Columbus Chamber Blog: Information about economic development, economic and business trends, Columbus workforce, programs, events and the Chamber of Commerce in and around Columbus, OH

Chamber Member Spotlight: Creative Spot

Creative Spot is a full-service marketing, advertising and design agency located in downtown Columbus. We offer strategic marketing planning, branding and identity development, advertising and interactive strategies. Our mission is to be a strategic marketing partner to our clients by achieving results through precise strategy and creativity.

Why We are Members:
As a member of the Columbus community for the past 15 years, we believe that it is important to stay connected. By being a member of the Columbus Chamber, we can be sure we are playing an active role in the economic growth and development of our community.

Fun Facts About My Company:
- Creative Spot’s interactive team recently completed a mobile site for national bike retailer, BikeSource. Visit www.bikesourcecolumbus.com from your mobile device to check it out.

- Creative Spot posts weekly blog entries on its website about all things marketing-related.

Featured Product/Service:
At Creative Spot, we believe that what makes us different is our ability to help small- to mid-sized businesses maximize their marketing dollars. We work with our clients to develop a Strategic Marketing Plan, which outlines marketing objectives strategies and budgets. Through direct interaction with agency principals, first-class creative design and preferred relationships with local media and vendors, we help our clients deliver their message in a creative, cost-effective way.

Ever wonder if email marketing or mobile advertising could be a cost-effective solution for your small business? Check out Creative Spot’s website and blog to learn more.

Creative Spot is also on Twitter. Follow @creativespot and join in the conversation.

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. View our archive of past spotlights.

Young Professionals Spotlight: Energy West

Each month, the Columbus Chamber spotlights a local young professional or professional organization to showcase what they offer, how to get involved and when to check out their next event. For the month of May, Energy West is featured.

When and why was Energy West started?
Energy West is one of Columbus’ newest young professional networks. It was recently started in March 2011 when Chris Watson and Kristin Nelson found that they were both recent transplants to the West side of Columbus. “We wanted to provide a relaxing and fun atmosphere where young professionals can share their positive energy while meeting new friends,” Chris and Kristin agreed.

Why become a member?
Energy West is a networking group for energetic young professionals who live/work on the west side of Columbus and want to get to know others in their neighborhood.

We have monthly cocktail hours at local bars/restaurants throughout the west side of Columbus in neighborhoods such as Hilliard, Dublin, Grandview, Grove City, Upper Arlington, Galloway and others in between.

At each event, we highlight one of our members in our "The More You Know" segments where they talk about something that energizes them. This could be you!

What are some success or cool facts about Energy West?
• As a small group, just starting up, our events are low-key and easy for networking newbies.
• We encourage our members to help shape the future of Energy West. We also provide them with the chance to speak at our events (totally non-salesy – more inspirational).
• You can call out Kris or Chris and both founders will answer!

How do I become a member?
Become a member on our eEvent page at http://eevent.com/energywest.

Where can I go to learn more about Energy West?
Join us on Facebook! We will post our monthly events and sharing cool things to do on the West side of Columbus. We want to get to know you too - so feel free to share what energizes you, the things you like to do in your neighborhood and ideas for the rest of us!

To learn about nearly 60 other local YP and professional organizations, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations.

Chamber Member Spotlight: Crossbow Systems Ltd.

Crossbow Systems Ltd. offers design and installation services, technology infrastructure engineering and media services. Its core competency is voice and data structural cable infrastructure design and installation. In addition, Crossbow provides wireless design, audio visual installations, CCTV and IT solutions.

The company’s experience allows it to offer solutions that are innovative and cost effective. It focuses on keeping up with technological changes, plus it can provide basic solutions.

Crossbow Systems Ltd. also has trusted partners that provide services outside of its core capabilities, and it has developed working partner relationships with experts in various fields, to provide the services customers require. 

Why We Are Chamber Members:
We feel that the key to business success is networking and developing relationships. The Chamber provides us a forum where we can meet the right people and develop business opportunities.

Fun Facts About My Company:
- Crossbow Systems Ltd. was started in October of 2002 as a design consultation company.

- The company was recently acquired by DINATCO Inc., a central Ohio based investment group. The new company continues to do business as Crossbow Systems Ltd.

- We're a Certified Minority Business Enterprise.

- We strive to build strong relationships through consistent performance.

- We have performed services in every county in the state of Ohio.

Featured Product or Service:
Crossbow offers a variety of consulting and installation services including:

• Bid specification
• Project management
• Structured cabling systems
• Optical fiber installation
• Acceptance testing
• Data centers
• Building automation systems
• Fixed wireless systems
• Wireless LANs
• Sound/paging/white sound systems
• Infrastructure audits

For more information on our services, visit our website.

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. View our archive of past spotlights.

Video: Michael Dalby at the Columbus Metropolitan Club

What's in store at the Columbus Chamber? Our new President and CEO Michael Dalby addressed the Columbus Metropolitan Club earlier this month. Watch this video and hear him discuss a four-pronged approach to creating a supportive eco-system for sustainable growth in the Columbus Region.

 

Chamber Member Spotlight: Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis in the world, funding more than $380 million in research grants since 1948. Through the support of more than 600,000 volunteers, the Foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education, pursuing public policy and legislation and conducting evidenced-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

Why We’re Chamber Members:
We joined the Columbus Chamber to take advantage of opportunities to network with other local business and community leaders, to contribute to the marketing and growth of Columbus whenever possible, to use the many resources the Columbus Chamber offers to its members and to promote the important mission of the Arthritis Foundation in central Ohio.

Facts About My Company:
Arthritis is our nation’s No. 1 disabling disease, costing the U.S. economy more than $128 billion in treatment and lost wages. There are more than 100 forms of arthritis affecting joints and the surrounding tissues. Currently, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from this disease and it can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender or age. Nearly 12,000 children in central Ohio have arthritis, and women have a much higher disease rate than men. 

Featured Product/Service:
Exercise is the key to remaining mobile, so we offer many classes in warm water aquatics, tai chi, land-based exercise and walking programs. We also sponsor free equipment loans, a free rheumatology camp for kids, home assessment programs, physician referrals, support groups and many educational opportunities. Nationally we support research to find the cure. We hold fundraising events all year long for anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering to become part of our mission.

For more information, visit www.arthritis.org.

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. View our archive of past spotlights.

Chamber Member Spotlight: Crimson Cup

Since 1991 Crimson Cup has roasted and packaged quality, great-tasting coffee in Columbus and has taught businesses how to be successful in specialty coffee. We have more than 300 customers throughout the United States including: independent coffee houses, grocers, colleges and universities and food service establishments. In 2007, we opened our very first company-owned coffeehouse, which is located on High Street in Clintonville.

We truly believe in the power of community, so the majority of the businesses we work with are local businesses in small towns. This is also the reason we are not a franchise; we want customers to know we have a vested interest in their success. The only way for us to succeed is for our customers to succeed.

Why We are Members:
The Columbus community has been a huge support system for Crimson Cup and being a part of the Chamber is just one way for us to get involved in the local community. We also want to be sure we do all we can to help the Columbus business community thrive, and joining the Chamber is one more of the many ways to do so.

Fun Facts About My Company:
• Crimson Cup was founded by Greg Ubert a Columbus native and Worthington High School graduate.

• Our company name comes from part of the coffee plant called the coffee cherry. When ready to be harvested, it turns a bright crimson color.

• We help our customers with marketing support, training and coffee shop layout and design.

• We only roast Specialty Grade Class 1 beans, which represent the top 5 percent of coffee beans grown around the world.

• To celebrate our 20th Anniversary the coffee house in Clintonville will offer $1 drinks all day on Tuesday, May 10.

Featured Product/Service:
Our signature coffee blend is called Armando’s Blend® and was created in 1992 by Crimson Cup. This blend has won several taste tests and is used in coffee houses in more than 29 states. In addition to great coffee, we also provide organic black and green iced teas, hot teas, syrups, sauces and much more.

Tour the Crimson Cup Headquarters:

For more information, visit our website.   And, be sure to check out our social media accounts: Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. View our archive of past spotlights.

Chamber Member Spotlight: Good As Gold Promotions LLC

Good As Gold Promotions LLC is a woman-owned full-service brand and apparel solutions company. In our 17 years, we've established our business by developing partnerships, providing superior quality products and services, with unprecedented accessibility and attention to detail. Good As Gold develops unique avenues in which to promote your name through active listening, creative planning, innovative products and competitive pricing. We know that our success is measured by your success.

Why We’re Chamber Members:
We joined the Columbus Chamber seeking a professional business organization in which to promote our name and services. Scheduled events and venues create valuable situations in which to meet other members and perspective clients, thus gaining a better understanding of who the members are and what they do. Often times these initial conversations provide a catalyst for proposing marketing strategies in which to creatively advertise their own name, brand and/or services. Our primary goal is creating long term relationships and providing targeted products and specific solutions for our valued customers, which is only one of the many reasons we became a Chamber member and part of the Ambassador Program.

Fun Facts About My Company:
Every day we supply products and solutions for an array of exciting projects. One of our most unique projects was supplying Mission Patches for NASA that were flown on the Space Shuttle. We also became a part of history when we provided commemorative transit pass holders for the inauguration of President Obama.  

Featured Product/Service:
Good As Gold, established in 1994, has worked with a wide variety of wonderful individuals from small business owners, to committees and government entities, to executives with large national and international corporations. We value these relationships formed from day one to almost two decades later, and many have become like extended family. We take great pride in building strong relationships and welcome the opportunity to work with you.
 
For more information and to enter our $1,000 drawing, visit our website. Click here to visit our online retail apparel catalogs; http://www.4logowearables.com/ and http://www.imprintablecatalog.com/.

The Columbus Chamber member spotlights put the focus on our member organizations. View our archive of past spotlights.