With small businesses across Michigan struggling, the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce this week brought in public accountant Dale Bender for a presentation aimed at helping local business owners. It was titled “Mind Your Own Business.”

Bender, who runs his business out of Dearborn, spoke on a number of issues business owners can address in order to survive and even thrive in the midst of the current recession.

“Organization is the key,” said Bender, when asked about the most important tip he had for small businesses.

“You’ve got to have good information so you can be flexible and adaptive in today’s market because things change so rapidly.

“If you can be more efficient, you can be more competitive.”

Also falling under the category of organizational skills, Bender emphasized strategic planning and the identification of priorities as important things for small businesses to focus on. Oftentimes, businesses are too content just going about their day-to-day functions with no specific short-term or long-term goals, allowing other more ambitious businesses to catch up and eventually surpass them.

LaFontaine Honda car salesman Jordan Key enjoyed the seminar and shared his own personal best tip for small business owners afterwards.

“It’s important to find something different that sets me apart from everyone else in town,” said Key.

“Whether it’s doing different promotions or having early service times, you need to make sure you take care of the customers’ needs.”

Another attendee, Tom Glesken, a director of the Putnam County YMCA, said that effective communication with customers is the most important tip he wanted to pass on. His YMCA was forced to increase prices and feared losing much of its customer base, but they made it a point to inform their customers a few weeks ahead of time and to make sure to answer any questions and to explain the situation in an honest fashion.

Glesken also wanted to remind business owners that good old fashioned customer service never goes out of style.

“The previous director was focused on just getting memberships in, but we wanted to not only get people in but to keep them coming, at least 12 times a month,” he said.

To keep the customers happy, Glesken installed extra amenities like free wi-fi Internet, which he said didn’t cost very much money, and also added a coffee shop and listened to other suggestions customers provided. He changed fitness classes from pay-only to free and focused on keeping the customers he had content.

“The customers started bringing friends; word of mouth gets out. We start getting more business on some visits and sales go up and then we can get a read on the people who come so it’s all connected.”

Small business owners would also do well to stay connected with the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce for assistance in keeping their business in good shape.

Event Director Peggy Richard talked about the “Mind Your Own Business” event’s purpose.

“We want to add value to our memberships because we’re thrilled they have stuck with us through questionable times, so we wanted to give them added value free to chamber members,” she said.

Richard said the event was helpful from a networking standpoint as well and talked about how the chamber can help during troubled times.

“We want people to know how to navigate the tricky credit and financial markets. Most of our members are small business owners.

“We also want to give them the opportunity to connect with the media. A lot of people are cutting advertising dollars but advertising is very important right now and this is not the time to cut advertising.”

To get in touch with the chamber or to inquire about membership, contact Membership Director Renee Aloe at 313.584.6100.