Lunch, Learn, and Earn...What a Combo!

What could be better than enjoying lunch while networking AND
learning strategies to increase your net worth? 

You don't want to miss the Sacramento Business Journal's three-part seminar, Network2Net Worth.  You'll learn strategies to acquire new business prospects and engage your existing clients, as well as how to use social media to identify industry trends.  This special event is Thursday, March 3, 2011 from 11 am to 1 pm, at the Hampton Inn & Suites (2305 Longport Court in Elk Grove, California).  Registration is only $20 and includes lunch.

For more information, contact Crystal Dillard by phone at 916-558-7881 or by email at cdillard@bizjournals.com, or visit http://www2.bizjournals.com/sacramento/calendar.

The Carnival is Coming!

If you're looking for some affordable Spring Break fun,

then the Carnival on Florin Road is the place to be. 

Butler Amusements will return with their ever-popular rides and games from Thursday, March 17th to Sunday, March 20th.  Opening times will be 4 pm on Thursday and Friday, 11 am on Saturday, and noon on Sunday.  The location will be the former Senator Ford auto dealership at 3801 Florin Road, Sacramento.

Ride coupons will be $1 per coupon, with sheets of 25 coupons for $23 and 80 coupons for $70.  All rides will require 3 to 5 coupons.  Daily One Price unlimited ride passes will be $25.  What a great deal!

For more info, please visit http://www.butleramusements.com.

Coats and Toys, for Girls and Boys!

The News10 Coats for Kids Winter Coat Drive is accepting donations through December 3.  You can donate at these Florin Road Partnership businesses:

Robinson's TaeKwonDo(2699 Florin Road, 916-424-5425)

Robinson's TaeKwonDo(6519 Savings Place, Suites 240 and 245, 916-421-2877)
Security Public Storage(7301 Franklin Blvd., 916-421-1111
UPS Store at Southgate Plaza(4540 Florin Road, Suite E, 916-399-9922)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…which means it’s time for Sleep Train’s Secret Santa Toy Drive!  Until December 12, all Sleep Train locations are accepting donations of new, unwrapped gifts for foster children and teens.  This includes toys, games, sporting equipment, electronics, CDs, and DVDs.  Drop off your donation at the Sleep Train Mattress Center at 6001 Florin Road in the Florin Towne Centre.

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting!

Please join us on Saturday, December 11th

for the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting
at 99 Ranch Market in Southgate Plaza

(corner of Florin & Franklin in Sacramento). 

The event runs from 12 pm to 3 pm, with a special holiday choir performance at 1:30pm.  A number of fun activities are planned, including a strolling Santa, horse drawn tours of the center, a giant slide, kids crafts, a live DJ, raffle prizes, and more!  Plus you can receive a free gift card with qualifying purchases. 

Don't miss the fun!  Visit www.southgate-plaza.com

for event details and special merchant offers.

Upcoming Events For Job Seekers & Small Businesses

Thanks to our friends at The Sacramento Bee for gathering this information:

• The Governor's Small Business Conference:  This Thursday, December 2nd from 9 am to 4 pm at the Doubletree Hotel at 2001 Point West Way in Sacramento.  Registration begins at 8 am with coffee and networking. Officials from the Governor's Office of Economic Development, the state Department of Consumer Affairs, and the California Small Business Development Center will be featured.  Learn how to grow your small business and market your services to bigger companies and government agencies.  For more info, call the Northern California Small Business Development Center at 707-826-3919 or visit www.californiasbdc.org/smallbusinessconference.

• Business and Career Expo:  Tuesday, December 14 from noon to 4 pm at the Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Sacramento.  Meet with recruiters from public and private sector employers, representatives from franchises, and admission counselors from local training and education programs.  For more info, call 888-843-5627 or visit www.jobjournal.com.

Shop Small!

“Small Business Saturday” is today, November 27! 

Remember to support your locally-owned, independent stores that contribute to our local economy and the diversity of our community.

“Small Business Saturday” is a national movement launched by American Express OPEN, the division devoted to small business owners and associations.  They found that small businesses were impacted more by the recession than larger businesses and are still 4 percent below their pre-recession market share (according to The Huffington Post, 11/16/10). 

Yet small businesses have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs each year over the last decade.  And for every $100 spent in a locally-owned, independent store, $68 is returned to the community through taxes, payroll, and other operating expenses (according to The 3/50 Project).

So now that you have the statistics, what are you waiting for?
Go out and Shop Small today! 

Doing Good in the Neighborhood

Is your Florin Road corridor location participating in a charitable event for the holidays? 

If so, we'd like to help publicize it.  Just send an email to Florinroad@aol.com or leave a comment on this blog.   

The KCRA 3 KidsCan Food Drive is on now through November 30.  You can donate non-perishables at Cesar Chavez Intermediate School, Charles Mack Elementary School, or Al-Aqram Islamic School (6990 65th Street, next to the Sheriff's Substation).

The News10 Coats for Kids Winter Coat Drive is accepting donations through December 3.  You can donate at these Florin Road Partnership businesses:

Robinson's TaeKwonDo (2699 Florin Road, 916-424-5425)
Robinson's TaeKwonDo (6519 Savings Place, Suites 240 and 245, 916-421-2877)
Security Public Storage (7301 Franklin Blvd., 916-421-1111)
UPS Store at Southgate Plaza (4540 Florin Road, Suite E, 916-399-9922)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…which means it’s time for Sleep Train’s Secret Santa Toy Drive!  Until December 12, all Sleep Train locations are accepting donations of new, unwrapped gifts for foster children and teens.  This includes toys, games, sporting equipment, electronics, CDs, and DVDs.  Drop off your donation at the Sleep Train Mattress Center at 6001 Florin Road in the Florin Towne Centre.