CENTER OF THE NATION FOUNDATION NEWS...

We are applying for three marketing grants to promote Belle Fourche and surrounding area along with the Chamber of Commerce.

Coming SOON!!

Center of the Nation T-shirts Fundraiser. Order your Center of the Nation T-shirts by visiting the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce Website.

Black Hills Community Foundation Grant- $5000 grant that we have used to do the following projects:

* Replace our printer/copier

* Replace board table chairs

* Hired Innovate Non-profit for Grant Research & Board Retreat

* We will be replacing the window decal at the office

Each week we are featuring a chamber member business on our Facebook page.

IN DECEMBER WE FEATURED....

PooterQ BBQ

Black Hills Cleaning & Dry Cleaning

Branding Iron Steakhouse

Albany Farms

Follow along with us to learn more about our wonderful Belle Fourche businesses.

Maybe you’ll even win a prize!

POST YOUR EVENT WITH US! ASK OUR OFFICE FOR DETAILS!

Letter From Our Director

3 CREATIVE WAYS TO BECOME TOP OF MIND...

Do you want people to think about your business before all others? Of course, you do. The first step to patronizing your business is remembering it exists.

Imagine you have a free evening, and you want to go out to eat. It doesn’t matter how amazing the food is at the new place down the street; if it doesn’t pop into your mind, you won’t be going there. The same is true of your potential customers. They need to think of you to spend money with you.

So how do you ensure you’re top of mind and that they will think about your business over the competition? You need to find a way to stand out and be memorable. A good product or service is the first step. Good customer service is also a solid choice. But to truly stand out you must do something slightly different.

WAYS TO ENSURE YOUR BUSINESS IS TOP OF MIND Events

Hosting an event at your business is a great way to help people remember you. It also provides an experience, and many individuals admit to enjoying them over physical purchases. When you host an event encourage people to share the occasion on social media for even greater reach.

There are several types of events that draw crowds:

1. Sampling your offerings or services. You can host an event that is directly related to what you do. For instance, a restaurant may have an invitation-only, special tasting night to sample its new menu.

2. Education event. You could also offer an evening out based around something that you sell. For instance, a yarn store may hold classes on how to knit.

3. Block party. Celebrate your customers and potential customers by throwing a party outside your store. A patio furniture store held a parking lot party every weekend with a band and hot dogs. It drew a crowd and people lingered. It was a nice tie in with the product they sold—outdoor furniture. It helped people imagine hosting their own parties later with their new furniture.

4. Chamber Mixer.- Schedule a Chamber mixer with the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce and invite other local businesses to your business.

A Facebook Group

Depending on the nature of your business, and the things your ideal customer/target audience may have in common, a Facebook group can connect your buyers to you and to one another. This idea works well when you can find a connection or mutual interest among your customers. For instance, a bookstore might create a Facebook group for writers or for fans of a specific genre. In a Facebook group you can share information and flash sales, stream events, and invite your audience to talk about their favorite books. The online community will keep your brand center stage while uniting and engaging your audience.

Savings Clubs/Subscriptions

Have you noticed that a lot of companies are charging their customers a monthly fee for some sort of discount or benefit? It began with Amazon Prime, where customers paid an annual fee for free shipping. The program has expanded beyond that now, but you can certainly start with one benefit like that.

Panera has created an unlimited coffee subscription where coffee lovers are auto-charged a fee each month and given a free cup of coffee daily. Both programs drive sales (and loyalty). When people pay for something, they want to get their money’s worth. Often, that means buying from one store over another because they’re part of a savings club.

However, like gift certificates, there may be people who pay every month and don’t use your services. That’s OK too as the subscription (even if it’s only a few dollars) is a source of revenue you did not have before.

If you want strong sales at your business, you need to ensure that your target market thinks about you. You can do that through email marketing, social media participation, or these three ideas. But whatever you do, make sure you use consistent branding and tone. After all, you want them to remember you, not question who you are.

BOOK A MEETING WITH MIRANDA! BUILDING COMMUNITY & WORKING TOGETHER

I feel that it is very important for me to keep connected with each of our active members and I would like to schedule a 30 minute meeting with you to discuss what the Chamber can do to help you and your business and how to use your chamber benefits.

Schedule a time by visiting https://calendly.com/d/g4c-c8q-vpc/chamber-members

If dates and times do not work for your schedule please email Miranda directly at director@ bellefourchechamber.org to schedule a time.

I look forward to meeting with each and every one of you.

UPDATES & HAPPENINGS...

CHAMBER COMMITTEES AND DATES:

Reminder that all meetings are open to the public. We give each visitor 3 to 5 minutes during public comment at the beginning of the meetings to comment.

• Chamber of Commerce Board - March 1st at 7am

• Communication & Marketing Committee - March 9th at Noon

• Event Committee - March 6th & 13th at 1:30 pm

• Finance Committee - March 15th at 3pm

• Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting - April 5th at 7am

• Foundation Meeting - May 1st at 7am

BOARD RETREAT - HELD FEBRUARY 1ST AT MID-AMERICA TRAVEL PLAZA

CROSSROADS

The Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Center of the Nation Foundation Board of Directors came together to set goals for 2023. Tara Wilcox and Emma Devos from Innovate Non-profit came with feedback from our member survey and helped us set a goal for this year.

• Membership Directory and Visitors Guides - Printed

• Mentorship Program

• Government Affairs Communications

The Chamber Board of Directors will design and implement these goals while the Center of the Nation Foundation will apply for grant funding to help cover the costs.

NEW TO STATE STREET

Sand Creek Printing and Prairie Hills Pharmacy have moved to STATE STREET! Stop by to visit!

Partnerships

Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce our partnerships with Belle Fourche School District Hospitality and Tourism Class and Middle School Summer JAM program.

Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development are partnering together with South Dakota Public Broadcasting to present Belle Fourche Highlights on April 4th.

Chamber and Tri-State Museum are partnering together to host events and marketing Belle Fourche.

We are hoping to build more partnerships with community organziations.

WE

LOVE

Mike Reade Mary Buchholz

And last, but not least, Kay Cooper.

Kay has decided to retire from volunteering at the Chamber and we will miss her dearly. She has put many years into helping us at the office.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who helps us!

If you know anyone interested in volunteering, please contact us at the office.

BANQUET INFO!

- TICKETS & TABLES -

Tables of 8 are available ($300) or single tickets ($40) may be purchased at the Chamber office or online.

- LIVE & SILENT DONATIONS NEEDED -

We are Seeking Donation for our Annual Banquet. We are hoping to do both Live and Silent this year. If you are willing to donate an item for the banquet please have the item to the Chamber office by March 13th so we can adveriste them items and who donated them.

MULTIPLE COURSES PROVIDED BY OUR CHAMBER MEMBERS!

This year things are going to be a little different as the Chamber will be doing all the table decorations and the food will be provided by a variety of our members, Pooter Q BBQ, Grap’s Burgers and Brews, Crossroads, Black Hills Diner, The Leaky Pot, SME’s Treats, Los Agaves, Lynn’s Dakotamart and drinks will be served by Branding Iron Steakhouse. We are so excited!

AWARDS!

We are excited to announce we will be handing out 18 awards to our local businesses. You don’t want to miss this year’s event.

NETWORKING & PRIZES!

This year, we are having 3 drawings in regards to networking, BRING YOUR BUSINESS CARDS! (Cards must be collected the night of the event only). Collect 3 different business cards - Enter into drawing #1, Collect 5 different business cards - Enter into drawing #2, Collect 10 different business cards- Enter into drawing #3. More rules will be available the night of the banquet.

YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS YEAR’S EVENT!

FIND OUT MORE: bellefourchechamber.org/annual-banquet

Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce • 509 Grant St • Belle Fourche, SD 57717 • (605) 892 -2676 www.BelleFourcheChamber.org • assistant@BelleFourcheChamber.org

2023 Silent/Live Auction Annual Banquet Donation Form

Belle Fourche Community Hall – March 24th, 2023

Business Name: ______________________________________

Business Contact______________________________________

Contact Phone Number: ________________________________

Item(s) Donated________________________________________

Item Value: _____________

Item Description_______________________________________ Received BY:___________________________________________