Small Business Corner 4

AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, PLANNING YOUR MARKETING STRATEGY FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR IS CRUCIAL FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AND SUCCESS. BUT IT’S EASY TO PUT IT OFF UNTIL YEAR’S END, GET STUCK IN THE CRAZINESS OF BACK-TO-BACK HOLIDAYS, FAMILY AND KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, AND THEN COME UP FOR AIR MID-JANUARY ONLY TO REALIZE THAT YOU’RE ALREADY BEHIND to offer child care support to a broader swath of their employee population. According to Harris Poll, 67% of employees believe employers should offset the cost of child care.

♦ Use SEO and Website Optimization conduct competitive keyword research and make necessary improvements to boost your online visibility.

♦ Paid Advertising consider paid advertising on platforms like Google Ads or social media sites. Run targeted campaigns to reach potential customers. Use analytics to determine campaign success before moving to the next campaign.

♦ Public Relations identify opportunities for media coverage, partnerships, or collaborations that can boost your brand’s visibility. Local media LOVE local stories!

There will always be other opportunities that arise throughout the year, but having a solid plan in place will help keep your marketing activity consistent and your goals in plain sight, while helping to ensure a happy, growing client base. Cheers to a smooth & successful year end, and a prosperous 2024!

2. BACKUP CARE: Backup care supports families on a moment’s notice when their regular child care falls through by allowing them access to in-center care.

3. ON-SITE CHILD CARE : A custom, high-quality on-site early learning center brings child care directly to employees, allowing parents to be near their children even while they’re at work.

4. BEFORE-AND-AFTER-SCHOOL CARE: Child care needs don’t end when a child goes to elementary school. Many families struggle to bridge the gap between school and workdays beginning and ending. Employ-ers can help bridge the time gap by providing access to a safe place for elementary school-age children to continue their educational journey while parents start and finish their workdays.

Find tips to talk with your employees or employers about these offerings at: kindercare.com/employer-sponsored-child-care

One of the fun parts that comes with the changing of seasons is switching up what you wear. My favorite time of year is fall and all the clothes that come with it - layers, textures, cozy knits, etc. However, living in southern California doesn’t exactly lend itself to all those cozy pieces, at least not right away. So, how can we dress for the Fall season without ending up a hot sweaty mess?

Carrie Harkin Personal Stylist

Dress For Fall In A Warm Climate

1. SUEDE: This ultimate fall texture is so rich and will give any outfit a fall twist. Even a touch of suede in a bag or boots paired back to lighter fabrics takes your outfit to a new place. You can incorporate suede in so many ways whether it be pants, a skirt, top or jacket. The best part is there are stylish options available in both real and faux suede so you’ll be sure to find something no matter your budget or lifestyle.

2. SLEEVELESS/SHORT-SLEEVED SWEATERS: Probably the one piece of clothing that screams fall is a comfy sweater. The coziness of a good sweater can still be translated to warmer weather; all you have to do is drop the sleeves. A knit tank/vest or short sleeve sweater gives you the look of Fall warmth without the heat. Not too keen on showing your arms? Wear it under

Outsmart Criminals

by Martha Weaver Retail Gift Card Association Fraud Committee Chair

It's unfortunate, but criminals are smart and getting more sophisticated every day. With so much technology and artificial intelligence (AI) readily available, they constantly find cunning ways to prey on honest, hardworking people. Criminals use different scams to steal money in clever ways, and many use methods that involve debit and credit cards, bank accounts and gift cards.

People love gift cards, which have been the top requested gift in the U.S. for nearly two decades according to the National Retail Federation. And this holiday shopping season, gift cards will be a go-to for millions of people with positive intentions. But just like everyday people love giving, receiving and using gift cards, unfortunately so do criminals.

I am a fraud expert with the Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA), a nonprofit trade organization that represents the gift card industry. We have more than 100 of the world's top brands on our roster, and our mission is to promote positive gift card experiences among shoppers - which includes working with law enforcement to go after criminals and providing shoppers like