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!
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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.
