It's difficult to reflect back on 2015 and the success and opportunities that have occurred during the past year, and the work that is still left to be accomplished, when we are off again running behind the card with all of the "stuff" the start of the New Year brings. From the bulk of our membership dues renewals that get sent out in January, to selection of our annual business awards, finishing the financials for the past year, preparing the Annual Report, holding the Annual Meeting, publishing the Membership Directory, and ramping up the Home & Garden, Spring Fling and Golf Tournament event committees, and filling out our networking, luncheon and e-mail sponsorships, it can become a bit daughting.
But I must remember that Rome was not built in a day, and it is going to take a few more months before the chamber is running like a fine Swiss watch. In the past 15 months, I have seen an excitement and an energy level come back to this organization. We are becoming relevant, respected, and taken seriously. Businesses, elected officials and residents are looking for the Chamber and expect us to be leaders of the business community, and are starting to look for us for ideas and opinions. We talked about the focus of the Chamber for 2015: Refocused, Refreshed, Renewed. Did we accomplish this?
How about a few highlights for 2015:
- We increased membership from 210 to 260 members by the end of 2015.
- We had over 185 people attend the Annual Meeting and Business Recognition Dinner in January 2015, achieving numbers not seen in years.
- Utilized the full capabilities of the ChamberMaster system, improving out accounting and billing operations.
- We held Morning Business Brews and Business after Hours every month, and hosted three membership luncheons, including the State of the City, State of the Schools, and Manufacturing Week Recognition.
- We complete the first full year of the revamped and revitalized Chamber Buck program, adding a boost to our Be Local Buy Local campaign.
- We successfully renegotiated a 3 year agreement with the City of Northfield to manage the Convention & Visitors Bureau, and hire an outstanding Director of Tourism Lisa Peterson.
- We hired a new Director of Member Services Lindsay Reddy, with outstanding communication and organizational skills
- We moved office, upgraded the computer and telephone systems, and improved the professional look and feel of the office.
- We hosted a successful golf tournament with 100 golfers and individual businesses sponsors at 12 of the holes.
- The Retail Committee was resurrected, with a name change to Be Local Buy Local committee and the implementation of a new event "Small Business Saturday".
- Winter Walk was a smashing success, doubling the attendance, and achieving new heights for social media presence.
- Attracted a production company to use Northfield as the setting for a new Christmas television movie.
It's a pretty impressive list, done with limited staff and some very dedicated volunteers. There is not enough time and paper to thank all those who have joined, volunteered or sponsored this past year. We could have not done it without you, but we need your help again this year. Perhaps the moto of the Chamber for 2016 should be Good, Better, Best: We have become good again, but there is more we can do to become better, in our quest to be the best. Can I count on your support again in 2016?
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DECEMBER
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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1
Happy New Years - Chamber Office Closed
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4
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6
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7
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11
9:00 pm
Golf Committee Meeting
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12
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14
10:00 am
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15
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20
8:00 am
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25
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26
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7:45 am
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Minnesota: Don't take this advantage for granted: Pioneer Press editorial
Pioneer Press
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Taking stock as a new year begins, our state shouldn't take for granted its strong business community, ranging from the one-person shop to the Fortune 500, and what that vitality means for Minnesotans.
"So many of the advantages we have in this state stem from the nature of our business community," Myles Shaver, a professor at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, told us.
With 17 Fortune 500 companies in the Twin Cities region, we're "headquarters-centered," and that's distinct, Shaver said.
Given the size of our population, we are one of the leading metros with that concentration, according to Mike Brown of Greater MSP, the regional economic development partnership.
What's more, we've sustained such leadership while "many other places that look like us have not," Shaver said. "In general, most northern industrialized states have seen a decrease in headquarters activity over time. Minnesota hasn't."
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Thank You to Our Sponsors:
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| Advertise your business here!
Please contact Lindsay for pricing details
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DECEMBER
Center for Human Resources
220 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55057
507-645-9304
Primary Contact: Dorothee Ischler
Harvest Hills Townhome Assn
2208 Greenfield Drive
Northfield, MN 55057
507-645-7192
Primary Contact: Carol Marshall
Maui Sun
2018 Jefferson Road, Suite D
Northfield, MN 55057
507-664-9163
P
rimary Contact: Joe Allison
New Wave Laundromat
1090 Highway 3 South
Northfield, MN 55057
507-301-5452
Primary Contact: Joe Allison
Northfield Women's Center
200 Division Street, Suite 140
Northfield, MN 55057
507-645-7638
Primary Contact: Liz Blanchard
TEKTON Engineers
105 East 4th Street, Suite 200
Northfield, MN 55057
952-300-3340
Primary Contact: Jeremy Baer
White Stone Dry Cleaners
1090 Highway 3 South
Northfield, MN 55057
Primary Contact: Joe Allison
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November's Top
Chamber Buck
Redeemers:
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CHAMBER BUCKS - THE RIGHT THING TO DO!
What is the one impact your business can make to the local business economy and foster the "be local - buy local" campaign in Northfield? Purchase Chamber Bucks to give to your employees. Use Chamber Bucks for employee incentive plans, bonuses, safety awards, holiday gifts, or retirement. There are so many ways that they can be used. They are easy to give, come in denominations of $5.00, $10.00 and $25.00, and help strengthen the business environment of your fellow Chamber members. Help keep our spending local. Contact the Chamber office for more details and to place your order for Chamber Bucks!
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Holiday After Hours at J. Grundy's Rueb'n'Stein
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Business Spotlight
Business Name: Premier Bank Minnesota
Contact Person: Andrea Dolan
Phone Number: 507-645-4418
Physical Address: 112 5th Street East
Northfield, MN 55009
Website URL: www.premierbanks.com
How did the business get started?
Chartered in 1974, Premier Bank set up shop as Maplewood State Bank in a trailer on the corner of Beam and White Bear Avenues. Maplewood State Bank was the smallest of the 714 Minnesota Banks. After four years of hard work, solid business lending and community backing, Premier built the Maplewood Headquarters to serve the Northeast Metro and provide the infrastructure to support future Premier branch offices. After opening a branch in Osseo, Maplewood State Bank changed it's name to Premier Bank to accommodate further expansion. Premier, a small bank from the East Metro beat out several big regional players to acquire eight defunct Midwest Federal Savings and Loan offices in 1990 to become a major player. The late 80's and 90's brought a series of growth opportunities, new in-store branches in communities that were experiencing rapid development, new offices, and further acquisitions.
What products or services do you sell? Business Products: Checking and Savings Accounts, Business Loans, Non-Profit Services, Cash Management Services including ACH Processing, Card Services, Positive Pay, ACH Debit Filters, Payroll Services, Remote Deposit Capture, Cutom Check Printing, Sweep Accounts, Mobile Banking and more. Consumer Products: Checking and Savings Accounts, Mortgages, Consumer Loans, Card Services, Mobile Banking and more.
What's the one thing your business is known for over your competitors? We offer the business and consumer banking products you need paired with unbeatable customer service.
Who is your target market? All customers-non-customers
Have has economic changes effected your business? Yes
How do you market your business? Signage, visibility with volunteering, Chamber Ambassadors & several other non-profit organizations
If you could do it all over again, what is one thing you would do differently? Be more visible
Is there anything additional you would like fellow Chamber members to know about your business? Come on in anytime, we have coffee waiting :)
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TOP TEN WAYS THE CHAMBER CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS IN 2016
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We have the tools, now let's use them!
Here are the
top ten tools under $125.00 that you can use to expand/increase/highlight your business and maximize your Chamber investment for the upcoming year!
10. Sign up to be part of the new
2016 New Resident Mailing
Pack. Have the chamber distribute a flyer or brochure to all
new residents who move into Northfield. Receive all of the
mailing addresses for further follow-up
- COST $ 125.00 per year
9. Place an
ad the monthly newsletter, electronically sent to over 490 Chamber member representatives and also archived on our website and promoted on social media. - COST $ 50.00 per month
8. Be a
e-burst sponsor for the week - have your ad reach over 490 chamber member representatives - a great opportunity to promote a new product or service - 52 weekly slots available - COST $ 25.00 per week
7. Take advantage of the
enhanced listing on the ChamberMaster business directory on the web site. Add your logo, pictures and video, create a hot deal coupon, use the job posting. Ask staff to help you get the most out of your listing - COST $25.00 per year
6. Take advantage of the
My Chamber App and promote it among your employees and customers - add your logo - COST $10.00 per year
5. Drop off your
business cards and brochures to put in the rack in the
lobby of the Chamber office - NO COST
4. Hold a Grand Opening, Remodeling, or Anniversary
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and invite members to share in your celebration - NO COST
3. Sign up to have your
business spotlighted in an upcoming
Chamber newsletter. Share your story with other chamber members and what services you provide - NO COST
2.
Join a chamber committee and expand your social network and communication skills while helping the chamber provide programming or raise non-dues revenue - NO COST
1. Personally
attend or have an employee represent your company at a
Morning Business Brew or
Business After Hours. Get to know your fellow Chamber members, enjoy the food and beverage, and be eligible to win fabulous prizes - NO COST
Contact Lindsay Reddy at [email protected] or Todd Bornhauser at [email protected] or call the office at 507-645-5604 for more information and to receive your toolbox! Grab a tool and let's get to work TODAY!
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Library Friends Promote Local Business with Membership Benefits
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Friends of the Northfield Public Library like to shop in Northfield. They like it even more when their Friends membership offers shopping benefits. Businesses appreciate the 600-700 people who visit the library every day and the traffic that generates downtown. And the Friends organization appreciates businesses that support the library.
So the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library encourage you to consider offering membership benefits to our 400+ members.
You determine your benefit offer, the Friends promote your offer on our website and newsletters, and members buy locally. Voilá! Local businesses benefit, Friends benefit, and our public library benefits.
To see who is currently offering membership benefits in Northfield, see
www.northfieldpubliclibraryfriends.org/membership-benefits
If you would like to support the Friends and our public library by offering membership benefits, print this form and mail it to the Friends and Foundation of the Northfield Public Library.
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Rice County Steam & Gas Engines Annual Winter Banquet, Music & Live Auction. Saturday February 20, 2016 starting at 5:00pm. Faribault American Legion, 112 North East Street. New this year... Music for your dancing and listening enjoyment provided by Glen Wondra and the Country Gentlemen band. Band and social time will start at 5:30, dinner at 7:00. Review of the year and auction will follow dinner. Our menu is stuffed pork tenderloin, chicken breast with white wine cream sauce, roasted red potatoes and vegetables. Member bring a dessert to share. The cost of the dinner is $14.00 per person reservation slips must be turned in NO LATER than February 5, 2016 so the final count can be given to the Legion staff
http://www.ricecountysteamandgas.com
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Do you have business news to share? We want to hear about it! Please contact Lindsay at
[email protected]
to have your big announcement in next months newsletter.
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Are You Connected?
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