Chamber Member News

We were recently informed that April 1 marked the Golden Anniversary of Chamber membership for one of your fellow members. On that date in 1947, Jack Porter opened the doors of Courtesy Electric and joined the Chamber. Over the 50 years that followed, Jack's business changed to Wabash Electric Supply and he eventually retired. But, he has kept his Chamber membership in good standing, even today as an individual member.

More importantly, however, Jack has kept his commitment to the Wabash business community and to the community in general in good standing through all his many involvements. On behalf of the Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce, THANK YOU Mr. Jack Porter for all that you have done and continue to do for your community! When did YOUR business join?

Business Tips

* These tips are from Professor Richard Feinberg, Dept. Head & Director, Purdue Retail Institute. However, we feel that most can be adapted to any business.

1. Join the Chamber of Commerce and other area groups.
2. Identify a local charity and give a percentage of receipts on a given day(s) to that group.
3. Get a fax machine and use it to take orders from customers or to communicate with customers.
4. Write news releases that relate to your business. For example, if a product you sell is recalled, use that as an opportunity to get your name and the information out to the public (Consumer Reports carries lists of these each month).
5. Use a live radio DJ appearance (much more effective than a dead DJ) to build traffic.
6. Use giveaways of your product or service with local radio.
7. Contact a database marketer to see what they can do for you.
8. Start an awards program in the local school system (certificates and coupons) for the best essay, art or whatever. Display the entries in your store.
9. Sponsor community events.
10. If you are a restaurant, have a chef of the day or if you are in another category of business, think about a similar special, one day "event" you could donate to a local charity auction.
11. Improve your merchandise presentation.
12. Create dynamic and compelling store fronts and windows. Make the windows exciting, change them often and make sure that, as customers walk out of the store, the window is as dynamic as when they are looking in.
13. Make a space for new items right in the front as consumers walk in. Consumers like new things. Don't hide new things on a shelf that consumers will only see if they happen to be in that aisle. "Hit" them right away. Consumers will begin to perceive that you are an innovative store if they keep on seeing new items.
14. Dominate the local market for seasonal merchandise. Do what you do bigger and better than any of the competition. If you are selling Christmas trees, don't have just one set up - have many.
15. Keep your shelves stocked and neat. Consumers buy what they can see.
16. Do really "neat" end caps.

Did You Know?

. . . That Chamber member businesses have the opportunity to distribute inserts in this publication? Yes, and very inexpensively. For only $25.00 for the first sheet (pre-folded) and $10.00 for each subsequent sheet, per mailing, you can reach the entire membership mailing list with information about your products or services. This benefit is for Chamber members only.

You can also buy mailing labels from a variety of lists and directories at 5 cents per label for Chamber members and 10 cents per label for nonmembers. Call the office with questions.

Manpower Named "America's Most Admired" Staffing Company

Fortune magazine named Manpower "America's Most Admired" staffing company in its annual list of the country's Most Admired Companies. In addition to being the top-ranked company in the staffing industry, Manpower also ranked 53rd on the complete list of 431 companies. To identify the most admired companies, more than 13,000 senior executives, outside directors and securities analysts evaluated companies in their own industries. Each company was evaluated for innovation; the ability to attract and retain talented people; quality management; quality products and services; long-term investment value; financial health; community and environmental responsibility; and use of corporate assets. "We are honored that Fortune and our peers put Manpower at the top of our industry," said Karen Halley, Wabash Branch Manager. "I think the reason is that the systems we have developed to match worker abilities to customer needs give us a strong foundation for delivering quality service."

Manpower's focus on quality service is confirmed by its registration to ISO-9000. In 1995, Manpower became one of the first worldwide service firms to be registered to the international standard for quality. "The business community also recognizes the fact that Manpower is committed to worker training," said Halley. "We now train workers in the three skills sets most needed by employers: information technology, quality service and office computing. Our training is always free of charge to our employees." Manpower also trains the employees of many of its 255,000 business customers worldwide. "We have a solid foundation for delivering customer satisfaction, and there are no limits to what we can do," said Halley.

"We will continue to anticipate the needs of our two Customer groups -- the workers we provide with employment opportunities and the businesses we provide with quality workers - and develop new ways to meet those needs. And if that keeps us among America's Most Admired, that's icing on the cake." Manpower, the world's largest staffing organization, annually provides 1.6 million people with employment through 2,400 offices in 43 countries.