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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017
BUSINESS BEAT
541-997-3128
290 Highway 101, Florence, OR 97439
www.fl orencechamber.com
www.facebook.com/fl orenceoregon
www.twitter.com/FlorenceOrCoast
February 11, 2017
Welcome to the Chamber!
NEW BUSINESS MEMBERS
Digital Dunes Photography
1725 Kingwood St. #1 541-902-8748
Events, Portraits, Printing, Photo Finishing,
Art Sales
digitaldunesphoto.com
NW Adventures Quest
4761 Heceta Beach Rd. 541-590-0571
Choose your adventure and leave the driving
to us!
nwadventures.org
Magpie & Squid
Coming soon to Florence! 907-305-0258
Fused glass art, lessons, and commissions.
magpieandsquid.com
Polished Boutique and Salon
4969 Hwy 101, Suite 1 541-991-3636
A boutique with new and consignment
clothes and home decor as well as a fabulous
nail salon for natural nails.
facebook.com/Polished
NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:
Backpack for Kids
1380 10th Street 541-997-3533
Together, no child will go hungry.
www.backpackimpact.org
Florence Elks Lodge #1858
1686 12th St 541-997-2610
Th e Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
of the United States of America will serve the
people and communities through benevolent
programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and
Elks Share
fl orenceelks.com
Siuslaw Watershed District
Mapleton School Campus – 10868 E.
Mapleton Rd 541-268-3044
A volunteer driven organizations that
develop and participate in community eff orts
to restore and protect watershed health,
water quality and native fi sh populations
Siuslaw.org
2016-2017
Corporate Underwriters
Driftwood Shores Resort
The Korando Dental Group
Three Rivers Casino Resort
TR Hunter Real Estate
Distinguished Sponsors
101 Things to Do Magazine
Banner Bank
Bi-Mart
Beachcomber Pub
Burns’s Riverside Chapel
Fred Meyer Stores
Lofy Construction
Oregon Pacific Bank
PeaceHealth
Peace Harbor Medical Center
Sea Lion Caves
Shippin’ Shack
Siuslaw Signs & Graphics
Spruce Point Assisted Living
The Siuslaw News
Be sure to thank these members for
their investment in our community!
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOON FORUM:
March 9 th – Noon Forum, Best Western
Pier Point Inn
Th ese monthly (second Th ursday) meetings
are focused on resource based content to
bring new knowledge, skills, tools, and
partnerships to local business. Th e Chamber
isn’t a service club, but when businesses
are strong we can support our service
organizations. Come fi nd out how you can
build your business by partnering with
the Chamber. When you partner with the
Chamber, you’re partnering with SUCCESS!
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
February 16 – 5:30-7pm Wellspring Clinic
and Rose & Crown Apothecary, 1845 Hwy
126 #H
Enjoy Rose & Crown spiced wine, herbal
seltzers and tasty treats! Th is FREE event
is open to the public, come discover how
participating in Chamber activities build
relationships and business!
March 2 nd – Backstreet Gallery, 1421 Bay
Street
Art, wine and appetizers? Who could ask
for more, save the date to connect and build
your business.
Event Committee Meetings – Want to
grow your business? Business by referral
is powerful. Participating on a Chamber
Committee is an eff ective way to build
relationships and referrals. Contact Nancy
Pearson for upcoming meetings and times
at 541-997-3128.
From the Director’s Desk
By Bettina Hannigan
Chamber Executive
Director
“Winners never
quit and quitters
never win.” Vince
Lombardi wisdom.
I’d say the New
England Patriots are
a testimony to this
mantra. As I watched
the 51 st Super Bowl,
I endured the fi rst
half surrounded by Falcon fans, sulking home
aft er half time to watch the second half in the
safety of my own abode. What to discover? A
comeback! And what a game, the fi rst overtime
Super Bowl in history. I was like all the crazy
fans immersed in the moment. What does this
have to do with business, you ask? You know I’ll
get there, be patient, I love to tell a story. Way
way back when I lived in Sandpoint Idaho and
my fi rst husband did private selective logging
with our team of draft horses (think Budweiser)
we had a very old Belgian named Buster. Buster
had been under harness his whole life and
loved to work. Buster basically taught my then
husband how to log. He’d get hooked up to an
enormous log and being driven he’d negotiate it
through the woods to the landing. Every once in
a while, one of these large logs would get hung
up on a stump in the trail. Here’s the lesson…
Buster knowing the drill would back up, change
the direction a bit, and move forward. Get it?
Th at’s what the Patriots did at half time and
that’s what successful businesses do.
Embrace change, look forward, make
adjustments, try something diff erent. If you
keep doing what you’re doing you’ll keep
getting what you’re getting. Use your Chamber
resources, make connections, attend Business
Aft er Hours, the Noon Forums, and ask
questions, learn from your Chamber partners.
Are you receiving my weekly e-mail Blasts? If
not sign up, they’re fi lled with resources to build
business, many FREE opportunities, and new
knowledge. When you need to, do it - Back Up,
Switch Up, and Move Up!
GET YOUR RHODY
BUTTONS TODAY!
Honoring Grand Marshal
US Coast Guard Siuslaw Station
Show your support to
the Rhody Court!
Available at the Visitors Center
ONLY $ 3 BUCKS!
YOUR LOCAL CHAMBER WANTS YOU. NOW.
Visitors Center
Meet folks from all
over the world by
volunteering here.
Fun and rewarding!
Rhody Days
Rods ‘N’ Rhodies
Help coordinate the 10th Annual this year!
Carnival, Floral
Car Show, Info Booth,
Parade, Rhody
Raffle Sales, Merchant
Court, Vendor Fair
Awards. Lots to do!
Your Top 10
By Bobby Jensen Jr.
Chamber Board Member
You know how
when you hear a
customer walk in or the
business phone rings
and you get a small pit
in your stomach that
they might be a little
salty or price shopping?
You imagine you’ll have
to explain your value or they might even have
a complaint. I know, I do down deep, but then
when it ends up being one of my great customers
my mind goes to ease and I feel excited to work
with them on whatever they may need. Th ese
customers are special, because they give you
more confi dence in the way you work. Th ey
allow you to maintain a sustainable margin on
your product or service. Heck they give you a
reason to build up a business! We all love these
customers and by the way, try to be one of these
customers yourself!
So here is a simple way to really build
an amazing business by following your top ten.
What you do is keep a hidden list where you
and your team can see and update it as needed.
This is a list of the current top ten customers you
enjoy working with the most. Next, whenever
you encounter one of the top ten on your list you
go into business development detective mode!
Pay close attention to their preferences such
as how they like to communicate (text, email,
phone, etc.). Pay attention to colors they prefer
and even the volume levels they speak with.
Ask them questions about suggestions they may
have for the business. Find out why they prefer
working with your company. Basically you
want to know all you can to build the perfect
experience for them. Make them your top
priority and just ignore any other customers or
distractions when a top ten is doing business
with you. Oh yeah, don’t ever tell them they
are in your top ten because the list is likely to
change.
The idea here is; you are different from
your competitors, just like each customer is
different as well. This strategy allows you to
naturally fi nd those who match your company
the best and keep them coming back as well
as referring their friends and associates who
are probably similar to them. This is where
the magic happens, you keep building towards
your top ten customers and before you know
it, the business will have evolved and you will
have an extremely dedicated clientele that fi ts
the business perfectly. Th e whole time you’re
working more and more with the customers
that make building a business awesome!
off er a retirement savings option.” Th ere are opportunities available to
participate in the pilot program,
Oregon Saves – A new EMPLOYER OR DERED program being
considered by the State of Oregon, get informed now and let your
voice be heard.
Quoted directly from OregonSaves.gov
Every business that employs workers in Oregon will
need to do something, whether the company has one
employee or thousands.
Starting in 2017, the State of Oregon will notify
businesses how and when they need to inform the state
whether or not they off er a retirement savings plan.
Th ose that off er a retirement savings plan will complete
a simple certifi cation process. Th ose that don’t off er a
retirement savings plan will need to off er OregonSaves
to their employees.
Employers who need to off er the plan to their employees
play an important role. Th ey will:
Provide employee data to the state, to allow
the state to set up employee accounts
Pass along information about OregonSaves to
employees
Do payroll deductions for participating
employees
Keep track of employee opt-out and
contribution decisions
Th ere are questions regarding the actual
implementation of this program due to a Federal
provision. Th e issue at hand is “Employer Liability”.
Much of the language in the proposal heavily burdens
employers.
Proponents of the plan state “OregonSaves is a way
for employers to off er a retirement savings option
to their employees without having to create a
workplace plan. Employers can use the plan to help
their employees start saving and take responsibility
for their own fi nancial future. Research shows that
employees are more productive when they have less
fi nance-related stress. Th ey are also 15 times more
likely to save if an option is available through their
work. In July, the plan will begin with a voluntary
pilot group of employers to help ensure that it works
well for everybody. Aft er the pilot stage, the plan
will be phased in statewide, starting in January 2018
with employees of larger companies that do not
Th e Florence Chamber has not taken a position on this proposal, this
information is provided to our local business community for awareness
purpose. For more information go to www.oregon.gov/retire/Pages/
Employers click on the “Want to Learn More” link on the top right of the
page and on the Treasurer’s page about half way down you can view the
program rules. Get informed today.
SAVE THE DATE!
FLORENCE
WINE
ART
JAZZ
HOURS:
Friday
2:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday
12:00 - 8:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
Florence
Events Center
Florence Fest ’17
will showcase carefully selected
Oregon boutique wineries along
with regional fine art, food and
live jazz. This upscale two-day
festival is being produced by
Coast Radio in cooperation with
the Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce and the Florence
Regional Arts Alliance.