The U.S. Chamber and CO—, the Chamber’s digital platform for small businesses, kicked off Small Business Month alongside business experts and entrepreneurs at a special event in Washington, D.C.
Speakers shared insights and actionable tips for small businesses looking to accelerate growth and scale their operations while discussing top issues impacting small businesses, like trade, tariffs, and taxes.
Watch the event livestream here. The video and recaps of each session will be posted here and on the CO— website soon.
Share Your Story: Trade
We are collecting stories from businesses large and small in communities across the country to highlight the growth achieved when government gets policy right – and what’s at stake when it doesn’t.
Small Business Policy Update: Tariffs, Taxes, and More
Coinciding with Small Business Day, the U.S. Chamber sent a letter on May 1 asking the administration to address the impacts of tariffs by granting automatic exclusions for any small business importer.
The Chamber’s EVP and Chief Policy Officer, Neil Bradley, discussed the letter and current issues impacting small businesses across the country with CO— Editor-in-Chief Jeanette Mulvey.
“If you’re a small business, you might not have weeks or months to wait,” Bradley said. “If we don’t do something to fix these tariffs, I’m worried we’re going to be stumbling into a recession.”
Apply for the CO—100
Apply to our premier awards program, the CO—100, to earn your spot on our list of America’s top small businesses. Enter your business in up to five award categories spanning a broad range of specialties, including tech innovation, marketing excellence, global expansion, longevity, and company culture.
Achieving Growth and Success Through the CO—100
Three honorees representing the 2024 U.S. Chamber CO-100 shared their insights into what drives their growth and how they measure success.
For Rachel Garcia, owner of Dry Goods Refillery, a keen focus on staying nimble and maintaining trust with customers and community has kept her business ahead of the curve.
“They trust us, our staff, and our decision-making. We are a source of inspiration for them," said Rachel Garcia, owner of Dry Goods Refillery.
Pallavi Pande, owner and Founder of DTOCS, says an obsession with listening to her customers and delivering on the products they are asking for has fueled growth for her sustainable paper goods company, explaining that “making it about [the customers] is the key.”
At Beck Flavors, President Matt Carr has invested in his employees and focused on workplace culture to make his business the best workplace his employees have ever worked in.
“Community is really important. It's not just the community that our employees live in, it's the community that we live in," said Matt Carr, President of Beck Flavors. "So we have focused heavily on giving back to our community in several different areas.”
C-Suite to Main Street: Tuckernuck
Jocelyn Gailliot, the co-founder and CEO of Tuckernuck, shared her insights into key strategies, innovations, and leadership principles that have driven the success and growth of her company.
Gailliot started her business in a competitive landscape but quickly realized she could capitalize on a "big explosion in e-commerce" and achieved 80% sales growth in the past three years.
She kept her team innovative by continuously asking: “How can we create that next generation of retail shopping experience?”
That led to Tuckernuck creating a "content-first" company with the ability to change up and experiment with content to reach an ever-growing list of distribution channels.
Small Business Day marks the start of Small Business Month, showcasing the resilience and ingenuity of small businesses nationwide. Entrepreneurs and experts shared practical strategies for growth and adaptation amidst economic challenges.
Success stories from CO—100 honorees emphasized the importance of customer focus, community involvement, and innovative approaches. This gathering not only celebrated small business achievements but also highlighted the value of collaboration and creativity in shaping the future. This event was a reminder that all business is local, reflecting the diverse and vibrant state of American business today.
