Buy Blue Springs News

Group to council: Buy Blue Springs

2010-05-05T08:56:00.002-05:00

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

Nearly nine months into the planning and preparation of the Buy Blue Springs program, Mark Whitlow was ready to go to the elected officials with his pitch Monday night.

Whitlow, owner of K&M Office Supply in Blue Springs joined Jeff Meyer from Ad Trends and about a dozen Buy Blue Springs supporters, with a presentation of the shop local program to the full council.

“The whole goal of this is to keep our business local,” Whitlow said.

Whitlow conceived the Buy Blue Springs concept and took the idea to the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce last summer.

Hoping to officially launch on July 1, Whitlow and Ad Trends have developed a website – www.buybluesprings.com – along with extensive marketing materials. They’ve developed pricing, packaging and the welcome kits, an online shopping guide and outlined participation benefits.

“We are encouraging everyone to participate,” Meyer said. “Visibility and exposure will really drive this.”

The Buy Blue Springs task force has met monthly since its inception and plans are in place, Whitlow said, to start to pitch the program to Blue Springs businesses.

Several members of the city council seemed to embrace the program’s concept.

“No one has ever come forward with a complete package like this,” Councilman Kent Edmondson said, adding that Buy Blue Springs will help educate the community about what products and services are available locally. Read more at the Blue Springs Journal.

Buy Blue Springs At The City Council Meeting

2010-05-04T13:30:00.002-05:00

The Buy Local Task Force and Buy Blue Springs made an appearance at the City Council Meeting last night.

Click here to watch the video. The Buy Blue Springs presentation is about 17 minutes in and you can click on the play bar to jump to that time.

Click here to review the minutes, once they are posted.

Candidates weigh in at Chamber roundtable

2010-04-02T10:24:00.000-05:00

The candidates for the three Blue Springs City Council seats up for grabs April 6 got a chance to talk to chamber members at the monthly luncheon Thursday at Adams Pointe Conference Center.

Since it was the chamber that was hosting the forum, each candidate was asked what they would do to help business in Blue Springs.

Bowerman said he would continue to support the Buy Blue Springs program and encourage residents to continue to shop local.

Lievsay said supporting businesses in Blue Springs is more than just shopping local, it’s also about the policy the council sets.

“The policy the government sets needs to be supportive of the businesses in the community,” Lievsay said. “The growth is going to come from the businesses that already exist here.”

Blue Springs City Council Candidates

2010-03-31T10:55:00.002-05:00

The Journal recently asked candidates vying for positions on the Blue Springs City Council to fill out questionnaires that summarize their views on major concerns in Blue Springs.
James L. May
Age: 61

Occupation: Real estate broker

Community Planning: Promote the development of the Missouri Innovation Park technology of the future with high paying quality jobs. Support quality home development. As a realtor, and a member of the Planning Commission, I understand what home quality means and the importance of neighborhood planning to maintain home values. On the commercial side we mist do everything possible to fill the empty storefronts on M-7 and promote the Buy Blue Springs to stop our tax leakage.

Buy Blue Springs In The Second Quarter

2010-03-29T08:55:00.003-05:00

Buy Blue Springs "Because Next Door Means More!" You may have seen the banners around the city. And, hopefully you will see more and more about this initiative in the future. Lara Vermillion of the Blue Springs Chamber made a presentation to The Roundtable to introduce the Buy Blue Springs initiative that was launched at the Chamber's December 2009 luncheon. The idea was submitted to Lara by local business owner Mark Whitlow who also agreed to Chair the new committee. Key players and stakeholders met to brainstorm, research of similar campaigns in other communities was gathered and implemented, and a marketing plan is in development.

The objective of Buy Blue Springs is to encourage local businesses and citizens to spend locally in order to grow and support local businesses, the employment base, the tax base and the economy. Spending within the community helps to build the overall wealth and economic vitality of our city.

Components of the campaign include the Buy Blue Springs banners, their website www.buybluesprings.com, point of sale materials, appearances by their mascot "Little Blue", reusable shopping bags, coupon books, Blue Springs School District Cable Channel 15 commercial spots, and web ads. Local businesses will have many opportunites to buy-in or sponsor campaign elements.

The committee is currently working on community education about the program. The completed marketing plan will roll out in April. If you would like to participate or learn more, the committee meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Blue Springs Chamber office (1000 Main Street) at 8:30am. The next meeting is March 31st.

Blue Springs candidate wants to give back

2010-03-11T08:42:00.002-06:00

By Jeff Martin - jeff.martin@examiner.net
The Examiner

1. Why are you running for Blue Springs City Council?

It’s the right thing for me to do. My wife and I have lived in Blue Springs for 22 years, raised our family, and been good ordinary citizens. Now it’s time for me to give something back to this wonderful community. I can use my 35 years of successful business experience, interpersonal communications skills, organizational abilities, and creative talents to help make Blue Springs an even better city in which to live, work, and raise a family.

2. What is the most important issue facing District 3 residents, and how do you plan to address it?

District 3 wasn’t recognized as the “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” in Missouri (Business Week Magazine, November 2009) – the city of Blue Springs was. I don’t want to divide our city into separate areas of importance. I’d rather focus on the common goals for our entire community ... and that is jobs for the future. Just a quick drive around town lets you see plenty of vacant storefronts and empty housing developments. I want to support a collaborative effort between City Hall, the EDC, the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, developers, and others to work as a unified team.

3. What are the top three issues facing the city overall, and what do you plan to do to address them?

The three areas that I want to focus on are public safety, local business, and Missouri Innovation Park. The police department, for example, is facing a major upgrade in FCC-mandated communications equipment by 2013. I am committed to pursuing all necessary channels of city, state, federal, and private sector sources of information to get the job done right the first time. Our local chamber instituted a great program called “Buy Blue Springs.” I care about small business owners and the need for our citizens to shop here at home ... which in turn has a multiplier effect and generates sales tax revenue, profits, reinvestments, more employees, and more places to shop.

Blue Springs: Poised for more family-friendly development

2010-03-10T08:06:00.002-06:00

By By Carson Ross, Mayor of Blue Springs
Special to The Examiner

For the last 10 years, Blue Springs has maintained a steady population growth of approximately 2 percent per year. In 1990, the city’s population stood at 40,000 residents. Almost 20 years later, the city’s population has blossomed to more than 56,000 residents, making it the 10th largest city in Missouri.

Moreover, as the city continues to grow, it has quickly become a destination location for families, job seekers, tourists and investors across the nation. In November, Blue Springs was named to BusinessWeek Magazine’s “Best Places to Raise Your Kids” list. Blue Springs, which was the only city in Missouri to make the list in 2009, was ranked 26th out of a total of 51 cities recognized. With a quality parks and roads system, affordable and attractive housing options, and a fully accredited police force, the “Best Places” recognition confirms that our community is fully committed to making this city an attractive place to live, work and invest.

Without a doubt, 2009 was a challenging year. The city positioned itself to look beyond current financial restraints, an unsteady climate for retail and economic development, and the changing national economy. With all of this uncertainty, the city has remained committed to moving forward not only with several high-profile economic development projects including the Missouri Innovation Park, but also has continued to focus on issues of public safety and the implementation of transportation improvements.

We are so fortunate to have had such overwhelming support for our 2008 voter-approved “no-tax-increase” bond projects. In 2010, we will start to see the first projects from that bond issue start construction.
The expansion of our Sni-a-Bar Wastewater treatment plant will begin construction in March, with the goal of meeting our current and future needs for additional sewer capacity and to meet federal environmental standards. With additional capacity we will be well positioned for additional commercial and residential growth, when our economy improves.

Blue Springs citizens will also see the extension of Moreland School Road to the Jackson County portion of Liggett Road begin this March with a completion date of December. Significant work is also taking place on finalizing the design and purchase of right of way for the improvement of Colbern and Missouri 7 and Woods Chapel Road.

Many of you have seen the innovative design proposed for Woods Chapel with the goal of providing additional capacity for morning and evening commuters. The transformation of the entire corridor is something we all should be very pleased with.

I am also very excited about the impact to our city from the “Wall that Heals,” the traveling exhibition of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall coming to Blue Springs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. I would encourage everyone to check out information regarding this unique, community partnership at www.bluespringswallthatheals.net.

As I drive around Blue Springs today, I am so proud to witness the continued progress on many of our new commercial developments taking place throughout the community. The Adams Dairy Landing retail development site continues to steadily move ahead with several new tenants expected in 2010 including Olive Garden, Gordman’s, Kohl’s, Michael’s, Staples, Petco and Famous Footwear. We also have seen new activity at the Mall at Fall Creek, and we recently had a ribbon cutting for the Legend of Asia on South Missouri 7. All of these additional businesses help provide much-needed shopping opportunities for our citizens and provide us options to “Buy Blue Springs.”

Read more at the Examiner...

Chamber hosts annual dinner

2010-02-12T12:56:00.010-06:00

Emily Jarret, from the Blue Springs Journal writes:

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce honored local business leaders Jan. 29 during its annual banquet. Teaming up with business to score was the theme of the dinner, with local businesses and business owners honored for their work with the chamber.

Debrah Weilbacher, with Business Assistance, was named Connector of the Year. Connector of the Year is chosen by the group of chamber connectors and best exemplifies what a connector should be – reaching out and showing the spirit of the chamber, said Lara Vermillion, chamber president.

McCamm Management, which owns several McDonald’s locations in the metro area, was named Business of the Year, Brien Starner, with the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation, was named Business Person of the Year and Bill Essmann was named Citizen of the Year. Essmann was nominated by St. Mary’s Medical Center and is a member on the St. Mary’sMedical Center Foundation Board.

Essmann was also a previous chairman of the board for the chamber and currently serves on the Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

Other nominees for citizen of the year included Darlene Jones, Jim Finley, Mary Potter, Rachel Powers, Dave Wright and Chuck Zuvers.

After awards were presented, Kyle Jones, 2009 chairman of the board, took a few minutes to remind those in attendance about the chamber’s accomplishments throughout the year.

“We’ve had a great year,” he said. “We had 19 graduates in our leadership program and started Operation Connect to pass out our chamber directories. We had our biggest Fall Fun Fest ever, recruited 77 new members and had 18 ribbon cuttings.”

Jones also noted the chamber’s budget. “It’s a lot more fun to work on the budget when we’re in the black,” he joked.

Before he ceremonially passed on the chairman’s position to Ryan Fry, Jones told the crowd he was proud to serve as the 2009 chairman.

“I have a positive outlook leaving this position,” he said. “And I hope I left it better than when I started. I think that should always be the goal for future chairs – to leave it better than when you got it.”

Fry told the crowd his goals for 2010 include increasing awareness of the Buy Blue Springs Program, increasing membership and “increasing the relevancy and respectability of the chamber within the community.”

“Without our membership we couldn’t be a chamber,” he added. “And I believe the chamber must be held accountable to that membership.”

“This chamber is full of good people who truly care about their community,” Vermillion said. “In Blue Springs, when we set our minds to something and work together, we make things happen. I hope to continue that tradition in the next year.”

Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce
president, Lara Vermillion, awards Art
Phillips,of McCamm Management, with
the business of the year award during the
annual chamber banquet, held Jan. 29.

Buy Blue Springs helps chamber members to be more involved

2010-01-28T08:47:00.002-06:00

By Jeff Martin - jeff.martin@examiner.net
The Examiner

The newly appointed chairman of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce says the same thing most others associated with the organization do: get members active.

And Ryan Fry, the 2010 chairman, means it. Especially when it comes to himself.

On the board for four years now, Fry is now its chairman, its spokesperson and the person usually giving the introductory speeches.

“It’s been a good four years, and we’re coming out on top,” Fry said, a week before the chamber’s annual banquet – where he’ll give a speech about the previous and upcoming year.

Aside from the many personnel and management changes, Fry views 2009 as the year the chamber changed direction toward a more positive image.

“The number one goal last year and for year’s upcoming is increasing the membership, but also being relevant and respected within the community,” he said.

Currently the chamber’s membership is about 387, an increase from last year but far from where they want to be. To attract new members in 2009, the chamber rolled out some new programs and incentives.

“We’re trying to do things that attract and retain members,” Fry said. “We’re trying to address the question all prospective members ask – what’s in it for me?”

Beginning early last year, the chamber started making changes – from administrative titles to new features, including a new Web site loaded with features; a database system that would organize and arrange membership information

The site – www.bluespringschamber.com – is a gold mine of information, including a database for members, links to business sites, an interactive calendar, biographical information and job postings.

The success of Buy Blue Springs has attracted attention from current and prospective members.

“Buy Blue Springs was a concept that a member brought forward, and Lara Vermillion (president) told him to run with it, develop it,” he said. “It has a life of its own now.”

But Buy Blue Springs underscores something more important.

“I think that’s where the biggest change was last year – getting the members more involved.”

Other programs in the early planning stages include a youth internship meant to expose high school students to local employers and the opportunities there. In addition, the chamber launched the TGIF Government in Focus, a Friday morning event that has combined the legislative breakfast and presentations by representatives of the local school district, as well as updates on fire departments and EMS issues.

The chamber is also working to finish its application for national accreditation.

Fry said the chamber is also looking to replicate a service similar to what the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce does for its members – offering a route to a health insurance plan for members.

“It’s something we’re working on,” he said.

If you go:

What: The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet

Where: Adams Pointe Conference Center, 1400 N.E. Coronado Drive, Blue Springs

When: Tomorrow night. Social hour begins at 6 p.m.

What happens: Awards will be given for Outstanding Citizen 2009, Business and Business person of the Year. There will also be a silent auction, with proceeds going to the scholarship program.

For more information: Call 816-229-8558

Local decision making key to Blue Springs

2010-01-11T09:22:00.000-06:00

By John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

This is the seventh in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on local decision making.

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Buy Blue Springs initiative took center stage at last week’s luncheon at Adams Pointe Conference Center as the program, logo and mascot were rolled out for the membership.

Buy Blue Springs is the brainchild of Mark Whitlow, owner of K&M Office Supplies and chamber President Lara Vermillion. In the last five months, the group has formed a task force, put together informational flyers and initiated discussions regarding funding.

The marketing piece for Buy Blue Springs outlined four task force goals, including partnering with local merchants, educating the community, establishing a rewards program and bringing the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce community together to promote the program.

The group also identified seven points to think about when making retail or service purchases, including keeping dollars in the local economy, jobs and wages, entrepreneurship, competition, product diversity, local decision making and community well-being.

“After seeing the excitement at the luncheon, I think it’s going to be a good program just in the fact that people are seeing the possibilities,” Whitlow said. “If all of us get involved as members, this will really go. But it will take the entire membership to keep it going.

“What we have to nail down in the first few months of 2010 is to get our promotions down and implemented.”

Janet Samborski, marketing consultant with Kwik Kopy in Blue Springs, has worked for Kent Edmondson at the business for 20 years.

Samborski said decisions made by local business owners often have a huge impact. “I think a lot of the business owners are involved in other areas of the city, for example, Kent is a councilman and he makes decisions for local businesses and residents,” she said. “And he’s also been a school board member and he’s been president of the Chamber of Commerce, so he’s been active in the community.

“And I know there are lots of people that have the same decision-making responsibilities for the community as a whole.”

Read more at the Blue Springs Journal.

Product diversity helps keep dollars in Blue Springs

2010-01-11T09:17:00.002-06:00

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

Note: This is the sixth in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on product diversity.

The more products or services offered by small businesses and large companies in a particular city, the more likely citizens will stay within that town to spend their dollars.

That’s the hope of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce as it launches its Buy Blue Springs program in the coming months.

Blue Springs is on the verge of being able to retain more retail and other spending as more than 600,000 square feet of new retail, restaurants and other services moves into the city.

Couple that with existing businesses that are already thriving and surviving in town, and Blue Springs can boast the product diversity needed to retain local dollars.

Traci Via has owned Trace Marketing – a full service marketing firm – for more than six years.

She said her ultimate goal is to spend in town and help her own business to thrive.

“I love Blue Springs,” she said. “My business has flourished because of my personal and business relationships.”

The Buy Blue Springs premise of product diversity is defined within many businesses, including Via’s. “I do anything and everything, that’s what I always say,” Via said, “anything and everything that has to do with marketing and advertising. I don’t have a niche, which is what makes me more diverse. I don’t just handle automotive or whatever the business may be.”

Via’s business has always been in Blue Springs, too.

“I am firm believer in buying local and staying local if and when I can,” she said. “I want to support the small businesses like myself. That’s why, for me, I’m glad to see the Chamber step up and put this program into place. I hope this program spills over to people that work outside of Blue Springs. Those that work downtown or other areas, I hope they start to do more shopping in Blue Springs.

“I think it can get its wings within the business community and then spread its wings and fly outside of business community.”

Read more at the Blue Springs Journal.

Buy Blue Springs Introduced to the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce

2009-12-18T10:55:00.002-06:00

Michael Montague of Ad Trends Advertising, Inc. host Blue Springs BINGO and introduces the web site he made...

Lara Vermillion of the Blue Springs Chamber and Mark Whitlow of K and M Office Product are the Buy Blue Springs Committee Chairs.

Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross explains why buying locally improves the city and stopping leakage of tax dollars can improve city services.

And introducing LITTLE BLUE the official mascot of the Buy Blue Springs Campaign!!! Now available for parties, grand openings, and other events...

Blue Springs Businesses Face Competition From Surrounding Areas

2009-12-14T08:53:00.001-06:00

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

This is the fifth in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on competition for business.

The battle for the Blue Springs consumer dollar only intensified over the last few years as shopping areas and big box stores cropped up all over Jackson County.

That competition, and Blue Springs’ response with its own development, will play a key role helping to stop the sales tax leakage from the town to surrounding areas.

As the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce begins the education phase of its Buy Blue Springs campaign, competition for the retail dollar and awareness of buying local become crucial.

Brien Starner, president of the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation, said competition is always healthy, as long as there is a level playing field.

“The economy is only going to get healthy when there is true competition,” he said.

However, competition among businesses in Blue Springs isn’t truly the enemy.

It’s the retail competition from areas like SummitWoods in Lee’s Summit and the new shopping area near Bass Pro in Independence.

Blue Springs has countered with the opening of Target and other options at Adams Dairy Landing, but more still needs to happen, said Starner.

“If you’re going to go do a full day of shopping for Christmas outside of Blue Springs, you may take advantage of an area that offers more retail options,” Starner said.

Starner said that from a tax-based standpoint, costs start to increase when you don’t have more retail choices.

“It really comes down to a diversification of our retail base,” he said. “Retail and competition are important to the identity of the community.

“Most successful businesses find their niche and they stay in their niche to refine what they really do well. And really, not everything you want to buy can be found at a Target or Wal-Mart.” - Continued at the Blue Springs Journal

Try Shopping In Blue Springs First

2009-12-07T08:26:00.002-06:00

All of EJC should join Blue Springs chamber in buy local campaign

The statistics from Black Friday weekend have started coming in and they offer both good and bad news for retailers.

There were more shoppers reported this year than last year, but they were spending on average less money.

Locally, there are no statistics just for EJC, but anyone who was out over the weekend saw busy stores, long lines and lots of traffic. And that’s a good thing.

As much as we should focus on the true meaning and spirit of the holiday season, there is no denying that this time of year is a vital one for many businesses who depend on higher sales.

For that reason, Eastern Jackson County shoppers do their best to keep their hard-earned money in Eastern Jackson County. While online shopping has become more popular in recent years, spending your holiday money at EJC establishments benefits you in more ways than one. By selecting local businesses, you are not only helping them succeed, but you are creating and maintaining more jobs in our area.You are also keeping your sales tax dollars in our area cities, which in turn helps keep our roads, parks and public safety resources.

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce has adopted a buy local campaign this fall and even has a catchy slogan – “Buy Blue Springs. Because Next Door Means More.”

The Blue Springs Chamber has it right, and all of EJC shoppers should remember each time they buy a gift this holiday season they are really giving two – one to gift’s recipient, and one for the business in which they select to spend their money.

- From The Examiner

Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise In Blue Springs

2009-11-30T09:27:00.001-06:00

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on how buying local can be fostered through entrepreneurship.

The entrepreneurial spirit seems to be alive and well in Blue Springs.

And that’s a good thing, considering the dawn of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce’s Buy Blue Springs program and emphasis on the financial and educational aspects of keeping money within the city limits.

Be it well-known businessmen that have brought popular fast-food and drive-in chains to the area, a new furniture store off of Adams Dairy Parkway, a local florist in business for 25 years or a recent newcomer with a vision to nab some of the area’s key entertainment dollars, entrepreneurship and free enterprise are alive and well in Blue Springs.

Take Village Gardens owner T.J. Nigro, for example.

Nigro and his wife, Dana, have owned the popular operation off of Highway 7 and Mock Avenue since 1984. “Dana’s really the brains of the operation, I’m just the mechanic,” Nigro said with a laugh. “My father saw the property and didn’t realize it was two acres at the time. My dad inquired about it and he really liked that corner.”

From there, Nigro and his family knew they had a future in Blue Springs – even though the landscape of the town was much different then than it is now.

Their business started out as a produce market, then they got into the nursery business and later landscaping and lawn service.

“One thing led to another and we began to get into the retailer floral business,” Nigro said.

The commitment to stay in Blue Springs and to that entrepreneurial spirit blossomed when the Nigros discovered a huge market for one popular flower.

“We were making flower buyers out of people that usually would not be, and we did it with the flower that was most recognizable, the rose,” Nigro said. “Back then, people weren’t selling roses at a discounted price. They were $60 a dozen.”

Like any small business owner with a vision, Nigro was forced to make necessary changes in his investment to keep it alive.

“There was a perception that we were a roses-only type of business, but we do weddings, funeral arrangements, any type of fresh flower arrangements. We got a new logo in the last three years and kind of gotten away from focusing on roses,” he said. “It’s easy to end up a statistic. The flower business has seen a lot of changes. We really had to retreat into a lot of niches that we never got into before. It was either that or go busted.”

Buying In Blue Springs Can Help Keep, Create Jobs

2009-11-30T09:24:00.002-06:00

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

This is the third in a series of articles about the newly formed Buy Blue Springs campaign launched in the fall of 2009 by the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. This week, the series focuses on how the local economy drives local job creation.

The equation is simple enough for businesses in Blue Springs: the more money spent locally, the more jobs that can be created in the surrounding business community.

As the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce launches its Buy Blue Springs campaign, much of the focus will be on the so-called “leakage” numbers, or dollars leaving the city and being spent on goods and services in other towns.

Those purchases leaving town can be as big as a new car or as small as a new hair style.

Of course, from where Christine Smailys sits, there is no small job.

Smailys has six employees and readily acknowledges the tie between more business and more employees. “It fluctuates, just depending on what’s going on with the economy, but we usually have between six and eight employees,” said Smailys, who has owned Christine’s for two years.

As these businesses grow in Blue Springs, longer-term employees can easily mean more business and repeat business, especially in her industry. More than anything else, Smailys also tangles with the perception that somehow her stylists may not be as qualified as those in bigger cities.

“Some people think, if they go to the city, something is better or there will be more to offer,” she said. “Some people think the stylists in the city have more training, but that’s not true at all.”

The salon had five employees when she bought it two years ago and Smailys said she is always on the lookout for qualified, experienced stylists who are looking for a career, not just a job.

“Because I want them to stay,” she said. “People get to know them; they feel like they can count on them to be here. It builds good client relationships.”

Read More at the Blue Springs Journal...

Keep Tax Dollars In Blue Springs

2009-11-30T09:21:00.001-06:00

John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher

It’s an age-old question many community leaders ask every day – how do we keep local dollars spent within our city limits?

For many years, the vast economic development in eastern Independence has drawn away countless revenue and tax dollars from Blue Springs. It’s a trend the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce wants to finally put to an end.

To put the financial implications of shopping local into perspective, consider the sheer numbers when talking about tax dollars.

The 2009 Blue Springs sales tax rate is 7.35 percent. Of that, 1 percent is designated for city programs and services including the financing of general government and capital improvements.

That large share of taxes, say the Buy Blue Springs supporters, is a colossal reason to keep as many tax dollars within the city limits of their town as possible.

Another half-percent of the sales tax rate is designated to support transportation – road repairs and the like – for the city of Blue Springs.

The state gets its cut, 3 percent, and Jackson County takes a half percent of those taxes. The Central Jackson County Fire Protection District receives funding from this tax as well, at a half percent.

In an effort to increase awareness to local consumers and businesses, Mark Whitlow, owner of K&M Office Products and chair of the Buy Blue Springs Committee, teamed up with the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce to start an extensive campaign to help keep the dollars spent in the local economy.

Several entities in Blue Springs, including the Economic Development Council, the chamber and several businesses, have worked to fight the perception that some retail items or services just simply cannot be purchased in Blue Springs.

The opening of Target at Adams Dairy Landing in October signaled a huge retail boost for the city. Joining that mega retailer, and the recently opened Maurice’s, will eventually be Gap Outlet, Staples, PetCo, Famous Footwear, Gordman’s, Olive Garden, Chipotle, Gamestop, Sally’s Beauty and Lowe’s.

Whitlow, the Blue Springs Chamber and the task force came up with four goals when launching the Buy Blue Springs program, including partnering with local merchants, educating the community, establishing a buy local rewards program and bringing members of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Read more at the Blue Springs Journal...

Chamber challenge: Buy Blue Springs

2009-10-28T11:13:00.002-05:00

John Beaudoin,
Journal Publisher

When a local business owner and lifetime Blue Springs resident approached the new executive director of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce to help tackle a new ‘buy local’ program, the sparks quickly began to fly.

The result was the formation of a Buy Blue Springs campaign and formation of a local task force.

Mark Whitlow, owner of K&M Office Products and chair of the Buy Blue Springs Committee, said over a period of time he had thought of different programs that may stimulate the Blue Springs economy and help keep more dollars within the city limits.

“I came up with it through my industry trade magazine,” said Whitlow, a 15-year business owner and lifelong resident. “There are communities throughout the country doing this and I thought I would start to look around locally and see what was going on locally and there really wasn’t something of this scale.”

Through its committee and with the help of a local marketing company, Ad Trends Advertising, Buy Blue Springs soon had a mission, logo, slogan and even a Web site.

“Buy Blue Springs. Because Next Door Means More” is the official slogan for the campaign. The task force came up with four goals, including partnering with local merchants, educating the community, establishing a buy local rewards program and bringing members of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Executive Director Lara Vermillion said the group first met in July and the ideas came fast and furious from there.

“Many chambers do programs like this and encourage dollars to be spent locally,” she said. “Mark didn’t just suggest the idea to us, he said he would put in the legwork. And that’s a win-win for us.

“We think this is a good program for the chamber and at the initial meeting, the response was overwhelming.”

Whitlow said his motivation, on top of keeping money in Blue Springs, was to be more involved.

“I’ve been a chamber member for 15 years, but I haven’t been involved enough,” he said. “From the process of where we started four or five months ago, we have come a long way.”

While details of the Buy Blue Springs program are still being ironed out, businesses may be able to partner with the chamber on rewards or discount programs. Read more at the Blue Springs Journal.

Does buying local make a difference?

2009-10-28T10:58:00.003-05:00

By Jeff Fox - jeff.fox@examiner.net
The Examiner
Posted Oct 19, 2009 @ 11:00 PM

Eastern Jackson County, MO - Buy it here and help the local economy.

That’s the idea behind a new program the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce is rolling out in the coming weeks.

“Our basic goal is just to educate Blue Springs businesses, citizens about the value of buying local,” said Mark Whitlow, owner of K&M Office Products in Blue Springs.
The chamber has a committee of 20 to 30 people working on the project, he said, and there’s already a Web site at buybluesprings.com.

“We want to be unique and let Blue Springs benefit from that,” he said.
Money spent with local businesses gets turned around in payroll, local taxes and all the goods and services businesses need.

“I read about this in a trade magazine, and I thought ‘Why not here?’” Whitlow said.
What about spending at the local site of a nationwide chain?

“That’s a fine line,” Whitlow said, adding that the effort is mostly about raising awareness and keeping more dollars, if not every dollar, close to home. Read more at The Examiner...

Buy Blue Springs Campaign

2009-10-12T10:28:00.007-05:00

When a local business owner and lifetime Blue Springs resident approached the new executive director of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce to help tackle a new ‘buy local’ program, the sparks quickly began to fly.

The result was the formation of a Buy Blue Springs campaign and formation of a local task force.

Mark Whitlow, owner of K&M Office Products and chair of the Buy Blue Springs Committee, said over a period of time he had thought of different programs that may stimulate the Blue Springs economy and help keep more dollars within the city limits.

“I came up with it through my industry trade magazine,” said Whitlow, a 15-year business owner and lifelong resident. “There are communities throughout the country doing this and I thought I would start to look around locally and see what was going on locally and there really wasn’t something of this scale.”

Through its committee and with the help of a local marketing company, Ad Trends Advertising, Buy Blue Springs soon had a mission, logo, slogan and even a Web site: http://www.buybluesprings.com/“

Buy Blue Springs. Because Next Door Means More” is the official slogan for the campaign. The task force came up with four goals, including partnering with local merchants, educating the community, establishing a buy local rewards program and bringing members of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Continued at: http://www.bluespringsjournal.com/home/story/22937.html