Chamber Coffees Connect Small Business Owners
(Crystal A. Proxmire, 7/22/2011)
An early morning Coffee Connection can be a great way for local business owners to get a jump on their day with a little bit of caffeine and a lot of local love and support. It’s also a great way to network and get business referrals. That’s why the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce hosts semi-monthly Coffee Connections.
The hour-long meetups feature more than just coffee and chatter. Held at different locations every couple of weeks, the morning are hosted by one or two businesses that provide breakfast snacks and a chance for members to learn about services or opportunities that might benefit them.
On July 19, 2011 Night Cry Graphics teamed up with Treat Dreams to host the event, which brought over a dozen local businesses together. Representatives from Blumz, Seawell Business Solutions, American Cancer Society, Painting with a Twist, Claddagh Chiropractic, and Crain Optical were among those in attendance. At every meeting time is dedicated to introductions, and each guest is given 30 seconds to talk about their business and give out an “ask,” which is a request for help from other Chamber members. Requests can help with anything from getting a business referral to finding out information, or a simple sales pitch.
Mark Hill of Alert Alarm and Kristin Schmitt of Pet Care Au Pair were there representing their respective businesses and serving as Chamber Ambassadors. An Ambassador’s job is to keep an eye out for new members and make sure they are comfortable at Chamber events, and aware of Chamber services.
“I live in Macomb Township, and my company serves the entire metro area. But to me Ferndale Area Chamber events are the best ones to come to,” said Hill. “There is a small town feel that you can’t get anywhere else. I’m in my safe zone here, it’s not that button-down suit atmosphere.”
Schmitt has been an Ambassador for five months, volunteering only a month after opening her business and joining the Chamber. Pet Care Au Pair provides animal sitting and care as an alternative to kenneling pets.
“I like being able to touch base with new members and making sure they are happy,” Schmitt said. “I’ve met people through the Chamber to meet all my needs. Jeff [Simmerant] does my insurance. Gail [Wyckhouse] is my nutrition coach. If anyone is ever looking for a good referral, all I have to do is open the Chamber Directory and I know I can find someone.”
Another benefit of networking in the Chamber is gaining knowledge from the experiences of others. “I like talking to other business owners who have insight for how I can grow my business,” she said.
Those who attended the July 19 event were able to learn marketing ideas from Ed and Angela Marsh, the owners of Night Cry Graphics. The Marsh’s were part of the team that helped design the Chamber’s new logo last year (http://www.ferndale115.com/19p2chamber.html)
Ed Marsh spoke about how many business owners tend to “stomp out fires” as their primary way of solving problems, especially communications-related issues. Another common problem is that small business owners try to save money by doing their own communications. “They aren’t experts, and they don’t realize how much really goes into it.”
Marsh said that all business communications should follow three principles for success. “You need to have consistency, visual presence and a plan for growth.” He said that large companies have binders that dictate how a company’s logo can be used. As an expert in print, Marsh has seen all too many clients sending inappropriate file types to the printer. “You don’t want to send a jpg that is going to get blurry when it’s printed.” Having professional assistance can help businesses avoid those kinds of problems.
He left the group with a simple reminder, the mantra of the fire-stomping business owner: “I don’t got time to do it right, but I got time to do it twice.”
Treat Dreams, which provided the location for the Coffee Connection, announced an upcoming Christmas in July event, which will include a toy drive for the Children’s Leukemia Foundation.
The next Chamber Coffee Connection will take place on Aug.2 at Northern Television at 1321 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak. On display will be the new Samsung Smart TV which interfaces with a user’s cell phone. That will be alongside the second television that was ever sold in Oakland County – a relic from the 1930s that has curious Chamber members looking forward to the next morning get-together. Be there at 8am to take part.
More information on The Ferndale Area Chamber can be found at http://www.ferndalechamber.com.