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events April 2009
Don’t be an April Fool!
Expand Your On-Line Presence—Free
Richmond.com’s recent makeover makes it the perfect online venue to network with businesses and reach new or existing customers with its amped up business directory. The new business directory is a huge improvement in functionality. Listings now appear on Richmond.com and TimesDispatch.com, bringing nearly 8 times the traffic as on the old Richmond.com. Find out more immediately after the First Friday Forum this Friday morning at the Westin. Click here >>
New Advertising Opportunities!
SHOP Local, BUY Local
RMA/RTD Special for RMA Members
Join us on a full page of RMA member ads geared to bring in customers and encourage local commerce! You receive two black &white ads—one on the Shop local Buy local page on Sunday April 19 and your 2nd ad on any day of your choosing within 6 days. Size: 3.56 x 3”. Cost for both ads - $550. Deadline Friday April 10. To make a reservation, or if you have questions: contact Doris Ann Kane 649-6291 or local RTD Ad rep.
New Media Partnership
Richmond Media Group’s Targeted Solutions team has formed a new and exciting partnership with Urban Views Weekly, and they are now welcoming advertisers looking to broaden their market share by reaching thousands of new readers. Urban Views Weekly is the foremost authority on lifestyle, events and trends enjoyed by African-American consumers. They currently offer a special discount for Retail Merchants Association members—buy 4 weeks and get the 5th week FREE! For more information, please call 804-441-6255 or your Times-Dispatch representative.
Exhibiting at Retail Marketing Expo?
Free preview for your company in Retail Partners newsletter!
There’s no cost to promote your Show Special in the 3rd Quarter Retail Partners—mailing the first of July! Send a brief paragraph with your contact info to Pat Vitsky no later than May 29. Advertising discounts are also available for Exhibitors. Email patricia@retailmerchants.com or call 804-662-5500. For exhibitor info, contact Jenny Price, jprice@retailmerchants.com or call 804-6623-5500.
April is Retailers4Life Month
On your mark, get set, GO!
Soon you’ll be seeing & hearing promotional ads in print, on the air waves, and from person to person. Retailers4Life continues throughout April, moving around the city and surrounding counties…from retailer to mall to visitor center to market.
The Retail Merchants Association has partnered with the Donate Life Partnership—which comprises United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS based in Richmond, VA), Donate Life America, LifeNet Health, Old Dominion Eye Foundation, Minority Organ Tissue Transplantation Education Program (MOTTEP) of Richmond, and National Kidney Foundation—to increase awareness and encourage Organ Donation.
Haven’t signed up to participate? It’s never too late. You’ll find more information, downloadable material, and continual updates at http://www.retailmerchants.com/retailers-4life.asp. (You can also find the list of participating businesses to date—more than 230 locations!) Or, contact Preston Perrin, pperrin@retailmerchants.com, 804-662-5500, and he’ll be happy to answer questions or suggest ways you can get involved.
Organ donation and transplantation saves lives. One organ donor can save 7 lives, restore sight to two people and help many others. Four Virginians die each week waiting for a life-saving organ transplant that doesn’t come in time.
Back to topFirst Friday Forum
Upcoming
April 3, 2009
"Provide World-Class Service at the Local Level" with Michael Guld, Guld Resource Group
What is “world-class service?” It is the talk of many in service industries but the reality of few. World-class service will greatly exceed service expectations on a consistent basis. When a client is provided with world-class service, it often becomes a legendary experience that is retold to others in a form of free publicity that cannot be bought. Michael Guld will break down the attributes of world-class service and show by example how in most situations, it’s the customer’s buying experience that will determine your reputation more than the products or services you sell. In this session you will discover…
- How offering world-class service can make the difference during recessionary times.
- The six actions that lead to world-class service.
- Why it’s not just what you say…it’s how you say it (body language).
- The three axioms of customer service – communication, communication, communication.
- Why you will never lose business over a problem…only the way it is handled.
- Examples of best practices of world-class service from around the country.
7:45–9:15 a.m.
New Location!: Westin Richmond Hotel
6631 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
804-564-6333
Directions >>
Cost: Members, $25; Non-members, $30
Back to top
Member Events & News
Print Your Own Retailers4Life Signs
R4L posters are now available as a download online. Go to www.retailmerchants.com and click on the R4L bar-coded heart & participating locations or go here http://www.retailmerchants.com/retailers-4life-locations.asp and find the poster .pdf. Questions? Contact Preston Perrin, pperrin@retailmerchants.com or call 804-662-5500.
Social Media Made Easy for Business at RMA—Special Offer for Members
Thursday April 09th. Registration & refreshments begin @ 9:00 a.m.
Social Media Made Easy for Business is the first building block in a series of WERKshops to really understand and work the Web 2.0 space. Hear local & national success stories of real companies and real people benefiting from this medium. See which tools fit you best and start leveraging Social Media to gain visibility, credibility & ultimately profitability.
Topics covered:
- Leveraging Linkedin, Facebook & other Social Networks
- Blogging for Credibility
- 3 Social Media Mistakes to Avoid
- Simple Strategies to implement today
- Going from Web 2.0 to Business 2.0
- YouTube & Video Networks to increase Visibility
- And Much More
Social Media Made Easy for Business Include morning refreshments, parking, materials, and training.
Member: $117 (Members will get a Special Surprise Bonus)
Non-Member: $147
Similar Workshops & Seminars in Washington D.C., Atlanta, and other cities can cost over $1000!
Movie Ticket Price Change!
Regal Discounted Movie Ticket prices will go to $6.75 when we place our next order. Buy yours now at the $6.25 price while supplies last!! Download your ticket order form here: http://retailmerchants.com/benefits/movie-tickets.asp For more information, contact Preston Perrin, pperrin@retailmerchants.com or call 804-662-5500.
Hello Beautiful!
Susie Galvez, Author, Speaker, and Beauty Industry Expert, returns to Home Shopping Network (HSN) to showcase her skincare line "Hello Beautiful!" during two beauty shows: Wednesday, April 1st during the 5 - 6 PM hour EST, and then again on Thursday, April 2 during the 9 - 10 AM hour EST. Exact times during the hour are not known until, like Susie says "The producer comes and gets you from the Green Room and mikes you up for the show!" www.SusieGalvez.com
Big 'Little' News!
King William Miniatures & Collectibles, now opening on April 3, 2009 for our Grand Opening! We stock a full line of dollhouses, dollhouse miniatures, and are a premiere dealer of the high quality miniature furniture Bespaq. Visit our shop location at Suite B, 6114 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, Va 23228 in the shops at Lakeside Towne Center for all of your doll, dollhouse miniature and scale modeling needs. We specialize in the hard to find items & scales such as 1:6 and larger, and Japanese scrapbooking punches. Let us help you design your dream dollhouse in miniature! www.kingwilliamminiatures.us
Midas of Richmond Blood Drive
April 11
Donate a pint of blood – get a FREE oil change!
- 11463 W. Broad St
- 10160 Hull St. Rd.
- 1400 Boulevard – Colonial Heights
- 5527 Mechanicsville Tnpk
For more info: www.vablood.org or call 360-2211.
Spring Job Fair
April 22, 2–7 pm
J. Sargeant Reynolds, Parham Rd. Campus
All are welcome! Recruiters will include hospitality, financial, government, military, customer service, sales, medical/health care, and more.
Patient First Produces Award-Winning Commercial
Patient First recently received a Platinum Ava Award for its “Olivia” television commercial. Animated with over 650 individual frames drawn by hand, the feature has been running in both Virginia and Maryland.
“We are flattered by the recognition, which places our creative into elite marketing circles on a national scale. This commercial was conceptualized to tell a story, to be noticeable, and to make a personal connection with a broad audience,” said Jim Schulenberg, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Patient First. “There were 2,200 AVA Award entrants from the United States and seven from other countries. Only two platinum awards – the highest possible – were presented for the healthcare category.” www.patientfirst.com
Mark Clements Joins Perception
Perception Salon & Spa is proud to introduce to you our newest team member...Mr. Mark Clements.
Mark specializes in all hair types and is known for his effective applications of Fusion Hair Extensions and the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy system. The time and energy he spends with his clients leaves them with soft, smooth, HEALTHY hair...Come by and talk with him in the month of April & Receive a shampoo, blow dry, style & flat iron for only $25 804-855-1989
Celebrate spring by picking up this Sunday’s Times-Dispatch!
In Sports there’s a look at the 2009 baseball season, in Flair you can find out how local schools are gearing up for prom, plus a springtime look at farming in Virginia. Save on everything you need for spring, too! Sunday’s Times-Dispatch will be packed with spring sales, coupons and great values. Call 644-4181 or visit TimesDispatch.com to subscribe today!
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Events is published the third week of each month. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Contact:
Pat Vitsky
(804) 662-5518
Fax: (804) 662-5507
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