Spring is here and its raining as it should be!
Here is the press release I sent to the papers:
Park Ridge Chamber Asks Residents to Please Shop Locally
Although new businesses continue to move into Park Ridge, it’s sad when a local independent closes its doors permanently as Dominic’s Kitchen Store did recently. Many of our local merchants are struggling with slow sales, higher overhead, and increased competition from Internet sales and big box stores. But as a resident you can do your part to help them survive and thrive by shopping locally. When you do, more money is kept in the community.
Support the people who support you. Local business owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners. The merchants are asked daily for freebies, contributions, gift baskets, gift cards for local groups, charities, schools, sports teams, and more. People get mad when an owner turns them down and often threatens ‘to tell friends and family not to shop here’. Our local merchants often give more than they can really afford to give. Nonprofits receive an average of 350% more support from local business owners than they do from non-locally owned businesses.
The unique character of Park Ridge is defined in large part by the businesses that reside here, and that plays a big factor in overall satisfaction with where we live and the value of our homes. Also, locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses which helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base.
The environmental impact is reduced when you shop locally because small local businesses are much friendlier to a community than out of town shopping malls. They contribute less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution and reduces our carbon footprint. Because small local businesses are the largest employers nationally, the more jobs we have in town, the less people are going to have to commute which means more recreational time, less traffic and pollution.
Local businesses often hire local people – our sons and daughters, spouses, and retirees. In a local business, you know the person behind the counter, and they know you. They have a deep understanding of the products they’re selling, and they take time to serve their customers. Many business owners live in Park Ridge and are invested in the community's welfare and future. They’re not likely to pull up stakes and move out of town, taking their jobs with them. But, sadly some are forced to do just that.
Yes, buying at a small, local store may cost a little bit more because of their rent or they don’t buy in the quantities of a Wal-Mart – but considering all the above reasons, won’t you please stay in Park Ridge and spend your money here? If you can spend just $50 at three stores each month, you’ll contribute to the success of Park Ridge. Is there another store you’ll miss if it goes out of business? Stop in. Buy something. Your purchases are what keeps our local businesses alive. It starts with you.
Gail Haller
This week Tomorrow is the Retail Committee meeting and the Health Care Forum.
Thursday is the Chamber’s Business After Hours at Global Handmade Hope – come and network and shop and enjoy refreshments!
Friday is our Women in Business luncheon – Panino’s is catering and Jo Ann Arnswald, Lisa Smith and Suzann Wilson are on a panel with Jay Crowley moderating. RSVP’s required.
Mark your calendar for a ribbon cutting for a new original artwork store on Northwest Hwy called OnView on Thursday April 7. More details to follow.
Cubs vs Colo Rockies
April 26 – still have 23 tickets to sell! We’ve sold over 100 tickets! Other organizations are also buying tickets but we have about 23 available if you’re still interested! We’ll be closing it down soon to go pick up the tickets so act now!
April 26, 2011 at 7:05 PM
Third Annual Cubs Fundraiser on Tuesday Night @ Wrigley Field
$18 per person (Value of tickets is $50 each)
Section 237 Right Field – up from the Bull Pen
Seats will be covered by roof, and we are protected from inclement weather.
Rick Pucci has organized the event – thank you, Rick!
Mark Your Calendar for these Upcoming Events!
March 22, Tuesday, 9:00am – 10:00am PREN 2: Park Ridge Executive Network
March 23, Wednesday, 9:00am – 10:30am Health Care Forum
March 23, Wednesday, 9:00am – 10:30am Retail Committee – Discuss First Fridays
March 24, Thursday, 11:30am-1:30pm Multi-Chamber Mega Connect Networking Lunch at Crowne Plaza, 2875 N. Milwaukee Ave. Northbrook. Pre-registration member fee $25 Prospective member $35 due by March 16. After 3/16 $35 for all.
March 24, Thursday, 5:00pm – 7:00pm Business After Hours, Global Handmade Hope, 428 W. Touhy Ave. Come enjoy casual networking hosted by Cynthia Glensgard. Parking behind the store.
March 25, Friday, 9:30am – 10:30am PREN 3: Park Ridge Executive Network
March 25, Friday, 11:30am – 1:30pm Women in Business Monthly Networking Lunch “Tips of Successful Women in Business” Panel Discussion moderated by Jay Crowley includes Jo Ann Arnswald, Lisa Smith and Suzann Wilson. Lunch catered by The Perfect Dinner. $15 Members and $20 prospective members
March 31, Thursday, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Meet the Park Ridge City Council Candidates , Sponsored by The Journal and Topics Newspaper and The Park Ridge Chamber, 720 Garden Street – Residents are encouraged to attend.
April 6, Wednesday, 4:00pm – 7:00pm Regional Business & Restaurant Showcase, The Meadows Club, 2950 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows - This is a business-to-business event with exhibitors and restaurants providing food samplings to attendees. Chamber members attend for free with a business card. Restaurants pay $50 provide food samples for 250 people. They receive a 10x10 space with 8’ draped table and they can sell gift cards for their establishment.
April 7, Thursday, 10:00am – 11:30am Entrepreneurial Knowledge Group (EKG)
Regus, 350 S. NW Highway, Suite 300, A group for new and emerging entrepreneurs
April 7, Thursday, 5:00pm – 7:00pm OnView Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening, 139 N. Northwest Hwy., OnView has original artwork of all kinds (paintings, photography, jewelry, furniture). Come and enjoy some refreshments and networking.
April 8, Friday, 8:45am – 9:45am PREN 1: Park Ridge Executive Network
April 8, Friday, 9:00am – 10:30am Communications Meeting
Free Network on April 6! THE LARGEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NETWORKING EVENT IN 2011!
The Regional Business Expo and Restaurant Showcase will be held on Wednesday, April 6th from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at The Meadows Club, 2950 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows.
Thirteen local Chambers are participating and there are $500 and $250 sponsorship opportunities available or the Exhibit Table ($200 early bird or $225 after 3/15) and $50 Restaurant Exhibit opportunities.
Contact the Chamber for the registration form with all the details. Final payments due by March 31st.
Mark your calendars for this exciting networking event with admission free for attendees showing their business card.
Women’s Conference 4th Annual North Shore Women’s Conference – A Great Opportunity for Your Business!
21 Participating Chambers of Commerce
If you have a woman-owned company, or a company that caters to women, you’ll want to jump on this opportunity for high visibility at the 4th Annual North Shore Women’s Conference on Friday, May 6, 2011.
Our Keynote Speaker, sponsored by Whitehall of Deerfield, Celebrity Chef Gale Gand is sure to draw many participants. Gale Gand, executive pastry chef and partner in the four star restaurant TRU in Chicago will share her celebrity experiences and how she got her start.
Presenting Sponsors will receive the following: Listing as Presenting Sponsor with logo on ads, invitations, programs, posters and eblasts. Expo booth in prime location and four luncheon tickets.
If sponsorship is not in your budget, you will definitely want to consider participating as an Exhibitor. The cost of exhibiting is $250 and includes one luncheon ticket.
Women’s networking groups have increased in numbers and popularity in every chamber on the North Shore. Because of this, we know this event is going to be a huge success,
and you’ll want to be a part of it. Over 400 women business owners participated in last year’s event!
Reply to us and we can email them the registration form.
Community Marketing Program
www.facebook.com/shopparkridgeil
Check it out!
Also check out the link on our home page: www.ParkRidgeChamber.org
Contact me: Gail Haller
Executive Director
Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce
720 Garden Street
Park Ridge, IL 60068
phone: 847.825.3121
fax: 847.825.3122
email: gail.haller@parkridgechamber.org
website: www.parkridgechamber.org
Thank you to our Platinum members
1. All on the Road Catering & Bakery: 847.518.8958
2. ATI Physical Therapy: 847.292.0151
3. AthletiCo Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy: 847-292-4710
4. Cardinal Fitness of Park Ridge: 847.318.7550
5. CMR Construction: 847.926.4245
6. Comfort Inn O'Hare/Des Plaines: 847.635.1300
7. D'Agostino's Pizza & Pub: 847.518.8700
8. E.J. Coyne & Company Inc: 847.692.9077
9. Express Auto Center: 847.813.9469
10. Home Comfort Heating & Cooling: 847.824.4336
11. Houlihan's Restaurant: 847.692.6205
12. Hyatt Regency O'Hare: 847.696-1234
13. Jason's Deli: 847.823.0210
14. K.G.M. Plumbing, Inc.: 847.583.8988
15. LIN-MAR Motors: 847-965-4200
16. Naperville Exterior, Inc. : 847.593.7337
17. Panino’s Pizzeria: 847. 823.3450
18. Park Ridge Community Fund: 847.825.5311
19. Pickwick Theatre: 847.825.5800
20. ProWindow Window Service, Inc.: 847-825-4890
21. Resurrection Health Care: 847.813.3210
22. Romano's Family Pizzeria & Sports Bar: 847.823.7499
23. Ross E. Rubino, D.D.S.P.C. & Associates: 847.825.1002
24. Unbound Technology: 847.235.4994
25. Y-Tech Heating & Cooling: 847.696.0477
26. You can be here!
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