Horseshoe Chamber Blog

Gone Google: New Search Engine Gives Google a Run For Its Money

3Feb

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

Gone Google: New Search Engine Gives Google a Run For Its Money

Google may still be the largest Internet search engine in the world but if a certain aquatic animal has its way, it may not last. DuckDuckGo is the latest search engine to take the Internet by storm. Launched in 2008, DuckDuckGo has slowly but surely etched its way into notoriety, carving a considerable market-share for itself. Approximately 93% of all Internet sessions begins with a visit to a search engine (primarily Google). Needless to say, whatever controls the search engine market controls the world...wide web. Founded by MIT alumnus Gabriel Weinberg, the site is known for its robust protection of privacy, contrasting itself from the cookie-and-shared-data-crazed Google. According to the British website Metro.com.uk, DuckDuckGo does not collect or share any user data. It doesn't us...

Arizona Aims to Strengthen International Business Relations With Canada in 2015

23Jan

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

Arizona Aims to Strengthen International Business Relations With Canada in 2015

It looks like the state of Arizona will be singing "Oh, Canada..." more often -- and with more fervor -- in 2015. When discussing the Copper state's international business ties, the natural reaction is to consider the state's relationship with nearby Mexico, but 2015 is slated to become a big year for business with Canada. Glenn Williamson, CEO and founder of the Canada Arizona Business Council, which focuses on trade and business relations between Arizona and Canada, said there are three main areas of Arizona business that are set to flourish between the state and Canada this year. Trade Williamson expects trade to have a more significant impact on Arizona's economy in 2015 compared to previous years. "We're watching a continued growth in the aerospace and automotive sector...

Recession-Proof Businesses Offer Entrepreneurs Greater Chance at Survival

22Jan

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

Recession-Proof Businesses Offer Entrepreneurs Greater Chance at Survival

According to the Small Business Administration's latest statistics, about 66% of all new businesses only survive two years, while 45% survive for four years. With such slim odds, it's a wonder how any entrepreneur can pluck up the courage to open his or her own new business. One of the best ways to reduce that risk of failure, though, is to open a business in an industry with a proven track record of stability. Though there's no such thing as guaranteed success anywhere in the business world, certain industries seem to weather financial hardships much more easily than others. This is likely because there's a pre existing demand for their services, which will not likely falter any time soon. Take the pharmaceutical industry, for example. People will always be getting sick, and so there's ...

Indian E-Commerce Firm Flipkart Announces Another $700 million in Investments

27Dec

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

Indian E-Commerce Firm Flipkart Announces Another $700 million in Investments

The most current e-commerce statistics from Statista.com state that 40% of internet users worldwide have purchased products or goods online, and that number is only expected to grow. Although it may seem like world e-commerce leader Amazon is poised to take over the rest of the market, a newbie company from India may give it a run for its money. Sachin and Binny Bansal (who are not related) started their careers in e-commerce in 2007 as Amazon.com engineers, assisting the U.S.-based company with its expansion into India, where the two men are from. Now, the Bansals' post-Amazon small business venture is set to oust Amazon as the top online retailer in India. India's young e-commerce market is currently being dominated by Flipkart, the brainchild of the two Bansals, and they recently anno...

Great News for Small Town Americans: Affordable Care Act Has More Options for 2015

23Dec

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

Great News for Small Town Americans: Affordable Care Act Has More Options for 2015

Even though Monday, Dec. 15 was the deadline for a Jan. 1, 2015, healthcare plan start date, there is still time to sign up under the Affordable Care Act, according to officials. Enrollees have until Jan. 15 to sign up if they want coverage to start on Feb. 1. Open enrollment will last until Feb. 15 for coverage that will begin on March 1. Even those who signed up in 2014 are still encouraged to take a look at their health insurance options this time around. Some premiums have changed, and all who bought insurance get subsidies on their incomes, so it's important to check that personal information is accurate on www.healthcare.gov. In 2014, the penalty for not having insurance was 1% of a person's income or $95 per person -- whichever amount was higher. That amount goes up to 2% o...

Tennessee Town Attempts to Ban Negative Social Media Comments

23Dec

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

Local News

Tennessee Town Attempts to Ban Negative Social Media Comments

South Pittsburg is a small town in Tennessee with a population of 2,992. Perhaps best known as the site of the National Cornbread Festival, the town is typically devoid of any scandal or excitement that might attract national attention. However, thanks to an ill-advised ruling, South Pittsburg is now drawing ire from social media enthusiasts around the country: the city council recently voted to ban negative comments about the town from appearing online. South Pittsburg's town commissioners recently voted 4-1 in favor of an "all-inclusive" social networking policy. This policy would prohibit all elected officials, appointed board members, employees, volunteers, and contractors from making comments about the town's boards, officials, and organizations on social media sites. City employees ...

2014 Small Business Saturday Significantly Less Profitable Than Expected

18Dec

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

2014 Small Business Saturday Significantly Less Profitable Than Expected

In what may have been one of the most unknown and unexpectedly successful marketing ploy in recent years, the tradition of "Small Business Saturday" recently took place on Main Streets across the country. The event was started by American Express in 2010, and in the past four years, it has become a "nationally recognized day," according to Boston Globe correspondent Jennifer Smith. Small Business Saturday has created a sense of community and has fostered the growth of many small businesses, which might otherwise have gone unrecognized in their respective communities. But as Forbes contributor Gene Marks notes, a study published at the beginning of December by The National Federation of Independent Business and American Express, shows that this year's Small Business Saturday (which was hel...

U.S. Forest Service Developing Strategy to Accommodate Nationwide Demand for Outdoor Recreation

18Dec

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

U.S. Forest Service Developing Strategy to Accommodate Nationwide Demand for Outdoor Recreation

When it comes to the idea of the "great American pastime," forget baseball -- because it seems that camping is now the go-to activity for American families. In the last year alone, about 43 million Americans went on a camping trip. And with the number projected to grow even higher in the future, the U.S. Forest Service is now developing a strategy to meet this demand and give Americans more room to enjoy the great outdoors. According to a December 13 Ravalli Republic article, a few Forest Service officials recently met with trail crew foremen, landscape architects, wildlife biologists and more to construct a plan to sustainably expand the amount of public recreation area that is available to Americans. The Forest Service is also grappling with ways to fund upkeep for these lands, accord...

Two Moving Scams in Arizona Face Lawsuits from State Attorney General

13Dec

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

Local News

Two Moving Scams in Arizona Face Lawsuits from State Attorney General

Two Arizona-based moving companies are facing consumer-fraud lawsuits from the state's Attorney General, Tom Horne. The lawsuits allege that 3 Gorillas Moving and Storage LLC in Tuscon, and Allstars Movers and Storage Inc. in Phoenix, engaged in practices that were deceptive, misleading, and just plain false. Both companies are charged with falsely representing the costs of their services, demanding payment when reaching a destination, and refusing to unload trucks unless customers paid up. Both companies also provided unfair claims processes for items that were lost or damaged. The defendants in each lawsuit will have to pay restitution for customers if they are charged, in addition to fines of $10,000, per violation of the Consumer Fraud Act. Allstars Movers go by several nam...

New Survey Finds Work Time and Personal Time Bleeding Together, And That’s a Good Thing

26Nov

By Horseshoe Bend Chamber of CommerceNo Comments

National News

New Survey Finds Work Time and Personal Time Bleeding Together, And That’s a Good Thing

The thin veneer separating work time and personal time has seemingly disappeared. Mobile devices, like smartphones and tablet computers, now allow professionals to get to work as quickly as it takes to unlock their home screens. They can respond to emails, field phone calls, answer texts, edit presentations, and more, all on their mobile devices. Plus, they're the dominant way for people to get online now, too. Consumers spend about 60% of their time online on mobile devices, as opposed to laptops or desktops. Perhaps surprisingly, many business professionals think that this is a good thing. According to a new survey from Entrepreneur, about 80% of surveyed professionals felt positively about being tethered to their offices via their mobile devices, while nearly three in 10 thought it w...