Commerce Connection Q1

TheCommerceConnection SPRING 2015

NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE BERKELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Letter from the ExecutiveDirector

What is the Berkeley Chamber up to these days? It’s a question I get often from people wondering if they

should join our community/business organization. The an-swer is that we are “up to” keeping an eye on the effects of protests on businesses and efforts to make the police less able to respond; bringing in experts to discuss with our members how new city energy requirements will affect them and how changes in the Planning Department may make growing a business easier; following labor commis-sion plans to add healthcare and sick leave requirements to the increasing minimum wage; planning Visionary Awards and a new State of the City program, and perhaps a small business of the year competition; hosting morning mixers where members do B to B over breakfast and evening mix-ers where wine and networking takes place and more!

We are the “Voice for Business” throughout Berkeley and with over 300 members we are a growing and vital group.

Unlike many business organizations which have taxes or assessments or grants to help them thrive, we are supported solely and voluntarily by our members.

We have large corporate members and sole proprietor-ships and everything in between…beer makers and book stores, restaurants and co working spaces, electricians and computer wizards, biotech companies and battery innova-tors, colleges and tax preparers. Beyond dues, we offer many ways to market your business to the community. You can be an event sponsor, a Chairman’s Circle sponsor, take an ad in this quarterly mailer or market yourself on our busy webpage.

When you consider your advertising budget for your business and the position you want to hold in the eyes of Berkeley residents, we encourage you to step up the ladder of financial support for the Berkeley Chamber. Our repu-tation as “THE” place to be for local businesses is growing and we hear from community members that they perceive our sponsors to be trusted leaders in Berkeley.

Join us, grow with us and let’s all get more successful to-gether!

Best,

Polly Armstrong

Does your insurance agent

MEASURE UP?

MEASURE UP?

510-874-5700 · www.StroupInsurance.com

The Ruth Stroup Agency is a local business serving local businesses. We face the same main street realities of growing business in an every changing and competitive environment. AND we’d like to work with you to protect your business as it grows.

Talk is FREE! Call me at 510-874-5700 or

request an appointment online at: www.tinyurl.com/TalktoRuth

SPRING 2015 1

• Complete Offset Printing Services

• Full Color Digital Printing

• Book Design, Editing & Production

• Custom Graphic Design

• Complete In-House Mail Services

• Posters and Large Format Prints

• Friendly Service

• Free Local Pickup & Delivery

• Printing with Environmental Consciousness for 25 Years!

The Blissful Union of Ink and Paper

1101 Fifth Street • Berkeley • 510.540.7113www.e-minutemanpress.com

Minuteman Press isa full service printing, marketing and graphic design firm offering business services such as print advertising and direct mail. We design and print anything to help grow a business.

2 BERKELEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SPRING 2015 3

For reservations or info contact us at: 510-549-8510

www.meritageclaremont.com

Experience stellar dining at Meritage paired

with artfully crafted Trinchero wines, winner of more than fi fty 90+ awards and accolades.

W I N E M A K E R S D I N N E R S E R I E S

March 5, 2015 6:30pm

$185 per person


Did you know?The Chamber Offers Multiple Opportunities to

Reach the Berkeley Business Community!

5 Reasons To Take Advantage of Our Quarterly Mailer

1. Full Color mailed ad reaches over 500 Berkeley Businesses

2. Win the Spotlight Page from being involved with the Chamber. Get an additional ½ page FREE!

3. NEW! Online Feature: Get the website views you desire by taking advantage of our Online Marketing Package. Exclusive discount to Mailer purchasers ONLY

4. This Opportunity is offered to Chamber Members ONLY!

5. Saves Money! Quarterly Mailer stays in rotation for over 3 MONTHS.

Only 8 Spaces Left! Call or email Elle [email protected] (510) 549-7000

www.berkeleychamber.com

GET MARKETEDTry it out

Purchase one Full Page and our Online Marketing Package.

$300 only!

GET VIEWSNot interested in online?

Save money and purchase our Paper Only version.

$250 Full page $150 Half page

SAVE MONEY!Print and Online for One Year

Includes: (4) Full Page ads and 1 year of our Online Marketing Package. Online Spotlight via email and website with your link on our page.

$150.00/mo with Automatic Deductions or

$1000.00 One Time Payment

GET CLICKSOnline only

Try our Online Marketing Package. Priced per ad.

$200 Non-members $150 Members $125 Non-profit

Payment must accompany order. Cash or Check made payable to “Berkeley Chamber of Commerce” • The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to review all submissions for paid online marketing and

mailings before accepting for distribution. • Online marketing will contain the following disclaimer "This is a paid advertisement and not an endorsement or recommendation by the Chamber of Commerce"�

SPRING 2015 5

High loan rates are so 2014!

Safety, Strength & Social Responsibility

2001 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703facebook.com/coopfcu • twitter.com/coopfcu

Call (510) 647-2126 or apply online at www.coopfcu.org

model between 2009-2015, have a balance owed of at least $10,000 and currently be �nanced through another �nancial institution. Your present loan must be current.

60 day deferred payment is optional. Interest will continue to accrue during the 60 day no payment period. Member will receive a $50 Gas Card at the time of signing. CCFCU membership is required. O�er ends May 31, 2015.

Refinancing at Cooperative Center FCU

is awesome-sauce!

%

Refinance your Auto Loan and Cooperative Center FCU

will take 2APR* off your existing rate!NO PAYMENTS FOR 60 DAYS

Receive a $50 Gas Card at funding

1


Look who’s joined the Chamber!

Thousand Lights [email protected]

Bollywood Movie Productions

San Francisco Dogfishhttp://sanfrancisco.dogfish.mlultimate.com

[email protected]. Game. Sports

Balance Edutainment5807 Fremont Street

Emeryville/Berkeley, CA 94608(415) 756-7816

Transformational Entertainment Products

Retriever Payment Systems3240 Monument Way, Suite C

Concord, CA 94518www.retrieverps.com

800-210-7101Competitive credit card processing

Pacific Power [email protected]

925-676-3279Need an electrican? He’s the MAN. He’s ours too.

Bobo Drinks – Berkeley 2037 Shattuck Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94704www.bobodrinks.com

(510) 356-4860Try their freshly brewed fruit teas

WeWork Berkeley2120 University Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94704 Co-working spaces. Private Offices.

Community of Creators.

Golden Gate Overhead Garage Door Co.

4071 San Pablo Dam RoadEl Sobrante, CA 94803

Garage door & repair installation

5 WAYS YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYS

No marketing department? We have you covered. In print, onour website and even in social media. We are the business marketing guru.

Your voice in PolicyMaking sure that you are informed of any policy information that affects your business. Work with our political leaders hand-in-hand to ensure that your voice is heard.

Monthly networking eventsGain business contacts and create new business development opportunities.

Expand your visibilityGet seen by becoming an event sponsor or a part of our chairman circle.

Eat & LearnAttend our learning lunch and pick up a new skill, whether it’s mastering the art of yelp, social media or even best ways to manage your business portfolio.

SPRING 2015 7


JOIN US FOR STATE OF THE CITY

How is Berkeley Doing?We all know that the Bay Area is doing well economically but

the Chamber is putting a spotlight on how Berkeley is faring in the realm of quality jobs, education and housing/development. Are we making the right plans and the right choices for Berkeley’s future.

Join us at the Berkeley City Club for lunch and stimulating speakers at noon on

Thursday, April 23rd.A sponsored table for 8 is $1000 or individual tickets will be available.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Another Round of Wage and Benefit Increases is Coming!

The Council will be considering adding required healthcare benefits, paid sick leave, “living wages” etc. to Berkeley employers. The Chamber is hoping to sponsor a comprehensive meeting for our members ahead of the Council meeting so that businesses can fully understand what is being considered and can participate in letting Council members know what the effects of these changes will be. Stay tuned for details!

The Chamber provides monthly opportunities through our Government Affairs meetings, to keep abreast of what’s “hot” in Berkeley politics and legislation. GA meetings are open to all and help us fulfill our role as the “Voice for Business in Berkeley.”

Join us!

SPRING 2015 9

Thank you!


Planning & Development Department Building and Safety Division The City of Berkeley recently launched the Building Occupancy Resumption Program (BORP) to help get you back in business sooner after a disaster. The program enables building owners to hire licensed engineers to create post-disaster inspection plans for their buildings and submit these plans to the Building & Safety Division for approval. In the event of an emergency declaration, these engineers will be deputized as City inspectors to post official City of Berkeley placards on BORP-approved buildings for continued occupancy (green placard), partial or conditional occupancy (yellow placard), or unsafe to enter (red placard). Participating in BORP will help businesses resume operations quickly following a major disaster, such as an earthquake, will reduce inspection delays and will increase Berkeley’s disaster preparedness. The purpose of the program is to allow a quick and thorough evaluation of possible damage to a structure by qualified persons familiar with the structural design and life-safety systems of the building. This private emergency inspection could facilitate rapid decisions regarding the closure or reoccupancy of building areas. For more information, see www.cityofberkeley.info/borp or contact Jenny McNulty at 510 981 7451 or [email protected].

Participate in Berkeley’s New Building Occupancy

Resumption Program!

SPRING 2015 11


Sunrise Breakfastwith Nancy Skinner

Hornblower Cruise 2014with Ambassadors & Chamber Members

Yoloberry Ribbon Cuttingwith Mayor Tom Bates,

Polly Armstrong, & John Caner

Visionary Awards 2014

Chamber in the Community

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Commerce Connection Q1