Unlocking Growth: East Orange Entrepreneurs Learn to Attract and Keep Loyal Customers

EAST ORANGE, N.J. - May 14, 2025 - PRLog -- Local entrepreneurs and small business owners gathered tonight for the fifth session of the Professional Development Workshop Series—a transformative initiative sponsored by Mayor Ted R. Green, the East Orange City Council, and the Department of Policy, Planning, and Economic Development, and delivered by Thrive Leadership Institute, Inc.

This session, titled "How to Attract and Retain Customers in Any Economy," equipped micro-businesses with high-impact, low-cost strategies they can implement immediately to gain new customers and build long-term loyalty. From SMS marketing and community events to loyalty punch cards and personalized thank-you gestures, the workshop focused on real-world solutions tailored to East Orange's business landscape.

Led by executive coach and business strategist Anna D. Banks, MAS, CHBC, the workshop featured hands-on learning, including:

• A think-pair-share discussion on what builds customer loyalty,
• A tactical breakdown of the customer journey from visibility to trust,
• A team challenge to create a retention strategy for under $50, and
• A 3-month action calendar to enhance customer engagement all summer.

"This series is more than professional development," said Banks. "It's about building community wealth and strengthening the economic backbone of East Orange, one entrepreneur at a time."

Milestone Achievement: First UEZ-Certified Business in Cohort

Tonight's session also marked a significant milestone as the cohort celebrated its first business to become officially UEZ certified:  Rafael Guerrero, owner of Family Fresh Laundromat, (https://familyfreshlaundromat.com/about) located at 1 Ampere Parkway in East Orange, NJ.

"We are thrilled to celebrate Rafael Guerrero and Family Fresh Laundromat  as the first business in this cohort to become UEZ certified," said Mark Cheatam, Economic Development Manager for the City of East Orange. "UEZ certification opens the door to a range of powerful benefits—from tax incentives to exclusive funding opportunities—that help our small businesses grow stronger and more competitive. Rafael's commitment is a testament to what's possible when local entrepreneurs take full advantage of the resources available through this workshop series."

The Professional Development Workshop Series is a no-cost training opportunity for East Orange-based micro-businesses with 1–5 employees. One of its primary goals is to help these businesses achieve Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) certification while strengthening their operational, marketing, and leadership capabilities.

For more information or to register for upcoming sessions, contact:
East Orange Department of Policy, Planning, and Economic Development at Economic.Development@eastorange-nj.gov.