The Fabric of Our Chamber is Our Net

By Mary Kausch

MCOC Chamber Chatter May 2013

Mary Kausch, HR etc!! President Mapelwood Chamber of Commerce

As business people, when most of us hear the word “net” we think of gross revenues, profit margins and our bottom line—our net. For the Maplewood Chamber, though, “net” has another meaning. Together we are a net. We come together, connect, coordinate and engage, and through our interlocking energy, our Net catches ideas, inspiration, attention and business.

The fabric of the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce is the interconnecting Net of 147 members who engage with the City, the residents, our retail, restaurants, parks, entertainment, business expertise, services and products. Woven into our Net are our regular events—Net-Walks, Net-Rides, Net-Lunches and Net-Solutions as well as Ribbon Cuttings, Business After Hours and Educational Workshops. With each of these events, we catch each other’s wisdom, knowledge, perspectives and experiences—all of which benefit our business success.

Upcoming this month, our Net includes:

• May 9:           Educational Workshop – Cyber Liability and Data Breach
• May 18:         An event like no other – the 5^th Annual Taste of Maplewood!!
  (I hear there’s a Maplewood Pub Crawl on Friday, May 17—check the website calendar and plan to join us!)
• May 21          Ribbon Cutting and Business After Hours (check the website calendar.)
• May 22:         Net-Lunch
• May 23:         Net-Ride – place TBA.

These experiences and events knit together long-lasting partnerships—which, in turn, build our businesses and commerce, and strengthen the fabric of our community. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and all of us woven in the Net are capable of creating success for each other.

During this month, will you join in and help create and celebrate the strength and pride—the Fabric—of this community? Attend a Chamber Event. Attend several Chamber Events!! Get swept up in our Net!!

How did you choose Maplewood as a location for your business?We were looking for a bigger office in several areas around St Louis and Maplewood was at the top of our list due to the neighborhood feel and creative culture.  The two things that sealed the deal for us was our friends Chris and Greg (Wellbody on Sutton) leading us to a vacancy on Sutton and the welcoming embrace we received from Rachelle from the City of Maplewood.   

You specialize in re-imaging communication spaces and have worked on a variety of projects from radio studios to the Danforth Gallery at the St. Louis Art Museum. What project are you the most proud of and why? It’s impossible to pick one.  That’s like asking which of my children I am most proud of.  We are most proud of the projects that the client in the end says this space is everything we wanted and even more than we imagined.  WCBS in SoHo NY was special to us for it’s heritage as the first all news station in the US started by Edward R Morrow in the WWII era. The Harvey Digital Media Center at Washington University’s Danforth University Center is awesome in that we got an opportunity to bring all the experience we have gained around the country working for the top Media & Communication companies back to our hometown and a cutting edge institution.   

In addition to architecture V Three does interactive projects including websites and digital media. What are some projects that you have worked on? We have built sites for client such as the Austin brewery Thirsty Planet and apps for clients such as the AIA St Louis Chapter.  We are currently developing an app for them that will highlight the historic significance of many buildings downtown.

 According to the Small Business Monthly article you started out  in 2010 with no startup money and one project from a personal relationship and now you have a six person team and have worked on some really cool projects. What has been your biggest challenge in growing your business and what have you done to overcome it? 

We boot strapped it for the first two years and looking back I am not sure how we did it.  We often felt like a cat that had used 6 of its 9 lives.  We now have a line of credit in place to fuel our growth.  We have been very fortunate in this Design & Construction climate to have grown every year we have been in business.   

What is your favorite Maplewood destination outside of work? We often hang at The Post or Schlafly for our meetings.  My family loves the fish taco’s at Maya Cafe.  Home Wine Kitchen rocks as well.  For me personally as a guitar player the most dangerous place in Maplewood is Eddie’s guitars.  Nate and his guys are top notch and have the best inventory in town. 

V Three Studios’ Website

Career Connections is a program that connects business professionals and MRH High School Students in varying capacities including internships, job shadowing, and panel discussions. Through the program, students identify and explore career options and connect with professionals currently working in industries for which they have an interest. John Capuano, Director of Career Exploration & Apprenticeship Program, spearheads the program and expressed his excitement with the growth, “Its been incredible to see so many local Maplewood businesses working with staff and students in various capacities.  The best part has been watching this program evolve in a way that benefits the MRH and Maplewood community.”

There are many options for businesses wishing to be involved with the program. Experiences can range from a one-time event to a bi-monthly work placements, and everything in between. Those businesses who have been involved thus far have found program to be rewarding. One of the honorees at the luncheon was Carol Mertz, Rampant Interactive who commented “We really enjoy being able to provide a real-world outlook for students interested in our industry. We’ve embraced the opportunities that MRH has given us to both go to the high school to talk directly with the students, as well as invite interested students to experience what it’s like in our office. It’s very inspiring to see young students already excited about their careers, and we really enjoy the opportunity to connect with them as individuals to provide answers about the industry, advice on schooling, and guidance for students in pursuit of similar career paths.”

There were many businesses honored for their involvement including Citizens National Bank, Shop n’ Save, Maplewood Police and Fire Departments, Rampant Interactive, Barron Family Medicine, and more. To find out how your business can be involved with Career Connections, contact John Capuano, Director of Career Exploration & Apprenticeship Program, at john.capuano@mrhschools.net or314.724.4232.

• Do check references. Ask reference questions such as: Was the job finished on time? Were there any unexpected extra charges? Was the job site kept clean? Did all of the workmen show respect for the homeowner and the property?

• Do trust gut instinct. The bitterness of a poor job lingers long after the sweet taste of the “good” deal. If you are uncomfortable with the contractor, find someone else. If you don’t understand how something is being done or what materials are being used, ask for an explanation. A good contractor welcomes your question! If there is something that doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. The time to get it fixed is now, not at the end of the job when it may be too late.

• Do ask about membership in professional, civic, and charitable organizations. While that is not a guarantee of good work, it does indicate if a company is seeking to become more professional and support the community in which it works.

• Do insist upon a certificate of liability insurance and verify workmen’s compensation insurance coverage for every person on the job.

• Do ask if the company is an EPA lead-certified firm. There is a risk of lead exposure, particularly to small children, in any home built prior to 1978. An EPA lead-certified renovator can help minimize that risk.

A question any business owner should ask when being recruited to join the Chamber of Commerce is “What’s in it for me?”  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this logical question.  As business owners, we should pride ourselves on obtaining as much information as possible in order to make informed decisions.  After all, in order to put ourselves in a position to more effectively help out our community, it is imperative that we first set ourselves up for success within that community.

Here’s the curve ball… many of our existing chamber members still aren’t quite sure of all the benefits at their disposal!?!  So while they’ve taken the first step in getting involved, they’re doing themselves a disservice by not taking advantage of everything the chamber has to offer!

So here are a few of the many ways that we hope to see you utilizing the chamber:

New Business Tool Kit -  http://maplewood-chamber.com/biztoolkit/ This new website feature tells you who your Councilperson is, explains possible financial resources available to you, shows you how to write a press release, etc.

Promotional Assistance- The chamber will assist in promoting your events, office news, job openings, etc. We do so on the chamber website, newsletter, and social media sites.  Being that we lack the capacity to read minds, the only way we know what you need or want promoted is by having you notify us!

Educational Workshops – In today’s business environment, it is crucial to harness all of the potential marketing tools made available in the digital realm.  The chamber routinely holds workshops to educate our members on the effective use of specific online resources such as; Twitter, Linked in, etc.  If you’d like to see a workshop geared towards a certain topic, make sure to let us know! 

Chamber Advantage Card – the discounts available to you locally will far outweigh the cost of your chamber membership

Networking Opportunities – Get to know your neighbors in the community, its only going to help you out in the long run (plus a lot of these events are fun)!  Net-lunches, Net-Solutions, ribbon cuttings, business after hours, and quarterly luncheons all afford you the routine opportunity to get to know other members of the community! 

Make no mistake about it, the Chamber provides the resources to assist in growing your business, but its ultimately up to you to put those resources to good use!

 What aspects of the solar industry are you involved in? We do everything from commercial and residential solar electric panels to the solar flood lights, attic fans, garden lights and solar tubes.

How long have you been in the industry? 3 years.

The Maplewood Chamber of Commerce’s new “Shop Local Direct Mail Program” takes advantage of the  U.S. Postal Service’s “Every Door Direct Mail”.

The Chamber will combine ads from up to 15 businesses into one piece, lowering the cost for each business. Businesses can use space to advertise special offers, announce events, or highlight services. The ‘Shop Maplewood” themed piece will be delivered to more than 6,000 residents and businesses in our area!

The Chamber will oversee the professional layout and design of the piece, including your ad. Ads are 1.98 by 3.4 inches. Participating businesses will simply provide the content for their ad, approval of the ad proof, and we take care of the rest.

On their own, a direct mail piece like this would typically cost a business thousands of dollars in designing, printing and postage on their own. Through the Chamber facilitating this program, businesses can launch a full-service direct mail campaign without the cost or the headache.

This mailing is scheduled to be distributed in mid May. Only 15 businesses will be featured in the mailing.

Special: Receive $25 off ad fees if purchasing before Thursday , April 11th!

Get the form here.

Thank you for your interest in being a vendor at the 5th Annual Taste of Maplewood Street Festival. With thousands of people attending the Taste of Maplewood Street Festival each year, there is no better place to promote and sell your products and services. We’re expecting our largest crowd yet on Saturday, May 18th!

The Taste of Maplewood (TOM) is a one-day street festival held on Sutton Blvd., just South of Manchester. Maplewood restaurants, retail boutiques, community organizations have booths on the street where they are able to promote and sell their wares and/or services.  Vendors purchase booth space from the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce and may sell and/or promote their products and services.  Vendors keep all proceeds made on the day of the event.

NEW THIS YEAR: New in 2013 is the addition of a food contest where one dish and one drink will be named the “Best Dish of Taste of Maplewood”& ”Best Drink of Taste of Maplewood“. All restaurant vendors will be automatically enrolled in the contest. Celebrity judges will include: Allyson Mace, Sauce Magazine, John Carney, KTRS 550, and James White, Mayor of Maplewood.

VENDOR INFORMATION

There are three types of Vendors: Non-Profit, Retail, and Restaurant

Step 1- Review Vendor Guidelines & Vendor Q&A

Step 2-Complete the Vendor Registration Form-click here

If you need electricity, complete Step 3

If you are selling food, complete Step 4

If you are selling alcohol, complete Step 5

If none of these apply, skip to step 6

Step 3- Complete the Electricity Requirement Form –click here
If you do not request electricity-it will NOT be available to you for the event

If you are selling food, complete Step 4

If you are selling alcohol, complete Step 5

If neither of these apply, skip to step 6

Step 4- Complete the Temporary Food Establishment Application-click here
This is required by the St. Louis County Health Department-application should be returned to them by May 1)Note: If you are selling  food, you may be required to attend a mandatory meeting the 2^nd week in May.

If you are selling alcohol, complete Step 5

If not, skip to step 6

Step 5- Complete the Application for Temporary Caterer’s Permit-click here
This is required by the Missouri Division of Public Safety: Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Application should be returned to them by May 1. Note: Once you are a registered TOM vendor, the Chamber will notify the City of Maplewood to release the City approval letter & City license (items 3 & 4 on the Caterer’s Permit checklist-scroll down on the link above to
view checklist.)

Step 6-Submit Vendor Registration Form and ElectricityForm (if applicable) to the Chamber Office by April 26^th. Submit documents by mail: 2915 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, MO 63143  email: director@maplewood-chamber.com  fax: 314-781-5397

Tickets are $24.00 with a portion of the ticket proceeds benefiting the Ryan Hummert Memorial Fund. You can purchase tickets by contacting Karen Scheidt 314-646-3604 or k-scheidt@cityofmaplewood.com.  Tickets can be ordered online by going to www.cityofmaplewood.com and clicking on “Fun For A Cause- Save The Date” and choosing the order online option.