June 2010 Newsletter

AM 950
www.am950ktnf.com

Birchwood Café
www.birchwoodcafe.com

Cahoots Coffee
1562 Selby Ave.

Caribe Bistro
www.caribemn.com

Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store
www.choochoobobs.com

Hum’s Liquors
2126 S Lyndale Ave.

Julie Hansen-Bishop Consulting

Local Motion Boutique
www.localmotionboutique.com

Micawber’s Books
www.micawbers.com

Strauss Skates
www.straussskatesandbicycles.com

Succotash
781 Raymond Ave.

Wet Paint Art Supplies
www.wetpaintart.com

Wild Rumpus
www.wildrumpusbooks.com

4:30-6:30 p.m.

Calhoun Square
Hosted by Eye Deals, Bay Street Shoes and Kitchen Window

Calhoun Square, a shopping center in the city that still has mostly independent and locally owned businesses, provides a great venue for our next networking event. The July gathering also kicks off Independents Month, an entire month of celebrating our independent retailers. See more on Independents Month below.

More than a few times I’ve heard a member of a business organization say, “I’m not getting anything out of my membership.” The question that begs to be asked is what are you putting into it?

Look closely at any thriving organization, and you’ll find engaged members spending time supporting its mission. MetroIBA’s mission is why I my business is a member.

Today, I seek ways to help MetroIBA grow and to add value to membership. I invite you to do the same.

I’m confident that you’ll get something worthwhile out of it.

Jeff Warner
Warners' Stellian
jdwarner@warnersstellian.com

AMIBA, our national affiliate, has traditionally deemed the first week in July “Independents Week.” Here in the Twin Cities, we decided to make it a month-long affair!

Throughout the month of July, there is even more reason to support locally owned retailers. Twenty-five MetroIBA members will be participating in a promotion to get the public to shop local. At the same time, we will use the event as an opportunity to educate about the importance of supporting local businesses.  Those who visit any of the participating shops will be entered in to a drawing to win $1,250 in gift cards!  The more shops you visit, the greater your chance to win!

deZinnia, inc. is a strategic design firm, specializing in creating and managing packaging graphics, printed marketing and communications materials, and process-based information systems. Their designs and strategies have earned them numerous awards including the 3M 2008 Global Communications Award and the NSPRA (National School Public Relations Association) Award. Originating as a one-person creative firm in 1991, owner and founder Michele Boone developed a process for creating and managing packaging graphics that was so efficient and effective, its popularity any grew faster than one person could manage. This organic growth has resulted in deZinnia teams with diverse professional experiences and has cultivated new ideas in business direction.
 
As a woman-owned, WBE certified business, deZinnia’s teams collaborate with a wide range of clients including complex, global corporations; enterprising small businesses and community focused organizations. Fundamentally at the root of this is Michele’s original philosophy of work-life balance. That is, deZinnia brings together the best for their clients: flexibility, a collaborative partnership, inventive ideas and great results. deZinnia invites all Metro IBA members to grow with them. To learn how, contact Michael McCulloch, New Business Development Manager at 612.709.1976, visit www.dezinnia.com, or “like us” on Facebook (www.facebook.com/dezinnia).

MN Womens Press was featured in the Star Tribune: "25 years of news about, by and for women."

Member MinnPost wrote about Izzy’s Ice Cream's Flavor Up! in "Ice cream shop offers latest scoop on web innovation in Minnesota."

Butter Bakery Café made the Star Tribune’s "Taste 50" for its "insanely good" custard eclairs, and Birchwood Café owner Tracey Singleton was recognized for "preach(ing) the local foods gospel."

Smitten Kitten was featured in the Star Tribune: "Giving Adult Toys The Soft Sell"

It is with great sadness that we announce board member -- Suzanne Weinstein, owner and president of Coastal Seafoods -- is stepping down. Suzanne says she will still be an active member, and you can still find 20 percent off coupons to her stores in our membership renewal packets! Thank you Suzanne for your service and wisdom over the years. We’ll miss you!

Thanks to board member, Zack Steven of The 3rd Place for generously offering his centrally located office as our new mailing address. Membership payments and renewals now can be sent to: 2190 Como Ave., St. Paul, 55108.