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Chamber Annual Dinner & Celebration
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Invitations have been emailed for the 2018 Chamber Annual Dinner & Celebration scheduled for February 27, 2017, 6-9 PM, at the Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel. If you have never attended, then you don't know that this is a night of great networking and lots of laughs. We pride ourselves in giving our Chamber members a night of entertainment in a timely manner. Registration begins at 6:00 PM, followed by cocktails, awards, dinner. Speakers will be Jonathan McPhee of the Lexington Symphony Orchestra and Secretary of Housing & Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Jay Ash. 
Business of the Year
Riggio's Sunoco
Business Person of the Year
Chuck Duran - Carlton & Duran, CPAs
Diversity Award
State Representative Ken Gordon
Outstanding Service to the Chamber
Jeff Cohen
Ray of Hope
Noah Dayton Southard
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Ideas to Generate Business on Valentine's Day
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By Michelle Cramer
Many say Valentine's Day is just another scam by American businesses to try and get more money out of consumers. And so what if it is? The holiday benefits businesses and reminds us to celebrate the people we love, because all too often we forget.
So, in the interest of tapping into the profits that are to be had, here are some ideas to help you lure in additional customers on this heartfelt holiday:
1. Pictures
Hire an inexpensive local photographer (maybe one that's just getting starting so that you help his business and yours) to come to your place of business and offer pictures of couples for free or a very small fee.
Have a fun lovey-dovey background for the pictures and make sure your photograher uses a digital camera. That way, you can email the finished product to the customers, and advertise your business (and the photographer's) a second time.
2. Contests
Advertise a greeting card, love song or poetry contest. Be sure to start things around mid-January, with a deadline the week before Valentine's. Announce the winner on Valentine's Day and provide them with a special prize, such as a gift certificate to your business and dinner for two at a local restaurant.
Other smaller scale contests could be the couple that has been married the longest, the couple married the shortest, who proposed in the most creative way, etc. You could even have couples registered for a make-shift newlywed game and have them compete for a prize. The couple that knows each other best, wins.
3. Giveaways
Consider conducting a drawing for a larger giveaway, sponsored by your business, for a cruise or 4 day/3 night getaway. Couples are entered when they spend a certain amount at your business (say $10-$25). That way, you don't have the whole town trying to get in on the fun, and you make some money back from you investment.
Also, if your business provides products or services that are often used for weddings, such as photographer, catering, wedding coordination, etc., consider giving away a package to an engaged couple. This will generate interest in your product/service and, though you'll only be giving it to one couple, will bring in potential clientele who would be willing to pay if they don't win because they like what they see.
Regardless of how you wish to take advantage of the revenue Valentine's Day brings in, be sure you advertise whatever special event you choose. The local newspaper is a good choice, but your best venue is usually local radio stations. Investing in some air time to advertise the special contest or giveaway, and your business, will probably reach the biggest audience.
And don't forget to call your local TV stations to let them know what's going on. If it's exciting enough, they'll want to be there to see who the big winner is, and you've get even more advertising for your business.
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Huntington Tax Partners LLC
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Huntington Tax Partners LLC is happy to announce its home in Bedford. The three owners, Angela Morrison, Devon Davis, and Jeffrey Forsman, are very excited to work with the residents and businesses of Bedford and the surrounding areas.
Each of the three partners is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with the state of Massachusetts. Also, the three have all received a Master of Science in Accounting from Northeastern University. Despite all going to Northeastern, they did not attend class at the same time. So, it was not until they were working for the same firm that they met.
After working together for several years, the three became close friends. Several discussions and a little research led to the decision to start this new venture. Angela, Devon, and Jeff would eventually decide on naming the firm Huntington Tax Partners. As tribute to their alma mater, they named their new company after the location of Northeastern University - Huntington Ave, Boston.
With a combined 20+ years of public accounting experience, and its office conveniently located at 142 Great Road, the firm is now open and ready to begin providing exceptional tax and accounting services to the area. Their main goal is to use their expertise to provide a tailored experience to each client while maintaining open communication throughout the year. This philosophy makes Huntington Tax stand out from your typical CPA who you only talk to during tax season. Although tax preparation may be the start of your working relationship, it is not their only focus. They also provide tax planning and business advisory services and strive to maximize your earnings by implementing tax saving strategies.
For more information on the services they provide, go to their website huntingtontaxpartners.com, or give them a call 617-977-4204.
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Director Spotlight
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2nd VP Bedford Chamber of Commerce
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Josh is a product of Bedford High School who attended UMass Amherst for his higher education. After graduating from the Isenberg School of Management with a degree in Finance, Josh began working with HRSK & Associates, a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management team in Burlington, MA. His team helps to bring clarity to complex situations and works to simplify the financial planning process for families and small businesses. As he helps to grow the practice, Josh hopes to partner with local business owners and executives to assist in them accomplishing their goals and aspirations.
In his free time, Josh enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, and skiing. Josh volunteers with the Bread of Life organization in Malden and also participates in Boston's Jimmy Fund Walk each September.
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Director, Bedford Chamber of Commerce
Bud has been a fixture in Bedford for over thirty years at Great Road Gallery & Framing. He is a member of the New England Professional Picture Framers and The Malden Anglers. In his spare time he loves to fly fish and read mystery novels. |
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Business Development Update
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1. Jeff Cohen provided a debriefing on the January 23rd public hearing for the Great Rd zoning project. According to Jeff, turnout was good and they were able to answer a lot of questions.
The planning board is working hard on finishing things up so that it can get on the warrant for the Annual Town meeting on March 27th.
2. The group then had a long discussion on how to best educate town residents and increase turnout to town meeting. We came up with the following:
A. FAQ Questions - Jeff Cohen mentioned this will be finished up shortly. We should provide this to Council of Aging, Bedford facebook groups as well as businesses in town. Bud Koor has
agreed to have copies in his store.
B. Press - Set up press interviews with Bedford Citizen and Bedford Minuteman.
C. Business Networking Event - Combine an upcoming Chamber Networking Event for businesses with a brief presentation by the planning board on the proposed changes. To increase attendance, this event will be open to all Bedford businesses.
D. Business Reach Out - Rob Look to contact his local Bedford customers/businesses and provided them with more information about the upcoming zoning changes.
E. Increase Town Meeting Attendance. Jim Sullivan to contact town residents and groups that will likely benefit from these changes (i.e. bicycle committee, transportation, etc...)
and encourage them to attend town meeting and support the warrant article.
3. Alyssa Sandovel announced that Homology Medicines is expanding. They have signed a lease for 67K square feet of space at 1 Patriots Park with an option for an additional 25K. This is replacing their existing 23K Headquarters just across the street.
A revised draft of the new section of the Zoning Bylaw has been produced, following the second public forum held on December 2. The changes take account of comments received (with further discussion between the Planning board and consultants), and also condense some of the language. All Bedford Chamber members are invited to read the attached draft, avail themselves of the background materials on the Great Road Zoning Project page of the website and participate in the public hearing. Zoning amendments must be approved by Town Meeting, with a 2/3 majority to pass.
https://www.bedfordma.gov/planning/news/draft-of-great-road-business-zoning-for-public-hearing-on-january-23
On Monday, the Bedford Selectmen approved a license for Longfellow Properties to install the Wiggins Avenue Gateway sign on Town-owned property at the intersection of Wiggins Avenue and Summer Street. The Conservation Commission approved placement of the sign last fall. Town staff did the permitting/planning for the project, and Longfellow Partners commissioned the sign design based on business input and will manage the fabrication and installation process
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What the Chamber did in January
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Huntington Tax Partners
Board of Directors Meeting
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WHO WANTS TO BE ON TV?
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We are so excited to offer our members
another
new FREE benefit!
We are partnering with o
ur friends at Bedford TV to produce a monthly show called CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
. In addition to promoting our events/activities, Chamber members will be interviewed providing great exposure for their business. The show will be broadcast on Public channel and also through their website. Contact the Chamber if you are interested in learning more.
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Check out your fellow Chamber members
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CHAMBER CALENDAR
February 7
Primrose Open House
10 Greenleaf Way
Burlington, MA
6:30-8:30
February 27
Annual Dinner & Celebration
Doubletree Bedford Glenn Hotel
44 Middlesex Turnpike
Bedford, MA
6-9 PM
$60.00 per person
Click here to purchase
a ticket
March 8
Board of Directors Meeting
Town Center
12 Mudge Way
Bedford, MA
7:30 - 9:00 AM
March 8
Multi Chamber
Networking
Crowne Plaza
15 Middlesex Canal Park Rd.
Woburn, MA
5-7 PM
$10 per person
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Welcome New Members
A Place for Words
AFC Urgent Care
Atlantic Capital
Atria Longmeadow Place
Baldwin Insurance
Barre 3
Barrett Sotherby's
Baudanza Electric
Bedford Historical Society
Bedford VA Research
Callahans Karate Studio
Cambridge Savings Bank
Carlton & Duran, CPAs
Chestnut Dental
Christine Pinney Marketing
Creative Images of Boston
Diane Cadigan Hughes
Davidson Law
Debbie Spencer Group
Doubletree Bedford Glenn Hotel
Doyon's
DSA Publishing
EDCO Collaborative
Formulatrix
Great Meadow Dental
Great Road Gallery
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Heritage Springs
I Am Verizon
Jesse's Pet Care
Ken's Deli
Leary Auto
Learning Express & Play
Lexington Symphony
Live Life Well
Mead Brothers
My Hometown Map
New England Nurseries
Quinstance
Renzo Salon
Salem Five
Suzanne & CO.
Techex
The Bedford Citizen
The Goddard School
The Well Effect
Virsa de Punjab
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