Greetings!
Based on today's weather, it's hard to believe that this time last week we were on the lookout for freezing temperatures and icy conditions. Thank you to our member businesses that are participating in Business EXPO, which due to weather was rescheduled. The new EXPO date is Thursday, February 13th at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. We have over 110 businesses participating and are expecting a big crowd for the Lowcountry's largest business building event. If you already have your tickets for former Disney VP Lee Cockerell's talk on the 39 Irrefutable Laws of Customer Service, you're all set for the following Thursday, February 20th at the Westin to hear Lee speak about how to take your customer service skills to the next level. Tickets still include complementary admission to the February Business After Hours event, later that evening at the Crazy Crab north-end location. If you haven't made your reservation yet, click here for all the details. I'm excited to see all the great things happening in the business community. When you look at today's briefing, it's filled with chamber initiatives designed to build your business, encourage involvement with our schools and ways your chamber is engaged with government to ensure the voice of the business community is being heard loud and clear. Have a great week!
Sincerely,
P.S. Only 70 days until opening ceremonies for the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing!
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Did you know:
Your chamber in cooperation with our tourism partners hosted over 300 meeting planners in 2013 which have resulted in corporate group bookings in 2014 and beyond.
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Chamber Restaurant Week
Diner's Choice Winner is... Hugo's Seafood & Steakhouse
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We asked you to cast your votes and the winner is in! Island eatery Hugo's Seafood & Steakhouse received the Chamber Restaurant Week Diner's Choice award.
The 6th Annual Chamber Restaurant Week was a huge hit as once again diners enjoyed of the area's most popular weeks for dining out and trying new restaurants.
Thanks to all our participating Chamber Restaurant Week chefs, restaurants and diners!
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Chamber "Groundhog" Job Shadow Day
Wednesday, February 5
Chamber Business Education Partnership Committee
You might see a "shadow" this Wednesday as two dozen area young people experience their dream jobs for the day! The inaugural Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber Groundhog Job Shadow Day will take place this Wednesday, February 5.
Area businesses are hosting students from five area schools who been matched according to their career interests with chamber member organizations in fields of medicine, law, engineering, non-profits and athletics to name a few!
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Presented by the chamber Business Education Partnership Committee. For details contact Hannah Horne [email protected]
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Business EXPO
Thursday, February 13 Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Flood Insurance Summit 10 am
EXPO 11 am-5 pm MEGA After Hours 5-7pm
It's EXPO time! Chock full of great networking, seminars and more, Thursday's EXPO begins at 11:00 a.m. with a MEGA Expo After Hours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Get the day started with our informative no-cost Flood Insurance Summit at 10:00 a.m. With over 2,000 attendees, Business EXPO is the largest business networking event in the Lowcountry.
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10:00 am: EXPO Flood Insurance Summit - From Headlines to Bottom Lines - Why It Matters!
Industry experts share valuable news on this hot topic and address questions in an informative Q&A session. Is there a difference in insurance rates for primary home versus second homes? When do new rates begin? There are lots of questions out there. Don't miss this valuable no-cost seminar!
- 11:00 a.m. Business EXPO Begins! Build your business at the largest business networking event in the region!
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5:00-7:00 pm: MEGA EXPO After Hours!
Let the networking begin! Enjoy great food, complimentary beer, wine and entertainment along with live remotes from L&L Broadcasting, exhibitor giveaways and coverage from WSAV, WHHI and 104.9.
There is no cost to attend EXPO during the day. Cost is $10 to attend EXPO After Hours for members. $20 for non-members.
There is no charge to attend the Flood Insurance Summit but registration is required so we can provide adequate seating for attendees.
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Presenting Sponsor:
EXPO After Hours Sponsors:
Internet Sponsor: Flood Insurance Summit Sponsors:
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Marketing On A Dime: Building Biz Buzz
If you build it, they will come - the same works when building effective "marketing buzz." The first step to attracting a larger customer base on the cheap is simply to deliver an outstanding customer experience. People will talk about it, and others will come.
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Back by Popular Demand! Lee Cockerell
Thursday, February 20
3:30-5:00 p.m. Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Former Executive VP for Disney Lee Cockerell returns to the Lowcountry! Learn from Disney's best about how to take your customer service to a whole new level. Don't miss his seminar, Thursday, February 20, 3:30 p.m. at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. You'll leave with the tools you need to engage clients and potential clients like never before!
"At Zappos, many of our business decisions revolve
around the customer. Lee Cockerell understands the importance of a great customer experience and shows you how to deliver happiness to your customers."
Tony Hsieh,
CEO of Zappos.com
A national speaker who's latest book is "The Customer Rules: 39 Essential Rules for Delivering Sensational Service," Cockerell's worked with many of the nation's largest companies and now he brings his successful business expertise to the Lowcountry. Cost to attend the seminar is $20, or special price of $25 also provides entry to February's Business After Hours at Crazy Crab north-end location This seminar is sure to be a sell-out! Register early. Seating is limited.
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Bluffton Regional Business Council Luncheon
Bluffton Branding Reveal
Presented by Rawle Murdy Associates Wednesday, February 19
11:30 a.m. Registration
Noon Luncheon
Bluffton Rotary Community Center
Oscar Frazier Park, Bluffton
Join us on Wednesday, February 19 as we see the final results of an intense marketing project, nearly a year in the making! After hundreds of interviews and dozens of meetings with the community, Bluffton's new, creative branding is ready to roll out for tourism and economic development.
The town's unique charm and innovative spirit has been captured in the new brand that will be used in marketing materials, commercials and print advertisements around the country. You get to see it first!
Presenting Sponsor:
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Chamber Tech Tuesday
Synergistic Marketing: The Traditional to Digital Evolution Tuesday, February 25
Presented by Ryan Lockhart, Expanding Profits 12:00-1:00 p.m. Chamber Headquarters
Join our Tech Tuesday roundtable, focused on finding technology solutions for your business needs. This year-long series of classes is free and open to the public. Our guest educators cover everything from cybersecurity to website performance.
Join us for our next Tech Tuesday with Ryan Lockhart of Expanding Profits as he talks about "Synergistic Marketing: The Traditional to Digital Evolution."
Come find out why your website should be the center of all marketing efforts and what it should be doing for you company. Whether you're in real estate, medicine, hospitality or countless others - marketing is essential to grow your business!
Sponsored by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Council.
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Explore the French Riviera Special Member Tour Plan Your 2014 Vacation Now! April 24-May 2 Ready to explore the French Riviera? Here's your chance! Join your fellow chamber members for a fabulous 9-day getaway in the famed French Riviera, filled with history, art and culture.
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Highlights include the Nice Cours Saleya Flower Market, Rothschild Villa and Gardens, Monaco, Roman Arena and more with an optional 3-Night Paris post-tour extension. Plan your 2014 vacation now! Don't miss this great opportunity, offered in partnership with Island Travel and Collette Vacations. For more information contact Cathy Havens at [email protected]
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Advocacy in Action
This week your chamber will be attending the
following meetings on behalf of our members:
Monday, February 3 Town of Hilton Head Island Public Safety Committee 10:00-11:00 a.m. Click here for full agenda Beaufort County Finance Committee 1:00-2:00 p.m. Click here for full agenda Beaufort County Natural Resources Committee 2:00-3:00 p.m. Click here for full agenda Beaufort County Governmental Committee 4:00-5:00 p.m. Beaufort County Planning Commission 6:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 4 Town of Hilton Head Island Public Facilities Committee 2:00-3:00 p.m. Click here for full agenda Town of Hilton Head Island Town Council 4:00-5:00 p.m. Click here for full agenda Beaufort County Beaufort County School Board 6:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 5 Town of Hilton Head Island Planning Commission 9:00-10:00 a.m. Click here for full agenda Town of Hilton Head Island LMO Rewrite Committee 2:00-4:00 p.m. Click here for full agenda Thursday, February 6 Town of Bluffton Public Development Corp. Bd. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Click here for agenda
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Meetings are subject to change.
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Quick Links |
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| BUSINESS EXPO
New Date!
February 13, 2014Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
One-Day MEGA Event
Networking, Seminars & More! Chamber Calendar | February 4 Business Education Partnership Committee Speaker: Steven Roth, SCORE Chamber Headquarters 8:30 a.m.
February 5 Groundhog Job Shadow Day Sponsored by Business Education Partnership Committee
February 7 Government Affairs Committee Meeting Speaker: Craig Forrest Commissioner, SC Dept. of Transportation Chamber Headquarters 8:00 a.m.
February 13 Business EXPO One-Day MEGA Event Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa 11:00-5:00 pm EXPO 5:00-7:00 p.m. After Hours
February 19 Bluffton Regional Business Council Luncheon Bluffton Branding Reveal Oscar Frazier Park, Bluffton 11:30 a.m. Registration Noon Luncheon Register Here
February 25 Tech Tuesday Speaker: Ryan Lockhart Expanding Profits Topic: "Synergistic Marketing: Traditional to Digital Evolution" 12:00-1:00 p.m Chamber Headquarters
February 26 Chamber Young Professionals Group Corks, Bluffton
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Did you know...
on the chamber website:
You can link to the Career Resources Center for the latest job openings
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New Members
Richardson Consulting Scott Richardson P. O. Box 6290 Hilton Head Island
Diane H. Bartlett 26 Oyster Shell Lane Hilton Head Island
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Ribbon-Cuttings
Thursday, February 6
5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Reception 5:00-8:00 p.m. Hilton Head Plastic Surgery, LLC 36 Bill Fries Drive Building E Hilton Head Island
Monday, February 17 5:00 p.m. Ribbon-Cutting Society of Bluffton Artists SOBA 6 Church Street at corner of Calhoun St., Bluffton
Wednesday, February 19 5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Open House 4:00-5:30 p.m. First Federal, A Division of SCBT Wealth Management 9 Oak Forest Drive Bluffton
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Around Town...
Community Calendar
Community Calendar Highlights
"Don't Dress for Dinner" at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Hilton Head Island Marathon Headliners Benefit Concert & Dance SOBA "Everyday Moments" Exhibit Hampton Lake lecture series with photographer Robert Rommel Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra presents "German Romantics" "Island Vibes" Quilt Exhibit
Click Here for a full listing of what's happening this week in the community: Click Here to submit your event to the Chamber Community Calendar: Click Here to submit your event to the Visitor & Convention Bureau Calendar |
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Reach Your Audience:
The Chamber Monday Morning Briefing and our
Chamber Business Monthly publication offer business members a great opportunity to reach their core audience. Sponsorship and advertising rates for these outlets are very reasonable.
If you'd like to find out more, please contact Anne Feldman at
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