Chambers of Commerce are well known for bringing professionals together. The chamber convenes businesses, connections happen, and partnerships are made. Partnerships are crucial in starting, and supporting, small business in our community, and often, those partnerships happen behind the scenes. In Springfield, our small business community is connected in a web of support that leads to success and our chamber members take pride in the spirit of working together. Below, Springfield Chamber members Copy-Rite Printing and Citizens Bank were able to shed some light on those partnerships and explain how supporting other small businesses is good business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Copy-Rite Printing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Linda Sitterley, manager of our local Copy-Rite Printing, described how her business fits into Springfield\u2019s community by serving as a resource for specific types of printing, and for small runs of print. \u201cThe printing process is becoming a bit of a dying art in this age of digital technology, and as a smaller shop, we still provide work like business cards, envelopes, invoices, those jobs that require printing that you can\u2019t do on a copier. And if we can\u2019t do it, we will find someone who can.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Notably, Sitterley mentions that providing these services has helped establish Copy-Rite as a community partner. Linda mentioned, \u201cWe have a great relationship with a lot of the local businesses here in the Mohawk area; we have helped with flyers, postcards, labels, marketing materials. Those things that keep all of us up front in the eyes of the community. We fill that marketing and small run niche that people need.\u201d Beyond that, working with small businesses is fun for the team at Copy-Rite. \u201cWe like to have customers walk in and call them by their name \u2013 letting those small businesses know that they\u2019re valued. That person starting a small business and only needing 100-business cards, we will do jobs like that because we know the importance of relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cContinuity and relationship are highly valued here and among our customers.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, those relationships extend beyond just printing. Sitterley described how those connections within \u201cThe Hawks,\u201d a Mohawk area business group, have led to work that Springfield can be proud of. She pointed to Copy-Rite\u2019s work with the City of Springfield on a recent project in town, \u201cAt the Veterans memorial park, we were a part of the unveiling of both of the memorials. We were able to help the city with the printing on the marketing piece, and we were also able to go down and serve food to the veterans. That\u2019s what happens with our Mohawk group \u2013 we like to be able to serve where we can and when asked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citizens Bank <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Finances are a key building block in the foundation of small business, and having a trusted partner is paramount. John Doty knows just how important trust and understanding are to small businesses from his years of work as a commercial loan officer at Springfield\u2019s Citizens Bank. Doty mentioned that trust is built through a variety of services offered to the small business community, \u201cI work with businesses on loans, lines of credit, and more. And that is not just business loans, but equipment loans, real estate \u2013 really anything to help them run their business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In working with customers to secure the finances needed to achieve their goals, Doty circled back on the notion that it is the relationships with these small businesses that drive success for both the business and Citizens Bank. John states, \u201cOur goal is to build relationships that pass the test of time. Clients can expect consistency from us \u2013 how we listen, how we care, and match our products and services to their needs. That\u2019s not just loans, it could be depository and cash management services, or advice. If we sit down with a customer and they tell us what they need and what they want, we look to find the best outcome for them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur goal is to build relationships that pass the test of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding that best outcome, and seeing those businesses thrive, is part of what makes John enjoy his work with Citizens Bank so much. Thinking back, he was able to mention a number of projects that made him proud. Specifically, Doty said, \u201cRecently, I partnered with LCOG, and we helped a couple fulfill a life-long dream and helped them take the next step in their business. Small business is so important to our communities, and helping them grow, make investment, add jobs, and fulfill dreams are what we are about \u2013 that\u2019s what makes it fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo credit to Elora Kelsh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chambers of Commerce are well known for bringing professionals together. The chamber convenes businesses, connections happen, and partnerships are made. Partnerships are crucial in starting, and supporting, small business in our community, and often, those partnerships happen behind the scenes. In Springfield, our small business community is connected in a web of support that leads…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":1092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[17,51],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n