Derita Business Notes

Thursday, Dec, 2nd
Derita Business Association Meets
9am, Maria's Grill in Derita. Open To All, No Membership Fee.

Our goal is to help spread the word about local business, the services that you offer,
the greater values that the community will receive in shopping closer to home.

Each meeting always includes time for exchanging business cards and Networking,
a variety of self-promotion ideas and co-operative advertising ideas

"Our Goal is to Promote Local Businesses and Service Professionals Serving Our Area."
--- Bernie Samonds 704 806-3813 Leave Msg deritarep@aol.com


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BLACK FRIDAY SALES

Headed out to my Print Shop early Friday morning, but I was the
only one there. Guess people really don't rush out to buy printing
on Black Friday.

I asked Frances Keziah if they planned to open early on Friday, but
she said Keziah's Furniture would open at 9:30 am, the usual time.
"Most folks," she said will rush out to the chain stores and big box
stores at those crazy hours, then stop by here in the afternoon."

I have to agree. You really have to offer some great deals to attract
the morning crowd. A lot of those deals will be "lost leaders" that
are provided by manufacturers to help get their products moving in
the retail stores. My Mom & Dad used to see a lot of that in the
grocery business, but you generally had to buy into those promotions
months in advance.

Right now in my business, printing orders are remaining pretty flat.
The regular customers are still purchasing just what they need to replenish
cards, forms & letterheads that have run out. The newer ones are
price-shopping, then calling back to see if they can get the same low
pricing if they need to order smaller quantities? We try.



SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Jack Brosch sent in the links this week and wanted me to write something
about a new campaign to create a once-a-year emphasis day for small,
local businesses between Black Friday & Cyber Monday.

Neither the local or the national media have made much about it until this
past weekend, other than run the American Express TV ads. That pretty
much defeats the purpose, but the media says that's okay because it's not
so much for this year as it is for the future.

Still, American Express & a few retailers did sink some coins into it.
Basically, if you used your American Express Card to shop at small,
local business on Saturday, you could receive a $25 discount on your
purchases.

Of course, that assumes that you have an American Express Card
(or are willing to get one) and that the store where you shop will accept
it. Most small stores accept only Mastercard or Visa.

A quick check by one of the local TV stations found that many Charlotte
stores had not even heard of the promotion --- including one well-known
jewelry store.

Obviously, it would have been a boon for American Express, who are trying
to increase their customer base, but how many people shop with a credit
card which needs to be paid off in full every month.

LINK:
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/innovation/video/small-business-saturday-shop-local



You may recall when State Legislature Candidate John Annerella stopped
by for breakfast recently. He said that he was making the rounds on local
business support groups like ours. . . Yes, there are lots more of us out
there who realize that no one is going to toss any stimulus money our way
to help small businesses. If we want to see the local economy improve,
we've got to work on that ourselves.

Most of us don't have an extra $400 to buy a spot on the local Chamber of
Commerce, or $200 to join North Tryon Partners. We just need to get our
company name out there in front of the public on a regular basis as
inexpensively as possible . . . and in a positive way. That's what our Derita
Business Association is all about.




3/50 PROJECT

With that in mind, let me turn to some facts that The Charlotte Observer
did publicize last week. National retail consultant Cinda Baxter shared
the results a study about how local businesses give back to and improve
the community.

---- Nearly $70 of every $100 spent in locally-owned stores (or businesses)
stays in the community. We're talking jobs, salaries, rent, re-investment
in the business. We're talking "above/beyond the cost of the merchandise."

---- Only $43 of every $100 spent in chain stores remains to benefit the
local economy.

---- Nothing, or next to nothing is returned to the Community when folks
shop on-line.

Baxter suggests that for the good of the Community and to shore up the
local economy, we need to look at the way we shop and where we shop.



I think this is pretty much the same message that the Derita Business
Association has been saying for the past several years:

--- Locally, you can get better service, faster service, and quality work
from people that you know. Their prices may not be as low as the major
players, but have you asked about a compromise?

====================


"EAT FREE" Promotion Gets A Reprieve

Yes, I know I told everyone it would end now and resume any the Spring,
but I didn't expect your replies. I was concerned that fewer people would
be eating out (and signing up for the free drawing at Maria's Grill) during
the holidays.

But apparently quite a few of you like the idea of accumulating 80 - 100
new email addresses every month (sometimes more) for your own mailing
list. That's still roughly 10 cents each (plus postal mailing addresses & phone
numbers included free). It also helps that we follow up by sending each week's
entrants one of your business cards on-line as we write everyone to announce
the weekly winner.

I can't really say that I object either. That means the DSRCO Newsletter
adds the same number of new subscribers to all of our future mailings.
We haven't seen such a regular increase of addresses since we fought the
Hubbard Falls rezoning. We have only had four UNSUBSCRIBE's since
the promotion began.

We will carry-over this week's drawing since Maria's was closed for
Thanksgiving. Still the drawing entry bowl did have a good layer of slips
when I stopped in for lunch on Sunday.

Let me know if you'd like to join in, or if you prefer to opt out. Still at
only $10 per month. deritarep@aol.com

====================



DERITA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Derita-Business-Association/130876140304394

Up and ready to grow. We invite you to jot down a few paragraphs about
your business that you can post on our Wall. I'll begin sending out this week
a scanned image of your business cards, so that you can use it when you
do your post.

We will re-post the card image & your business description to a new
Business Card Directory which can be found among the photo albums,
so that your entry won't disappear as the Wall continues to grow.

I can foresee Call_Paul posting some of his "Before" and "After" projects
on the Wall from time to time. Monique will probably post that scrumpous
photo of her Baked Chocolate Pies fresh from the oven. One of our
handymen might show a recent home repair project and Theresa might
post a pic of one of her best local listings. Wesley may offer some
home security tips and Ramon could offer advice to folks about training
their pets.

We'll begin promoting this Facebook page in the next DSRCO Newsletter.

We'll still keep the other Business Card Directory available on Webshots,
but that site is so crowded with users that it is often slow to load.
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/564074079xONVEq


====================

As always, I had some more thoughts to share, but we can kick those
around at the Breakfast Meeting this coming Thursday, 9am at Maria's.

Thanks,

Bernie Samonds
Derita Reporter Printing Service
2600 Allen Rd South -- Charlotte, NC 28269
704 806-3818 Pls Leave a Msg deritarep@aol.com

Derita Business Notes

More Local Exposure

This Saturday, Noon - 5pm.

We anticipate this will grow into a huge Community-wide Annual Event

We will be promoting local businesses by distributing
your business cards, hosting several FREE drawings at
our booth throughout the day (and collecting more
email addresses).

Don't forget to get your business cards to us and
any special offer fliers to be distributed.

=========================

Saturday, Nov. 13th
Derita Community Fiesta
will be held at the Derita Presbyterian Church, 2230 W. Sugar Creek Road
12 Noon -5 pm. Mark Your Calendar, Come join your neighbors as we celebrate
fall. Fun for the whole family!

Free admission! Free games, live music, face painting, hayrides to
a pumpkin patch, inflatables, piñatas, popcorn and cider. Craft items and
baked goods for sale. Fish fry, hot dogs, and lots of other food for sale.
Organized by five churches in the Derita area along with local merchants
and service organizations.

Please bring a canned food donation for the Loaves & Fishes food ministry.

Visit the Derita Business Association & Derita-Statesville Road Community Org
booth to sign up for the Free Drawings. Gift Baskets & lots of other prizes!

Rain date: Nov. 20, 2010 More info at
http://deritachurch.org

The five churches working together on this event are Derita Baptist, Cole United
Methodist, Freedom Ministries, Fuente de Vida Ministry, and Derita Presbyterian.
============================================



A few of the items in Saturday's Drawings:

Bakery Treats from Derita Soda Shop & Grill

Two $10 Dining Gift Certificates at Maria's Grill

A huge electric Betty Crocker Roasting Oven

Two "Goodie Baskets"




What Happens at Our Breakfast Meetings

We get this question often. The group gathers at Maria's Grill around
9am every first Thursday. Some folks come for breakfast; others just
have a coffee or tea. We chat while the orders are being prepared and
discuss what's happening in the area. We talk about upcoming events
and promotional opportunities that are available.

We exchange business cards with new members and take a minute to
describe our businesses and we remind our friends that we'd appreciate
their referrals.

It's pretty laid back, not really as much a business meeting, as it is a
breakfast with friends. There's no membership fee and you choose
which projects you like to participate in.

Got to dash? That's no problem. We understand. We'll try to handle
the business first so that you can get back to work promptly.
No reservations required.



EAT FREE promotion

At the end of this month our EAT FREE promotion goes on hiatus
until after the New Year. It has been a good promotion. We have
gathered around 250 new email addresses for your future emailings.

As we notified entrants of this weekly winners by email, we also
delivered an embedded business card from each of the sponsoring
businesses.

Response has been good and more people entered this year than
when we tested the promotion last Spring . . . Double the number
of entrants some weeks and triple on other weeks.

For the same $10 per month sponsorship, we also had an ad naming
sponsors (& contact info) in every DSRCO Newsletter, weekly
Bargains Galore and Friday Morning Funny Mail.




Needy Child Fund & Operation Sandwich

During December & January, we will offer a "Pass the Hat" promotion
for any business that wants to participate. Whatever amount you give
gets you listed (Name & Contact info) in our Community Service ad
which will appear in the DSRCO Newsletter.

Mike Kleban & friends at Oak Grove United Methodist Church will
be providing Christmas for 100 Needy Children. 100% of everything
collected goes into this project. There is no administrative fee and
receipients are all local and have been carefully screened.


Every other week, volunteers at Oak Grove United Methodist Church
prepare 300 wrapped sandwiches for the Urban Ministry to distribute
to the Homeless. Last Spring we made a small donation that helped
by bread & sandwich makings. The folks at Oak Grove handled all
the details.



Community Dinner Night

Several folks have asked if the Community Org will try this again?
More than 30 folks attended the Thursday Night drop-in dinner at
Maria's Grill.

From the first experience, we determined that we needed a larger
room . . . That people were interested in having some type of program
. . . and that we have plenty of time for casual discussion.

Thursday night worked well because there were a good variety of
entrees & vegetables. Desserts were on sale, so folks could choose
a meal, a sandwich, or dessert of their choice.

With everything else going on, we're thinking this might work best
after the holidays when folks' schedules are not so hectic.
=======================================================


Thanks,

Bernie Samonds
Derita Reporter Printing Service
2600 Allen Rd South -- Charlotte, NC 28269
704 806-3818 Pls Leave a Msg deritarep@aol.com

Derita Business Notes

Go Where The People Are . . .

Barbecue Thursday at Oak Grove United Methodist this week.
Not as big as a crowd as Mallard Creek, but Chief Cook Glennis Stephens &
the crew put out a mighty good plate of pork for just $8. 3 Sandwiches for $8,
or $3 per sandwich.

What I like is that lots of people come for lunch, they sit & visit & talk. There's
no problem with you leaving a few business cards on the table and it's a great
place to meet new people.

11am - Until, Old Statesville Rd. between Gibbon Rd & Hwy 21.



Business Meeting Notes

We had a good turnout at the monthly Derita Business Breakfast last week at
Maria's Grill. It's always at 9am on the 1st Thursday of each month. Great
Breakfast Specials, or simply stop in for a cup of coffee.

Lots of discussion this time about the on-going road construction projects in
downtown Derita, and what's also happening on Mallard Creek Rd and Statesville Rd.
We had a few updates and now we're glad to see that the City is looking to widen
West Sugar Creek Rd again.

Brenda Morgan from Mattany Homes showed off specs and photos of a mid-priced
"Dilworth-style" home they're planning to build in Hubbard Falls. Their first model is
already standing and you won't find any beige vinyl & white trim here. Their designers
feel that "Class Sells." The Canadian builder (one of the country's largest) bought
the entire remaining property and has already started marketing new homes on-line.
As it happened, we had three neighbors present from nearby Kelsey Glen. They
asked a lot of questions and seemed quite impressed with what they heard.



"EAT FREE" Promotion Extended

Happy to report that we have renewed the Free Lunch drawings at Maria's Grill for
another month. Each Weekly Winner receives a $10 Certificate good for breakfast,
lunch, or dinner and we have been average better than 60 entries per week for the
past 6 weeks.

For just $10 each month, our business sponsors receive the info from each entry
blank (Name, address, phone, email address) --- plus. Each Week we send everyone
an email with the embedded business card of each sponsor and the name of that
week's winner. Also, we list "contact info" for each sponsor in an ad we post twice
monthly in the DSRCO Newsletter and in some other emailings.

That's right! For just $10, we send your business card to over 3400 email addresses
TWICE each month . . . and we send you a list (weekly) of addresses from the
EAT FREE drawing.

Someone asked how do pay for the promotion? It's simple, the Free Meals, the drawing
supplies, the emailings to them and to you --- all come out of the $10 fee. You don't
have to pay anything else. It's a great way to begin building your own local email marketing
list.

For details, Contact: Bernie deritarep@aol.com 704 806-3813



Community "Good Will" Projects

Do we "give back" to the Community? You bet we do! Working as a group,
like we do, just a few dollars can make a big difference where it's needed. We
usually just "pass the hat" at our breakfast meeting, and good things happen.

You'll usually see a note in the DSRCO Newsletter announcing the donations
made and the businesses that took part. We're not bragging, we're just letting
folks know that we care.

---- When Loaves & Fishes ran low on Peanut Butter & Jelly this summer, we gave
them two big boxes to help tide their school kids through the summer.

---- When Crisis Assistance found a donor who would match contributions this
summer, we sent them a check for $100.

---- When Derita Athletics Association ran a FREE Football Clinic this summer and
fed the kids lunch, we sent them $100 to help cover the expense (and the Derita-
Statesville Rd. Community Organization matched our donation).

---- When we heard that Oak Grove United Methodist Church was making sandwiches
for Urban Ministries to distribute to Charlotte's homeless, we sent the Church a check
to help purchase bread, ziplock bags, and sandwich makings. It's called Operation
Sandwich, and we'll be doing it again this Fall.


We think "Giving Back" to the Community is an important part of doing business in
the Derita-Statesville Rd. area. Sure, there are a bunch of national name stores and
franchises that come sell their goods and take their profits out here. But most of
our folks live and work here.



Free Business Card Posting

We are re-vamping our on-line Derita Business Directory. It's a FREE Listing of
Derita-area business. Yes, we actually post your business card on-line and there's
a comment space underneath for you to talk about your business or service and
what makes your business special.

We have been on-line for a couple of years, but we've suffered sort of an identity
crisis because the web location didn't show up until Page 3 of the Google Search.
We're changing the name and will be linking it from the 3400+ DSRCO Newsletters
which go out twice monthly.

Business Cards should be scanned at least 300 dpi and emailed to deritarep@aol.com
Or you can mail your business card to: The Derita Reporter, 2600 Allen Rd. S.,
Charlotte, NC 28269.

Again, there is no charge for businesses in the Derita-Statesville Rd. area.



We're Still Growing

Happy to report that the Derita-Statesville Road Community Newsletter continues to
grow. Last count, we had over 3400 email subscribers and we add a couple of hundred
new email addresses each time we do the "EAT FREE" promotion. So far, no one
who has joined via the drawing entry blank has asked to be removed from our mailing
list. The local news & community calendar postings keep them coming back for more.

We have had some feedback since we stopped publishing the "printed edition" of our
Newsletter. Folks miss being able to pick up a paper copy at the bank, laundry, post
office or restaurant. But the on-line email edition is usually three times as long and saves
DSRCO hundreds of dollars in printing & mailing costs. We are discussing doing a
one or two page "highlights" printed sheet (with ads) that would again be available at
many Derita locations for folks who are not on-line.


Thanks,

Bernie Samonds
Derita Reporter Printing Service
2600 Allen Rd South -- Charlotte, NC 28269
704 806-3818 Pls Leave a Msg deritarep@aol.com