 Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce
22 North Manning Street
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Phone: (517) 437-6401 Fax: (517) 437-6408
www.hillsdalecountychamber.com |
2011 Chamber Associate Members
 
2011 Chamber Partner Member
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A Note From Karri
Dear Chamber Member,
Happy New Year! I am hopeful this is the beginning of a very prosperous year for Hillsdale County. Preliminary indications show 4th quarter retail in Hillsdale County ended on a positive note. Although we have not officially contacted all retail businesses, the ones we have spoken with were pleased with their holiday sales.
Membership renewals and surveys will be mailed by the end of the week. Please be sure and return your membership surveys as the results from the surveys will be used in strategic planning. If you have ideas or suggestions that you would like to see the Chamber focus on in 2011, please be sure and let us know on your survey or feel free to contact us.
We have some great things in the works for 2011 including a pre-grand opening Business After Hours at Olivia's Chop House. Chamber Members will get a chance to see the new restaurant, sample some old favorites and new menu selections days before it officially opens. A series of three Twitter webinars will be held on January 12, 19 & 26. If you want to learn more about Twitter, you will not want to miss out on these webinars and the fee for all three is only $25. We will be hosting a drawing between now and March 31, 2011 for a free phone directory ad upgrade. Each time your company is represented at any of our Chamber events (January - March), your company will be put into a drawing to receive a free phone directory ad upgrade. Recruit a business to join the Chamber or advertise in our phone directory and receive five additional entries into the drawing. The business must mention your name as a referral for you to receive entries. Our holiday open house was a huge success and the board of directors is discussing making this an annual event.
We are looking for sponsors for Hello Hillsdale County. You will have the opportunity to present information about your company or event three times throughout the year to attendees at Hello Hillsdale County. The fee to sponsor Hello Hillsdale County $250 which includes two complimentary meals each time you are the sponsor.
We recently announced we will be extending the TUF program to September 30, 2011. We will be holding a focus group with various participants in the TUF program to discuss the program and formulate any ideas on how to make the program even more successful. If you aren't participating in this shop local program and would like more information, please give me a call.
The 2011 Hillsdale County phone directory sales are going very well. If you haven't been contacted and would like to advertise in the Chamber's Hillsdale County Phone Directory, please give our sales representative Larry Mears a call at the Chamber Office to schedule an appointment.
Together we can make a difference. Thanks for your continued support. Please give me a call if there is anything we can do for you.
Respectfully, 
Karri Doty, IOM
President/Executive Director
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Hello
Hillsdale County
Breakfast
January 13, 2011
7:45 AM
Breakfast Buffet
($10 per person)
Guest Speaker:
Michigan 16th District State Senator Bruce Caswell
Topic:
Legislative Updates
Join us for breakfast and network with other Chamber Members.
Please RSVP for this event by January 10th.
Register for this event by clicking this link!
Pre-payment or payment at time of breakfast is requested.
An additional $2 fee will be added for those being billed or for those without an RSVP.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to the event and
no- shows will be billed $12.
Interested in promoting your business as a
sponsor of
Hello Hillsdale County?
Please contact the Chamber if you are interested.
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New Online Tool Encourages Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at the Grassroots Level
Source: Michigan Newswire
By: Mario L. Morrow - Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
DECEMBER 10, 2010 -
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth has unveiled a new tool for local community leaders to interact online with the state and their peers to share ideas and best practices on energy efficiency and sustainability.
The new website, the Michigan Energy Efficiency
Network www.michEEN.org (pronounced "machine"), was created by DELEG in partnership with INgage
Networks and Michigan State University College of
Communication Arts & Sciences. The website's goal is to help local communities and others save time, money and energy.
"We have 2500 local jurisdictions in Michigan who want to be more sustainable but many don't know where to start. This is where the journey begins! The new website offers the ability to share information online to leverage all of the available resources. Now they have a tool for learning and will have access to models to follow for
environmental stewardship," said DELEG Bureau of
Energy Systems Director Amy Butler.
Read More |
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11 Customer Service Trends to Watch in 2011
By:Barry Moltz
Source: smallbiztrends.com
Customer service is a perennial issue that is critical to all small business owners. Although it is included in every company mission statement, no one wants to focus on it. But some key customer service trends for 2011 make this phase of your business even more critical in the coming year.
Here are 11 customer service trends to watch in 2011:
1. The time to react to your customer is shrinking.
In this 24/7 instant gratification world, the time in which your customer expects you to be able to
resolve their problem is getting smaller. Most customers expect to be able to reach you 24/7, and for you to resolve their concern on the very first call (or at least the same day). This is putting increasing stress on companies' infrastructure and pressuring companies to ensure the profitability of each customer. Look for companies to begin to "fire" customers that don't meet their profitability metric.
Read More
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The New
Elevator Pitch
By: Darrell Zahorsky
Source: About.com
The standard elevator pitch is under going a face lift with new media. Getting clients or investors attention may never be the same again with reality pitches and Twit pitches.
The elevator pitch is a means of convincing investors, networks and prospects of your business potential in
60 seconds or less. Although a long time standard in the investment community, the elevator pitch is being re-invented.
Read More
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10 Best Practices of Business Networking
Business Networking Tips
By: Demir Barlas
Source: About.com
Business networking is the process of meeting other people and exchanging resources for mutual gain. Business networking forms the basis of business relationships. Small businesses rely heavily upon effective networking practices to win important investors, customers and partners. Your ability to network well is one of the factors that may not only differentiate your
business but also ensure its survival. It is easier than ever to network, especially if you keep the following best practices in mind:
1. Present yourself well. Business networking is often about first impressions, and first impressions are often about presentation. At face-to-face events, dress well, polish how you speak, make eye contact and generally present yourself to
impress others with your professionalism and charisma.
Read More
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Welcome
New Member
Classic Cuts Plus
Salon & Spa
Leigh Foulke, Ed & Amy Zoll
38 McCollum Street
Hillsdale, MI 49242
(517) 437-0302
Hair Salon & Spa
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Carl Fast Park in the Village of Jonesville now has an ice rink open 9 AM to 10 PM?
Hillsdale Community Schools named Shawn Vondra as the new Superintendant to replace Rich Ames who retired at the end of December?
The new restaurant in Jonesville in the former ChicagoWater Grill will officially be called
Olivia's Chop House and will be open in February?
Whitney Estates will be hosting two open houses on January 12 & 19 from 10 AM - 5 PM?
Hillsdale Community Schools Orchestra Director Susan Kuhn was presented with a $6,500 grant check from the
Hillsdale College music honorary, Sigma Alpha Iota during the Davis Middle School Christmas program to refurbish orchestra instruments and fund one on one lessons for students?
Patti Bailey of Maggie Anne's in downtown Hillsdale has recently remodeled the inside of her store?
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Have a topic you would like more information on or know of an article that could benefit your fellow Chamber Members? Send your requests via email to Jon - jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com
with any topic requests or articles you wish to share and we will do our best to publish the information in the Commerce Connection. When submitting articles please include the author and source so that permission can be obtained for the usage of the material.
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Phone Directory Ad Upgrade
Drawing
We will be hosting a drawing between now and March 31, 2011 for a free phone directory ad upgrade. Each time your company is represented at any of our Chamber events (January - March), your company will be put into a drawing to receive a free phone directory ad upgrade
(you must be a current advertiser to qualify).
Recruit a business to join the Chamber or advertise in our phone directory and receive five additional entries into the drawing. The business must
mention your name as a referral for you to receive entries.
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Featured Member
Country Carpets
Mike Smith & Angie McNair
120 South Main Street
Reading, MI 49274
(517) 283-3993
Country Carpets is a family owned business operated by Mike Smith and his daughter
Angie McNair. Mike has a long history in the flooring business. He started out working for Larry's Floor Covering in Waldron. In 1975, the Smith's purchased Larry's Floor Covering and moved the business to another location in Waldron. In January of 1984, they relocated the business to Hillsdale at the corner of Carleton and Fayette where Grab' N Go is located. In 1996, Larry's Floor Covering then moved again to 3131 West Carleton Road in Hillsdale where it remained until the business closed in December of 2006.
Mike's passion for the floor covering business remained strong so he decided to open Country Carpets out of his Bear Lake Road home in July 2007. On January 1, 2008 Mike and Angie moved into their current location in Reading at 120 South Main Street.
Country Carpets sells and installs carpet, vinyl, laminate, hardwood, and ceramic flooring. They offer a wide selection of remnants and samples to choose from. Country Carpets can also meet all of your carpet treatment, cleaning and spot & stain removal needs.
Country Carpet will be having their biggest sale of the year mid January thru February 2011 offering free installation with the purchase of carpet and pad.
(excluding commercial carpet).
For a free estimate or to find out more about the products and services Country Carpets offers, give Mike Smith
or Angie McNair a call at (517) 283-3993,
or stop in and see them at 120 South Main Street - Reading - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9 - 5 or Saturday 9 - 1.
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Do you have a product, program or
service you would like others to know about?
Call the Chamber today to become a
featured member at 517-437-6401.
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The views expressed in the Commerce Connection may not necessarily reflect the views of the Hillsdale CountyChamber of Commerce or its staff. |
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You are invited to a special
Pre-Grand Opening Business After Hours at
January 26th - 5:30 to 7:30 PM
205 East Chicago Street - Jonesville
for an evening of food, fun & networking
**** Date subject to change pending construction completion,
all who RSVP will be notified if the date changes****
Sample old favorites from ChicagoWater Grill's menu as well as sample new items which are sure to be a hit from Olivia's menu.
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres & a cash bar
Network with other Chamber
Members while getting a preview
of Olivia's Chop House prior to
the grand opening.
Please RSVP for this event by January 23rd
To RSVP click the link (below)
Register for this event
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Featured Member
BlastOff Bounce Zone
Aaron & Ronni Scrivens
44 Monroe Street
Hillsdale, MI 49242
(517) 425-1179
BlastOff Bounce Zone opened in October 2009 at 44 Monroe Street in the former
Hillsdale Train Depot. BlastOff Bounce Zone is an indoor inflatable bounce slide and play place. BlastOff Bounce Zone offers a safe family friendly atmosphere where parents can interact with their children (parents must accompany their children at all times) and be like children themselves.
BlastOff Bounce Zone offers open bounce time for children 2 years old and older Saturdays 4:30 to 8:30 PM and Sundays 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Friday bounce time is available from 6:00 to 8:00 PM by appointment. Open bounce rates are $6 for the 1st child - $5 for a 2nd child and $4 for each additional child for first hour and $1.50 per hour per child for each additional hour.
BlastOff Bounce Zone also offers their customers an in house concession stand offering pop,
ice cream, chips and candy.
Have a birthday party coming up? BlastOff Bounce Zone makes a great venue for
birthday parties - Friday, Saturday or Sunday by appointment. Birthday parties are offered in 2 hour sessions. Birthday party rates are $150 on Friday (due to extra set up and clean up) and Saturday & Sunday for $125 for unlimited bouncers. Parents can also print downloadable invitations with party information, venue and BlastOff logo via Hillsdale Bounce on Facebook.com. Parents must supply their own party favors, decorations and food. In the future party packages including food, party favors and decorations may be available.
To find out more about the services BlastOff Bounce Zone has to offer, give Ronni Scrivens a call at (517) 425-1179 you can also reach Ronni at
hillsdalebounce@gmail.com or stop in and see her during open bounce hours at 44 Monroe Street. You can also check them out online at http://hillsdalebounce.com or
Hillsdale Bounce on Facebook.com.
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A message from State Representative Ken Kurtz
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December 28, 2010
The New Year is now upon us and I am confident and encouraged that our state government stands more committed than ever to helping bring a better environment for living and doing business in Michigan. A new direction is promised with the newly elected Governor and many other elected offices bringing a renewed energy and enthusiasm for moving forward. I and my colleagues are sincerely looking forward to working with the administration of Governor Snyder.
I believe his utilization of seasoned management skills will be a necessary ingredient in establishing an efficient and effective Governor's office. The plan by this new administration is to take the positive of Michigan and re-invent it to once again provide the opportunity for the prosperity and business climate it once had. My main thoughts of the past year are centered around stability. It does seem that the economic environment has calmed and that the major storms have passed. The state budget as a whole was completed without major disruption and/or delay. At the end of the year, we can look back and see that in reality, we didn't gut the state government. We didn't panic and start throwing ideas and proposals at the wall to see what might stick. No last minute gimmicks, no targeted tax increases or proposals that would end up raising the costs of living and doing business. We were able to hold the line on spending and make some difficult decisions within the time and framework of our budget cycle. More must and will be done as we continue to create a stable economic landscape. This next term will begin with the challenge presented with a 1.8 billion dollar budget deficit, a House of Representatives made up of 60 brand new members, a new Speaker of the House, an economy that is still struggling with high unemployment, and a housing market still facing
foreclosure issues. Making necessary reforms to live within our means, tackling the MBT with its surcharge, and dealing with regulations that inhibit growth and personal responsibility are the basis for the work that is ahead. These and many other issues are sure to make for a very busy time. I am hopeful that it will also be a very productive time with measurable results brought about by well thought out plans being carried out in an efficient manner. I am honored to serve this great district, endeavoring to assist the people I serve where and when I can. I am reminded that "No one person has all the knowledge, No one person can do it by themselves, BUT one person can be an influence to others to effectuate needed change". I will continue, as I have, to work with all sides to bring about better days ahead for the citizens of Hillsdale County and the people of the state of Michigan. I wish to all a blessed New Year.
As always feel free to contact me through my office at 517-373-1794.
Kenneth Kurtz State Representative 58th District
Phone: (517) 373-1794 Toll Free: (866) 362-8812 |
Advertising, Email Blast & Insertion Rates
Advertising
3" x 2 ½" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $25
or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $175
3" x 5" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $42.50 or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $410
3" x 7 ½" ad in Commerce Connection ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) - $60
or 12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year - $510
E-mail blast
E-mail blasts will be sent once per week - $35 per blast
Inserts
Chamber composes & prints - (black print & 1 side) $165.00
(exclusive - no other inserts)
You compose & supply 250 copies, Chamber inserts & mails $125.00
(exclusive - no other inserts)
Chamber composes & prints (black print & 1 side) $115.00 (with other inserts)
You compose & supply 250 copies, Chamber inserts & mails $75.00 - Month
(with other inserts) $25 for ads created by Chamber Color printing - $25
Colored paper - $10 Second side printing - $10 black and white & $25 color
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Chamber Board of Directors and Staff
Executive Board of Directors
Chairperson - Jeff Layman - Layman's Service Center
Vice Chairperson - Joe Sanford - Century 21 Action Associates
Member At Large - Raymond Lee - Raymond Lee Custom Carpentry
Treasurer (Non-Voting) - Jeanne Mills - Bottom Line Business Service
Board of Directors
Scott Phillips - Coldwell Banker
Eric Potes - County National Bank
Cyndi Young - WCSR
Michael Lee Thorp - The Plant Nook Florist
Chamber Staff
Karri Doty, IOM - President/Executive Director
Jon Doty - Administrative Assistant
Kathy Spence -Administrative Assistant |
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