Who Says There Is NO Such Thing As A FREE Lunch?

Not the Sartell Chamber of Commerce! All members who attend our monthly meetings are treated to a delicious free lunch. The food is always from high quality establishments with great reputations. Recently, attendees were treated to lunch provided by the following restaurants.

• Blue Line Sports Bar and Grill
• Liquid Assets
• Pacific Wok

Each Chamber member is encourages to bring someone from their workplace. 

              

Liquid Assets at January's Chamber meeting.

If you and a fellow co-worker were to go out to lunch the bill would probably exceed $20 (including beverage and tip). So, instead of going out to lunch, come to the Sartell Chamber meeting. Attend all 12 monthly gatherings and you will save $240 per year, the cost of membership is only $185. You're making money on this deal!!

And don't forget...in addition to a free lunch you are networking with business owners, managers, community leaders, and potential customers. 

Join today!

Caption This!

Beginning this month, January 2013, the Sartell Chamber of Commerce will conduct monthly contests for the whole year of 2013! These contests will be promoted and run using our Facebook page. The contests will all be "Caption This Photo" contests. Each of these photo contests will feature a business. The businesses will be Sartell Chamber Members that have donated contest prizes. The winner will be chosen by the business that will be spotlighted that month. The businesses participating in this year long Caption Contest include:

• Facetime Business Resources
• 360 Chiropractic
• Blue Line Sports Bar & Grill
• St. Cloud Federal Credit Union
• Granite City Tire & Auto
• Pacific Wok
• House of Pizza
• St. Cloud Overhead Door Company
• Synergy Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Xcel Energy
• Pine Cone Pet Hospital
• Brandl Motors

The January contest begins NOW! The spotlight is on Facetime Business Resources for the entire month of January!

Visit our Facebook page, provide a caption, and see if Chris Dolney (owner of Facetime Business Resources) choses your caption. If you are chosen as the winner you will receive 500 business cards, courtesy of Facetime Business Resources.

Promote Your Small Business for the Holidays

Shop Small is a nationwide campaign dedicated to supporting small businesses through Small Business Saturday by American Express. According to the Shop Small website, over one hundred million people came together to "Shop Small" in their communities last year. Small Business Saturday 2012 is November 24th and falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This shopping holiday was first celebrated November 27, 2010 and has proven to be successful for participating small businesses and it can add to the succes of your small business.

Getting involved with the Shop Small campaign is easy thanks to American Express. American Express provides small business owners with free advertising for qualifying small businesses and free marketing materials for small businesses and community members via the shop small website. It is up to the business to utilize the information and make Small Business Saturday work for you. Saying is easier than doing, which is why we are here to show you exactly how easy it is to market your business for Small Business Saturday.

The first step is to visit their website (www.shopsmall.com) and click the "Promote Your Small Business" tab at the top of your page and download the free marketing materials. After clicking the download tab they will ask you to fill out some information. Don't be intimidated by this step. We would suggest taking the extra steps to personalize your materials and downloading the information but either way it is up to you. Hit submit when you are finished. Here is what you can expect:

After you submit your information it will take you to a page thanking you for your order. Here you can order free prints by clicking Get Started. Be sure to read the small print. You are only allowed to print the poster you just downloaded and the free download has no cash value.

Next, simply enter your zipcode and select the nearest participating FedEx location and fill out the information. This is where things might get confusing. They will ask you to submit a file. You will be submitting the 11 x 17 print poster you just downloaded. If you chose to email your download you will have to take an extra step and go into your email and click the link to download the information. Typically you can find this under downloads and select Small_Business_Sat_Marketing_Kit (1).zip. After you unzip the file select the Print-Ready_Poster and select the Print-Ready_Poster_11x17.pdf. If you do not see the pdf here you will have to go back to downloads and look for a pdf title signage.pdf. This is also where you will be able to access the rest of your marketing materials. After you have chosen the poster simply hit send and pick up your order at the location you selected. If this is too confusing please feel free to email amyjo@daytamarketing.com.

After you pick up your free prints hang it up in your small business and start spreading the word about Small Business Saturday. Go back to your downloads and update your email, blog, website, facebook, and twitter accounts with the information you have been given. If you are really ambitious run a sale, offer discounts, set out free lemonade and cookies. Show your customers your appreciation for visiting you on Small Business Saturday and have fun! 

Shop Small?

"People who own their own businesses are their own bosses. They are independent thinkers. They know they can't compete by imitating the big guys; they have to innovate. So they are less obsessed with earning than they are with ideas." -Ted Turner

Small businesses are creating 75% of all new jobs. Half of all private sector employees work for a small business. Your Family and Friends are connected to the local small business community. On November 24, 2012 you can celebrate and support local, independently-owned small businesses that create jobs, boost the local economy and invigorate neighborhoods. November 24, 2012 is Small Business Saturday, falling between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Last year over 100 million people came together to SHOP SMALL.

This year, go small! Support small business. Search for savings on unique merchandise while experiencing spectacular service - something small businesses excel at providing. Stay tuned to find out how you can promote Small Business Saturday for your business.

WHICH SMALL BUSINESSES WILL YOU SUPPORT THIS YEAR?

Very Interesting, Very Important Sartell Chamber Meeting

The next Sartell Chamber of Commerce monthly membership meeting will occur on October 9th 2012 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm, at the Sartell City Hall. 

October is our "Membership Drive" month, so please bring a business associate! They will receive a fantastic networking opportunity, a delicious free lunch and hear about how health care reform will affect them, their family and their employees.

The featured speaker is David Borgert. He is the director of community and government relations at CentraCare Health systems. Health care reform is here. All of it's "ripple effects" are going to affect us all. David will help us all prepare for what is coming.

Don't forget to bring a business associate to this great networking event!! 

Candidate Forums

Sartell, Minnesota. – Candidate forums sponsored by the Sartell Chamber of Commerce and moderated by the League of Women Voters of the St. Cloud Area are planned for the following dates:

• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 1 - Sartell School Board Candidates
• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15 - Sartell City Council Candidates

Both forums will be at Sartell City Hall, 125 Pine Cone Road N.

All Sartell Chamber members and the public are welcome to attend.
There will also be live cable broadcasts of both forums on Sartell channel 19.
For more information, call Ginny Clark, Voter Service Co-Chairperson, League of Women Voters of the St. Cloud Area, 320-252-7154

CANDIDATES FOR FULL TERM SCHOOL BOARD:
Christopher Condon
Krista Laurich Durrwachter
Jason Nies
Pam Raden
Chris Gross
Dan Goetz
Molly Vogt
Keith Yapp

CANDIDATES FOR 2-YEAR SCHOOL BOARD:
Michelle Meyer
Gary L. Schnellert

CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL:
Amy Braig-Lindstrom
Sandra L. Cordie
Steve Hennes
Mike ‘Spike’ Piotrowski.

Sartell Chamber of Commerce Meeting Review 8-14-12

The Sartell Chamber of Commerce held its’ monthly General Membership meeting on 8-14-12 at The Waters Church. As usual, the event was well attended and provided an excellent chance for local business owners to network.

Lunch was provided by Blue Line Sartell. The chicken was excellent and those potatoes ….. Wow. Thank you Blue Line Sartell.

Opportunity Matters hosted the event. This organization provides support and help to individuals with disabilities. It helps them achieve their goals and aspirations. Opportunity Matters offers the following:

Crisis services
Respite services
Adult day services
Supportive educational services
MS center

These programs and services help individuals exercise meaningful choice and control in their daily lives, and is designed to foster individuals’ nurturing relationships, full membership in community and work toward their long range personal goals.

State Representative Tim O’Driscoll updated the group on the 2011-2012 legislative session.

Sartell Mayor Joe Perske provided an update on the Verso paper mill closure.

In-coming Chamber president Walker Brown advised that the Rock N Block event was a huge success! Over 2,000 people enjoyed this event.

Bottom line ….. Business was done and connections were made. Join the Sartell Chamber!