Business Briefs

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Updated: February 20, 2012 8:01AM

Pamper yourself:
WIM event Jan. 21

Women in Management Near West Cook Chapter is hosting a professional women’s Pamper Party themed “Finding Balance: Business – Mind, Body and Soul,” from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 21), at 4 U Hair and Spa, 7375-1/2 North Ave., River Forest. Refreshments will be served and you can indulge in some “me time” and mingle with liked minded women; experience some stimulating conversation; invigorate your body; move to the music of your soul and elevate your business mind.

Registration is free for members; $20 for nonmembers (prepaid reservations required). Reservations are required prior to noon Friday (Jan. 20). Online payment options include credit card and PayPal. Payment is not accepted at this event.

Women in Management is a support organization for professional women and women aspiring to a management position or entrepreneurship. The organization was founded to facilitate the exchange of experiences and ideas and to promote professional and personal growth. Information on membership and upcoming events can be found by visiting the website at www.Wimonline.org.

OPRF Brokerage
names top producer

Oak Park River Forest Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage names Patti Sprafka Wagner as the Top Listings Producer with five transactions totaling more than $1.6 million and Top Sales Producer with four transactions totaling more than $1.3 million.

“Our customers are always our priority and we make sure that they receive the best services from a company with an outstanding reputation for excellence, the latest in technological and marketing opportunities and dedicated sales associates,” said Doug Carpenter, branch manager.

Wagner can be reached at (708) 218-8102 or visit the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office at 7577 Lake St., in River Forest.

Snag a deal on
the Blackmark-it

The newest e-commerce player is Blackmark-it, a daily deal site for black-owned businesses in the Chicago area. With $3 billion in revenue, online couponing is all the rage. Blackmark-it’s niche, black-owned businesses will provide affordable advertising to retailers and compelling deals for consumers.

Cook County has more than 100,000 black-owned businesses, more than any other county in the nation. Ninety-four percent of these businesses have only one employee, the owner. With a goal of helping businesses grow, Blackmark-it will feature a different establishment every day, bringing new customers and more sales to each.

Owners Jamel and Natasha Williams, the husband and wife team who opened the Chicago South Side restaurant, Covenant Café, recall their own penny-pinching advertising. “We did door hangers, car flyers and were overly reliant on word of mouth,” said Jamel Williams. “Blackmark-it would have been an excellent tool during our restaurant-owning days. Now that we are catering exclusively, we will utilize the service to feature some specials.”

With a 12-year background as a marketing research professional with The Nielsen Company, Natasha Williams has developed marketing strategies and analyzed consumer behavior for Fortune 500 companies. “I’ve seen the returns on ample advertising campaigns but when you are a small minority-owned business, advertising feels like more risk than gain. You put your money in, hoping you’ll reach the right audience. It’s a gamble a small business is hesitant to make.”

The Williams’ partnered with Northern Illinois University classmate, Delandon Mason, to discuss the viability of jumping on the proverbial daily-deal site bandwagon. The goal: bringing awareness to their favorite local businesses and offering shoppers a post-recession break.

“We have businesses ready to provide some phenomenal offers. In turn they will have access to our subscriber list of thousands and keep an attractive share of all sales. At the risk of sounding cliché’, it’s a win-win,” Mason said.

Blackmark-it has deal commitments from Chicago area restaurants, physical therapists, salons and day spas and graphic designers. Need a referral for a plumber, painter, accountant or dentist? Visit the Blackmark-it website to read reviews and snag a deal along the way.

Subscribers will receive notice of the forthcoming launch date. Go to www.blackmark-it.com to review sample deals and join the mailing list. Interested merchants may call Natasha Williams at (773) 697-1173.

EPA Energy Star
award to hospital

For the third consecutive year, Rush Oak Park Hospital has been awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star. The hospital is one of three hospitals in Illinois and the only building in Oak Park with the 2011 Energy Star. As an Energy Star building the hospital uses 35 percent less energy and generates 35 percent fewer greenhouse emissions than similar buildings across the nation.

Evy Koutzas earns
honors in lia sophia

Evy Koutzas, of River Forest, is an advisor for lia sophia, a direct sale company offering fashion jewelry through personalized in-home demonstrations. Koutzas recently garnered top honors in lia sophia’s Excellent Beginnings Program for her outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism.

Having just recently joined the fashion jewelry business, Koutzas earned this accomplishment in the first 15 weeks by attaining certain sales levels and by sharing lia sophia with other new advisors.

All new lia sophia advisors have the opportunity to increase their earnings and earn free jewelry as part of the Excellent Beginnings Program.

For more information about lia sophia contact Evy Koutzas at www.lisaophia.com/evykoutzas.