| Issue No. 256 Serving the Entire Business Community December 2005 | ||
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Chamber closed December 23 & 26.| KIOSKS for Marshall County In the continual endeavor to promote our Chamber member businesses and our community, a project this Chamber has been working on is ready to launch. The greatest need businesses have is to get the customer into the building. Whether the customer is a visitor, newly moved to the area or a long time resident, making information immediate and accessible in today's time sensitive world is the key. Making this information available while the customer is in the ìout and about, shopping modeî, no matter where he or she is in Marshall County, is just good sense. The Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce is developing Marshall County Information Center interactive kiosks to fill this need. The Chamber is working to install seven kiosks located throughout the county in high traffic areas. The kiosks are engaged by a touch screen and the advertising, personalized for each business, can include sound, video, pictures and maps. Businesses and organizations may choose to advertise under such categories as dining, recreation, entertainment, shopping or local services. The personalized business information can include business hours, contact information, menus, coupons, location address, driving instructions, web site information, email addresses, picture of the inside and/or outside of the business and any other information deemed needed to promote the business. With the capability of an installed printer, the potential customers are able to take the information with them. The Chamber had investigated several kiosk programs over the past several years, but could not find the right system. About six months ago, Jeff Schafer, a Plymouth native and producer with Video and Sound Productions, called the Chamber with an idea. Jeff wanted to offer a new concept. Video and Sound has worked with the Chamber to custom build this new system. Video and Sound Productions produces media presentations that help companies increase their marketing, public relations, and sales efforts. The company has experience creating and delivering videos, interactive presentations, commercials, interactive DVD/CD-ROM's and web projects. The staff has earned dozens of national awards in competitions where quality and creativity is honored. Company president/owner, Chris Sanchez, has pushed the firm to create and deliver alternative marketing tools like interactive information centers. "Our aim is to support local and regional businesses," says Sanchez. "We are really looking forward to working with the Plymouth and Marshall County business community." Jeff Shafer offers advice for companies who decide to utilize commercials, videos and other multi-media. "Decide on a few simple key points and build a presentation around those. Think visually and write and present in a conversational way," Shafer says. Tony Cicatko is the business development manager and support staff includes Shanda Sanchez, Barry Hayden, and Scott Drummond. Final decisions as to placement of the kiosks throughout the county have not been made. One is currently set up at the Plymouth Chamber with sample information, video, sound and maps. This system will be supported completely by advertisement. Plymouth Chamber member businesses are eligible to purchase the advertising space on these interactive information presentations. The Chamber is currently working on rates for local not-for-profit organizations. For advertising information call Video and Sound 574-269-6000. Please stop by the Chamber and see the model.   Thin and Healthy 529 Main St., Rochester; 574-223-3657; www.fultoncountywellness.com Weight Management Thin and Healthy is part of the Fulton Co. Wellness Center in Rochester. They have a Nautilus strength and flexibility conditioning program designed specifically for the muscles used in the golf swing. The program measures, pre/post program, golf club head speed, blood pressure, upper body strength and flexibility. This program is open to non-Thin and Healthy members, both men and women. For information, call Kelly at 574-223-3657 and ask about the 'Full Swing' Ball Flight Golf Simulator. The Cross Walk 101 N. Michigan St., Plymouth; 574936-2929; www.crosswalkbookstore.com; www.auctionittoday43.com The Cross Walk announces the launch of a new business, 'Auction-It-Today on eBay,' which will be located in the rear of The Cross Walk. December 1st is the targeted opening date for the store. The operational hours will be from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Tuesdays through Fridays, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturdays and closed Sundays and Mondays. Auction-It-Today is a franchise operation, which started approximately one year ago and now has stores in Michigan and Ohio. The new Plymouth location will be the second store launched in Indiana. Auction-It-Today is an eBay 'drop-off' store, where customers can drop off the items they would like to sell on eBay and Auction-It-Today will handle everything from that point forward. Services start with assisting the customer in determining a fair and reasonable market value for the item(s), the professional photographing and listing of the item(s) on eBay, the handling and shipping of the item(s) to the buyer, and finally sending a check directly to the customer for their portion of the proceeds of the sale. Judy Delp and Daryl Holycross, co-owners of Auction-It-Today, explained that no item is too big or too small. Auction-It-Today will specialize in 'business to business' e-commerce. By appointment, local businesses will be able to arrange for one of the Auction-It-Today auctioneers to go directly to the customer's location and handle the entire process on site. They will assist the business owner in selling off excess inventories, slow moving products, obsolete fixtures and tooling, misc. manufacturing equipment, and many other commercial and/or personal items which the business may need to eliminate from their inventories. Auction-It-Today on eBay will also handle liquidation sales, going out-of-business sales, estate sales, and fund raising efforts. Currently, eBay has over 150 million registered users in over 150 countries. Auction-It-Today of Plymouth will be a commercial window to the world. For additional information, contact Daryl Holycross or Judy Delp at 574-936-ebay (3229). GB Customs 840 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth; 574-952-6328 GB Customs installs any aftermarket electronics that can be added to a vehicle.† They install window tint for any vehicle and carry the full line of car audio including replacement speakers, CD players, amplifiers and subwoofers. Also available for installation are keyless entry remote systems and car starters. They install all neon lighting for under or inside any vehicle and Mobile video and sell reverse cameras for in-dash monitors. They carry and sell wheel and tire packages along with marine audio, and provide in-house installations and on site jobs such as marine audio in boats and home theatre installations. Dandelion Bar 116 W. LaPorte St., Plymouth; 574-935-5514; www.thedandelionbar.com In conjunction with The National Pub Poker League, The Dandelion Bar is bringing America's favorite pass time to Plymouth. For 52 weeks, beginning November 9th, every Wednesday evening at both 7 PM and 10 PM a new tournament game of Texas Hold 'Em will begin. There is absolutely no purchase or buy-in necessary to play or win. Play money is used and points are kept. Points can be used for modest prizes such as tees, coolers, hats, etc. With enough points, a Harley Davidson from the NPPL Merchandise Store is also being offered as a prize. People that are interested in playing with this league do not have to commit to any kind of regular attendance. Every player will be registered one time so that the NPPL can keep track of their points/wins. It is first come first serve each week. Winners of the local tournaments will qualify for roughly 6 regionally held tournaments in Indianapolis per year and can go on to participate in national Las Vegas tournaments. The game has been popular around the nation with women as well as men. It is a form of good clean†entertainment†with nothing to lose and only†fun to gain. People can go online to see more information about this poker league at www.NationalPubPokerLeague.com and also www.TheDandelionBar.com. IUSB 857 Lincolnway East, Plymouth; 574-936-1954; www.iusb.edu/~ocp Off-Campus Programs Indiana University South Bend has moved its Plymouth office to a new location. The IU South Bend - Plymouth office is now located at the East Point office complex at 857 Lincolnway East. † Previously, IU South Bend ran its Plymouth office from 113 E. Washington Street. The new office is larger and houses two staff members. † It is also closer to Plymouth High School where IU South Bend offers 12 evening classes. † Classes available for the Spring semester include: Introduction to Computing, American History II, Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence, Elementary Composition, Professional Writing Skills, Public Speaking, Elementary Spanish II, Western World Masterpieces II, Finite Mathematics, Principles of Sociology, College Algebra and Introduction to Financial Accounting. Spring classes begin January 9, 2006. † For more information about IU South Bend classes in Plymouth call 936-1954, 800-321-7834, or stop by the new office. You can also check www.OneStart.iu.edu for specific class schedules and information. The IU South Bend office in Plymouth can help with admissions, placement exams, registration and information about degree programs and course offerings. New Members
December 2005
December Inserts
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Chamber Office closed for the Christmas Holiday
Presents