Services), Director Paul Dennis (Weber Metals), Director
Director Darren Kurkowski (Bianchi Theatres), Director
In June the Paramount Chamber of Commerce installed new officers and directors to represent and lead the Chamber. The annual event was sponsored by Weber Metals An Otto Fuchs Company, and attended by more than one hundred business and community leaders.
Outgoing President Jon Tanklage was recognized for his accomplishments during his term as president which included; hosting more than 30 promotional and networking events, six successful fund-raisers, providing one-on-one business counseling to more than 200 business owners, remodeling the chamber office, and starting a Chamber YouTube channel.
In addition to the installation awards were presented to the following; Joe Abed (Herald’s Garage) President’s Award, Northgate Market the Mayor’s Award, Jon
Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA) Award of Excellence, Deborah Jameson (Lifegate Church) Ambassador of the Year, Emmanuel Reformed Church - Special Recognition Award, Maria Mac Lean - Employee Recognition Award, and Ramon Luna Special Thanks Award.
Newly elected President Leonard Crespo said, “We look forward to a great year for the Chamber. Our goal is to continue providing services that promote the local economy and help the business community in every way we can. My personal goal is to encourage more businesses to get involved in the Chamber and find out what a great organization it is, I’m always surprised when a business tells me they are not a member; why would you not belong to an organization whose sole purpose is helping you be successful?”
Newly elected officers and directors take the oath of office, from left; Past President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA), Senior Vice President Gary Johnson (Ace Clearwater),
President Brenda Olmos (AppleCare Medical Group), Director Taylor Lindsay (Lindsay Lumber), Director Bill Kalpakoff (CalMet
Garo Kazarian (Alondra Hot Wings), standing in for Director Bill Winters – Frank Mitchell (Paramount Petroleum),
Ben Berg (Transcom Telecommunications), and standing in for Director Tom Latham – Todd Storey (SC Fuels).
Newly elected Paramount Chamber President Leonard Crespo (Total-Western, Inc.) and Outgoing Chamber President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA).
Mayor’s Award to Chamber Member
It was my great pleasure to present this year’s Mayor’s Award at the Paramount Chamber of Commerce’s Installation and Awards Luncheon to Northgate Gonzalez Market.
Northgate has been here in town for a number of years. In addition to running a lively, very successful establishment, they recently purchased a major portion of the shopping center where they’re located, Town Center West.
As a major landlord along Paramount Blvd., they have enthusiastically embraced the City’s vision of breathing new life into our downtown.
The City has been working with a team of urban architects to develop the main business core into an exciting, fresh destination for the whole community.
Northgate has become an active participant in that goal.
As a result, they are in the midst of a major remodel of Town Center West. Part of what they’re doing is actually eliminating some of the retail space. This is a rare thing for a developer to do.
But Northgate realizes that creating special, inviting public space can often be more financially beneficial than simply having ex-
tra square footage. In this case, the redesign will make room for new dining opportunities and also introduce outdoor dining areas to encourage a more active street scene.
Northgate has also been very meticulous about seeking out quality tenants that will be welcome additions to town, such as Auto Zone and Yogurtland.
The folks at Northgate have also helped the City in another way that we appreciate. They’ve installed an electronic system that keeps shopping carts from leaving their parking lot. Not only does this save the City money, since we pay a service to collect stray carts around town, but it also avoids that visual blight from happening in the first place.
On top of all that, Northgate also gives back to the community. Each holiday season they pass out free toys to 1,200 local kids.
In light of all this, I was very happy to name Northgate Gonzalez Market as this year’s recipient of the Mayor’s Award.
Follow Us!
The City now has a social media presence. You can follow us on both Instagram and Twitter to learn about services and events, fun facts and important announcements, news and more. Simply go to either site and search for paramount_posts.
Farmers Market in Paramount
The City of Paramount now has an outdoor Farmers Market open Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The market is located in the Bianchi Theatre parking lot at 14409 Paramount Boulevard, south of Rosecrans Ave.
Shoppers can browse vendors offering a variety of organic and conventional fresh fruits and vegetables. Other purveyors feature prepared food and pre-packaged goods such as dried fruits,
bakery items, peanuts, and honey.
The market is a great new resource for the community and one more way that the City is promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Come on out and support the vendors and make the market a success!
Food Truck Friday
Another fun, new summertime offering in the City is Food Truck Friday where you can become a street-side gourmand in Paramount Park. A variety of cuisine-mobiles will set up shop in the parking lot there from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every week until August 14.
Recreation Department staff will provide games for kids to play near the trucks. Plus, on July 10th there will be a concert in the park from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. featuring the popular female mariachi group, The Mariachi Divas.
Not only will you get a chance to sample various types of delicacies during Food Truck Friday, but 10% of all sales will be donated to the Paramount Education Partnership.
Last Chance for Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations
The City will be holding its second lowcost vaccination clinic for all dogs and cats in the community this summer on Wednesday, July 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will take place at Paramount Park, 14410
Paramount Blvd.
Rabies vaccinations (required for all dogs under California law) will be priced at $5 each (plus a $2 medical waste disposal fee). This is a $10-$15 savings over traditional prices. A complete selection of other pet vaccinations will be available at discounted prices, with special combination “packs” to allow pet owners even greater savings when they purchase multiple vaccinations. You can also get general health exams and services for discounted prices. (A list of these services and their costs can be found online at www.vetcarevaccinations. com or on flyers available at City Hall.)
Flea control products Comfortis and Trifexis may be purchased at special prices. You can also have a microchip registration done for identification purposes (if your pet is ever lost) for $30 and nail trimming for $15.
Pet licensing is available on site, and free educational materials and general health care tips for dogs and cats will be distributed. Checks and cash only will be accepted for licensing. Checks, cash, and credit cards will be accepted for the veterinarian services.
Please remember – dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers.
All services are provided by licensed veterinarians from Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. in conjunction with South East Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA). For more information, please call (562) 220-2018.
“Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.”
Mayor, Tom Hansen
Talking or Texting on Cell Phones
While Driving – Not Worth It
There are plenty of facts, figures, and details about distracted driving, but the California Office of Traffic Safety wants you to know the plain and simple ones:
• If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it.
that it’s summer, here are some ideas supplied by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for
• Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is in or near a body of water, even for a second.
• 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.
Project LEAD Sending Positive Message to Paramount Fifth Graders
• Don’t rely solely on barriers, such as fences or walls, near a pool or spa. There is no substitute for constant supervision.
• Up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.
• Keep toys, tricycles, and other children’s playthings out of the water and away from the pool or spa.
• Don’t consider your children to be “drown-proof” because you enrolled them in swimming or “water-proofing” classes.
• Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of driver distractions.
• Don’t rely on inflatable devices to keep your child afloat. These are not substitutes for adult supervision.
Paramount has its own dedicated District Attorney – Kelly Tatman – who works out of the Sheriff’s Station. Her duties include making sure that criminal investigations and prosecutions in town receive full attention and don’t fall through the cracks at the larger County D.A.’s Office.
• Make sure your pool or spa has a fence, wall, or safety cover that guards against unsupervised access, particularly by young children.
• Texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, long enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph. Most crashes happen with less than three seconds reaction time.
• Make sure doors leading to the pool or spa area are self-closing and self-latching, or are equipped with exit alarms and are never propped open.
• Always drain standing (surface) water from the pool cover. Remember that even a few inches of water can be hazardous, especially to young children.
• Install a phone, or keep a cordless phone, in the pool or spa area.
If A Child Or Adult Is In Trouble In A Pool …
• Don’t panic; yell for help.
• The act of talking on a cell phone, even hands free, can give you “inattention blindness,” where your brain isn’t seeing what’s right in front of you. You aren’t even aware that you are driving impaired. If you think you can handle both driving and talking on a cell phone or texting, you are kidding yourself and putting us all at risk.
Tatman has been visiting a class of 36 students at Jefferson School as part of Project LEAD. The program, which goes into the classroom once a week for 20 weeks during the school year, uses volunteers like Tatman from the D.A.’s Office to teach fifth-graders about the law and help them recognize the social and legal consequences of criminal behavior.
• Get the child/adult out of the pool immediately.
• Call 911 immediately for emergency medical services.
• If you’re trained, begin CPR if necessary.
Dogs in Parks … Or Not
Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road or your hands off the steering wheel – especially texting and cell phone use, whether hands-free or handheld. Who’s doing it? Most of us. It has been estimated that, at any one time, more than 10 percent of drivers are using a mobile device.
Sadly, too many young people first become acquainted with the justice system as delinquents. Project LEAD is designed to avoid that scenario.
• If you’re not trained in CPR, follow telephone instructions from the Fire Department until they arrive to assist you.
A ticket for $159 for texting or talking on a cell phone is a major distraction to your wallet.
What can you do? Most important, obey the law. It’s there for a reason. Also, do your best to eliminate distractions:
The class from Jefferson recently went on a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance. (They will also go to a local courthouse). In addition, Project LEAD’s curriculum includes speakers connected to the criminal justice system and a mock trial involving either drug selling or gun possession on campus. Students are assigned roles and argue a criminal case to a jury consisting of other students. Teachers and parents attend, too.
Summer is a great time to take evening walks with Fido. Here’s a reminder, though, for all dog owners in town – according to the Paramount Municipal Code, your pooch is not allowed in City parks, even if they’re on a leash. And especially if they are not on a leash. Please keep this in mind for the courtesy of the many humans that use our parks. Close to town, however, an off-leash dog park is open in Hollydale Regional Park on Century Blvd. west of Garfield Ave. This facility features separate spaces for large and small canines.
• Never text and drive.
• Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel.
Stay Alert While Walking
• Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving.
At the end of the program, the kids will participate in a graduation ceremony and receive a certificate of completion from the D.A.’s Office at a meeting of the Paramount Public Safety Commission.
Don’t be a victim of a chain-snatching street robbery where crooks on foot or bicycles approach people from behind and grab their jewelry chains, as well as cell phones, music players, or purses.
• Make a pact with your family, spouse, and caregivers never to use the phone with kids in the car.
Summer Vacation Home Checks
It’s important for any pedestrian to stay alert to their surroundings to guard against this crime.
• No eating or drinking while driving.
Everyone is encouraged to practice the following safety tips:
• Don’t program your GPS, MP3 player, or other devices while driving.
With summertime approaching, remember that if you’re going out of town for an extended period of time, you can schedule a home check.
• If you wear necklaces during everyday activities, keep them concealed under clothing, especially those with medallions, charms or nameplates.
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and walk with other people when possible.
• Pull over and stop to read maps.
• If you feel you are being targeted, try to move to a well-populated area.
• No grooming.
• No reading.
• If you are the victim of a robbery, call 911 immediately and try to give a good description of the suspect.
• No watching videos.
Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on your home or property while you’re gone.
• Try not to get too involved with passengers.
Summer Vacation Home Checks
Call (562) 220-2002 to ask about vacation checks.
If you have been the victim of a robbery or an attempted robbery and have not reported it, please call 562-220-2002 and do so.
If you are planning to go out of town this summer, remember that Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on your home or property while you’re gone. Call (562) 220-2002 to ask about vacation checks.
Simple Strategies for Better Event Marketing
Friday, May 16,
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP
Creating An Effective Business Plan
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 • 10:00am - 12:00pm
Most businesses that don’t succeed lack a written plan. Creating a business plan is a key component for business owners to help determine the feasibility of the business idea and guide the bsuiness’s growth. A business plan conveys business goals, strategies, potential problems, solutions, organizational structure, and the capital required to finance the venture. This seminar is recommended for individuals interested in learning how to assess the feasibility of their business idea, who recently started a small business, who are seeking a business loan, or who want to learn more about business planning.
Course Level: Beginner --- Fee: $20
Sign Up: All individuals wishing to attend must pre-register & pre-pay at: http://lbcc.augusoft.net
*Please note new registration system. In order to register you will need to: For more information: Contact Janice Grass at 562-938-5100 or sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu
Numerous members of the community were recognized at the June 2 Paramount City Council meeting. A video of the presentations, which also included Education Month recognitions, can be found at www.youtube.com/cityofparamount.
TAG Student Art Winners
Earth Day Poster Contest
Winners of the City’s 7th annual poster contest for Earth Day were congratulated at the Council meeting. With the theme of “Water recycling and Conservation,” submissions came from students in the STAr afterschool program. Each winner received a cash prize donated by CalMet Services. They were: Kindergarten, Melissa Villareal, Gaines; 1st grade, David Gonzalez, Los Cerritos; 2nd grade, Melissa Soriano, Jefferson; 3rd grade, Alexandra Aguayo, Lincoln; 4th and 5th grades, 1st place, Sasha Nuno (5th Grade), Hollydale; 2nd place, Cristina Estrada (4th grade), Hollydale.
Paramount Pride
The winners of the Paramount Traditional Artists Guild’s 17th annual competition for Paramount students in kindergarten through high school were honored at the meeting.
The winners of the annual Paramount Pride program were recognized by the City Council for their attractive, well-maintained homes in town. Each was given a yard sign and a $50 gift card to The Home Depot by the City.
Education Month Celebrated in Paramount
The City of Paramount held its annual recognition of June as Education Month last month.
Paramount Unified School District students and teachers were recognized at the June 3rd City Council meeting by the Council, members of the Board of Education, the co-superintendents, and members of the Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) Board of Directors.
Those acknowledged at the meeting included the teachers of the year from each PUSD campus and Paramount High’s Class of 2015 Co-Valedictorians Jorge Cardenas, Jr. and Gisel Lopez and Salutatorian Judith Santano.
There were a number of Paramount Education Partnership recognitions, as well. These included the latest recipients of the PEP college scholarships and the PUSD classrooms that contributed the most money during the Pennies For PEP fundraiser. In addition, there was a presentation from the Chamber of Commerce to the PEP Scholarship fund, plus a $25,000 donation to the fund from Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe’s office.
Students Highlighted at Fair
On June 13th, at the Smarts, Arts and Healthy Hearts Fair in Paramount Park, the students with the top ten GPAs this last school year in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades were recognized by the City Council, School Board and PUSD officials. Here is a list of those accomplished young people.
10th grade
Zoe Dorothy Pamonag
Gabriel Garcia
Edwin Bermudez
Catherine Zaragoza
Judith Murillo
Michael Guerra
Jesus Salazar
Gerardo Garcia
Nicole Garcia
Nayeli Vallecillo
11th grade
Guadalupe Quirarte
Hector Galarza
Daniel Lopez
Carlos Brita
Maria Martinez
Avery De La Cruz
Elideth Salazar
Carlos Loera
Carlos Robielos
Onneka Taitano
12th grade
Gisel Lopez
Jorge Cardenas
Judith Santano
Edgar Lopez
Jesus Cervantes Canela
Dhamar Lopez
Angie Gomez
Xandria Ortiz
Karen Gonzalez
Oliver Mendez
The seniors from Paramount High who put in the most community service hours over their high school years were also recognized.
recipients of the 2015 PEP college scholarships. More than $105,000 was raised this year for the scholarships and nearly $700,000 in aid has been given out since the program began. To get involved, contact
rosales at (562) 220-2121 or srosales@paramountcity.com.
Noemy Gomez (314), Selena Martinez (334), Josue Reyes (354), Jolene Guerrero( 368), Jessica Mason (421), Ana Oropeza (487), Stephanie Veliz (520), Luis Garfias (532), Lisette Cisneros (560), and Tariq Muhammad (1,167).
PUSD Teachers of the year.
Paramount High’s Co-Valedictorians and Salutatorian for the Class of 2015.
Pennies for PEP fundraising champs from Paramount Park (biggest middle school contributor and most generous Paramount Unified campus overall) and Wirtz (biggest elementary school contributor).
Suleyma
Presentation from the Chamber of Commerce to PEP scholarship fund.
Supervisor Don Knabe’s office donation of $25,000 to the PEP scholarship fund.
2015 i nstallation & a wards l un C heon
Sponsored by: Weber Metals An Otto Fuchs Company
Installation & Awards luncheon sponsor; Weber Metals An Otto Fuchs Company; Woody Till, r ick Creed, Douglas McIntrye, Paul Dennis, Justin Owen, and Al McCormack.
Joe Abed (Herald’s Garage) received the President’s Award for his dedication to customer service and overall support for the Chamber. From left; Outgoing President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA), Joe Abed, Genesis Coronado representing Congresswoman Lucille r oybal-Allard, Suely Saro representing Senator ricardo Lara, Paramount Mayor Tom Hansen, and Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Don Knabe.
Mayor Tom Hansen presents Alicia Valadez representing Northgate Market with the Mayor’s Award; for the companies revitalization of town center west and their plans for expansion and remodeling of the center.
Pastor Mike Kim (Emmanuel reformed Church) accepted a special recognition award on behalf of the church for their participation in the Paramount Chamber “Welcome to Paramount” program. From left; Outgoing President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA), Pastor Mike Kim, Genesis Coronado representing Congresswoman Lucille roybal-Allard, Suely Saro representing Senator ricardo Lara, Paramount Mayor Tom Hansen, and Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Don Knabe.
ramon Luna (rosewood restaurant) accepts a special recognition award for his community involvement and years of doing business in the Paramount. From left; Outgoing President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA), Genesis Coronado representing Congresswoman Lucille r oybal-Allard, Suely Saro representing Senator ricardo Lara, ramon Luna, Paramount Mayor Tom Hansen, and Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Don Knabe.
Pastor Deborah Jameson (Lifegate Foursquare Churhc) received the Ambassador of the year award. From left; Outgoing President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA), Deborah Jameson, Genesis Coronado representing Congresswoman Lucille roybal-Allard, Suely Saro representing Senator ricardo Lara, Maria Mac Lean, Paramount Mayor Tom Hansen, and Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Don Knabe.
Maria Mac Lean former employee of the Paramount Chamber was recognized for 16 years of dedicated service to the chamber. From left; Outgoing President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA), Genesis Coronado representing Congresswoman Lucille roybal-Allard, Suely Saro representing Senator ricardo Lara, Maria Mac Lean, Paramount Mayor Tom Hansen, and Erin Stibal representing Supervisor Don Knabe.
Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar, USA) accepts the Award of Excellence and is joined by Marukan co-workers, from left; Jon Tanklage, Grace Padilla, Mike Wakita, yoshinori Tsumura, Harold Lee, Esther Hawksley, and newly elected President Leonard Crespo (Total-Western).
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Keep your Pet Safe
SEAACA (Southeast Area Animal Control Authority; www.seaaca.org) helpful list of tips for pet owners to keep their pets safe this 4th of July and all summer long. The fireworks extravaganzas and daylong celebrations are summer highlights, but they can also pose serious problems and threats to dogs and other pets. With the holiday just around the corner, here is some smart and practical advice from SEAACA for the upcoming holiday and all summer long:
1. Beware of fireworks. Fireworks are no blast for many pets, with many cats and dogs becoming easily frightened by the deafening roar of rockets bursting in air. The best option is to leave your cat or dog indoors (not leashed in the yard) during the holiday weekend (July 3-5) in a safe, secure, escape-proof room of the house with comfy bed, food and water. Also consider leaving a TV or radio on to drown out the sound of the fireworks and to provide familiar noises while you’re out.
2. Confirm your pet’s collar and I.D. information. This effort is your dogs “Call Home”. Dogs and other pets can become easily frightened by loud celebrations on the 4th of July. Make sure your pet is wearing a properly fitted collar with a current license in case he or she runs away from home. Micro-chipping also another method of identification, if information is up to date.
3. Have pet records and I.D. information handy. If your pet does go missing you want to be prepared. Having photos, vaccination records and micro-chip information easily accessible will help during your search process.
4. Be careful with 4th of July decorations. Remember that your pet may easily mistake your red, white and blue decorations and glow sticks as chew toys; cats can even become tangled in streamers and ribbon. Make sure to pet-proof your home and keep fun decorations out of a paw’s reach.
5. Call your vet. If you think your pet needs to
have a sedative to handle the fireworks noise and celebrations, contact your veterinarian.
6. Watch the alcohol. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets; never leave your beverage unattended. If alcohol is ingested, your pet could become very intoxicated and weak.
7. No picnic table and grill scraps. Always be aware of what friends and family are sneaking to your dog under the table. While tempting on such a festive occasion, human food (bones, onions, avocado, grapes and raisins) should be off limits at all times to your dog. Some human food may be toxic or dangerous if ingested and cause stomach upset.
8. Never leave animals tethered or chained outside. Pets can injure themselves if they jump around or leap over a fence while trying to run from the noises. Cats should stay indoors.
9. Never leave pets in unattended parked car. Partially opened windows on hot days do not provide sufficient airflow and also can put your pet in jeopardy of being stolen.
10. Stay in the shade. Like humans, dogs and other pets can suffer from heatstroke. Keep your pets in shaded areas on very hot and warm days.
11. Evening strolls. Your feet are protected from the hot asphalt and sidewalk by shoes. Dogs do not have that protection on their paws. Adjust your dog’s walking schedule so strolls can be enjoyable for both you and your pet.
12. Stay hydrated! Dehydration is the #1 concern and danger during those long summer heat waves. Make sure you have a generous amount of fresh water on hand to quench your dog’s thirst.
“We all love the 4th of July and summer outings, but it can be a difficult time for cats, dogs and other pets,” noted Sally Hazzard, SEAACA Executive Director. It is important to take special care of your pets as you would with all family members. With a few simple precautions, we can make it safe for our pets and celebrate without worry,” she added.
Different Types of Commercial Real Estate Leases
By: Matt Wagner – GM Properties
If you are in the market to lease Commercial Real Estate, whether it is an Industrial warehouse, retail restaurant location or a local office suite, you will be subject to legally binding lease with a landlord. There are a few different types of leases that you may want to understand before signing your signature on the dotted line. The type of lease you enter into can have a significant impact on your financial commitment over the term of that lease.
The two main types of Commercial leases are Gross leases and Net leases, also referred to as a NNN lease.
A gross lease means that you, the tenant, would pay one agreed upon monthly amount to the landlord for the right to occupy and use the space. With this type of lease, the landlord is then required to pay for all its expenses on the property directly, including general maintenance, Property Taxes and Insurance. This type of lease is most popular in multi-tenant properties, where there is more than one tenant at a location and some utilities cannot be separately metered. Landlords will try to recoup some of their common area maintenance expenses from the tenants in the form of a CAM, which stands for Common Area Maintenance. CAM Expenses ranging from water, trash, landscaping, parking lot sweeping, etc. will usually be added together by the landlord and then prorated for each tenant’s applicable square footage and paid on a monthly basis with the regular rent. There are many “hybrid” forms of this Gross lease, but the basis to a Gross lease is for a tenant to make one payment to the landlord for the right to occupy and use the said premises, with the landlord then responsible to pay for the property related expenses direct.
A Net lease, also referred to as a NNN (triple net) lease, is when, you, the tenant would pay an agreed upon amount to the landlord for the right to occupy and use the property. However, in addition to paying the landlord his base rent, the tenant is also required to pay all the property taxes and insurances associated with property as well as maintaining the property in good condition. This type of lease is generally more used in single tenant properties where one tenant occupies the entire property and all utilities are paid direct by the tenant to the provider. The landlord simply collects his base rent while the tenant is then responsible for the general maintenance and property related expenses.
I would think that most landlords would want their tenants to be on NNN, or Net, leases, while most tenants would prefer the simplicity and ease of a Gross lease. Any competent Commercial Real Estate Agent should be able to help you understand the difference between these two leases and how they can and will affect your financial responsibility during your lease term. Good Luck!
Ten Crowdfunding MISCONCEPTIONS
You’ve heard about crowdfunding. It’s everywhere. You’ve heard about other entrepreneurs raising money to grow their businesses. But if you find yourself muttering any of the following in the mirror, please allow us to share a different perspective on these common misconceptions with you:
1. Crowdfunding is just panhandling
If you’re asking for money, you’re actually doing this wrong. Small businesses succeed in “rewards-based” crowdfunding (Indiegogo, Kickstarter) by offering exclusivity, VIP status, and unique pre-sale items and experiences directly to their existing and prospective customer base. Great examples of non-physical offerings are letting people name a product or putting the contributor’s picture/ name on a wall of fame.
2. The best thing about crowdfunding is money
Obviously, additional capital is
useful to any business, but it’s not the most useful thing that comes from the crowdfunding process; the greatest rewards come from deeply engaging new and existing customers. When you effectively share your mission and purpose, like-minded customers become your evangelists who do a lion’s share of your marketing for you -- for years to come. They often will also help you better develop your product-market fit, your messaging, even what new products to add to your line or new features to add to your service.
3. It’s a distraction
Everything you need to do to give you a shot at a successful crowdfunding campaign – expanding your social media reach, improving regular communication with your existing customers or newsletter, identifying and deepening relationships with key influencers, reaching out to media in your niche – all will turbocharge
your business, whether you are crowdfunding or not. In fact, odds are, you’ve been meaning to get around to tackling these things anyway; crowdfunding is a perfect way to accomplish all these things and get the benefits mentioned in #2.
4. It’s not as good as VC money
To raise money the traditional way, you identified an amount you needed to fuel a growth plan, you held about 50 lunches and 200 phone calls with investors, wrangled them all into a term sheet that gave away as much as 49% of your business and you were left with… money and investors to answer to. You still had to find customers, get them to buy, and hope the enterprise earned enough to create a satisfactory multiple for the investors. With rewardsbased crowdfunding, your funding comes from your market. The fundraising is the business. The more you raise, the smarter your
business becomes, and the more you are worth. And you still own 100% of your equity.
5. It’ll be annoying to my friends and colleagues
Data shows that while people may say they’re annoyed by repeated communication from crowdfunding friends, they will actually contribute more, the more they’re contacted. On Indiegogo for example, campaigns that update their followers 31-50 times over the span of the campaign raise over 4 times as much as those that update 0-5 times.
6. The crowd is waiting for me on the crowdfunding platforms
While there are lots of projects that end up as majority-funded by total strangers, none of them start that way. No one likes to be first to a party, and crowdfunding is similar. Contributors may love you, your business and your offer, but they won’t give to a crowdfunding project until they see that you’ve
HOW tO Kill a BusiNess
iN teN easY steps
reached about 30% of your stated goal. That means you have to start the momentum with your rolodex, social media and family.
7. I’ll just hire someone to take care of my campaign
There are some reputable consultancies who can singlehandedly take over and run your campaign, but they are quite expensive, and will inevitably lack the deep understanding and knowledge of your business, service and product. Expect to be hands-on for a solid 60 days, if you want to give yourself your best shot. This includes preparing your pitch, choosing rewards and doing some hands-on friends & family outreach first, and later getting involved with project updates and synthesizing learning that comes from customers’ feedback.
8. I can do it in my spare time
No, you can’t. (And what’s spare time?) Data shows that campaigns with several “owners” far outperform those with a single owner, so, enlist partners. They’ll share the time commitment, broaden your first circle of relationships, and provide a variety of voices to spread the message.
9. If I use an equity platform now, I’ll scare off later investors
If you choose to go the equity crowdfunding route (think AngelList, Crowdfunder, et. al.), you can amass a large number of smalldollar investors who can fuel your growth, often at more favorable terms than you’d get from a VC. The growth you create can better position you for an institutional round, and most if not all VCs recognize a successful equity crowdfunded round as a validation rather than a burden. Maybe the way of the future is what Neil Young’s Pono Music did: they ran a presale, rewards-based crowdfunding campaign that raised over $6 million for their PonoPlayer, then used the momentum created to do an equitybased crowdfunding campaign that sold shares in Pono Music (in part to the same contributors) and raised over $10 million.
10. There’s nowhere for me to get help
I have great news for you: you have the California Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)! Through L.A. Chamber’s own Bixel Exchange, you can sign up right now for consulting hours with some of the best minds in the industry at no cost to you (thank you, LA Area Chamber of Commerce, SBA, LA Regional SBDC Network and Go-Biz!). You’ll get help choosing the right crowdfunding platform, and help with strategizing and mapping out a campaign that can accelerate your business’s growth.
The SBDC is a group of successful small business owners helping fellow entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their business through low-cost workshops and free one-on-one consulting in business planning, finance, marketing, and various other specialty areas (Spanish speaking consultants available). To make an appointment call: (562) 938-5100, or email: sbdcinfo@lbcc.edu
P aramount C hamber of C ommer C e 2015
Make A Difference • Join A Service Club
Garo Kazarian (Alondra Hot Wings), Mike Valenti (McDonald’s restaurant), Pastor Brian Warth (Chapel of Change), and Pastor Mike Kim (Emmanuel reformed Church).
Outgoing President Jon Tanklage (Marukan Vinegar) and PUSD Interim Superintendent Dr. David Verdugo.
Lakewood Station Captain Keith Swensson and Paramount City Manager Linda Benedetti-Leal.
Award presentations to members of Paramount Chamber Ambassdor Committee. From left; Pamela rice (Office Depot), Deborah Jameson (Lifegate Church), Annina Brown (Paramount Petroleum), Ashton Irwin (Total-Western), Christopher Hicks (NyL Insurance), and Grace Padilla (Marukan Vinegar, USA).
Paramount Chamber “Platinum Sponsors” from left; President Jon Tanklage, Weber Metals (rick Creed), Carlton Forge ( ), ACE Clearwater (Gary Johnson), Marukan Vinegar, USA (yoshinori Tsumura), Modern Development (Darren Kurkowski), Paramount Petroleum (Frank Mitchell).
