I am going to start this article a little different than the others.
Tonight from 5 to 7 p.m., join Studio 2015 Jewelry at 1701 Catalpa Lane in Woodstock as the company hosts a multi-chamber mixer. Then, from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 21, join Mario Tricoci at 625 Cog Circle in Crystal Lake, as it hosts its annual after-hours mixer.
Why did I start of my article with the a shout out about a couple of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s 45-plus after-hour mixers a year? Here’s what happened at last week’s Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers Rotary/Crystal Lake Bank and Trust mixer.
In the throngs of people there, I noticed that Karrie Ozyuk, owner of Lucky Brake Bicycles, was present. So I mosey over and thank her for attending, and because this is the first time that I had seen Karrie at a mixer, I asked what prompted her to attend.
She said Dick Ormsby, owner of Ormsby Motors, mentioned she should attend mixers. You see, she was looking at an online website for a good used vehicle and thought perhaps maybe she should look in town, from a fellow chamber member, for her needs. Long story short, she bought a car from Dick.
I know I am stating the obvious, but even good used cars aren’t inexpensive. Follow me here ... chamber member spends hard-earned money with another.
Then Karrie mentions that she notices George Sezemsky’s car (bought from another chamber member, Courtesy Buick GMC) – with his business name on the side – often pulling up to Andy’s Restaurant (a chamber member) after her regular business hours.
Anyway, Karrie is looking for someone to provide her store with embroidered clothing. Well, I go fetch George and voila – the owners of EmbroideMe and Lucky Brake Bicycles meet and it looks like they might do some business together.
Good quality embroidered clothing isn’t inexpensive, either. And I know for a fact of another big, big dollar opportunity that began that night.
Notice a pattern? Honestly, if you think about it, these type of opportunities happen constantly between chamber members at Crystal Lake mixer events, multiplied by 45 times a year. That my friends, is serious ROI for a few hundred bucks. Heck, Karrie even won a cookbook during the Raffle.
More food for thought. At the Salon MACKK and daBuffone Cucina Italiana mixer a couple weeks ago, Ed Mikula from Prosperity Training Inc. told me that the Crystal Lake chamber isn’t a high school level, nor a college level, but an MBA level of chamber.
I told him to stop, that he had me at “high school.”
And although there are many mixers, they aren’t the only thing we do. There are numerous other events, programs and committees that provide additional opportunities for every one of our members. “Members” being the operative word here.
George Cecil, an American advertising copywriter, wrote, “On the Plains of Hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, at the Dawn of Victory, sat down to wait – and waiting, died.”
It’s been tough out there, and hopefully things are turning around. But don’t die waiting for things to happen. We all have the power in us, at the Dawn of Victory, to make it happen. Join the chamber, any chamber, today.
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How would you like to showcase your business in front of 5000 potential customers? The 2012 Crystal Lake Home & Business expo March 24-25 is one of the best, most cost-effective ways to do that. Booths are more than 80 percent sold out, so sign up today.
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Please welcome our newest members! A-1 Concrete Leveling & Foundation Repair, Susan Hahn; AL-RO Aim, Mark Ditzig; Castle Bank, Roger Weis; Computer Pros, LLC, Frank Horn; ILLANNOY Clothing Co., Brian Conkle; Infinium Marketing Group, Harry Semerjian; International Aid Services America, Doug Mann; Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches – Route 14, Christopher Yuan; La Rosita Grocery and Restaurant, Rafael Mezo; Lissy’s Cleaning Service, Melissa Rath; Padgett Business Services, Dave Gribben; Pampered Chef, Miranda Alt; Phoenix Electronics, Duane Benn; Prosperity Training Inc., Ed Mikula; Splashed with Creativity, Mary Miller, St. Paul Diaper Bank Partnership, Larry Eils; Starbucks Coffee Company, Kristin Richards; Three Oaks Assisted Living, Renee Gutowsky; Voyager Capital Management, Bob Anderson.
• Gary Reece is president of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at garyreece@clchamber.com.