Top Ten Businesses Visited on our Web Site as of Today

Starting now, once a month, we are going to provide the "Top Ten" list of businesses visited on the web site.  I think it will be interesting to watch the changes month-to-month.  As of today, here are the Top Ten:

Conayt Friendship Society --- 212 hits
Nicola Ranch Tourism --- 207 hits
Elks Lodge #441 --- 205 hits
N. V. Food Bank --- 205 hits
Grand Pub & Grill --- 177 hits
VSA Maintenance --- 173 hits
Chystal Gardens --- 169
TBM Cleaning Service --- 168
Radio NL --- 164
R.P. Cebrey  Ltd. --- 164

There are 35 businesses that have had at least 100 hits to their listing.  I think that is pretty good considering we have only operated this site for about 7 months.   In order to get the maximum benefit from being listed on this web site, we encourage our members to provide a description of your business up to 200 characters.  It can be your store hours, services, etc.  Simply send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   and we will update it right away.  This directory listing is one of the many benefits offered to all Chamber members with links to their email and web site if they have them.  If you allocated the total cost of your chamber membership fee to your directory listing, this costs about 50 cents a day - pretty cheap advertising don't you think?  Are we in your "favourites" list yet?

Speaking of web sites, COLDWATER OFFICE SUPPLY now has a new web site so you can order your office supplies on-line.  I spoke to co-owner, Kelly Hobson and she said "the site was up and running on Friday, and on Monday, we had 7 orders waiting."  The great thing about it is that these orders were from businesses in the United States!  Congratulations Larry and Kelly and we wish you continued success at Coldwater Office Supply.

Business after Business Networking Event

The Chamber Directors and Staff are hosting January's Business after Business on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 5 pm to 8 pm.  We have invited the representative from the Chamber Health Benefits Program and TD Financial to attend, as well as Karen Watt, our rep from the BC Chamber.  There is not going to be any selling but we suggest that you visit the Health Benefits web site to see if you would be interested in providing health benefits to your employees.  You can get a quote free of charge and nobody is going to pester you to join.  You should also bring your merchant transaction bill with you and the TD Financial Rep will show you how much money you can save by switching.  They also offer on-line payment plans that is really great for home-based businesses. Again, these reps will be here to answer questions and provide info, but if you are not interested, then just come to have some chilli, cabbage rolls, appies, desserts and refreshments.  The theme is Thank You for Your Support and Have Fun!  This is a "members only" event.

Spirit of BC Week - February 6 - 14

There are some exciting plans in the works for this week with one of them being the First Annual Winter Carnival on February 14th.  This event is being organized by the Downtown Business Committee.  Stay tuned to this web site for more information in the very near future.  The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver is only about 13 months away and Spirit of BC Week is meant to mark the 1-year countdown.

Merritt Mountain Music Festival

I'm sure everyone knows that Kenny Chesney is the headliner this year.  I am really excited that The Steve Miller Band is playing there too.  They are selling one-day passes now so I would bet that this year's Mountainfest is going to be a huge success.  Add Mountainfest to your list of favourites to keep up with this year's plans.

Walk of Stars

The Walk of Stars is a huge tourist attraction in Merritt as we all know, but what else do they do?  I read a very interesting article in the Merritt News last week and I am sure they won't mind if I highlight some of it here:

The Merritt Walk of Stars Society has partnered with the City, Community Futures, Michelle Loughery, Amber Papou and various other groups by assisting with raising over 5 million dollars from provincial and federal grants for the following projects:
- Merritt Youth Mural Project - training and employing youth at risk to paint our beautiful murals
Did you know that Michelle Loughery signed a contract with Graceland to paint the first mural of Elvis Presley in Canada?
- Legacy Square - which will be built at the corner of Voght and Granite in the very near future
- Voght Street Bridge - a beatiful gateway to Downtown Merritt

In addition to the above, they have:
- the creation and installation of the 70+ bronzed handprints of Country Music Stars such as Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Merle Haggard, The Dixie Chicks etc.
- having the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the BC Country Music Hall of Fame brought to Merritt - (coming soon)
- promote Merritt at high profile events such as the Canadian Country Music Awards, BC Country Music Awards , Mountainfest and major political functions

The list really does go on-and-on and Merritt is very fortunate to have this outstanding group of business people and community-minded individuals who volunteer countless hours and their own resources to put Merritt on the map.  Not to mention the Walk of Stars Gala Weekend, which is happening from May 29th to 21st this year.  Way to go Walk of Stars!

THIS MONTH'S QUOTE:

"Don't ask,what's in it for me - ask if it's good for the nation"

                            Barak Obama -  in his speech today regarding his US economic stimulus package