The Quarry has been described as “The premier wedding and B&B
location in the Pacific Northwest”. Transformed from an abandoned quarry it is now an artists estate with elegant gardens, outdoor sculpture an art gallery and luxurious
B&B. The Quarry is a very unique and perfect setting for special
events of all kinds. Complete services are offered including event
equipment (canopies etc), catering, beverage service and event planning
assistance. The Quarry is an ideal place for weddings, off site meetings, private,
corporate and institutional events and meticulous attention is paid
to the details of each individual event whatever the size.
This unique setting can be found at 12893 Dodge Valley Rd. Call
360-466-5075, for more information. Be sure to check out their website
http://www.atthequarry.com/
PLEASE JOIN LA CONNER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FOR OUR NEXT AFTER HOURS SOCIAL
Thursday March 13 5:30-7PM
La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum
Please bring an appetizer and/or bubbly to share.
We’ll see you there!
The Presidents Message ~ Cindy Tracey
It was a pleasure to see the sun come out on Saturday. Town was full of people who have been homebound for months! The daffodils are nearly ready to light up ground with bright yellow blooms, the sure sign that the tulips will be on their way along with thousands of tourists. The 2008 La Conner Chamber Board of Directors met at the beginning of February for a full day retreat. We started the day with a wonderful welcome from La Conner’s new Mayor, Ramon Hayes. We formed five standing committees, Membership, Finance, Events, Visitor Information Center, and Marketing with Board Members chairing each of these committees. Some of the exciting things that the chamber will be working on in 2008 are, billboards on hwy 20, developing a La Conner TV Commercial, an advertising kiosk at the Burlington Mall, increasing weekday usage and marketing Maple Hall, and developing a plan for advertising and marketing La Conner during the 2010 Olympics, to name just a few! But we need you! All members are welcome to attend and participate in any of the standing committees. Please contact the Chairperson of each Committee and find out how you can help!! The Board looks forward to a Fun, Fabulous and Fruitful 2008!! Come join us!
Marketing Report ~ Julie Burgmeier & Stephanie Banaszak
THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the La Conner Fall Giveaway….here are a couple quotes from our December Winners:
**I want to thank you and the chamber of commerce for the delightful and very thoughtful gifts I received. What a surprise and what fun I had going through each item. And then it was so much fun and very much enjoyment going through the various shops throughout the town. I have written to so many people that I know and have said that they must put your town on the must see list when they come to Washington. I am a travel nurse from Alabama and I have been working at Skagit Valley Hospital and Bellingham Hospital in the ICU unit and ER units...this was such a much needed relaxation sightseeing trip!! Thank you and each member of the chamber that provided me with such lovely and unexpected gifts! Sincerely, Sharon Junco
**Thank you so very much for selecting me as a winner of the LA Conner Giveaway contest. I didn't believe it at first because I never win anything! It was such a surprise and I'm going to have fun using the gift certificates in the next couple of months. I already picked up a beautiful vase from Wyman Park and bought my favorite book at "the Next Chapter". Thank you everyone for your generous gifts! VIVA La Conner! Still in awe, Atje Sliphorst
LaConnerChamber.com receives Kudos:
*Hi Marci:
Thanks for the info. I love your new website. It's really well laid out, easy to use and full of great info. Keep up the excellent work:-) Nancy Trucano, Executive Director Cascade Loop Scenic Highway
*Wow!!! Great! job on the website. So many times I go to a town's website and find it so lacking or so frustrating and here, the one from my own little town is so clear, helpful, thorough and even a little playful! Super job!
The Marketing Committee is looking for committee members for 2008. We need people who are creative and playful…. and like to make things happen! Stephanie Banaszak (Organic Matters) and I (Julie Burgmeier-Childhood Bliss) are co-chairing the committee. We have created the month to month marketing/advertising/promotions for 2008 with a mix of Print, Radio, Internet, Media Cards, Email-Marketing and Promotional Items. We are targeting the Skagit
Valley Market with Print, Radio & Internet, The Seattle Market with Internet & Radio, the Vancouver Market with Print & Internet, “the World” market with print (Alaska Airlines Magazine), E-Mail Marketing & Internet Advertising and lastly we are targeting people shopping, playing & lodging in La Conner with Media Cards & La Conner 2009 Calendars. Finally, we will be focusing our marketing efforts to increase our E-Newsletter Subscriptions this
year by 20% and continue to have a successful E-Marketing Monthly Campaign (Please take 10 seconds to subscribe and tell a friend!). La Conner Chamber is now a proud member of Sustainable Connections, and we will be using their marketing materials to focus on our “Locally Owned Businesses” advantage. Cheers to 2008!
LaConnerChamber.com Google Analytics
1/20-2/20
4,343 Visits 14,549 Page Views
74% New Visits
E-Newsletter Subscribers ~ 507
La Conner Chamber News
Congratulations to The La Conner Seafood and Prime Rib House for being voted #1 as the 2007 People’s Choice for Best Seafood Restaurant in Skagit Valley! Way to go Jim & Mary Lou! Other La Conner businesses that did well in this annual contest are: El Gitano was voted #1 for best Mexican Restaurant, Calico Cupboard is #1 for best Baked Goods/Dessert Specialties, #2 for best Breakfast Spot & best Lunch Spot, Seeds placed #3 for best Vegetarian/Health Food, Nasty Jack’s was #2 for best Antique Store, Maple Hall was selected #1 for best Wedding Reception Facility and #2 for best Place to Host a Party. Each year the Skagit Business Pulse conducts this contest and it is quite an honor to place in the top 3. Also congratulations to the Hampton Inn & Suites in Burlington, they were honored with the company’s Lighthouse Award, which designates them as one of the hotel chain’s top performing hotels from among more than 1,400 Hampton properties. The prestigious ward is given only to the top 5% of all Hampton Hotels.
“WELCOME” TO THE FOLLOWING NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS!!!
Valley Broadcasters, Inc. (dba KAPS/KBRC) ~
Tulips (formerly the Boardwalk Café) New Owner, Jaynie Black, 466-0308
Jennings Yarn & Needlecrafts ~ Owned by Chris Jennings ~ 106 S. 1st. St. ~ 466-3177
Exquisite Expressions ~ Owned by Gary Seierstad ~ 106 S. 1st Street ~ 770-6999
El Gitano Mexican Restaurant ~ managed by Myra Olivo ~ 215 Maple Avenue ~ for lunch or dinner ~ 466-0267.
Berry Barn ~ Owned by Bev & Todd Lenning ~ located on La Conner Whitney Road They will be reopening in March ~ 466-1923
Crabby’s ~ Owned by Debbie & Paul Muller ~ 106 S. 1st Street ~ 466-3189, See live hermit crabs!
FIFTH ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES DIVERSITY
The Human Rights Festival, now in its fifth year, opens at the Lincoln Theatre on Tuesday, March 11, and finishes with a Grand Finale Celebration on Saturday,
March 15. This year’s popular festival focuses on topics as diverse as immigration, the right to die, poverty, community problem-solving and gender.
Guest speakers from as far away as California, Oregon
and Indiana will join with local Washington authorities
and experts to provide insightful perspectives on issues .
Presentations begin each evening at 7:00 pm with a
$10 suggested donation. Two workshops and a seminar are
scheduled for March 13 and March 15. All events are held
at the Lincoln Theatre.
712 So. First Street, Mount Vernon, WA, 360-336-8955
Department of Revenue Assists Retailers
With Changes to Sales Tax The Washington State Department of Revenue is helping retailers prepare for upcoming changes in sales tax. Although the changes do not take effect until July 1, 2008, the Department wants to give retailers who ship or deliver items plenty of time to get ready for this shift to a destination-based sales tax from the current origin-based sales tax.
For businesses that do not ship or deliver, nothing changes. Currently, businesses code local sales tax to the city or unincorporated county from where a product is shipped. Beginning
next July, however, they must code local sales tax to the destination of the delivery.
This change only affects shipments from one local jurisdiction to another within Washington State. The coding is used to determine which city or county receives the local share of the sales tax. It does not affect shipments to out-ofstate customers or purchases when customers take possession at the selling location. The change stems from legislation enacted in 2007 that conforms Washington’s sales tax system to the national Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA). The SSUTA seeks to preserve the economic vitality of Washington
businesses by reducing unfair competition from out-of-state sellers who don’t charge sales tax. Twenty-two states, including Washington, are members of the SSUTA.
The legislation provides businesses grossing less than $500,000 a year with up to $1,000 in tax credits to offset necessary changes to their accounting and point-of-sale systems, or the free use for two years of a certified service provider. A certified service provider is a third party that can handle the coding and file the sales tax return for businesses. The La Conner Chamber of Commerce will hold a workshop on Destination-based Sales Tax on Wednesday, March
19, 2008 from 11:45-1:00 pm at the La Conner Seafood and Prime Rib House. Join us, as representatives from the Department of Revenue explain how this law will affect your business. For more information on destination-based sales tax, visit the Department's Web site at http://dor.wa.gov/. Please RSVP by calling 466-4778. Cost is $15.00 per person or lunch and speaker.
Customer Service Ideas
Does your business keep a Customer Service Log? At the Tourism Training Seminar held last week, a good suggestion was for each business to keep a Customer Service Log at the front desk. Every employee should write down any compliments or complaints about your business, good and bad. Then when you have a weekly or monthly staff meeting you can go over each of the comments and give praise where it’s due or adjust where it might be needed. You
have heard it before but it still remains true, THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT IN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT!
· Smile! Smile when you answer the phone, people can hear this in your voice! Smile when a visitor walks in your door.
· Your greeting should tell the customer, “I am glad you are here!”
· Always make eye contact with a visitor the first second they come in. Even if you are with another customer or on
the phone, make eye contact and acknowledge that they are there immediately.
· Greet visitors with something like: “Good morning! How can I help you today?” or “Hello, how is your day going
so far? What can I help you with today?”
· A friendly greeting immediately disarms a visitor and sets them at ease. It sets the tone for the rest of the interaction.
How to handle Irritated Customers:
· Allow irate customers to vent. Do not interrupt them or start to speak until they have finished having their say.
· Acknowledge what the visitor says! This can include saying “I am sorry”, “I apologize”, “That’s awful”, “Well, I would be angry too”. Be agreeable, NOT defensive.
· Assure the customer that you will help them resolve the situation. “What would you like us to do to resolve this situation?”
· Find a solution right there, remember that the cost of fixing the problem fully, even if it includes discounts or free service is ALWAYS less damaging than an angry customer and a negative story to tell their friends for years.
· Make notes in your Customer Service Log to share with the rest of the staff at your staff meetings.
· Always be sure to thank the person for calling or bringing the problem to your attention. Make the customer feel right for calling to complain.
Tulips, Tea, and Trends" annual tea and fashion show at Maple Hall on Saturday, March 29th. Enjoy a sumptuous tea and fashion show from 12-2 pm. Win exciting raffle prizes or sign up for your favorite silent auction item. A hat contest will recognize the guests' favorites in a variety of categories. For event information, contact Ellie Baugh, at gebaugh@wavecable.com. For ticket information, contact Cindy Tracey at 360 466-9909.
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