and debris blocking roads and alleyways, it was difficult for workers to even reach downed poles and power lines. Ameren restored 100,000 customers’ power in the first 48 hours alone. Around 700 broken power line poles were replaced, some with composite poles that can bend and flex to better weather future storms. “We just kept going at it for seven solid days,” Wince said.

Wince explained that employees took the opportunity to upgrade damaged infrastructure, installing smart switches and automated devices. “The reliability in the Saint Louis metro area will be much, much better,” he said.

Volunteers from TW Constructors brought lifts to repair damaged homes in Fountain Park, St. Louis, Mo. Photo courtesy TW Constructors.

REBUILDING TOGETHER When a tornado tore a path from Clayton to Edwardsville, BBB Accredited Charities and Businesses helped St. Louis recover and rebuild.

On May 16, 2025, staff at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ headquarters experienced a life-changing event: A tornado broke windows, tore through ceilings and totaled their cars, causing millions of dollars in damage. Luckily, no staff members were harmed – and they wasted no time getting to work.

“To find the strength, the courage and the fortitude to focus more so on the community than themselves...I applaud and thank them for the amazing job that they have done,” said Michael P. McMillan, President & CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

The Urban League’s headquarters were one stop on a long path of destruction. The tornado swelled nearly a mile wide and reached EF3 intensity. It was the first deadly tornado in the area since 1959, and FEMA officials stated it caused

8 | BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Ameren made a $1M relief donation, with $750,000 going to local organizations and $250,000 going to energy assistance support programs for those directly impacted by the storm. They paused service disconnections while customers recovered. “[Local organizations] have the infrastructure and can provide the critical services,” Wince said. “We just want to work with our community partners so that we can assist families in need.”

Local organizations turned around huge relief efforts within mere days of the tornado. “Everything changed when the tornado hit,” said Meredith Knopp, President & CEO of St. Louis Area Foodbank. Her team has been working to get essential supplies directly to clients and supporting efforts with groups like the Urban League.

“If your home is destroyed, you don’t even have simple things like a toothbrush,” she explained.

The St. Louis Area Foodbank held two donation drives with the Jayson Tatum Foundation. The first drive brought in 52,000 pounds of food and supplies to support

Ameren employees repair a pole amidst downed trees in The Ville, St. Louis, Mo. Photo courtesy Ameren Missouri.

Volunteers load food and supplies into cars at a St. Louis Area Foodbank distribution event in downtown St. Louis, Mo. Photo courtesy St. Louis Area Foodbank.

six relief pods as well as the Disaster Assistance Center at Chaifetz Arena.

The Urban League conducted a total of six large-scale supply distribution events. Their first event, held on the weekend after the tornado, served 3,000 people.

A major focus of recovery is repairing the millions of dollars in damage to homes. St. Louis’ construction industry stepped up, coordinating with the City of St. Louis, Urban League and others to volunteer time, money and resources.

After receiving an email from the Urban League calling for skilled workers and general contractors, TW Constructors sent a crew and equipment including lifts to volunteer alongside other local construction companies.

“Our goal was to make sure that we were protecting the residents’ belongings,” said PJ Jacquez, Safety Director at TW Constructors. “We did our best to get the structure closed up so that we could protect things like pictures that wouldn’t be easily replaced.”

Volunteers quickly came together to form a melting pot of companies, contractors and handymen from all over the city. “You had general contractors, subcontractors, all different trades.

And it was just really neat to see everyone come together,” said Nick Gittemeier, Field Operations Manager at TW Constructors. “It didn’t matter who you worked for, you worked together

Rebuilding continues.

with the guys that were standing next to you.”

Jacquez felt that the business community was well positioned to help.

“Businesses came in, they stepped up. Our company financially supported this effort heavily, and then with labor and equipment, and all the other companies were doing the same thing,” he said. “The government has to jump through 1,001 hoops, but we didn’t have to jump through those hoops to be able to help the community. And I think it has really shone St. Louis contractors in a good light.”

For all involved in disaster response, trust is a huge factor. After past disasters, opportunistic scammers have impersonated the government or relief organizations. Fake charitable campaigns have duped well-meaning donors.

BBB Accreditation is one of the factors that can help people make a quick, confident decision to trust. “We moved forward [with BBB Accreditation] because one of the standards is showing that you’re not just some fly-by-night agency, especially in a situation like this,” said Jacquez.

Another factor that can inspire trust is a long, verifiable track record of good service. “We’re getting ready to commemorate 50 years in July. We have been here to support our community for a very long time. And we will be here for the next 50 years,” Knopp

For more ways you or your business can support tornado relief, please see page 10.

TORCHLIGHT

Volunteers and staff with the Urban League handed out food and supplies to thousands of people during six distribution events at its headquarters. Photo courtesy Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

said. “People look for names and people they can trust. And our name is trusted. Our brand is trusted. People know that we are going to be there.”

“We are honored and blessed to have been a member of the BBB for a very long time, and we take that designation very seriously. We work every year to make sure that we maintain it in a significant and stellar way,” McMillan said.

He said that the Urban League’s 107year proven track record has opened doors to provide millions of dollars’ worth of supplies and support. “We hope to have millions more in the future to give directly and immediately to the community,” he concluded.

Those leading tornado response efforts say that support will be needed in the St. Louis metro area for a long time as families rebuild.

“We are just beyond grateful for the overwhelming show of support, the consistent show of volunteers, the collaboration and cooperation in the not-for-profit, government and civic community – and we need everyone to keep that enthusiasm going,” explained McMillan. “We will be a bridge and a place where people can come together and bring resources from those that have them to give to those that need them to rebuild. And we will do it for the long term, and we will pivot as the needs of the community evolve.” BBB

Many Accredited Charities and Businesses other than those interviewed here contributed to tornado relief efforts with essential services, generous donations, volunteering or simply by doing their jobs ethically and compassionately. Thank you!

SUMMER 2025 | 9

YOUR BBB IN THE COMMUNITY Right, below: BBB Columbia Regional Director Khesha Duncan presented to the Jefferson City West Rotary Club in May. Above: BBB Cape Girardeau Regional Director Sydney Waters and the Leadership Cape Class of 2025 partnered with the Cape Girardeau Public Library for a community improvement project. Left, below: Waters and KRCU Public Radio hosted KRCU Koffee at Broadway Bistro this spring to teach attendees how to avoid scams.

Left, above: Businesses and BBB Springfield Regional Director Pamela Hernandez mingled at Coffee Connections in April.

SAVE THE DATE! St. Louis

Tues., October 7, 2025 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Missouri Athletic Club

Springfield

Weds., October 29, 2025 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The Old Glass Place

BBB’s Torch Awards for Ethics events honor individuals and organizations in our communities who uphold the highest standards of trust and ethics. These events and our Student of Ethics scholarships are made possible by the generous support of local businesses. Scan the QR code for your region to learn about our sponsorship benefits or make a reservation!

10 | BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

TORNADO RELIEF Businesses that would like to volunteer or support rebuilding efforts in the St. Louis region after the May 16 tornado may contact the Urban League at (314) 615-3600 To volunteer or donate, visit ULSTL.com or STLFoodbank.org Customers seeking energy assistance may check their eligibility at Ameren.com/MayTornadoRelief Visit the City of St. Louis at stlouis-mo.gov to donate to the Tornado Response Fund or submit an assessment form if the tornado impacted your business.

Scan the QR code to view BBB’s disaster relief resources. →

SCAMS TARGETING BUSINESSES Your support allows BBB to conduct research that helps advance ethics in the marketplace. In our most recent study, “BBB Study: How impostors, stolen data and fake services cost businesses billions,” we found that scams cost businesses billions each year — but there are ways to fight back.

If your business has experienced a scam, you’re not alone. Almost 80% of companies dealt with attempted fraud in 2024, according to one report.

Reports ranged from light nuisances, like spam emails, to complete disruptions, like scammers holding business data for ransom.

RED FLAGS •

2022-2025: Reports across North America

• •

3.6K

•

74.4K

•

•

BBB Scam TrackerSM

•

Federal Bureau of Investigation

9.2K

Unknown businesses, government agencies and big-ticket buyers Invoices from unexpected emails Odd behavior from known vendors or businesses Requests for payment through gift cards or pre-paid debit cards Urgent demands to renew or obtain licenses or trademarks Claims about expiring domain names or requests to pay urgently Consultants making big promises about helping your business

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Losses for businesses

$4.9M

Cost of the average data breach Federal agencies report billions lost annually

How you and your employees can avoid business scams: • • • • •

Train employees to recognize scams Double check invoices and payments before sending Verify vendor contact information Establish payment procedures Avoid wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards and gift cards

• • • • •

Maintain good financial records Don’t trust caller ID or names on emails Research new companies asking to do business Install firewalls, multifactor authentication and other security measures Obtain verification on social media profiles

Read the complete study at BBB.org/ScamStudies TORCHLIGHT

SUMMER 2025 | 11

Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Missouri & Southern Illinois 211 N. Broadway, Suite 2060 St. Louis, MO 63102

Search Engine Solution+ When customers search, help them find YOU.

BBB Search Engine Solution+ brings new customers to you by combining trust in BBB with the power of search engine marketing.

We create ads that feature your logo alongside the recognized and trusted BBB Seal, driving customers to click through to your BBB Business Profile.

SES+ also re-targets people who have shown interest in your business or industry before, bringing you engaged new customers!

You worked hard to earn your BBB Seal.

Make sure it’s working as hard as it can for you.

For more information, contact Mike McCarthy (314) 584-6747 | mmccarthy@stlouisbbb.org