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. After a long wait due to Covid 19 postponing the banquet last year, the recipients were finally able to be announced! The 2019 recipients were: |
This month, the Chamber was able to spread a little more Christmas Cheer with the start of the annual Pick Your Present Promotion. This promotion helps encourage and remind people to shop and support local businesses this Holiday Season. 14 Chamber Businesses donated to the program to help create 17 presents, all with a value of $50 or more, that local shoppers would have a chance to win! Pictured is one of the Pick Your Present Winners receiving their gift. |
State Farm Business After Hours

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.
The Neligh Chamber, Neligh-Oakdale FBLA, 30 chamber members and the Neligh American Legion have partnered to bring a business miniature golf tournament to Neligh for one night only!
Join us at the American Legion 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. for a soup and sandwich supper. The folks at the Legion are known for great food!
Putting beings at 6:00 p.m. Grab your scorecard and map at the Legion and start putting! Multiple businesses are set up in the Legion with other "holes" throughout town. At 8:00 p.m. we'll announce the winners! We're giving away a couple hundred in cold hard Neligh Chamber BIG BUCKS!
Participating businesses are competing for the "Best Hole 2018" trophy, BIG BUCKS and, of course, BRAGGIN' RIGHTS!
Be sure to meet us out at the Neligh American Legion, Monday, October 15th! We're going to have a blast!
Neligh Chamber Mother of the Year Contest
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].


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.
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.
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
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.

The Chamber is seeking donations to replace some deteriorating displays, as well as add more to continue around all sides of the courthouse.
“After 5-6 years of weathering, the Christmas decorations at the the courthouse are beginning to show their wear,” said Dennis Anderson, Chamber president. “The community receives so many compliments on the lights that we really want to keep the displays looking good and positively representing Neligh.”
Anderson said this is the best time of year to buy new displays since 2014 items are now discounted. Current displays were donated privately and by businesses.
He said Neligh businesses and residents have been very supportive in creating a positive holiday atmosphere. The lighting of the courthouse, the parade, gather at the Legion with Santa, games and hot dog feed are things people - from Neligh and beyond - look forward to the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
"The courthouse displays are an intricate part of the festivities and holiday spirit in Neligh,” Anderson said. “We are very appreciative of any donation we receive for this community improvement."
Donations can be dropped off at or mailed to the Neligh Chamber of Commerce, 105 E 2nd Street, Neligh NE 68756. They may also be given to any Chamber board of director member - Dennis Anderson (Anderson Rentals), Carrie Pitzer (Pitzer Digital, Antelope County News), Jeri Anderson (Moyer's Department Store), Koryn Koinzan (Hilltop Drugs Etc.), Tina Snider (Beyer-Snider Funeral Home), Brandon Doke (Farm Bureau Insurance), Dr. James Zielinski (Creekwood Chiropractic), Jon Schilling (Jonny Dodge) or Jill Kallhoff (Pinnacle Bank).
Archives
May 2025
August 2024
July 2024
May 2024
November 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
October 2018
November 2016
June 2016
March 2016
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
August 2014
July 2014
May 2014
April 2014
February 2014
January 2014