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Chamber Newsletter
December 2011
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Marci's Corner
Happy Holidays!
You asked for it and we heard you. We have condensed both of the e-newsletters that we send out each month to make them both more appealing to read.
This is part of what customer service is all about ... listening.
One of the best ways to increase traffic to La Conner and your business is Customer Service. Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. Good customer service is all about bringing customers back. And about sending them away happy ... happy enough to pass positive feedback about your business along to others, who may then try the product or service you offer for themselves and in their turn become repeat customers. Customer service is FREE! You see immediate results when you acknowledge a guest that walks in the door and say hello with a smile. We can all spend thousands of dollars on print, radio and internet advertising but without Customer Service - have we gained anything?
Marketing La Conner: The Tourism Task Force has been busy! First they created the "Spend the Holidays with Us!" card to use as a bag stuffer and handout. Now they have come up with a series of flyers to honor the "Seasons of La Conner". Next up is a flyer for January - March with all that is happening in and near La Conner. Do you have an event planned that we don't know about? Let us know!
An estimated 500,000 people visit La Conner annually. More than 75% of retail sales comes from tourism. The best marketing we can all do is give each visitor a pleasant experience so that they return again and again...
Lastly, here's a quick story about how marketing La Conner works to benefit all of us: A co-op ad and travel-journal article was placed in Westworld BCAA magazine (Canadian equivalent of Journey AAA magazine) for the Winter issue that came out just one week ago. We had a couple stop by the Visitor Center yesterday from Vancouver Island who mentioned seeing the ad. This was their first visit to La Conner! They were excited to make a new discovery and hopefully they left with full tummy's, gifts and warm memories of a place they want to return to.
If I don't get a chance to talk to you in person, please have a happy holiday season!
P. S. If at any time you have comments or questions for the board and are unable to attend, email me with "Member Comments" in the subject line. Your email will be read at the board meeting.
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How to Reach Us
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Marci Plank
Executive Director
PO Box 1610
La Conner, WA
360.466.4778 or toll free 888.642.9284
Reinhild Thompson
VIC Director
Board Meetings
Third Tuesday of the month
9:00am
La Conner Garden Club
~Open to all Members~
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If you know a business owner who might like to receive our e-newsletter, please feel free to forward it along.
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FACEBOOK WORKSHOP REMINDER
If you'd like to learn how to set up and use a Facebook business page, or you have a page that you just aren't using effectively, this is the workshop for you.
Monday, December 5
Wild Iris Inn Meeting Room
Choose a session:
9am-10am; noon-1pm;
or 5pm-6pm.
Free for Chamber members, $15 for not-quite Chamber members. Can't come? Send your staff!
RSVP to the Chamber office: 466-4778.
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@WORK
Love La Conner and Social Media Campaign
There is a lot going on right now at the Chamber in the world of websites and social media! Here's a quick run-down:
- We have started a new campaign called "Love La Conner" - which has several pieces including a photo and video area on our new website, a YouTube channel where we will showcase our Love La Conner videos as we produce them, and then a social media piece, which you can read about below.
- We now have 2 different Facebook pages: one is the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and one is our new "Love La Conner" Facebook page.
- The goal of the new Love La Conner page is to spread the word about how cool La Conner is, what's happening in town that would make for a great getaway, and to attract shoppers, diners, and overnight stays by giving hundreds of reasons for people to come visit us. We want to generate what we call "raving fans"; people who will spread the word for us throughout the world of social media.
- Ultimately, the goal of the "La Conner Chamber" Facebook page will be more of a business and Chamber member page. But for right now, we'll continue to use it as an additional tourism/visitor page as well.
If you haven't already done so, go to our Love La Conner Facebook page and "LIKE" us! And, if you have a Facebook page, let us know so we can share your posts as well.
3RD ANNUAL "SEASON OF GIVING" PROGRAM
A big thank you to all of the businesses who are participating in this year's Season of Giving program. The final two dates are:
- December 4: Humane Society of Skagit County
- December 11: Boys and Girls Club of Skagit County
CHAMBER DUES
For members on the quarterly dues plan, don't forget that 3rd and 4th quarter dues will be due on January 1 and April 1, respectively. If you're not currently a Chamber member but would like more information, I'd be more than happy to come talk to you about the benefits of membership. Just give me a call at the Chamber office: 360-466-4778.
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Business to Business (B2B)
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REMINDER: CHAMBER AMBASSADORS POTLUCK
DECEMBER 6
 Included in the evening is an "Ugly Sweater" competition. Bring your best - win a prize! Late RSVP's, call the Chamber office: 466-4778.
Host: Mary Davis
6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: 113 S. Whatcom St, La Conner
LA CONNER WEEKLY AD SPECIALS
The La Conner Weekly News has two holiday advertising specials. You'll find links to the flyers here: Holiday Ads and Shop La Conner.
SALON ROUGE Holiday Specials
NATIVE SPRINGS Holiday Specials
BLUE WATER MASSAGE: Holiday Specials
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Community & Lifestyle
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2011 TOYS FOR TOTS 
The Edward Jones office in La Conner is collecting toys for the annual Toys for Tots program. Please consider donating a toy for a child in need.
PLEASE SAVE YOUR PIONEER MARKET RECEIPTS
Edward Jones is also collecting your Pioneer Market receipts to support the La Conner Elementary PTSA.
If you'd like more information either of these two programs, give Terra Forkner a call at 466-2933 or send an email to terra.forkner@edwardjones.com.
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Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA)
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Please consider joining the Washington Tourism Alliance - with the closure of the Washington State Tourism office we have to find new ways for Washington State to continue to promote tourism.
Without WTA, our ability to influence and attract the tourism industry - and continue to reap its economic benefits - is severely limited by the size of our community, and our inability to adequately fund tourism marketing on our own. Individual Members: $25; Company Members: $300. If you want more information, give Marci a call at 466-4778.
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Member Resources
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WASHINGTON RETAIL ALLIANCE
There is often great information about the health of the retail industry - both nationwide and statewide - at the Washington Retail Association website. If you're not familiar with this organization, you might find it a good resource.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
From time to time we get requests for contact information for various state and federal agencies. Below are links you might find useful:
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 La Conner Live:
Join Marci on Monday mornings and find out what's happening in La Conner and the surrounding valley.
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