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March 2015 Newsletter
Networking Event
Tuesday,
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Hosted by:
2300 Como Avenue
St. Paul, 55108
Guests welcome / No RSVP required
Networking Events are held the first Tuesday of the month at member businesses. Please check our website for upcoming times and locations.
Celebrating 10 years of MetroIBA
On Wednesday, March 11th, 150 MetroIBA members and supporters gathered at The University Club of St. Paul for our 10th anniversary. We are proud to celebrate a decade of promoting the importance of buying local, educating our members and communities, and advocating for local, independent businesses.
The evening began with complimentary beverages courtesy Summit Brewing Company, Famiglia Meschini Wines, and Peace Coffee. Victor Johnson of Minnesota Piano provided music as attendees enjoyed the beautiful view of the Mississippi River and Downtown St. Paul.
Mayor Chris Coleman, Senator Al Franken, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Congresswoman Betty McCullom welcomed us with messages congratulating MetroIBA on 10 years.
We introduced our 2015/2016 board members John Badgley, Pat Gebes, Tim Medenwaldt, Jane Prince, Danny Schwartzman, Jeff Warner, Deanna Weiner, Linda Winsor and executive committee officers Chris Hanson, Molly Glasgow, Julie Novak, Casey Helbling, and Mary Hamel. Thank you to our outgoing treasurer, Andy Gesell and citizen director, John Mannillo.
MetroIBA’s 10 original board members were presented with a founder’s award recognizing their vision to building a strong local independent business community. Beth Bergman, Nancy Breymeier, Merritt Clapp-Smith, Michael Gibbons, Andy Hammerlink, John Kolstad, Mella Martin, Mary Menzel, Jesse Mortenson, and David Unowsky were presented plaque created by Wood From the Hood to honor their leadership.
Attendee’s got to see a sneak peak of the cover for our first annual Buy Local Guide in partnership with Tiger Oak Media and Minnesota Business Magazine. We’re excited to begin publishing this great resource for our members and community!
We are lucky to have so many member-owned businesses and citizen members dedicated to raising the profile of what it means to be a strong, local, and independent. Come spring of 2016, with nominations in the fall, we are also delighted to announce the first annual Independent Business Awards in partnership with Minnesota Business Magazine. Stay tuned for more info!
We would like to recognize our event sponsors Peace Coffee, Summit Brewing Company, Printz, Keys Cafe, Wood From the Hood, Famiglia Meschini Wines, and Schaaf Floral for making the evening possible. And a special thank you to The University Club of St. Paul, Bibelot Shops, Famiglia Meschini Wines, Point Acupressure, Healthy Touch Massage, Deanna Wiener and Pat Gebes for donating door prizes for the event!
Make sure to check out next month’s newsletter for photos of the night by Ari Woeste Photography!
Here’s to the next 10 years of MetroIBA and a great 2015/2016! It’s going to be a big year!
Local Food & Gift Show March 16
MetroIBA is sponsoring the March 2015 Local Food & Gift Show and we hope you’ll support our efforts to bring more locally owned companies into our organization.
This curated, private event is designed to connect wholesale buyers with qualified, stable, local providers.
You can register online to attend the show as a buyer at no cost.
The 4th semi-annual Midwest Pantry Local Food & Gift Show is the premier wholesale tradeshow to fill your store’s local product needs. Midwest Pantry, new MetroIBA members in January 2015, invites you to shop the 50 Midwest-based companies and over 250 store-ready SKUs for every section of your store.
Date:
Monday, March 16, 2014
Show times:
9:30am – 3:00pm
Location:
Grain Belt Bottling House
79 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Free parking is available in the surface lot near the Bottling House.
Driving directions
More information
If you are interested in growing the event and your business by partnering with Midwest Pantry, please email Chad at midwestpantry@gmail.com
Hiring and Firing: Navigating the Legal Minefied
presented by Michael Frasier
Rubric Legal, LLC
Tuesday, April 21
9:30-10:30 am
The choice to hire or fire an employee is always a difficult and stressful business decision. Beyond the business implications, the process you use, the questions you ask, and the reasons for your decision have potentially serious legal consequences.
This webinar is designed to provide you with the tools you need to minimize the risk of making a costly misstep. It will include a discussion of what questions you can and cannot ask in your application and in the interview process as well as best practices for terminating employees.
Brought to you by the MetroIBA Education Committee.
Registration is required.
Michael Frasier is a small business attorney whose passions include working with small businesses on all their challenges and representing employees in disputes with their employers. He also practices in the family law arena, with an emphasis in child support modifications.
Business Owners Roundtable
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Join a monthly peer group of MetroIBA member participants to discuss business issues; share concerns, ideas, contacts, and event information; and receive and offer feedback
Last Thursday of the month, 7:30 – 9:00 AM
Joule Microbusiness Network
1200 South Washington Avenue
Minneapolis
Hosted by Natalie Wilson, CEO, Zydeco Design
RSVP – moderator Pat Gebes, Gebes Enterprises
phone: 763-784-6026, pat@gebesenterprises.com
Public Policy News
Legislative Networking Event
Our Public Policy Committee hosted its Annual Legislative Networking Event on Tuesday, February 10. The 70+ participants were able to share their issues with legislators and receive feedback.
Many thanks to the Flat Earth Brewing Company for welcoming us into their beautifully restored former Hamm’s Brewery buildings. We also wish to thank Jeff & John Warner of Warners’ Stellian for sponsoring the food & arrangements, Urban Oasisfor providing the delicious food, and Franco Claseman for donating the beer.
Net Neutrality Forum
Nearly 80 attendees came out for a panel discussion on the merits of net neutrality, a position supported by MetroIBA to keep fair and equal access to the Internet by bringing it under the rules that regulate utilities.
In conjunction with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Senator Al Franken, the panel was held at Magnet360 and moderated by its managing partner, Dan Mallin. In addition to MetroIBA member Steve Bunnell, other panelists represented business and non-profits.
Jon Pratt (left) Executive Director of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Chris Hanson (right), President of MetroIBA, provided closing remarks. In his closing, while supporting net neutrality, Hanson made it clear that while potential regulations would benefit the mass of small businesses, the FCC also needs to pay close attention to the burden such oversight could place on local ISPs.
Note: The FCC recently voted in favor of net neutrality by placing it under Title 2 regulatory oversight. The debate is sure to continue as many large providers are poised to challenge this ruling in court. Your MetroIBA Public Policy Committee will stay on top of this important legislation and keep you informed!
Rapid Response Team Success
MetroIBA member, Mary Leonard (Chocolat Celeste), requested a St. Paul city license for a temporary pop-up store on Grand Ave to sell Valentine’s Day treats in February. When a Deptartment of Agriculture regulation nearly foiled her holiday plans, Mary contacted our Rapid Response Team member, Mark Thieroff, who was able to solve her licensing problems in a timely manner!
“I was very happy to be the first person to use the Rapid Response Team,” Mary said. “And boy, the response was FAST. I had a problem with the interpretation of a food licensing law. I needed to quickly get a food license for a pop-up store. The inspector denied the request because of a 30-day requirement and a question about handling pre-packaged chocolate boxes. I made a call, Mark Thieroff looked at the law, and sent an email to the inspector. The next morning the inspector called to set up the appointment to inspect and license in just 3 days. I’m very thankful the help was there for me at no cost.”
Strength in Numbers 2015
Survey shows big revenue gains for businesses in communities with independent business alliances
The 7th annual survey of business owners across the U.S. and Canada offers much good news for independents and again suggests the long-term educational work of Independent Business Alliances / Local First groups is yielding big benefits for their members and local economies.
The survey by the Institute for Local Self Reliance(ILSR) and Advocates for Independent Business (a coalition comprised of AMIBA, ILSR and 13 other groups) tallied responses from more than 3000 independent businesses. Just under half were retailers while restaurants, service providers and others comprised smaller portions. Among the notable results:
- Independent businesses in communities with an active “buy independent/buy local” campaign run by grassroots groups saw revenues grow 9.3% in 2014, nearly doublethe 4.9% increase for businesses in areas without such an alliance.
- Retailers surveyed reported a 5.1% increase in same-store sales last year, beating many competing chains, while independent businesses overall reported revenue growth of 8.1% on average.
- Wages paid by respondents equaled or exceeded their chain competitors. 41% of independents’ employees make between $10 and $15 hourly, while 34% make $15 or more hourly.
Read more.
Enjoy the benefits of membership in 2015
Membership benefits include:
- Discounts from other member businesses
- Member directory listing on buylocaltwincities.com
- Members only discussion group through list serv
- Expanded online presence through Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest
- Free webinars and monthly networking events
….and much more
Business memberships are only $18 per month or $180/year ($50 for each additional storefront). Choosing the monthly option helps MetroIBA lower our costs by maintaining a consistent cash flow. Monthly payments also reduce administrative costs, and allow us to focus on growing the independent businesses that we represent.
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 your payment to:
MetroIBA
2190 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Thank you Volunteers
Mary Jo Koplos~Postal Dispatch Business Center
Nicki Jones~Kuk Sool Won of St. Paul
