December: It's the biggest shopping season of the calendar year and for many businesses it's the difference between sink and swim. This holiday season, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce encourages residents to shop locally and patronize Chamber-member businesses.
“The decision to 'shop Carlsbad' is an easy one,” said Ted Owen, CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber. “Quite simply, your fellow Chamber-member businesses represent every possible service and product one would need to successfully navigate the holiday season.”
Carlsbad Chamber businesses can help with everything on the list. From printing Christmas cards, planning holiday parties, shopping for family gifts or arranging a holiday getaway, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce can refer a member business to take care of it.
According to Bev Jorgensen, this is where the Chamber's Business Resource Guide (BRG) can prove invaluable. “I can't think of a better time to pull out the BRG,” she said. “Treat that Guide as you would a catalog for shopping. Using the back section, just flip to the subject heading you need, candy stores, book stores, catering, event planning, chimney sweeps, photographers, party rental products. You can literally start and finish your shopping with the Business Resource Guide.”
As the VP of Corporate and Member Relations, Jorgensen sees firsthand how Chamber member businesses support each other throughout the year by participating in networking groups and attending events, as well as by working together on committees in the community. “Shopping Chamber member businesses at holiday time is a great thing that members can do to support one another,” Jorgensen said.
In addition to the BRG, the Chamber's Web site (www.carlsbad.org) can provide member-business listings and referrals.
Business Development Manager Kristina McMahon concurs. “Shopping Chamber businesses helps keep dollars in the Carlsbad area, it nurtures lasting relationships and connections and it helps us all get to know one another, feel welcome and grow our businesses,” she said. McMahon personally signs up hundreds of new Chamber businesses every year, and helps renew memberships for the Chamber's 1,600-member-strong roster. She sees businesses grow from fledgling companies to solid community partners, largely because of their involvement in Chamber programs and associations.
December presents an opportunity for businesses to make up for gaps in their bottom line that may have resulted from a difficult year. The holiday shopping season represents a hopeful excitement, said Chamber COO Toni Padron.
“For every business out there posting great revenues and making headlines in Forbes Magazine, there are hundreds of neighboring businesses striving to make their goals,” Padron said. “As fellow business professionals, our Chamber members know how exciting and empowering it feels to put their all into their endeavors.” Padron helps run the Chamber program Pathways to Success, a peer-advisory business group which addresses many of the pitfalls of running one's own company.
“I see what these professionals do to help one another in Pathways. I have great faith that our Chamber members will support one another in the holiday season,” she said. “In business, as in everything, you get what you give, which neatly sums up what the Chamber is all about.”
In a year of incremental and subtle upticks in the economic forecast, it may be that economic recovery lies in the hands of local businesses. If this is not motivation enough to shop locally for the holidays, then consider Carlsbad's reputation as an affable town, friendly to tourists and locals alike, and chock-full of unique businesses and establishments.
The Carlsbad Chamber's Marketing Coordinator Julie Njaa visits business owners throughout the year, presenting them with reasons and opportunities to advertise and engage in marketing activities. “The holiday season is the best time to patronize those businesses that you have seen out there, promoting themselves and making it known they want to earn your business,” she said.
“Shop locally and tell merchants, restaurateurs, managers and clerks that you've seen their ads. They'll know that they are being heard and that customer loyalty is alive and well in their community,” Njaa said.
It's a sentiment echoed by Owen, whose business acumen has been honed by years of personal association with businesses in Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. “
“The ideal way to grow your business is to cater to a receptive audience or customer like your fellow members. Chamber members will give you a discount, offer quicker service and go out of their way to accommodate you because you belong to the same brotherhood,” he said. “Besides, 'tis the season to give back to your community, and shopping locally is in keeping with the spirit of the season.”
“The decision to 'shop Carlsbad' is an easy one,” said Ted Owen, CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber. “Quite simply, your fellow Chamber-member businesses represent every possible service and product one would need to successfully navigate the holiday season.”
Carlsbad Chamber businesses can help with everything on the list. From printing Christmas cards, planning holiday parties, shopping for family gifts or arranging a holiday getaway, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce can refer a member business to take care of it.
According to Bev Jorgensen, this is where the Chamber's Business Resource Guide (BRG) can prove invaluable. “I can't think of a better time to pull out the BRG,” she said. “Treat that Guide as you would a catalog for shopping. Using the back section, just flip to the subject heading you need, candy stores, book stores, catering, event planning, chimney sweeps, photographers, party rental products. You can literally start and finish your shopping with the Business Resource Guide.”
As the VP of Corporate and Member Relations, Jorgensen sees firsthand how Chamber member businesses support each other throughout the year by participating in networking groups and attending events, as well as by working together on committees in the community. “Shopping Chamber member businesses at holiday time is a great thing that members can do to support one another,” Jorgensen said.
In addition to the BRG, the Chamber's Web site (www.carlsbad.org) can provide member-business listings and referrals.
Business Development Manager Kristina McMahon concurs. “Shopping Chamber businesses helps keep dollars in the Carlsbad area, it nurtures lasting relationships and connections and it helps us all get to know one another, feel welcome and grow our businesses,” she said. McMahon personally signs up hundreds of new Chamber businesses every year, and helps renew memberships for the Chamber's 1,600-member-strong roster. She sees businesses grow from fledgling companies to solid community partners, largely because of their involvement in Chamber programs and associations.
December presents an opportunity for businesses to make up for gaps in their bottom line that may have resulted from a difficult year. The holiday shopping season represents a hopeful excitement, said Chamber COO Toni Padron.
“For every business out there posting great revenues and making headlines in Forbes Magazine, there are hundreds of neighboring businesses striving to make their goals,” Padron said. “As fellow business professionals, our Chamber members know how exciting and empowering it feels to put their all into their endeavors.” Padron helps run the Chamber program Pathways to Success, a peer-advisory business group which addresses many of the pitfalls of running one's own company.
“I see what these professionals do to help one another in Pathways. I have great faith that our Chamber members will support one another in the holiday season,” she said. “In business, as in everything, you get what you give, which neatly sums up what the Chamber is all about.”
In a year of incremental and subtle upticks in the economic forecast, it may be that economic recovery lies in the hands of local businesses. If this is not motivation enough to shop locally for the holidays, then consider Carlsbad's reputation as an affable town, friendly to tourists and locals alike, and chock-full of unique businesses and establishments.
The Carlsbad Chamber's Marketing Coordinator Julie Njaa visits business owners throughout the year, presenting them with reasons and opportunities to advertise and engage in marketing activities. “The holiday season is the best time to patronize those businesses that you have seen out there, promoting themselves and making it known they want to earn your business,” she said.
“Shop locally and tell merchants, restaurateurs, managers and clerks that you've seen their ads. They'll know that they are being heard and that customer loyalty is alive and well in their community,” Njaa said.
It's a sentiment echoed by Owen, whose business acumen has been honed by years of personal association with businesses in Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. “
“The ideal way to grow your business is to cater to a receptive audience or customer like your fellow members. Chamber members will give you a discount, offer quicker service and go out of their way to accommodate you because you belong to the same brotherhood,” he said. “Besides, 'tis the season to give back to your community, and shopping locally is in keeping with the spirit of the season.”