OLDS — The Olds & District Chamber of Commerce is moving ahead with several new or revived programs, now that COVID-19 restrictions appear to be history.
Several speakers made that point during the chamber’s annual general meeting (AGM), held March 9 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 in Olds.
They’re reviving the chamber’s Shop Local umbrella, which includes their Member to Member (M2M) program and customer service awards.
They’re also participating in two other initiatives: Chamber Market, an Alberta-wide initiative to enable more local businesses to market online; and the Mountain View Digital Support Squad (DSS), a local program to help more businesses obtain an online presence or improve on the one they have.
Chamber board member Doug Rieberger said the Shop Local initiatives kind of faded away in the wake of COVID-19 and have been sorely missed.
"After they kind of went by the wayside, we found out that they were very valuable programs and a lot of people really wanted to see them active again,” he said.
Rieberger explained that the M2M program is an opportunity for businesses to market themselves to other chamber members.
“You give them some sort of incentive to get them in the door, but it gives you a chance to keep our dollars locally instead of them going to the city or elsewhere for products, so that’s why this is a really valuable program,” he said.
Rieberger said this version is an interim program lasting until the end of May, at which time it will get back on the traditional cycle which runs from the beginning of June until the end of May the following year.
M2M cards are now available.
The Olds & District Chamber of Commerce is also participating in the Chamber Market, a province-wide online marketing initiative in conjunction with the Alberta Chamber of Commerce.
Rieberger encouraged local businesses to get involved in the Chamber Market, saying more information about it will be released soon.
Rochemont announced details of the Mountain View Digital Support Squad (DSS), saying the chamber has received a government grant to allow up to 90 businesses to receive support to onboard their businesses to either the Chamber Market or enhanced online platforms.
The squad will consist of Olds College students who are currently being hired and trained for the job, expected to begin this summer.
The DSS will come to businesses and help them get online or improve their online presence, including getting on to the Chamber Market or other online platforms.
However, Rochemont warned interested businesses to convey that interest quickly. She said there are a limited number of spots available for the program an already, there are only about 40 spots left.
“Tell everyone you know about it because we are really excited about these programs and to be supporting the town and all our businesses as best we can,” Rochemont said.
Small Business Awards committee chair Murray Elliott said the chamber is bringing back some very popular traditions: Exceptional Customer Service Awards, the successor to Business Beer and Blue Jeans, and the Small Business Awards.
The Exceptional Customer Service Awards were created about seven years ago.
Under that program, each month, the chamber recognizes someone from a local business who has provided exceptional service. That’s done via the newspaper, on the radio, on the chamber’s website and via social media. Elliott predicted the first one this year will be announced in April.
The plan is also to recognize all those winners again this fall when the chamber hopes to revive its Small Business Awards banquet.
“It feels good to actually be doing something again and recognizing good service where it’s deserved. Put the poster up and tell everyone,” Elliott said.
Not only did the pandemic pause the Exceptional Service program it also “skunked” the Small Business Awards as well as the popular Business Beer & Blue Jeans event which promoted it, Elliott said.
“Both years we had planned an event. We had also planned the Business Beer and Blue Jeans event that was cancelled at the last second,” he said.
This year, instead of Business Beer & Blue Jeans, the title for that promotional event and business get together is tentatively called Burgers and Business.
“Might be Burgers Business and Beer or Burgers Beer and Business. I’m wondering if maybe we should hold off on the beer, but there will be beer,” he said.
Whatever it’s ultimately named, plans call for that event to be held the evening of June 22 at the Botanical Gardens in Olds College – rain or shine. During that event, the small business awards for 2021 will also be presented.
The plan is to hold the 2022 Small Business Awards at their traditional time in October.
"We can finally do something, and it feels pretty good to do something. And I think everybody is anxious to get out and get together – kind of like today – and have some fun and recognize our businesses," he said.
Rochemont said the chamber is also once again holding its popular Lunch & Learn sessions. The first one, featuring economist Todd Hirsch, is slated to be held May 2 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105. Tickets for that event go on sale shortly.
