Friday, February 12, 2010

Chamber hosts annual dinner

Emily Jarret, from the Blue Springs Journal writes:

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce honored local business leaders Jan. 29 during its annual banquet. Teaming up with business to score was the theme of the dinner, with local businesses and business owners honored for their work with the chamber.

Debrah Weilbacher, with Business Assistance, was named Connector of the Year. Connector of the Year is chosen by the group of chamber connectors and best exemplifies what a connector should be – reaching out and showing the spirit of the chamber, said Lara Vermillion, chamber president.

McCamm Management, which owns several McDonald’s locations in the metro area, was named Business of the Year, Brien Starner, with the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation, was named Business Person of the Year and Bill Essmann was named Citizen of the Year. Essmann was nominated by St. Mary’s Medical Center and is a member on the St. Mary’sMedical Center Foundation Board.

Essmann was also a previous chairman of the board for the chamber and currently serves on the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

Other nominees for citizen of the year included Darlene Jones, Jim Finley, Mary Potter, Rachel Powers, Dave Wright and Chuck Zuvers.

After awards were presented, Kyle Jones, 2009 chairman of the board, took a few minutes to remind those in attendance about the chamber’s accomplishments throughout the year.

“We’ve had a great year,” he said. “We had 19 graduates in our leadership program and started Operation Connect to pass out our chamber directories. We had our biggest Fall Fun Fest ever, recruited 77 new members and had 18 ribbon cuttings.”

Jones also noted the chamber’s budget. “It’s a lot more fun to work on the budget when we’re in the black,” he joked.

Before he ceremonially passed on the chairman’s position to Ryan Fry, Jones told the crowd he was proud to serve as the 2009 chairman.

“I have a positive outlook leaving this position,” he said. “And I hope I left it better than when I started. I think that should always be the goal for future chairs – to leave it better than when you got it.”

Fry told the crowd his goals for 2010 include increasing awareness of the Buy Blue Springs Program, increasing membership and “increasing the relevancy and respectability of the chamber within the community.”

“Without our membership we couldn’t be a chamber,” he added. “And I believe the chamber must be held accountable to that membership.”

“This chamber is full of good people who truly care about their community,” Vermillion said. “In Blue Springs, when we set our minds to something and work together, we make things happen. I hope to continue that tradition in the next year.”

Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce
president, Lara Vermillion, awards Art
Phillips,of McCamm Management, with
the business of the year award during the
annual chamber banquet, held Jan. 29.

posted by Buy Blue Springs at 12:56 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Buy Blue Springs helps chamber members to be more involved

By Jeff Martin - jeff.martin@examiner.net
The Examiner

The newly appointed chairman of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce says the same thing most others associated with the organization do: get members active.

And Ryan Fry, the 2010 chairman, means it. Especially when it comes to himself.

On the board for four years now, Fry is now its chairman, its spokesperson and the person usually giving the introductory speeches.

“It’s been a good four years, and we’re coming out on top,” Fry said, a week before the chamber’s annual banquet – where he’ll give a speech about the previous and upcoming year.

Aside from the many personnel and management changes, Fry views 2009 as the year the chamber changed direction toward a more positive image.

“The number one goal last year and for year’s upcoming is increasing the membership, but also being relevant and respected within the community,” he said.

Currently the chamber’s membership is about 387, an increase from last year but far from where they want to be. To attract new members in 2009, the chamber rolled out some new programs and incentives.

“We’re trying to do things that attract and retain members,” Fry said. “We’re trying to address the question all prospective members ask – what’s in it for me?”

Beginning early last year, the chamber started making changes – from administrative titles to new features, including a new Web site loaded with features; a database system that would organize and arrange membership information

The site – www.bluespringschamber.com – is a gold mine of information, including a database for members, links to business sites, an interactive calendar, biographical information and job postings.

The success of Buy Blue Springs has attracted attention from current and prospective members.

“Buy Blue Springs was a concept that a member brought forward, and Lara Vermillion (president) told him to run with it, develop it,” he said. “It has a life of its own now.”

But Buy Blue Springs underscores something more important.

“I think that’s where the biggest change was last year – getting the members more involved.”

Other programs in the early planning stages include a youth internship meant to expose high school students to local employers and the opportunities there. In addition, the chamber launched the TGIF Government in Focus, a Friday morning event that has combined the legislative breakfast and presentations by representatives of the local school district, as well as updates on fire departments and EMS issues.

The chamber is also working to finish its application for national accreditation.

Fry said the chamber is also looking to replicate a service similar to what the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce does for its members – offering a route to a health insurance plan for members.

“It’s something we’re working on,” he said.

If you go:

What: The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet

Where: Adams Pointe Conference Center, 1400 N.E. Coronado Drive, Blue Springs

When: Tomorrow night. Social hour begins at 6 p.m.

What happens: Awards will be given for Outstanding Citizen 2009, Business and Business person of the Year. There will also be a silent auction, with proceeds going to the scholarship program.

For more information: Call 816-229-8558

Labels: blue springs chamber

posted by Buy Blue Springs at 8:47 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Monday, January 11, 2010

Local decision making key to Blue Springs

By John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

This is the seventh in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on local decision making.

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Buy Blue Springs initiative took center stage at last week’s luncheon at Adams Pointe Conference Center as the program, logo and mascot were rolled out for the membership.

Buy Blue Springs is the brainchild of Mark Whitlow, owner of K&M Office Supplies and chamber President Lara Vermillion. In the last five months, the group has formed a task force, put together informational flyers and initiated discussions regarding funding.

The marketing piece for Buy Blue Springs outlined four task force goals, including partnering with local merchants, educating the community, establishing a rewards program and bringing the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce community together to promote the program.

The group also identified seven points to think about when making retail or service purchases, including keeping dollars in the local economy, jobs and wages, entrepreneurship, competition, product diversity, local decision making and community well-being.

“After seeing the excitement at the luncheon, I think it’s going to be a good program just in the fact that people are seeing the possibilities,” Whitlow said. “If all of us get involved as members, this will really go. But it will take the entire membership to keep it going.

“What we have to nail down in the first few months of 2010 is to get our promotions down and implemented.”

Janet Samborski, marketing consultant with Kwik Kopy in Blue Springs, has worked for Kent Edmondson at the business for 20 years.

Samborski said decisions made by local business owners often have a huge impact. “I think a lot of the business owners are involved in other areas of the city, for example, Kent is a councilman and he makes decisions for local businesses and residents,” she said. “And he’s also been a school board member and he’s been president of the Chamber of Commerce, so he’s been active in the community.

“And I know there are lots of people that have the same decision-making responsibilities for the community as a whole.”

Read more at the Blue Springs Journal.

posted by Buy Blue Springs at 9:22 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Product diversity helps keep dollars in Blue Springs

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

Note: This is the sixth in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on product diversity.

The more products or services offered by small businesses and large companies in a particular city, the more likely citizens will stay within that town to spend their dollars.

That’s the hope of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce as it launches its Buy Blue Springs program in the coming months.

Blue Springs is on the verge of being able to retain more retail and other spending as more than 600,000 square feet of new retail, restaurants and other services moves into the city.

Couple that with existing businesses that are already thriving and surviving in town, and Blue Springs can boast the product diversity needed to retain local dollars.

Traci Via has owned Trace Marketing – a full service marketing firm – for more than six years.

She said her ultimate goal is to spend in town and help her own business to thrive.

“I love Blue Springs,” she said. “My business has flourished because of my personal and business relationships.”

The Buy Blue Springs premise of product diversity is defined within many businesses, including Via’s. “I do anything and everything, that’s what I always say,” Via said, “anything and everything that has to do with marketing and advertising. I don’t have a niche, which is what makes me more diverse. I don’t just handle automotive or whatever the business may be.”

Via’s business has always been in Blue Springs, too.

“I am firm believer in buying local and staying local if and when I can,” she said. “I want to support the small businesses like myself. That’s why, for me, I’m glad to see the Chamber step up and put this program into place. I hope this program spills over to people that work outside of Blue Springs. Those that work downtown or other areas, I hope they start to do more shopping in Blue Springs.

“I think it can get its wings within the business community and then spread its wings and fly outside of business community.”

Read more at the Blue Springs Journal.

posted by Buy Blue Springs at 9:17 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Friday, December 18, 2009

Buy Blue Springs Introduced to the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce

Michael Montague of Ad Trends Advertising, Inc. host Blue Springs BINGO and introduces the web site he made...

Lara Vermillion of the Blue Springs Chamber and Mark Whitlow of K and M Office Product are the Buy Blue Springs Committee Chairs.

Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross explains why buying locally improves the city and stopping leakage of tax dollars can improve city services.

Little Blue - Blue Blue Springs MO Mascot

And introducing LITTLE BLUE the official mascot of the Buy Blue Springs Campaign!!! Now available for parties, grand openings, and other events...

posted by Buy Blue Springs at 10:55 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Monday, December 14, 2009

Blue Springs Businesses Face Competition From Surrounding Areas

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

This is the fifth in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on competition for business.

The battle for the Blue Springs consumer dollar only intensified over the last few years as shopping areas and big box stores cropped up all over Jackson County.

That competition, and Blue Springs’ response with its own development, will play a key role helping to stop the sales tax leakage from the town to surrounding areas.

As the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce begins the education phase of its Buy Blue Springs campaign, competition for the retail dollar and awareness of buying local become crucial.

Brien Starner, president of the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation, said competition is always healthy, as long as there is a level playing field.

“The economy is only going to get healthy when there is true competition,” he said.

However, competition among businesses in Blue Springs isn’t truly the enemy.

It’s the retail competition from areas like SummitWoods in Lee’s Summit and the new shopping area near Bass Pro in Independence.

Blue Springs has countered with the opening of Target and other options at Adams Dairy Landing, but more still needs to happen, said Starner.

“If you’re going to go do a full day of shopping for Christmas outside of Blue Springs, you may take advantage of an area that offers more retail options,” Starner said.

Starner said that from a tax-based standpoint, costs start to increase when you don’t have more retail choices.

“It really comes down to a diversification of our retail base,” he said. “Retail and competition are important to the identity of the community.

“Most successful businesses find their niche and they stay in their niche to refine what they really do well. And really, not everything you want to buy can be found at a Target or Wal-Mart.” - Continued at the Blue Springs Journal

posted by Buy Blue Springs at 8:53 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Monday, December 7, 2009

Try Shopping In Blue Springs First

All of EJC should join Blue Springs chamber in buy local campaign

The statistics from Black Friday weekend have started coming in and they offer both good and bad news for retailers.

There were more shoppers reported this year than last year, but they were spending on average less money.

Locally, there are no statistics just for EJC, but anyone who was out over the weekend saw busy stores, long lines and lots of traffic. And that’s a good thing.

As much as we should focus on the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season, there is no denying that this time of year is a vital one for many businesses who depend on higher sales.

For that reason, Eastern Jackson County shoppers do their best to keep their hard-earned money in Eastern Jackson County. While online shopping has become more popular in recent years, spending your holiday money at EJC establishments benefits you in more ways than one. By selecting local businesses, you are not only helping them succeed, but you are creating and maintaining more jobs in our area.You are also keeping your sales tax dollars in our area cities, which in turn helps keep our roads, parks and public safety resources.

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce has adopted a buy local campaign this fall and even has a catchy slogan – “Buy Blue Springs. Because Next Door Means More.”

The Blue Springs Chamber has it right, and all of EJC shoppers should remember each time they buy a gift this holiday season they are really giving two – one to gift’s recipient, and one for the business in which they select to spend their money.

- From The Examiner

posted by Buy Blue Springs at 8:26 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Brought to you by the

Buy Blue Springs News

With so many large municipalities surrounding our area it is always tempting to drive outside Blue Springs to shop. If we all take the time to think about where our purchases are made and if we stopped, thought, and made conscious decisions to buy Blue Springs, it would mean more for all of us!