July 2013 - Owatonna Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

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expert Advice Customer Engagement Holly Sobrack Westbrack Marketing Engaging your customers is key in today’s marketplace. Whether it is on social media, online or in your store, how you connect with your customer is as important as the products and services you offer. Here are some tips to keep you on track: •ABBA – You may think of the singing group, but here, I am referring to Always Be Building Audiences. Once a week, ask yourself what strategies you have created to help you build your audience. Did you post online Have you asked customers for referrals Were print and radio ads including a call to action Try each week to target your audience using traditional or social media and then put a plan in place. Remember, when online, be authentic. •Call me Maybe. If you are like me, I now have you humming that song. We could learn something - the girl gives her number and says, “call me, maybe.” Are you asking your fans, followers and customers to share, like, call, email Do your print materials have your phone, email, social media contacts, website address •Thank you still matters. Whether you are online, in an email or in a store, a simple thank you to your customer still goes a long way. If you are online, how about showcasing customers as fans If in an email, attach a coupon for a future purchase. If in the store, share a heartfelt thank you. •KISS – Keep It Super Simple. If you have a promotion, run the same thing in all of your media choices. Make promotions easy to use, easy to redeem and versatile in a variety of media. We’ve all heard the “Big sale today” followed by “excludes….”. Adding a bunch of limits and rules to your sales only confuses your customer and your staff. Customers today are bombarded with a variety of messages and places to spend their money. Make your marketing stand out and be easy to understand. Submit your “Expert Advice” by the 15th of each month. Check out Owatonna.org/membership-promote.php for article guidelines. owatonna Tourism Workin’ 9 to 5 for Meetings and Events Members of the Tourism Advisory Committee recently attended the 2013 Midwest Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting & Expo. “Lights, Camera, Interaction!” was the Expo theme, bringing together Hollywood themed actors and actresses to the St. Paul Rivercentre! Owatonna Tourism themed their booth with the popular 1980’s office classic “9 to 5” movie starring: Dolly Parton (Lisa Havelka), Lily Tomlin (Jennifer Martin), and Jane Fonda (Kelly Boomgarden). Owatonna Tourism resumes focusing on lodging, meeting space, attractions and hosting experience were passed out to attendees at the Expo. Owatonna Tourism took 2nd place this year for the Best Booth Award, losing only by 9 votes to Visit Duluth. Mystery Tour Mum’s the Word Lisa Havelka Tourism Director Owatonna Tourism still stood out amongst the Kardashians who made an appearance at the expo, Willy Wonka and his Oompa- Loompa’s, and the Star Wars Stormtrooper’s that attended the expo! Midwest Association Executives and Meeting Planners are sure to remember the Owatonna girls “Workin’ 9 to 5” for their Meetings and Events! Would you ever consider hopping on a bus for a four-day trip without knowing your destination An adventurous group of seniors from Rockford, Illinois, signed up for a “mystery” tour that included Owatonna as one of the stops on June 11. Owatonna Tourism worked with a group tour operator to help plan the Owatonna leg of this trip, which included lunch at Cabela’s, a presentation by Harvey Ronglien at the Orphanage Museum, a trip to Mineral Springs Park, and a tour of the Farmers’ National Bank. Anne Peterson Thank Group Tour Coordinator you to group tour volunteers Kim Wilder, Kaye Fransen, and Kay Oberle for helping make our visitors welcome and sharing some of the sights with them! As the bus left Owatonna, they were off to their next destination…unknown! 4 | july 2013 Business Brief Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
The Sixteenth annual recipient of the Ted G. Ringhofer Memorial is Monica Hanson. Monica is the daughter of Jon and Peggy Hanson and is planning on attending Loyola University Chicago and majoring in Human Resource Management. Monica will be awarded the $1,000 scholarship given by TPS Insurance Agency and the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Ambassadors at the Fine Arts Awards Reception in May. Federated Mutual Insurance Company Federated Service Insurance Company* • Federated Life Insurance Company Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 | Phone 507.455.5200 | www.federatedinsurance.com Ed. 6/13 *Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT. © 2013 Federated Mutual Insurance Company Done right,on time, as promised. • High Quality Printing • Digital Printing • Wide Format Printing • Complete Mailing Service • Bindery Services • Marketing Solutions • Web to Print • Quick Turn Ringhofer Scholarship Business BReak Member Announcements 507.455.5880 or 800.247.5039 Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism www.owatonna.org | 5 Owatonna, MN • Phone: 507.446.5300 Manke’s Outdoor Equipment & Appliances has earned the prestigious Summit Club award for 2012 from The Toro Company. This annual award is presented to qualifying Toro dealers In Recognition of Outstanding Sales of Residential Lawn Equipment. Cole Johnson is the new owner of Haute Tanning. submit by 15th monthly Heather Ribbe is the new manager at Buffalo Wild Wings. Michael Meger has returned home and joined the staff of the Brick – Meger Funeral Home. He assumed his duties effective June 1. EO Johnson Office Technologies has been recognized by the Photizo Group as a leader in Managed Print Services (MPS). EO Johnson Office Technologies was one of 11 independent providers that Photizo Group selected to participate in the 2013 MPS Leaders Index for channel providers, based on demonstrated leadership in MPS. Owatonna College & University Center 965 Alexander Drive SW www.riverland.edu www.riverland.edu Steele- Waseca Cooperative Electric 2411 West Bridge Street, Owatonna MN 55060 507.451.7340 • fax: 507.446.4242 swce@swce.coop • www.swce.coop Pat Heydon is the new Executive for Habitat For Humanity. 2013-2014 Owatonna Business Women Executive Board: President: Karen Legault, Thrivent Financial ; 1st Vice President: Dori Prochniak, Ameriprise Financial; 2nd Vice President: Kerri Lynch, Tri M Graphics; 3rd Vice President: Kristin Haberman, Einhaus, Mattison, Carver and Haberman, P.A.; Secretary: Melinda Skalicky, Steele County ; Treasurer: Sara Pichner, Bosch Automotive; Woman of Achievement: Brooke Schroht, B.Schroht Designs; Public Affair Awareness: Beth Gilthvedt, Horizon Eye Care; Historian: Laura Seid, Chiropractic Care of Owatonna. Everyone’s got an answer... BusinessConnection Your connection to business answers. ...ours will GROW your business. We know times aren’t easy for Minnesota businesses these days. You need a resource that provides direct and immediate help for all of your important business questions. BusinessConnection is your free, go-to service in Minnesota for any and all business questions. Its purpose is to help Minnesota businesses grow by breaking down barriers, opening doors and answering questions – so you can get back to business. Connect anytime: www.mnbizconnect.com Call toll-free: 1-888-MINN-BIZ / 1-888-646-6249 Personal assistance is available 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. BusinessConnection is a service of Grow Minnesota! and sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, its local chamber partners and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Connect online: www.mnbizconnect.com
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July 2013 - Owatonna Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

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