UPPER ARLINGTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BUSINESS MONTHLY The Power to Make a Difference
December 2011
Issue 41
Shop local
Dare to move: UA Find ‘simply the best’ Chamber board retreat The chamber understands and cares about the core strengths and values of our community and works to connect people to business while facilitating job growth and economic investment that promotes a strong sense of community. We would like to thank the chamber’s board of trustees, our presenters, and our host and sponsor, Info Depot, as well as Donatos, for their contributions to the chamber board retreat held on Nov. 10. “The Upper Arlington Chamber is one of the cornerstones of our community. More than supporting our businesses, it supports the very vitality and quality of the residents. Their ability to step away from the everyday and plan for the future enables them to remain a strong, vibrant organization which strengthens our entire community.” Virginia Barney, former city manager; Upper Arlington Presenters played a crucial role in sharing their expertise as each attendee provided board members with their vision of the “ideal” characteristics that should describe the chamber’s board. Characteristics included: leadership, clarity, accountability, empowerment, focus, diversity, balance, respect and spirit of collaboration. To create cohesiveness among retreat attendees, the chamber divided members into teams and presented them with a worst-case scenario
they had to work through together. The scenario had each team stranded on top of a mountain after a plane crash. Teams worked together to develop a survival list of only ten items they could use to help them survive. Collaborating, their goal was to execute a strategy for their rescue in time to attend one of the biggest events of the year, the Chamber’s annual meeting celebration. The divisions of the chamber were focused on planning for the chamber’s annual meeting, which was a central theme throughout the daylong retreat. Participants at the retreat were asked “What does game day mean to you?” The annual meeting is a time for membership and the community to come together to celebrate the accomplishments that the chamber has made during the year, and it is an opportunity to showcase plans for exciting initiatives that are coming in 2012. To create excitement and publicity for the annual meeting, we are inviting chamber members and the public to rename one of our biggest events, the annual meeting. This is an opportunity to get creative. Come up with a name that is synonymous with all that the chamber stands for as well as for the excitement of our growing business community. Go to www.uachamber.org to learn more. The winner will be recognized at our annual meeting celebration, on our website, in our UA Chamber Business Monthly newspaper and will receive a gift card. For more information, please call Becky Hajost at (614) 481-5710 or email at becky@uachamber.org. Visit our website at www.uachamber.org. Becky A. Hajost is the president of the Upper Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce.
www.uachamber.org
Seasonal shopping is expected to bring only a modest cheer to business owners this year. The Upper Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce, with its 100 Best Gift Ideas program, is working hard to change that and help ring in the New Year with strong sales for local area chamber merchants. Holiday retail sales are expected to grow by only 2.8 percent, and holiday sales are expected to reach 465.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. While that growth is lower than the 5.2percent increase retailers experienced last year, it is slightly higher than the ten-year average holiday sales increase of 2.6 percent. “Just when you think the U.S. economy is turning around, another factor comes into play that changes the game,” said NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz, Ph.D. “Persistently high unemployment, an erratic stock market, modest income growth and rising consumer prices are all combining to impact spending this holiday season. How consumers will react to shaky economic data is the question, but the good news for retailers is that shoppers have not yet thrown in the towel.” So, if shoppers indeed have not thrown in the towel, then the 100 Best Gift Ideas program is just the ticket. It offers smaller area merchants the opportunity to be seen and let the public know they have great local gift ideas at competitive prices. This program offers marketing opportunities that might not otherwise be affordable to the independent or smaller business owner. Not only does this program sup-
port local area shopping, it is also geared to help small business. Larger retailers have more confidence that their greater purchasing power and resources will allow them to be more competitive. We know that as the 100 Best Gift Ideas program grows in reach and value, it will be a valuable tool for small business each holiday season. In a recent BDO USA Survey published in the Wall Street Journal, sales for consumer electronics will be strongest performers at (58%). This is followed by toys (16%), apparel (11%), home goods (10%) and lifestyle goods (5%). Eighty-three percent cite consumer electronics as this years' top performing category, followed by apparel (8%) and toys (8%). Gift card purchases are gaining. Retailers expect a stronger tailwind for January 2012 sales
December 2011 | Upper Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce Business Monthly
as consumers begin redeeming holiday gift cards. Of retailers who sell gift cards, 57% expect an increase in gift card sales this holiday season, a notable jump from 2010 (47%) and 2009 (32%).. Our goal is help owners leverage their ability to build relationships and connect with people. Once you get them in the door, take every advantage to sell service. Create that special experience with fun activities with inviting incentives. Use every opportunity to get them back in the door or online. Small businesses need to take advantage of every marketing tool available so you stay top of mind. By taking advantage of the 100 Best Gift Ideas program, you can use this platform to create a point of view and offer customers something they can’t find or don’t see other than that time of year.
1