|
|||||||||||||
Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Various groups offer seminars, networking and ideas to improve business
Starting a business – and growing a business – require a wide range of skills.
First, there’s the idea. Then, there are the legal and financial considerations. Ah, but don’t forget the marketing. Oh yes, there’s the selling, too. How are you going to find those new customers?
Today, the Times-Courier is profiling three organizations geared toward business development to give readers a snapshot of some local efforts to build the business community.
The Networking Community
The Top of Virginia The Networking Community is the newcomer on the Berryville business scene. The group is small (currently 11 members), but hopes to grow. With an eye toward increasing profit and promoting the town, members forge relationships with peers in the community.
“We’re helping each other grow our businesses,” explains Ellis Chapman, branch manager of Blossman Propane.
Chapman acts as facilitator for the meetings, which are held twice a month for an hour upstairs at BB&T. On five-week months, the group has a fun activity of some kind -- like their upcoming breakfast at John’s Restaurant -- on the fifth week. The group is actively seeking new members, but only one person from each industry is invited to join – only one banker, one Realtor, one insurance representative, etc.
The meeting’s atmosphere is relaxed with members coming in early and staying late to touch base on vacation plans or families. Chapman describes the casual environment as “a bunch of marketing folks getting together and having a good time.”
Right now, their plans focus on building awareness of The Top of Virginia The Networking Community, perhaps by holding an open house. The group looks for partners and considers piggybacking with a Bike Rodeo hosted by Berryville Main Street in the spring. The team is in the brainstorming and thinking phase. What’s going to draw in visitors, so they can learn a little about The Networking Community? Maybe serve free popcorn, maybe an open house, maybe hotdogs? Sensitive to other community groups, restaurants and merchants, The Networking Community members don’t want to step on the toes of other businesses.
The Clarke group is part of a national The Networking Community created by Dan Williams. Chapman refers to Dan Williams as their mentor. To extend members’ reach even further, The Networking Community holds monthly power networking events in Leesburg where all area clubs come together.
The national Web site promotes five values:
Networking, like life, is a process not an event
Networking membership with TNC groups is an extension, not a replacement, of your existing relationships
Networking groups - one size does not fit all
Networking requires continuous education
Networking is leveraged through the smart use of technology
The group started in Clarke in October, but members have their eye on the long term. The Networking Community approach says it may take 18-24 months to build a deep relationship. Chapman says they hope to become an arm of each other’s sales team, bringing in business.
Members take turns talking about their business. Today, it’s John Goldsmith’s turn.
As an agent with State Farm in Purcellville, Goldsmith starts with a little of his personal background. He met his wife at the World Trade Center Tower I in New York City during an update on accounting rules.
He expands more on his professional expertise. Do you know the limits of your car insurance coverage? Are you covered if your sewer backs up? If you’re worth $1million, then you may need an umbrella policy.
Realtor Kelly DeLozier was surprised at the options State Farm offers.
As the meeting draws to a close, the group discusses possible new members.
Laura Webb, vice-president of marketing for Webb and Sons Construction, attended this meeting, but has a few more steps before she becomes a full-fledged member.
Assuming no one currently in the group objects, potential members are invited to attend two meetings. They decide if they’re interested in joining and club members have a chance to voice objections. Then, the club issues a formal invitation.
Chapman gives a three-minute warning before the hour-long meeting’s end. One member thanks Jason Williams, vice president with BB&T, for a referral.
As the meeting breaks up, groups of two and three talk about the meeting, business plans, upcoming events, often walking out together, but with plans to meet again in two weeks.
Vision:
“TNC [The Networking Community] is your networking organization for the 21st century providing a global resource center of networking services combined with community-based person-to-person networking groups, operating independently with unique cultures, but bound together by a set of shared TNC networking principles and values.”
Contact information
Call any member for more information or contact Jason Williams at 540-955-0110.
Online: www.thenetworkingcommunity.com and e-RSVP to get a ticket to a meeting.
Cost: $395 per year.
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce
With about 200 members in Clarke County, the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce is the county’s largest business group. A local task force is examining needs specific to Clarke and is hosting a series of free seminars.Until October 2006, Clarke County had its own chamber. At that time, the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber absorbed Clarke, creating the new regional chamber. The regional chamber has 1,150 members, the fourth largest chamber in Virginia.
Chamber President and CEO Charlie Weiss is very concerned about business development and wants to find meaningful ways to meet the needs of the Clarke community.
Bank of Clarke County President John Milleson is one of the board members for the regional chamber. The bank had been a member of both chambers before the merger, but he sees the combined chamber as an asset for his business.
Power networking lunches and mixers are already in place to help business development across the region. The Chamber has been a great way to get to know other businesses – even the small businesses housed in basements, attics and home offices, Milleson says.
The Chamber established the Clarke County Task Force to figure out what Clarke-specific business issues are and how the chamber can help. Task force members include Betty Schutte-Box, Lynn Erisman, John Staelin, Margaret Barb, Judy Wolk, Milleson and Weiss.
To find out the specific needs of Clarke businesses, the task force started by sending out letters and surveys to all 650 businesses licensed here, says Wolk who serves as the director of chamber development for the regional chamber.
From the results, the task force identified three areas where businesses wanted help: Networking, marketing and personal growth. Wolk says the Chamber is using these topics to develop three free seminars to be held in Clarke. While the specific speakers haven’t been identified yet, the dates have been set. The three business-friendly seminars will be:
Feb. 20, 4-6 p.m.
March 19, 4-6 p.m.
April 16, 4-6 p.m.
As the state’s fourth largest chamber, the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce works from the close up level of local business to the larger policy issues facing state and federal legislatures. In addition to papers stating the Chamber’s positions on state and federal public policies, the Chamber sent a delegation to Richmond earlier this month to speak on issues important to business.
Milleson agrees that the Chamber is an advocate for business issues and hasn’t been pulled into the controversies that have affected other chambers. Most important, perhaps, the chamber has served his business needs.
“It’s a great source for new business for the Bank of Clarke County,” Milleson says. “The joint Chamber of Commerce has been very good for us as a networking opportunity.”
Mission
“To provide programs and services which foster a healthy business environment and promote economic growth, thereby enhancing the quality of life in the region.”
Contact information
Top of Virginia Regional Chamber, Clarke office
Open Wednesdays
24 Buckmarsh Road, Suite 200
Berryville, VA 22611
540-955-3002
cweiss@regionalchamber.biz
www.regionalchamber.biz
OR
Call Director of Chamber Development Judy Wolk directly at 540-662-4118 x 204 or by email jwolk@regionalchamber.biz
The cost to join is based on size of business and number of years in business.
Berryville Main Street
Part of the Virginia Main Street program, Berryville Main Street’s focus is on Berryville, but offers activities to those beyond the town boundaries. The approximately 100-member organization is a booster for an active downtown, hosting events that range from Dog Days to an entrepreneur’s training session or a “green” construction seminar and are open to all Clarke residents.Having tools that help merchants – events, newsletters, advertising opportunities, walking tour brochure, Web site – and disseminating information to and from merchants is important, says Berryville Main Street President Christy Dunkle.
Many of Clarke’s commuters don’t get downtown much; Dunkle sees them as potential shoppers and community builders for downtown.
Events, such as Dog Days, Music in the Park or the Craft Market bring more people into town, building a synergy with merchants. Events attract people from all over the county, not just from Berryville.
Executive Director Sue Ross says the organization wants to encourage new businesses to come to town and to help residents start their own businesses, even as it helps existing businesses. For those interested in becoming independent businesses, Berryville Main Street is hosting an Entrepreneur Express seminar April 17 from 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Olympic Flame. The free seminar will feature segments on
How to start and operate a business
Growing your business/marketing strategy
Financing and managing resources
Available resources/resource fair
A March 5 seminar will offer training on green residential construction techniques, as well as a certification test a week later. The seminar is in keeping with Berryville Main Street’s mandate to revitalize the historic district.
While keeping current businesses happy is important, attracting new business is also part of the organization’s goals.
“Each of them is critical,” Dunkle says.
To that end, the Berryville planning department, where Dunkle works as assistant town manager/planner, in conjunction with Berryville Main Street is putting together inventory of commercial space to see what’s available. The inventory will allow them find a fit between available space and folks wanting to do business in Berryville. Next year, after the completion of the new government center, Berryville will have at least four more storefronts available as well as the current library.
More business would add to the greater good, creating a critical retail mass would benefit all downtown business, Dunkle says.
“I like seeing things come to fruition. Planning is a long process,” Dunkle says.
Mission
“Berryville Main Street is an organization founded in 1988 to promote & support downtown Berryville as the commercial, office & cultural center of Berryville & Clarke County. Berryville Main Street gives local citizens an opportunity for involvement in the process of the revitalization & improvement of Berryville.
Berryville Main Street is a 501(c)3 entity, & acts as the local arm of the Virginia Main Street Program. Our structure comprise four interactive committees: Design, Organization, Promotion & Economic Restructuring.”
Contact information
Berryville Main Street
Sue Ross - Executive Director
5 S. Church St.
P.O. Box 372
Berryville, VA 22611
540-955-4001
info@berryvillemainstreet.org
You must be logged in to post a comment.