Buy In Arizona Campaign

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Buying in the Neighborhood - Edition Seven (7)

What a wild and crazy month January has been....exciting, fabulous, daring, challenging, almost out of this world. I don't quite think there are enough adjectives to describe it. The events, the business networking, the hundreds and thousands of people that are hitting the pavement hard this year is incredible. 2011 is going to rock hard and be fantastic. I don't know if everyone has felt that energy that is out there but it is there. What I try to do is to harness the energy and let it flow to the next challenges to find the next best thing out there.

One thing I do love is socializing and the parties. Especially the nice events that you can find in the Phoenix area. There are so many great venues and so many places and things to do. In that effort to find something up and coming, I find that I have a soft place in my heart for theater, acting, and performance arts in general. It actually has been wonderful to find how creative the Phoenix area is and that brings me to the next item to feature this week for the support of the Buy In Arizona Campaign followers. The Southwest Shakespeare Company http://www.swshakespeare.org/ , co-founded in 1994 still lives and thrives in Mesa, AZ.

Not only do they give performances but there is education, discussions, and so much more (e.g. Flachmann Seminars, Performance for Students, Post-Show Discussions, Workshop in your Classroom, Pre-Show Workshop, Show Guides for Teachers, Wenches and Knaves, Internships and Apprenticeships). The series they have going will tickle the senses especially those that love the old English sound and literature. I'm a huge fan of Shakespeare and the Bard. Since you can't make it to the Bard from here, the Southwest Shakespeare Company is the next best thing. But they do more than just Shakespeare, they dive into other classics and other great favorites. The next big shows are as scheduled as follows:

March 3rd - 19th, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde - http://www.swshakespeare.org/plays-and-tickets/the-importance-of-being-earnest

April 14th - 30th, Antony and Cleopatra, byWilliam Shakespeare - http://www.swshakespeare.org/plays-and-tickets/antony-and-cleopatra

As the Southwest Shakespeare Company is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, they appreciate every dollar given and they put every dollar to good use. Ticket revenue covers less than 50% of the cost of mounting a production. Students state-wide pay $7 to see a matinee performance which may cost up to $28 per student to produce. They look to the generosity of community members, businesses, foundations, and government agencies to make up these shortfalls. To help keep the company alive, consider this next event a real treat for you, your company, friends or other businesses to support. On Sunday, February 19th, at Mesa Country Club, 660 W. Fairway Drive at 6:00 pm sharp, the Southwest Shakespeare Company is hosting - "A Midwinter Night's Dream GALA", celebrating their 17th Season. Dress for the event is your best vintage cocktail attire. What a presentation and event this will be - Dinner, entertainment, and other festivities along with a silent auction that promises to have great prizes and treasures well worth the wait. This is an RSVP event, tickets are $100 per person....tables are also available too for companies that wish to donate to the cause.

Call 480.464.5923 for more information or go to this link - https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=22500ef2886f5c713a01f4b8d9681832 to purchase your ticket now. You should RSVP by February 8th to save your seat. This will be a fantasy gala that will allow you to experience the charm and poise of an earlier era as well as the glamorous and spectacular thrill of being at something like a premier....you know what I'm talking about...like the Golden Globes, Oscars....something like that :). Chronic Behavior, my company, will be giving away through an event drawing, one seat to the event. In order to find out how, you will need to contact via e-mail, BuyInArizonaCampaign@gmail.com to find out the details. RSVP deadline is February 8th, so don't wait until the last minute. Take a chance to start off your party season with a classy, stylish, and fabulously organized 1930's Hollywood Premier gala event by attending this ONE!!!! You won't regret it!!!!

If you are interested in being showcased on this blog, please send an e-mail to BuyInArizonaCampaign@gmail.com with the business website, contact information (e.g. business owner name, phone number and email address), so that a follow up contact can be made to talk with you about your business and what is offered......

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Buying in the Neighborhood - Edition Six (6)

What's your focus for 2011? Have you thought much about where your successes will be this year in your business, work, or personal life? Now that we are hitting the end of the first month of the year, I hope that everyone had a chance to take assessment of where they were in 2010 and prepared a plan for 2011 and even 2012. If you haven't then, now is a good time to think about that, because once the first month of the year is over, if you haven't planned out the year for yourself, in most cases, you have set the tone for the rest of your year. Goals, targets, projections.....whatever you want to call them, can make a difference if you want to change your business, change your direction, or change your life.
As this blog focuses on promoting local businesses in Arizona, this feature will help identify a few things that you can do to enable your company to be more visible, reach customers, and connect to them. Arizona is considered to be a fairly open and creative environment. Many people that live here come from other locations from all over the world. So the idea of networking and finding people of like minds, cultures, likes, or interests is an easy way to meet people. Networking applies to businesses as well. Even if your business is limited to a local area because the offering you have or you have a virtual location, website driven activity, services delivered in person or electronic services, business promotions are really the same. In this effort, networking and promotions go hand in hand. If you want to increase your client base, find referrals, learn about opportunities, understand what people are looking for you have to find ways to present yourself, organization, or company and then showcase your products or services.

One particular organization that makes promotion and networking easy is AZ Power Networking, http://www.azpowernetworking.com/. I would consider them a power house in networking here in the valley as they have an organization that reaches to the entire Phoenix and surrounding area including France and San Diego. AZ Power Networking has extremely high quality individuals, companies, and sponsors (e.g. Smart Phone, Chava, Pinnacle Interiors Group, Inc.) that support the organization overall. In networking you have to provide opportunities and venues for people/businesses to meet, give them the chance to present and then provide value through the gatherings that are scheduled. AZ Power Networking offers those things and many more. AZ Power Networking has been in the valley for a number of years, the membership is growing and the events they host through sponsors are many.

As a member you have the opportunity to attend these events and meet people in business from the local area, learn about their products, services and offerings, network and develop relationships, exchange information, present your business through a 30 second commercial and all these activities happen at every meeting. They host around six (6) plus meeting events monthly for the different areas - Scottsdale, Southeast Valley, West Valley, and Central Phoenix. Upcoming events are listed -

January 25th, Business Reception at Armitage - 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Scottsdale
http://www.azpowernetworking.com/Scottsdale/index.php
January 26th, Inspirador (in Chandler) - 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Southeast Valley
http://www.azpowernetworking.com/SoutheastValley/index.php

Besides the regular events, they often host great speakers and other special activities throughout the area. Fabien Bertault - Founder & CEO of AZ Power Networking http://www.azpowernetworking.com/ has developed a very outstanding organization and one that genuinely works to connect to its members, enable engagement and strives to help grow your business. The benefits of membership (over $1000 in value) with AZ Power Networking clearly outweigh the annual fees asked for - see listing below.

Access to all Power Networking meetings at a 50 % discount (or access for FREE with the All Inclusive option)
Access to our exclusive Members Directory
90-minute Financial Solutions Assessment with Country Financial Representative Rocky Dimitri ($250 value)
"Social Media for Sales Consultation" with Mint Social, named as one of the Top 10 Social Media Optimization Companies by TopSEOs.com ($250 value)
Complimentary 30-minute "Personal Productivity Consultation" with Robert Martinez, Certified Productivity Coach at the Geld Group ($100 value)
Complimentary Strategic Website Audit with Steve Kellogg, founder - Footprint Learning ($75 value)
One-hour massage therapy session with Lynn Black, owner - Higher Ground Massage ($65 value)

Attend a meeting to experience the networking and why you should considering joining. There are several testimonials to the success members have had and as stated earlier the connections will definitely help your business. Check out AZ Power Networking http://www.azpowernetworking.com/, you will be glad you did.