Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog

General Membership Meeting: Stephanie Hoffman

Three Low-Cost Strategies to Grow Your Business

The Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce has invited guest speaker, Stephanie Hoffman of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by Shasta College and College of the Siskiyous, to their monthly membership meeting on Thursday, March 11 at 12pm at Lalos Restaurant.  The presentation topic is: “Three Low-Cost Strategies to Grow Your Business.”  Hoffman will describe what business owners can do immediately to start increasing their sales and build a strong customer base.  For example, Hoffman discusses why retail owners should care that 86% of women look at a price tag and 72% of men are just anxious to get out of the store (Source: Why People Buy, Paco Underhill).  “Knowing what is important to your customers allows you to provide the best possible value and for you to remain competitive,” explains Hoffman.

Through the SBDC, Hoffman has worked with hundreds of serious entrepreneurs wanting to start or grow a business in Siskiyou County.  She has discovered three crucial strategies for businesses to be successful and to thrive.  The bottom-line is a business must be alive and growing to attract customers as well as competent employees wanting to work there.

Hoffman to speak at Chamber meeting

Three Low-Cost Strategies to Grow Your Business

The Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce has invited guest speaker, Stephanie Hoffman of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by Shasta College and College of the Siskiyous, to their monthly membership meeting on Thursday, March 11 at 12pm at Lalos Restaurant.  The presentation topic is: “Three Low-Cost Strategies to Grow Your Business.”  Hoffman will describe what business owners can do immediately to start increasing their sales and build a strong customer base.  For example, Hoffman discusses why retail owners should care that 86% of women look at a price tag and 72% of men are just anxious to get out of the store (Source: Why People Buy, Paco Underhill).  “Knowing what is important to your customers allows you to provide the best possible value and for you to remain competitive,” explains Hoffman.

Through the SBDC, Hoffman has worked with hundreds of serious entrepreneurs wanting to start or grow a business in Siskiyou County.  She has discovered three crucial strategies for businesses to be successful and to thrive.  The bottom-line is a business must be alive and growing to attract customers as well as competent employees wanting to work there.

Manufacturing Conference in Northern California

All Northern California manufacturers are invited to attend this session to explore ways to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of their businesses, including strategies to reach new market opportunities.

About The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (MANEX):

MANEX, a member of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), provides consulting services exclusively to manufacturers and distributors, finding solutions and strategies to improve growth, profitability an competitive advantages. MANEX’s sole purpose is to help manufacturers and distributors gain a competitive edge.

The Conference will be held in Chico, April 2, 2010. Click here for more details.

Small Business Fair

Small Business Fair
WORKSHOP & RESOURCE EXPO
Free Admission! Space is limited. Please register EARLY!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn
1900 Hilltop Drive, Redding CA

View the  Flyer here

Get your bid in now!

July 4^th Celebration–Request for proposal guidelines.

The Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and promoting trade and tourism in the Mount Shasta area for the benefit of its members and the citizens of the community, is organizing its 31^st July 4^th Celebration in 2010. The three day celebration attracts an average of 5,000 people. We are seeking an individual able to provide artist and/or DJ services and stage production between July 2 and July 4, 2010.

Guidelines will be available at the chamber office on February 10^th. The office is located 300 Pine Street in Mount Shasta and open to the public from 10am to 4pm. You may also send a request by emailing marie@mtshastachamber.com or by calling 530-926-3696 ext. 201.

Holiday Magic in Mount Shasta

The holiday season is upon us. Soon we’ll not only be hearing the jingling bells and the singing of carols, but also the ringing of cash registers as the holiday season gets into full swing.

November 19: Discover the treasures the city of Mt Shasta offers from 4pm to 7pm. To kick off the season Jamie Coleman from Petals is spearheading a Town-wide Open House. All participating businesses will provide edibles and discounts. Shoppers will also have the opportunity to win a gift certificate for their favorite business or businesses.

November 27: Locals and visitors can gather in front of Mt. Shasta City Hall at 305 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd. for old fashioned caroling while waiting for the Christmas tree to be lit. The Emcee for the evening is Scotty Bates, Chamber Board member. The Strawberry Valley 4-H will hand out candles; sell hot chocolate and apple cider. The evening will begin with an invocation by Pastor Gary Van De Walker of the Evangelical Free Church at 5:30pm. The community will then join in singing several old fashioned Christmas carols led by Carol Taforo’s COS Children’s Community Choir. Candles will be lit at 5:50pm. Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 6:00pm. Pay a visit to Santa’s Shop and his Elves at the Fire Station where they will be busy building toys, baking cookies, hanging ornaments and more. Stores, shops and galleries in the downtown area will be open until 8:00 pm. for holiday browsers and shoppers.

Holiday Magic Downtown Mt. Shasta — Walk, Shop & Dine in December
Join the Mt. Shasta community for fun-filled Wednesdays in December. Music will fill the streets during the day and live carolers in the evening. Participating restaurants will offer specials to shoppers. Several businesses will house a “Giving Tree” for children in need from December 1 to December 17. On December 2, 9, and 16 from 5:30pm until 7pm, the Sacred Mountain Spa will be providing space for “Portraits with Santa” by professional photographer Sequoia, offered at $30 (a $50 value), includes (4) wallet size, (2) 4×6 and (1) 5×7 prints. Portraits will be available for pick up a week later.

December 2: Receive a small gift for shopping or donating a non-perishable food item to participating businesses. Donations will go to “Meals on Wheels”, St. Vincent de Paul’s food bank and the Elks food baskets.

December 9: Fun for the kids! Meet the Weed Dog Sled Team in the afternoon. Bring your camera for photo opportunities! Play Onionhead games at the Gallery from 4 to 6pm. Enjoy storytelling at 6:30pm at Village Books.

December 16: Shop at your favorite stores and enter a raffle at each shop.

December 23: Stroll downtown and vote for the best holiday shop window decoration! There will also be a snowman building contest for kids and the young at heart. Make it a family event!

The Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce encourages area residents to spend their holiday shopping dollars with local merchants. Stay tuned for more evening shopping opportunities. Visit our community calendar often at mtshastachamber.com

Dollars for dishwashers

By Lynn Teuscher of Aiello-Goodrich-Teuscher

A few months ago, the federal government had a program called “Cash for Clunkers,” which gave rebates to the auto dealers for sales of energy efficient vehicles purchased by the consumers. Coming soon to consumers in late 2009 or early 2010 will be a federally-funded program run by each individual state to give rebates on purchases of “Energy Star” appliances; sort of a “Cash for Clunker Appliances” program.   The rebates will commonly range from $50 to $250 depending on the product being purchased.

The “Stimulus Bill” (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) provided $300 million to states for consumer rebates on the following ENERGY STAR qualified appliances:

• Central air conditioners
• Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
• Boilers
• Furnaces (oil and gas)
• Room air conditioners
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers
• Refrigerators/freezers
• Water heaters

This appliance stimulus rebate is different than the recent “Cash for Clunker” vehicle program in that the federal government is not doing the paperwork for each consumer transaction, instead they have asked the individual states to run the program, and the federal government will fund it. Each state has been given the authority to decide which appliances and what level of efficiency of that category of appliances will be eligible for rebates. The states were required to submit their plans to the Federal Department of Energy by October 15, 2009 for review. The manufacturers of appliances are concerned that it will be very difficult for them to have their products ready for 50 different state strategies in the upcoming months.

Dollars for dishwashers and other appliances are coming soon, so keep in contact with your appliance dealer for further details.

Evening shopping in Mount Shasta

The holiday season is upon us. Soon we’ll not only be hearing the jingling bells and the singing of carols, but also the ringing of cash registers as the holiday season gets into full swing.

To kick off the season Jamie Coleman from Petals is spearheading a Town-wide Open House on Thursday, November 19^th from 4pm to 7pm, all participating businesses will provide edibles and discounts. Shoppers will also have the opportunity to win a gift certificate for their favorite business or businesses.

The Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce encourages area residents to spend their holiday shopping dollars with local merchants. Stay tune for more evening shopping opportunities and visit our community calendar at mtshastachamber.com

Executive Director Siskiyou Land Trust — open position

The Siskiyou Land Trust (SLT), a 501(c)(3) with offices in Weed, CA, is seeking a one-half-time Executive Director to manage its affairs. SLT is a private conservation organization governed by an eight-member Board of Directors which is “dedicated to long-term stewardship of agricultural, forest and wildlands in Siskiyou County by working with willing landowners, agencies and organ-izations.”

Contact SLT at (530) 926-2259 for a position description and application information. The deadline for applications is November 13, 2009.

Meet the lenders in the Mt. Shasta Area on October 28, 2009

Resources for Business Financing

Time:  1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location:  Silva’s Restaurant,

1886 Shastina Drive, Weed

Cost:   Free — Open to the General Public

Please pre-register by calling
Jefferson Economic Development Institute

(888) 926-6670 ~ (530) 926-6670

• Learn the latest on the state of business financing in today’s economy
• Meet the public and private lenders and experts in the field to discuss options
• Learn about the loan process from successful borrowers
• Discover all the resources available to small business owners
• Understand the steps to becoming “loan ready”

This workshop is brought to you by a partnership through: JEDI, Superior California Economic Development, Northeastern California SBDC at Shasta College and the College of the Siskiyous and Siskiyou County Economic Development