“None of us has gotten where we are solely by pulling ourselves up from our own bootstraps. We got here because somebody bent down and helped us.”

– Thurgood Marshall

One way to help is to join us in welcoming into the Crescenta Valley two new businesses.   Please join us Friday, April 30th at 4:30pm at Seward Real Estate and Financial, Inc. for their official ribbon cutting and grand opening.  They are located at 3115 Foothill Blvd, Ste H.    Mademoiselle Women’s Apparel is also having a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Saturday, May 8th at 1pm.  They are located at 3442 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta.  We hope you can attend both of these to welcome them to our town.  The Crescenta Valley Chamber wishes them much success in their new business ventures.
For additional help in small business success, go to SCORE.org.  SCORE is America’s premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs. They offer advice online and in-person at one of their 364 offices nationwide.  Their Glendale office is at 330 North Brand Blvd., Suite 190.  Every year, SCORE helps almost 20,000 businesses get started.  SCORE.com offers many free services including these 6 Steps to Small Business Success:
1. Start Smart. Identify a niche. Don’t compete to be the lowest cost provider. Look for what makes your product or service unique and adds a special value for the client and charge for that value and test your ideas.  2. Set-up Systems. The most basic system every business should have is a good financial system. The start-up expense plan, operating budget and your accounting software are vital to your success.  3. Seek Out Sales.  You need to target a niche and get connected in your market community, be it local, regional or national.  Get out and talk to as many people as you can. Join organizations that would have clients for your product or service. (The Chamber is a great organization to start with.)  4. Aim for Growth. The basic tenet of creating a company is that you own the company. There are varying costs and profits associated with growth. It’s important to make a deliberate choice early about how you want to grow your company.  5. Leverage Opportunities. Good luck, good fortune, good timing all play a part in business. As a business owner, be very clear about your core focus for the business and how it serves clients.  6. Plan Your Exit. Know the worth of your business, so you can know the value it can bring to your future wealth and/or retirement.
The Crescenta Valley Chamber wishes all businesses much success and has many resources to help small businesses.  Please stop by and visit the chamber to see what we can do for you.  Or please join us at our dual Mixer with Montrose Chamber on May 5th at the Crescenta Valley Water District Glenwood plant at 3730 Glenwood Ave. La Crescenta from 6pm-8pm for fun, food, prizes, and great networking.
Important Chamber Dates:  April 30th: Seward Real Estate ribbon cutting.

May 8th: Mademoiselle Women’s Apparel ribbon cutting.   May 5th:  Crescenta Valley Water District business mixer.     Please call our office for more details on any event.   How to reach us:  818-248-4957 / crescentachamber@aol.com  /  www.LaCrescenta.org  / 3131 Foothill Blvd Ste D

Julia Rabago is the executive director of Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.