Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber

Memorial Day celebrations typically involve barbeques with family and friends complete with outdoor activities to start off the summer season. The Lake West Chamber of Commerce would like to share with you the meaning of Memorial Day, and some interesting facts about this very important holiday. Memorial Day is always the last Monday in the month of May, and is a day devoted to honor the fallen men and women who have served our country. Memorial Day was first recognized a few years after the Civil War, in 1868. The holiday was established by Major General John A. Logan, the speaker at a gathering of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans, "for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion." Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., has formally observed this holiday ever since. The National Moment of Remembrance Act was passed in 2000, enco...

  Now that you have made the exciting decision to start your small business here on the West Side of the Lake of the Ozarks , it is time to put in place the marketing strategies to get your company noticed and stand out above the rest. There is no magic involved in marketing as every business is individual and unique to the particular products and services that they offer. Marketing your business is the best way to reach out to your potential clients and let them know what you do and how it could benefit them. The Lake West Chamber of Commerce knows the importance of marketing for small businesses in our area and would like to share with you some ideas to get you started. KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS: Do your initial homework. Getting to know the customer base you are targeting in your area is an essential beginning for your marketing strategy. Knowing and growing your client base with repeat customers will ensure your continued success, and lead to referrals and word of mouth recommendat...

Community involvement is vital to the success and continued growth of the businesses and residents that live, work and play in the direct and surrounding areas. There is no better feeling than that of giving back to support your friends, neighbors, and fellow business owners that make up the community. The Lake West Chamber of Commerce is proud to represent our community and would like to share some thoughts and ideas on how we can work together so that our area can continue to grow and thrive. The happenings within each community directly affect its citizens, from crime and pollution to road issues, government, and school issues. All of these play a role in our continued growth, and together we can work to make changes and improvements. In our unique Lake West Community , tourism plays a very important role. With the constantly changing times, it’s important to stay up on current issues to ensure that visitors to our area can enjoy all the amenities and activities that we have to o...

Thinking of starting a new business but not sure how or where to begin? The Lake West Chamber of Commerce would like to share some tips for you to get started on your way to success with your new business adventure. Starting your own business is definitely a great decision, but to ensure that it is the right decision, you need to ask yourself some very important questions. Is this a venture that is near and dear to you and your passions? Have you done your market research to learn if your area is in need, or wanting the business or service you will provide? Do you have the motivation to persevere from the start-up to running and operating your business and all the hours it will take to make it a success? Are you prepared to hear the word no, and possibly experience some failures along the way? How are you with communication? Networking, hiring (and sometimes firing) staff, and negotiating skills are all a part of the ownership and management of a small business. If you have asked you...