THE BEDFORD BANNER  

                                                                       May 2014

 

In This Issue
Guve Your Business a Spring Cleaning
Tee it Up !!!!
Men's Breakfast Club
Multi-Chamber After Hours
What the Chamber did in April?
Chamber Connections
Chamber Calendar
Follow us on Facebook
 Give Your Small Business A Spring Cleaning?

By Caron Beesley

 

Did you give your business a spring clean this year?  Are you looking for new ways to boost sales, build your brand or get your business plan back on track?

 

Check out some of these great suggestions  and be inspired!

 

Q: When should a small business website be updated?

A:  An outdated website sends the wrong message to potential clients, a monthly sprucing and the inclusion of a blog in order to make your website more attractive to Google.

Q: What's one of the best ways to get your press releases picked up by the media?

A: Cultivate a relationship with a reporter so that you can call them directly and not have to reinvent the wheel each time. Collaborations always seem to be of interest to the press especially if the outcome can be shown to have some real impact. That should be your aim-to show impact. Impact equals news. Try and target reporters who have influence on social media. Check their Klout score (a measure of influence), the kind of stories they write about and share. Look for a match with your product/industry.

Q:

What is the best format to utilize social media to grow your business?

A: The short answer is, it depends on the business. Some businesses should stay away from certain forms of social media. For example, a Facebook page might not be appropriate for a medical doctor. A review of your target market and a short consultation with a professional can help you determine what kind of social media is appropriate and most effective for you.

Q:

What are some easy ways to spring clean my expenses related to my business?

A:  Pick a number, say $200 or so, and any expenditures with an annual outlay of above this amount would have to either show a benefit-meaning the expenditure is directly parlaying into revenue-or absolute necessity. If the expenditure cannot do that, eliminate it or find a less costly way. You might even set some goals for expenditures-like how much you will spend on advertising for the year.

Q:

I own a franchise business. It's been open for 7 years, and I need some capital infused to help me grow. I am a sole proprietor. Any suggestions?

A:  Gather up all your financial reporting, including tax returns, and make an appointment with someone at SCORE. Did you know that it might be possible to get a coach at SCORE who has experience in your industry and can mentor you?

Q: How do you fine tune your elevator pitch after you do your spring cleaning?

A: The general rule of thumb for composing elevator speeches. Name (you'd be surprised how often people forget to say their name in the press of the moment), the name of your company (again, people forget), the purpose of your service or product (this should just be a sentence or two) and last but not least, something that adds a sense of urgency or uniqueness about your firm or product."


 

TEE IT UP WITH YOUR FELLOW CHAMBER MEMBERS
golf2.jpgThe Chambers' weekly Tee It Up Golf will begin Tuesday, May 6 at the Patriot Golf Course. This is not a league, so you don't have to commit for the entire season. Every week we will send you an invite to sign up, so you choose when and how many times you want to play. All levels are welcome - (we promise we will pair you with someone who won't make fun of your swing). Tee Times start at 4:30 PM. The cost is $15.00 per person and you pay as you play.

           There are only 28 slots so don't wait of you want sign up!

Looking For a Few Good Men
   

The Bedford Chamber Men's Breakfast Club has been recognized as a progressive and focused network of men who come together to form connections, share ideas, learn valuable strategies, celebrate camaraderie and stand together to mentor, advance and support professional men in the greater Bedford area. The format is simple -  greet, eat and meet a local successful businessman and hear his "story". 

 

Rich McDonough of Coldwell Banker will be leading the group as it  kicks off on Wednesday, May 14th at Brightview Concord River.  Breakfast will be served at 7:30 AM and the group will wrap up 9:00 AM.   


May's Speaker is Dr. Dave Spencer, Spencer founded wTe Corporation in 1981 and served as its CEO for 27 years, now serving as Chairman of the Board. wTe is a $75-100 Million privately held technology company focusing on recycling of metals and plastics. Prior to forming wTe, he was a co-founder of Raytheon Corporation's Resource Recovery Business, where from 1971-1981 he managed the development and operation of large 1000-2000 ton per day re
source recovery and recycling technologies producing energy and recovering materials from municipal solid waste and sewage sludge. 


Dr. Spencer was nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year by Arthur Young and Venture Magazine in 1988 and was selected as a Finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in 1990 by Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine and Merrill Lynch. He served on the editorial board of Elsevier Press' Journal of Solid Waste Management and authored over 60 technical papers including the Recycling Chapters of McGraw-Hill's award-winning Handbook of Solid Waste Management.  He has a great story and is looking forward to sharing it with you!

 

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER  - There is no charge but you  

do have to RSVP

 

 

 

                

Business Development Updates

 Submitted by Adam Schwartz  

 

Planning Board Updates - They have begun implementation plans on the Comprehensive Plan. A large portion of which is focused on economic development. For example they are exploring increasing height limit from 35 feet in some of the Office Park Zoning (such as Crosby Drive area), changes in the Commercial Overlay for Great Road, Changes in the Depot District and more. They will be discussing these and other items on Tuesday nights.

2. Retail Best Practices - Karen Kenney is  working with City of Lowell and seeing if the vendor who ran the program in Lowell would be interested in doing something in Bedford.

3. Quick Business Guide- After several version reviews from Pamela Brown, the Business Guide is close to being released.

4. Restaurant Tax Totals for Bedford -  This is the amount of taxes collected for the additional .75% meals tax. The totals are aggregate (not broken down by restaurant. FY11 - 380K, FY12 - 292K and FY13 - 295K. Based on this data, it's unclear if the additional restaurants in town are driving additional revenues (i.e. creating a bigger pie).

5. Large Company Recruitment Ideas. There was some discussion to create a version of the "G8 Summit" for Bedford which would include a good number of the largest private employers in town. This would be helpful to generate support in the business community while creating a bigger voice on economic development issues. Town departments have expressed interest in meeting with this group.

6. Economic Development Position. The town has hired Alyssa Sandoval as the part time economic development officer and she is expected to start soon.  

 

G

What the Chamber did in April?

Multi-Chamber Networking Evening/ Waltham

NEMLEC After Hours/ Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
Middlesex County DA Marian T. Ryan, Chief Robert Bongiorno, Chamber President Adam Schwartz, State Rep. Ken Gordon

Business Development Meeting

 Chamber Connection
Taping

Donna Bruno/UVisualize & Maureen Sullivan

Working Women Alliance

Morning networking with State Rep Ken Gordon


  

Chamber Announcements  

The First Parish in Bedford
The 61st Annual First Parish Plant & Craft Fair will take place on Saturday, May 17 from 10am to 3pm. There will be plenty of plants and lunch, a bake sale, crafters, face painting, a cookout lunch, and more! Come early for the best plants, then stay for lunch, shop the craft booths and enjoy the day!
 
For more info, please go to: http://www.uubedford.org/plantfair.


                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Cambridge Savings Senior Prom Stroll will be held Tuesday June 3 on the Town Common at 4:00 PM. This is a town wide community event and draws over 700 people, please plan accordingly for business in and around the center of town during the hours 3-6 PM.

                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHAMBER CONNECTIONS 


 

 

 Each month, Executive Director Maureen Sullivan tapes the Chamber Connections at the Bedford Tv Studio. Check out the links below of who she has interviewed and if you are  interested in being a guest, email her at bcoc@bedfordchamber.org 

 

Madeline Altman ~ Bedford TV

Linda Stimson ~ Inner Visions Interiors

 

Adam Schwartz - Business Development


Mara Briere - Grow a Strong Family

The UPS Store

 

 Joan Turnberg - Live LIfe Well  

 

Dr. Jean Marc Slak ~ Slak Chiropractic Group


Lea Ann Knight ~ Garrison Knight Financial

 

Brookline Bank 


Kristen Presley/Bedford VA

Karen Kenney/ OrganizingWorks

JRM Antiques 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________

CHAMBER CALENDAR 

May 6 

Tee It Up Golf
Patriot Golf Course
200 Springs Road
Bedford, MA
Tee Time start at 4:30
Register Here 

 

 

May 8 

Board of Directors Meeting
Flint Room
7:30 AM 

CHANGE OF VENUE

May 13
Catch the Net After Hours
Courtyard by Marriott Boston/Billerica
270 Concord Road
Billerica, MA
5:30-7:00 PM
Register Here

May 14
Men's Breakfast Club
Speaker Dr. Dave Spencer
Brightview Concord River
199 Concord Rod
Billerica, M
7:30 - 9:00 AM
Click Here to register

May 15

Working Women Alliance
Flint Room/Town Center
Noon  

 

June 3 

Cambridge Savings Bank Sr.
Prom Stroll
Town Common
4:00-5:30 PM
In Case of Inclement
weather the stroll will be held in the BHS gym 



 

 

  
 
Welcome to New Members

 

  Choice Benefits     Cindy Chenevert
10 Karen Circe # 10
Billerica, MA 01821

Mt Auburn Hospital
Occupational Health Services
Bob Benoit
725 Concord Ave
Cambridge, MA
617-499-6722 



2014  

Chamber   Members 

 

Amptek

Atlantic Capital
Atlas Commercial Real Estate
Baldwin Insurance
Baudanza Electric

Bedford Acupuncture
Bedford Car Wash
Bedford Center or the Arts
Bedford Childrens Center
Bedford Family Connection
Bedord Farms
Bedford Florist

Bedford Funeral Home
Bedford Historical Society
Bedford Motel
Bedford Orthodontics

Bedford Park Plaza
B & D Agency
Boardroom Bistro
Brightview Concord River
Brookline Bank

Brown & Brown P.C.
Café Luigi

Calling All Pets
Cambridge Savings Bank

Carlton & Duran, CPAs
Carlton Willard

Christine Pinney Marketing
Coldwell Banker
ComForcare Home Care

CouponSurfer
Billerica Courtyard /Marriott 

Dalyas
Danielle M. Beck, NP-C

Debbie Spencer

Design2Order 

Dianne Bridgeman, DDS
Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel

Dr. Oscar DePriest

DSA Printing 
Edward Jones Investments
EMD Millipore
F.W. Webb

First Parish in Bedford
Fujifilm Microdisks, USA
GE Infrastructure 

Genetti's Wine & Spirits

Great Road Gallery & Framing

Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Harold F. Nichols Insurance

Heritage Springs
Inside Out Staging

JRM Antiques
Kimberly Bee Design
Leary Auto

Lester's BBQ

Lexington Symphony
Liberty Mutual
Live Life Well  

Mead Brothers

Mettler-Toldeo
Middlesex Savings Bank
Millipore 

Minuteman Volkswagon
MITRE

NightSea
New England Nurseries

North Road Chiropractic
Organics Spa & Salon
OrganizingWorks
Patriot Pediatrics
Paychex
Peter Quinn Insurance
Primrose School  of Burlington
Prince St. Café & Bakery
Progress Software

Quality Database Design
Richard A. Egan Insurance 

Right at Home
Salon OZ
Serenity Yoga
Servpro of Bedford/Lexington
Slak Chiropractic
Spaulding Management
St. Michael's Parish Center
Strawberry Hill Properties

The Goddard School

The Higgins Group
The Edge
The Town Planner
The UPS Store

The Well Effect Co.

UVisualize
William Raveis Real Estate

Wicked Loyal 

 


   

 

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