On May 4, some of the Chamber Board Members were able to go and brighten a few Neligh Mothers' days by bringing them a flower and a cookie after they were nominated as Mother of the Year. Two mother's were selected at the recipients of this award from both the Kids and Big Kids categories. The winner of the kids section was Megan Jacob, and the recipient of the Big Kids award was Dodi Jessen. 

The annual banquet was able to held on March 6 where many Chamber Members were able to celebrate together, enjoy the great community, and have a delicious meal! At this event, the 2020 Chamber Awards were announced. 

               ~ Chamber Member of the Year: Thriftway Market for their hard work during covid and
​                          constant support of the Chamber.
              ~ Community Member of the Year: Brian Christensen for all that he does for our
                         community, the museums, and his hard work to clean up rainbow fountain. 
              ~ Lifetime Achievement Award: Dodi Jessen for her many years of service to the  
                         Chamber and for all that she has done to help our organization grow. She is a
                         valuable asset to our community. 

With this being only the second Business After Hours since Covid-19 stopped people from gathering, we were thrilled with the turn out! Many chamber members came out to support their local member!

The annual Teachers Breakfast took place on August 17th. With the gracious help of the volunteers, it was a successful start to the school year!

The Neligh Chamber of Commerce was awarded a BRAN Scholarship to present on behalf of the BRAN riders. This was given to the community as a thank you for our generous hospitality in their time visiting. 

Hunter Charf of Neligh, NE was chosen as the recipient because of his continuous dedication in volunteering to help the community. Hunter will be attending UNL for Bio-Engineering in the fall. 

Joe McNally of McNally Law will be the guest speaker for the Neligh Chamber of Commerce's next Lunch n' Learn.

Join Joe on Thursday, June 16, at the Neligh Senior Center at noon. Joe will be answering many questions business owners and managers have.

We request your questions in advance to have available for Joe. There is no charge for Neligh Chamber members and $10 charge to non members to cover the cost of lunch. RSVP required by June 14.

Please email or deliver your questions to Lauren by June 14 [email protected].

​The first Annual Banquet was held Saturday, March 5th at the Neligh American Legion.  This year it was decided that the meeting and banquet would be separated, and members welcomed the change!  Over 55 members attended the banquet.  Awards were given to Ed and Marlene Schindler for their 18 years of dedication managing the legion.  Nate Metschke received an award for Outstanding Citizen 2015 for his “We support Neligh” campaign, and Dr. James Zielinski was awarded Member of the Year 2015 for his efforts in organizing the BBQ last August.  Congratulations!
 

The Neligh Chamber of Commerce hosted it’s first annual Antelope County Ag & Home Expo at the Antelope County Fairgrounds on March 2nd - 3rd.  Organizers Craig and Melissa Smith and Wade Pitzer worked with Greg and Lauren to make this event a great success on its inaugural year.  It  is estimated that about 600 people attended the event.  The expo was sponsored by the Antelope County News and US92.  Neligh-Oakdale FBLA provided food throughout the two-day event.  There were over 54 vendors at the expo, with a waiting list. 

​Tammy Howell of Neligh was the lucky winner of the four wheeler raffle during the expo in March.  Big Red Motor Sports sold the four-wheeler to the chamber, at a reduced price, to create a new fundraising opportunity by providing something that most people in our area have a need for.  There were only 200 chances to purchase a raffle ticket for the 2016 Artic Cat 500 cc 4x4 4-Wheeler valued at approximately $6,500.  The drawing took place at the Antelope County Ag & Home Expo on March 3rd at 6:00 p.m.  Although Tammy was not there when her name was drawn, we called her and she came right down!  Tammy asked “Was it me or Carey who won?”  It was definitely Tammy!  Sorry Carey!  “I’m super excited about winning the four-wheeler. Thank you to Neligh Chamber of Commerce," Howell said.  We know that Tammy will have years on fun with this.  The raffle created approximately $4,000  for the Chamber and will help fund several community programs throughout the year.   

It'll be a "Not So Manic" Merry Monday on Nov. 23rd with the day filled with great specials throughout Neligh.

Fourteen Neligh Chamber of Commerce businesses are planning HUGE sales to help you kick off your holiday shopping . . . and support your community! 

Neligh Flower Shop: Open 9-7, 20% OFF storewide, some exclusions apply. Serving refreshments.

Hilltop Drugs Etc: 10% OFF Team Jack merchandise

Moyers: Earlier you shop the more you save! 9-10 a.m. 40% OFF, 10-Noon 30% OFF, Noon to 5 p.m. 20% OFF. Storewide sales. Refreshments and a drawing for a $25 gift certificate.

Carhart Lumber: Buy 1 gallon of paint at regular price & get the second gallon of paint for $5. Limit 2.

Big Red Motorsports: Green Mountain Grill with rebates up to $100, including wi-fi models. Buy 3 bags of pellets, get the 4th FREE!

Pitzer Digital: Call 402-887-4000 for 15% OFF holiday cards & business cards. Everything customized for business or family!

Wanek Pharmacy: 25% OFF all gift items, excludes perfume.

Thriftway Market: 10 a.m.—7 p.m. Shurfine powdered or brown sugar 2 lb. bag $.99 with store purchase, limit 1.

Lucy’s Flower Corner: Stop in for the Special of the Day!

Bangle Boulevard (Clip ‘N Curl): 20% OFF clothing.

719 Fitness Center: $25 OFF initial Personal Training Package 
and a free t-shirt.

Massage by Cassie: Buy 1 massage gift certificate and 
get the second half off.

Antelope County Chiropractic: FREE initial consultation and 
FREE 5 minute chair massage

Kayton International: 15% OFF toy tractors.

​7 Ways You’re Missing Getting Retail Customers In the Door (Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doc)
 
1. You’re not delivering an exceptional customer experience. It’s the old saw but it’s true... brick and mortar retail is all about the experience customers have at your store. It’s not about the products; just trust me on that. Creating that takes more than saying you provide customer service, it takes retail sales training, a relentless focus on going out of your way, and having an open heart as you engage each shopper. Engage shoppers in-store, and they’ll come back... and send their friends.
 
2. You’re not getting their contact information. A customer who buys something and leaves without any way for you to contact them leaves as a ghost.  You need a system of collecting information that isn’t intrusive, robotic, or dependent on deals – are you listening Walgreens? You could use a kiosk in your store, a QR code to scan, or even an old-school form. Your best marketing should be aimed at people who know you already.
 
3. You don’t have regular communication. A simple set of emails for new customers or a monthly newsletter keeps your name front and center.  Whether they need what you feature in that email, newsletter, or publication is irrelevant; they regularly see your brand which keeps you top-of-mind. Without using the information you collect, you are now a ghost, forgotten by those shoppers.
 
4. You haven’t created great window displays. If you have display windows, and you’re not using them correctly, you are not taking advantage of one of the most powerful marketing pieces at your disposal. You can either capture the attention of passersby with a thoughtful, focused display, or you can load it up with lots of junk and watch those passersby ignore you.  Take the time to discover the scrumptious outfit, the tricked out electronics package, then add a great sign and voila.  Note a best practice is to change them twice a month.
 
5. You haven’t used Facebook sponsored posts. The numbers on Facebook are still staggering which is why their sponsored ads and posts are so popular. Did you know you can actually select a competitor’s followers as a group to aim your ads at? I didn’t think so. Yes, they cost money. You have to use money to make money.  And the more keywords or emails you use to form custom audiences, the better. Like any marketing, you can't just post an ad and do nothing else. You have to monitor, track, and A/B test the heck out of it.  That said,  I know of nowhere else you can drive your message to shoppers within your own trading area so easily.
 
6. You avoid the reality of online pricing competition. There is a perception that a smaller store will, by nature, be overpriced.  Do you want to get buzz and attack online competitors head-on? Come up with a policy you’re comfortable with that offers your in-store customers an opportunity to stay, buy and return. Hear me out.  We all know that Best Buy has about eight online retailers they will price-match...including Amazon. Your margins won’t allow you to go there. But when price matching becomes an issue and your customer is about to walk out, offer them the difference in a gift certificate for future purchase, an upgrade, or something of equal value. Wouldn’t it be better to save that sale by making those offers than letting them leave and buy from someone else? And won’t that buyer leave happy and most likely return?  Of course, but it takes a very forward-thinking leader to make it happen.
 
7. You have limited store hours. If your hours are for your convenience and not your customers’, say closing at 5 pm on weekdays and staying closed on Sundays, you are actively telling a group of customers who work – we don’t need your business.  The three highest traffic times in retail stores in order: Saturday 11-1, Saturday 2-4, Sunday 1-3. Retail is not a hobby business; you have to be open when shoppers want you to be.

Looking for something special this Valentine's season? Look no further than Neligh!

These great businesses are all planning specials from now until Valentine's Day.

Big Red Motorsports With purchase of ATV or UTV receive $100 in Neligh Chamber Big Bucks

Thriftway Market USDA Choice Angus Boneless New York Strip, cut & wrapped for $7.99/lb. Red ripe strawberries 1 lb just $1.99 

Wanek Pharmacy 20% off all gift items

Moyer’s 20% off Storewide & Black Hills Gold 40% Off. Check out our new spring items!

Hilltop Drugs Etc. Generic 81mg Asprin $1.00/bottle

Carhart Lumber Men’s gift boxes for your sweetheart

Neligh Flower Shop Check out in-store specials for your sweetheart. Don’t forget roses!

Urbanec’s Funiture and Floor Covering 5% off storewide 

Flower Corner (Lucy’s) Remember your sweetheart with fresh flowers, plants or beautiful orchids

Mama’s & Nana’s All day Special Feb. 14th, Open until 10 p.m., Shrimp & 1 side $9.95, Chicken Strips & 1 side $9.95, both include drink, dessert & salad bar

Teachers often look for patterns, and Zandra Catherine Jacob continued the sequence as being the third straight New Year's baby born to a teacher.

Zandra and her parents Scott and Megan Jacob of Neligh were presented with gifts Wednesday morning by members of the Neligh Chamber of Commerce, celebrating her birth as the first baby of 2015 born at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh.

Megan Jacob is a high school math teacher at Neligh-Oakdale and is the third teacher in as many years to have the New Year's baby. Jacob Sladky of Neligh, a teacher at Pope John Central Catholic, was the father of last year's baby while Shanna Lammers of Elgin, a teacher at Neligh-Oakdale, had the 2013 baby.  

Zandra was born Monday at 8:33 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 3 1/2 ounces. She was 19 3/4 inches long.

She will be welcomed home by sister Addyson, 5, and twin brothers, Walker and Cooper, 2. Her grandparents are Eli & Carla Jacob of Clearwater and Dwaine and Carol Green of Ewing. Her great-grandparents are Marjorie Green of Chambers and Mary Jareske of Neligh.

Chamber of Commerce members making the presentation were Economic Development Director Greg Ptacek, along with board members Koryn Koinzan, Jon Schilling and Carrie Pitzer and members Krista Schindler and Deb Carden.

The Jacobs were given flowers and $50 in Neligh Big Bucks.