FORT FRANCES—The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce will have a staff member dedicated to a new business retention and expansion project for the next year, Chamber office manager Dawn Booth said late Thursday.
Kerri Dittaro will start her one-year contract on Monday, with her primary task being to follow up on a business retention and expansion survey that was done back in 2001, noted Booth.
“We’re going to be doing a completely different survey this time around, but it will give us an idea as to how business has progressed over the past five years and if there’s still problems similar to what we’ve seen before,” she added.
“She’ll probably also do some membership development,” continued Booth.
“And we’ve got a new customer service committee that was just implemented a few months here at the Chamber and she’ll probably be taking over that.”
She said the Chamber is teaming up with Confederation College, the Rainy River Future Development Corp., and local Business Improvement Association to offer a customer service program called “Service Excellence.”
This seven-hour course is geared to anyone currently in, or planning to be in, the customer service field, whether it’s related to retail or any other kind of business.
“The college is actually going to be offering it, and we’re going to be partnering with them to promote it to the business community to get owners and manager on board with the program,” noted Booth.
“We’ve actually been talking about it since the beginning of the year and we formed the committee back in July.”
Dittaro will be working with the Chamber until Dec. 3, 2007.
< *c>Gift ideas
In related news, the Chamber is offering up a couple of ideas for those who may be stumped as what to get others for Christmas.
First off, the Chamber of Commerce once again is offering gift certificates redeemable at more than 40 area businesses.
Even though the Chamber sells the gift certificates year-round, they’re only promoted—and thus tend to sell—during the holiday season.
The 40 participating businesses offer a range of goods and services, from doughnuts, plumbing, lodging, and electronics to furniture, knick-knacks, fishing gear, and Internet service.
These gift certificates are available in any dollar amount.
Booth noted businesses not currently part of the program are more than welcome to get involved. There is no charge, but they must be a Chamber member.
The Chamber program also is open to businesses that already offer their own gift certificates, she stressed.
To get gift certificates, or if you’re a business wanting to participate in the program, call Booth at 274-5773.
Another idea is a special calendar produced to coincide with Scott Street’s 100th birthday last year.
Booth noted the calendar, which is a non-dated “perpetual” one and therefore can be used year after year, features photos and information on past and present downtown businesses.
The calendars cost $10 each, $2 of which goes towards the Fort Frances Museum renovations.
The calendars are being sold at the Chamber office as well as several other locations around town.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
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