strander - Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Transcription

GR
G
RAND
RAND
RA
681
strander ISSUE
MARCH 2010
0
WHAT’S
INSIDE
THE OFFICIA L NE W SLE T TER OF THE MYRTLE BE ACH ARE A CHA MBE R OF COM ME RCE
GREENING OF THE GRAND STRAND
5
Even Kermit the Frog knows that it’s not easy being green. It takes planning, knowledge and commitment to turn a dingy carbon
footprint green. However members of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce – from hotels to architectural firms to drug stores –
are making going green look easy. It’s an individual mission – accomplished one person and one business at a time.
Going green
There’s a green movement going on at Springmaid Beach Resort. In fact, the resort has a mile long list of steps it’s taking to reduce their
energy and waste consumption. According to John Williams, assistant general manager, the resort has installed low water rate flow
shower heads, sensor activated towel dispensers, and amenity dispensers in all guest rooms (no individual plastic bottles). Their recycling
program includes recycling bins at each high volume waste area, and bulk recycling containers at restaurant sites, pier and maintenance/
housekeeping areas. Their payroll role system is moving to a paperless process. They use green certified paper products in guest rooms
and public areas. And Springmaid Beach does not use plastic foam takeout containers in their restaurants since it is not biodegradable.
As everyone knows, conservation is not only about recycling, it also encompasses reduce and reuse. Williams points out that Springmaid
Beach Resort is doing its part “to keep reusable items out of the landfills.” The resort has donated 500+ spreads to local charities and
450 patio plastic chairs to various community members.
Springmaid Beach Resort isn’t the only MBACC hospitality member on the conservation bandwagon, Hilton & Kingston Plantation
Resorts, a finalist in the chamber’s first Operating Green annual membership award category, have jumped onboard. The resorts have
created innovative and cost-saving measures that save energy and water and reduce solid waste. Whether it’s buying hybrid/alternative
fuel vehicles, preparing locally grown fresh food, or using drought tolerant landscaping material, these earth-friendly initiatives are part
of their commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible.
Go to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and
click on the logo below to watch MBACC go green.
Staybridge Suites is another member that has taken
green to heart by “purchasing, implementing, practicing
and training our staff to operate better financially and
efficiently,” explains Derek Nelson, regional director of
operations at InterContintental Hotels Group. Staybridge
Suites uses environmentally safe chemicals, employs
energy tracking with actions plans to improve usage, and
encourages employees to submit conservation ideas.
Todd Frazier RRP, CMCA, AMS, regional general manager
of Shore Crest Vacation Villas (Bluegreen Vacation Club),
says the North Myrtle Beach resort also makes it a point to
donate scrapped items to community agencies. Discarded
sheets and blankets are donated to local charities such as
CASA, The Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries; bottles
of shampoo and lotion with lower than suitable levels for
guest rooms are donated to Boys and Girls Clubs; and rolls GOING GREEN, See Page 8
MBAC.
Community Superstars
ICE Awards recognize the
Incredible Customer Experience.
6
Grow Your Business
Sign up today for this year’s
Business & Restaurant Expo.
18
Hospitality Goes Green
Hotels and restaurants focus
on sustainable practices.
Back
Cover
Go Green at Office Depot
Give your office an eco-friendly
edge with green office supplies.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman of the Board
Brant Branham
E. F. Hucks & Associates, Inc.
Immediate Past Chairman
Steve Chapman
Island Vista Resort
Advertising/Publicity Committee Chair
Bob Barenberg
Hilton Hotels
Vice Chairs
Nate Anderson
Divine Dining Group
Billy Huggins
WPDE NewsChannel 15
MBAC.
Business Ethics & Standards Committee
Chair
Frans Mustert
Oceana Resorts
Vice Chair
Debbie Harwell
Adobe Palm Communications
Member
Julie Alford
A&I Restoration, Inc.
Convention Bureau Committee Chair
Charlie Bradshaw
Alabama Theatre
Finance Review Committee Chair/Treasurer
Franklin Daniels
Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Fulfillment Committee Chair
Phil Vassar
Captain’s Quarters Resort & Hotel Blue
Vice Chair
Nate Anderson
Divine Dining Group
Legislative Policy Council Chair
Buzz Freeman
Conway National Bank
Vice Chairs
Richard Singleton
Coldwell Banker Chicora
Greg McCollum
M. Greg McCollum, PA
Membership Committee Chair
Sara Boling
CENTURY 21 Boling & Associates, Inc.
Vice Chair
Wayne Morris
The Printing Port
North Strand Council Chair
Bill McGonigal
Best Western Ocean Sands
Small Business Council Chair
Wayne Morris
The Printing Port
Vice Chair
Julie Alford
A & I Fire and Water Restoration
South Strand Council Chair
Tommy Bouchette
South Carolina Bank and Trust
Vice Chair
Bob Jewell
Brookgreen Gardens
Young Professionals Council Chair
Shannon Camp
The Jackson Companies
Vice Chair
Jordan Watkins
Gilmore Entertainment

Marketing Council Chair
Ryan Swaim
Dunes Realty Vacation Rentals & Sales
Vice Chair
Woody Crosby
Jordan Properties
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
WHAT’S ONLINE
Myr tleBeachAreaChamber.com
Grand Strander Online
Search
For quick access to all of the great features mentioned below, just go to
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and click on Grand Strander at the top of the page.
CHAMBER
EVENTS
EDUCATION
PROGRAMS
4 1/2 QUESTIONS
“4 1/2 Questions” asks, “Why become
an ambassador?” This month we
checked in with Heather Williams with
Adams Outdoor Advertising, who has
been an ambassador for 8 months.
MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
What’s the secret to long-term
success in the business community?
Establishing lasting and personal
relationships with other professionals
through membership in the Myrtle
Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
During March, 102 members will be
celebrating their chamber anniversaries.
Read the Grand Strander Online and
discover which business has been a
chamber member for 30 years.
BENEFIT OF THE MONTH
Don’t forget that MBACC offers an
online Small Business Center. Here you
will find health insurance savings, office
supply discounts, public relations tips
and lots more. Check out all the
advantages you have as a chamber
small business member!
BE A STAR
This month, the Grand Strander talked
with Marc Haines, Odell Logan and
Mike Fleming, owners and operators
of M.O.M.S. Kitchen and Bathroom
MARKETING
STRATEGIES
Re-facing. M.O.M.S. is the acronym for
what? Read the Grand Strander Online
to find out.
RIBBONCUTTING
South Atlantic Bank celebrates the
opening of a new branch. Check out
other ribbon-cutting ceremonies in
the Grand Strander Online.
NEW MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Palmetto Power Cleaning LLC
802 45th Ave. N.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 458-2303
ppcmb.com
30-Second Commercial
With little less than a decade of
operational experience, Michael Cooke
has single handily grown the business
of Palmetto Power Cleaning LLC to
what it is today. The business strives to
always provide great customer service
while helping the customer work within
their budget requirements. Palmetto
Power Cleaning’s clients consist of
homeowners, restaurants, gas stations,
MEMBER
RESOURCES
GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS
property management companies,
and construction companies. Jobs may
range from residential homes, multi-unit
townhomes and golf villas, concrete and
roofs to parking garages and high raises.
No job is too small or too large; we are
fully equipped to accommodate any
type of customer.
#1 Business Goal
Our goal is to ensure a happy customer
so that we will be rehired.
GOING GREEN WITH
GRAND STRANDER
Do you use the Grand Strander to line
your bird cage? Is the newsletter used as
an umbrella when caught in rain? Do you
prefer to read the online version with its
special features, such as the “4 1/2
Questions” (see above), ribbon-cutting
photos, list of member anniversaries, and
member of the month (Be a Star)? If you
answered yes, maybe it’s time to save a
tree or two by opting out of receiving
the hardcopy Grand Strander. You can
still stay up-to-date on MBACC news
by simply logging onto the Web at
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and
clicking on Grand Strander at the top
of the page. If you prefer to read the
newsletter online, send a quick e-mail to
[email protected],
and she will take you off the Grand
Strander hardcopy mailing list.
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
Discover more networking events at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com
March 11
4:15-7 p.m.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront
March 30
3 p.m.
1803 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
Come and enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres and refreshing spirits served in
the oceanfront lobby. Door prizes include gi certificates to the new
Sanctuary Day Spa, gi certificates to Radical Ropes Adventure Park
opening June 1 in Myrtle Beach, a two night stay in an oceanfront
room and a five night stay in an oceanfront penthouse suite.
March 24
8:30-10 a.m.
BEHIND THE SCENES
CHAMBER ACCESS
YOUR ALL ACCESS PASS
TO THE CHAMBER
MBACC Boardroom, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach
Get the most out of your membership right from the start! This is
an opportunity for new members to learn about the many benefits
of chamber membership. It’s also a great time to get a head start on
introducing yourself to other chamber members in a small, comfortable
social setting. New employees of existing member businesses and
long-standing members are encouraged to attend as well.
Free, value-added benefit of chamber membership
Register at ChamberAcademy.com
Registration Deadline: March 29
Questions? Call (843) 916-7232
WMBF News
918 Frontage Rd. E., Myrtle Beach
Ever wonder how the meteorologist knows what the weather will be?
Want to see where WMBF News does all their broadcasts and how
they put together stories? If so, check out Behind the Scenes.
Register at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com
All members must preregister online.
Attendance is limited so sign up early.
March 25
7-9 a.m.
BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS
KISS Coffeehouse
1320 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach
How about a hot Rocket Ride or an Iced Rockiato? Highly-caffeinated
coffee along with great conversation is a natural for KISS Coffeehouse,
and a great way to start off your morning. Stop by Business Before
Hours, grab a Growler and a KISS Unplugged and experience Business
Before Hours – one sip and one conversation at a time.
April 8
7:30-9:15 a.m.
CONNECTIONS
MARKETPLACE
Springmaid Beach Resort Conference Center
3200 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
Like to interact one-on-one and not in large crowds? Myrtle Beach
Area Chamber of Commerce realizes that it can be hard to network at
the large socials. So we created Connections Marketplace, an intimate
way to meet a lot of people in a short amount of time. Connections
Marketplace is a speed networking event where you move from
table to table to meet everyone in the room. Bring a minimum of 75
business cards to exchange and display on the share table – a table
for your business cards, brochures, product samples, etc. Two lucky
members will win a chance to make a five-minute presentation at the
May 13 Connections Marketplace (free admission too!)
MBAC.
CHA M BE R Events
$15 per member (includes breakfast). No rescheduling or refunds.
This is a members-only event. All members must preregister online.
Registration Deadline: April 7
Questions? Call (843) 916-7225

GRA
GRAND
RAND
CHA M BE R Academy
strander
Register for classes at ChamberAcademy.com
Classes for the Chamber Academy are held in the boardroom (unless otherwise noted) at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle
Beach. Register at ChamberAcademy.com. Payment due at time of registration. No refunds or rescheduling. To learn more, contact Blakely Jenkins, membership
& community programs manager, [email protected] or (843) 916-7232. Discover more educational opportunities by signing up for the
Education Updates e-newsletter at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, click on Sign up for eNews.
MBAC.
SERIES
03.10
LGS Alumni
Association
Educational Series
TOPIC
PRESENTED BY
DATE/TIME
COST
SIGN UP BY
Creating Lasting
Change – How to
Initiate and Sustain
Cycles of Success in
any Area of Life
Scott Jackson, author of
“PreMeditated Success
in Life – The Power of
Personal Vision”
March 10
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
(Bring your lunch)
$10 for LGS Alumni
Association members
$20 for MBACC members
$45 for general public
March 9
DESCRIPTION: We’ve all been there ... knowing on one hand what we should be doing, but doing what we feel like doing on the other. This class focuses
on why we sometimes find it so difficult to form habits that we know would improve the overall quality of our lives. Whether you are seeking wealth,
fitness, personal achievement or meaningful contribution, this lunch and learn will show you exactly how to initiate and sustain predictable cycles of success.
LOCATION: Myrtle Beach Firestation, 970 38th Ave. N.
03.16
SERIES
TOPIC
PRESENTED BY
DATE/TIME
COST
SIGN UP BY
Business Series
Managing Your
Customer Service
Delivery
Eileen Soisson,
The Meeting Institute
March 16
9-11 a.m.
$10 for MBACC members
March 15
DESCRIPTION: Participants will be challenged to better serve their customers by taking responsibility for and managing the company’s customer service from
day one. Recruiting service-oriented staff and then training them is the first step, but then management must be willing to make the service delivery systems
that are in place as effective as possible. Ways to involve and empower staff to deliver the desired service will be discussed and shared.
03.23
SERIES
TOPIC
PRESENTED BY
DATE/TIME
COST
SIGN UP BY
Business Series
Local Business
Marketing on the
Internet
Sue White,
Business Training Team
March 23
9-11 a.m.
Free for MBACC members
March 22
DESCRIPTION: Are you a local business owner who questions if you need to market yourself on the Internet? Are you wondering where to begin? In this
seminar you’ll see examples of how you can attract local customers to your business through the Internet. These are free or low-cost tools that you can put into
place today. Most can be set up in less than an hour and you never need to visit the site again. Others will take some day-to-day interaction to be effective.

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
INCREDIBLE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE  The best event on the Grand Strand
So what does it take to create the incredible customer experience? One
can say it’s an astonishing, memorable customer experience that will foster
word-of-mouth, all at no cost to the business or individual other than a
little bit of time and effort. It is this experience that your Myrtle Beach
Area Chamber of Commerce will recognize at the 4th annual ICE Awards.
The ICE Awards applaud outstanding service to the community and
our visitors in Amusement & Entertainment, Communications, Dining,
Financial, Lodging, Nonprofit, Professional, Real Estate, Retail, Service.
To see the top three business and individual finalists in each of these
categories, go to MyrtleBeachICEAwards.com.
The ICE Awards are presented by Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
and sponsored by:
MBAC.
The ICE Awards will take place March 27 from 6-10 p.m. at The Palace
Theatre. All Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses
were eligible to receive two complimentary tickets. The deadline was
Feb. 12 to register for the free tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased
for only $30 and include a pre-reception from 6-7 p.m., an awards
ceremony from 7-8:15 p.m., and an aer party from 8:15-10 p.m. with
heavy hors d’oeuvres, open bar and entertainment. To purchase your
$30 tickets, register at MyrtleBeachICEAwards.com. Deadline to purchase
tickets is March 23.

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
For more information on festivals & special events, go to
F E S TIVALDANIELS
S Update elected
FRANKLIN
board chairman
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com
and clickof
on MBACC
the Chamber Events icon.
MBAC.
CANADIAN VISITORS ESCAPE SNOW FOR
Can-Am Days March 13-21

Welcoming our Northern neighbors as the spring
weather begins to show up is the 49th annual
Canadian-American Days Festival. This year, from
March 13-21, the Myrtle Beach area will greet
Canadian and American visitors with a lineup of
fun events, giveaways, discounts and concerts
taking place throughout the Grand Strand.
Canadian-American Days draws as many as
100,000 Canadian visitors and snowbirds from
northern states. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber
of Commerce introduced Canada Days in 1961
to attract Canadian families during their spring
school break. The name was changed in 1963 to
Canadian-American Days. It is regarded as the first
international festival organized in South Carolina.
Mark your calendars for the RBC Bank Can-Am
Kickoff Celebration Expo on March 16 from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
The event is free and open to the public. The expo
will showcase MBACC businesses plus there will be
lots of door prizes, music and entertainment.
RBC Bank also is a presenter of three free military
concerts: The 282nd Army Band on March 15
at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), Beach Church,
557 George Bishop Pkwy., Myrtle Beach. Tickets
available 8:30 a.m. March 8 at the Myrtle Beach
Area Chamber of Commerce welcome centers at
1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, and 3401 U.S. 17
Business S., Murrells Inlet. The 208th Army Reserve
Band on March 19 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.),
Christ United Methodist Church, 2901 Fantasy Way,
Myrtle Beach. Tickets available 10 a.m. March 16 at
the Can-Am Days Kickoff Celebration Expo, Myrtle
Beach Convention Center. The United States Navy
Band on March 20 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.),
Beach Church, 557 George Bishop Pkwy., Myrtle
Beach. Tickets available 10 a.m. March 16 at the
Can-Am Days Kickoff Celebration Expo, Myrtle
Beach Convention Center.
In addition to the concerts, events include the
2nd annual Canada vs. U.S.A. Battle at the
Beach golf tournament, a South Strand Can-Am
Reception, the 3rd annual Snowbird Games, the
2nd annual Fabulous 50s Festival, amusement
discounts and more. For an entire listing of events
and more details on any of the concerts listed
above, visit CanAmDays.com.
INCREASE NAME RECOGNITION at Restaurant & Business Expo
The Myrtle Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce
2010 Restaurant &
Business Expo is the
region’s most successful
member-to-member and
member-to-public trade
show. This four-hour
jam-packed event will
feature approximately
130 businesses showcasing their latest products and
services to an anticipated 5,000 plus attendees.
The expo will be held April 28 from 4-8 p.m. at the
Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel,
Exhibit Halls B & C. The expo is free and open to the
public. Food and beverage prices will range from
$1-$3.
•
•
•
•
•
Increase sales and brand awareness
Seek referral business and generate leads
Increase Web site visits
Launch a new product or service
Collect prospects names and addresses to
build a marketing database
• Enjoy award-winning cuisine
• Win fabulous door prizes
During the entire 2010 Restaurant & Business Expo,
businesses will not only be showcasing their products
and services but restaurants will be serving up
samples of their mouthwatering dishes. Each chamber
member business will receive 10 complimentary food
and beverage tickets (valued at $1 each) and will be
available for pick up at the event. Additional tickets
can be purchased for $1 each.
Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your business.
by purchasing booth space. For only $175, you will
receive a skirted 8-foot table, two chairs, a sign, and
a 10-by-10 pipe and draped area. A double booth
space, 10-by-20, runs $325. Register for a booth by
April 14 at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, click on
Chamber Events.
Learn More: To register as a restaurant exhibitor,
go online to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com or
contact Kate Miles, hospitality sales manager,
at [email protected] or
(843) 916-7234. All other businesses can register
at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com or contact
Kema Faulk, festivals & special events coordinator,
at [email protected] or
(843) 916-7276.
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
F ROM My Desk
GO GREEN
Going green. Conserving energy. Becoming ecofriendly. Recycling waste. Reducing your carbon
footprint. Regardless of how you describe it, it’s
a national movement that can’t be ignored. And
unlike most trends, our community’s commitment
to living, working and playing while minimizing
our impact on the environment is here to stay.
Going green is not a new practice for Myrtle Beach
Area Chamber of Commerce – it’s been part of
the company’s business practices for close to
15 years. Like most small businesses, going green
for MBACC meant taking small steps over the
years. Aluminum cans were collected for donations
and recycling and soon other recyclables were
added to the mix: cardboard, printer cartridges,
plastic and paper. MBACC also is a Santee Cooper
Green Power Partner with 15 blocks or 2.65 percent
of our total annual billing amount being reinvested
into future developments of additional renewable
resources or Green Power facilities.
As we look to step up our conservation efforts,
MBACC is working with Fisher Recycling on
recycling efforts. One simple act is adding more
recycling bins throughout the chamber offices to
encourage staff, along with visitors and members,
to recycle their beverage cans and water bottles.
are doing to go green and ensure a prosperous and
sustainable future for the Grand Strand. You can
learn more about this rare, extremely discounted
television advertising opportunity at our green
Web site.
At the 2009 annual membership meeting, a new
award recognized our members’ commitment to
sound environmental practices. The Operating
Green Award was presented to Brookgreen
Gardens for their eco-friendly outdoor policies and
recycling efforts along with other environmentally
friendly measures. Hilton & Kingston Plantation
Resorts and Ocean Lakes Family Campground
also were recognized as finalists. You can read
more about these businesses in our cover story,
“Greening of the Grand Strand.”
Sorting the mix
As environmental concerns have increased and
the costs of green technologies come down, more
and more businesses owners – both large and
small – have begun adopting green technologies.
Consumers are increasingly responding to
businesses that are environmentally responsible.
With this in mind, it only makes smart business
sense to review your green practices. Besides, it is
the right thing to do – reduce, reuse, recycle.
When we recently asked members to send in their
green tips, members responded enthusiastically
with a slew of conservation practices ranging from
solar energy installations and water conservation
to business recycling. We invite you to learn more
about what your fellow MBACC members are
doing to keep the Myrtle Beach area beautiful
and sustainable. Visit our new green Web site at
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com/education/
green.html to explore best practices, resources
and ideas on going green. You also will learn
more about upcoming conservation events, such
as the March 15 workshop/panel discussion on
going green and the Grand Strand Green Fair on
March 21. Plus, to help members join the green
movement, MBACC is partnering with WBTW
News 13 to offer chamber members special
advertising rates on WBTW and scnow.com. Ads
will run during the time slots when the station
promotes what MBACC and chamber members
Brad Dean
President & CEO
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
MBAC.
To that end, your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of
Commerce is making a commitment to connect
businesses to resources to help companies
implement green thinking in their day-to-day
operations and employees’ lifestyles at work and in
the community. The chamber also is embarking on
a process to become more environmentally sound
as an organization.
Environmentally friendly practices
As your chamber takes on more environmentally
friendly activities, MBACC recognizes a number
of our members already are active proponents of
environmental stewardship.

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
GOING GREEN, Continued From Cover Page
of toilet paper, paper towels and facial tissue that are to
be discarded are also donated to CASA.
MBAC.
Mickey Lincoln, RRP, general manager of Carolina
Grande (Bluegreen Vacation Club), notes that the hotel
has installed various energy saving devices to cut back
on usage and save money. The spa is placed on timers
that turn off nightly when the area is closed and solar
panels on the roof supplement the heating for domestic
and laundry room water.

Getting creative
Energy conservation is proving contagious. Several
chamber members have put into action forwardthinking plans that run the gamut from water quality
monitoring to litter campaigns to composting.
A greener healthier tomorrow is the goal of Lee’s Inlet
Apothecary & Gis. Megan Peterson, physician/
customer relations, reminds us to keep our water clean
by not flushing unwanted medicines down the toilet,
unless specified on the container. “You should put the
unwanted medicine in a sealable bag, add coffee grounds
or kitty litter to make it undesirable for humans and
animals, and throw it in the trash,” Peterson explains.
“The shredded paper from
your shredder works great
for outdoor mulch,” suggests
Angie Shoemaker with
RE/MAX Beach & Golf.
“Just put it on the ground
then put leaves over it and it
keeps the weeds down.”
“A lot of people throw away home goods, clothing, etc.
that are still very useful only because they don’t want
to deal with them and just want it out of their home,“
observes John Griggs with State Farm Insurance. “Truth
is that the items may be easier to get rid of than they
think. If they ask their co-workers or fellow congregants
at church, they will be surprised how many people
would like to have what they no longer need. In giving it
to those people, they have not only done a good deed,
but also saved some much needed funds.”
“We changed out all of the light bulbs on the Murrells
Inlet MarshWalk to the more efficient CFL bulbs,” notes
Jennifer Averette, executive director of Murrells Inlet
2020. “We moved the printed community newsletter
distribution from four times a year to twice a year and
added an enewsletter twice a month. And, for the first
time ever, we used the Santee Cooper Green Power
program to light the Murrells Inlet Christmas tree at
Morse Park.”
At Blue Wave Adventures Dolphin Watch and Eco
Tours, they have employed the use of four stroke
engines on their boats. This reduces fuel consumption,
there are no oil residues put into the water through the
exhaust, and the emissions off the motors are much
cleaner than two stroke or diesel boat motors.
“We also make sure that any rubbish onboard stays
onboard and that it gets to the recycling bin at the
end of the day. It is also a habit of ours to pick up from
the ocean any garbage, such as plastic bags, balloons,
drink bottles, etc., that we see floating about,” notes
Captain Mark Collins, owner of Blue Wave Adventures.
“Additionally, our trips focus heavily on the environment
and educating our guests about their impact on the
oceans and, in particular, dolphins, no matter where
they live. We always close our tours by encouraging
guests to get involved with the environment in some
way. Every little bit makes a difference.”
Yes, every little environmentally friendly action does
make a difference. Just ask Ripley’s Aquarium where
employees were given a reusable cup made from
recycled plastic that they can use for all refills of water,
so drinks and coffee. By using this cup and offering
large water dispensers, thousands of plastic bottles,
aluminum cans and paper cups are eliminated each year.
Sunny days ahead
Another MBACC member that is really picking
up steam in the drive toward energy
efficiency is Ocean Lakes Family
Campground. The campground
is testing its first solar water
heated bathhouse as part
of its successful iCare
Program.
One Apricus solar
panel has been
mounted to the
roof of an existing
bathhouse to solar
heat the water for
12 shower stalls
and the sinks.
“Conceptually this is
a great idea,” explains
Lance Thompson,
vice president and
general manager. “With
the amount of sun we get
in Myrtle Beach, it seems like
a ‘no-brainer.’ However, we are
starting with one bathhouse as a pilot
project to monitor the impact of the solar
panel.”
“The iCare Program’s slogan is Awareness & Action
Count,” according to Thompson. “We want to be
good stewards and do the right thing with regard to
the environment, as well as in operating a successful
business that has had a proven impact on both the
Grand Strand and South Carolina’s economy.”
GRA
GRAND
RAND
If the solar heated water project proves successful,
Ocean Lakes plans to install more solar panels into its
laundry operations, snack bars and pools as part of its
iCare Program.
The campground’s iCare Program is aimed at helping
reduce the environmental impact of the campground
and its guests. The program focuses on pet
pollution, litter and recycling and storm
water runoff.
One group that is taking that question to heart is the
Horry Georgetown Home Builders Association. The
association has formed the Coastal Green Council to
educate the public about the advantages of green
building practices and techniques, sponsor education
programs, recommend legislation and regulations
that can stimulate green building, encourage ethical
conduct, good business practices and advance the image
of the green building industry. To learn more, visit
hbahorrygeorgetown.com/coastalGreenCouncil.php.
MBACC member, Paul Doyle, AIA, LEED AP, Usry
Wolfe Peterson Doyle Architecture Inc., agrees that
green construction benefits both the human health and
natural environment.
“As an architecture firm with a local history, we are
fully committed to the idea of sustainability in both the
projects we design and in our own internal operations,”
Doyle notes. “From our perspective, sustainable design
provides two very important advantages to our work.
First, it is clearly better for the environment. Regardless
of one’s opinion as to the degree that man is responsible
for climate change, we can all agree that our buildings
can be designed and built in a way that causes fewer
negative impacts on the environment. Buildings
account for more than 65 percent of the total amount
of electricity consumed in the United States, 30 percent
of our greenhouse gas emissions, 12 percent of potable
water usage, and approximately 136 million tons of
construction and demolition debris fill our landfills each
year from the construction industry. We can do better.
“Secondly, there is an abundance of independent
research that clearly demonstrates that sustainable
design and construction can have a positive impact
on the health and productivity of the individuals
who will occupy those buildings. Student test scores
have been shown to be higher, retail sales have shown
meaningful improvement, and employee absenteeism
has been shown to be reduced in buildings that employ
sustainable design principles including elements such as
sufficient access to natural light and improved indoor air
quality.”
Real estate professionals also are stepping up to provide
expert advice on energy efficiency in properties. The
field offers certification in understanding what makes
a property green, helping clients evaluate the cost/
benefits of green building features and practices, and
distinguishing between industry rating and classification
systems.
Canaan Sewell, a REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker
Chicora, holds the Green Designation from the National
Association of REALTORS®. According to Sewell, the
Green Designation helps “consumers who care about
energy efficiency and sustainable building practices
identify REALTORS who can help them realize their
green real estate and lifestyle goals.”
Lisa Terrill, with Watermark Real Estate Group, has
earned the EcoBroker designation. Terrill helps clients
buy and sell properties with green features, save money,
and live comfortably, through energy efficiency and
environmentally sensitive choices.
Personal commitment
From hotels that have eliminated those small plastic
shampoo bottles to an aquarium that is saying no to
plastic water bottles, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of
Commerce members are making a visible difference on
our environment.
For every aluminum
can tossed in
a recycling
bin, every tree
planted to lower
air conditioning
costs, and every
cigarette butt picked
up from the beach
sand there is a positive
outcome – there is the
greening of the Grand
Strand.
MBAC.
Green building
While the environmental
movement has come
a long way, MBACC
members continue
to seek new ways
to live more
conscientiously.
And one of the
latest trends is
“green building”
or environmentally
sustainable
construction.
According to Steve
Strickland, PE, LEED
AP, The Earthworks
Group Inc., everyone
can benefit from green
building. “The projected
benefits include reduced
operating costs for energy, water
and waste disposal, and making
facilities more enjoyable and better places
to visit, live or work.” He encourages individuals to
ask, “What can I do today to reduce my environmental
footprint?”
strander
Architects, contractors and builders aren’t the only
ones helping consumers reduce carbon footprints.

PR Hotspot
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
MBAC.
CHAMBER/CVB BEGINS YEAR WITH MAJOR MEDIA
OUTREACH in Toronto, Buffalo & New York City
by Kimberly Miles, public relations manager
While Myrtle
Beach visitors
and residents
were enjoying
sunny and mild
temperatures
in January,
journalists in
Myrtle Beach themed decor at the
much colder
CN Tower media event.
climates were
reminded of why Myrtle Beach is one of the most
popular vacation destinations in the United States.
During the week of Jan. 18, major media outreach
took place in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Toronto to
emphasize the affordable direct service to Myrtle
Beach on Direct Air from Niagara Falls, N.Y., and
new service on Porter Airlines from Toronto. The
Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
conducted a chef demo of Carolina Coastal Cuisine
for Buffalo’s ABC affiliate WKBW and hosted a
media event at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto
to literally bring the beach to Canada. The CVB also
announced the appointment of a new Canadian
office and Kimberly Hartley as the Canadian sales
manager for the Myrtle Beach area.
During the event, roughly 60 journalists were
introduced to sweet potato chips, mini pulled-pork
barbecue sandwiches, fried pickle spears, grouper
bites, peach cobbler and other South Carolina fare
while Chef Kurt D’Aurizio of the Divine Dining
Group cooked shrimp and grits and collard greens.
Beach balls, chairs, umbrellas and sand buckets
lined the venue while guests partook in making
their own souvenir flip book or competed in a putt-

putt golf contest sponsored by Myrtle Beach Golf
Holiday. Overall, the event was a huge success that
generated immediate news coverage by some of
the attendees and strong interest for feature Myrtle
Beach stories.
The following week the PR team conducted an
out-of-market media visit in New York City where
media desk sides were achieved with ABC Travel
News, Food & Wine, Budget Travel, Family Circle,
Ladies Home Journal and others. The opening of
the new Myrtle Beach boardwalk by June, new
air service and airport expansion project were hot
topics among media conversations. Additional outof-market media visits are scheduled this year to
Boston, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.
What would you like to learn or see in a future
PR Hot Spot? Want to be involved in this area’s
public relations efforts? Have a PR related question?
You can reach Kimberly Miles at (843) 916-7218
L to R: Adam Wilcox (Porter Airlines), Kimberly Miles
(Myrtle Beach CVB), Elaine Michaud (Myrtle Beach CVB),
Scott Schult (Myrtle Beach CVB), Danna Lilly (Myrtle
Beach CVB), Kimberly Hartley (Myrtle Beach CVB),
Steve Mays (Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday).
or [email protected]. Follow
Miles’ tweets from the Myrtle Beach Area CVB at
http://twitter.com/MyMyrtleBeach.
Print and Online Publicity Values
January 2010
Newspaper Articles
21
Nondaily Newspaper Articles
4
Consumer Magazine Articles
4
Trade Magazine Articles
3
Web Articles
83
Wire Services
1
Total Circulation
136,447,472
Publicity Value
$565,266
Year-to-Date Ad Value for
Myrtle Beach Travel News
$565,266
ONLINE MEDIA CONTACT LIST UPDATED
The chamber’s online media contact list has been
updated. Members will find 120 entries with
detailed contact information for broadcast, print,
online and Hispanic media as well as other area and
South Carolina government agencies. Individual
sections or the complete list can be accessed at:
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com/media/media_
contacts.html
MBA CHAMBER AND CVB FAST FACTS
The 2010 fact sheet, with 2009 metrics, has
been posted to the chamber Web site at
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, click on About the
Chamber and then click Chamber, CVB Fact Sheet.
Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
INSIDER
March 2010
M
BRINGING MORE NEIGHBORS FROM THE NORTH
Myrtle Beach Area CVB strengthens sales efforts in Canada
by Danna Lilly, CMP, director of sales
The Myrtle Beach area has long been a
destination of choice for many Canadian visitors,
approximately 300,000 annually. And they’re fairly
easy to spot, especially in March as they enjoy the
mild temperatures of the Atlantic Ocean at a time
when we locals might think twice about a walk on
the beach! They come in mini vans packed with
golf clubs, sedans carrying snowbirds, SUVs filled
with families and none seem to mind the 12 to 15
hour drives that many make in one day.
Kimberly Hartley, MBACVB Canadian Rep
VisitMyrtleBeach.com
But for our Canadian friends that may not enjoy
that much time on the road, options continue
to grow for air service. Myrtle Beach Direct Air
has been servicing Canadian passengers, at very
affordable rates for more than 2 years now. Direct
service is available between Myrtle Beach and
both Plattsburg and Niagra, N.Y., – just a short
drive for visitors in Ontario and Quebec. More
recently, Porter Airlines announced direct service
twice weekly between Toronto, Ontario and
Myrtle Beach beginning Feb. 28. Not only does
this bring great opportunity for increased tourism
in the Myrtle Beach area, it also gives residents of
Myrtle Beach and surrounding communities more
convenient options for business and pleasure trips
to an area that might not have been considered in
the past.
To further support the positioning of the Myrtle
Beach area as an attractive destination for
Canadian travelers, the Myrtle Beach Area CVB
is pleased to announce a new Canadian office
and the appointment of Kimberly Hartley as the
Canadian sales manager for the Myrtle Beach area.
With more than 20 years of experience in the
Canadian travel industry, Hartley has developed
strong relationships with tour operators, travel
agents, wholesalers, meeting and incentive
planners, airlines and both trade and consumer
media. Her sales and marketing expertise,
combined with knowledge of the inner workings
(Center) Ed Warneck, Myrtle Beach Direct Air, pictured with
(Le) Kimberly Hartley, Canadian sales manager, and
(Right) Elaine Michaud, International sales manager, at
Toronto Tour Operator event in January.
of the Canadian travel market, will help raise
awareness of the Myrtle Beach area and increase
visitation and economic growth.
“Travel Solutions by Design is excited and very
proud to have been chosen as the Canadian
account manager for the Myrtle Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce and Convention and
Visitors Bureau,” Hartley said. “I am extremely
excited about bringing the destination to the
forefront for the trade, the consumer and the
media. Canadians may think they know the Myrtle
Beach area, but they may want to reconsider – it
has changed dramatically over the last few years.”
March 2010
HORRY COUNTY ADMISSIONS TAX
4.2%
$1,500,000
$375,000
-0.2%
-18.4%
28.7%
-25.5%
-30.6%
$750,000
Percentages Shown Are
Change From
Percent Cha
Previous Year
Yea
-21.9%
-15.3%
-3.5%
$1,125,000
2.4%
-10.9%
-21.4%
$0
Dec 08
Jan 09
Feb 09
Mar 09
Apr 09
May 09
Jun 09
Jul 09
Aug 09
Sept 09
Oct 09
Nov 09
$366,849
$300,112
$347,932
$678,792
$987,078
$675,239
$1,061,001
$1,455,540
$1,138,652
$715,879
$631,837
$488,385
GEORGETOWN COUNTY ADMISSIONS TAX
$200,000
- 12.7%
-15.1%
$150,000
$50,000
-5.7%
-17.6%
-0.3%
$100,000
-25%
44%
-8.8%
-4.4%
-25%
-18.6%
3.5%
Convention & Visitors Bureau
$0
Dec 08
Jan 09
Feb 09
Mar 09
Apr 09
May 09
Jun 09
Jul 09
Aug 09
Sept 09
Oct 09
Nov 09
$36,563
$46,605
$72,635
$116,329
$142,985
$110,496
$58,191
$63,695
$52,761
$64,058
$95,748
$62,002
HORRY COUNTY ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COLLECTION
$3,000,000
$1,500,000
$750,000
-8.6%
-14.6%
$2,250,000
-29.5%
3.5%
26.0%
-21.4%
-8.1%
-24%
-18.2%
Percentag
Change From
Percent C
Previous Year
-9.9%
-1.7%
-14.9%
$0
Dec 08
Jan 09
Feb 09
Mar 09
Apr 09
May 09
Jun 09
Jul 09
Aug 09
Sept 09
Oct 09
Nov 09
$256,469
$269,683
$395,972
$662,891
$1,019,581
$1,149,159
$2,213,337
$3,056,237
$2,395,577
$1,176,190
$658,346
$388,103
GEORGETOWN COUNTY ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COLLECTION
$400,000
6.0%
$300,000
-12.8%
-12.8%
$200,000
$100,000
110.2%
$0
-14.4%
-18.2%
64.7%
-7.8%
-1.7%
-31.8%
-11.5%
-13.2%
Dec 08
Jan 09
Feb 09
Mar 09
Apr 09
May 09
Jun 09
Jul 09
Aug 09
Sept 09
Oct 09
Nov 09
$67,004
$17,539
$24,612
$37,800
$70,163
$99,400
$224,278
$344,034
$248,121
$150,659
$50,282
$35,551
HORRY COUNTY GROSS RETAIL SALES
$1,100,000,000
$825,000,000
-14.1%
-16.2%
$550,000,000
-18.1%
-10.5%
-19.6%
-15.1%
-15.1%
-12.2%
0.6%
-11.3%
-3.9%
-3.9%
$275,000,000
From
Percent Change Fro
Previous Year
$0
Dec 08
Jan 09
Feb 09
Mar 09
Apr 09
May 09
Jun 09
Jul 09
Aug 09
Sept 09
Oct 09
Nov 09
$562,613,878
$422,772,834
$517,358,684
$584,583,550
$615,868,513
$668,172,831
$805,335,686
$929,354,884
$806,358,917
$675,905,291
$541,626,820
$519,374,107
GEORGETOWN COUNTY GROSS RETAIL SALES
$130,000,000
$97,500,000
-6.9%
-17.4%
$65,000,000
-15.1%
-7.1%
-24.8%
1.9%
-23.9%
-21.8%
-20.7%
-10.1%
-15.0%
-18.6%
$32,500,000
For more information regarding
reg
additional
research conducted by the chamber,
contact Wendy Bernstein at
[email protected]
Wendy.Bernstein@VisitM
$0
March 2010
Dec 08
Jan 09
Feb 09
Mar 09
Apr 09
May 09
Jun 09
Jul 09
Aug 09
Sept 09
Oct 09
Nov 09
$93,967,746
$70,648,740
$82,686,714
$94,619,533
$91,775,263
$109,328,268
$120,329,093
$118,814,002
$98,664,561
$100,621,351
$82,862,945
$73,668,887
S
Sources:
S.C.
SC D
Departments
t
of
PRT and Revenue
ADVERTISER Referrals
UNIQUE User Sessions
500,000
YEAR OVER YEAR
1,000,000
2009
2009
375,000
750,000
2010
2010
250,000
500,000
125,000
250,000
0
0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jan
Jun
Feb
Mar
54.41%
% Change
18.81%
2010
415,802
2010
483,403
2009
269,285
2009
406,873
459,712
588,396
Jul
Aug
Sept
979,218
495,876
263,319
388,477
374,741
Aug
Sept
Oct
Jul
454,265 636,928
Nov
Dec
% Change
May
Jun
% Change
Lodging
+23.16%
Amusements
-0.22%
Theaters
+25.72%
Dining
+3.25%
Shopping
+9.43%
Watersports
+80.05%
Weddings
+121.41%
Golf
% Change
283,597
Apr
Category
525,240 637,311
Oct
Nov
-1.51%
Additional Services
973,668
-43.33%
*Jan. 1 – Jan. 31
Dec
% Change
2010
2010
2009
661,649
362,303
219,612
209,757
193,073 166,664
2009
185,891 152,652
156,839
For more information, contact: [email protected]
OCCUPANCY PERCENT PER ROOM WEEK*
AVERAGE DAILY RATE PER ROOM WEEK*
80,000
100%
$150
25%
D O LL A R S
50%
ion
at le at
m
or lab e
Inf avai tim
s
t
no pres
$120
$90
$60
60,000
ARRIVA L S
ion
at le at
m
or lab e
Inf avai tim
s
t
no pres
75%
PE RC E NT
NOVEMBER AIRPORT ARRIVALS
$30
0%
40,000
20,000
$0
2008
2009
Mar
Apr
2008
Feb
Mar
2009
$55.45
$67.68
$81.07
$97.33
$91.73
$121.41
2008
$58.54
$73.02
$82.28
$99.05
$89.34
$124.70
2007
$55.95
$71.90
$83.84
$98.29
$116.61
$144.34
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
2009
$109.44 $120.10
$94.04
$74.28
25.22%
2008
$119.48 $125.09
$71.82
$69.97
$69.80
$59.92
24.74%
2007
$162.96
$93.15
$76.80
$68.82
$59.20
Feb
May
Jun
2009
29.54%
40.09%
49.82%
52.82%
50.13%
67.79%
2008
32.12%
49.96%
55.21%
54.75%
45.91%
65.42%
2007
34.01%
53.01%
64.18%
69.10%
60.85%
74.59%
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
2009
66.49%
65.31%
59.23%
56.82%
2008
70.42%
73.73%
40.26% 51.23%
39.88%
2007
82.94%
75.78%
62.40% 54.25%
39.86%
*Dr. Taylor Damonte, Director • Clay Brittain, Jr.
Center for Resort Tourism • Coastal Carolina University
[email protected]
Source: Horry County Department of Airports
$129.77
Apr
2008
Jan
Jan
0
2009
HELP US HELP YOU
Provide data to CCU
May
2009
Jun
Arrivals
2008
2009
Change
49,604
45,919
-7.4%
By sending in your weekly numbers, you will be providing valuable data
that helps us to keep updated information. For more information, please
contact Dr. Taylor Damonte, director of Clay Brittain, Jr. Center for Resort
Tourism at Coastal Carolina University, [email protected].
March 2010
YTD Referral Click % Change*
COOP CORNER
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce advertising co-ops provide
an opportunity to take advantage of negotiated discounted rates in order
to stretch ad budgets. The range of co-ops available include a variety of
online promotions, e-mail blasts, magazines and newspaper inserts. Also,
the chamber will provide online creative support if needed by participants.
To learn more about these opportunities, contact Lynne Boykin, The
Brandon Agency, at (843) 916-2000 or [email protected].
For a complete list of co-ops, go to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and click
on Marketing Strategies. Space is limited for each co-op and will be filled on
a first-come, first-served basis. To secure the discounted rates, each co-op
must sell out in order for it to run.
Note: In order to participate, members must contribute $1 per rented room
night for accommodations members that are not participating in the TDF
tax, or a 1 percent marketing fee or a nonparticipating advertising cost for
activities and dining members that are not participating in the TDF tax.
Bridal Guide – 2010 Myrtle Beach Co-op
Escape to the Southeast – An exclusive opportunity to reach the wedding
and honeymoon market. The destination wedding and honeymoon market
generates $20 billion in annual spending and represents one of the most
reliable and lucrative markets in tourism. Bridal Guide has partnered with
The Southeast Tourism Society to produce Escape to the Southeast, an
exclusive advertising program designed to help you capture the billions spent
on weddings and honeymoons. Program details: Placement in a Southeastern
Tourism sponsored national section in the July/August 2010 issue with
readership of over 4 million, advertorial copy and image showcasing your
destination, bonus exposure in the Southeast regional editions of September/
October 2010 and November/December 2010 issues, section reprints
distributed in gi bags at nationwide bridal and travel shows, National
Reader Service and Reply Card listings in the July/August 2010 issue, link to
your site on bridalguide.com for six months and bonus distribution to more
than 2,000 agents. Paid circulation - 200,000.
Space Deadline: 3/10/2010
Ad Size: 1/4 page, 4 color, 3.5” wide x 4.75” high
The Daily Record – Great Escapes Beach Destinations
The Daily Record will take Mid-Atlantic readers on a visual tour of the best
Beach Destinations. Great Escapes Beach Destinations will include feature
articles, bright bold photographs and advertising. Ads in Great Escapes will
receive a directory ad in the Daily Record for one week. Reader profile –
Readers have a net worth of $2.27 million, household income of $299,000,
80 percent of readers plan to travel this year.
Ad Size: 1/4 tabloid page, 4 color, 4.5” wide x 7.5: high
Ad Cost: $750
In order for this co-op to run, we must have a minimum of four advertisers.
Meetings South Magazine – June 2010 – Myrtle Beach
Meetings South delivers in depth news, topical features and thorough
destination coverage of the Southern meetings market. Meetings South
covers hotel, resort, convention and conference facilities; interesting event
venues; renovation updates; industry news; and topical articles of general
interest to meeting professionals. Meetings South subscribers come from a
wide variety of industries and business – from manufacturing to medical/
pharmaceutical, communications to finance and education to health care.
Magazine published 12 times per year.
Ad Size: 1/4 page – 5” wide x 6.5” high
Ad Cost: $2,825
Space limited to four advertisers. Advertisers can purchase multiple spaces.
All advertisers receive matching advertorial.
Where in the world is the CVB?
March 10-14
ITB Berlin
Berlin, Germany
CVB-Group Sales is busy this month welcoming
five groups with 1,425 attendees.
Ad Cost: $2,990
In order for this co-op to run, we must have a minimum of
four advertisers.
Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Insider is published monthly by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce,
1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. If you have story ideas or questions, please contact Pat Creed, membership programs manager
and CVB member liaison, at [email protected] or (843) 916-7225. Printed by Inlet Printing Co.
March 2010
GRA
GRAND
RAND
BUSINESS of Excellence
Throughout the year, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber will highlight four
local member businesses (February, May, August, November) for being
a Business of Excellence. This recognition promotes the advancement of
responsible business leadership in the community and publicly recognizes
local businesses demonstrating a passion for excellence.
Nomination Deadlines
It’s easy to nominate a business. Simply go to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com
and fill out the online form. Nominated businesses must be members of
the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and demonstrate excellence
in one or more of the following areas – personnel management; unique
product design/distribution/manufacture; unique service delivery;
innovation; planning; marketing/promotion. Excellence is considered to
be a consistent level of performance over a reasonable period of time that
establishes the business as a market or industry leader in that aspect of its
operation(s).
Profiled in May – Submit nominations by March 19
Profiled in August – Submit nominations by June 18
Profiled in November – Submit nominations by Sept. 17
Business of Excellence Breakfast
Join us on March 11 starting at 8:30 a.m. in the MBACC boardroom
(1200 N. Oak St.) as we honor the first Business of Excellence winner,
Mercom Corp. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast as you and learn
about Mercom and its award-winning business practices. Register at
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com.
BUSINESS OF EXCELLENCE
Mercom thriving in tough economy
Recessions aren’t supposed to be times of unprecedented growth for small businesses.
But don’t tell that to Stella Mercado. Mercom, the information technology business
Mercado built with brothers Larry and Allan, has thrived in the recent years, even
as numerous other companies closed or scaled back operations. Last year, Mercom’s
business grew by 15 percent. Over the last three years, the company expanded
from a dozen employees to 56 workers in two offices. Stella Mercado expects her
employment to reach 100 by the end of this year. So why is Mercom succeeding when
so many other businesses aren’t? “Somebody said the best time to start a business
is during a recession,” Mercado said. “If you’re doing stuff right, it’s the best time to
grow and to start making a name for yourself.”
Mercom has done well establishing its brand since company operations began in 2002.
Aer working in the resale world of IT products, Larry and Stella Mercado launched
Mercom to provide networking and other technical services to businesses. Their
brother Allan was the ideal colleague. His background is in IT service. “The three of
us completely complimented each other,” Stella Mercado said. The three started out
in a 200-square-foot office behind the post
office in Murrells Inlet. “It was tiny,” she said.
“Literally, it was an office and a bathroom.”
But the Mercados gradually built up the
company.
They established a reputation as a federal
government contractor – 80 percent of
their business still comes from federal
deals – and they also worked with state
government and private businesses. Now
the company is headquartered in a stylish
office park in Pawleys Island. Stella handles
long-term and strategic planning; Larry
takes care of operations and finance and
Allan oversees services. In 2008, Mercom
won eight business awards for growth. Next
month, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of
Commerce will honor Mercom as a business
of excellence. Stella Mercado attributes
Mercom’s success to the company’s focus on
MERCOM, See Page 13
MBAC.
The businesses chosen for the honor will receive:
• Grand Strander article
• Myrtle Beach Business Journal article (1/2 page)
• E-mail blast to members to advertise business
• Press release recognizing the business for the honor
• All Business of Excellence recipients will be forwarded to the
Past Presidents Council as a nominee for the Chairman’s Choice Award
at the annual membership meeting
• Excellence of Business Breakfast at MBACC – Members will be invited
to come learn about the business
strander
Larry Mercado, COO, and Stella Mercado,
president/CEO.

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
E CO N OM I C Update
MBAC.
COMPARING the ‘Great Recession’ to the ‘Great Depression’
Most of us have heard the comparisons over the
last few years: This “Great Recession” that we’ve
been working through since the very end of
2007 is the worst since the Great Depression. I’ve
oen been asked to compare different indicators
between the two episodes, such as unemployment
rates, for example. When asked how the recent
recession compares to the Great Depression, I steer
the conversation away from trying to compare
different data points now versus then.
How does South Carolina’s current unemployment
rate of 12.6 percent compare with the Great
Depression? While interesting as an academic
exercise, I find it more insightful to try to draw
more meaningful and useful similarities between
then and now. Numbers are tricky. For example,
the way we collect and calculate unemployment
data is far different now than during the Great
Depression. Therefore, rather than focus on the
numbers, I point out what I think is the most
striking and important similarity: The recent Great
Recession is similar to the Great Depression in that
is has changed behavior.
We are all familiar with the legacy of the Great
Depression. That painful period, that exacted a toll
on a large percentage of the population, resulted in
a substantial shi in consumer behavior. The Great
Depression contributed largely to the frugality
and conservative ways of an entire generation.
The desire to build a financial cushion via saving
more and incurring less debt lasted for many years
following the Great Depression. U.S. households
spent decades spending less than they made as
debt-to-income ratios were flat and savings rates
rose through roughly the late 1970s and early
1980s.
Beginning in the early 1980s, U.S. households
had been steadily running up debt and drawing
down savings. For example, the personal savings
rate in the United States (savings as a percent of
income) fell from roughly 10 percent in the early
1980s to about 1 percent by 2007. From 1980 to
2007, the increase in debt and the drawdown of
savings allowed consumers to consistently increase
spending more quickly than incomes were growing.
These trends le many households with financial
cushions too small to absorb the impact of the
Great Recession that began officially in December
2007.
This is where the recent substantial change in
behavior comes in. Since the beginning of the
recession in 2007, we have seen a sharp reversal
of debt and savings trends. As recently as March
2008, the personal savings rate was 0.8 percent.
During December 2009 the U.S. personal savings
rate stood at 4.8 percent. Similarly, the total
amount of outstanding consumer debt, as well
as debt-to-income ratios, have fallen during this
recession.
The U.S. economy experienced several recessions
since the Great Depression, and for the most part
those recessions did not substantially alter how
we act or how we view the economy. Indeed, in
terms of consumer spending, we sailed through
the recessions of the early 1990s and early 2000s,
thanks to the unsustainable debt and savings
trends at the time. This most recent recession
has been significantly different. For the first time
in many decades, U.S. households dramatically
scaled back on spending and appear to be working
towards building a larger financial cushion. How do
the unemployment rates of 2009 compare to those
of the 1930s? Differences in the data make these
comparisons tricky. Ultimately, what really matters
for us moving forward, is that this Great Recession,
like the Great Depression, is changing how we
behave.
JANUARY 2010
Top Five States for
Relocation Inquiries
1.
New York
2.
Pennsylvania
3.
North Carolina
4.
New Jersey
5.
Ohio
DON SCHUNK is a research economist with the BB&T Center for Economic and Community Development at Coastal Carolina University.
He develops and maintains a database of regional economic indicators and publishes economic forecasts; serves as a liaison with the area business
community and state and local governments; and writes a monthly column for the Grand Strander.

GR
G
R
MERCOM, Continued From Page 11
current technology. “You have to stay on the
cutting edge of everything,” she said.
R E S I D E N T I A L CO N S T RU C T I O N PE R M I T S N OV E M B E R 2 0 0 9
LOCATION
Single Family Units
Single Family Units Cost
Multi-Family Bldgs.
Multi-Family Units
Multi-Family Bldgs. Cost
Myrtle Beach Unincorporated
9
$1,267,009
3
50
$2,390,239
85
$11,178,442
0
0
$0
North
Myrtle Beach
7
$1,771,377
1
12
$2,674,528
Surfside
Beach
0
$0
0
0
$0
Georgetown
County
13
$2,015,220
0
0
$0
R E S I D E N T I A L CO N S T RU C T I O N PE R M I T S N OV E M B E R 2 0 0 8
LOCATION
Single Family Units
Single Family Units Cost
Multi-Family Bldgs.
Multi-Family Units
Multi-Family Bldgs. Cost
Myrtle Beach Unincorporated
1
$190,120
0
0
$0
72
$10,610,758
0
0
$0
North
Myrtle Beach
6
$1,566,132
1
15
$3,343,160
Surfside
Beach
1
$262,565
0
0
$0
Georgetown
County
10
$2,732,452
0
0
$0
Editor’s Note: Article courtesy of the
Horry County Business Journal. Photo
courtesy of Mercom Corp.
MBAC.
As the demand for better, faster IT products
and services has grown, Mercom has
responded. “Networks are now seen as
a utility,” Stella Mercado said. “Just like
electricity. If your network goes down, you
can’t work.” In recent years, the company has
tried to attract more private sector clients.
Stella Mercado said she can help a variety
of businesses in a variety of ways. Mercom
can set up wireless networks for hotels,
video conferencing for accounting firms
and electronic record-keeping systems for
hospitals. “You want to be diversified,” she
said. Although keeping up with technological
advances is critical for an IT firm, Mercado said
maintaining Mercom’s success also depends on
a basic tenet of business. “The biggest thing
is mainly taking care of the customers and
clients, and understanding what their needs
are,” she said. “It’s not rocket science.”
E CO N OM I C Indicators
A D D I T I O N A L E C O N O M I C I N D I C ATO R S
Monthly statistics for the following economic indicators can be found in the CVB Insider special section
of the Grand Strander:
Accommodations Tax Collections
Admissions Tax
Airport Activity
Gross Retail Sales
Sources: Bureau of the Census, S.C. Employment Commission

 
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
MBAC.
New Members
ACC Fire Water Mold Restoration
Disaster Restoration/Fire/Water/Mold
Timothy Brumfield
725 Seaboard St.
(843) 241-3062
Don’s Dogs
Hospitalit y
r t n e r s h i p
pa
Food Vendor
Don Black
348 Kessinger Dr.
Surfside Beach, SC 29575
(843) 215-9969
American Culinary Federation Myrtle Beach Chapter
ospitalit y
Organizations/Clubs p a rHt n e r s h i p
Becky Billingsley
20 Apache Trail
(843) 293-1501
acfchefs.org/content/presidents_portal/
acfchapter.cfm?chapterchoice=sc031
Fish Monger Seafood
Seafood
Cherie Wilson
1511 Hwy. 17 Business S.
(843) 903-2722
fishmongerseafood.org
Bill & Kathy Curtis Century 21 Broadhurst
Real Estate-Company
Kathy Curtis
4507 Loblolly Ct.
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 651-3144
CurtisTeamProperties.com
Courtyard by Marriott - Broadway
Hotel-Motel
Hospitalit y
r t n e r s h i p
pa
JR Korst
1351 21st Ave. N.
(843) 445-6333
marriott.com/myrcy
Diet Center
Weight-Loss
Rick Helmer
356 Seaboard St.
(843) 839-9572

Myrtle Beach Golf Authority
Hospitalit y
Vacation Rentals &
r t n e r s h i p
pa
Beach Homes
Rick Elliott
401 Sea Mountain Hwy.
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 249-1406
(888) 272-7263
myrtle-beachgolf.com
MyrtleBeachVacationRentals.com
Vacation Rentals & a rHtonspietralsithy i p
p
Beach Homes
Rick Elliott
401 Sea Mountain Hwy.
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 249-1406
(800) 525-0225
MyrtleBeachVacationRentals.com
Near Perfect Valet, LLC
Garbage-Collection/Sanitation
Matthew Near
3094 Howard Ave., #303
(843) 283-7707
npvonline.com
Puroclean Erergency
Restoration Specialists
Disaster Restoration/Fire/Water/Mold
Fred Sancilio
341 Highfield Loop
(843) 492-0003
puroclean.com/pers-sc
Select Homes & Services, Inc.
Real Estate-Company
Vickie Murray
4214 Mayfair St., Ste. B
(843) 692-2800
(800) 265-7653
selecthomesinmyrtlebeach.com
Tommy Hilfiger, Inc.
Clothing-Men/ Women
DeAnne Ballenbach
10835 Kings Rd., Ste. 295
(843) 449-8464
Tommy.com
Clothing-Children/ Infants
DeAnne Ballenbach
10835 Kings Rd., Ste. 715
(843) 497-5688
Tommy.com
Starwood of Myrtle Beach, Inc.
Landscape-Contractors
Scott Mahon
226 Bush Dr.
(843) 236-4000
Winyah Water Gardens &
Fountain Services, LLC
Services
Legare Wilson
1511 Hwy. 17 Business S.
(843) 236-3647
winyahwatergardens.com
Strategic Consultant Disability Services
Trans-Access Assoc., LLC
Consultants
James Elekes
1415 Ashton Glenn Dr.
(888) 567-8430
YOGA in COMMON
Fitness
Linda Phillips
3080 Deville St.
(843) 385-6176
yogaincommon.com
Clothing-Men/ Women
Michelle Foligno
4633 Factory Stores Blvd., C150
(843) 236-3003
Tommy.com
GRAND
G
R
A
ND
RA
AN
strander
CELEBRATING
FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES
MBACC members are invited to join us in
thanking these staff members by providing
discounts to your businesses: Restaurant
Certificates; Theater Tickets; Shopping Gi
Cards; Golf Certificates; Accommodation
Discounts, etc. We’re asking you to kick this
frontline employee recognition up a notch by
saying “thank you” in a truly memorable fashion
with a special gi. We want to hand out a great
list of discounts at the April 12 kickoff party.
And speaking of the kickoff party, members are
encouraged to provide door prizes to be
presented during the event and goodies for the
gi bags that each frontline employee will
receive at the recognition party.
In addition, we want to hear about your
exceptional frontline employees. Do you have a
staff member who serves by example through
their outstanding work ethic, professionalism
and leadership? Send us a quick e-mail and tell
us about this special person.
For all the details on providing discounts, door
prizes, goodie bag items, plus recognizing your
exceptional staff members, visit
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com/frontline.
NEW PHONE NUMBER
GrandStrandOnline.com
and parent company
Loggerhead Marketing LLC.
have a new telephone
number (843) 651-7777.
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE
Coldwell Banker Chicora Real
Estate announced that Judy
Lawyer, broker associate and
sales manager at Carolina
Forest, has earned the Short
Sales & Foreclosure Resource
Certification by the National
Association of REALTORS®.
Janet Brown, broker in charge,
and Sally Butler, Realtor, of
Coastal Realty Consultants Inc.,
have been certified in Short Sales
and Foreclosure Resource by
the National Association of
REALTORS®. Previously Butler
received a REO Specialist
designation from American
Real Estate University.
The Conway National Bank
recognized James Jordan as a
graduate of East Carolina University
RMA Commercial Lending School.
ON THE WEB
Collins + Company Advertising/
Public Relations announced
that First Presbyterian Church
of Myrtle Beach has chosen the
firm to head up the redesign
of its Web site and interactive
endeavors. And Better Brands
Inc. announced the launch of
its newly redesigned Web site,
budbeach.com designed by Collins
+ Company and programmed
by Intercoastal Net Designs.
AND THE WINNER IS ...
Recently, the Horry Georgetown
Home Builders Association held
its 2nd annual Top Dog Awards
Ceremony where the A&I Fire and
Water Restoration marketing
sales team was awarded a Top Dog
Award. Julie Alford, Ellen Calhoun
and Melissa Warren make up
this sales team for the company.
Warren also was named Top Dog
Rookie Salesperson of the Year.
Best Western Carolinian Beach
Resort has received the best
Western Director’s Award for
outstanding quality standards.
The award recognizes hotels
scoring in the top 20 percent of all
2,400 North American properties
in cleanliness and maintenance.
Horry Georgetown Home
Builders Association has
presented its 2009 Top Dog Award
for Best Community Service
Project to the Myrtle Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce. The
association recognized the MBACC
for its role in the Horry County
wildfires in April 2009 – namely
for serving as a drop-off location
for American Red Cross donations,
securing supplies for firefighters,
helping to find temporary housing
for wildfire victims who had
been displaced and keeping the
community and media informed
via the chamber’s Web site.
Kitchen Tune-Up has awarded
Russ and Pat Widmer, franchise
owner, with its regional Customer
Service Award for 2009. Kitchen
Tune-Up evaluates all franchises
in their system on a monthly
basis, looking for the one that
most exemplifies their company
Trust Points. These eight Trust
Points include guaranteeing their
estimates, returning calls within
24 hours and working within
each client’s schedule. Widmer
earned a monthly award earlier
in January 2009 and went on to
win the regional customer service
honor awarded Jan. 22, 2010,
during Kitchen Tune-Up’s annual
convention in Kansas City, Mo.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
RE/MAX Ocean Forest
celebrated its 15th anniversary in
February. Opening in 1995 the
company is the oldest RE/MAX in
Myrtle Beach. Now with 19 top
agents the company is a two-time
ICE Award nominee sponsored
by the Myrtle Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce and was
voted Best Real Estate Company
by local newspaper readers.
With each closing for 15 years
RE/MAX has sent a contribution
to the Children’s Miracle Network
which goes directly to McLeod’s
Children’s Hospital in Florence.
The company is participating with
other RE/MAX companies as
sponsors of this year’s ICE Awards
and at this year’s Sun Fun Festival.
MBAC.
As the face of a company, frontline employees
directly influence customer satisfaction and the
customer’s future relationship with the
company. During the week of April 12, Myrtle
Beach Area Chamber of Commerce will join our
Hospitality Partnership member, Myrtle Beach
Area Hospitality Association, in celebrating the
contributions of frontline employees.
INSIDE TRACKS
Tidelands Bank announced
that Todd Butzman has joined
Tidelands as branch manager,
assistant vice president,
Myrtle Beach branch.
B u s i n e s s Bulletin

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
CHAMBER ACCESS
Key to member benefits
MBAC.
Chamber Access gains you entry to all your
member benefits – it’s the total access pass.
This informative orientation program is for new
chamber members, new employees at member
businesses, and longstanding members that
would like an update on their benefits.
Here’s your chance to meet chamber staff ,
introduce your business/organization, and
familiarize yourself with chamber benefits. Join
us at the March 30 gathering (See Page 3) and
discover the key to getting the most out of
chamber membership. Register for the March
session at ChamberAcademy.com.
(Back Row, L to R) Bill Hayes, The Dent Mender; Bill Frontz, Excalibur Security
and Investigations; Jason Casey, Priorpoint, LLC.
(Middle Row, L to R) Julie Bostian, Splash Studio; Abby Brink, WFXB Fox TV;
Marty Keene, Grand Strand Candyland; Mike Cooke, Palmetto Power
Cleaning LLC; Wade Marlowe, Wedgefield Plantation Country Club.
(Front Row, L to R) Kathy Keene, Grand Strand Candyland; Jenafor Braley,
Thanks to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Send Out Cards.
for providing refreshments for the reception.
AMBASSADORS share chamber benefits
The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s
ambassadors are members who volunteer their
time to provide a crucial link between the chamber
and its members. As an ambassador, you will
gain business exposure by being the first to meet
chamber members and put your company’s name
in the forefront. By volunteering at chamber events
and attending the monthly ambassador meetings,
your business is kept current on what is going on
within the chamber and community. As an added
bonus, you and your company are eligible for
monthly and yearly award recognition.

Join today
If you are interested in becoming a chamber
ambassador, visit MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com
and click on Member Resources, Ambassador
Program. Or you can contact Pat Creed,
membership programs manager, at (843) 916-7225
or [email protected].
Ambassadors of the Month
Congratulations to Marty
Keene with Grand Strand
Candyland, who earned
Ambassador of the Month for
January. Keene is serving his
first year as an ambassador.
Applause to Heather Pender
with Merrill Lynch, who earned
the second highest total
points for January. Pender is
serving her second year as an
ambassador.
GRA
GRAND
RAND
‘PHILANTHROPY
and the Young Professional’
by Blakely Jenkins, membership & community programs manager, gsSCENE liaison
This event will take place at Prestwick
Country Club from 8:30-10:30 a.m.
All gsSCENE members that work for a
nonprofit have been invited to come and
have a booth set up and a chance to talk to
other members on what their organization
does.
Jonathan Kresken, Waccamaw Community
Foundation, and Cookie Sprouse, Chapin
Foundation, also will discuss philanthropic
efforts along the Grand Strand. You’ll learn
how these respective foundations work
and how you can make a difference in your
community. Benefits of volunteering will be
discussed and various community charities
will be on hand to assist you in learning
how to make a difference!
And before you leave, the attendees will
get to vote, from the nonprofits there,
which one will benefit from our Kickin’ for
Charity Kickball Tournament on May 8. Last
year this event raised more than $2,500 for
United Way of Horry County.
gsSCENE
UPCOMING gsSCENE EVENTS
(Register at gsSCENE.com)
March 16 ~ 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Philanthropy and the Young Professional
presented by Jonathan Kresken, Waccamaw Community
Foundation, and Cookie Sprouse, Chapin Foundation
Prestwick Country Club
1001 Links Rd., Myrtle Beach
Do you want to get more involved in a local charity or
philanthropy? Then make plans to attend “Philanthropy and
the Young Professional.” Benefits of volunteering will be
discussed and various community charities will be on hand.
This event is for gsSCENE members only. Continental
breakfast included.
April 7 ~ 7:45-9 a.m.
Morning Rush ... Networking Breakfast
Croissants Bistro & Bakery
3751 Robert Grissom Pkwy., Myrtle Beach
gsSCENE realizes that it’s hard to network, especially at the
large socials! So we created Morning Rush, a networking event
limited to 20 people where you learn a whole new way of
getting to know other young professionals. The event will take
place at Croissants Bistro & Bakery where members can enjoy
breakfast complimentary of Croissants. Space is limited to
20 people and open only to gsSCENE members.
MBAC.
The young professional generation (xer’s
and y’s) sometimes get a bad rap. People
say we are lazy, have a sense of entitlement
and aren’t motivated easily. Well gsSCENE
begs to differ. In fact our problem is the
complete opposite. We have people saying,
“I want to do more.” For some of us it’s easy
to find the place we want to volunteer. But
for others, we just don’t even know where
to start. So on March 16 gsSCENE hosts
“Philanthropy and the Young Professional.”
strander
Thanks to our generous
gsSCENE sponsors:
Boling & Associates, Inc.

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
H OS PITALIT Y Pa r t ne r shi p
LEADING BY EXAMPLE Hospitality industry focuses on sustainable practices
MBAC.
The South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance
is a program of the South Carolina Hospitality
Association and the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control Office of Solid
Waste Reduction and Recycling designed to help
hotels, motels, restaurants and other hospitality
facilities go green.

As a member of the MBAHA you are able to
participate in this program. To learn more about
this program, visit GreenHospitalityAlliance.com
The following businesses have received green
certification:
California Dreaming North Myrtle Beach
and Surfside Beach
Carolina Roadhouse
Gulf Stream Cafe
New York Prime
Embassy Suites Hotel/Kingston Plantation
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort
Why go green?
• Reducing your environmental impact. Your
facility can take a leadership role in conserving
natural resources, saving energy, reducing
pollution and helping to protect the state’s
environment.
• Lowering operating costs. Waste reduction,
reuse and recycling may help your facility reduce
its disposal costs. Energy-saving measures save
money. Water-saving equipment and practices
reduce costs. Some green purchasing practices
help save money, too.
• Increasing competitiveness. Research shows
that more and more consumers are considering
environmental issues when making travel
plans and purchases. Green practices will
enhance the marketability of your facility as an
environmentally friendly business.
• Earning recognition. The South Carolina Green
Hospitality Alliance can help green hotels,
motels and restaurants share their success
stories, promote their efforts to consumers and
be recognized at an annual awards program.
Free workshop on conservation practices
The S.C. Green Hospitality Alliance will be hosting a
free regional workshop on March 15 to assist hotels,
restaurants and other hospitality facilities in their
resource conservation efforts.
The workshop, which is region-specific, will include
speakers highlighting various environmental
efforts. A panel discussion will take place with
representatives from those within the industry
who will be available for questions and to give their
reasons for going green along with the challenges
they faced and how they overcame them.
Booths will provide technical assistance information
and contacts for all the environmental categories
promoted within the alliance. This includes waste
reduction and recycling, energy efficiency, water
efficiency, air quality and sustainable food.
March 15 ~ 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort
10000 Beach Club Drive, Myrtle Beach
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.
Registration Link – schospitality.org/
displayemailforms.cfm?emailformnbr=
131846&event=297009
Job Expo cancelled for 2010
A recent Job Expo survey sent to Myrtle Beach Area
Hospitality Association’s members showed that more
than 75 percent of members felt the Job Expo was
not beneficial to their business. Although more than
70 percent of businesses felt they would be hiring in
2010, more than 71 percent were not planning on
participating in the 2010 Job Expo.
Many members reflected on the amount of available
positions for the upcoming season and the number
of call backs and resumes dwarfed the number of
estimated positions. The businesses simply had more
applicants than jobs and were not looking to the
2010 Job Expo to fill those needs.
With that in mind, the board has decided to not host
a 2010 Job Expo and will reevaluate the need for
2011 hoping the economic issues will improve. To see
the results of the survey visit MBHospitality.org.
GrandStrandRestaurants.com
What’s your soup of the day? Do you have a Blue
Plate Special? Are the crab cakes out of this world?
Do you offer outdoor seating? Is your happy hour
the place to be? Tell your customers why they should
dine at your restaurant. Fill out the Restaurant News
form at GrandStrandRestaurants.com, and we’ll post
your delicious news online.
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
MEET YOUR MBACC AMBASSADORS
Ambassadors are a group of dedicated volunteers from various businesses
throughout the Grand Strand community. Their mission is to welcome
current members and recruit new chamber members. Ambassadors serve
as goodwill representatives at various chamber functions and aid in the
support of members.
To learn more about becoming a chamber ambassador, visit
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com and click on Member Resources/
or contact Pat Creed, membership programs manager,
at (843) 916-7225 or [email protected].
This month, the Grand Strander took a moment to check in with
Heather Williams, an ambassador with the chamber for 8 months,
to find out why she enjoys being an ambassador.
Q. What prompted you to volunteer as a chamber ambassador?
A. I wanted to meet people and get more involved in my community.
Q. What do you like most about being a chamber ambassador?
A. Meeting people.
Q. How has the investment of time as a chamber ambassador advanced your career or
business?
A. It has given me the opportunity to visit and meet other local business people in my community.
Q. What is your best advice for making the most of chamber membership?
A. Get involved.
MBAC.
4 1/2 QUESTIONS WITH HEATHER WILLIAMS
Q. Give us your 30 second elevator speech about your business.
A. Adams Outdoor – sell billboards in Pee Dee and Sumter, I-95 and 1-20.
Heather Williams
Adams Outdoor Advertising
Account Executive - Sales
How long have you been an
ambassador? 8 months

BE A STAR
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
MBAC.
M.O.M.S. Kitchen & Bathroom Re-facing
Marc Haines, Odell Logan and Mike Fleming
Owners and Operators
1406 Commerce Place
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577-6550
(843) 445-9080
Chamber Member Since: November 2008
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourselves.
A: All three owners have lived in the Myrtle Beach area most of our lives. Mike
was born in Conway, Odell was born in Georgetown, and Marc came to the
area in 1972; where his father was stationed at the Myrtle Beach Air Force
Base. We all worked for another company for a few years; in the summer of
2003 we decided to start our own company. We opened on Nov. 3, 2003. Our
first job was 72 units at the Yachtsman Resort, thanks to Tom Gardner.
Q: Tell us about M.O.M.S. Kitchen & Bathroom Re-facing.
A: We are a company, L.L.C. that has three owners and no employees.
M.O.M.S. Kitchens & Baths is a refacing or remodeling company. We use
many varieties of laminate on cabinet faces and on countertops. We install
new kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities as well as replace cabinet doors
and drawer fronts. We build kiosks for malls, front desk for motels and
brochure racks. M.O.M.S. takes on big and small jobs … no job is too big or
small.
Q: How do people find out about M.O.M.S.?
A: We received the majority of our business from word of mouth. We are
members of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, you can find us in
the business directory or call (843) 902-3927 for more information.
Q: What’s a typical day like?
A: We meet at our shop each morning that is located on Seaboard Street.
Prepare for the days job(s) and go over the schedule for the week. We also do
quotes for free.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: We enjoy the satisfaction of doing the job right the first time. Plus the look
on the customers face(s) when we finish. We guaranteed to be done to your
satisfaction. To be able to repair or fix and job that others could not do.

Before (top) and aer (bottom) M.O.M.S. stepped in to reface this
kitchen.
M.O.M.S. See Page 21
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
M.O.M.S. Continued From Page 20
Q: Any new products?
A: Laminate that looks like Coranite but cost way less; laminate that has a 3D
look of wet/dry; and bevel edge made of Corian and Laminate.
Q: Talk some about the Myrtle Beach area and remodeling industry.
A: Myrtle Beach has old and new homes, motels, condos, stores – so we have
the best of both. With the old, we can reface or remodel to save customers
money. With the new, we can order new cabinets and tops and install both.
We also are involved in new construction of homes, motels and condos.
MBAC.
Myrtle Beach is a great place to live and work. We have beaches, great
weather and entertainment. Plus, Myrtle Beach will always be a growing
market with the help of the chamber.
Q: What is your best marketing tip?
1. Word of mouth
2. In home mailers
Q: What personal leadership strategy do you employ that has helped your
company grow in today’s competitive business environment?
A: We run our business like a winning team.
Q: Talk briefly about a business goal for 2010.
A: Our goal for 2010 is to rebound from the recession and expand into the
North Carolina area.
Q: How do you measure success?
A: We measure success, by how happy our customers are with our work. And
can we keep supporting our families and expanding our business into the next
five years.
Q: Please complete this statement … Why I joined the chamber …
A: We joined the chamber for all the benefits they supply and the fine work
they do for the area. The chamber is very important to the success of any
business!
Before (top) and aer (bottom) photos of
M.O.M.S. professional work.

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
MBAC.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS CELEBRATING
MYRTLE BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERSHIP
ANNIVERSARIES IN MARCH
30 Years
Manpower
28 Years
Waterway Hills Golf Club
27 Years
Ocean Creek Resort
26 Years
Covenant Towers
25 Years
Law Offices of N. David DuRant & Associates, PA
24 Years
The Carolina Opry
Flamingo Grill
23 Years
AAA Vacations
Hazen Company, Inc.
22 Years
Dunes Village Resort
Jeffcoat Law Firm, LLC - Myrtle Beach
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
20 Years
First Citizens Bank - Myrtle Beach
LITUS* Properties
Schooner II Beach & Racquet Club
19 Years
Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction
Intracoastal Outreach/Grand Strand Ministries
17 Years
Mercy Hospice and Palliative Care
Peoples Underwriters, Inc. - Conway
Talotta Contract Interiors/Office Furniture USA
16 Years
Grand Strand Nissan, Inc.
15 Years
Classic Swing Golf School, Inc.
Grand Strand Optimist Club
Legends In Concert
14 Years
Innovative Hiring Technology (IHT)/
Grand Strand, Inc.
Party Maker, Inc. - Myrtle Beach
Stanton Media Group
13 Years
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. Murrells Inlet
Joe's Crab Shack Holding's - North Myrtle Beach
MurderMysteryProductions.com
12 Years
American Hospitality Academy
BB&T - 76th Ave.
Hearn, Brittain & Martin
Surfwater Promotions
Drake H. Tilley, Sr.
11 Years
Croissants Bistro & Bakery
Frank & Son, Inc.-Hospitality Furniture,
Furnishings, Refinishings
Great American Steak & Buffet Co.
InterDyn- Artis
Murrells Inlet 2020, Inc.
10 Years
Conway National Bank - Murrells Inlet
First Church of Christ, Scientist
The Printing Port - NMB
Sparks Toyota
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
9 Years
Grassie Granite & Marble
Horry County State Bank - 4600 Hwy. 17 S. Bypass
8 Years
Atlantic Heating & Cooling
Baldwin Construction Co.
First Federal - Murrells Inlet
7 Years
Carolina Center for Cosmetic & Restorative
Dentistry
South Carolina Bank and Trust, NA
Strand Storage Center - Little River
United Chiropractic
6 Years
Classic Home Building & Design, Inc.
Discover Chiropractic
Eagle Crest
Thomas J. Rogers, Sr.
Verizon Wireless
5 Years
Creative Consultants Group, Inc.
Inlet Affairs Banquet & Catering
Jafra Cosmetics - Vicki Jacobs
SendOutCards - Sue White
Tilghman Insurance of Myrtle Beach
Waccamaw Animal Rescue Mission
Young Photography, Inc.
3 Years
Black Bear Golf Club
Burning Ridge Golf Club
Caribbean Resort Condominiums
Emerald Lakes
Founders Club at Pawleys Island
IMAX 3D Theatre at Broadway at the Beach
Indian Wells Golf Club
Long Bay Resort Condominiums
Collectible Gi Store - Nostalgia City & Museum 1907 S. Kings Hwy.
Ocean Reef Resort Condominiums
Pronto Press Co.
Prudential Burroughs & Chapin Realty, Inc.
South Strand Office
ANNIVERSARIES, See Page 23

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
ANNIVERSARIES, Continued From Page 22
MBAC.
3 Years, Continued
Whales Nautical Gis - 1911 S. Kings Hwy., MB
Whales Nautical Gis - 1600 N. Kings Hwy., MB
Whales Nautical Gis - 2003 N. Kings Hwy., MB
Whales Nautical Gis - 3209 Hwy. 17 S., NMB
2 Years
D.R. Horton
Direct Buy of Myrtle Beach
Extra Holidays by Wyndham
Michael's Pizza Pasta & Grill
Plantation Storage at Carolina Forest
Seaboard Signs & Engraving
Southland Woodworks, Inc.
Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney, PA
Waccamaw Bank - 5429 Dick Pond Rd.
Waterbridge
1 Year
Carolina Film Group
Carolina Linen, LLC
Creative Internet Solutions
Diamond Beachside A Taxi
Dinners Waiting, LLC
Econo Cleaning
Inlet Dental Center, Inc.
The Lowcountry Food Bank
Myrtle Beach Republican Women
Piedmont Companies, Inc.

GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
RIBBONCUTTING CEREMONY
MBAC.
Your Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce conducts ribbon-cutting
ceremonies as a value-added benefit included in your membership
investment. We bring the camera, oversized scissors and, of course,
the ribbon.

A grand opening, an expansion, an anniversary or a move to a new facility
is made more special with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Plus, it’s a great
way to introduce your business to the community and fellow chamber
members. If you’re a home-based business, give us a call and we’ll hold a
special ceremony here at the chamber just for you. Your event can be as
simple, informal, extravagant or ceremonious as you want it to be. It's your
event and should reflect your company's values and personality.
Ribbon-cutting announcements are included in the Grand Strander,
which is mailed to our 2,000 plus members, and photos appear in the
online edition of the popular newsletter. The chamber’s ambassadors
attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies on behalf of the members. Having
ambassadors at the ceremony provides an excellent networking and
publicity opportunity.
Kickoff a grand opening of your business by contacting
Pat Creed, membership programs manager, at (843) 916-7225 or
by e-mail at [email protected].
South Atlantic Bank
630 29th Ave. N.
(843) 839-0100
southatlanticbank.com
GRA
GRAND
RAND
strander
M ARC H APRI L Calendar
Date
Time
Mar 3
Mar 9
Mar 9
Mar 10
8:30 a.m.
8 a.m.
9 a.m.
8 a.m.
Mar 10
Apr 6
Apr 7
Apr 7
Apr 8
Apr 8
Apr 13
Apr 14
Apr 20
Apr 20
Apr 21
Apr 22
Apr 27
Apr 28
Apr 30
Learn More
South Strand Council
Myrtle Beach Ambassadors
Small Business Council
South Strand Ambassadors
LGS Alumni Association Educational Series: Creating Lasting Change –
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
How to Initiate and Sustain Cycles of Success in any Area of Life
4:15-7 p.m.
Business Aer Hours: Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront
8:30-10:30 a.m. gsSCENE: Philanthropy and the Young Professional
9-11 a.m.
Chamber Academy: Managing Your Customer Service Delivery
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Canadian-American Days Kickoff Celebration Expo
2:30 p.m.
Finance Review Committee
3:30 p.m.
Board of Directors
3:30 p.m.
MBAHA/Hospitality Partnership Membership Meeting
9-11 a.m.
Chamber Academy: Local Business Marketing on the Internet
8:30 a.m.
Behind at the Scenes: WMBF News
7-9 a.m.
Business Before Hours: Kiss Coffeehouse
9 a.m.
Legislative Policy Council
6-10 p.m.
Incredible Customer Experience Awards
3 p.m.
Chamber Access – Member Orientation
Chamber Academy: Secret Shopping to Improve Your
9-11 a.m.
Customer Service Delivery
7:45-9 a.m.
gsSCENE: Morning Rush ... Networking Breakfast
8:30 a.m.
South Strand Council
7:30-9:15 a.m.
Connections Marketplace
4:30-7 p.m.
Business Aer Hours: Medieval Times
8 a.m.
Myrtle Beach Ambassadors
8 a.m.
South Strand Ambassadors
2:30 p.m.
Finance Review Committee
3:30 p.m.
Board of Directors
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Hospitality Day at the Statehouse
5-7 p.m.
Business Aer Hours: Seafare Restaurant
3 p.m.
Chamber Access – Member Orientation
3-8 p.m.
Business & Restaurant Expo
9 a.m.
Legislative Policy Council
Faye Creel, 916-7286
Pat Creed, 916-7225
Shannon Haswell, 916-7240
Pat Creed, 916-7225
ChamberAcademy.com
gsSCENE.com
ChamberAcademy.com
CanAmDays.com
Shirley Landry, 916-7203
Kathy Richardson, 916-7219
MBHospitality.org
ChamberAcademy.com
MyrtleBeachICEAwards.com
ChamberAcademy.com
gsSCENE.com
Faye Creel, 916-7286
Pat Creed, 916-7225
Pat Creed, 916-7225
Shirley Landry, 916-7203
MBHospitality.org
*Register for chamber events at MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com. For Chamber Academy classes, register at ChamberAcademy.com.
For gsSCENE events, register at gsSCENE.com. For the most current meeting/event dates and times, go to MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com.
Follow MBACC on
GRAND STRANDER
Kori Hippe
Member Communications Manager
[email protected]
Diana Greene
Executive Vice President
Membership Programs & Services
Grand Strander Issue 681 March 2010 (ISSN
124-490) is published 12 times a year by
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce,
1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
Periodical postage paid at Myrtle Beach, SC
29577. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to Membership Division, Myrtle Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 2115,
Myrtle Beach, SC 29578-2115
Business Bulletin
Send updates by the 5th of each
month for Business Bulletin to
[email protected],
fax – (843) 626-0009.
Check us out on the Web
For more information about member
benefits, upcoming events and
business updates, visit us online at
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com.
Advertising Inquiries
Reach more than 2,000 business
leaders by advertising in the
Grand Strander.
Scott Head, advertising sales manager
(843) 916-7277 or
[email protected]
MBAC.
Mar 11
Mar 16
Mar 16
Mar 16
Mar 16
Mar 16
Mar 17
Mar 23
Mar 24
Mar 25
Mar 26
Mar 27
Mar 30
Event
Member Services
Area Code: (843)
General Information: 626-7444
Membership Sales: 916-7220 or 7234
Advertising Sales: 916-7277
Public Relations: 916-7218
Marketing: 916-7262
Research: 916-7217
Festivals & Events: 916-7276
Executive: 916-7296
CVB-Group Sales: 916-7260
gsSCENE: 916-7232
Leadership Grand Strand: 916-7222
Hospitality Partnership: 626-9668
Grand Strander is printed by
Inlet Printing Co.

GOING GREEN together
MBAC.
Office Depot is a committed partner to our community, Myrtle Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce member businesses and our environment. Why
choose Office Depot as your environmental supporter?
• Office Depot has offered recycled products since 2002. As of today they
offer 6,500+ products with environmental attributes.
• In 2008, Office Depot launched the industry’s first dedicated private
brand of environmentally preferred office products
• Office Deport offers a cartridge recycle program – ask your local store
or visit business.officedepot.com
• Office Depot sells remanufactured ink/toner cartridges for HP,
Lexmark, Brother and DELL
• Office Depot provides a catalog with nearly 2,200 green products and
a Web site that allows you to access all 6,500+ of their products with
environmental attributes (light green to dark green items).
Examples of chamber member savings
on green items
item #
member
price
retail
price
30% Office Depot Recycled Paper
940-650
$36.70
$40.99
Office Depot Green Jr. Writing Pads
480-710
$5.21
$5.79
Green Heavy Duty Hanging Folder Ltr.
810-929
$5.36
$9.99
Zebra ECO Jimnie Retractable
Ballpoint Pen
528-336
$14.39
$15.99
Avery Clear Label Dividers w/ Color Tabs
(5-pk)
161-361
$22.49
$24.99
item #
Remanufactured
original
equipment
manufacturer
Office Depot Remanufactured for
HP 15 cartridge
587-114
$29.99
$34.99
Office Depot Remanufactured for
Brother TN-430 Toner
217-192
$50.99
$59.99
Savings over the manufacturer’s brand
For more product information, shop
online (with your login specifically
for the chamber program) or in store with your (registered purchasing card)
to receive the member pricing. To enroll, contact your local Office Depot
representative, Curtis Richardson, at (888) 213-8948, ext. 5499.
PERIODICALS
U.S. Postage
PAID
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Myrtle Beach, SC 
USPS -
Membership Division
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce,
P.O. Box 2115, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578-2115
PASS GS along!
o Administration
o General Manager
o Human Resources
o Marketing
o President
o Sales
Share GS with …
o________________________
o________________________
o________________________

strander - Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Transcription

Similar documents

myrtle beach - South Carolina Parks

PDF

You`re invited to the 3nd annual Weenie Roast

BROCHURE-ACQUALINA MIAMI

2014 Q2 Newsletter (copy 01) - Myrtle Beach Regional Economic

True Love Chair Data Sheet

Litchfield Beach Access

Mrs. House and Mrs. Huba`s STEM Challenge Day

Help Support Our Cause For Paws!