Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach Welcomes U.S. Representative Dave Min and State Senator Tony Strickland
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach recently welcomed U.S. Representative Dave Min and California State Senator Tony Strickland to its Canyon Branch, where they met with Club leadership, staff, and Club members, toured the facility, and saw firsthand the organization's impact on youth and families throughout Laguna Beach and Saddleback Valley.The visits were part of Representative Min's and Senator Strickland's continued efforts to maintain strong relationships with the communities
Retro Can and Tap Art Concepts for Laguna Beach Producers
Laguna Beach has been an artists' town for more than a century — a coastal California community built around galleries, festivals and a genuine creative identity — so its taprooms and craft producers work in front of an audience with an unusually good eye. For a brewery or craft maker there, the can and the tap handle are not just packaging; they are design objects a discerning local and visitor crowd will judge, photograph and share. Retro and pixel-styled art has become a popular, distinctive direction
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Friendship Shelter Welcomes Constance Callan and Kimberly Pollard to Board of Directors
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — July 23, 2026 — Friendship Shelter is pleased to announce the appointment of Constance “Connie” Callan and Kimberly Pollard to its Board of Directors. As the organization continues to expand its efforts to end homelessness across South Orange County, these two accomplished leaders bring valuable expertise, diverse perspectives, and a shared commitment to creating meaningful community impact. Connie Callan is a South Orange County philanthropist and community leader dedicated to
Friendship Shelter Awarded $1.1 Million Samueli Foundation Grant to Expand Permanent Affordable Housing in South Orange County Funding will help transform a former motel into 11 units of permanent a
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. — Friendship Shelter is proud to announce it has been awarded a $1.1 million grant from the Samueli Foundation’s Build OC Fund, a transformative investment that will help accelerate the development of 11 units of permanent supportive affordable housing in South Orange County. The funding will support the conversion of a former motel in San Clemente into thoughtfully designed apartments for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities, transition-age youth aged 18-25,
Build Smarter: Where New Laguna Beach Business Owners Should Put Their First Dollars
The most important investments for a new business aren't the visible ones — the signage, the launch event, the branded swag. They're the systems, reserves, and professional relationships that determine whether you're still operating five years from now. The ten-year survival rate for new businesses is lower than most owners expect — just 34.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — which means strategic early investment isn't optional. For new business owners joining the Laguna Beach community,
When Going It Alone Becomes the Riskiest Business Strategy in Orange County
Most business owners don't run into trouble because they aren't working hard enough — they hit walls because no single person can be an expert in every discipline a growing business demands. Based on 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 49.4% of small businesses fail within their first five years and 65.3% fail within their first ten. In a metro as competitive as Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine — where tech firms in Irvine's corporate corridors compete for talent and resort-adjacent businesses near Anaheim face
A Practical Guide to Strengthening Business Operations and Financial Performance
Businesses in Laguna Beach—from boutique retailers to service providers and hospitality operators—operate in a dynamic environment where margins, customer expectations, and operating costs can shift quickly. Identifying weak points in operations and finances isn’t about finding fault; it’s about building a stronger, more resilient organization that can adapt and grow. In brief: Operational inefficiencies often hide in everyday processes such as scheduling, inventory, or communication. Financial blind
SDCCU Financial Wellness Wednesdays Presents a Free Romance Scams Prevention Webinar
SAN DIEGO, Calif., (February 6, 2026) – San Diego County Credit Union® (SDCCU®), one of California’s largest credit unions, will host a complimentary Romance Scams webinar on Wednesday, February 11 at 12:00 p.m. by former San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood. The webinar is part of SDCCU’s Financial Wellness Wednesdays offering free educational webinars on a variety of topics aimed at bettering your financial well-being. “With the arrival of artificial intelligence and easy access to
Updating Your Market Research Strategy to Match Business Growth
Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce members know that markets shift quickly—tourism patterns fluctuate, customer expectations evolve, and competition rarely stays still. Scaling your market research is less about collecting more data and more about building a repeatable way to understand what’s changing and why it matters. Learn below about: How shifting business needs require adaptable research Practical ways to refine, expand, or automate your approach How to share insights efficiently with your
How Intentional Milestones Make or Break Businesses in Year One
For anyone stepping into the swirl of their first year running a business, the question isn’t just what to do—but how to pace the doing. Vision, grit, and a killer idea won’t get far without a roadmap that includes sharp turns, pauses, and reality checks. Milestones are those markers along the way that not only break the journey into digestible pieces, but also reveal whether the engine’s humming or coughing smoke. The most successful first years are rarely about intensity—they’re about intention, layered
Answer First, Win Later: Why Your Small Business Should Be Teaching
Customers don’t want to chase answers. They want to feel understood before they even ask the question. That’s the whole game. If your small business isn't investing in simple, searchable content that clears confusion and sets expectations, you’re not just losing sales — you're building a brand people won’t bother trusting. Whether it's a 90-second video or a single paragraph on your website, showing up with clarity early changes how you're remembered later. Let’s break down how to make that happen.Help
The CTA, BOI and FinCEN: What Does this Mean for Laguna Beach, CA Businesses?
The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. As of today, 12/05/2024, Laguna Beach, CA business owners have 26 calendar days(or 19 business days) left to file their Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with FinCEN. 1. Determine if Your Business Must File. A “reporting company” is any small business, corporation, or LLC that is registered with the state, unless exempt. Exemptions apply to
How Rapid Prototyping Is Shaping the Future of Wearable Tech Startups
In an industry where innovation is the lifeblood and speed is the competitive edge, wearable tech startups are redefining the rules of product development. Imagine transforming a sketch on a napkin into a market-ready product in record time—this is the power of rapid prototyping. By leveraging the latest in technology and flexible methodologies, startups are not just surviving but thriving, crafting wearable tech solutions that resonate with consumers and investors alike. Prototyping for Pioneers Rapid
