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November 13, 2015 - In This Issue:
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Submissions for next week's newsletter may be emailed to chamber@getintogrinnell.com. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.
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What's on your wish list?
We have so many amazing businesses here, and I'm personally able to make nearly all of my purchases locally. But it's human nature to want what you don't have. I hear from many of you about your wishes for businesses in Grinnell.
I'm currently hearing a lot of wishes for more retail stores. I couldn't agree with you more - how great would it be to have a downtown crammed with a variety of shops? It's no secret that we have some empty storefronts right now, and I know we would all love to see successful businesses in them.
However, retail is changing. Our community will never support all of the retail it did in the past. Today's retailers generally need much smaller storefronts than they used to (if any storefront at all), they require a high volume of foot traffic, they compete not only with their neighbors but also with every online retailer. If we're going to have more shopping, we as a community need to get creative. We also need to support the stores we already have.
It's not easy to own a retail store. Not only can it be high risk, but it's also a lot of work. My husband and I have owned Gamers, the video game store downtown, for about a year and a half now. We are in the minority of young people that want to operate a bricks and mortar store. While profit margins are shrinking, customers also have so many more options than they used to, and right at their fingertips. I know. We operate a physical store in Grinnell, but a substantial portion of our sales occur on eBay. We ship to people all over the country. Those people aren't buying from their local store, they are buying from their phone. Are you ordering things online that can be found locally?
I hear all of your wishes for more shopping, and I so badly want a magic wand that could make it happen overnight. Filling more storefronts, assisting businesses in jeopardy, and helping existing businesses with succession planning are all at the top of the chamber of commerce's list of goals. If you are a potential business owner or a current one, please reach out and ask us how we can support you.
I know you have a list of businesses you wish we had in Grinnell. So today is a chance to chime in. I made a short survey so you can tell me what's on your list:
~Emily
P.S. Jingle Bell Holiday, our annual holiday shopping kick-off event, is one week from today. Please bring your families to the festivities and visit the businesses who are staying open late and planning extra activities just for you.
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FAULCONER GALLERY: "Start By Asking Questions: Contemporary Art from the Faulconer and Rachofsky Collections"
"Assembled Portraits" Exhibit
STRAND THEATRE: Click here for this week's show times.
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ARBORS APARTMENTS: Maintenance Supervisor
ASI SIGNAGE:Vinyl Graphics Technician
BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION SERVICES: employment in social work, psychology, and human services, email cchedester@healthyhomesfs.com or fax: (641) 236-7969.
BROWNELLS: E-Commerce Analytics Manager, User Experience Manager, Regional Sales Manager
CENTRAL IOWA FAMILY PLANNING: Fiscal Manager
DRAKE COMMUNITY LIBRARY: Library Circulation Clerk
GRINNELL COMMUNITY DAYCARE & PRESCHOOL: Teachers, Bus Driver, Lifeguard
GENESIS DEVELOPMENT:Community Support Specialists
GRINNELL COLLEGE: Alumni Relations Assistant, Annual Giving and Development Assistant, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life and Orientation, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations for Regional Programs, Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Assistant or Associate Director of Development, Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations Communications, Associate Director of Student Health & Counseling and Lead Psychologist, Call-In Cashier, Instructional Technologist, Information Technology and Audio Visual Support Specialist, Mechanic I, Program Manager, Receptionist, Stockroom Assistant, Technology Services Desktop Systems Team Lead, Temporary Presentation Cook, Web Developer.
GRINNELL FIRESTONE: Full-Time Service Technician
GRINNELL HEALTHCARE CENTER: Clinical Liaison Position
GRINNELL MUTUAL REINSURANCE: Director-Big M Agency, Reinsurance Technical Analyst, Sr. Payroll Administrator
GRINNELL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER: Respiratory Therapist, Home Care Aide/Hospice Aide, Registered Nurse, Director, Medical Technologist/Medical Laboratory Technologist, Cook, Physical Therapist, Social Worker, Maintenance Engineer, Respiratory Therapist, Maintenance Engineer (HVAC), LINIC LPN/CMA (Dr. McKnight's Office), Clinic CMA (Grinnell Regional Family Practice), Clinic Nurse LPN or RN, Home Care Aid/Hospice Aid, Registered Nurse, Medical Technologist/Medical Laboratory Technologist, Patient Care Technician, Social Worker, ANRP, Cook, Physical Therapist
GRINNELL STATE BANK: Full and Part time Teller-Personal Banker
INTEGRITY CLEANING & RESTORATION: Cleaning Technician
MANATTS: Equipment Operator, Mechanic, Foreman, Truck Driver, Laborer, Skilled Technician
MAYFLOWER COMMUNITY: Aide and Nurse
PAGLIAI'S PIZZA: Bussers, servers, cashiers, hosts and dishwashers
PEPPERTREE AT THE DEPOT CROSSING: Full-time General Manager
PRO-LINE BUILDING COMPANY:
Construction Crew Members, Payroll Clerk/HR Assistant
RELISH: Wait Staff
ST. FRANCIS MANOR: Full-time/Part time CNA, LPN, RN,
SPARTAN STAFFING: Forklift Drivers / Warehouse Workers TACO JOHN'S: Part-time Help TRINITY STRUCTURAL TOWERS: Assembler, Crane Operator, Maintenance, Weld Trainee, Production Supervisor, Material Administrative Support, Scheduler, Quality Supervisor
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This list includes events taking place in the next two weeks.
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TOY DRIVE is through December 14 at Grinnell Realty.
LIVE MUSIC is Saturday, November 14 from 7 to 9pm at Van Wijk Winery.
BUCKET COURSES are every Wednesday at 10am at Drake Community Library.
QPS HIRING EVENTS are Wednesday, November 18 from 11 to 1pm at QPS Marshalltown and Belle Plaine Community Library.
SOCRATES CAFE is every Thursday at 6:30pm at Drake Community Library.
CRAFT & VINO is Tuesday, November 24 at 6:30pm at Van Wijk Winery.
BUCKET COURSES are every Wednesday at 10am at Drake Community Library.
TURKEY TROT is November 26 at 8:30am at West Shelter House Merill Park.
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BUILD A TREE FOR THE FESTIVAL OF TREES. Those interested in decorating a tree for Drake Community Library's Festival of Tress should fill out a form, available at the library or by emailing amy.k.blanchard@gmail.com. Forms are due November 29.
WARM MEAL WEDNESDAYS are every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm at Memories Maid. Stop by to pick up a freshly cooked warm meal with dessert.
ANGEL TREE ORNAMENTS are on sale now at the Glass Gift Box. Purchase an angel to remember or honor someone special in your life. Each ornament is $10.
WREATH RAFFLE begins November 23 at the Glass Gift Box at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS. Grin City Collective and the Grinnell Area Art Council are commissioning 3-5 works of public art for downtown Grinnell. All U.S. artists are invited to submit a proposal.
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