Making Waves The Official Newsletter of The Little River Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center.
March 2017
1180 Highway 17 North, Suite 1 Little River, SC 29566 www.LittleRiverChamber.org 843-249-6604 | Info@LittleRiverChamber.org
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You The start of a new year is often a time for reflection on the prior year’s success, failures, laughs, and memories. As we at the Chamber reflect on 2016, we want to thank our members for supporting us. We are 300+ members strong with 1,264 followers on Facebook & posts reaching over 2,622 viewers per week, 1,125 followers on twitter with 2,431 impressions per week, and community updates that go out to about 600 people. Congratulations to our own Hubert Bullard, named Director of the Year by the South Carolina Festival & Events Association. Hubert has been the Festival Director of the World Famous Blue Crab Festival for the past 7 years.
While we are always looking to grow and improve, we are very thankful for the support from our members, sponsors, partners, and the community. To each and everyone of you, know that your membership means the world to us. We look forward to serving you in 2017 and years to come!
Celebrating 5 Years of Membership
Tobacco City Cigars was welcomed to the community with a Ribbon Cutting on January 6th.
Collision Masters 843-249-0642 TheCollisionMasters.com MVP Training Studio 843-399-6877 MVPTrainingStudio.com Clark’s Seafood & Chop House 843-399-8888
ClarksSeafoodAndChopHouse.com
Lane’s Professional Pest Elimination 843-238-9995 GetLanes .ne t
Celebrating 10 Years of Membership
We had a great turnout at the Annual Dinner Meeting. Congratulations to our award winners: Summit Place - Mary Martin Community Service Award, Ann Wilcocks of CresCom Bank - John W. Griggs Ambassador of the Year Award, and Anderson Insurance - Member/ Business of the Year
Anderson Brother’s Bank 843-249-6041 ABB ank.co m NMB Aquatic & Fitness Center 843-281-3737 AF C .NM B .US Springer Press 843-457-6672 SpringerPress.com Thomas Real Estate 843-249-2100 Century21Thomas.com Thank you for your continued support & commitment!
April has some fun holidays coming up. Which can your business use to create fun Facebook posts for? National Fair Housing Month Keep America Beautiful Month Lawn and Garden Month National Autism Awareness Month National Decorating Month National Fresh Celery Month Stress Awareness Month Week 1: Public Health Week Week 2: Student Employment Week Week 2: National Library Week Week 3: National Pet ID Week
Specific Days: 2: Peanut Butter & Jelly Day 3: National Find a Rainbow Day 5: National Deep Dish Pizza Day 11: National Pet Day 15: Take a Wild Guess Day 16: National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day #PJDay 20: Get to Know Your Customers 22: Earth Day ...and more!
2017 Little River Chamber Board of Directors Nate Rohler, TD Bank 2017 Chairman Executive & Finance Committees
On Jan. 23, our Board of Directors was pleased to attend the Grand Strand Legislative Reception to meet and speak with our legislators about issues important to our area and thee impact the Grand Strand has on the state’s economy.
Austin Cox, Coastal Carolina National Bank 2016 Board Chairman Executive, Legislation, & Membership Committees Kim Bryant, Bryant Accounting Finance Committee Lester Gore, Retired Executive, Special Events, Legislative Committees Caleb Wiggins, PalmettoScapes Landscape Supply Special Events Committee Lisa Mogel, Laudisi Enterprises Membership Committee Brandon Bellegarde, Greyphin Consulting Marketing Committee
Left to Right: Executive Director Jennifer Walters, Senator Greg Hembree, and Director Les Gore
Members from our Board of Directors were pleased to represent Little River at the Women’s Leadership Conference & Celebration of Inspiring Women. 2/8
Kevin Doolittle, Boulineau Outdoor Media Marketing Committee Tim Kettner, Crab Catcher’s Special Events Committee Gale Mulcahy, Cardinal Publishing Marketing. Special Events Committees Lynn Kornita, TD Bank Finance Committee Joey Todd, Atlantic Heating & Cooling Membership Committee [Right] At the Annual Dinner Meeting on January 17th, we welcomed new board members Brandon Bellegard, Tim Kettner, Lynn Kornita, Gale Mulcahy, and Joey Todd. [Far Right] Austin Cox passes the gavel to new Board Chairman Nate Rohler.
Left to Right: Directors Lynn Kornita, Lisa Mogel, Gale Mulcahy, and Jennifer Walters
Welcome New Members! ADS Security 625 Robert Grissom Parkway Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-236-1969 ADSSecurity.com
Edward Jones Investments Jim McLean 440 Hwy. 90E, Suite 6 Little River, SC 29566 843-663-0162 EdwardJones.com
Air Comfort Heating & Cooling Services 4555 Hwy 17 Bypass South Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-828-4445 AirComfortMB.com
Lafayette Business Machines 615 Tupelo Lane, G Longs, SC 29568 910-733-0158 Lafayette-Biz.com
Cleaners Unlimited 120 Pinnacle Drive, Suite G Little River, SC 29566 843-605-5786 CleanersUnlimited1.net
Grand Strand Realty 10020 Beach Drive SW Calabash, NC 28467 843-575-0000 GrandStrandRealtyGroup.com
Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center 901 N Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-448-4820 CoastalSmaritan.org
Grill Next Door 490 Hwy. 9 E Longs, SC 29568 843-399-9308
North Strand Nissan 2592 SC-9 Little River, SC 29566 843-390-7777 NorthStrandNissan.com Palmetto Distillery 4801 S. Kings Hwy Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 843-238-2855 PalmettoMoonshine.com Tobacco City Cigars 2229 Hwy 17 N, Suite D Little River, SC 29566 843-273-0937 TobaccoCityCigars.com Ultimate Pet Services 1700 Culbertson Ave., Unit B Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 855-265-8654 UltimatePetServices.net
January Member of the Month
843-399-1040 | LibertyTax.com February Member of the Month
Harbour Style Salon & Spa 843-273-4365 | March Member of the Month
(910) 579-1016 | MuseumPlanitarium.org
Many members of our community gathered at Hampton Inn - Harbourgate on January 25th to celebrate their new rennovations with a Ribbon Cutting.
Free Making Waves Ad Chamber Membership includes a variety of marketing opportunities, including a free 3.6� x 2� advertisement in our printed newsletter, shown here. Visit LittleRiverChamber.org or email Izzy@LittleRiverChamber.org for more info. We were please to return to Hampton Inn - Harbourgate on February 21st for Business After Hours, our monthly networking event.
Bring the whole office! Chamber membership is inclusive to all staff at your business’ location. Encourage your employees or coworkers to attend chamber events either with you or on your behalf. Check your emails for Ribbon Cutting invites, additional event information, and more! Not subscribed? Let us know! We can register as many of your staff as wanted for emails or online logins.
Upcoming Chamber Events
Discover more networking and educational events and register at LittleRiverChamber.org. March 2 • 3:30 PM Membership 101 CresCom Bank Whether you’ve joined or not, come see the chamber’s good for business. March 21 • 7:30 AM Business at Breakfast Life is Sweet Bakery An experiemtnal change up for our morning networkers. In lieu of Business After Hours. April 6 • 9 AM Business Buzz CresCom Bank Presented by Awesome Website Guys April 18 • 5:30 PM Business After Hours J&K Home Furnishings Networking is still important for local businesses, so come join us! May 4 • 9 AM Membership 101 CresCom Bank No matter how long you have been with us, learn more about the benefits of chamber membership. May 6 • 8 AM - 4 PM WFBCF Car Show Willards Fireworks Free Admission. $25 Registration day-of; Open to all cars & Trucks. May 20 & 21 • 9A-6P WF Blue Crab Festival Historic Little River Waterfront Pick up a unique gift or souvenir, enjoy your fill of seafood or festival food favorites, see live beach music.
The Chamber held a Festival Kick Off Meeting on January 18th at Crab Catchers. Key members of our community were present to give & recieve updates regarding the World Famous Blue Crab Festival.
2016 At a Glance The Mission of the Li�le River Chamber of Commerce is to Promote Community Improvement, Tourism, and Commerce by Proac�ve Leadership and Community Involvement.
Membership
Online Presence
61 84% New Members
28.7% Average Email Open Rate 15 Social Media Accounts 2,465 Media Likes on Instagram
Reten�on Rate
NonProfit (10%)
136,388 Reach on Chamber Facebook
11+ Employees (16%)
6-10 Employees (11%)
1-5 Employees (63%)
Twi�er Impressions 120,000
Top Member Types
15% Business Services 9% Non-Profit Orgs
Axis Title
100,000
Li�le River Chamber
80,000
Visit Li�le River
60,000
Blue Crab Fes�val
40,000
Li�le River ShrimpFest
20,000 -
2014
2015
Economic Impact
8% Shopping & Retail
30 Save money on your shipping and earn rewards for your loyalty with Fed Ex. As a U.S. Chamber member, you're invited to enroll in the Fed Ex Advantage® program and enjoy discounts of up to 26% on Fed Ex® services.* After you enroll, you can use the same account to join My Fed Ex Rewards, and earn gift cards and brandname merchandise when you ship. Enrollment for both programs is free.. Our members are eligible for up to:* 26% off select Fed Ex Express® U.S. shipping 20% off select Fed Ex Express international shipping 12% off select Fed Ex Ground® shipping 70% off select Fed Ex Freight® shipping 20% off select Fed Ex Office® services** Enroll now or call 1.800.345.6227. Use passcode L9V7WC00.
Chamber Events
2016
$3.0M
290
$1.25M
Business A�er Hours A�endees
A Website That Works
73k
MEMBER PAGE VIEWS
226k EVENT SEARCHES
198
AVERAGE VIEWS PER LISTED DEAL
501
JOB POSTING VIEWS
Chamber Reinvestments
>Shop with a Cop >Teen Angels >LR Volunteer Fire Dept >LR Farmers Market >Movies in the Park, plus HCPR events >Christmas Lights
>Highway Median Maintenance >Highway Lighting >Festival Economic Impact >Out of market advertising >LR Waterfront Lighting & Landscaping Upgrades
LittleRiverChamber.org
PO Box 400 Little River, SC 29566
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