Amanda Cole discusses the role at Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce
Did you know that there is a regional chamber of commerce focused on companies belonging to LGBT? The executive director of Plexus, Amanda Cole, gives an overview.
- President Donald Trump’s pricing policies contribute to an uncertain economy for everyone, according to business networks.
- Three local chambers of commerce in northeast Ohio have offered advice to businesses and consumers to survive current economic difficulties.
- Their advice include patience and understanding on behalf of consumers, and a clear explanation of companies on the impact of tariffs on their operations.
Several business networks at the service of the Akron region say that President Donald Trump’s pricing policies make some companies plan to close, suspend hiring and make other important decisions – which leads to consumer discomfort to pay more for goods.
Companies, however, can use a range of strategies to resist economic uncertainty and strengthen consumer confidence, suggested local chambers of commerce. It starts, they said, with companies clearly explaining customers how the prices work, being simple on how their business is assigned and urging consumers to support small businesses.
Amanda Cole, executive director of the Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce, said that it has become more difficult for consumers to choose small businesses due to high costs.
“We are already spending more in traditional goods and services,” she said, “not to mention the choice to cross the street to buy jewelry instead of Target-it will be more difficult.”
Robert Dejournett and Misty Beasley, heads of newly launched Black Chamber of Commerce, Comté de Summit (BCCSC) – sees imminent austerity as an opportunity to present a resilient and collaborative audience.
“One thing about this community,” said Dejournett, “when the tokens have broken down, we meet.”
The president and chief executive officer of the Grande Chamber Akron, Steve Millard, said that the reluctance of buyers to spend affects everyone.
“While people are starting to get uncomfortable because consumers have some concern about what will happen for them, it tends to create an economic slowdown for everyone,” said Millard.
What local chambers of commerce do their members hear?
Black Chamber of Commerce, Summit County on companies in the region
Robert Dejournett and Misty Beasley of the Black Chamber of Commerce, Summit County speak of the importance of supporting local businesses
Companies with import-export operations see higher costs, said Beasley, and some companies plan to close.
The universal price increase, she explained, makes supplies and inventories more expensive “so that it can take place, most likely to the consumer”.
She said business owners are concerned about their sustainability, their growth and their job creation.
“Everyone feels, I would say, a little uncomfortable, if it’s a good word to use,” said Beasley.
Cole said that companies have not recovered from the disturbances of the supply chain of the era of the short. Inflation continues, it also causes problems.
Companies operating on narrow margins – restaurants, for example – are affected by Trump’s pricing decisions. And the pressure to dissolve the programs of federal and state, equity and inclusion diversity, said Cole, in -depth the difficulties for the companies held and exploited by historically marginalized people.
“It is really difficult to go to the scale when you have such disturbances in the supply chain, when you have disturbances in basic workplace practices, such as inclusive hiring and the acquisition of talents and inclusive advantages and these things, when you are afraid of the way of navigating Dei, and especially if you are already a minority business,” she said. “The simple fact of being a black business belonging to women gives you the impression that there is a reticle on you because we speak to you deliberately and specifically.”
The wide bunch of companies represented by the largest Akron room means that the impact on its members varies considerably, said Millard. Generally, he said, the rapidly changing political landscape forced companies to stop long-term planning decisions-delaying hiring, keeping species and waiting “large decisions that they could make just to see if the environment will stabilize a little”.
“For some of our members who use offshore resources for raw materials, or even finished goods, they do not know how much they should adjust prices and react to that because they do not know how long it will stay,” said Millard.
Conversely, national manufacturers with “mainly competitors abroad feel good in part of this, this helps their business a little,” he said.
How can companies help consumers resist the storm?
“I think it is really important for small businesses to talk about the impact in clear language, to be really in advance,” said Cole. “If they use social media, they can find ways to talk about it,” stressing the importance for all companies to clearly explain the complex operational aspects.
Millard echoes the feeling of Cole, saying that companies should communicate clearly with customers about what is happening and how it will affect buyers. Beyond that, there are few options.
“It is not much that sole proprietorship can deal with these wind contrary winds that they do not create,” he said.
Beasley suggested monitoring customers to see what companies have been done could respond “and in this way, we continue to develop our businesses, not just in the same channels.”
Dejournett recommended using promotions and sales to help you.
“The cost of everything rises,” said Dejournett, “so you can’t take too much success in the place where it will injure you to enjoy.”
How can consumers help companies?
“We are really trying to encourage people to have more patience with small businesses, to understand that their delivery times could be longer, understand that they will have to compensate (consumer tariff costs),” said Cole.
Small businesses, she said, do not have the same ability to put pressure for pricing exemptions in the same way as Apple can.
“I think that shopping small, shopping local,” said Beasley. “Bringing into your local economy is always a great thing.”
“If we do not support our black companies and we do not support our small businesses, we do not support our community,” said Dejournett. “Our community will grow and prosper by this support.”
It is important, said Millard, that customers are aware of the pressure on businesses. Soon, he said, consumers will start to see price increases pulled by Trump’s prices.
“While I speak to businesses, they do as much as possible to minimize this impact on consumers,” he said, “but I think consumers must understand that it costs more money to companies, and therefore they will have to find a way to pass this.
“So, if you have had a long -term relationship with a long -term supplier or relationship with a brand or a product that you buy regularly, I think consumers must understand that they will see an impact on this price of these things,” said Millard. “It is not the fault of sole proprietorships.”
Contact the journalist Derek Kreider to dkreider@gannett.com or 330-541-9413.