Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland's June 2022 Market Monitor includes stories on coping with inflation, BBB's Celebration of Integrity event, recognizing Juneteenth in the office, and how messages regarding Google Business Profiles may be a scam.

1. N E W S F O R B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U A C C R E D I T E D B U S I N E S S E S
MARKET
MONITOR
THE
B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U S E R V I N G
G R E A T E R C L E V E L A N D
JUNE
2022
B2B DISCOUNTS FOR
BBB ACCREDITED
BUSINESSES
Intellicorp Records, Inc. offers
online criminal checks for
$19.75 each. Other reports also
discounted. Call (800) 539-3717.
Office Depot discount on office
supplies and printing. Contact
Jessica Samp at
(248) 842-7514 or jessica.samp@
officedepot.com. Use SPC Account
#8012 380 6671.
PartnerShip®
offers discounts on
select FedEx®
services including
express packages, ground
packages, and residential delivery,
on both new and existing FedEx®
accounts. Also save at least 70%
on standard and guaranteed LTL
freight shipments with UPS Freight,
YRC Freight, Con-way Freight, and
other reputable carriers, including
competitive pricing on truckload,
expedited, and tradeshow
shipments. Call (800) 599-2902.
Company 119 launched an app
to help you easily get customer
reviews that are sent to your BBB
Business Profile. This is offered free
only to BBB Accredited Businesses.
To sign up, go to maxfeedback.
com/bbb.
Some member discount programs
generate revenue which BBB
reinvests into the organization’s
operations.
INSIDE: • GoogleBusinessProfileMessagesMightBeaPhishingScheme• HowYour
TeamCanRecognizeJuneteenth• ARoaringGoodTime:BBB’s2022CelebrationofIntegrity •
How Your Business Can Cope With Inflation
The U.S. inflation rate is currently hovering
at around 8%. This can cause a real problem
for small businesses that have already
had a challenging few years dealing with
COVID-19, the Great Resignation, and
more. Increased energy prices, supply chain
disruptions, increased consumer demands,
and labor shortages are several factors
contributing to higher inflation.
Cope with inflation using these tips:
Automate and streamline your processes
One way to reduce the impact of inflation on your small business is to automate
and streamline your processes where you can. This can also help you reduce the
amount of time spent on routine tasks and cut back on the rising cost of labor.
Cut expenses where possible
Reducing expenses is the most obvious way to cope with inflation. When aligning
your spending to your business plan, you’ll be able to identify what products and
services are proving most profitable during this time.
Stock up on necessary supplies while available
Once you know what products and services to focus on, it’s also good to stockpile
the necessary supplies used to make your products and perform available services.
This can prevent supply chain disruptions and help you avoid the costs associated
with rising prices.
Raise prices wisely
Unfortunately, during times of inflation, it’s not uncommon for businesses to
increase prices on their products and services. The key here is to raise your prices
wisely. You don’t want to increase your prices so much that it causes a significant
percentage of your customers to purchase from your competitors.
Find more business tips online at your Business Headquarters at BBB.org/BizHQ.
FREE EVENT! In-Person or Virtual Option!
Find Quality Candidates in a Tight Labor Market
Presented by: Don Hicks, Vensure HR
Thursday, August 10th at 10:00 AM
This event will be held at BBB offices with an option to join virtually.
Email Pam at pam@cleveland.bbb.org to RSVP to this event.

2. ®
Followusat:
SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY
Greater Cleveland BBB Activity
Report: January thru May
Google Business Profile Messages
Might Be a Phishing Scheme
BBB has learned of several phishing
attempts that are trying to engage
business owners by sending
messages to your Google Business
Profile page. They may ask questions
about your services, estimates, etc.
Regardless of how you answer their
question, the “customer” continues to
ask questions about your business or a
project.
Scammers send hundreds, if not thousands,
of the same question hoping someone will
bite. This phishing technique often pays
off, since most of the people who receive
the spammed message ignore it because
scammers only need a few bites for their
plan to work. It’s important in situations like
these to take a moment before you respond.
Scammers are trying to get you to act
quickly without thinking. On the sidebards you find an examples of messages you might
receive.
Scammers are trying to quickly engage you in some sort of transaction that will cost
you money. Much like when scammers are phishing through text messages or emails,
people should always be wary of unsolicited communication.
Make sure you are prepared by using these
tips to protect your Google Business Profile:
• Be skeptical of messages. Strangers on
the internet can pretend to be anyone.
Question motives behind both solicited
and unsolicited messages.
• Check for spelling and grammatical
errors. While not all scammers have
poor grammar, many fraudsters who are
located off-shore do. Carefully check
over communications and analyze them
for any inconsistencies.
• Guard personal information and photos.
Scammers may try to solicit personal
information through methods such as
cold calls, text messages, or emails. Be
mindful of this, and always verify, when
possible, the organization or individual
you are speaking to through a third-party
or video conferencing software. Also,
remember that any photo your company
uploads on social media can be stolen
and used by a scammer.
• Always report fraudulent activity. Report
any problems to Google immediately.
You can also report your experience at
BBB.org/ScamTracker.
The Short List
How Can Your Business
Recognize Juneteenth?
1. Encourage staff.
Emphasize the
importance this holiday
has for all groups and
what the progress
Juneteenth signifies for
all citizens: opportunity
for all.
2. Grow the message.
Reflect on how your
business approaches
DEI, from recruitment to
employee retention and
more
3. Encourage DEI all year.
Avoid frustration from
employees thinking that
this is a “token” or “one-
off” event
Source:
Harvard Business Review
Example #2
SCAMMER: Hello this is Mark, did you still
offer hardwood flooring service in your
company?
BUSINESS AUTO REPLY: We are currently
closed, please reach out during business
hours at XXX-XXX-XXXX.
SCAMMER: Okay, I just purchased a new
house here and I will need you to help me
tear out the old floor and install a new one
kindly let me know if you do service that
area?
BUSINESS REPLY: We are currently closed,
please reach out during business hours at
XXX-XXX-XXXX.
SCAMMER: I will prefer you go look at the
job so you can come out with the accurate
estimate but I want you to know that I’m
currently on a missionary trip so I won’t
be meeting you at this time and I need the
work done before I am back by April so let
me know if you can finish the project before
then and I hope this wouldn’t be a problem?
Example #1
SCAMMER: Greetings, My name is Mark.
Please I will be needing your service on my
newly bought property I want the whole
roof replacement tear off and replaced with
a new architectural shingles, will you be
able to help me please?
BUSINESS REPLY: We are currently closed,
please reach out during business hours.
SCAMMER: Thanks for the swift response,
please advise if you are the owner of the
business and also do you accept credit card
as method of payment because that will
be my means of payment, and also do you
have a cell phone number I can text you the
house address and you can provide me with
an estimate as soon as possible.
Reports issued on companies: 530,902
Customer complaints closed: 4,189
Customer reviews submitted: 3,361
BBB.org/cleveland visits: 927,855
Advertising review cases initiated: 32
Investigations Opened: 18

3. MARKET
MONITOR
THE
JUNE
2022
A Roaring Good
Time: BBB’s 2022
Celebration of Integrity
BBB Serving Greater
Cleveland was pleased
to recognize our Students of
Integrity scholarship winners: our top
winner, Jadon Gamboa from Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School; Elise
Donikowski of Andrews Osborne Academy; Charles Magel of Keystone High
School; and Mallory Sah of Notre Dame Cathedral Latin School. To learn more
about each student’s accomplishments, head over to BBB Serving Greater
Cleveland’s Youtube page to watch these impressive student videos. A big
thank you to New Image Media for producing these videos.
At the event, BBB recognized our
2021 Spark Award winner, Clean Eatz -
Mentor and owner Anna Dey, along with our Spark Award finalists: Business in
Travel and owner Shanay Braxton and Modern Video Productions and owner
Andrew Cirincione. Videos of our Spark Award Finalists are also featured on
our Youtube page.
Brandon Chrostowski, owner, and founder of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant
Institute in Shaker Heights was awarded as our 2021 Champion of Integrity.
In his speech, Chrostowski shared how his own entrepreneurial journey has
shaped his view of integrity.
Thank you to everyone who attended and made our first in-person Celebration
of Integrity since 2019 a success! Your support of our Celebration of Integrity
also supports our Educational Foundation, which allows us to continue our
scholarship program, educational outreach, and more.
We would like to like to thank our sponsors for making event this event a
success! If you are interested in getting involved with our Educational
Foundation contact Pam Anson at pam@cleveland.bbb.org or 216.413.5232 to
learn more.
Thank you to all our supporters!
THOMAS
ACCOUNTING SERVICE
(from left to right) Jadon Gamboa, Mallory
Shah, Elise Donikowski, and Charles Magel
Ed “Flash” Ferenc presenting BBB Spark
Award to winner Anna Dey with BBB staffer
Pam Anson in background
Brandon Chrostowski of EDWINS giving his
acceptance speech. Ed “Flash” Ferenc in
background

4. The Market Monitor
Better Business Bureau
200 Treeworth Boulevard
Broadview Heights, OH 44147
Periodicals Postage Paid
The Market Monitor (ISSN 1085-5122). June 2022. Volume 18 No. 2. Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by Better Business Bureau, Inc. 200 Treeworth Blvd, Broadview Heights, OH 44147,
Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Market Monitor, 200 Treeworth Boulevard, Broadview Heights, OH 44147.
JUNE2022
Train your staff
to ask
consumers to
leave a
Customer
Review on
BBB.org
Download the FREE
Maxfeedback App
to request more
online reviews
directly on your
BBB Profile at
Ask BBB to send
you Customer
Review tools
and resources to
help get more
reviews
Maxfeedback.com/bbb
Get More Reviews
According to a 2022 Bright Local Consumer
Survey, Better Business Bureau is, by far,
the most trusted review site, compared
to Facebook and Google. BBB reviews are
vetted by BBB team members and sent to the
business before they are published online. As
a BBB Accredited Business, we have tools to
help you promote customer reviews.
Honest reviews should be welcomed as an
opportunity to build trust. BBB offers these
tips for handling reviews for your business:
Respond promptly. Consistently monitor
reviews on various websites, so you can
quickly respond to customer comments.
Be sure to claim your business profiles. Claim
your profiles on as many review platforms
as possible. This will allow you to respond to
comments and reviews.
Be respectful when responding to negative
comments. Acknowledge concerns, apologize
for mistakes, and illustrate that you value
customer feedback as an opportunity for you
to improve.