What is a Chamber of Commerce?

A community’s chamber of commerce is so important, yet many don’t understand exactly what they do; in fact, the term “chamber of commerce” is one of the oldest and most well-recognized brands in the world, but there is significant misunderstanding of its meaning, so we are going to answer it for you.

A chamber of commerce is a local association to promote and protect the interests of the business community in a particular place, which, in our case, is the community of Sartell, Minnesota. A chamber of commerce is made up of businesses seeking to further their collective interests, while advancing their community. In addition to promoting local businesses, a chamber of commerce also sponsors local business and networking events.

There are many different reasons why people decide to join their community’s chamber of commerce, including the following:

• Wanting to support their community
• Wanting to influence issues important to them and their business
• Wanting to take advantage of Chamber resources, including discounts
• It would benefit their business and act as a publicity boost
• It’s a great networking opportunity
• And so much more!

The Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1994 and began with a membership of 30. Throughout the years of volunteers promoting Sartell and its area businesses, and strong leadership, the Sartell Chamber has grown to a membership of over 170. 

Our members say that their membership with our chamber has proven to be invaluable for their businesses. By joining the Sartell Chamber of Commerce, you and your business will be able to take advantage of the following membership benefits:

• Link and listing on the Sartell Chamber website
• Networking at monthly meetings and social events
• Promotional community events
• Annual Chamber Gold Outing 
• Free lunch at monthly Membership Meeting
• New Release and Hot Deals Advertising
• Free radio advertising package equates to 20 30-second commercials
• Membership window decal to display your support
• Membership dues are tax deductible

Well, did we answer your questions? We hope so. What are you waiting for? Join your local chamber today!

For more details, visit our website at www.sartellchamber.com.

The Importance of Giving Back

Whether you’re a small business, or a large corporation, giving back is one of the best things you can do to distinguish yourselves from competitors, and gain loyal customers and happier employees.

According to a study by Cone Communications and Echo Research, 82 percent of U.S. consumers consider corporate social responsibility when deciding which products or services to buy and where to shop.

Another study by Ernst & Young and the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund found that 62% of small business owners say that giving back to their community has made their company more successful in the long run.

So, how can you give back? Simple.

Volunteer.

Don’t think of it as working for free, think of it as gaining experience, meeting new people, and giving back to your community.

Donate to charity.

Whether you have more than you need financially with plenty to go around, or nothing, just give what you can. Some may give 10 percent of every paycheck, but others can donate clothing, books, supplies, toys, and more.

Host a fundraiser.

Spaghetti dinners, golf tournaments, car washes, silent auctions, live auctions, and many others are all great ways to give to a cause in a fun and exciting way that everyone can enjoy.

There are so many other ways your business can give back to the community. Bottom line is if you want to grow your business, build relationships, and have a prosperous future, then philanthropy will be your best friend.

Finding a Job During the Holidays

During the holiday season there is abundant family time, year-end pressures at work, and overall business. This makes it unlikely to find a job during the holidays, right? Wrong. It is actually more likely that some will find work during the holidays for a few key reasons...

There is less competition. The assumption that November, December, and January aren’t ideal months for the job hunt is shared by many individuals. Because of this assumption there aren’t as many people to compete with for jobs during the holiday season.

People are in a good mood during the holidays. Although there is some stress associated with the business and the deadlines during the holiday season, people do tend to be in a festive mood. This festivity will contribute to some generosity by employers during the holidays!

There are ample networking events. With all of the different holiday parties and gatherings there are more chances to network and find new job opportunities. You get to meet many new people who can potentially provide new prospects for jobs! Be aware of this so that you can take advantage of these social events and so that you are professional! You may even encounter familiar faces who slipped your mind to contact while job hunting.

Not only are there parties and gatherings hosted by family and friends but there are also events held by professional organizations! Businesses and Chamber of Commerce groups tend to have holiday events which can draw even more individuals with whom to network! Check out the Sartell Chamber of Commerce website for some of our Chamber’s upcoming events! Details for the Chamber Holiday Social can be found on the flyer below.

Interview Tips

We all get nervous about interviews from time to time… or always. Doing the proper research beforehand can help to ease some nerves and also lead to greater success. There are the basic tips like dress professionally and don’t show up late. We have seven unique tips that are easy to implement but are commonly overlooked when preparing for an interview.

1. Don’t schedule your interview for early on Monday’s or late on Friday’s.

Sometimes you may not have control over this. If the employer asks if you’d prefer Monday at 10:30 or Tuesday at 10:30, go with Tuesday. Studies show that peoples’ minds may not be fully engaged in work early on Monday’s and late on Friday’s so you are better off with mid-week interviews.


2. Aim to be 10 minutes early

Don’t be too early to the interview because it can cause more anxiety while you wait to interview and it can cause the interviewer stress and pressure because they feel as though you are waiting on them to begin the interview. You do not want to be anxious and you do not want your interviewer to be stress. 10 minutes is the perfect amount of time because it shows that you are serious because you are early but it does not create boredom and anxiety for you nor does it add pressure to the interviewer.


3. Leave your phone in the car.

This may seem like common sense but you would be surprised how many people bring their phones into an interview. You may have your phone so you can watch the time or have something to look at while waiting for the interviewer, but you should just leave it in the car. Even the slight glance at your cell phone can lead the interviewer to believe you aren’t serious about the job and it can be seen as a sign of disrespect.


4. Wear color.

Of course you do not want to be distracting with too much color and flashy jewelry but some color is important. It seems when you wear color people think that you are happier and friendlier. Do not go with all neutral tones or you will not stand out. It is a delicate balance between too much and too little. You are your best judge but we recommend incorporating color in a professional way into your attire for an interview.


5. Notice the time-table of the interviewer’s questions

If the interviewer is asking questions in a future manner that is a good sign. If the interviewer is asking you about your future plans and where you will see yourself this is because they are naturally picturing you in their organization in the future and they are curious whether your plans align with their ideas. The further into the future the interviewer frames questions or conversation, the better.


6. When answering a question talk for no less than 20 seconds and no more than 2 minutes.

This is important because you do not want to leave awkward silences by giving an inadequate answer but you also do not want to exceed about two minutes and dominate all of the discussion. Studies show that during most successful interviews the dialogue is about 50/50- 50% the interviewer and 50% the interviewee.


7. Send a thank you note or email after the interview.

This point is one that is so easy yet so many people neglect to do it. Not only does a thank you note make you look thoughtful but it is also a great way to follow up! You do not even need to hand write a letter, email is sufficient. Sending a thank you is a great way to make you stand out. If an employer is on the fence about whether or not to hire you, a thank you note may sway them in your favor.

Creating Your Own Brand

In the job marketplace we all know that networking and professionalism are important, but how do you want to be seen by others? You don’t want to be the same as everyone else. That is why you must create your own personal brand. Within your brand you can focus on your strengths and how you would be a valuable asset to any company. You must set yourself apart from the crowd. We have compiled three major steps in formulating your own self-brand for the business market.

1. Figure out who you are and who you want to be. 

Think about yourself, your values and your principles. You want to portray yourself as you are so that you find a company whose values align with yours. Think about who you’d like to be in a business. Are you a leader? How so? What types of tasks are you best at? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Take a personality assessment such as “The Big Five Personality Traits” so that you understand what type of organization you would fit best into based on your personality style. 

2. Develop your strengths and weaknesses and be able to speak to them.

Think about what comes naturally to you. A great tool to use would be the StrengthFinder application. This assessment helps to identify major areas of strength and why/where/when these strengths would be useful. Identify your weaknesses as well as your strengths. Think about how you can utilize your strengths to help you to improve upon your weaknesses. Think about this in a way that you could explain to an employer when being interviewed or networking. The ability not only to admit to a weakness but also how you can improve upon it is very valuable to any employer. 

3. Define your goals.

What is your dream job? Why is this job your dream job? Incorporate the first two steps into your goal. How can you utilize your strengths to reach your goals? Think about your values and beliefs and use that to figure out what type of organization you’d like to work for. Create your own personal mission statement. Your goals should be SMART or Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. The more concrete you are about your goals with yourself and your potential employer, the more likely you will accomplish them.

The concept of marketing yourself or “selling” yourself may seem slightly tacky but it is actually one of the most genuine ways to be honest about who you are & what you want, and it will help you to find an employer who is interested in those things. Creating a personal brand will help you to become more appealing to employers because of your individuality and it will help you to find an organization whose values align with yours!

4 Enjoyable Ways to Spend Your Fall Days In Sartell

Does the crisp fall air and the sight of changing leaves make you crave spending more time outdoors with friends and family? Around Sartell there are countless opportunities to satisfy your Fall fever.

With 24 parks, 17 miles of trails, playgrounds, bike lanes and the Watab River running through the community, it is easy to find beautiful autumn landscapes and fun activities to partake in. While keeping this in mind we want to share some ideas that you will enjoy this season!

1.    Fall Leaf Photography and Collection: A beautiful way to spend a fall day is to take time to admire the leaves on the trees as they change colors. Planning a picnic or a hike in the woods during fall can be a great romantic getaway for two or a fun day for the family! The changing colors make gorgeous photography and with the miles of trails in Sartell this may be the perfect place to start!

2.    Create a New Family Tradition: Fall is the perfect time to involve the family in an outdoor sport. Football season has started and it is still warm enough for soccer, baseball and other group sports. Go on a bike ride, a hike or even rake the leaves in your back yard and make a scarecrow. All of these activities can be turned into an annual fall family tradition.

3.    Navigate Through A Corn Maze: There are plenty of corn mazes available in the Fall for kids and adults. At night there may even be some mazes haunted by the costumed staff members that create the perfect spooky atmosphere. For these after dusk mazes, it is perfect for families with older children and the younger kids can still enjoy the maze during the daylight without all the monsters!

4.    Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchards: It just isn’t fall without pumpkins or caramel apples! Take the family out to a patch and orchard to pick those apples and the perfect jack-o-lantern! Make sure to make those delicious caramel apples on a stick for everyone to enjoy.

I know we are excited to enjoy this fall weather and we hope you are too! Now get out there with your family and friends and enjoy the beautiful Minnesota autumn while you can!

Rock 'N Block

We hate to say it, but summer is flying by and we’re quickly approaching the end of July. On the bright side, we’re getting closer every day to one of our biggest events of the summer – Rock n Block! Be sure to mark your calendars for August 10^th to celebrate the 5^th annual Rock n Block at Pinecone Marketplace!

            The event kicks off at 4 p.m. with Kid’s Zone. This is a chance to walk around with the family to check out all of the vendors and play some games – maybe even win a few prizes! If you show up before 6 p.m., you’ll receive $5 worth of kid’s tickets with each paid admission. The kid’s zone will run until 7 p.m. but in the meantime, the band Electric Almighty will take the stage starting at 5 p.m. Electric Almighty is sure to put on a good show and entertain all age groups with their collection of music ranging from 70’s classic rock, to the pop music of the 80’s and 90’s, all the way to today’s biggest hits. At 8 p.m. we will begin our karaoke contest for all of the undiscovered talent in the area brave enough to show off their vocals for the crowd! Then at 9 p.m., the headliners for the night, the Fabulous Armadillos, will perform until midnight. Their creative style has made them one of the most popular bands in central Minnesota; we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us!

            This event would not be possible without all of the support we’ve received from generous sponsors. We’ve teamed up with Leighton Broadcasting and Times Media to cover all forms of promotion. So be on the lookout for any advertisements, keep your ears open for radio ads, and pass on the word of Rock n Block to your friends and family. We want to see everyone come out for a celebration filled with tasty food and drink, fun games, good music, and great company!