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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2021)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2021 | 9A BUSINESS BEAT 541-997-3128 290 Highway 101, Florence, OR 97439 www.FlorenceChamber.com www.facebook.com/fl orenceoregon www.twitter.com/FlorenceOrCoast February 13, 2021 Welcome New Members! BUSINESS PARTNER MEMBERS Danny’s Game Store 511 Hwy 101 541-590-3719 Video game retail store, buying and selling used video games and consoles. Lighthouse Electrical Contractors, Inc. 1339 Rhododendron Dr. 541-991-7015 Providing services for residential, commercial, underground line locating, industrial, communications, sign lighting repair, parking lot lighting. Emergency Services. Free estimates. www.lighthouseelectricalcontractors. net Professional Massage Th erapy, LLC 1525 12th St. #2 480-229-6244 Professional massage therapy by appointment. From the Director’s Desk By Bettina Hannigan President CEO As I pondered what to write this month, this article popped up in my Facebook memory, this was pre-COVID, but oh how relevant it is today. We can surely add some additional sick and tired, like tired of quarantine, of having to dine outside, of masks, of social distancing, our loved ones being sick, and missing our hugs and kisses just to name a few! Th is article inspired me, and I hope it will you too. Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Boy, am I!!! I haven’t been sick (thankfully) but this weather makes me tired. Tired of rain, tired of voice mails, tired of being nice all the time, tired of being positive, just plain tired. Now, I know I’m not the only one; so how do we pivot off of the negative and sprint into the positive? It takes eff ort! Sometimes, monumental eff ort. What do we want and what do we want to pay for it? How’s that tired working for you? Tired doesn’t get much done and what it does get done probably has to be done over. Are you feeling creative, generous, joyful? How about productive? Well, this is where the doers get’er done. We CHANGE OUR MINDS. Yes, it’s hard; if it wasn’t everyone would be successful. As business owners we have to learn to pivot, to discipline our minds to stay on track. Changing your mind is a choice, it shows a willingness to consider other information or ways of getting it done. As tempting as slipping down that slippery slope into mediocrity is, you’re not meant for it! It’s time to pull up our britches, tell ourselves that we’re not going to take it anymore and get out and rock this thing called business. Do you know what your motivators are? A good way to get started is to determine what you want. Yep, it’s time to reaffi rm, modify and develop your goals. Break them down into yummy little bite size pieces. Each small achievement is a motivator that works. It will work for you and your team. Take time to celebrate your wins, even if it’s just a change in attitude from being tired to being inspired. Th ere is a lot of good advice out there about goals and team building. It’s good advice. But it’s only good if you take it. • Share the love – giving works! • Team up – fi nd someone else that needs to pivot and sprint and do it together. • Be nice to yourself – celebrate the baby steps. • Make your own sunshine – whatever that looks like. • Change your mind – you CAN do this! • Be patient with yourself - sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step back. You’re still going in the right direction. • Remember laughter doeth good like a medicine – take time to laugh. • Get some sleep – whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, schedule your down time to rejuvenate. Remember, only you can prevent forest fi res and burnout. Take care of yourself, we need you! made new. Th ere is what was before the snow, along with a hopeful sense of possibility in what might come aft er. Th is year of pandemic restriction, with the inevitable change of plans, dashed dreams and hope deferred, has been dreadful in so many ways. Yet here in the fi gurative (and for many of us, literal) season of solitude and silence, we have also found small blessings. Th ere is a clarity in quiet seasons where both the clock and the calendar diminish in importance. We have time to be with ourselves—oft en a frightful thought—and we are able to consider things, to develop notions of how we might re-engineer our lives, to focus less on doing and more on being. Th e vaccines that should end this scourge are increasingly available, and over the next several months, we will all have the opportunity to join the “herd”. Th is season is surely coming to an end. But the end isn’t here just yet. Perhaps that blanket of snow is beginning to melt, revealing what was covered. And soon we will fi nd ourselves in that dirty, slushy period when the pause button is released and life begins to return to normal. Let’s not move too quickly. Let’s take time to consider what parts of normal we return to and what things we ought to leave behind. Historians tell us that the last great pandemic, the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919, led to the Roaring Twenties when people eagerly gathered in ways they hadn’t been able to for two years. I am surely ready for a party; I’ll bet you are, too. But let’s be sure we all make it to that yet-to-come soirée. Let us consider the future we want for ourselves, our loved ones and our Siuslaw region neighbors. missing out on the opportunity to not only survive but thrive during this time. With 40% of the workforce now working remotely, and 70% of consumers turning to business pages on social media for inquiries and customer service issues. It is vital for the economic survival for individual businesses, as well as for our community to take advantage of this free platform. Most consumers are looking for information that can be accessed quickly, goods and services delivered timely, with the customer service they expect from their neighbors. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest are the cornerstones of the social media world. Facebook and Instagram currently outrank emails in how small businesses are communicating with their customers. If you do not have presence in one or all these platforms, it is time to start. Once you’ve signed up and have created your business page, you maybe asking now what? Most importantly is to keep it current. List your days, hours, address, phone, and website address. Make it easy for people to fi nd you. Make sure that your page is visually appealing and unique. Not creative? A site like Canva can help, with graphics, royalty free photos, logo creations and layouts that make your page look professional. A neglected page is a lost opportunity for potential customers. Engage with your audience. A proven formula is 80% entertainment & useful information, 20% promoting your business. People log on to social media to be connected, not to be bombarded with advertising. Share a day in your business life, link to current articles relevant to your business, post DIY videos, off er experienced advice, share a fun photo or inspirational story. Off er loyalty programs and discounts only available to followers. Reach out and respond! Reply to comments, messages, questions, and solve any issues that may arise in a timely manner. In doing so you will build the trust needed, to obtain and retain your customer base. All this can be overwhelming at fi rst. A social media management dashboard such as Hootsuite, is an easy tool to use to connect with people and the community over social media platforms. With organization, scheduling and insight, you will discover in time, what is working, what isn’t and what adjustments should be made. Th e most important attributes you can off er is accessibility and authenticity. If you make yourself available, while sharing your passion for what you do and who you do it for, you’ll gain loyalty. Not only in business but in life. 2020-2021 Corporate Underwriters Banner Bank Drift wood Shores Resort Th ree Rivers Casino Resort TR Hunter Real Estate Distinguished Sponsors 101 Th ings to Do Magazine Bi-Mart Burns’s Riverside Chapel Christina Voogd, Principal Broker Berkshire Hathaway Coast Radio Fred Meyer Stores Korando Dental Group Lofy Construction Oregon Pacifi c Bank PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center Sea Lion Caves Spruce Point Assisted Living Th e Siuslaw News Torex ATV Rentals Be sure to thank these members for their investment in our community! Leveraging FREE Social Media to Build Your Business By: Mitzi Hathaway Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Event and Tourism Development Coordinator During this time of social distancing, we are all feeling isolated, disconnected and let’s face it, a bit tired. Especially for small business owners who are abiding by state guidelines who prior to the pandemic, depended primarily on foot traffi c. Th is past holiday season during the Chamber’s Shop Local promotion, the Business Matters: After the Snow Storm By Russ Pierson Chamber Board Past President As I write in early February, we have seen hail, sleet and oceans of rain in Florence proper, but we have—so far—missed out on snow. Still, I am sure you remember as I do that feeling of waking up one wintry morning and fi nding the world silent, blanketed in white. In fact, it is more than mere feeling. Th ere is that noiselessness, a quietude, a certain smell in the air, a taste on your tongue—a very real tactile sense of everything, for a moment anyway, being US saw a 40% increase in online sales. So, how does a small business compete with big box stores? By building a loyal customer base through engagement, convenience, and connection. Th ere’s no easier or aff ordable way, than to utilize social media. Area businesses that fared the best over the past year, have shown a strong online presence. From the Florence Foods group on Facebook to individual stores promoting their products visually on Instagram, we witnessed innovation in action. Outside dining, curbside pickup, appointment only personal shopping, delivery and shipping aided in retaining and gaining customers. However, many businesses that remain intimidated by an online presence, are YOUR CHAMBER IS A THREE C’s CHAMBER! x x x x x x x x CATALYST FOR BUSINESS GROWTH Connecons to business prospects, networking opportunies, and relaon- ships in a friendly, referral-based environment. Access to business resources, informaon, and training to support the growth and professional development of you and your employees. CONVENER OF LEADERS & INFLUENCERS Advocacy representaon with elected officials, policy makers, and business leaders on local, regional, state, and federal plaorms. Influence over issues that directly impact your business. Collaboraons of business and community leaders to idenfy and solve challenges. CHAMPION FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY Inspire smart planning decisions for long-term community sustainability. Idenfy strategic partnerships to benefit business retenon and growth, workforce development, charitable giving, and leadership development. Represent a vibrant community by responding to visitor needs and providing assistance through the Florence Visitor Center.
