Wednesday, December 18, 2013
December 2013 Newsletter
December Networking Event
Tuesday, January 7 - 4:30-6:30 PM
Hosted by:
Kort Sign Design
6146 Olson Memorial Highway
Golden Valley, 55422
kortsigns.com
Networking Events are held the first Tuesday of the month at member businesses around the cities.
Please check our website for upcoming times and locations.
No RSVP required. Guests welcome.
Enjoy the Benefits of Membership!
MetroIBA is pleased to announce that we now have a monthly auto renew payment option for our business members. If your membership is due for renewal, you now have a choice!
Business memberships are still just $150/ year ($50 for each additional storefront). If you prefer, you can opt to pay $15 per month. This new option helps to maintain consistent cash flow and alleviates the administrative costs of tracking renewals.
If you have recently received notice that your membership is about to lapse, simply go to buylocaltwincities.com/join and renew online. Or, you can mail payment to:
MetroIBA
2190 Como Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Thank you all for your ongoing support of MetroIBA.
Business memberships start at just $150.
Receive a packet with discounts to other member businesses.
Be listed on our member directory.
Join our members only list serv discussion group.
Expand your online presence through Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.
Attend free monthly networking events.
….and much more!
Go to buylocaltwincities.com and click on the JOIN button. You can renew your membership there too!
Letter from the President
Leading up to Black Friday, more media attention to Buy Local efforts was paid this year than ever before. For most retailers, the holiday season can account for 2-3 times their average monthly sales, if not more. That attention is long overdue and additionally having the power of American Express behind Small Business Saturday had clearly helped get that message out.
MetroIBA sponsors two annual events to encourage and promote buy local messaging. Our Buy Local Holiday Gift Guide was released on Monday, November 25 at Midtown Global Market with a press conference featuring D. Craig Taylor, director of the University of Minnesota Office for Business & Community Economic Development. Click here to see the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal article about our event.
But more importantly, MetroIBA works to improve the business climate for local, independent businesses and Buy Local messaging, not just at holiday time, but also throughout the year. That is part of the value of membership in MetroIBA.
Harvey Zuckman at the 2013 Buy Local Media Launch on
November 25, 2013 at Midtown Global Market
MetroIBA bids farewell to two board members
Loren Schirber, owner of Castle Building and Remodeling, joined the Board nearly two years ago and quickly made his mark as he took over chairing our Marketing Committee. With his direction and fresh ideas, the committee has explored and executed several initiatives to build our Buy Local messaging and grown our two annual Buy Local promotions as well.
With the imminent arrival of their first child, he is stepping back from his active role in MetroIBA to devote more time to family.
Janet Robert leaves the board after 3 years of service. She is the founder of AM950 radio and while the radio station transitions to new ownership, she is taking the opportunity to move on to other endeavors as well.
Janet co-chaired our Public Policy Committee during a period of time where our organization earned increased respect from our state and federal elected officials. Under her guidance, clear policies were adopted on health care and internet sales tax fairness and MetroIBA was instrumental in securing co-sponsorship of the Marketplace Fairness Act from both Minnesota Senators and support from four US Representatives.
Both Loren and Janet have made significant contributions to MetroIBA, and their active voices at our board meetings will be missed. They are not going away, however, so please join us in thanking them for their work on behalf of local, independent businesses.
2013 Buy Local Gift Guide Now Available!
On Nov 25th we unveiled our most extensive Buy Local Guide yet, with over 40 member retailers submitting unique gift ideas from local, independent shops. The guide is being distributed as a poster, and is available online for viewing.
Please share with friends and family. This is the only guide you will need this year!
Special thanks to Ruth Weleczki from the Park Bugle for updating and designing this year’s guide.
The Telecommunications Consumer/Competitor Coalition
Metro IBA has joined with organizations such as AARP; the Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (the CLEC Coalition); the Institute for Local Self-Reliance; Legal Aid and the Minnesota Community Action Partnership to form The Telecommunications Consumer/Competitor Coalition (COALITION), to work with the Minnesota State Legislature to develop a comprehensive plan for the future of Telecommunications in Minnesota.
The COALITION was formed on the following guiding principles:
Wireline Telecommunications Remains an Essential Service
The Public Interest Requires Policies That Aggressively Promote Competition and Consumer Choice
The Public Interest Requires Policies That Protect Consumers and Ensure Access To Reliable, High Quality Service
The Public Interest Requires a Fully Empowered PUC to Police the Marketplace, Foster Competition and Protect Consumers
Now available
Reusable shopping bags are available from Metro IBA member Esse Reusable Bags.
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Go to buylocaltwincities.com/join and become a citizen member, or donate and receive this handy, high-quality bag made from recycled material and window clings donated by Printz.
Holiday Shopping Goes Local and Independent
Recent surveys of consumer attitudes and sales suggest a comeback by independents
by Jeff Milchen, November 26, 2013
For many years now, corporate chains and online giants have garnered an ever-greater share of our spending at the holidays and year-round. This trend has contributed not only to more of our retail economy consolidating into fewer hands, but our communities struggling as local stores are displaced, along with other businesses that depend on them.
But some evidence suggests healthy winds of change in the winter air. In a recent survey for Deluxe Corporation, 35 percent of respondents said they preferred to do their in-person holiday shopping at small businesses – up from 27 percent in 2012.
This reinforces a survey earlier this year by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which found 68 percent of independent business owners felt more people recognized the benefits of buying locally than the previous year.
More importantly, it showed concrete results in shifting consumer spending. Independent businesses in communities with grassroots business alliances trumpeting those benefits of buying locally reported an average revenue increase of 8.6% over the previous year, compared to 3.4% among independents in other communities. More than 100 such local business alliances have formed in the past decade.
Combined with the recent rise of nationwide campaigns like Small Business Saturday and Shift Your Shopping, awareness about the many benefits of choosing local and independent is accelerating.
While some of those benefits appear altruistic, the Localization Movement is gaining momentum largely because citizens are recognizing our long-term self-interest involves building more self-reliant and vibrant communities from within. And those who choose to shift more of their shopping locally often report pleasant surprises from their choice.
Equally important, recognition that cheapness does not equal value is on the rise. Admittedly, the big box stores and online giants usually can win a battle for customers based on cheapness alone (though perceived differences in price far exceed reality). But that cheap table, bicycle or coffee maker quickly ceases to be a “bargain” when it breaks down prematurely or that ski jacket rips upon it first branch-scrape.
As craftsmanship has devolved from an everyday value to rarity, we’ve learned low prices at the expense of reliability and durability are no bargain at all.
Of course, none of this means we need to swear off shopping online or making an occasional chain store visit. But we should look for ways to integrate widely-held values into our purchasing decisions. Shifting even one more shopping trip to independent community-based businesses this season would create dramatic, positive changes in our local economies and induce many new jobs nationwide.
This is partly because your local businesses help employ many more people than you’ll see on the sales floor. They're more likely to bank and source locally, while employing local outside providers like accountants, graphic designers, sign-makers, webmasters, suppliers and many other high-skilled positions. When sales shift from locals to chains, some of these local jobs also disappear.
Since a new chain store or restaurant typically is a clone of other units, it eliminates the need for most local planning and typically uses a minimum of local goods and services. That's simply good, efficient business for them, but not so the host community.
Similarly, local non-profit organizations depend largely on the contributions of local businesses who, in turn, depend on our patronage. If we value local business support for our kids’ sports teams or our favorite charities, we must recognize they literally can’t do it without us.
Those factors, added to local owners re-spending much of their profit within the community, equal a big economic impact. On average, more than three times as much of each dollar spent at local independent store recirculates in your local economy compared to a dollar spent at chain-owned businesses. With restaurants, independents re-spend about twice as much locally as chains do. Capitalizing on this local multiplier effect is key to creating jobs and wealth in your own community.
The long-term relationships fostered by local business also cement commitment to civic institutions like schools, churches, and fraternal leagues that aid not just economic prosperity, but community cohesion and trust.
So do yourself -- and your community -- a favor this year by shifting a bit more spending to your local merchants, service providers, artisans and others. Along with helping your neighbors and community, you may just find “going local” turns holiday shopping into a far more relaxing and enjoyable experience: one that rewards both you and your community.
Jeff Milchen co-directs the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and authored "Building Buy Local Campaigns that Shift Culture and Spending," now available free upon request (pdf).
Read more: http://www.amiba.net/resources/2013/buy-local-holidays#ixzz2n8EDEjEc.
AMIBA Conference in Minneapolis!
2014 National American Independent Business Alliance Conference to be held May 8-11 at The Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. This will be a great chance to show off our independent businesses, engage with local officials, and garner media attention for the buy local movement.
Show your indie pride by becoming a sponsor of the conference. The following are the levels available. Please contact mary@metroiba.org for more information on ways to get involved.
Phalen $250
Be our guest (with a guest of your own) at our
pre-conference social
Listing in program and on conference website
Nokomis $750
Be our guest (with a guest of your own) at our
pre-conference social
Single-day conference entry to day of your choice
Listing in program and on conference website
Opportunity to include an item in conference totebag
Harriet $1250
One complimentary conference registration (or single day attendance for two)
Business card ad in conference program
Company banner in main conference room or inclusion on video screen rotation
Opportunity to include an item in conference tote bag
Button ad on conference website and on MetroIBA website
Minnetonka $2500
Two complimentary conference registrations
Display table space for company material throughout conference (may be staffed)
Quarter-page ad in conference program
Company banner in main conference room or inclusion on video screen rotation
Opportunity to include an item in conference tote bag
Banner ad on conference website and on MetroIBA website
Exclusive sponsor of one of the conference events, with opportunity to greet attendees
Annual Post Holiday ILSR Survey
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is once again planning to conduct a national survey of independent businesses in January 2014. Please watch your inbox the first week of January and fill out the survey. In addition to giving us data on national trends, we in the Twin Cities will receive information specific to our area on how our Buy Local efforts are working.
Year End 2013: Payroll Tax Returns
by Hilary Bullock, Metro Payroll
As a small business owner, you are responsible for numerous, if not all aspects of your business, including adherence to complex tax regulations. And whether you love numbers and data or not, it’s imperative that you have everything on your year-end checklist crossed off. Being prepared and proactive will help reduce risks to your business, save you money, and ensure you get off to a great start in 2014.
Everyone is busy at this time of year, so getting ready for end-of year payroll tax filing can feel especially overwhelming. You may be doing payroll yourself, or use an outsource payroll company. In either case, you will need to prepare all necessary paperwork in a timely manner. Getting a head start on year-end payroll tax preparation will help avoid delays, streamline the tax filing process, improve your outcomes, and reduce stress.
Here are a few simple tips to make the experience more enjoyable:
Set aside enough time to complete your checklist. Assess the amount of time you think you’ll need, and then double or triple it.
We suggest that you set a completion date at least one week prior to the filing deadline, or deadline your payroll specialist has specified
Split the project into a few, smaller sections such as: reviewing the checklist, prioritizing the steps needed for completion (i.e. involves others vs. can be completed on your own)
Block out time in your schedule for each section, keeping in mind the time(s) of day or night you are at your best in terms of energy and focus
Print out and review your checklist: is anything unclear, do you need to ask for help or clarification? If so, do this now
Gather your materials – remember, you may need to purchase W-2 and 1099-MISC forms if you send them out yourself
Clear a space to work and make sure you have adequate lighting
Create an atmosphere that helps you concentrate – play music, enjoy a beverage and/or snack, wait until your office is quiet etc,
Proceed step-by-step, completing each section before you move on to the next one.
Make notes on your payroll tax checklist as you go for the upcoming year such as: information that was out-of-date or difficult to obtain, ideas about organizing your paperwork so it is easily accessible, questions for your payroll specialist etc.
Reward yourself when the project is done!
We have a comprehensive end-of-year checklist for MetroIBA members. This link will take you to our website and you’ll see the button at the top of the page.
Metro Payroll is a family-owned, local provider of outsourcing solutions for payroll and scheduling, and a proud member of MetroIBA. Our technology products and solutions really stand out, and we love to listen, solve problems, and communicate with you in the way that suits you best.
If you are using a national provider, this is a great time of year to consider a switch. Take advantage of our 12% discount for MetroIBA members, available through January 2014.
And please, feel free to give us a call with questions, or to discuss specific issues at 651- 612-270-1004 (Hilary) or 264-1933 (Tim).
Member News
Congratulations to a woman who wears many hats…and wears them all well! Stephanie Hansen, MetroIBA Board Member, FM 107.1 Radio Host and owner of Printz has been chosen as Woman Business Owner of The Year by The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO.)
Congratulations Stephanie. We are very proud and grateful for all you do!
Thank you Volunteers
Hilary Bullock - Metro Payroll
Nicki Jones~Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul
Mary Jo Koplos~Postal Dispatch Business Center
Ruth Welezcki~Park Bugle
Welcome New Members
Chez Bloom Flowers
curenci
El Burrito Mercado
findfurnish
Harvest Moon Edible Landscapes
I Affiliates
Lloyd Security
Teeny Bee Boutique
Zeke's Unchained Animal
Thank You Renewing Members
4 Angels Creations
Angelis Consulting
Castle Building & Remodeling
Coastal Seafoods
Midwest Independent Booksellers Association
Peace Coffee
Riverside Business Products
SubText: A Bookstore
Twin Cities
Media Alliance
Jesse Mortenson
Steve McClellan
©2013 MetroIBA, 2190 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
Member AMIBA - Member ASBC
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