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February 2017

In the Know

BUSINESS RESOURCES NEWSLETTER

Business Resources Newsletter

FEATURES Love Your Customers: Tips for All Businesses District Love: Orenco, Tanasbourne & Downtown Chamber & Regional Business Workshops Business Walk

CALENDAR LINKS Hillsboro Chamber Calendar

RESOURCES Chamber Opportunities

Orenco Events Calendar

Business Resources Pages

Downtown Events Calendar

Business Opportunities

IRS Scam Alert (NEW)

Written and designed by Aimee Sukol, J.D., M.A., M.S. Ed Director of Business Development & Business Counselor Hillsboro Economic Development Partnership (HEDP)

Tips for Ensuring the BEST

     Primary components to a successful business are quality and customer service. Customers frequently pay more for a product or service if they know they will be satisfied with their purchase and treatment. Consider the following tips to ensure your service keeps customers coming back.

Customer Communication.  Always return emails and phone messages within 48 hours. If you cannot obtain the necessary information in that time, contact the customer and let them know you appreciate their inquiry and you will be in touch. Also, be transparent with your customers and let them know if you're experiencing staff transitions or a product is presently unavailable. Customers would rather hear bad news than nothing at all.

Clear Communication with Staff.  Retail and restaurant staff should be abreast of inventory, events and prices. In other circumstances, it's not necessarily harmful if staff is unsure of an answer, but referring a customer through multiple channels creates frustration. Also, staff should be clear about protocol and expectations in an introductory training to reduce misunderstandings.

Avoid Negative Language. Emphasize what you can do for your customer rather than what you're unable to do. Whether it's a shipment method or an entree substitution, letting the customer know you are happy to provide some accommodation promotes positive engagement.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Showcase B2B Clients. Provided the business client is okay with it, feature your customers on your website, give them shout outs on social media and showcase your appreciation of their business. In some cases you may want to donate to their favorite cause and/or attend their events.

BUSINESS RESOURCES NEWSLETTER

Reward Customer Loyalty. Loyal customers provide a stable revenue stream especially during difficult times. Moreover, potential customers will find out if existing customers are unhappy. By rewarding loyal customers you ensure business stability and strengthen new customer recruitment efforts through positive word of mouth. 

District LOVE

Hillsboro

BUSINESS RESOURCES NEWSLETTER A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet... Over the past few years Hillsboro's primary business districts have grown considerably with new homes and community spaces. This February, check out what each district has to offer.

Downtown (top photo) includes two live theater companies

(Hart Theatre & Bag&Baggage Productions), a cultural museum that features art and historical pieces (Washington County Museum), and First Tuesday Art Walk where realtors to restaurants open their doors to showcase local art while offering wine & appetizers. Downtown also boasts several art galleries including the Catherine Bede Gallery and Sequoia Art Gallery, and live music in multiple locations throughout the week.

To learn

more about how you can become involved in Downtown programs or to obtain a list of Downtown businesses, contact the Hillsboro Downtown Partnership.

Orenco (middle photo) is a growing community that features

a beautiful Central Park, dynamic Plaza right along the Max line, spas, restaurants and "It's THE Orenco Wine Mixer" the last

Wednesday of the month. The Chamber organizes Orenco's wine mixer where a different Orenco business opens its doors for complimentary wine and appetizers from 4-6pm. Residents and businesses within and outside of Orenco enjoy networking, raffles and visitor goodies from the Chamber's Visitor's Information Center. To obtain a list of Orenco businesses, contact the Orenco Station Business Owners Association (OSBOA). February's mixer will be 2/22 at La Provence.

RSVP on the Chamber's website.

Tanasbourne (bottom photo) is also a growing community

with parks (Magnolia Park, Orchard Park), incredible shopping that includes indie shops to national brands as well as diverse dining and Regal movie theater. Join Tanasbourne businesses for the Tanasbourne Cocktail Hour on the last Tuesday of each month from 4-6pm where Tanasbourne businesses and residents mix and mingle over drinks. February's Cocktail Hour will be 2/28, location TBD.

Study & Follow Best Practices and Lines Will Form for Your Business Building Your Business Workshop (BYB) features social media, marketing, branding and B2B topics every 3rd Wednesday of the month. Attendees engage each other, develop skills and obtain updated tools. 

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) continued February 15th Starting a Food Cart Business

February 15th: Livestreaming Basics for Business March 15th:  Maximizing Linkedin for B2B Development

For more information about SCORE's workshops or free mentorship, visit: www.portlandor.score.org

BUSINESS RESOURCES NEWSLETTER

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) workshops feature an array of topics including financing, planning, and development. SCORE offices are located in Portland. Upcoming workshops: February 2nd Four Mentors to Answer All Your Business Needs  1) Business Planning 2) Financing 3) Recordkeeping 4) Marketing 5) Legal Issues February 8th Buyer's Guide to Owning a Franchise

Internal Revenue Service Webinar February 16th Understanding the Shared Economy For more information, see LINK This web conference will provide an overview of the following: What is the Sharing Economy? Tax Implications for Individuals Performing Services Determining Employee/Independent Contractor Rules for Home Rentals Business Expenses Employer/Payer Employment Tax Obligations Resources Plus a live Q & A

BUSINESS WALK 2017

The Chamber's 3rd Annual Business Walk is May 4th and we're looking for Business Walk Committee members & volunteers.

The Chamber's Business Walk highlights business needs and interests in a half day volunteer Q&A. 60 volunteer businesses and community interviewers ask 3-5 questions from 100+ Hillsboro area businesses. Volunteers are briefed over breakfast at the Chamber, grouped, and given materials to conduct their Q&A. Each interview is about 10 minutes long and volunteers visit roughly 5 different businesses who have volunteered in advance to be interviewed. Volunteers return to the Chamber to de-brief over lunch. This year the Chamber is assembling a 5 member committee to identify volunteers and interviewees. Committee members will meet once a month to strategize and conduct outreach. Members will receive acknowledgement for their service. Chamber members interested in serving on the Committee must reply by Monday, February 13th. Please also email [email protected] if you'd like to volunteer on the Walk or be interviewed.

Classes & Workshops

Resources General HR RULES & REGULATIONS

Building Your Business Workshop ­ BYB (Chamber Program)

Tips for Using SEO & maximizing searchability Join a MEETUP & collaborate USPS Postal Inspector's Office

Westside Businesswomen Workshop ­ WBW (Chamber program)

Free Market Research ­ Reference USA Exporting Assistance TriMet Bidding Procurement

Art of Effective Networking (Chamber Program)

ORPIN (Oregon Procurement Information Network Local Nonprofits for Collaboration

onTopic Luncheon (Chamber program)

SHOP Oregon Marketplace, Health Insurance for Employers

Mercy Corps NW Business Planning Classes

Contract with the City!  City of Hillsboro's Procurement Site

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Classes/Counseling, Willow Creek

IRS Resources NEW ­ Reminder Employer Tax Filing Info for 2017 IRS Scam Alert (NEW)

Free SBA Training Videos

Taxable vs Non­Taxable Income Padding Deductions

IRS Videos

Labor Trends

Oregon Technology Business Center (OTBC) pub talks

Employment Stats by Industry Portland Metro Labor Trends Washington County Wages by Industry

Legal Referrals/Tips Legal Checklist for Startups Small Business Attorneys

Starting a Business in Hillsboro Checklist

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Free Business Planning

Free Chamber Counseling & Referrals [email protected] [email protected]

Net@Nite

Manufacturers Roundtable

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Sponsorships enable the Hillsboro Chamber to provide meaningful programs to the local community. To learn

THROUGH THE CHAMBER

about opportunities, contact [email protected].

Manufacturers Summit (October)

Golf Scramble (September)

Mfrs Roundtable (Quarterly)

onTopic Luncheon (Monthy)

Conectate (Monthly)

Professional Women's Alliance

Manufacturing Day (October)

(Monthly)

BYB Workshop (Monthly)

Holiday Party (December)

Net@Nite (Quarterly)

Farm Fresh Dinner (August)

Business Walk (May)

Crystal Apple Awards (February)

Annual Awards (May)

Orenco Wine Mixer (Monthly)

Latino Festival (April)

Tansbourne Cocktail Hour (Monthly)

Wake Up Hillsboro (Every Friday)

Leadership Hillsboro

Art of Effective Networking

(Annual)

(Quarterly)

Latino Fest

BYB Workshop

BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES

Add a little bit of body text Discover Global Markets for Advanced Manufacturing Forum in Scottsdale, AZ

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NEDTalks SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES - "Novel Efforts

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Government Contracting Basics for Manufacturers with GCAP & PNDC,

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businesses & stakeholders. Contact the

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Hillsboro Downtown Partnership.

BYB Workshop provides speaking opportunities to businesses with marketing expertise. Contact Aimee Sukol for more information.

Have a compelling business story? If so, contact KUIK radio for a spotlight.

Businesses with financial or legal expertise can contact Mercy Corps NW to learn about their consulting and speaking engagement opportunities.

Chamber members can showcase their expertise by writing an article for the Chamber's Advocate newsletter. For more info, contact

Guest speaking (& student hosting)

[email protected].

opportunities with the Chamber's School-toCareer program. Email [email protected].

Links to information are highlighted.