We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Chris Carpenter owns the Chinook Tire, Lube and Sporting Goods store on Indiana Street at the south edge of downtown. He will be hosting the monthly Business After Hours on Thursday, April 14, from 6-8pm. Business After Hours is open to the public and everyone is welcome.
By Steve Edwards
BCJ News
The Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring an April Business After Hours at Chinook Tire, Lube and Sporting Goods, on the evening of April 14. After recently updating the format for its Chamber Bucks program, the Bucks can now be purchased online. And local businesses and organizations are invited to post information, at no charge, on several free websites. Read more.
Next Business After Hours
set for April 14
Chris Carpenter, owner of Chinook Tire, Lube and Sporting Goods will be hosting the April Business After Hours. The monthly event is a time when member businesses and organizations invite guests to visit and learn about services and products. Carpenter opened the business, located at 428 Indiana Street, in November, 2014. Rachel Smiley is the office manager.
Carpenter expanded the sporting goods side of the business to stock "more of the types of equipment, gear and supplies local and visiting sportsmen need." Carpenter said when he started the business he realized sportsmen had to travel some distance for equipment, bulk ammo, bait and other sporting needs. He added, "Over time operating the business I've built some good relationships with hunters and fishermen. I try to stock items typically needed for the type of fishing and hunting supplies folks would use in this region." More recently he's added sports apparel and other accessory items popular with locals and visitors.
On the service side of the business, Carpenter said, "We are seeing returning and new customers. In addition to selling new tires and tire services, we also do vehicle servicing, alignments, brakes, u-joints and some general mechanical work." The shop manager is Jason Haider.
Carpenter said he had no prior experience owning or running a small business. He's worked 20+ years for Red Rock and Outback Power, in electrical construction. When he and his wife decided to buy the building, which had many uses since its construction in the 1930's, they went to Bear Paw Development for help. He said, "They gave us good advice and helped assess the potential for the business. It's been a steep learning curve but the business is growing."
Of the upcoming Business After Hours Carpenter said, "We'll be giving away some door prizes for adults and kids. There'll be a meal served with tables set up in the shop area. It'll be a good way for people to see what we can do, check out the sporting goods we have and will and will allow me to express my appreciation to the support the community has shown since we opened."
Chamber Bucks now available online
Online purchasing of Chamber Bucks is now available. Go to the Chamber's website at http://www.chinoomontana.com and click on the 'online store' button at the top of the home page. Follow the prompts on the page. Chamber Bucks come in $5 and $10 amounts. You can still buy Chamber Bucks in town, by contacting Jennifer or Heather at 357-4201. Other Chamber officers around town can also answer questions about the program. The Chamber Bucks program is all about encouraging consumers to spend locally. It's a program many local clubs and groups use for door prizes at events and gifts to winners of contests and competitions.
Some free sources to promote your business or event online
Chamber Secretary Sarah Pratt shared some free resources for letting potential customers know about your business or organization. We Go Places (www.wegoplaces.com) is a free website that allows direct posts to the website. It's a place to post information about events, attractions or someplace interesting to visit. Customers view the website, by state location, to plan outings or trips. Posting information is on the opening home page of the website-click 'get listed.'
Businesses working to attract tourists can post for free on http://www.visitmt.com, another free website hosted by the Montana Office of Tourism. You can contact Jan Wirak, at 841-2788, to learn how to create an account, then post your tourist-related information. The website is referenced in many Montana-based travel brochures and websites.
To post announcements of local events on the Chamber's events calendar, go to the Chamber website (www.chinookmontana .com) and click on 'event calendar.' To the right of the calendar is a template to add your information. Once the information is complete, click 'send' and the information will be posted on the calendar.
