Evelyn Clark, CEO
So how do you improve customer loyalty, ensuring your clients return again and again? Lots of study has taken place in this regard too. Before the tan has faded, and the glow of a great vacation has receded into memory, business owners can do a great deal to encourage re-visits and strong on-going relationships. Here are a few tips: • Thank customers for doing business with you. In writing. And more than once post-visit. • Stay in contact on a consistent basis. Consider opportunities for personal contact, a good idea in our high-tech, low-touch world. • Give the customer more than they expect. Surprise them with your positive attention. Listen….and if they don’t volunteer information—ask for it. • Pay attention to the obvious. Mind your manners.
Paul Walkey, Chair
Host a Business after Business Invite the business community to meet the staff and learn about the business. QBCC will promote the Book a Meeting in the Meeting Room The meeting room can comfortably accommodate up to 10 people. Some AV equipment is available; wireless internet as well.
THURSDAYSEPTEMBER 26, 2013 www.pqbnews.com
Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals Submit News and Events to the E-Newsletter Send out specials and advertisements in an exclusive e-mail to 350+ members. Website Sponsorship Choose a page on the QBCC website for a banner ad or a revolving placement ad. Provide Door Prizes to QBCC Events Put a business card on a special door prize at Chamber events for extra visibility.
line forum entitled The Value of Repeat Business they state “In fact, it is found that repeat customers are the foundation upon which profitable businesses are built. According to analysis, 25% to 40% of the total revenues of the most stable businesses in a client network come from returning customers”1. In Qualicum Beach those clients may be resort accommodation clients, retail purchasers or adventure tourists visiting one of our many outdoor attractions. Either way, encouraging repeat business is just good business.
Sponsor the Weekly E-Newsletter Delivered to 350 business owners every week by e-mail, sponsors can insert a special advertising message with their logo, along with an entry that week on the Chamber Facebook page. Sponsor a lunch or dinner or Special Event This gives businesses an opportunity to show off product or skills, promote their business and comes with a speaking opportunity to other Chamber partners.
30,422
Welcoming Visitors to Qualicum Beach
Message From Our Chair, Paul Walkey
Copies per week Verified Circulation
New Members
ADVOCATING INCLUSION
Adventure Quest Tours Canada Leigh Nelson & Kristin MacKinnon 915 Kit Crescent, Campbell River, BC V9H 1P7 250.202.4921 adventurequestvi@gmail.com www.adventurequestcanada.com
Blackstone Saunas #3 – 148 Fern Road East Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1T2 250.752.1015 blackstoneco@shaw.ca www.blackstonesaunas.com
Café Brie Samantha & Leanne #5 – 177 West Second Avenue Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 2N5 250.594.2526 info@cafebrie.com www.cafebrie.com
Heat to Heal Dr. Kathie M. Black 1120 Fabrick Drive Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1M9 info@heattoheal.com www.heattoheal.com
Samudra Weight Loss Health & Wellness Kristin Bjarnason 702 Beach Road Qualicum Beach, BC 250.594.7008 Samudraweightloss@gmail.com www.samudraweightloss.com
ReVived Vintage Christie Carter-Tokairin Unit 101 – 664 Beach Road Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 2N4 revivedvintage@gmail.com www.revived-vintage.com
Arrowsmith Moving & Storage Odlum Brown Ltd Mike & Lisa Oleksiuk, John & Lin- Rob Wolfe, Investment Advisor da Madsen 1001 A Fitzgerald Avenue 850 Allsbrook Road Courtenay, BC V9N 8K8 Parksville, BC V9P 2A9 1.250.703.0637 250.248.5021 rwolfe@odlumbrown.com arrowsmithmoving@shaw.ca www.odlumbrown.com arrowsmithmoving.com
Yorway Yogurt Bar Jeanne McLean 129 West Second Avenue Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1S4 250.594.4466 yyb@shaw.ca www.yorwayyogurt.ca
Qualicum Beach
CHAMBER NEWS INSIDE TODAY
Your guide to the happenings of the Qualicum Beach business community
A5
Threads and Treasures Emporium Inc. Cathy Van Herwaarden & Jean Young 742 Memorial Avenue Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1T2 250.594.4424 threadsandtreasures@gmail.com
B3
Pull out and fold here
Scooter safety just one of the local issues in today’s Spotlight
Join the conversation. Follow us at http://twitter.com.qbchamber
Mad Hatter’s Ball
THE ICF VS JULIAN FELL
Apology demand
November 16, 2013
It’s time to get your tickets for this years Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce & QB Rotary’s Annual Gala Event!
Qualicum Beach
This years event theme is Mad Hatter’s Ball!!
Chamber of Commerce
Get your costumes started!! It’s going to be an amazing evening!!
The Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce is pleased to operate a Chamber business office and a Visitor Information Centre year round. For more information on local events, call 250-752-9532 or 250-752-0960 or stop by and speak with one of our Visitor Centre Counsellors.
For more information please contact the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce at 250.752.0960 or email: members@qualicum.bc.ca
check out our events calendar online at www.qualicum.bc.ca
Tickets: $100 per person or $900 per table of 10
124 West 2nd Ave., Qualicum Beach 2711 West Island Hwy, Qualicum Beach
www.qualityfoods.com
RDN director says it’s an attempt to intimidate him JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
CUPE raise comes out of local budget LISSA ALEXANDER reporter@pqbnews.com
Although CUPE workers have reached a tentative agreement with the province, local president of the union Lisa Paine isn’t entirely happy. “It concerns my members . . . the government is (saying) the K to 12
99
cost savings to fund the increase must come from existing school board budgets,” Paine said at the regular school board meeting Tuesday night. The agreement provides CUPE members with a 3.5 per cent wage increase which will be staggered throughout the year. That will cost the local school district $220,000 this fiscal year, on top of the current deficit of $1.3 million. The wage increase will cost the district $385,000 next year. Secretary Treasurer Erica Bailey
Undercoat Special ¢OVER COST $ 95
199
Includes: ✔ Free Tire Rotations! ✔ Free Nitrogen ✔ Free Car Wash & Vacuum! ✔ Free Vehicle Inspection ✔ Tire storage available with the purchase of 4 tires!
512 EAST ISLAND HWY., PARKSVILLE, BC Call 1-888-225-8126 90 HarrisOceansideGM.com
✃
Deal Better: Making a Great Coupon expires Oct. 31, 2013
Reg.$399.95
✔ Seals out moisture ✔ Protects against road salt ✔ Won’t crack, peel or chip ✔ Available for cars or trucks Coupon expires Oct. 31, 2013
512 EAST ISLAND HWY., PARKSVILLE, BC 93 Call 1-888-225-8126 HarrisOceansideGM.com
said it’s going to be a struggle to come up with the money. “We have to work with the ministry to prepare a savings plan and that has to be approved by the treasury branch,” she said. “Right now we are looking at options and ideas to see how we will come up with that money, but I don’t have an answer for you at this point.” Paine said the agreement also garnered CUPE members a pay-direct drug card for up-front drug expenses.
Home of the
29
$
We service all makes & models.
95
✁
Treasurer says it will be a struggle to come up with the money for this
✃
ALL TIRES FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICT 69
✁
See ‘I’M NOT A MALICIOUS PERSON’, A4
LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTO
PIRATE DAY: Kirsten Wachter concentrates on painting the face of a fellow during Pirate day at Qualicum Beach Elementary School last week.
✁
The Island Corridor Foundation is demanding regional district director Julian Fell retract and apologize for comments he made in a July memo to mayors, MLAs and First Nations. Fell says he sees it as “an attempt to intimidate me.” In a letter dated Tuesday, a copy of which obtained by The NEWS, Duncan-based lawyer Andrew Lacroix wrote that he has been instructed “on behalf the ICF to demand a written retraction of the entire memorandum and an apology addressed to the board of the ICF, the ICF and individual directors of the ICF.” The letter from Lacroix to Fell concludes with this: “If you do not comply with this demand, we will seek instructions to commence proceedings against you in the Supreme Court of B.C., in which we will seek damages, punitive damages and court costs. The level of defamation in the memorandum is grave and the fact that you distributed it widely to people of importance magnifies the seriousness of this matter.” None of the allegations in Lacroix’s letter have been proven in a court of law. Lacroix’s letter alleges Fell’s memorandum July 24 “is plagued by you inadequate understanding of how ICF functions.” It also lists what Lacroix called “examples of defamatory innuendo which frequently appears in the memorandum.” Fell, Regional District of Nanaimo director for Electoral Area F (Coombs, Errington, Hilliers), was asked by The NEWS to comment on the letter from Lacroix.
OIL CHANGE*
Includes: ✔ No-charge Car Wash and Vacuum ✔ 42-Point Inspection ✔ Free Local Pickup & Drop-Off *Includes 5L of 5W30 oil. Enviro levy and shop supplies extra. Synthetic and diesels extra. Coupon expires Oct. 31, 2013.
512 EAST ISLAND HWY., PARKSVILLE, BC 92 Call 1-888-225-8126 HarrisOceansideGM.com