MissionOur

The River Falls Chamber of

Commerce & Tourism Bureau

works together to connect,

promote, and support its

members to further enhance

the local economy and

cultivate a sense of

community.

May 2016

Chamber NewsBusiness Breakfast Thursday, May 19th 7:30-9:00 a.m. West Wind Supper Club

“Only One Thing Stands Between You and Success. It Isn’t Experience. It Isn’t Talent.”Leadership expert Jill Ann Anderson says if you want to succeed, you must learn how to connect with people. And while it may seem like some people are just born with it, the fact is anyone can learn how to make every communication an opportunity for a powerful connection. In Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, Jill Ann shares the Five Principles and Five Practices to develop the crucial skill of connecting, including:• Finding Common Ground• Keeping Your Communication Simple• Capturing People’s Interest• Inspiring People• Staying Authentic in all Your RelationshipsThe ability to connect with others is a major determining factor in reaching your full potential. It’s no secret! Connecting is a skill you can learn and apply in your personal, professional, and family relationships - and you can start now by attending this training! Sponsored by: Oso CleanRegister online at rfchamber.com.

Event Sponsor

Chamber CoffeeFriday, May 20th 8:30-9:30 a.m.Outdoors on the City Hall PlazaJoin the Chamber for fresh coffee and treats. Share what is new with your business and learn what is new with other members. This is a perfect event to promote your business to the community for free. Sponsored by: Jill Morrow, American Family Insurance Agency.

Event Sponsor

Danielle Campeau ChairUWRF

Jamie BensonRiver Falls School District

Janet BurnsUWRF

Kellie Burrows American Cancer Society

Jen LoeschRiver Falls Hospital

Scott Morrissette Bremer Bank

Dan NistlerRiverwalk Square

Greg Peters Greg Peters State Farm Agency

Bill RasmussenHammarback Law Offices, S. C

Matt RussellFirst National Bank

Kevin WesthuisRiver Falls Municipal Utilities

Monica WrightExpress Employment Professionals

Angel ZimmermanBelle Vinez Winery

Scot SimpsonEx-OfficioCity of River Falls

E-Mail Blast Sponsor: Promote your business or event by sponsoring an e-mail blast. Includes your logo and a brief message about your company. $50

Event Sponsorship: Each year the Chamber organizes numerous Chamber and community events. These events include: River Falls Days, Bacon Bash, Business After Hours, Chamber Coffees and much more. Sponsoring one of these events is a great way to get your business noticed. Prices vary.

Membership Mailing Labels: Advertise special events or promotions to your fellow Chamber members by purchasing preprinted member mailing labels. $50

Newsletter Inserts: Promote your business or event with a newsletter insert. Email an 8.5x11 pdf to be included. $100/insert

Website Links: Connect your website to the Chamber website. Upgrade your membership to include a web link. $35 link, $60 enhanced listing with link.

To take advantage of any of these great market-ing opportunities, please contact the Chamber at 715-425-2533.

NEWSfrom the Chief Executive Officer

Chris Blasius

Stop and Smell the RosesWe often spend our days rushing around as we head off to meetings, taxi our children between activities, or stay late to finish “one more thing” at the office that we don’t very often stop and enjoy the day, the moment, and the minute. Before you miss any more, I would like to encourage you to take a walk and enjoy our historic downtown area. Check out the White Pathway where you

can enjoy the scenic Kinnickinnic River and watch time float by, take a leisurely stroll down Second Street and view the corner gardens,

enjoy the public art mural or take in a movie at our Historic Falls Theatre.

Established in 1989 the River Falls Main Street Business Improvement District (BID) was created to help foster business development and business retention in the center of our city. The objective of the BID is to encourage business improvement and development by offering façade and sign grants to businesses and property owners in the downtown BID, as well as support beautification projects like mentioned above for all of us to enjoy. This downtown property owner’s tax-based program has supported many of the following projects that improve and make the downtown business community a better place to live, visit and do business:• Second Street Gardens• Main Street and Maple Street Hanging Flower Baskets• Additional Garbage and Cigarette Receptacles• Main Street Banners• Murals• Holiday Lighting• Main Street Community Events• Main Street Benches• Numerous Sign and Façade Improvements

To learn more about this program, apply for a grant, or get involved as a volunteer Board member, go to www.rfmainstreet.com to learn more.

Did you know that members now have the opportunity to add job postings (pending Chamber approval) on the Chamber website that canbe viewed by nearly 3,000 visitors each month? To learn how, follow these easy step by step instructions. Contact the Chamber office at 715-425-2533 with questions regarding this new feature or to obtain your unique username and password.

New Job Posting/Search Feature

BID District

Leadership “U” - Session 3Tuesday, May 24th 11:30-1 p.m.Riverwalk Square

The 3 Psychological Triggers that Matter to Happy Customers

Before doing business with you, a huge majority of customers will now use the information available on the web to find out a plethora of things about your company and your service quality. Transparency is the way the business world works these days, and it’s forced companies to re-examine their sales process or the benefit of the customer. This highly informed customer isn’t going away anytime soon, in fact, the web has made it better than ever for honest, upstanding businesses who take care of their customers to succeed in a world where most companies fall short. How can your business provide the sort of AMAZING customer service that companies like Nordstrom is able to deliver day after day? The real answer lies in finding a solution to loving your customers!

Join Jill Ann Anderson as she reveals the three psychological triggers that REALLY matter to customers. What matters to customers in the business-to-customer relationship? What principles should guide your customer service strategy?

Although the business-customer relationship is largely based on emotion, we can still look to scientific research for answers that reveal 3 powerful, emotional triggers. Leveraging these triggers in your day-to-day interactions is what customer love is all about.

The session cost is $15 and includes lunch. Register at rfchamber.com or email maranda@rfchamber.com. Attendance at previous sessions is not a prerequisite to attend subsequent sessions.

EVENTSUpcoming

Ambassador Golf Outing Monday, August 8th Kilkarney Hills Golf Club

Get your team together to enjoy a beautiful day outside at Kilkarney Hills Golf Club. Lunch starts at 11 a.m., shot gun start at 12:30 p.m. Activities include door prizes, 18 hole golf ball scramble, and plenty of fun. Members and member guests $95 and non-members $120, dinner-only is available for $20.

Contact Maranda at 715-425-2533 or at maranda@rfchamber.com

River Falls Days - Adventures on the Kinni July 7-10

Mark your calendars for a weekend full of fun, including live music, car cruze-in, Arts, Crafts, and Antiques fair, fireworks, car cruze-in, carnival,10K/2Mile race, and much more. Don’t forget to “like” River Falls Days on Facebook to receive the latest information and receive special offers throughout the weekend.

Register now for the River Falls Days Parade!Each year thousands of area residents and visitors mark their spot to view the largest parade in the area! Sign up early, as we do reach capacity each year. Contact maranda@rfchamber.com with any questions. Early parade registration deadline: Friday, June 17th.

Sponsor the celebration! Support the communities’ largest festival of the year! Sponsorship deadline is set for Friday, May 6th.

Volunteer!Looking for the perfect way to give back to the community and have fun? We are in need of over 100 volunteers throughout the weekend. Each volunteer will receive a free volunteer t-shirt in appreciation of their service.

Visit rfchamber.com for complete information.

Premier Sponsor

From L-R Kristin Wiersma, First National Bank; Scott Jones, Royal Credit Union; Toni Hinz, Junior’s Bar & Restaurant; Ryan Leitch, Leitch Insurance Agency; Monica Robey, Steiner Plumbing Electric & Heating; Brooke Dusk, WESTconsin Credit Union; Heather Williams, Fox Den Books; Brian Manion, WESTconsin Credit Union; Jodi Pechacek, CPR Wealth Advisors; Monica Wright, Express Employment Professionals; Connie Ruppert, First National Bank; Jeff Schwab, B Wireless; Chris Blasius, River Falls Chamber

Three years ago, Heather Williams and her husband opened Fox Den Books with a vision to positively grow the community in which they’d lived for 10 years. With a 17 year history operating Sixth Chamber Books in St. Paul, they knew they had a chance to make it work, if they could provide what the community wanted. Heather commented, “We partner with other businesses in town as often as we can, in the firm belief that a strong Main Street is crucial to the town, and working together can only make it better.” Fox Den Books carries a wide variety of used books along with carefully chosen new toys, games and gifts that have a focus on quality, education, imagination, and creativity. Owner, Heather Williams, added “We focus on each person who walks in the door.” With the kindness of their customers, Fox Den Books has been able to channel thousands of dollars in educational materials locally. Fox Den also hosts story times, game nights and array of classes for both children and adults. Their 2nd annual Fox Den School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which features a 45 minute live-action role play performance, brought in 1,400 attendees.

Fox Den has been a member for over two years and has appreciated the additional exposure from being a member of the Chamber. In addition, Fox Den was honored as runner-up for Small Business of the Year at this year’s Annual Awards Banquet. Fox Den Books is located at 120 S. Main Street and is open seven days a week (Monday-Saturday 10-7p, Sunday 11-4p). Visit their sister store, Sixth Chamber Books on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Stop by and pick up your next read, a new game, or a last-minute Mother’s Day gift today!

Ambassador VisitFox Den Books

Become a Chamber Ambassador!No one makes more connections than Chamber Ambassadors.

Ambassadors are Chamber-partner volunteers that serve as the welcoming arms of our Chamber. The Ambassador Club is a membership outreach and retention program of dedicated volunteers who introduce prospective members to the Chamber and provide support and mentorship to new members.

Ambassadors have unparalleled opportunities to build great business relationships, not only with each other, but with new and prospective members. You will see Ambassadors at ribbon cuttings, grand openings, networking events, and volunteering at a number of community events and activities.

The Chamber is extremely grateful for the work our Ambassadors provide and are always happy to welcome new members to the Ambassador Club. The monthly Ambassador Club meets over the lunch hour the 2nd Thursday of each month, followed by an on-site business visit. If interested in getting involved as an Ambassador, contact the Chamber office today.

BUSINESSBriefs

WESTconsin Credit Union

2015 Business of the Year

River ReflectionsMedspa & Salon2015 Small Business

of the Year

Jeff Johnson2015 Citizen of the Year

Toni Hinz, Junior’s Bar &

Resturant2015 Ambassador

of the Year

2015 ChamberAnnual Award Winners

American Cancer Society - Relay For

Life2015 Non-Profit

of the Year

University of Wisconsin-River Falls student innovation teams Hippy Feet and Protein Pod placed first and third, respectively, at the Wisconsin Big Idea Tournament held in Madison April 9. First place winner Michael Mader, a UW-River Falls senior marketing major, won a $25,000 Ideadvance Grant and a place in the International Business Model Competition (IBMC) at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Wash., with his Hippy Feet idea. After qualifying for the IBMC in the At-Large Round, freshman Edward Mat-sushima, a double major in business administration and exercise science, and Zach Merrick, also a business administration major, took third place with their Protein Pod. At the international competition, the UW-River Falls students will compete with teams from around the world for more than $75,000 in prize money. Mader’s social enterprise Hippy Feet idea is based off the Salvation Army’s findings that the number one requested item in homeless shelters is socks. Hippy Feet provides a solution to this pervasive prob-lem by offering a buy-one give-one product. Purchasing the organic, durable wool sock allows the customer to give back as a pair of socks is automatically donated to a local homeless shelter. Matsushima and Merrick’s Protein Pod business idea offers a conve-nient transportation method for nutritional protein to maximize the benefits by reducing the amount of time between a workout and administration of the supplement. Both teams had previously competed in the UW-River Falls Innovation Challenge offered through the Center for Innovation and Business Development within the College of Business and Economics and made possible through financial contributions by AGS Data Systems, WiSys Technology Foundation and UW-Extension. Marina Onken, associate professor of management, serves as the faculty adviser for the program. Derrick Edwards, president of AGS Data Systems, gener-ously donated his time to mentor both teams. UW-River Falls annual Innovation Challenge was created to support business start-ups on campus and reward innovative ideas. The Innovation Challenge is modeled around recent research in Lean Startup that guides entrepreneurs to “get out of the building” and test their business assumptions utilizing tools such as the Business Model Canvas. This process is different from the typical Business Plan Competition; entrepreneurs are rewarded for creating a hypothesis, testing their assumptions with potential customers and pivoting their business idea based on the high-quality feedback they are receiving. Many startup businesses fail and the Lean Startup methodology helps entrepreneurs reduce the risk of failure through testing their business assumptions. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to find failure points early in the process; in fact, the more weaknesses that are identified and pivots to their ideas based on that feedback, the better. UW-River Falls recently awarded the College of Business and Economics funding to move forward with an “Accelerating Innovation” program. This program intends to create a culture of innovation on campus by consolidating a MakerSpace and offering specific course-work in Innovation, Design and Diffusion of new ideas. For more information about innovation at UWRF, email Danielle Campeau, director of the Center for Innovation and Business Development, at danielle.campeau@uwrf.edu.

6th Annual Roots & Bluegrass Festival Thank you to everyone who sponsored, hosted, volunteered, and participated in the 2016 Roots & Bluegrass Festival!

With over 3,500 attendees the event had a $179,977 economic impact!

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