THE BEDFORD BANNER  
                                            October 2018
 

This survey will take you two minutes to complete and help us better serve the membership and 
mold the future of the Chamber. You do not have to be a current member of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce to take the survey. Once you complete the survey, you will be entered into a drawing to win a dinner for four at Red Heat Tavern. 

In This Issue
The Goddard Scholl Trunk or Treat
Flavors of Bedford Sponsorship Opportunites
Bedford TV Trivia Night
10 Fall Marketing Ideas That Will...Get Your Business Noticed.
Women in Business
128 Business Expo
Did You Know?
From the Chamber Office
Economic Development Updates
What the Chamber Did in September?
Who Wants to Be on TV?
Chamber Calendar
Follow us on Facebook
           The Goddard School Trunk or Treat


 
The Goddard School Trunk or Treat will be happening October 26, 2018 at Whole Foods Parking Lot, 3:30-5:30 PM

This is AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY to put your business in front of 700 + Bedford families. All you need to do is sign up, decorate the trunk of your car, dress up in a costume and hand out candy to hundreds of little ones!!!
 
                 JOIN THESE BUSINESSES FOR A FUN AFTERNOON
 
The Goddard School
Callahan Karate 
Daydreamers Consulting
Jessie's Pets
AFC Urgent Care
ServPro of Bedford & Lexington 
OrganizingWorks
Chestnut Dental
Salem Five 
Suzanne & Co.
DSA Printing 
Huntington Tax Partners LLC
Cambridge Savings Bank 
Bedford Cupcakes 
Whole Foods Market
Bedford Family Connection
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Middlesex Community College 
  
Our host will be dressing up as The Cat in the Hat and we also have Little Women, but other than that the skies the limit ..... be creative but not to scary ....
 
We do have limited space so RSVP early. There is no charge for Chambers. We will also be giving a portion of the proceeds and donation to the Friends for  Matty Foundation , a non profit that provides financial assistance to families with children who are battling cancer.
 
Flaovrs logo
FLAVORS OF BEDFORD
November 4, 2018
Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
4-6 PM

 
Flavors of Bedford is the Chambers' biggest opportunity for you to get your name and business in front of of hundreds of Bedford residents.  This year we are hoping to increase tickets sales to over 400 guests and add some exciting new restaurants from Bedford & beyond. Sponsorship not only gets you in all publicity but also tickets to this incredible afternoon of fun, food and frolic.
 
Thanks to these Businesses that have already committed
 
Premier Sponsors
 

Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel

Law Offices of Brown and Brown

New England Nurseries 

Diamond Sponsors
 

DSA Printing

Middlesex Savings Bank

Are You & Your Business Associates  
the smartest people you know?
 
Prove it at the second annual Bedford TV trivia night on Friday,November 2, 2018
Waxy O'Connors
Hartwell Road
Lexington, MA
7-9:30 PM
$150 per team, up to six players per team. This year the winner will receive a trophy, in addition to other amazing prizes!
 
There are also excellent Sponsorship Opportunities - click here for more information 

 
10 Fall Marketing Ideas That Will
Get Your Business Noticed

Fall is an ideal time to promote your business: people are back in town after vacation, kids are back to school, and everyone's ready for a fresh start. Take advantage of the season's opportunities with these marketing ideas.
1. Launch an Instagram photo contest: 
Invite customers to post pictures of themselves engaged in their favorite fall activities (apple picking, flag football, etc.) with a designated hashtag. Choose a winner and offer them a free gift, and re-gram the photo on your account.
2. Put your name on it:
Ditch the paper or plastic bags (at least temporarily) in favor of reusable shopping bags featuring your business's name. You could also encourage customers to carry it by offering a discount when they bring it into the store.
3. Advertise on local blogs: Identify the most popular blogs in your community for news, style, food - whatever best aligns with your business - and advertise special promotions for readers. Not only are the rates less expensive, but you can more easily reach your target market.
4 Celebrate new holidays:
 Halloween and Thanksgiving get all the glory, but you can make your business stand out with fun, social media-friendly holidays unique to your business, like a "Sweater Weather Saturday" sale or a "Pumpkin Spice Appreciation Day" event.
5. Donate to local auctions:
 Fall is a huge fundraising time for schools and charity organizations, so reach out to some of your favorites and offer goods and services for raffles and silent auctions. You'll raise awareness about your business and be a good neighbor.
6. Spend now, save later:
Holiday shopping season is looming, so tempt your customers with a deal: if they spend a certain amount now, they'll get a designated amount off their purchase after Thanksgiving.
7.Team up with local businesses:
Work with other neighborhood shops to pool your resources (and social media reach) to throw an autumn-themed weekend event with food, entertainment, and lots of special promotions.
8. Hit the festival circuit: 
Chances are that organizations in your area host a fall fair or Oktoberfest, so find out how to set up a booth or get involved in sponsoring the event.
9. Bring in the experts: 
Identify common problems among your customers (home organization, wardrobe ideas, hair updates), and designate a day to offer the expertise of your staff and outside consultants with free in-store consultations.
10.Start a deal-of-the-week email:
Send targeted messages to customers with email marketing tools offering special discounts on specific items or services.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS SERIES

Women in Business

with  Marian Ryan

Date:  October 9, 2018
Time:  8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Location: Aloft Hotel
727 Marrett Road

Lexington, MA  02421
Fees/Admission:
Free for Members
$10 for Non-Chamber Members

 
 
 
Event Description:
This event series includes a segment of around-the-table introductions followed by a featured guest speaker.  In addition to facilitated professional networking, the series places a particular emphasis on learning from one another and sharing work experiences in a friendly, open environment. This event will include admission, light breakfast and coffee.
 
On our October 9th session, we will hear remarks from District Attorney, Marian Ryan has been serving as Middlesex County District Attorney since 2013, she is the only female District Attorney in the state representing the Commonwealth's largest county. 
 
Ryan has significant courtroom experience and has prosecuted many of Middlesex County's most complex and challenging cases and has briefed and argued more than 40 cases in the Massachusetts Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court. As District Attorney, she is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 41,000 cases a year. 
 
From her experience she has learned that as important as prosecution is, prevention is equally as important.  She is a recognized expert on developing innovative solutions to stop crime before it happens.  
 
Ryan has received a number of awards and peer recognition for her trial skills and community involvement.  She is a recipient of the Middlesex County Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award and the Boston College Law School's David Nelson Public Service Award.    
 
Ryan is on the faculty of Lasell College in Newton, where she teaches courses in Constitutional Law and the American Legal System.  Ryan has served as an Instructor at Harvard Law School's Trial Advocacy Workshop and has mentored younger lawyers and law students through her volunteer work at the Women's Bar Foundation.   
 
Ryan grew up in Somerville and graduated summa cum laude from Emanuel College cum laude from Boston College Law School.

128 Business Expo

LOOKING FOR MORE SALES, LEADS AND NEW BUSINESS?
JOIN US AT

128-ExpoCOLOR

November 2, 2018 - 11:30AM - 2:00PM

FREE ADMISSION!

The Westin Waltham-Boston Hotel - Eden Vale Ballroom
Give yourself and your company a competitive edge in sales, prospecting, and networking by attending this year's 128 Business EXPO.  The EXPO can allow you to expand your business as well as to help you find out about new products and services.  The EXPO exhibitors represent a broad spectrum of products and services from all different industries.
Excellent prospecting and sales opportunities!
Face-to-Face contact with customers and prospects!

               
 

DID YOU KNOW ?

 WHY SHOULD I LINK TO THE BEDFORD CHAMBER

Internet Marketing is the dominant business marketing channel today and in the foreseeable future. The top search engines, Google service over 90% of all US based Web search traffic. Traditional media such as  TV, Radio, Newspaper and direct mail all have a high cost and low return on investment. Savvy businesses engage in Internet Marketing and Search Engine optimization to help increase their business revenue. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a technique of increasing visitors to your Website. SEO is a process of tuning your Website to achieve a high page rank on the search engine's results page. Search engines return overwhelming results in seconds. Most people will choose their selection from page one of the Search Engine Results or refine their search and repeat the process until they find what they want or exhaust the search. Simply stated, your Website has little value if people cannot find it.


 CLICK HERE FOR THE LINKS AND IMAGES YOU CAN USE ON YOUR WEB SITE
From the Chamber Office
 

Is your Business looking for volunteer opportunities for your employees?

Click HERE for a list of organizations that need help, Certificates of Achievements are provided to all Chamber business members along with photo ops and social media outreach. An optional short video showing your employees doing the volunteer work can be added.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Do you want to get involved with a Chamber Committee or event? 

The Board of Directors are always looking for volunteers to serve on committees and help with events, this is a great way to get involved in the Chamber and maximize your membership by meeting and networking. There are lots of opportunities, please email   Maureen Sullivan at the Chamber office and explore what might fit your talents and interests.


Economic Development Updates
 
1. New Town Manager Update.
Pam Brown provided a draft of potential issues to discuss. The group provided feedback and she will provide a second draft to the group by October 11th.

2. Planning Board Updates
Jumbo Capital appeared before the Planning Board on Tuesday September 25th to discuss their special permit application for adding 300,000 SF of new office space in two new buildings, and an 1,100+ parking garage to their campus at the intersection of Crosby Drive and Middlesex Turnpike. Oracle is the existing tenant in the single building currently at the campus.

3. Zoning Changes proposed for Fall Town Meeting
A public hearing on the Warrant Articles the Planning Board will bring to Fall Town Meeting is scheduled for October 9.

4. Group Discussion - Government Affairs/Advocacy - Best Practices
The group had a discussion on the best way for the chamber to best advocate to town government for it's members. Among the items discussed was having a dedicated person (i.e. board member, executive director or other interested member) available to focus on this over a fixed period of time. 

5. Chamber and Business Visibility Improvements. The group had a discussion on how can we improve the visibility of the Bedford Chamber to Town Residents/Visitors and non-member businesses. A few recommendations were:

A. Getting more members to co-sponsor town events (such as the Minuteman Bikeway Celebration where AFC Urgent Care and Bedford Farms teamed up to offer ice cream) to build good will and promote upcoming Chamber Events. 

B. Establishing a Local Business Guide - Pam Brown  to provide an updated version.

C. Chamber Web Site improvements including adding pictures of Board Members, Getting Board Members to update their Linked In profile to reflect they are a Board Member, Replacing the Economic Development Link with "Find a Business" (links to member directory) and more. 

6. Economic Development
According to Alyssa Sandovel, there appears to be strong demand in Bedford for Biotech Lab Space.She also reported that the Lime Bikeshare is continuing to see increases in usage.






 
What the Chamber did in September?


CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
Executive Director Maureen Sullivan with Chef Carl Joyal of Sora

The Well Effect

Ribbon Cutting
The Well Effect

Leadership Luncheon
 
John Jamesapplollos of The Well Effect

Board of Directors Meeting
Thank you to EDCO Colloborative for hosting

Bedford Day
Director Maria Borino

  Chamber Member Jessie Spencer
 
25 Year Bike Path Celebration
Sponsor AFC Urgent Care & Bedford Farms team up for ice cream

WHO WANTS TO BE ON TV? 


We are so excited to offer our members another new FREE benefit!   We are partnering with o ur friends at Bedford TV to produce a monthly show called CHAMBER CONNECTIONS .  In addition to promoting our events/activities, Chamber members will be interviewed providing great exposure for their business. The show will be broadcast on Public channel and also through their website.  Contact the Chamber if you are interested in learning more.
 

Check out your fellow Chamber members 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
_________________________________________________________________
  
CHAMBER CALENDAR

October 2/9/16/23/30
Tee It Up Golf
Patriot Golf Course
5-6 PM Tee Times

October 9
Women in Business
Speaker DA Marian Ryan
8-9 AM
Aloft Hotel
727 Marrett Road
Lexington, MA
Click here to register

October 11 
Board of Directors Meeting
Town Center Shawsheen Room
7:30 AM

October 20
Bedford Fall Recycling Event
DPW Building
314 Great Road 
9am - 12pm
For more information  
October 26 
Goddard School
Trunk or Treat
 Whole Foods
3:30-5:30

October 30
Multi-Chamber Networking Event
Greater Boston Stage Company
395 Main Street
Stoneham, MA 02180 
5:30-8:00 PM 
$10.00
Click here to register

October 27
Bedford Family Connection Annual Halloween Party
St. Michael's Church
90 Concord Road
Bedford, MA 
10:00 AM -noon

November 2
 Bedford TV Trivia Night 
Waxy O'Connors 
90 HArtwell Ave
Lexington, MA
7-9:30 PM
Click here for sponsor info
 
November 2
128 Business Expo
Westin Hotel 
Waltham, MA
11:30-2:00
Click Here to register 
 
November 4
Flavors of Bedford Doubletree Bedford Glen 
44 Middlesex TPKE 
Bedford, MA
4-6 PM 
Click here for tickets

SAVE THE DATE

December 1
Winter Walk About

December 9
Suzanne & Co. Holiday House Tour
 
Welcome to New Members

Sean Tierney General Contracting LLC
19 Hartford Street
Bedford, MA 01730
(978) 804-3944

Dsousa Plumbing
11 Waterplace Way
Tyngsboro, MA
(978) 621-7221

 
       Bedford Pediatrics
  Dr. David Geller
41 North Road Suite 200
Bedford, MA
781-275-kids (5437)
 
2018 CHAMBER
MEMBERS

A Place for Words 
AFC Urgent Care
Atlantic Capital
Ametek
Atria Longmeadow Place
Baby Boomer Therapies
Baldwin Insurance
Barre 3
Barrett Sotherby's 
Baudanza Electric
Bedford Aesthetics & Nutrition
Bedford Car Wash
Bedford Childrens Center
Bedford Family Connection
Bedford Farms
Bedford Florist
Bedford Funeral Home
Bedford Historical Society
Bedford Motel
Bedford Orthodonics
Bedford Research Foundation
Bedford VA Research
Bernstien Development
Billerica Crossings
Brightview
Brookline Bank
Brown & Brown, P.C.
Buono Pest Control
Callahans Karate Studio
Cambridge Savings Bank
Carlton & Duran, CPAs
Carlton Willard
Chestnut Dental
Christine Pinney Marketing
Cil Cangiano
Conagen
CouponSurfer
Creative Images of Boston
Database Quality
Design 1 Kitchen & Bath
Diane Cadigan Hughes
Diane Bridgeman, DDS
Davidson Law
Debbie Spencer Group
Doubletree Bedford Glenn Hotel
Doyon's
DSA Publishing
EDCO Collaborative
Edward Jones Investments
Einstein's Workshop
Elite Freestyle Karate
EMD Millipore
Express Pizza
First Parish Church
Formulatrix
Fujifilm
GE Instrafracture
Great Meadow Dental
Great Road Gallery
Hanscom Federal Credit Union
Harold Nichols Insurance
Holi Indian Restaurant
Heritage Springs
Huntington Tax Partners
I Am Verizon
Instrumentation Labs
Jesse's Pet Care
KB Jewelers
Ken's Deli
Law Offices of Ken Gordon
Leary Auto
Learning Express & Play
Lexington Symphony
Lincoln Liquors
Live Life Well
MITRE
Mead Brothers
Metro Southwest Job Center
Middlesex Savings Bank
My Hometown Map
New England Nurseries
New York Life
Nichols Insurance Agency
Patriot Pediatrics
Peter Quinn Insurance
Primrose School
Organix Spa & Salon
Quinstance
Red Heat Tavern
RER Fuel
Renzo Salon
Right At Home
Robyn Samuels Alliance Financial Services
Salem Five
Salon OZ
ServPro Lexington & Bedford
Sheena Santos
Short Stop Cafe
Slak  Chiropratic Group
St. Michael's Parish Center
Suzanne & CO.
T & L Nail Salon
Techex
The Bedford Citizen
The Goddard School
The Well Effect 
Virsa de Punjab
 

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