FEST

March 4, 2023

2nd Place: .

3rd Place: .

Judges Pick:

Spirit of Chili:

Charity: Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries

#3 Fresh Salt

Charity: Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services

#13 Tea Kettle Restaurant

Charity: SARAH, Inc.

#6 Cloud Nine Catering

#11 Grossman/Pursuit of Pastry

Thank you to The Rockfall Foundation, who generously donated our compostable chili cups. As well as Blue Earth Compost, a food scrap collection service who provided waste stations along Main Street.

Spotlighted as “Giverny in Connecticut,” the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme embodies the artistic spirit of its legacy as the home of the Lyme Art Colony. From the impressive Georgian architecture of the home of namesake Florence Griswold, to the light-filled spaces of the Krieble Gallery, to the rolling riverfront landscape of our 12-acre site, the Museum is a truly special place that is privileged to serve as the home of American Impressionism. Explore the historic period rooms of Miss Florence’s boardinghouse and view work of the artists who painted the landscape and lush gardens, then walk the Robert F. Schumann Artists’ Trail to enjoy those very same views. There is something new to experience at the Museum in every season: whether it’s our Blooms with a View celebration of art and flowers in June, the Midsummer Festival in July, fan-favorite Wee Faerie Village outdoor installation every October, or enjoying the Holiday Magic in December. On view through May 14, special exhibition Dreams & Memories draws from our permanent collection of historic and contemporary art to explore these themes as drivers of creativity. June 3—September 10, we present Object Lessons in American Art: Selections from the Princeton University Art Museum.

Café Flo, our award-winning seasonal outdoor lunch spot, returns May 2. Reservations are recommended for this perennially popular café: 860.434.5542 x126. Plan your visit and find a full roster of programs and special events at FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org. For general information & inquiries: 860.434.5542 x111.

Image credit: Robert and Nancy Krieble Gallery by Derek Hayn

Are you a young professional living/working in the Shoreline area looking to:

• Engage with the Chamber and Shoreline communities?

• Build professional networks and friendships?

• Advocate for local businesses?

• Volunteer to make a difference? Join Progressive Leaders of Today!

Upcoming Events

• Spring Causeway Cleanup - April 29

• Local Leader Spotlight - May 10

June 12, 2023

Enjoy a memorable outing at Fox Hopyard, one of Connecticut’s Premier Private golf courses.

Learn About Your Chamber Membership & Online Resources!

Do you find yourself confused on how to work the Chamber website, Chamber Master or any other online Chamber Membership Resource?

Join our new monthly Welcome Workshops! Take an hour of your day for step by step videos and instructions on how to utilize your Chamber membership and resources.

Bring your laptop, iPad, or tablet to work through the informational sessions on your own screen.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 28

Focusing on the Member Information Center (The Portal) and the Chamber Website.

Meetings are downstairs at the Chamber Office every 4th Tuesday of the month with two available sessions: 8:00 am & 12:00 pm. Available to current and new members. Free to attend!

It’s that time of year again! While many people focus on holiday celebrations and new year’s resolutions this time of year, small business owners also need to focus on year-end business planning. This includes both preparing for the new year, AND taking stock of the year passed. It’s a great time of year to reflect. Reflection allows you to step outside of your day-to-day grind and find meaning in your experiences. It helps you identify patterns, understand yourself better, and ultimately, sets you up to create more meaningful goals for the future. Goals give your company a sense of purpose. It can be easy to get caught up in the operations and forget why you do what you do.

Having goals to work toward helps to keep you focused and motivated. Include some marketing strategies in your goals - here are the two strategies I’m leaning into in 2023: #1: Grow your email subscriber base. Growing your email subscriber base is a guaranteed way to build an engaged audience around your brand, and establish yourself as an expert in your field. Consider setting up a biweekly or monthly email campaign. The key to ensuring they read on is understanding that your message is not about you or your product. It’s about your customers and meeting their needs. The art of creating added value starts with the ability to see your business through the eyes of your customers #2: Build authority with video content. Video content will help increase brand awareness, and achieve a positive ROI on your marketing efforts. As a small business owner, video is your secret weapon to building brand authority and credibility as well as improving your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). I have created a business planner that includes both reflecting and planning to help you get both your business and personal goals set goals for 2023. Get your business planner HERE!

Wishing You good health, happiness, and success in the coming year,

Gina Johnson Holistic Business Coach Ginajohnson.co