SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES THIS SATURDAY

The Blount County Chamber of Commerce announced that a record 28 Blount County small businesses elected to participate in the eighth annual Small Business Saturday on November 25 to support independent businesses.

Also, the Downtown Maryville Association is celebrating Small Business Saturday by hosting a Holiday Market place filled with local business and local/regional makers.

Downtown Businesses will fill their space with makers and crafters with all kinds of quality unique pieces - so come ready to shop. This will be a great opportunity to purchase gifts for the holidays as well as support our community.

The Small Business Saturday deals include:
Blount County Eye Center -- Between 20-30% off designer eyewear frames and Buy one complete pair of eyewear and receive a second pair 50% off
Blount Discount Pharmacy -- See store for discount.
Boyd Thomas Clothing -- See store for discount.
Brackins Blues Club -- 10% off food from 12-7 along with normal happy hour during that time.
Bristol and Bragg Jewelers -- See store for discount.
Cades Cove Cellars -- 15% off 3 pack of wine, 20% off 6 pack of wine, 25% off case or more of wine
CAM Cabin Crafts -- Free bookmark to every shopper while supplies last and 10% discount on their purchase
Clear's Silat, Street Kung Fu & Tai Chi -- $29 for 6 weeks. This is for our Self Defense programs only.
Cycology Bicycles -- See store for discount
Dandy Lions -- 20% off all MADE IN AMERICA products
Express Strategic Services -- HR 50% off employee handbook review and 50% of first month's social media services
Flower Shop, Inc. -- 25% any in-stock item in the store
Glenstone Galleries -- Artwork up to 70 % off and several gift lines will be 50% off or Buy One get One Free.
Great Smoky Mountains Association at Townsend Visitor's Center -- Receive 15% off your purchases, all of which support the national park.
Hwy 411 South Antiques -- See store for discount.
Jeepism -- 15% off of all Jeepism apparel
Little River Trading Company -- See store for discount
Little River Trading Company 'Lifestyle' -- See store for discount
Louisville Mercantile -- See store for discount.
Lowe's Drug -- We have gift items that would make great Christmas presents. We also have practical gifts such as blood pressure machine and blood glucose monitors for people on your list that has everything!
Profile by Sanford -- CyberMonday, Nov. 27, get membership for $69 at profileplan.com.
Ritchie Tractor -- See store for discount
Roost Home -- See store for discount.
Rustic Impulse Salon & Boutique -- All Jeggings $20; Giving Keys - BOGO; All regular priced items - BOGO 50% off; All leggings regular $12.99/$6.99; First 10 customers between 10-noon receive a $15 gift certificate
The Artistic Bean of Maryville -- $50 gift cards for $40. We will also have coupons for $2 off all retail, $5 off all knotted items, and buy any pound of coffee and get your drink for $1. Doors open at 3 a.m. on Black Friday: 12oz brewed coffee $1, $5 off Alpaca knitted items.
The Village Tinker -- See store for discount.
Treasures Jewelers -- Up to 60% off of all diamonds and gemstones. 30% off of all citizen eco drive watches.
Twisted Sisters Quilt Shop -- 15% off total purchase (excluding classes, quilting service), have some holiday specials, and refreshments

 

TN ACHIEVES MENTORS NEEDED FOR BLOUNT COUNTY

We have nearly reached our goal for TN Achieves mentors in Blount County. We need 42 more people by December 1 to work with the record number of TN Promise applicants from the Class of 2018! Interested mentors can apply at www.tnachieves.org/mentors/apply. We cannot do this without you. Thank you for continuing to push on behalf of our students!

 

HR FOCUS GROUP SET FOR NOV. 29

Make plans to attend our next HR Focus Group on Wednesday, November 29 at 8:30 a.m. at the Blount Partnership (201 S. Washington St., Maryville)  The topic will be "Emotional Intelligence" presented by Jennifer Goodrich of Crestcom.

What is the biggest indicator of success? Intelligence? Work Ethic? Try Emotional Intelligence. That is why people with average intelligence OUT PERFORM geniuses 70% of the time. The great news is...Your emotional intelligence can improve forever. It is a learned skill.

Goodrich will cover the four parts of Emotional Intelligence (Self Understanding, Self Management, Social Understanding, Social Management). This class will learn the triggers (those things & people that "set us off") and learn to minimize their impact on our response. We will also learn to "read" people more accurately so we can work with them better.

Please RSVP to Amy if you plan to attend.

 

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Junior Achievement of East Tennessee is expanding its reach into Blount County and is seeking 40 volunteers to assist for the spring semester. Junior Achievement volunteers, in cooperation with the teacher, lead structured activities and discussions on work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills.

Follow this link to sign up or find out more information.

 

DEADLINE NEARS FOR PLACEMENT IN 2018 BASICALLY BLOUNT

The 2018 Basically Blount lifestyle magazine and membership directory is entering production once again. This annual, full-color lifestyle magazine and chamber membership directory is initially distributed to all Chamber members starting Feb. 2018, along with distribution four times throughout the year via area professional offices, newcomers, visitors, and new businesses all looking to relocate to Blount County.

In addition to intriguing stories and area photography that highlight the best of Blount County, Basically Blount also includes a finger-indexed, color-coded directory and buyer's guide of all Chamber members. Chamber members consistently tell us that they keep Basically Blount on hand throughout the year in order to find business products and services when they need them.

We are pleased to offer a variety of advertising opportunities at cost effective rates through our media kit. We have contracted with Marcon Marketing Consultants, a local Chamber member, to handle production and ad sales.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Basically Blount, the importance of supporting the Chamber, and how to get your business involved, contact: Rick Ford of Marcon Marketing at (865) 705-8580.

 

NOVEMBER MEMBER-TO-MEMBER PROMOTIONS ARE HERE

Member-to-member promotions are here for November. Check out the new offers from Pellissippi State, Louisville Mercantile, Corporate Quarters and Mold Doctors USA. See these and other promotions at member-to-member promotions. New offers are being posted almost daily, so check out the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member promotions online. This Member-to-Member Promotional Program offers you and your company the opportunity to market your products and services to the membership.

 

Here's how it works:
1. Submit a PDF of a service, product or discount you'd like to offer to the Chamber membership to jmuir@blountpartnership.com. Be sure to include an expiration date.
2. An email with all the promotions will be sent out on the final Monday of every month to our member database.
3. All promotions will be posted on www.BlountChamber.com

 

REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL

Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!

 

They offer unique gift items not found anywhere else.

 

Find what you're looking for in the Chamber Directory.

 

GOT AN EVENT OR NEWS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT

Is your organization hosting an event in the community? Submit it here on our community calendar. If it's a tourism event or any good news about your business, please send it to us. We'd love to share it with the community.

 

REMEMBER WHEN

Topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week in 1971 was the "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes. It was No. 1 for two weeks and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, with Hayes becoming the first African American to win that honor (or any Academy Award in a non-acting category), as well as the first recipient of the award to both write and perform the winning song.