Proudly Promoting Lockhart Businesses

ChamberThe

ConnectionNovember

2014

12th Annual Tastes Along The Trail Join us for shopping and sampling of great foods Saturday, Nov. 15th, from 1-5 p.m. for the 12th Annual Tastes Along The Trail (formerly known as Tastes of Lockhart Cultures) at participating Lockhart merchants. There will be cash prizes for Shoppers through a drawing of tickets on the courthouse lawn at the end of the event (5:15 p.m.). Cash prizes in the amounts of $500, $300 and $200 will be given away to lucky shoppers! Here’s how: Every shopper receives one ticket for each participating business visited and additional tickets for every $10 purchase up to $100. Turn in your tickets at the Trail Boss Tent on the courthouse lawn for your chance to win. The more tickets you turn in, the greater your chances of winning!

A Dickens’ Christmas in Lockhart, Lighted Parade & SNOW coming in

December! Coming up on December 5 and 6 is “A Dickens’ Christmas in Lockhart” sponsored by Friends of the Library. On Friday at 7pm, the Lockhart Chamber helps with a Lighted Parade to start the event. The festivities continue on Saturday where you will find the downtown square transformed into a 19th century style scene with Dickens’ characters, entertainment of all kinds and activities for children. Food and craft vendors are there as well, and for the first time ever, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of this great event, there’ll be SNOW! That’s right! Bring the kiddos out to enjoy a snow-covered slide and play area! Kick off your family Christmas celebration with a Dickens’ Christ-mas in Lockhart! The activities are free because of gracious spon-sors all right here at home in our community. Please join us! Parade and vendor applications can be found on our website, www.lockhartchamber.com. Click on the events tab and scroll down to Dickens’ Christmas.

Veteran’s Day Fish Fry The Lockhart Chamber of Commerce wants to honor our Veterans on Tues-day, November 11 with a Fish Fry on the lawn of the Courthouse. If you know a veteran, please pass along this information. Food will be served to veterans and their families FREE of charge from 11:30 am until we run out of food. The community is invited to join us in honoring our veterans and donations are appreciated if eating lunch and not a veteran. The Chamber gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors for their support of this event: Clear Creek, Inc. Ed & Andrea Theriot Garage Door Services Windsor Door Printing Solutions Greg & Angela Rawlinson Lockhart Masonic Lodge #690 Chicken Express

The deadline for newsletter inserts is the 25th of each month for $35. We are now up to 400 copies needed. For more information, please call us at 512-398-2818.

Chamber Banquet 2015

Mark your calendars now for the 80th Annual Lockhart Chamber of Com-merce Banquet featuring a Casino Night & Live Music on Saturday, Janu-ary 24, 2015. We will again be in San Marcos at the Embassy Suites Ho-tel, Spa and Conference Center, 1001 E. McCarty Lane. Music will be provided by “People’s Choice” for dancing after the Pro-gram, along with the traditional casino night, and this year, we are adding a photo booth! Sponsorships are available for a limited number of re-served tables so that you and your friends and/or employees can sit to-gether. Reserved tables are $900 (includes reserved seating, 1 ad spot, signage at table, in brochure and on the Chamber website) and advertising “spots” are $125 each and available to Chamber members only to pro-mote their businesses all night long on two big jumbo screens. Tickets will go on sale in mid-November and may be purchased from any Board of Director or at the Chamber office, 631 S. Colorado. Early Bird tickets are $75 for Chamber members through 1/10/15. For Future mem-bers and tickets purchased after 1/10/15 the price is $100. Keep watching your email, Facebook, the Chamber website and future newsletters for details on this highly attended event. We highly encourage everyone to submit your nominations for Most Wor-thy Citizen, Business of the Year, AgriBusiness of the Year, and Spirit Award. Forms can be found on our website at www.lockhartchamber.com. Click on the “about” tab, scroll down to Events & Programming to find information about the banquet. Forms are located at the below the bottom of the last paragraph.

November2014November

2014

12th Annual Tastes Along The Trail Join us for shopping and sampling of great foods Saturday, Nov. 15th, from 1-5 p.m. for the 12th Annual Tastes Along The Trail (formerly known as Tastes of Lockhart Cultures) at participating Lockhart merchants. There will be cash prizes for Shoppers through a drawing of tickets on the courthouse lawn at the end of the event (5:15 p.m.). Cash prizes in the amounts of $500, $300 and $200 will be given away to lucky shoppers! Here’s how: Every shopper receives one ticket for each participating business visited and additional tickets for every $10 purchase up to $100. Turn in your tickets at the Trail Boss Tent on the courthouse lawn for your chance to win. The more tickets you turn in, the greater your chances of winning!

A Dickens’ Christmas in Lockhart, Lighted Parade & SNOW coming in

December! Coming up on December 5 and 6 is “A Dickens’ Christmas in Lockhart” sponsored by Friends of the Library. On Friday at 7pm, the Lockhart Chamber helps with a Lighted Parade to start the event. The festivities continue on Saturday where you will find the downtown square transformed into a 19th century style scene with Dickens’ characters, entertainment of all kinds and activities for children. Food and craft vendors are there as well, and for the first time ever, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of this great event, there’ll be SNOW! That’s right! Bring the kiddos out to enjoy a snow-covered slide and play area! Kick off your family Christmas celebration with a Dickens’ Christ-mas in Lockhart! The activities are free because of gracious spon-sors all right here at home in our community. Please join us! Parade and vendor applications can be found on our website, www.lockhartchamber.com. Click on the events tab and scroll down to Dickens’ Christmas.

Veteran’s Day Fish Fry The Lockhart Chamber of Commerce wants to honor our Veterans on Tues-day, November 11 with a Fish Fry on the lawn of the Courthouse. If you know a veteran, please pass along this information. Food will be served to veterans and their families FREE of charge from 11:30 am until we run out of food. The community is invited to join us in honoring our veterans and donations are appreciated if eating lunch and not a veteran. The Chamber gratefully acknowledges the following sponsors for their support of this event: Clear Creek, Inc. Ed & Andrea Theriot Garage Door Services Windsor Door Printing Solutions Greg & Angela Rawlinson Lockhart Masonic Lodge #690 Chicken Express

The deadline for newsletter inserts is the 25th of each month for $35. We are now up to 400 copies needed. For more information, please call us at 512-398-2818.

Chamber Banquet 2015

Mark your calendars now for the 80th Annual Lockhart Chamber of Com-merce Banquet featuring a Casino Night & Live Music on Saturday, Janu-ary 24, 2015. We will again be in San Marcos at the Embassy Suites Ho-tel, Spa and Conference Center, 1001 E. McCarty Lane. Music will be provided by “People’s Choice” for dancing after the Pro-gram, along with the traditional casino night, and this year, we are adding a photo booth! Sponsorships are available for a limited number of re-served tables so that you and your friends and/or employees can sit to-gether. Reserved tables are $900 (includes reserved seating, 1 ad spot, signage at table, in brochure and on the Chamber website) and advertising “spots” are $125 each and available to Chamber members only to pro-mote their businesses all night long on two big jumbo screens. Tickets will go on sale in mid-November and may be purchased from any Board of Director or at the Chamber office, 631 S. Colorado. Early Bird tickets are $75 for Chamber members through 1/10/15. For Future mem-bers and tickets purchased after 1/10/15 the price is $100. Keep watching your email, Facebook, the Chamber website and future newsletters for details on this highly attended event. We highly encourage everyone to submit your nominations for Most Wor-thy Citizen, Business of the Year, AgriBusiness of the Year, and Spirit Award. Forms can be found on our website at www.lockhartchamber.com. Click on the “about” tab, scroll down to Events & Programming to find information about the banquet. Forms are located at the below the bottom of the last paragraph.

LUNCHEON The monthly Chamber luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 13th at 12 noon at First Lockhart Baptist Church Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco. This month’s luncheon is sponsored by Friends of the Library promoting a “A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart”. The catering will consist of a traditional Christmas meal and will be provided by Henry’s Restaurant at $10 per person for Chamber mem-bers, $15 per person for non-members. The ‘Member Only’ cash drawing is $50 (You must be present and a member in good standing to win.)

Bruce Germer Insurance Agency Meitler Plumbing G&G Laundromat

Martin Ritchey Edward Jones—Stephanie Hendershot

Plum Creek Inn Centers for Search & Investigation

Chapman’s Heat & Air Paul Gomez

Michael & Janie Wright Simple Sewing Solutions

Performance Collision Repair Specialists GEO Group

Lockhart Police Association Donnie Wilson Toledo Finance

Lockhart Inn Embassy Suites, San Marcos

Mr. Taco Lockhart Professional Firefighters Association

American Cancer Society Factory Connection

First Lockhart National Bank Meadow Park Village Apartments

SNAP Fitness

The Chamber would like to thank the Chairman of the CTR Rodeo Commit-tee, Hoppy Haden, each member of the Rodeo Committee, and all the volun-

teers who worked so hard to ensure another award-winning year!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS November 4: Election Day November 6: Heel Power Meeting, Mr Taco 7:15 a.m. November 11: Veteran’s Day Fish Fry on Courthouse lawn November 12: Executive Board Meeting November 13: Chamber Luncheon, noon, at Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco November 13: City Council Meeting November 15: Tastes Along The Trail, on the Square, 1-5 pm November 19: Regular Board Meeting November 24: LISD Board of Trustees Meeting November 27-28: Chamber closed for Thanksgiving weekend Full Community Calendar found at: www.lockhartchamber.com

HEEL POWER MEETING REMINDER:

THURSDAY, NOV. 6TH 7:15 A.M. @ MR. TACO

“women and investing” PResented BY STEPHANIE HENDERSHOT OF EDWARD

JONES.

GASLIGHT-BAKER THEATHRE PRE-SENTS: “WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA

WOOLF?” Nov. 1 & 2, 7 & 8

FREE HEARING SCREENING AT LONGHORN HEARING, NOVEMBER 10TH FROM 9:00 A.M.—NOON. CALL 512-398-4000. WALK-INS WEL-

COME!

Rene

wals Thank you

to the following businesses and/or individuals for investing

in the Chamber of Commerce by renewing their membership.

For a full calendar visit our website at www.lockhartchamber.com

LUNCHEON The monthly Chamber luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 13th at 12 noon at First Lockhart Baptist Church Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco. This month’s luncheon is sponsored by Friends of the Library promoting a “A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart”. The catering will consist of a traditional Christmas meal and will be provided by Henry’s Restaurant at $10 per person for Chamber mem-bers, $15 per person for non-members. The ‘Member Only’ cash drawing is $50 (You must be present and a member in good standing to win.)

Bruce Germer Insurance Agency Meitler Plumbing G&G Laundromat

Martin Ritchey Edward Jones—Stephanie Hendershot

Plum Creek Inn Centers for Search & Investigation

Chapman’s Heat & Air Paul Gomez

Michael & Janie Wright Simple Sewing Solutions

Performance Collision Repair Specialists GEO Group

Lockhart Police Association Donnie Wilson Toledo Finance

Lockhart Inn Embassy Suites, San Marcos

Mr. Taco Lockhart Professional Firefighters Association

American Cancer Society Factory Connection

First Lockhart National Bank Meadow Park Village Apartments

SNAP Fitness

The Chamber would like to thank the Chairman of the CTR Rodeo Commit-tee, Hoppy Haden, each member of the Rodeo Committee, and all the volun-

teers who worked so hard to ensure another award-winning year!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS November 4: Election Day November 6: Heel Power Meeting, Mr Taco 7:15 a.m. November 11: Veteran’s Day Fish Fry on Courthouse lawn November 12: Executive Board Meeting November 13: Chamber Luncheon, noon, at Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco November 13: City Council Meeting November 15: Tastes Along The Trail, on the Square, 1-5 pm November 19: Regular Board Meeting November 24: LISD Board of Trustees Meeting November 27-28: Chamber closed for Thanksgiving weekend Full Community Calendar found at: www.lockhartchamber.com

HEEL POWER MEETING REMINDER:

THURSDAY, NOV. 6TH 7:15 A.M. @ MR. TACO

“women and investing” PResented BY STEPHANIE HENDERSHOT OF EDWARD

JONES.

GASLIGHT-BAKER THEATHRE PRE-SENTS: “WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA

WOOLF?” Nov. 1 & 2, 7 & 8

FREE HEARING SCREENING AT LONGHORN HEARING, NOVEMBER 10TH FROM 9:00 A.M.—NOON. CALL 512-398-4000. WALK-INS WEL-

COME!

LUNCHEON The monthly Chamber luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 13th at 12 noon at First Lockhart Baptist Church Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco. This month’s luncheon is sponsored by Friends of the Library promoting a “A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart”. The catering will consist of a traditional Christmas meal and will be provided by Henry’s Restaurant at $10 per person for Chamber mem-bers, $15 per person for non-members. The ‘Member Only’ cash drawing is $50 (You must be present and a member in good standing to win.)

Bruce Germer Insurance Agency Meitler Plumbing G&G Laundromat

Martin Ritchey Edward Jones—Stephanie Hendershot

Plum Creek Inn Centers for Search & Investigation

Chapman’s Heat & Air Paul Gomez

Michael & Janie Wright Simple Sewing Solutions

Performance Collision Repair Specialists GEO Group

Lockhart Police Association Donnie Wilson Toledo Finance

Lockhart Inn Embassy Suites, San Marcos

Mr. Taco Lockhart Professional Firefighters Association

American Cancer Society Factory Connection

First Lockhart National Bank Meadow Park Village Apartments

SNAP Fitness

The Chamber would like to thank the Chairman of the CTR Rodeo Commit-tee, Hoppy Haden, each member of the Rodeo Committee, and all the volun-

teers who worked so hard to ensure another award-winning year!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS November 4: Election Day November 6: Heel Power Meeting, Mr Taco 7:15 a.m. November 11: Veteran’s Day Fish Fry on Courthouse lawn November 12: Executive Board Meeting November 13: Chamber Luncheon, noon, at Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco November 13: City Council Meeting November 15: Tastes Along The Trail, on the Square, 1-5 pm November 19: Regular Board Meeting November 24: LISD Board of Trustees Meeting November 27-28: Chamber closed for Thanksgiving weekend Full Community Calendar found at: www.lockhartchamber.com

HEEL POWER MEETING REMINDER:

THURSDAY, NOV. 6TH 7:15 A.M. @ MR. TACO

“women and investing” PResented BY STEPHANIE HENDERSHOT OF EDWARD

JONES.

GASLIGHT-BAKER THEATHRE PRE-SENTS: “WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA

WOOLF?” Nov. 1 & 2, 7 & 8

FREE HEARING SCREENING AT LONGHORN HEARING, NOVEMBER 10TH FROM 9:00 A.M.—NOON. CALL 512-398-4000. WALK-INS WEL-

COME!

From the pen of the

President

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS

Reveile Ranch & Rodeo Arena Event Center

8519 State Park Road Lockhart TX 78644

512-461-3043 Kim Reveile

Hat Rod Productions 103-A East San Antonio St.

Lockhart TX 78644 512-657-4616

Joel Gammage

Big Mike’s Painting & Construction 234 Buffalo Run

Harwood TX 78632 512-468-4295 Mike Scrivner

8 Ways to Boost Sales of Your Business Services 1. Narrow your target market. Focus in business is everything, but

doing so is often hard for small business owners who worry that nar-rowing down their target market will leave them with very few custom-ers to go after, but is a great way to get customers to notice you among the fray of competing businesses.

2. Become an expert in your market. Being an expert brings credibil-ity, business and referrals. Here are a few tips: Start a business blog, market your business with public speaking engagements or events and engage with your local media.

3. Rank your targets. Another way to zero in on your target market is to rank prospects according to profitability. Take a look at your client base—which are the most profitable to you? Alongside profitability, identify the client profiles that have proven to be your most satisfied. These are the ones who are referring your business to friends and neighbors.

4. Showcase your differentiators. Lets add a little introspection to the mix. What makes you different? Understanding and communicating this can really boost sales, and shift focus away from price alone.

5. Fit your messaging to suit your targets. Once you’ve identified your target and nailed your differentiators, review your messaging and marketing programs to make sure you’re touching the right customers with a relevant message. You might also need to consider your com-pany name and branding to ensure it hits home and reflects your niche.

6. Sell more to existing customers. Here’s another exercise that can ride on the coattails of your customer ranking research. It’s not as perplexing as it sounds. It can be as easy as setting up a loyalty or VIP program that offers incentives such as promotions, early access to new products and services, etc. This form of customer apprecia-tion is great for keeping you top of mind, driving repeat business and referrals.

7. Have a plan for each stage of the sales cycle. Does your business have a marketing action plan? Do you know how to deal with aware prospects versus interested prospects? Every stage of the buying cycle is different and deserves a marking plan all its own so that you are ready and prepared to nurture those leads further, until you close a sale, and push for referrals.

8. Optimize the conversion process. So you have an interested pros-pect? Make sure your sales and marketing teams have the tools they need to close the deal. Marketing automation software can really help with this process, but its not an absolute must. As mentioned above, start by creating a marketing plan that addresses each phase of the sales cycle—awareness, interest, engagement and sale. Then think about he timeline that accompanies a typical sale and ways you can match your outreach efforts to keep warming your lead. Use your blog or website to encourage prospects to sign up to your email list with the promise of more information and/or special offers, then tailor a personalized marketing outreach campaign to them.

All through this process, you are deepening your relationship with the pros-pect by offering value—not just a quick sale. This type of “guided selling” can really help improver your conversions dramatically. Good luck!

Angela Rawlinson Manager

Membership Drive

The 3rd Annual Membership drive started October 1 and runs through December 31, 2013. It is very simple to par-ticipate. For every business you refer that joins the Cham-ber, your name will be entered into a drawing for $100. Participants must be a current Chamber member in good standing to win. Referrals must be a unique, first time re-ferral to get credit for the referral and new member. If you have any questions, please call the Chamber at 512-398-2818.

Printing Solutions202 E. Market St.

Lockhart, TX 78644

The Mission of the Lockhart Chamber of Commerce as stated in our by-laws is:“To improve and strengthen the business environment of Lockhart in order to promote the economic well being of all citizens, to provide services to

membership, to communicate views of the business community; to enhance the quality of life for the entire community; to support constructive initiatives on major issues of public policy.”

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P.O. Box 840 • Lockhart, Texas 78644

PRESORT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT #94

LOCKHART TX

RON FAULSTICH , Chairman TERRY WRIGHT, Past Chair HOPPY HADEN, Chair Elect

LINDA BROOKS - JOYCE BUCKNER TOMMY BARRON- MISSIE HAGAN

ANGELA MEITLER - MARY BETH NICKEL REBECCA PULLIAM- MARTIN RITCHEY

ED THERIOT - KEN DORAN RUDY TREVINO - VANCE RODGERS - TOM BONN

ANGELA RAWLINSON, Manager

The Chamber celebrated with Mucho’s Restaurant on October 2nd with a traditional Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The business was started by George Sanchez and he employ approximately 8 people in our business community. Mucho’s is located at 115 Walnut Street. Hours of operations are Sunday-Wednesday 5 a.m.—2 p.m., and Thursday—Saturday, 5 a.m.—9 p.m.

YOUR Lockhart Chamber celebrates with Local Businesses!

November 12 Executive Board Meeting

Noon

November 13 Chamber Luncheon at Noon

First Lockhart Baptist Church -Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco

$50 ‘Members Only’ Cash Drawing

November 19 Board Meeting

Noon

www.lockhartchamber.com 512-398-2818

RON FAULSTICH , Chairman TERRY WRIGHT, Past Chair HOPPY HADEN, Chair Elect

LINDA BROOKS - JOYCE BUCKNER TOMMY BARRON- MISSIE HAGAN

ANGELA MEITLER - MARY BETH NICKEL REBECCA PULLIAM- MARTIN RITCHEY

ED THERIOT - KEN DORAN RUDY TREVINO - VANCE RODGERS - TOM BONN

ANGELA RAWLINSON, Manager

The Chamber celebrated with Mucho’s Restaurant on October 2nd with a traditional Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The business was started by George Sanchez and he employ approximately 8 people in our business community. Mucho’s is located at 115 Walnut Street. Hours of operations are Sunday-Wednesday 5 a.m.—2 p.m., and Thursday—Saturday, 5 a.m.—9 p.m.

YOUR Lockhart Chamber celebrates with Local Businesses!

November 12 Executive Board Meeting

Noon

November 13 Chamber Luncheon at Noon

First Lockhart Baptist Church -Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco

$50 ‘Members Only’ Cash Drawing

November 19 Board Meeting

Noon

www.lockhartchamber.com 512-398-2818

RON FAULSTICH , Chairman TERRY WRIGHT, Past Chair HOPPY HADEN, Chair Elect

LINDA BROOKS - JOYCE BUCKNER MARTIN RITCHEY - MISSIE HAGAN

ANGELA MEITLER - MARY BETH NICKEL JERRY BURGENER - TOMMY BARRON

ED THERIOT - JOANNA IVEY RUDY TREVINO - VANCE RODGERS - TOM BONN

ANGELA RAWLINSON, Manager

The Caldwell County Republican Party, a member of the Lockhart Chamber of Com-merce, celebrated the opening of its headquar-ters with a ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 4th. The office is located at 113 San Antonio St. Office hours in September are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Starting in October, and through the election, the office will be open Monday through Satur-day, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 512-995-8036.

YOUR Lockhart Chamber celebrates with our Members!

October 8 Executive Board Meeting

Noon Chamber Office

October 9 Chamber Luncheon at Noon

First Lockhart Baptist Church -Connection Center, 200 S. Blanco

$300 ‘Members Only’ Cash Drawing

October 15 Board Meeting

Noon

www.lockhartchamber.com 512-398-2818