Dear Chamber Member,
The
NC 4th of July Festival
Committee are volunteers who work year round to put on an event for our community to celebrate our nation's independence. The COVID-19 restrictions has forced the cancellation of the Festival's normal events and we are all disappointed.
Yet, as disappointed as the Committee was, there was no way this dedicated group would allow a year to go by without a celebration but one that is held adhering to the restrictions that are in place. So, in 2020, the Festival will be virtual. That doesn't mean it is a static event, there are some participatory activities - just on your own.
Listen to the video for a recap of the events and vision for this year's Festival. We hope everyone will participate and enjoy the 2020 Virtual NC 4th of July Festival programs.
|
|
|
Don't Miss Out on Any Member Benefits
|
|
Annual Meeting via Facebook Live
|
We will hold a virtual Annual Meeting via
Facebook Live
on Thursday, July 9th at 8:00am. During the meeting, we will retire five of the 2019/2020 Board members, recognize the Ambassador of the Year and President's Award, pass the presidential gavel, welcome 5 new Board members, watch the 2020/2021 Board take their oath of office and thank our sponsor
AT&T
.
We will announce the Chamber's Annual Awards at a social event later in the year. This would include the Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Customer Service of the Year and Non-Profit of the Year.
|
|
|
Cape Fear Talent Needs Your Input - Survey Due 7/10
|
When we ask you, our business community what is your number one challenge, 9 out 10 times it is finding or keeping employees. So take a few minutes and complete this survey.
A little about the survey - In the spring of 2020, The
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
,
Cape Fear Collective,
and RTI International began a partnership to survey a minimum of 500 businesses across all industries in our six-county region to raise awareness and identify the areas of highest growth and skills needed in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. The survey will be comprehensive and applied to a wide range of industry sectors -
Watch Video for More Info
. 25 Brunswick County businesses have participated to date.
If another 75 businesses complete the survey
they will supply us with the Brunswick County data from the larger data set, giving us a good picture of our workforce.
|
|
|
Relaxed Education For Keeping Life in Focus
|
Grab a beverage and join us for happy hour on Thursday, July 16th at 5pm for Out of the Box Learning - relaxed education for keeping life in focus.
|
|
|
Consumer Sentiment and Spending are Going in the Right Direction
|
For a few weeks, the economic data was showing an economy that had bottomed out and was recovering at an encouraging pace. The hope was that the recovery would continue at that speed. The data is still showing we are better off than we were a month ago, but that the recovery is uneven and perhaps not as fast as hoped. For instance, data out today on consumer sentiment and consumer spending show some improvement, but incomes fell.
|
|
|
Grow Your Business Through Chamber Connections
|
Business Connections is a powerful tool to grow your business. Business Connections establishes and increases business referrals between members in a fun, supportive, concise and structured setting that promotes growth in our business community. It will develop relationships with other business owners and enhance business opportunities. Join your fellow Chamber members virtually on Webex each Tuesday at 12noon.
|
|
|
Reboot, Recover, Rebuild
-
Help is on the way for small businesses as they face continuing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reboot, Recover, Rebuild (R3)
is a new program! Small Business Centers across the state have been awarded a special allotment of discretionary funds to help our small business owners
with in-depth counseling and service support specific to their needs.
Availability is limited and is offered on a first come, first served basis.
More Information Here
. or call (910) 755-7306.
Here for Good NC
-
Thank you to Felicia Sexton, Legal Shield for this information about The Trophy Case's
HereforGoodNC
fund for small businesses. This business is selling t-shirts but supporting local North Carolina Businesses with part of the proceeds. For every t-shirt sold at
HereForGoodNC.com -
$10 from each purchase is donated to the small business of the person's choice! Are you a business that needs some much needed income? Signup at
HereForGoodNC.com/signup
Count On Me NC
-
As North Carolina’s restaurants, hotels, attractions and shops reopen,
Count On Me NC
is a public health initiative that empowers guests and businesses to help keep everyone safe from COVID-19. Become a Count On Me NC business by taking COVID-19 training developed by public health officials. Course is quick and full of good information. Encourage your employees to take the course and post your Count On Me NC sticker in your window.
|
|
Organization is the Focus of Coffee with the Girls - 7/21
|
A big thank you to
Felicia Sexton
, Ladies of Justice and Legal Shield independent associate for presenting at this month's Coffee with the Girls webex conference call.
The next Coffee with the Girls will be held on Tuesday, July 21st at 8am via Webex Conference Call. Speaker will be announced.
Click For Login
.
|
|
|
Pandemic Has Accelerated Trend to Online Sales
|
Online shopping is here to stay. Is your website positioned to sell online?
According to a Curtis Dubay, Senior Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"
Retail sales at traditional brick-and-mortar stores still vastly outpace non-store sales. In May, they accounted for 82% of all sales even in the midst of the pandemic. Online sales accounted for the remaining 18%.
However, online sales were just 13% in February. Americans' shopping habits are slow to change. A jump of 5 percentage points in 3 months is a watershed shift.
"
|
|
|
July Faces of Commerce Locations
|
The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce released the locations of the July Faces of Commerce. “Faces of Commerce is a non-scripted, natural way to introduce the many different types of products and services offered in our community, with the end goal of helping our residents learn where they can go to Shop, Dine, and Go Local.”
The Chamber’s staff will interview the owner/manager and live stream on the Chamber’s Facebook page each Thursday beginning at 10:00am except for July 9
th
which will begin at 8am.
Upcoming Faces of Commerce Stops:
|
|
For more information or to schedule your business for Faces of Commerce contact the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce at (910) 457-6964 or
www.southport-oakisland.com
|
|
Chamber Cover Story in St James Living
|
Thank you to
Rick and Susan Wade
of Best Version Media, the publishers of St. James Living for the June spotlight on the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.
St. James Living is a free monthly publication delivered to the residents in St. James. If you would like more information contact Rick & Susan at (919) 824-2483.
|
|
|
Do You Have Brochures at Chamber Welcome Center?
|
Thanks to Pamela Sexton at
Cattail Cottage
we have more room in the Welcome Center for brochures. Did you know placing brochures in the Center is a benefit of being a member of your chamber?
Drop off your brochures or business cards Monday - Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm - 4433 Long Beach Road. Suggested quantity: 50
|
|
|
Count on Me NC & Promise Businesses Listed
|
Consumers are looking for reassurances that our business community has made social distancing and disinfecting a priority and our businesses need to know that its customers are not putting their employees at risk.
The Southport-Oak Island Promise and
Count on Me NC
are two initiatives that empower consumers with a list of those businesses who are taking extra steps to keep everyone safe from COVID-19.
|
|
|
Is the Census Really That Important?
|
According to a recent statistic from the Brunswick County 2020 Census Group and
per the census, every person not counted equates to $1,823.00 of Federal and State money not appropriated to the county level in the form of school funding, grants, Health & Human Services programs, roads, etc. This is $1,823.00 per year. That is $18,230.00 per person over the 10 year period until the next census.
We encourage you to stress the importance of completing the Census with your staff, friends and relatives. If they recieved the questionaire by mail but did not respond and can't find it - Go to
my2020census.gov.
Select the link that says, "If you do not have a Census ID, click here." It is located below the Census ID login field
|
|
|
Welcome to membership in the Southport-Oak Island Area:
Angie’s Fresh Produce
Angela & Donnie Wallace
4447 Long Beach Road, SE, Southport, NC 28461
(910) 477-9068 – Angela & (980) 258-9030- Donnie
Produce Stand - fresh fruits, veggies, eggs, cheese, locally produced honey, specialty jarred spreads, jams and veggies, boiled peanuts, Hippie Chick Granola and more.
Bob’s Dogs
Joseph Doppes
8903 E. Oak Island Drive, Suite 1, Oak Island, NC 28465
(910) 664-4486
Hot dogs, burgers and more.
DJ’s Interior Design, LLC
Donna Gonzales
5043 Glen Cove Drive, Southport, NC 28461
(609) 217-4828
Full service design and decorating and real estate staging.
Read More Here.
Hawthorne at Pine Forest
Leigh Davis
400 Woodsia Way, Oak Island, NC 28465
(910) 622-3832
Hawthorne at Pine Forest Apartments in Oak Island, North Carolina, a brand new apartment community offering luxurious one, two and three bedroom homes. With an exclusive market-leading amenity package like none other in the area.
|
|
Thank you to the following businesses who have renewed their membership investment into the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce:
|
|
|
Thank you to all the members who have renewed! This year we asked you to consider a voluntary donation of $15.00 in addition to your membership investment to cover the ever-increasing building maintenance costs at your Chamber. We are humbled to give some extra recognition to the members who are in the 100+ Club:
|
|
|
Group Workers Compensation Thru Chamber Group
|
In need of Worker's Compensation Insurance? Check out the Chamber's Group Plan through NC Retail Merchants Association and First Benefit Insurance Mutual.
You are eligible because you are a member of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.
|
|
|
 |
Members provide news, information and articles about their business which is shared electronically with fellow members and the general public through a Direct Email Campaign and on the Chamber's Facebook Page. The deadline for submission is the 12th of every month. No display ads accepted. Include a jpeg photo with your copy in Word. Submissions by email only. E-Mail Subject must be Member News.
|
|
|
|
Calendar of Chamber Events
|
|
7/9 Chamber Annual Meeting – 8:00am via FACEBOOK Live
7/16 Out of the Box Learning – 5pm via
WebEx Happy Hour
–
A Life Check Up:
Creating Healthy Habits for Mind and Soul
Presenters:
Nellie Harden, Your Choice Family Health & Wellness and Pat Vlach, Channel For Healing.
7/23 Faces of Commerce – 10am -LIVE on FACEBOOK at
On the Horizon:
11/13 Oak Island Lighthouse Run Registration/Packet Pickup 5pm-8pm
11/14 Oak Island Lighthouse Run 6am -11am @ Middleton Park Extension Oak Island
|
|
4433 Long Beach Road, SE
Southport, North Carolina 28461
info@southport-oakisland.com
910.457-6964
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
