Business EXPO

The Business EXPO is a great opportunity to get your business out in front of 7,000+ people in the local community! The theme this year is "when it happens in Abilene...it stays in Abilene" what a great promotion for ibuyBIGCOUNTRY! When you spend money in Abilene it helps pay salaries, helps our educational system, and more.

WHAT: Premiere Business to Business event in Abilene.  Annual showcase of businesses.  Opportunity to showcase products, services and network with other businesses. Approximately 200 business and organizations have booths. (sponsorship opportunity)

TARGET AUDIENCE TO ATTEND: Businesses and consumers. 7000 attend each year. $$$$ FREE $$$$ tickets -while supplies last- are available through any Chamber member business. Tickets at the door are $5.00.

WHY: Showcase local business, promote buying goods and services locally, business networking. Silent auction of local goods and services. 

WHERE / WHEN: Abilene Civic Center (indoor only) on March 23rd from 9 am to 5 pm!

CONTRACT:  Member “early bird” base cost is $275 per 10X10 booth. See sample contract for details.

COMMENTS: Booth Space sells out each year, so establish your position on annual “wait list” ASAP.  No direct sales. Immediately following Business Expo is a “Business After Hours” to include announcement of both “Business Person of Year” and “Corporate Star” awards.

CONTACT: Vicky Smedley, Director of Membership / Business Development Email or call (325) 677-7241

Hispanic Business Council

HISPANIC BUSINESS COUNCIL

OBJECTIVE: Facilitate the advancement and participation of Hispanic businesses by promoting education, training, advocacy and networking. Build a bridge between Hispanic and non-Hispanic businesses and consumers.

PROGRAMS:
Business Mercado: Annual event targeted to showcase businesses and services to area Hispanic consumers. This is a great opportunity to reach out to the Hispanic community with your product or services. There are booth spaces available yearly as well as other sponsorship opportunities are available!

For more information about sponsorship contact Kathy Lee at 325-677-7241 or email klee@abilenechamber.com

Café Con: Monthly A.M. networking at a small business location to explore challenges and share experiences of small business owners. This opportunity is a great way to network with other members of the HBC while learning about other small businesses in the area.

Luncheons: Gatherings held at Chamber member restaurants on a monthly basis in order to build relationships. These luncheons provide yet another opportunity to be involved in the Chamber's Hispanic Business Council!

Seminars: Presentations on topics of interest to successfully grow all businesses.

The Hispanic Community is important to Abilene and business in general. Get involved in HBC and help build a bridge between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic businesses!

There are many great opportunities within the Hispanic Business Council! To get involved or for more information contact Kathy Lee Director of Member Services at klee@abilenechamber.com or call her at 325-677-7241

Abilene Business Council

OBJECTIVE:  Create a community entrepreneurial atmosphere.  Develop business growth through education.  Increase awareness of businesses.  Recognize and honor outstanding businesses and business people.

PROGRAMS:

Business EXPO:  What a great opportunity to showcase your business to over 7,000 people! The tickets are available for FREE at any chamber business so attendance is always great (If people choose to pay at the door it will be $5)! This opportunity is great for networking and getting the news out about your business. ibuyBIGCOUNTRY is highlighted in this EXPO, when it happens in Abilene...it stays in Abilene. This EXPO is so popular that it sells out every year! If you want to get a booth and you haven't had one before you'll be landing on the wait list and receiving a call if a spot opens up, I must tell you though, get on that list!

·         Buying Here Saves YOU Money: Buying locally saves YOU money by keeping money in the local economy that ultimately pays wages! TRADE WHERE YOU ARE PAID.  Local Sales tax stimulates the local economy by building and maintaining community infrastructure, paying for essential community services (fire, police, etc), investing in bringing new business to the community and helps offset real estate tax and service fees.  ibuyBIGCOUNTRY

·         Business Development – Seminars/Workshops: We provide these in partnership with local businesses to promote educational and assistance seminars/workshops. Connect businesses and individuals with ways to promote their local business. Sponsorships for these seminars and workshops are available! 

Luncheons/Breakfast: "What can the Chamber do for YOU?" Focus groups to obtain feedback and build business relationships. These are excellent opportunities to tell the Chamber what would help you and your business do well! Take advantage of the opportunity to get involved in these luncheons and breakfast!

 RECOGNITIONS:

·         Business Salutes: Recognize a business with less than 100 employees that have exhibited staying power, created jobs, shown innovation in product / service and contributed to the community. These businesses are given the honor of being recognized formally by the Chamber and the community as a whole. They are the businesses that have provided lasting jobs, a great service or product, and have done so for an extended period of time.

·         Business Person of the Year:  These are people that have had a significant impact on the local community and have had long term business success.  Nominations are made to elect the business person of the year, they are then recognized at  the close of Business EXPO during Business After Hours.  What a great way to tell the community about someone who is doing a great job in business! We are currently accepting nominations! You can go to www.abilenechamber.com and click on the nomination link to get the form!

Corporate Star Award: Annual award to a local business with more than 100 employees.   Recognizes sustained community support, promotion of quality of life and business excellence. The corporate star is also recognized at the close of Business EXPO during Business After Hours.

There are many great opportunities within the Abilene Business Council! To get involved or for more information contact Vicky Smedley Director Membership Business Leadership Education and Workforce Development at vsmedley@abilenechamber.com or call her at 325-677-7241

Agriculture Committee and Texas-Farm-Ranch Wildlife Expo

Objective: Forum for agricultural producers, agricultural related industries or anyone interested in agricultural, wildlife management or natural resources to share innovations, ideas and information.

PROGRAMS:

• Farm and Ranch Club Breakfast : Monthly breakfast with Agri-business based presentations on the 2nd Friday at 6:45 AM
• Texas Farm-Ranch-Wildlife Expo (TFRWE) Annual regional venue providing an opportunity to showcase many aspects of Agri-business and wildlife management.

The Agriculture committee is a very important program to Abilene and the surrounding communities! Agriculture makes $41 million dollars a year, the main products are: Cotton, grain, sorghum, wheat, oats, pecans, fruit, and truck crops.

The TFRWE is put on each year for people in the AG industry to reach out to a target market within a 100 mile radius, those being: business and rural consumers. OVER 4,000 people attend each year! What a great opportunity to have your business seen by the AG community! This also helps to support our local AG community by buying local - it doesn't get much better than that!

You can still have a spot at TFRWE!!! Click this link or contact Debra at the Chamber!

Monthly Breakfast!

This breakfast starts bright and early at 6:45 the second Friday of each month! This is an exceptional opportunity to eat good food, and network with other people in your local AG community; all while learning!

If you are interested in the AG committee feel free to Contact: Debra Huntley, Director of Military Affairs and Special Projects dhuntley@abilenechamber.com or call (325) 677-7241

Wake up Wednesday Cancelled until further notice

Abilene Chamber of Commerce --- Wake Up Wednesday! for February 2nd has been
postponed pending another date……

More about the Chamber in 11 posts

So I'm going to be taking you on a whirlwind tour about the Chamber's committees and programs we offer in 11 posts. You'll learn the ins and outs of the Chamber before you know it! I'll cover everything from Abilene Leaders of Tomorrow to the Military Affairs Council!

So stay tuned because this orientation to the Chamber begins on January 31st! Don't miss this opportunity to learn a little more about your Chamber.

-Ci'ara

Building your business in 2011

Was your New Year's resolution to build your business in 2011? If so Harvard Biz put out a great article on starting with social media. Then return, reenergize, and reinvent, a great start to January! They also have a great article about a pricing strategy to save brick and mortar stores! The final article to start 2011 off right is resolution 2011: Make your strategy coherent.

2011 is a great year for businesses, you have so many resources at your finger tips, from technology, to a very strong and financially stable baby boomer generation.

So, we'd like to know what your 2011 goals/resolutions for your business are! Add them to a comment below!


ibuyBIGCOUNTRY,
Ci'ara