August 16, 2019
Friday Focus
Events Next Week
Wednesday, August 21st - Non-Profit Mastermind
Held at Gravitate, 500 Locust St., 9:00 AM

Saturday, August 24th - Ribbon Cutting
For The Focus Office, 2425 Hubbell Ave., Suite 200, 11:00 AM

Listen, Share, and Subscribe
The Downtown Chamber Marketing Committee has launched a new podcast. We are asking you to please listen (it's less than 15 minutes!) and subscribe, and share with your network to help grow the audience. Listen Here

"The Chamberphiles"
New episodes will be released the 1st & 3rd Mondays each month. In subscribing to our podcast, you'll learn tips and advice from Downtown Chamber member businesses. In the first episode, " Keeping it Green ," Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium , shares her knowledge of office and household plants and tips for keeping them alive and healthy, despite your level of plant care abilities. 

This episode includes:
  1. How to be a better plant owner, or "Plant Parent."
  2. Finding the plant that fits you and your style - are you an over-waterer or do you forget to water?
  3. Discovering the therapeutic effects of plants and how the can improve your environment and health.
  4. Avoiding non-toxic plants if you're a pet-owner.
  5. Why Andrea named her store, "Art Terrarium," her favorite plant, and what makes this business successful.

The podcast "The Chamberphiles" is recorded and edited at the  Des Moines Radio Group  studios. Visit  https://dsmradio.com/  to learn more about their podcasting services, or contact Michael Hope at  mhope@dsmradio.com  or call  515-309-4313
Golf
Inaugural Downtown Chamber Golf Tournament
Monday, September 16th
Hosted at Wakonda Club, 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM


Member Business Opportunities
Attention University of Iowa Alumni-Owned Businesses

The University of Iowa Center for Advancement Alumni Engagement team recently updated the “Iowa Alumni/Alumni-Owned Business” decal. They are excited to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of Hawkeyes across the state by sending these decals to alumni by sending out free “Iowa Alumni, Alumni-Owned Business” decals. If you are interested in receiving a decal to display in your business, please complete the following survey: https://bit.ly/2Ku1YcE 
Partnership Perk
As a Member of the Downtown Chamber, you are automatically a Member of Greater Des Moines Partnership.
Human Capital Survey
 
Does Greater Des Moines (DSM) have what you need to thrive personally and professionally? Are there ways we can improve your quality of life and sense of purpose? To help us determine how connected our residents are to the community at large, the Greater Des Moines Partnership is conducting a survey. Please consider taking 10 minutes to give feedback to improve our region. Make your voice heard! Please take the survey and share it with your personal and professional contacts.
 
Click here to access the survey. (All responses are anonymous and confidential.)
 
Thank you for taking the time to help make our region a better place to live, work and thrive

Succession Planning

DOES YOUR SMALL BUSINESS PASS THE 'HIT-BY-A-BUS' TEST?

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy. This holds true for Greater Des Moines (DSM).
There are more than 265,000 small businesses in Iowa making up 99.3 percent of all businesses. Together, they employ 641,000 people, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Added to that, 78 percent of all new jobs are created by family businesses. Small businesses add jobs at the quickest rate.

With small business being so vital to the local community and economy, it begs the question: What would happen to your business if you weren’t able to make it to work on Monday? Having a succession plan in place is a vital part of ensuring your business remains in business. Does your business pass the “hit-by-a-bus” test?

According to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), 40.3 percent of family-owned businesses are looking to retire in the immediate future. However, 47 percent of those same businesses do not have a successor lined up. 

Taking on an established business is a great opportunity for people to build and to be their own boss. On the other hand, identifying a successor can be stressful within a family.

There is a disconnect between those wanting to sell their business and those wanting to take on an established business. The Greater Des Moines Partnership is using this as an opportunity to connect both sides. We’ve put together a Succession Planning Advisory Network (SPAN) made up of individuals with experience in succession planning; either for their own businesses or on behalf of others. They are available to provide assistance and answer questions for businesses looking at the next chapter of ownership. 

Find additional information here and click on the Succession Planning tab or to read the article click here .


Data Hub

The Partnership’s DSM USA Research, Stats and Data Hub is a statistical dashboard filled with rich information within the region. Users will find leading indicators along with research and data trends needed to make strategic business decisions. The site offers current economic, demographic and workforce information sourced from official government data on the five-county Des Moines USA and six nearby counties.

All of the research is accessible free of charge, and is presented in an easy-to-use format. Charts and data can be captured and used in other presentations.

The Data Hub is another way that Chamber Members are able to tap into information and resources available through The Partnership’s regional network. 

Additional graphs and resources are available at www.datadsmusa.com
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Grand Opening for Gravitate Coworking! The Downtown Chamber is one of the member businesses located inside this new space, and the evening involved a first-time double ceremony to welcome guests to the new Downtown Chamber office, as well as to all of the businesses located at Gravitate.
Welcome

We are pleased to welcome Sheila Mahan to our team as the new Vice President of Programs ! Sheila will continue to carry forward the excellent programming of the Downtown Chamber. Sheila is new this month and can be reached at VPprograms@DTchamber.com and 515-297-6333. We are excited to introduce you to Sheila at events, and feel welcome to stop by the office anytime to meet her in person.
Your Two Cents
Vote for Most Influential Board

Des Moines Business Record members and e-newsletter subscribers have an opportunity to vote for the 25 most influential boards to be listed in their 2020 Book of Lists! Deadline to vote is August 20th. We have many worthy chamber members you can nominate, and if you're a fan of the Downtown Chamber, we have a pretty stellar board , too! Vote Now
Your LEAP Story

The LEAP Advisory Council is gathering stories of how LEAP has helped its attendees over the last 5 years. Have you become a mentor or mentee because of LEAP? Have you challenged yourself in new ways? Did you move up in your organization or expanded your business? Have you learned something new about yourself that helps you in your day-to-day life? Tell us what impact LEAP has had on you! We want to know your #LEAPdsm story.


Volunteer Openings
It's ribbon-cutting season! The Ambassadors are seeking additional volunteers to help out and attend at ribbon cutting events.

If you're interested in being part of an energetic team that supports new and expanding businesses, let us know!

To inquire or participate on this committee, contact Melanie Suljic (Ambassadors Chair).
Downtown Chamber Office
Located inside Gravitate
500 Locust St.
Suite 101
Des Moines, IA 50309

515-297-6333

We invite you to stop by anytime to visit and share with us how the Downtown Chamber can help your business.

Thank you to the following Businesses who've helped us decorate and make our space more functional and inviting:

Plants from Art Terrarium
Wall Art arranged by Bottle & Bottega
Flat Screen TV donated by Principal
Parking provided by Cognizant
Furniture design from All Makes
Website
Be sure to check out your Member Directory listing.

Need it updated? Easy. Just login to your Member Portal. Contact Chamber staff if you need assistance.

Explore at www.DTchamber.com
Platinum Members
Mission:
The Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce
is a provider of information and resources for the downtown community through knowledge sharing, the fostering of civility, and understanding of economic issues in the service of the betterment and sustained growth and success of
Downtown Des Moines.
Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce | 515-297-6333 | director@dtchamber.com
www.DTchamber.com