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Join Verizon Small Business Digital Ready and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park for an exclusive, hands-on seminar designed to help DMV small business owners, veteran entrepreneurs, and community leaders supercharge their growth with artificial intelligence.

Set inside the prestigious FIS Champions Club, this free interactive event features a high-impact AI panel discussion moderated by Nationals Chief of Staff Gary Raizon, step-by-step guidance on real-world AI tools led by e-commerce expert John Lawson, and a complimentary networking buffet lunch overlooking the field.

Whether you are looking to streamline operations, sharpen marketing strategies, or expand your local network, you will leave with actionable digital tools, lifetime access to free business coaching and resources, and exclusive Nationals swag and raffle prizes—space is strictly limited, so reserve your spot today!

                   FIS Champions Club at Nationals Park 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA
 

Las Vegas Sands

Sands China held its seventh annual Sands Shopping Carnival July 23-26 at The Venetian^® Macao Cotai Expo. The free sales platform for Macao businesses featured more than 580 booths spanning eight exhibition zones and drew nearly 160,000 visitors over four days – its highest visitation since the event’s launch in 2020.

Macao’s largest sales event, the carnival helps local small and medium enterprises generate business, broaden their customer bases and create visibility. To date, the carnival has provided 4,000 complimentary booths for local businesses and attracted 800,000 visitors, supporting the Macao SAR government’s Tourism+ policy and empowering the city’s economic diversification.

“We are delighted to celebrate the successful conclusion of the seventh edition of the Sands Shopping Carnival,” Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China, said. “Over the past seven years, the carnival has evolved from an innovative SME initiative into Macao’s largest consumption event. It stands as a testament to the perseverance and growth of the city’s SMEs, while embodying the spirit of solidarity that brings the Macao community together.”

Merchants at the 2026 Sands Shopping Carnival comprised both international and Macao brands, as well as distinctive local shops and niche specialty businesses. Visitors shopped products spanning household goods, food and wine, visitor-centric Macao specialties and souvenirs, and diverse creative offerings from Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities.

New to the Sands Shopping Carnival this year was the Sports Experience Zone, which featured a basketball shooting challenge to build excitement for The NBA China Games 2026 in October at The Venetian Arena, along with a highly popular pickleball experience.

A returning highlight of the carnival was the ICBC ePay Presents: Greater Bay Area Karaoke King Singing Competition, which attracted nearly 150 participants from the Greater Bay Area. In addition, the Busking Corner enabled the public to showcase their talents on stage, while professional singers gave special performances.

Family activities are another hallmark of the Sands Shopping Carnival, and the popular BOC Smart Kids Presents: Little Master Chef Workshop has attracted nearly 3,000 participants over the carnival’s seven years. Led by Sands China’s food and beverage team, the workshop enabled families to make different cuisines and enjoy cooking together. The carnival also featured the Bank of Communications Presents: Play and Fun Kids Area, which offered inflatable attractions, game booths and other exciting activities for families and children.

Sands China invited 20 social service organizations to participate in the carnival this year, enabling people with special educational needs and other trainees to gain experience in promoting and selling their handmade products. Participating community service organizations spanned social rehabilitation, youth development, animal welfare and support for vulnerable groups. In addition, Sands Cares Ambassadors accompanied members of these organizations to experience the carnival’s attractions.

The 2026 Sands Shopping Carnival was organized by Sands China in conjunction with the Macao Chamber of Commerce and with support from the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM). Event sponsors were BOC Macau, ICBC (Macau); Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Macau Branch; and Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU).

To learn more about Sands’ commitment to creating business growth opportunities in its regions, read the company’s latest ESG report:

https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/

AEG’s LA Kings and LA Galaxy are expanding their commitment to accessible community recreation through a five-year sponsorship of the roller rink at Charles H. Wilson Park in Torrance.

In partnership with the City of Torrance, the teams helped refresh the community facility with a new scoreboard and updated signage, supporting expanded recreational programming, include new fans, and creating an enhanced gathering place for local youth and families.

The improvements were unveiled Oct. 21 during a community ribbon-cutting at Wilson Park and represent the beginning of a five-year commitment by the Kings and Galaxy to the facility.

Accessible neighborhood recreation spaces can play an important role in giving young people opportunities to be active, build skills and connect with others close to home. By investing in an existing public facility, the partnership helps strengthen the community infrastructure that makes those opportunities possible.

The collaboration brings together professional sports organizations and local government around a shared goal: creating welcoming spaces where young people can participate in sports and recreation in their own communities.

The Wilson Park investment is part of AEG and its teams’ broader commitment to strengthening the communities where they operate and using the reach of sports to help expand opportunities for young people.

Originally published by GoDaddy

 

 

What You’ll Learn 

• How to create a practical holiday marketing plan that works with a small budget
• How to use SEO, promotions, email and social media to reach holiday shoppers
• How AI can help you create marketing content and prepare your website for the holiday rush

 

 

You’ve chosen your product, built your offer and launched your business. Now comes the next challenge: getting people to notice it.

For new U.S. small business owners, the holiday shopping season can be an opportunity to attract first-time customers, whether you’re selling handmade gifts, digital downloads, seasonal services or physical products online.

You don’t need a huge advertising budget or a complicated marketing strategy. You need a clear plan, a few focused channels and a website that makes it easy for customers to take the next step.

Here’s how to get started before Black Friday and keep the momentum going through Christmas.

How Do You Create a Holiday Marketing Plan on a Small Budget? 

Start by choosing one primary audience and one product or service you want to promote. Trying to market everything to everyone can quickly stretch your time and budget.

Next, build a simple holiday marketing calendar around the biggest shopping moments.

• Before Black Friday: Introduce your business, publish useful content and build awareness.
• Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Promote a focused offer, gift bundle or limited-time deal.
• Early December: Share gift ideas, product benefits and customer testimonials.
• The final days before Christmas: Highlight shipping deadlines, local pickup, digital gifts or services that can be booked quickly.

Your holiday sales strategy should reflect what you sell. A handmade business might promote personalized gifts, while a digital product business could emphasize instant delivery. A local service provider might focus on seasonal bookings.

Keep your plan manageable. A few consistent, useful messages are better than a dozen campaigns you can’t maintain.

How Can You Get Your Holiday Business Found on Google? 

Your website is an important starting point for discovery. A holiday SEO strategy helps you make your products and services easier for relevant shoppers to find through search.

Start with holiday keyword research. Think about what your customers might type when looking for a gift or service, such as “personalized gifts for teachers,” “Christmas gift baskets” or “holiday cleaning service near me.”

Use relevant phrases naturally in your product pages, page titles, headings and descriptions. You can also create a holiday landing page that highlights seasonal offers or a holiday gift guide that helps shoppers choose products.

If you serve customers in a specific area, local SEO can help small businesses reach nearby shoppers. Keep your business information accurate and make your location and services clear.

GoDaddy Airo can help you create a website and generate content with AI, giving you a starting point for presenting your products and business online. Review your pages before publishing to make sure the information is accurate and reflects your offer.

What Are Some Holiday Promotion Ideas That Don’t Require a Big Budget? 

A good promotion gives customers a reason to buy without cutting so deeply into your margins that the sale becomes unprofitable.

Try these Black Friday marketing ideas:

• Bundle complementary products at an attractive combined price.
• Offer free personalization or an added bonus.
• Create a limited-time offer on a priority product.
• Partner with a complementary local business to reach a shared audience.
• Share a gift guide organized by recipient, interest or budget.

Before setting a discount, calculate your product costs, packaging, shipping and transaction fees. For example, a handmade gift bundle may feel more valuable to customers while costing less to package and promote than several separate items.

Make the offer easy to understand and give shoppers a clear next step: visit your website, shop the collection or book a service.

How Can Email and SMS Help You Reach Holiday Shoppers? 

Social media can introduce people to your business, but email and SMS can help you reconnect with people who have already shown interest.

Start collecting email subscribers through your website and explain what they’ll receive. You can send holiday email marketing campaigns featuring gift ideas, new products, promotions and important seasonal deadlines.

As your audience grows, email marketing for ecommerce can become more targeted. For example, new subscribers might receive an introduction to your business, while previous customers receive recommendations related to their earlier purchases.

With appropriate consent, SMS holiday marketing can provide timely reminders about a promotion or last shipping date. Keep messages relevant and respect customers’ communication preferences.

You can also use abandoned-cart recovery emails to remind shoppers about products they left behind, provided your store supports that functionality and your messaging follows applicable rules.

How Can AI Help You Create Holiday Marketing Content Faster? 

AI can help you move from a blank page to a workable campaign. Use it to brainstorm promotional ideas, draft social posts, create email outlines and organize your holiday marketing calendar.

GoDaddy Airo can also help generate website content and branding, making it easier to establish your online presence and prepare seasonal messaging.

Try these AI prompts:

“Create a four-week holiday marketing calendar for my [business type]. My target customer is [audience], my budget is [$X], and my main product is [product]. Include weekly website updates, social media ideas and email campaigns leading up to Christmas.” 

“Give me five holiday promotion ideas for my [product or service] that don’t rely on deep discounts. Consider bundles, personalization, seasonal convenience and a small marketing budget. Explain how each idea could appeal to my target customer.” 

Treat AI-generated ideas as drafts. Check product details, pricing, shipping dates and promotional terms before publishing.

How Can You Turn Holiday Traffic into Customers? 

You don’t need to do everything at once. Start with one clear offer, make your website easy to understand, choose a few marketing channels and follow a calendar you can realistically maintain.

As Christmas approaches, adjust your messaging to match what shoppers need most, from gift inspiration to last-minute options. After each campaign, review website visits, clicks, sales and email engagement to understand what worked.

Try GoDaddy Airo to create your website and branding with AI, and take the next step toward reaching your first customers.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

When should you start your holiday marketing plan? 

Start several weeks before your most important shopping dates. That gives you time to research search terms, prepare offers, create content and test your website and campaigns before demand peaks.

What are some Black Friday marketing ideas for a new small business? 

Try a focused promotion, gift bundle, limited-time offer or early-access campaign. Highlight a small number of products and make the value and purchase deadline clear.

How can holiday SEO help a new business get discovered? 

Research relevant seasonal search terms and incorporate them naturally into product pages, landing pages and useful content. Clear descriptions help search engines and potential customers understand what you offer.

How can AI help you create holiday marketing content? 

AI can help you brainstorm campaign themes, draft promotional copy and organize a marketing calendar. GoDaddy Airo can also help generate website content and branding, giving small business owners a faster starting point for their online presence.

What should businesses promote after Black Friday and Cyber Monday? 

Shift attention toward Christmas gift ideas, popular products, gift cards, shipping deadlines and last-minute options. Choose promotions based on what you can fulfill reliably and what your customers are most likely to need.

At Covia, safety is a core value embedded in every aspect of our operations, from our plants to our offices. We are committed to protecting the well-being of our team members, customers, partners, communities, and the environment. We are proud to recognize sites that demonstrate exceptional dedication to safety, health, and security performance, and this commitment comes to life every day at Covia.

This October, Covia Mexico’s San José plant reached a noteworthy safety milestone, celebrating 17 years without a lost-time accident. This achievement reflects the team’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a safe workplace and looking out for one another every day.

Located in Arenal de Arriba, San José Iturbide, Guanajuato, Mexico, the San José plant plays a key role in supplying high-quality silica and feldspar products to customers in the ceramics, paints and coatings, and specialty materials industries, while also pursuing growth opportunities in the foundry and glass markets. The plant combines advanced processing capabilities with rigorous quality standards to consistently deliver high-performance materials that meet customer specifications, earning its reputation as a trusted supplier.

While the plant’s specialized capabilities set it apart from others, its commitment to Safety First is what truly defines its culture. Safety First is an integral part of the plant’s daily culture and is embraced by every member of the team. 

According to Roman Orozco Amador, Plant Manager, “We are proud to be a facility with more than 63 years of operational experience while maintaining a strong culture of safety, teamwork, and commitment. These values are reflected in our performance results and the satisfaction of our communities and customers.”

The San José plant’s achievement of 17 years without a lost-time accident is the result of the dedication, discipline, and hard work of every team member. Milestones like this are built day by day through a shared commitment to safety and continuous improvement. Guided by a vision of a strong safety culture, the team remains focused on sustaining this performance and building upon its success. Roman shared, “We firmly believe that safety starts with each one of us. The San José Plant is like a second home for us. It is a place where teamwork, safety, and commitment bring people together, creating a strong sense of family and pride in the work we do every day.”

For more information, please visit our Safety, Health, and Security Statement. 

The KeyBank Foundation has awarded a $150,000 grant to Food Bank of Alaska to help strengthen the nonprofit’s disaster response capabilities across the state. The funding will support the creation of emergency reserves of shelf-stable food, water and transportation resources that can be deployed quickly during natural disasters and other crises.

Food Bank of Alaska serves as the state’s largest food distribution network, providing food to more than 150 partner agencies and affiliate food banks. In 2025, the organization distributed 10.1 million pounds of food throughout Alaska, covering a service area of more than 650,000 square miles.

The investment comes as Alaska continues to face unique challenges related to food access. More than 80 percent of residents live in communities not connected by road systems, making it difficult to quickly transport food and supplies during emergencies.

“The Food Bank of Alaska plays a critical role in supporting communities across the state, especially during emergencies,” said Lori McCaffrey, KeyBank Alaska Market President. “We are proud to support this effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and improve access to food for Alaskans in need.”

Food Bank of Alaska Chief Executive Director, Cara Durr, said the funding will allow the organization to respond faster when disasters strike.

“Having food inventory and transportation resources available ahead of time will allow us to get assistance to communities faster and better serve Alaskans facing unexpected challenges,” Durr said.

The new funding is expected to improve response times and ensure critical food supplies reach Alaskans more quickly during future disasters and emergencies.

 

PITTSBURGH, October 23, 2026 /3BL Media/ — Wesco International (NYSE: WCC) today announced that its Learning & Development team has earned a Brandon Hall Group Gold HCM Excellence Award, a respected recognition in the learning and talent industry.

Wesco’s winning submission featured a new Operations Training Program, which brings together role-based onboarding, foundational job training, safety and compliance education, and performance support for frontline warehouse employees.

“Our frontline employees play an essential role in serving customers every day,” said Anthony S. Marino, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “This recognition reflects Wesco’s commitment to world-class training that helps employees build skills while supporting the operational excellence our customers depend on.”

Accessible learning is especially important in warehouse environments, where effective training supports consistent execution and helps teams adapt to changing customer needs.

“What made this program stand out was the way it was built for the realities of the warehouse floor,” said Bryan Beverly, Vice President, Talent. “The team translated complex operational requirements into practical, role-based training that helped our operations employees build skills, work safely and help our customers succeed.”

This award-winning program highlights one of many ways Wesco invests in employee development. Across operations, sales and other business functions, Wesco creates meaningful learning experiences that help employees build the knowledge and capabilities to support customers and help build, connect, power and protect the world. To learn more about career opportunities at Wesco, visit Wesco Careers.

Contact Information
Corporate Communications
Jennifer Sniderman
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Jennifer.sniderman@wescodist.com

About Wesco: Wesco International (NYSE: WCC) builds, connects, powers and protects the world. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wesco is a FORTUNE 500® company with approximately $24 billion in annual sales in 2025 and a leading provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions. Wesco offers a best-in-class product and services portfolio of Electrical and Electronic Solutions, Communications and Security Solutions, and Utility and Broadband Solutions. The Company employs approximately 21,000 people, partners with the industry’s premier suppliers, and serves thousands of customers around the world. With millions of products, end-to-end supply chain services, and significant digital capabilities, Wesco provides innovative solutions to meet customer needs across commercial and industrial businesses, technology companies, telecommunications providers, and utilities. Wesco operates more than 700 sites, including distribution centers, fulfillment centers, and sales offices in approximately 50 countries, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and global corporations.

Recently, the Grand Opening of Phoenix Residential in Milwaukee marked a milestone for the residents, local leaders, community and development organizations, who helped bring the community to life.

Phoenix Residential offers 21 affordable homes for families earning up to 30% and 60% of Area Median Income, with eight units supported by HUD project-based rental assistance. The ground floor includes a 5,800 square foot community resource center operated by the Milwaukee County Housing Division, offering life skills training, mental health support, employment training, and educational workshops to both residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

Developed by KG Development Group, Phoenix Residential transformed a historic former nursing home into affordable housing with access to supportive services. As one of several investors, CVS Health and Aetna invested $0.5 million in Phoenix Residential in April 2024. This achievement was brought to life through support from KG Development Group, WNC, Milwaukee County, WHEDA, the City of Milwaukee, and the many funding organizations and community collaborators who made it possible.

Phoenix Residential reflects our belief that housing is health care, and CVS Health is proud to support a community that brings affordable homes and resources together.

“Learning I had kidney disease was a big turning point,” Nobert Mike remembers.

Nobert shares that he had a hard life growing up: “I lost a lot of good people, lost a lot of good things in my life.” He, like many other people he knows living on Navajo Nation, struggled with alcohol addiction. Eventually, his experience with addiction led to health complications.

He was in the hospital for a week when test results confirmed his diagnosis, stage 3 kidney disease that had developed from undiagnosed IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy, also called Berger disease, is the third leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It involves a buildup of antibodies that inflames the kidneys and leads to blood and protein in the urine, high blood pressure and other symptoms of CKD.

The diagnosis offered Nobert clarity: He wanted to get clean. He wanted to live a healthier life. He wanted to be able to take care of his daughter.

After quitting alcohol and drugs, Nobert also focused on his physical health, shedding nearly 100 pounds in a few months.

Still, Nobert’s kidney disease progressed, and ultimately, he and his nephrologist determined that he would need to start dialysis. While Nobert was familiar with hemodialysis, his doctor offered another option, peritoneal dialysis (PD). As a home modality, PD offers Nobert the ability to perform treatments at home while he sleeps without the need to travel a far distance from his home on Navajo Nation.

Learning how to do PD at home

Transitioning to home dialysis initially felt daunting.

“It seemed difficult,” Nobert says. “It seemed like I was going to have trouble, but DaVita helped me a lot with the way they ran the procedure. And they gave me a bunch of booklets. It painted a very good picture of what you had to do. So, they were pretty thorough with the information.”

Nobert has also leaned on his home nurse, Caitlin, and the rest of the DaVita care team to manage his care.

“Caitlin’s been like my guardian angel,” Nobert says. “I’ve been through a lot, and she’s helped me through a lot of painful things — mentally, physically. It hasn’t been an easy ride…but the way she’s been taking care of me… I trust her with my life.”

Benefits of PD & the path to transplant

Performing PD overnight has given Mike back his independence and eliminated the burden of long-distance medical travel.

“I can stay at home. I can fall asleep while I do my treatments,” he said. “I grew up being self-sufficient even when I was a lot younger, so I’m used to taking care of myself.”

Today, stable home treatments have positioned Mike to pursue his ultimate goal: a kidney transplant.

“Back when I was diagnosed, it felt like it was the end of the road,” Mike said. “I’m working toward it. With what kidney care provides now, five years later, I’m optimistic about my transplant. I’ve surprised myself with how far I’ve come.”

Learn More

Watch Healing in Our Own Way: Native Stories of Life and Dialysis to hear more from Nobert as well as other people navigating kidney health in rural America.

INDIANAPOLIS, October 22, 2026) /3BL/ – Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) today announced the appointment of Jamie Preston as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, effective November 3^rd. Preston’s appointment follows an extensive and competitive search as part of the company’s commitment to attract, develop and retain an engaged global workforce while embedding inclusion, well-being and purpose into daily operations. Preston succeeds Dave Kinard, who intends to retire at the end of the year. Kinard will work closely with Preston in the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership transition. 

Preston joins Elanco from Eli Lilly and Company, bringing 23 years of enterprise experience, including nearly two decades of human resources leadership. Most recently serving as Vice President of HR, Global Compensation and Workforce Innovation, where Preston led the compensation and recognition team for Lilly’s global 50,000+ employee organization and spearheaded enterprise-wide AI and workforce modernization strategies. 

“Jamie is a visionary, dynamic leader with the speed and agility that defines Elanco.  She has deep global experience across every facet of human resources, from organizational design and talent development to workforce innovation and digital transformation,” said Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco. “As Elanco continues to drive growth and deliver on our purpose of enriching the lives of animals and people, Jamie’s proven track record of building high-performing, inclusive cultures and shaping forward-looking workforce strategies makes her an ideal fit for our executive team. Her shared heritage with our roots at Lilly brings a deep understanding of values-based, science-driven organizations.” 

During her tenure at Lilly – which started in the sales organization – Preston held executive HR leadership roles spanning global markets, including serving as Associate Vice President of HR across five countries in the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Korea, and Hong Kong), where she supported the region’s growth into a billion-dollar business hub. She also previously served as HR Director for Lilly Japan, supporting the research and development organization, led global people strategy for the Oncology Business Unit and supported key corporate and manufacturing functions.  

“Elanco’s purpose – food and companionship enriching lives – deeply resonates with me,” said Jamie Preston. I am excited to partner with our global teams to champion our people, advance workforce innovation and cultivate a culture where our talent thrives as we deliver for veterinarians, pet owners, farmers and the animals in their care.” 

Beyond her corporate leadership, Preston is an active contributor to community and industry organizations. She serves on the board of directors for Teach for America, Indianapolis and previously served on the board of Cancer Support Community Central Indiana.  

Preston completed the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Program at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and holds both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in health service administration from the University of Evansville. 

Honoring Dave Kinard’s Leadership 

Kinard’s upcoming retirement marks the culmination of a distinguished career dedicated to organizational excellence and talent development. Since Elanco’s transition from Lilly’s animal health division to a publicly traded, independent company, Kinard has played a foundational role in shaping Elanco’s global HR infrastructure, culture and employee experience. 

Kinard oversaw all aspects of the company’s headquarters move from Greenfield to Indianapolis, including the establishment of the “One Health Innovation District,” a purpose-built life sciences innovation hub anchored by Elanco and Purdue University.  

“Today our employee engagement is the highest since our IPO, backed by a culture and brand in a position of strength because of Dave’s dedicated leadership and enduring contributions,” added Simmons. “Dave has been a trusted partner, and we appreciate his commitment to supporting Jamie through the end of the year to ensure continuity for our teams around the world, and we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.” 

ABOUT ELANCO 

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders and society as a whole. With more than 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to breaking boundaries and going beyond to help our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People. Learn more at www.elanco.com.

Media Contact
Keri McGrath
+1.317.370.8394
keri.mcgrath@elancoah.com

Investor Contact
Tiffany Kanaga
+1.765.740.0314
tiffany.kanaga@elancoah.com