Chamber of Commerce

I have a speech I"m preparing, which I'm working on, and did give to my local Rotary Club in Newport News, VA on my 32 birthday. I was very proud my father was there, a franchise owner, who never had visited a club before that morning.

I took the word CHAMBER and created an acronym.


CHAMBER



Community-Community is important. Human beings want to belong, and enjoy living and working in a thriving community. We are only as strong as our weakest link, and in small business we do rely on each other for referrals.

Helping. The Chamber is committed to helping your business succeed, or helping you recognize your weaknesses and turn them into strengths, through networking seminars, and mentor programs. Most chambers have free weekly networking or monthly after hours events, as well as sponsored events, and paid training. Most staff members have experience with small business owners, and can put you in touch with the right person to help you grow.

Ambassadors. The Ambassadors are select group of business professionals representing small businesses in the area. They market the Chamber via word of mouth, and work on membership drives, networking events and mentoring.

Membership. All groups and clubs thrive on membership. Including churches, softball teams, gyms and rotary clubs. We want to increase membership and invite new businesses to join our organization.

Belong. We as human beings have the need to belong. We all want to belong to something greater than ourselves. It feels good to get recognition and to belong to a group.

Everyone. The chamber embraces everyone. We want everyone to succeed. We are for every small business owner and entrepreneur.

R is for Referrals. It takes an alert person to recognize a referral for another business, then make conversation, create a relationship and follow through. Most of us worry about ourselves, and do not always recognize when we can help others, by referring them to a competitor, or a business associate.






C ommunity

H elping

A mbassadors

M embers

B elong

E veryone

R eferrals

Let me know what you think of this post and if you would like me to develop this for a motivational or marketing speech for your team of ambassadors at your local chamber.

-john

Chamber of Commerce

I believe my local chamber of commerce is a fantastic community of business professionals hovering on the same lillypad in the same pond, with the same goal. Stay alive!
http://www.vpcc.org/

We are all there to help each other, learn from each other's mistakes, stories, experiences, and pitfalls. I love the relationship marketing and networking.

I believe passionately in my local chamber, and encourage anyone who reads this to email me for my personal testimony.

I have been involved with Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for 3.5 years, and have grown my self-storage business tremendously. I have a software program that tracks at least 39-45 direct sales in a little over 3 years from the Chamber.

I have been accepted with open arms into a beautiful networking group http://www.penbiznet.com/

I was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year through this organization and have been an ambassador for the chamber for 2years.

Most recently I was asked to sit on the executive board as Vice Chair of Membership and Marketing. I'm honored to fulfill this obligation and will continue with my networking group I also created on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the Month at 8am. (Professional Connections)

The Chamber is like a library where there are old and new books and lots of information. You just have to check one out.

The Chamber is like a church where everyone comes, and some sit up close and just listen, othes ask questions, some sit in the back and don't talk to anyone, othes really get involved and want to help you succeed. But you must take responsibility for your own direction.

Support your local chamber of commerce. Sit in on a networking group or contact me and I'll teach you how to create your own.

move without the ball

bob dylan says in "MY BACK PAGES" I was so much older than I'm younger than that now...

When I played basketball, most of my life I had talent and I was taller, and my father played, and I had intution, and I practiced. I would shoot in the rain, practic dribbbling the the garage, watch video tapes.

I really believe those that succeed are "moving without the ball." Only one person can have the baskeball at a time, but you can't 'score' unless you have the ball, So you have to move around, and get "open" so others can see you.

Now bring this analogy to the business world. Those that move without the ball, are doing cold calls, and walk ins, or on-site events, or marketing their business in unique, creative and grass root ways.

I believe that half the battle is moving out the ball. You need to move with out the ball in business, create oppurtunity, so others see you, and DON"T BE a WAIT at the gate manager!

MOVE without the ball!

WINE STORAGE

originally appeared:
http://www.insideselfstorage.com/articles/341/getting-taste-for-wine-self-storage-ancillary.html

Thank you to Drew and Amy
http://www.insideselfstorage.com/

Getting a Taste for Wine Storage
[Bottle of Red, Bottle of White]
John R. Wharton10/03/2008

When the self-storage industry first began, most people only needed the product during a move. But as the business evolved, storage owners added ancillary products and services such as truck rental, records storage and retail items to attract a broader range of tenants and boost profit. Wine storage is also making a splash, giving storage operators yet another means with which to serve a niche market.
The Right Storage
Wine is a delicate commodity requiring specialized conditions to maintain proper storage. Customers of wine storage tend to be collectors, and their wine collections are personal to them, their families and friends. By letting tenants know you care enough to provide the best home for their prized possessions, you secure long term-customers.



The most important elements to protect wine include:
Temperature. Wine should be kept at 55 degrees, which will assure it will mature. Lower temperatures slow aging, and higher temperatures affect the wine’s quality.
Humidity. Wine needs to be stored in humidity from 60 to 70 percent. Excessively high humidity breeds molds and damages labels. Low humidity causes corks to dry out, resulting in the wine inevitably spoiling.
Light. Ultraviolet light can damage wine even if exposed for a brief period. Keep your wine storage dark when not being used by customers.
Red and White
Here are some more pointers to successfully launch wine storage at your facility. I’ve used the acronyms RED and WHITE for easy memorization.
R is for racks. You will need wooden, wire, decorative or designer racks to hold specialty bottles of wine. Racks are typically priced between $50 to $500.
E is for extras. You want to attract and retain your potential customer with extras. Why not sell corkscrews, coolers, wine tags, glasses, cases, carriers, books and wine magazines? Become a one-stop shop, allowing tenants the ability to pick up extra items when they’re scrambling with last-minute party preparations. They’ll appreciate the convenience; your bottom line will appreciate the profit.
D is for different. Wine-storage operators attract a different type of self-storage customer. Accept the challenge and diversify your amenities to fit their needs. Wine storage can become quite personal to connoisseurs. Make them feel special by treating their belongings with great care.
W is for wine lovers. Remember your audience. Wine is their baby. They want to know it is safe, and they need to trust you and your facility. Give them every reason to believe in your services and make those services obvious in all marketing materials.
H is for high-tech. Let your customers know their wine collection is safer at your facility than in their own homes. People like high-tech and will go great lengths to obtain it. Install the equipment necessary to maintain the correct humidity and temperature. Finally, invest in high-tech security measures to assure safety.
I is for insiders. Wine appreciation is like a club. People who are in-the-know about wine terminology are accepted as members of the club. Walk the walk and talk the talk by studying up on wines and proper storage.
T is for tasting. Wine-tasting tops the list of fun activities for this group of enthusiasts. Consider bringing in a local expert to share knowledge about special wines. You’ll bring your audience of wine lovers to your lobby, where they’ll see how great your provisions for storage can protect their own collections.
E is for educate. Marketing is a form of education. Inform consumers about your service and how to find you. An educated consumer can be your best customer.
Building Relationships
To promote your new wine-storage service create relationships with existing local wineries, breweries, restaurants, spas, hotels and chambers of commerce. Circulate brochures describing your wine storage and amenities to every business within a 3- to 5-mile radius. Word-of-mouth is often the best kind of marketing.
Another smart move is to partner with local wine retailers. Not only can they refer customers to you, but they may also store extra cases of wine at your facility.
Most important, know your customer base. Connoisseurs can store their wine in their basements, garages or hide it in the back of their refrigerators, so give them a reason to store it securely in your facility. By storing with you, they can savor every bottle at its peak, and you can enjoy the profit of a successful wine-storage business.


John R. Wharton is a resident manager for Space Mart Self-Storage in Newport News, Va. He is active in the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, where he was recently awarded the Entrepreneurial Success Award for 2008. Mr. Wharton has been in the self-storage business for nearly five years.

12 best friends of self-storage managers..

1. Realtors!
2. Chamber of Commerce Staff
3. Apartment Managers
4. Restaurant Managers
5. YOUR COMPETITION
6. Marketing directors of assisted living facilities
7. entrepreneurs
8. Pharmaceutical Reps
9. Caterers
10. Wedding Planners, Event Planners, DJ's
11. Landscape Contractors and Handymen
12. Ebay businesses

And all strategic Alliances!